I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 251

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire – Episode 251

The atmosphere in the court is heavy.

The high-ranking officials were just watching the King, reluctant to open their mouths, after receiving the urgent response delivered by a rider who had pushed his horse mercilessly to the point of near collapse.

Someone had to bravely criticize the outrageous arrogance of Kirian Kwae, but no one had the guts to do so.

Because if they did, they might be attacked with, “So, you’re saying we should go to war with England right now?” and that would be a one-way ticket to exile.

“…He said to come to Dongnae.”

“Your Majesty, Dongnae is too far. Even with the royal physicians and nurses taking special care, it could put a serious strain on your health.”

“That’s right! Jemulpo would be one thing, but Dongnae is out of the question!”

“But isn’t it impossible for their warships to change course to Jemulpo?”

In fact, Kirian’s argument wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

With the war in Europe still ongoing, he said he didn’t have the time or luxury to receive a grand welcome all the way in Hanseong [the capital of Joseon]. What could we say to that?

Moreover, since the ship was coming from the Maritime Province, going to Jemulpo would require circling around the entire Korean Peninsula.

Since he already said he couldn’t come to Hanseong due to lack of time, suggesting a meeting in Jemulpo didn’t make sense in the first place.

“Your Majesty! But you are the ruler of this Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom]. Therefore, there is no one in this land who you should have to visit in person!”

“But isn’t Kirian’s point somewhat valid?”

If we had suggested the meeting and received the reply, “You’re not important enough, so you come here,” it would be reasonable to consider that an insult.

However, Kirian clearly stated that he couldn’t come to Hanseong due to time constraints because the war in Europe wasn’t over.

He was giving us the choice, saying he could wait a day in Dongnae if we really wanted to meet, passing the decision to us.

In a way, it was a very clever method, but diplomacy is inherently clever.

If you twist it, it’s petty, but if you look at it favorably, you could say it’s skillful.

In any case, since there was no justifiable reason to object, Joseon had only two options.

Politely decline, saying it was a shame there wasn’t enough time, and postpone the opportunity to the next time.

Or, acknowledge their circumstances and offer consideration by traveling to Dongnae in person.

Normally, choosing the former would be correct, but the problem was that Lee Hwan didn’t have the luxury of waiting.

The thought that he might close his eyes in two or three years at most, or even next year if it was short, was growing stronger, so how could he wait any longer?

Considering his current health, traveling to and from Dongnae could be quite a burden, but he also wanted to take this opportunity to breathe in some fresh air and see the world outside the palace.

“Minister of Rites, would it really tarnish Joseon’s dignity so much if I… no, if I were to travel down to Dongnae?”

“It is certainly unprecedented.”

“Could it not be seen as a heartwarming tale that further solidifies the alliance between our two nations if I were to travel to Dongnae out of consideration for the British envoy’s inability to spare the time?”

“That… I suppose it could be seen that way.”

Words can be twisted to mean anything, so if we frame it as a heartwarming tale showcasing Joseon’s generosity, that would be the end of it.

“And I sometimes think this. I am the King of Joseon, yet the only Joseon land I have seen with my own eyes is the area inside the four gates and the vicinity of Hanseong. Wouldn’t it be good if I could travel down to that distant place and see Joseon’s territory with my own eyes?”

“Your Majesty, please punish us, your ministers, for not understanding your heart that cares for the nation and its people!”

“Why would I blame you? If you have time to blame yourselves, focus on preparing for the trip to Dongnae.”

If he could imprint the beauty of Joseon’s land in his eyes one last time and secure the future of this land, he could say he had fulfilled his duty as king before departing.

Although he was a bit uneasy about what would happen afterward, he had no choice but to trust that Kim Jwa-geun and the other ministers were capable.

In Kim Jwa-geun’s case, his ambition was a bit concerning, but he wouldn’t be able to return from England for the time being, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.

More than anything, the thought of seeing the rumored person of interest in person filled him with anticipation.

I’ll go to meet you, whether it’s Dongnae or anywhere else.

I only hope it won’t be a disappointing encounter.

* * *

-We will travel to Dongnae in person, considering the British envoy’s busy schedule.

I was half-expecting it, but I never thought they would actually give such a reply.

I really feel how terrifying the butterfly effect of history is.

That Joseon is showing such a flexible response.

Of course, this is likely entirely due to Heonjong’s will, so should I interpret this as him wanting to see me so badly that he’s going to such lengths?

If I try to guess what kind of discussion he wants to have, there are so many plausible possibilities that I can’t pinpoint just one.

Still, I thought there was a low chance that the king would actually come all the way from Hanseong to Dongnae, but I can’t believe they’re really going to push this through.

I was just making excuses to politely decline, but now I have no choice but to meet him.

“Your Excellency, where will you be having the conversation with the King of Joseon? They are suggesting we meet inside Dongnae Fortress.”

“What is your opinion, Captain? You are the de facto commander of the military, so we must follow your opinion here.”

“To be honest, I am against going inside, unless it is a port immediately adjacent to the warship. I cannot guarantee that we will be able to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.”

“But the king of an allied nation is coming in person. Surely that won’t happen.”

“That’s true, but… ahem.”

For some reason, Captain William’s cough sounded like the word “Qing Dynasty” [the last imperial dynasty of China]. Am I just imagining things?

Well, considering there is a country in Asia that has allied with us and then betrayed us, it’s no wonder that there is a part of them that doesn’t trust them.

“So, Captain, are you suggesting that we welcome the King of Joseon on our ship?”

“Yes. In any case, this is not a properly agreed-upon meeting, but rather a somewhat impromptu meeting, so it will be difficult for us to completely ensure His Majesty’s safety unless it is inside the ship.”

“That makes sense. Although it is uncertain how the Joseon side will react.”

Even though they came all the way to Dongnae to meet me, if we tell them to come aboard a British warship instead of Joseon land, Joseon is likely to take it as a clear insult.

Of course, it’s not like we don’t have a justification for this.

As Captain William said, there is the icon of distrust that is the Qing Dynasty, so the officers are anxious.

If we say this, the Joseon side can’t say that we are different from the Qing Dynasty, so it becomes difficult to refute.

And Captain William didn’t say it, but welcoming the King of Joseon on a British ship also had the meaning of indirectly revealing the power dynamic between the two countries.

Whether the British envoy gets off the ship and meets the king on Joseon land.

Or the King of Joseon comes aboard the ship, which is British territory, to meet the envoy.

It’s only a difference of a few dozen steps, but these few dozen steps make a decisive difference in diplomacy.

Wouldn’t it be appropriate to describe it as a tug-of-war of pride between the side trying to show its superiority in power and the side trying to resist?

As for me, now that Heonjong has come all the way to Dongnae, I don’t mind going down to meet him, but as the British envoy, I have a duty to prioritize the interests of my country as much as possible.

First, we should tell them to use this flagship as the venue for the meeting. They will naturally say no, so don’t react emotionally and listen to their demands and relay them to me.

“Understood!”

One way or another, I can’t help but feel a sense of novelty at the thought of meeting the King of Joseon in person.

Considering my past life, it’s inevitable that I would feel this way.

Of course, it wasn’t a feeling of affection, but a feeling of 100% pure wonder, which made me look forward to the upcoming meeting even more.

It’s a different feeling than when I met the Shogun or the Tenno in Japan.

Will he really wear the same dragon robe that I saw in historical dramas?

From such trivial questions to the somewhat important question of how distant Heonjong and I are as relatives.

While waiting for the King of Joseon, my thoughts continued to snowball.

* * *

Although the concerns of his subjects were strong, Heonjong’s health did not deteriorate as much as expected on the way to Dongnae.

Rather, getting out of the stuffy palace and taking in the outside air and walking around a bit seemed to have helped, and his body felt a little lighter than before.

Of course, it’s not like his health has recovered, it’s just that someone who was on the verge of death has improved to the point of being very ill.

Still, he visited various places along the way, enjoyed the beautiful natural scenery, and entered the town fortress to the enthusiastic welcome of the Dongnae governor and the common people, and he couldn’t feel more refreshed.

“What? Kirian Kwae said to hold the meeting on their warship?”

If the tactless Dongnae governor had said this a little later, the refreshing feeling would have lasted longer, but it’s a pity.

“Yes. Envoy Kirian wanted to enter the town fortress, but he said it was difficult because his soldiers were too worried and dissuading him.”

“No, we are allies. Are you saying they don’t trust their allies?”

“That is because of the incident with the Qing Dynasty [the last imperial dynasty of China] last time, so the commanders are being extremely cautious.”

“Tsk, this damn Qing Dynasty is useless now.”

“Your Majesty! How can you say such a disrespectful thing….”

Perhaps he never imagined that the king would openly criticize Qing.

Not only the Dongnae governor but also the ministers who came with him turned pale.

But to him, who had already decided on the direction Joseon would take in the future, it didn’t matter whether Qing gnashed its teeth or lost its hair listening to his words.

“Why, isn’t that so? Because of the Qing Dynasty, our Joseon, which has maintained its principles and center, is now labeled as an untrustworthy Asian country.”

“Your Majesty! That is disrespectful.”

“We must take this opportunity to show that our Joseon is different from them. By the way, a meeting on a ship? Where is there enough space on a cramped ship to have a leisurely conversation…”

Lee Hwan, who was looking down at the distant harbor and clicking his tongue, closed his mouth at the magnificent sight before him.

So, that. Is that what the British are calling a ship?

It’s fundamentally different from the ship that the Ministry of War showed him when he went on a cruise on the Han River, boasting that it was a proud Joseon navy.

They operate not just one but several of those and travel around the world, so I immediately understood why England is the strongest empire in the world.

Qing Dynasty? Who were they? I think my memory is already fading.

“A meeting on that ship…”

“Your Majesty, I will reject it right now.”

“Ah, no. Didn’t I say that I would personally prove that we are different from the Qing Dynasty? So, why don’t we accommodate them for now? And I want to go up on that big, magnificent ship.”

“…Yes?”

The Minister of Rites, who was dragged along almost forcibly, as well as the Dongnae governor, turned to him with bewildered faces.

“Don’t you want to ride on that? If not, stay here. I’ll go alone.”

“Ah, no, Your Majesty!”

“How can we not follow you when you are going, Your Majesty?”

Lee Hwan clearly saw the two men, who were hastily bowing their heads, glancing sideways at the magnificent warship of the British Empire.

That’s right, these guys also wanted to ride it at least once in their hearts.

“All of this is the fault of the Qing Dynasty, so the historian should record it as such.”

It’s so comfortable to act as you please.

Leaving behind the historian who was blankly moving his hand and recording, Lee Hwan slowly walked towards the giant ship where Kirian was waiting.

“Well, let’s go meet a relative who has come from afar. He said he only has one day to wait, so we should hurry, shouldn’t we?”

Nothing is as unpredictable as someone who has nothing to lose.