I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 348

Usually, people with a good work-life balance aren’t thrilled about being assigned to annoying business trips.

But what if someone who’s constantly overworked gets the chance to go on a legitimate, long-term overseas business trip?

And what if, in this pre-internet era, their work is inevitably limited while they’re abroad?

“Even though I’ve given the Grand Marshal full authority over Asia, I think it would be more efficient to have someone nearby who can make final decisions.”

“Then should we send His Majesty’s representative? I think the Foreign Minister would be appropriate.”

“No. This is a crucial position that will determine the future of Northeast Asia, so I should go myself.”

“Then who will handle the affairs of the home country in the meantime?”

“The Prime Minister and the ministers will have to cooperate well. So, we need to set up a tour schedule.”

A man trying to leave no matter what.

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but that’s too inefficient. Just send the Foreign Minister. Talleyrand is a very capable man.”

“That’s right! If Your Majesty isn’t here, the ministers will just get into ego battles again.”

“Not just the ministers, but the congressmen too. Just send the Foreign Minister.”

A man trying to hold him back no matter what.

Of course, the latter had more people, so they were at a slight disadvantage.

It’s hard to win a war of attrition when you get four or five words back for every one you say.

Of course, the ministers are desperately trying to stop me now, not because they’re really worried that things will go wrong.

I’ve put in place safeguards to ensure that the best decisions can be made even when I’m not around since the last war.

There’s almost no chance that things will go to hell even if I’m away for a few months.

It’s just that they’ll have more work to do.

To be honest, during the last abdication denial, I had a lot of things left to do, so I reluctantly accepted it.

But the only reason I can’t step down now is because of these guys.

Of course, everyone had to build their case without revealing their true intentions, so the reasons were just getting more and more grandiose.

“Don’t you know that Asia is very important to us? Just think about how Asia has a much larger population than Europe. We need to lay a solid foundation now so that we don’t lose our growth momentum in the distant future.”

“Then shouldn’t we just make sure the Foreign Minister is fully aware of that fact? Surely the minister whom Your Majesty has favored for well over a decade is capable of that.”

“No, I mean it’s not a matter of ability, it’s a matter of status.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. It’s precisely because of that status that it won’t work. It’s a place we were at war with until recently. No matter how thoroughly we prepare, we don’t know what kind of impious people there might be.”

“The Minister of Culture is right! Besides, although shipbuilding technology is incomparable to what it used to be, the sea is still a fickle thing. We have a duty to consider every possibility, even the slightest one.”

So, you’re saying I’m immune to assassination or accidents.

I want to spill it all out, but if I did, I’d be treated like a senile old man… No, would it be better to retire that way?

I was momentarily tempted, but it wouldn’t look good to step down like that, so I can’t help it.

Just when I thought this would end in my defeat again, a letter arrived from Asia to save me.

Napoleon’s ambitious plan to abolish the monarchy in both the Korean Empire and the Japanese Empire.

I gave him a subtle hint, and he understood perfectly.

I knew I could count on you, Napoleon.

“If we’re going to close the doors of other countries’ royal families, we’ll need to make various preparations. Since things are getting this big, I need to go myself, so everyone should be aware of that.”

“…Yes.”

“No, isn’t the Grand Marshal going too far? Just because we won the war doesn’t mean we should abolish the royal family…”

“I think we should just wipe out the militarists…”

The ministers grumbled behind their backs, but they weren’t fools who didn’t know the seriousness of the situation.

I forced down the corners of my mouth, which were about to twitch, and calmly wrapped up the meeting.

Ah, what a vacation it’s been.

The battlefield in Asia isn’t the only place where the winners and losers are clearly divided.

The weather in Paris, where the joy and sorrow of those leaving and those staying behind intersect, felt even brighter today.

※※※

The country that used to be the Korean Empire.

When I arrived in the capital of the country, which is now changing its name to the Republic of Korea, I was greeted by a grand welcoming crowd.

The cheers and applause were so enthusiastic that I felt like I was at a victory parade in the same victorious country, even though it was a country that had lost the war.

“Your Majesty! Thank you so much for coming all the way here. You seem to have a better complexion than when I saw you in France.”

“Really? I guess there’s no better medicine than rest.”

There were no airplanes in this era, so it took a considerable amount of time to get to Asia, but I didn’t feel bored at all.

Rather, I only had the desire to drag out this enjoyable business trip vacation as much as possible.

“By the way, I never thought I’d set foot on this land again, so it’s a bit of a new feeling.”

“Yes? Have you been here before? When you came to Asia last time, you only went back and forth between Beijing and Hong Kong, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. Just take it as a silly joke.”

There’s no point in talking about it in detail.

In fact, I thought I’d have more overwhelming emotions when I came here, but it wasn’t that much when I opened it up [experienced it].

I guess you could just say it’s amazing.

Seeing the magnificent 모습 [appearance] of the newly rebuilt Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun Gate, my ambition as a history buff was boiling over.

Of course, Napoleon, who had no idea about my situation, was busy telling his war stories.

“So, I perfectly understood Your Majesty’s 심중 [mind; intentions] and set up the best strategy. In the end, the Korean Empire decided to bring down the royal family itself and walk the path of democracy, so what could be better than this? Hahaha!”

“That’s true. From our point of view, we’ve accepted the best possible result. To be honest, I thought you’d smash the Korean Empire and the Japanese Empire, but I didn’t expect the aftermath to be so smooth.”

“Actually, I was surprised too. I guess I’ve grown up since I’ve been by Your Majesty’s side, haven’t I?”

Napoleon burst into laughter and set up the 술상 [table setting with alcohol and food] himself.

“Recently, I’ve been setting up a 술상 [table setting with alcohol and food] according to their culture to commemorate my arrival here. They seem to like it when I show them this 모습 [appearance]. Please try it, Your Majesty.”

“Of course, they will.”

Certainly, even a 서당개 [dog at a village school] can recite poetry in three years [meaning even someone with limited intelligence can learn something with enough exposure], and Napoleon’s sense has improved a lot.

But no matter what, he wouldn’t know what works best here.

I deliberately called the people who were waiting outside to show them an example.

Jeong Yak-yong himself came and bowed deeply, as if he was very 신경쓰고 [concerned] about the situation here.

“Your Majesty! It’s truly an honor to see you again like this. It’s truly 각골난망 [unforgettable gratitude] that Your Majesty came in person and helped with the 뒷수습 [cleanup].”

“It’s okay. You guys made the best choice you could, so we have to 인정 [acknowledge] it. Of course, you have to understand that we can’t 봐주다 [go easy on] you as much as Vietnam or Manchuria because you surrendered late.”

“Of course! We’ll just do our best to serve you so that you don’t have any 불편함 [inconvenience] while you’re here. Please tell us if there’s anything you want.”

“The Grand Marshal will take care of all the 실무 [practical matters] anyway, so talk to him.”

I 쭉 비우다 [emptied] the traditional 술 [alcohol] in front of Jeong Yak-yong and 집어먹다 [picked up and ate] the kimchi as if to show off.

Jeong Yak-yong, who was watching my expression carefully, quickly asked when he thought the reaction here wasn’t too bad.

“Does the 음식 입에 맞으십니까 [Does the food suit your palate]? The one you just ate is kimchi, a 발효음식 [fermented food] that we 즐겨먹다 [enjoy eating], but if it doesn’t 입에 맞다 [suit your palate], we’ll 치우다 [remove] it right away.”

I was looking for a chance anyway, so I’m lucky that you’re 판을 깔아주다 [setting the stage] for me.

I responded to the history of the 유구한 전통과 역사를 자랑하는 Do you know kimchi 레파토리 [long tradition and history boasting ‘Do you know kimchi’ repertoire] with a prepared reaction.

“This is delicious. It’s a 별미 [special delicacy].”

I wrapped the 고기 [meat] in kimchi and put it in my mouth, and I 치켜들다 [raised] my 엄지 [thumb] so that everyone, including Jeong Yak-yong, could see.

“Kimchi! 맛있어요 [delicious]!”

“오오오 [Oh oh oh]!”

“It 입에도 맞으시군요 [It suits your palate]!”

The faces of the Republic of Korea’s 임시관료 [temporary officials], who had been 긴장하고 [nervous], brightened at this one magic word, and Napoleon 갸웃거렸다 [tilted his head] at this dramatic reaction.

Good. Now, in a few days, the story that the King of France ate kimchi and praised it will spread throughout the capital.

This will increase the favorability of France by at least two levels.

“Okay, then I’ll talk to the Grand Marshal about the 밀린 이야기 [backlogged stories], so everyone should see you at the 행사장 [event venue] tomorrow.”

“I understand! Then have a 즐거운 저녁 [pleasant evening]!”

As Jeong Yak-yong and the officials, with their 부담이 가신 [relieved] faces, 인사 [bowed], Napoleon asked in a voice full of 의문 [doubt].

“Is that really 맛있습니까 [delicious]?”

“It won’t be very 맛 [tasty] for you? But if you 볶다 [stir-fry] it with rice, it might 입에 맞다 [suit your palate].”

“But Your Majesty 드시는군요 [eats] very well.”

“Napoleon, you should know that in this country, if a foreigner 먹다 [eats] kimchi well, the 호감도 [favorability] will 폭발적으로 올라가다 [increase explosively] just by that.”

It’s an era without Super Son Heung-min, Park Ji-sung, Kim Yuna, or BTS, but the existence of kimchi remains unchanged in the future or now.

I don’t know, but the one word I just 던지다 [threw] will have had a much bigger 영향 [impact] than what Napoleon has been 뒹굴면서 작업 [struggling and working] for a few days here.

“As expected, it’s Your Majesty. You 철저히 연구하고 [thoroughly researched] before coming here.”

“Let’s just say that. But I was really 놀랐지 [surprised] something. I didn’t think you’d make the Japanese Empire a 민주정 [democracy], let alone the Korean Empire.”

I had the idea of ​​abolishing the 천황제 [Emperor system] in Japan in my head.

However, the existence of the 천황 [Emperor] was like a 민간신앙 [folk religion] in Japan, so I wasn’t sure that I could successfully 뿌리뽑다 [eradicate] this.

“I judged that Japan’s current system is an environment where 군국주의 [militarism] is easy to 싹트다 [sprout]. First of all, we should 대개조 [restructure] whether it works or not. And if the Korean Empire and the Japanese Empire become 민주정 [democracies], I thought our side could see great 이익 [benefits].”

“I’m very 놀라워 [amazed] that you 간파하다 [saw through] that.”

In fact, there was no guarantee that the Korean Empire or the Japanese Empire would run well if they became the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Republic of Japan.

No, it’s a 개판 [mess] in all likelihood.

In order for 민주정 [democracy] to be successfully 자리잡다 [established], the 의식수준 [consciousness level] of the citizens must be above a certain level.

Otherwise, it is highly likely that it will become a 변질된 민주주의 호소국 [degenerate democracy appealing nation].

Looking at the current 수준 [level] of the Korean Empire and the Japanese Empire, they cannot 제대로 굴러갈 [properly function] even if they 도입하다 [introduce] the 민주주의 제도 [democratic system].

직접선거 [Direct election] is 어불성설 [absurd], and it will not be 여의치 [easy] to have 간접선거 [indirect election] like the United States.

“The new Republic of Korea or Japan does not have the 역량 [capacity] to 스스로 민주정 [self-govern democratically]. So what should we do? For the time being, we have no choice but to go to a system where a 소수의 유능한 사람이 끌어가는 [small number of capable people lead], but this will not be easy without our 지원 [support].”

“······.”

“So, almost all the people who will lead these two countries in the future will be 유학 [studying abroad] from France and 유능한 지식인 [capable intellectuals] who see the world from the 관점 [perspective] of France. If this culture 뿌리를 내리면 [takes root] in the early stages, it is obvious what kind of 영향 [influence] it will have in the long term. You must have 그린 [drawn] this 그림 [picture], so you tried to 도입하다 [introduce] 민주정 [democracy].”

“…Of course…Hahaha…That’s what I was 노린 [aiming for].”

Ah, this guy had no 짐작 [idea] at all.

I 흘리며 [let out] a 헛웃음 [hollow laugh] and 가득 따라주다 [filled] Napoleon’s 빈 잔 [empty glass] with 술 [alcohol].

Whether it was 의도 [intentional] or not, it’s good, so let’s just 모르는 척 넘어가주다 [pretend not to know and move on] this time.