I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 250

Inviting dignitaries from other countries involves a strict procedure.

Even Joseon [historical Korean kingdom], which did not have frequent exchanges with foreign countries, was no exception.

Since ancient times, when envoys came from Ming [Chinese dynasty] or Qing [another Chinese dynasty], it was traditional to set up a reception office to serve guests without the slightest negligence.

There was a prevailing attitude that the dignity of the host was revealed depending on how the distinguished guests were treated, so it was unthinkable to neglect this process.

However, the Ministry of Rites, which had only welcomed envoys from Qing or, at best, the shogunate [Japanese military government], was taken aback by the sudden order from the King.

“Your Majesty… are you saying that you will summon Killian and bring him here to Hanseong [old name for Seoul]?”

“That’s right.”

“…Killian Quai is a relative of the Joseon royal family, but he is also an agent and royal secretary of the English Queen. The problem is that there are no established protocols on how to treat him because there has never been anyone with such a status visiting Joseon before.”

“Then shouldn’t we create a new one for this occasion?”

“That… as you know, establishing new norms inevitably requires numerous discussions. Realistically, time is too short.”

At the words of Minister of Rites Park Won-young, the other officials of the Ministry of Rites desperately nodded, expressing their agreement.

In fact, the issue of how to treat Killian was a perfect matter to provoke another Yesong Dispute [a political debate in Joseon about royal mourning rituals].

If you were to ask in the throne room right now what level of courtesy Killian should be greeted with, everyone would have a different opinion.

But how can we summon Killian when opinions are not unified?

If we commit a discourtesy, who will take responsibility for the aftermath?

“Minister Ye, shouldn’t we just think simply? It seems like we can treat him as if a prince of Qing or Ming came in the past.”

“A prince, you say…”

“Your Majesty, there has never been a precedent for a prince-level person visiting the country.”

“So, I’m saying to create norms assuming that.”

Although it varied depending on the era, when Joseon had conflicts with the Central Plains [historical term for China], the King usually received treatment as a Gunwang [a type of Chinese nobility title], and when there were no conflicts, he received treatment as a prince.

During the Ming Dynasty, even the Minister of Public Works, which corresponds to Joseon’s Minister, came and received some treatment.

However, since he could never rise above the level of a prince, treating Killian Quai as equal to a prince of Qing meant placing him on the same level as the King of Joseon.

Since the King, of all people, said this, the other officials bowed without saying anything for the time being.

However, unlike the King, the heads of those who had to handle the actual work were spinning.

No one opened their mouths, but it was so natural that as soon as the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Rites came out of the throne room, they went into their conference room.

Minister of Rites Park Won-young, along with the Vice Minister, Councilors, and Jeongrang [a rank in Joseon bureaucracy] and Jwarang [another rank in Joseon bureaucracy], who had heard the news and rushed over, took their seats in a row.

“His Majesty wants to meet Killian Quai in person. And he asked how it would be to treat him with the courtesy of a Qing prince, so let’s discuss this part first and move on.”

“Putting Killian Quai on par with a prince means putting the Queen of England on the same level as the Emperor?”

“There is some basis for that. As far as I know, when England won the war with Qing, they demanded that their Queen be recognized as having the right to be treated the same as the Emperor.”

“So, Qing recognized it first, so we can just accept it.”

It may seem like a trivial matter, but etiquette differs greatly depending on whether there is such clear evidence.

If there was even a slight deficiency, the Pungyang Jo clan [influential Joseon clan] or the Andong Kim clan [another influential Joseon clan] would rise up like a swarm of bees and cause a fuss, demanding that the Minister of Rites, who had tarnished Joseon’s prestige, be exiled.

“Fortunately, Qing gave us an excuse, so it seems like there won’t be much trouble treating Killian as a prince. The problem is time. First, we need to immediately set up a reception office and prepare thoroughly so that there is not a single moment of negligence from Gyeongseong [old name for Seoul], Hamgyeong-do [province in North Korea] to Hanseong, but I would like to hear your opinions on whether this is possible.”

“Your Excellency, time is too short. If it’s a prince-level person, we have to treat him with a higher level of courtesy than any envoy Joseon has ever welcomed, but how is that possible?”

Usually, the scale of banquets and welcoming ceremonies provided by Joseon differed depending on the status of the envoys.

In the case of envoys sent by the Lord of Tsushima [Japanese island], they were either dealt with at the level of the Dongnae magistrate [local official] or, even if they came to Hanseong, they were sent back at the level of the Minister of Rites without even seeing the King’s face.

On the other hand, when a minister of the level of Minister of Public Works from the Ming Dynasty came, banquets were held every day from Uiju [city in North Korea], and the chief of the reception office would personally come out to greet them.

It is said that if the envoy liked to play with women, they would secretly entertain him with carefully selected courtesans, so that says it all.

In other words, there must be enough time to investigate not only our preparations but also their tastes and preferences.

However, the Ministry of Rites had too little information about Killian.

“If Lord Kim Jwa-geun were here, we could have asked for advice…”

“Um… Your Excellency, but.”

The Minister of Rites, who was worried, turned his head at the voice of Kim Won-sik, a Jeong6-品 Jwarang [official rank] of the Ministry of Rites, who carefully opened his mouth.

“Do you have any good ideas?”

“No. It’s not that I have a good opinion, but I wanted to say that there is something we need to consider first.”

“Consider? What are you considering?”

“That… will Killian Quai come just because we call him?”

“……”

Silence filled the room for a moment.

A heavy silence continued in which no one opened their mouths, but just by looking at their expressions, I could tell that everyone felt the same way.

Now that I hear it, that’s right?

No, why didn’t the officials in the throne room, including myself, consider this possibility?

Killian Quai is of Joseon blood.

So, it seems like the thought that he would come if the King called him because he wanted to see him was too obvious.

Whatever the case, if you are a Joseon person, you will regard being invited by the King as the greatest honor.

However, when viewed coldly, there was a high possibility that Killian would not.

If we ask a prince of Qing to come because our King wants to see him, what kind of reaction would he show?

“…What if they refuse?”

“Then should we start by thinking about how to deal with that?”

Before setting up a reception office, we need to carefully consider whether we can even set it up.

In the end, is it overtime again today?

As someone sighed and started organizing the possible scenarios, the others naturally got up from their seats and started working.

It was a move that personally proved that the Ministry of Rites was called the mecca of overwork and night shifts for no reason.

Please, out of pity for us, may Killian send a clear answer.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites could only wish and pray that their silent cry would reach him in the Maritime Province [region of Russia near the Sea of Japan].

* * *

National diplomacy and politics, unlike what it seems on the surface, have their own meanings in even seemingly trivial actions and conversations.

In this era, where aristocratic thinking that values ​​pride and honor remains firmly, it was especially more, not less.

Even in the modern 21st century, when the country’s pride and prestige are at stake, even normal people’s eyes turn upside down, how would it be now?

The charge of tarnishing the country’s honor was not just an act of displeasure, but a really serious reason for guilt in 19th century society.

So, when I, a member of the royal family, am involved with other countries, I have no choice but to pay attention to every single action and word.

Whether by choice or by force, it was my duty as a member of the royal family and royal secretary to establish the prestige of the world’s strongest British Empire.

The reason why I took all kinds of T-bagging photos [crude gesture of dominance] while occupying Vladivostok [Russian port city] is not completely unrelated to this.

In fact, the sailors were also reveling in the joy of the victor, shouting about the proud British Empire and getting drunk on national pride.

Lee Beom-gyu came to find me after hearing the urgent order from Joseon, when I was enjoying this atmosphere to the fullest and preparing to leave the Maritime Province.

“…I think I misheard, what did you say?”

“Yes. So, His Majesty wants to see Your Highness…”

So, the Your Highness who wants to meet is the King of Joseon, and the Your Highness who is the object of the meeting is referring to me?

Did I understand correctly?

“Why does the King of Joseon want me?”

“Actually, Your Highness Killian has already been to Qing and has been invited by the shogunate to see the Shogun [military dictator of Japan] and the Emperor of Japan in person, right? But you have never been to Joseon…”

“No. If you only count the period of stay, I have been in Joseon the longest. I rolled around there for several years when I was young.”

“Ah, so what I mean is after Your Highness became Your Highness…”

He couldn’t finish his words and was just looking at my expression, it seems like he is hesitating because he doesn’t know what kind of answer I will give.

“The reason I didn’t go to Joseon was because there was no particular reason to do so. It’s the same now. I don’t know if there is a specific reason why I should visit Joseon.”

“That, that’s right?”

“But what is the reason you want to see me?”

“Who in Joseon wouldn’t be curious about Your Highness? His Majesty is no exception.”

So, because they are very curious about who I am, they want me to come quietly and show my face?

I don’t really feel like it.

“So, are you telling me to come to Hanseong because I was invited, say hello to the King, and go back?”

“Ah, no! That’s… not it. It’s not that intention, but if Your Highness goes to Europe, you don’t know when you will come to Asia again, so they want to meet you at least once this time. It’s definitely not an impure intention to tell Your Highness to come!”

“Well, I guess so. You have to.”

If you didn’t come to your senses and showed a crazy perception of reality, saying that since I, the King, called you, you should come to meet me, the good atmosphere would have suddenly turned cold, right?

Come to think of it, who is the current King of Joseon?

There is no mention that he died young and was replaced, so is he still Heonjong [Joseon King]? But as far as I know, Heonjong should already be dead by now.

Seeing that this is off, it seems that the current King of Joseon is holding out a little longer than in the original history.

Anyway, Joseon, Joseon.

I was thinking of going back someday, but now is not a good time.

First of all, it was not a good choice to go to Joseon and act like I was being treated while the Crimean War [war fought primarily in Crimea] was not over.

My image is so good that such a thing would not happen, but there may be criticism that I am being treated in Joseon while the soldiers of our allies are dying in Europe.

Given the nature of humans who like to find fault, it may be listed in a line in the Killian/Evaluation/Negative Evaluation section of the Wiki someday in the distant future, right?

Besides, it is not in line with the emotions of this side for me, the royal secretary of the British Empire, to go because the King of Joseon told me to come.

The correct procedure is to lay out a proper table and beg me to come, and then I will bestow my mercy and visit.

But how dare the King of Joseon try to call me to Hanseong because he wants to see me.

Absolutely not.

“I’m sorry to say this, but the war hasn’t ended yet and I have to go to Europe right away, so I don’t think I have time to go to Hanseong.”

I said it indirectly, but Lee Beom-gyu’s face turned white at the firm refusal.

“Still, if you could spare even a day or two…”

“If this was the West Sea [Yellow Sea], it would have been possible to spare some time through Jemulpo [old name for Incheon], but isn’t this the East Sea [Sea of Japan] where we are now? What, are you telling me to get off in Gangwon-do [province in South Korea] and cross the mountains to Hanseong?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Of course, others would have refused without any value, but I am still a relative of the Joseon royal family, right?

If you really want to see me, I should give you at least a minimum opportunity, right?

“Still, since the King of Joseon says he wants to see me, it wouldn’t be right to refuse completely. Let’s see… considering the schedule, the only time I can spare is about a day. I’ll be waiting for one day while receiving supplies in Dongnae [area of Busan]. If that’s okay then, let’s meet once.”

Whether the King of Joseon tells me to come or not, I will not change my route even one step.

If you want to see me, you come.

At this definite answer, Lee Beom-gyu bowed politely without saying a word and stepped back.

Still, I generously didn’t tell him to come all the way to the Maritime Province and pointed out a meeting place within Joseon territory, right?

If the Emperor of Qing had told me to come, he would have sent a ship and told me to come to London, but where is this?

No matter how I think about it, my only weakness is that I am deeply considerate of my relatives.

It’s a big problem that I’m so soft-hearted.