I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 272

< What Happened at the Expo (2) >

Life is full of ups and downs.

The direct descendant of the Jo clan of Pungyang, one of the two most powerful families in Joseon.

The son of Jo Man-yeong and the adopted son of Jo In-yeong.

When Jo Byeong-gi rose to the position of Vice Minister of Personnel at the young age of thirty, many believed he would become a central figure in the court.

Although the Kim clan of Andong was still powerful, Kim Jwa-geun was in exile in distant Yeonggil, and Kim Heung-geun had already been dismissed once for bribery.

The only remaining uncertainty was the King’s health, but even that had recently improved, seemingly resolving all problems.

Or so he thought… Who would have imagined he would end up living in a foreign land like Kim Jwa-geun?

Initially, he believed he would simply visit Yeonggil and return.

His mission, as he understood it, was to gather information, adopt useful aspects of Western culture, discard the rest, and then return to Joseon. But he was in for a surprise.

“Consul General?”

“That’s right. Joseon’s path forward requires embracing Western culture as quickly as possible and striving for self-reliance. To achieve this, we must first reform our current inefficient system, don’t you agree?”

“But… Ambassador Kim Jwa-geun is already stationed there. Why would I need to stay in Yeonggil as a Consul General, a position I’ve never even heard of…?”

“Until now, we’ve been handling matters haphazardly due to our ignorance of this system. However, His Majesty now believes that we need to divide the work more professionally. After seeing it for myself, I’m convinced His Majesty is correct.”

If that were the case, why didn’t Kim Heung-geun remain in the position himself? He was informed that the Consul was nominally under the Ambassador, so if the Second State Councilor were present, the hierarchy would become confusing.

He also mentioned that becoming Joseon’s first Consul General was a great honor, but Jo Byeong-gi, unfamiliar with the role of a Consul, was simply bewildered.

“So, you’re saying we need to clearly separate the vaguely combined embassy and consulate, assigning the ambassador to ambassadorial duties and the consul to consular duties?”

“Yes, you understand perfectly.”

“…Isn’t this a way to confine the Pungyang Jo clan’s power to Yeonggil, just as the Andong Kim clan’s power is rooted there?”

“Hmph, you lack a broader perspective. Haven’t you learned anything from touring the expo? No country in Europa [Europe] is ahead of Joseon. Do you still consider becoming the first Consul General of Yeonggil [England], one of the leading powers in Europa, as exile? If you’re so unenthusiastic, I’ll promptly ask His Majesty to appoint someone else, perhaps a promising young man from our family.”

After considering his words, Jo Byeong-gi realized he might be right, and stammered.

The King’s direct appointment of Jo Byeong-gi as Consul General suggested a deeper motive.

He had initially assumed the Pungyang Jo clan was being exiled as part of an impartiality policy, similar to the Andong Kim clan’s situation, but now it seemed to be the opposite.

‘If I can monopolize all connections in Yeonggil, His Majesty might be able to counter the influence of the Andong Kim clan… no, Kim Jwa-geun.’

It wasn’t an exile to quell dissent, but a strategic personnel arrangement to maintain the balance of power?

Jo Byeong-gi quickly calculated the implications.

He now understood that modernization was not an option but a necessity for survival.

In other words, Joseon would become a battleground over the direction of modernization and who would lead the charge.

In that environment, wouldn’t someone with years of experience in Yeonggil [England], the world’s strongest power, and established connections with local officials wield significant influence?

Frankly, even if he stayed for ten years, he would still be just over forty.

He decided to consider it an investment in the future and dedicate the next ten years to this role.

Yes. Shouldn’t a talent capable of managing the country play on a larger stage?

Finally, Jo Byeong-gi, the Vice Minister of Personnel, was metaphorically dead, and a new person named Jo Byeong-gi, the Korean Consul General to the United Kingdom, was reborn and embarked on his first mission in earnest.

“Ugh! What is this!”

-Since there are almost no Koreans residing in the UK, you will be in charge of the expo under the direction of the ambassador.

Isn’t this just a glorified errand boy?

Promoting Joseon at the expo was originally part of his responsibilities, so he had no complaints, but he refused to be a mere figurehead.

“And this kind of promotional work can be done by anyone…”

Jo Byeong-gi picked up and skimmed through the introductory materials intended for distribution to dignitaries from various countries at the Joseon Pavilion.

It contained a brief description of Joseon, but nothing particularly noteworthy…

“Huh? What’s this?”

Were they really planning to distribute this?

“At this point, this is practically inviting conflict… Was I not just being given leftovers, but being used as a shield? Damn it. I’ve been tricked by the Andong Kim clan!”

He had suspected something from the banquet hall, but if this was the case, he needed to take charge himself.

Or perhaps, having the Consul General handle it instead of the Ambassador was a stronger demonstration of Joseon’s resolve.

His thirty years, though short, had instilled in him Confucian values that now clashed with reality, but what the heck, you only live once (or twice, in this case, metaphorically speaking).

Even as a high-ranking official, a bureaucrat follows orders.

In fact, when else would a Confucian scholar from Joseon have the opportunity to speak so boldly in front of Qing China [historical name for China]?

Jo Byeong-gi closed his eyes and decided to embrace the opportunity to the fullest.

* * *

It was gratifying to see the event he had been preparing for so long progressing smoothly.

The initial awkwardness was noticeable, but no unmanageable incidents occurred.

The expo grounds were teeming with people.

The crowd was so immense that it seemed like almost all of London’s citizens were present.

People flocked not only from London but also from across the UK, and the presence of foreigners suggested that the first day was a resounding success.

The most popular destination was, unsurprisingly, the British Empire Pavilion.

It showcased cutting-edge technology and works of art.

Even the oldest diamond in the world was on display.

The Koh-i-Noor [a large, colorless diamond], a priceless treasure believed to grant its owner dominion over the world, drew ambassadors and dignitaries from nearly every country, including the UK, for at least one visit.

Looking at the next most popular attractions, Prussia and France were engaged in fierce competition.

However, despite a similar start, the gap eventually began to widen.

France was taking the lead.

“Your Highness Killian! Please try this. These are Bordeaux wines [wine from the Bordeaux region of France] that have been selected as the highest grade in the newly classified grading system.”

“Oh… is this Château Margaux [a prestigious wine estate in Bordeaux]?”

“Yes. Your Highness may have already tasted the finest wines, but we have clearly categorized the grades of wine this time for clarity. And here is Château d’Yquem [another prestigious wine estate], the only Premier Cru Supérieur [highest classification] in the Sauternes district [wine region in France]. We would like to offer you a bottle as a special gift.”

“Hahaha, you shouldn’t have. Thank you for the drink.”

It felt a bit like cheating, but they weren’t doing anything illegal, and they claimed they were promoting their wine, so what could he do?

He should thank them for the drink and offer his honest impressions.

While ordinary people could only observe, the presence of VVIPs [very very important people] from various countries naturally influenced the general public.

“Seeing that His Highness Killian is there, the French must have something amazing to offer?”

“Wow… look at the clothes.”

“France definitely has class. How can it be so fancy?”

Their strategy involved attracting dignitaries with wine and captivating ordinary people with elegant fashion and art.

Prussia might want to accuse those despicable Elan [a derogatory term for the French] of unfair competition, but the gap was widening so rapidly that France would easily secure second place in visitor numbers.

So, what about the United States and Spain?

Spain seemed to be focused on attracting visitors like other countries, but the United States was taking a completely different approach.

“Your Highness. As you instructed, we have agents disguised in the Spanish and American pavilions.”

“Were there any noteworthy findings?”

“There wasn’t much to report about the United States. If I had to mention something, it would be that the United States’ technology is surprisingly advanced. They had many products with innovative ideas. It seems much more promising than Spain, which is merely showcasing colonial relics.”

“Was that all?”

“No. That was regarding the United States Pavilion, but the Spanish Pavilion was slightly different. I noticed it because I was constantly observing it, but some individuals were consistently monitoring the Spanish Pavilion. Initially, I assumed they were simply looking around, but they didn’t seem interested in the relics and were instead observing the parts showcasing Spain’s technology and the dignitaries visiting the Spanish Pavilion.”

He knew it.

He had created a significant amount of anxiety, so wouldn’t American analysts be closely scrutinizing Spain to thoroughly dissect, analyze, and exploit any weaknesses?

Everything was proceeding as expected.

While Europe was engaged in an indirect battle of pride over visitor numbers rather than open conflict, the main event was unfolding in Asia.

However, unexpected events always occurred, and some participants were performing better than anticipated.

“Come to the Japan Pavilion!”

“Fun ninja experience! Cool samurai experience!”

“Become the samurai who slays the Oni [demon]! Experience various swordsmanship techniques yourself!”

Qing China and Joseon had also prepared diligently, but the unexpected dark horse, Japan, was attracting the most attention.

It seemed more like a circus than an expo, but it wasn’t just a simple circus; it was an interactive one.

Samurai and ninja cosplay experiences? It was irresistible.

Especially for Europeans experiencing Eastern culture for the first time, it was bound to pique their curiosity.

They were incredibly skilled at this kind of thing.

But could they please remove that picture of Susanoo [a Shinto god], who suspiciously resembled him, shaking hands with the goddess Amaterasu [a major deity in Japanese mythology], who clearly symbolized Japan?

He couldn’t believe they still hadn’t given up on that.

Judging from their lack of explicit statements, it seemed there had been internal discussions, but the persistence suggested a strong directive from someone in a higher position.

But after all, a famous feast must have some drama.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! There’s a commotion near the Joseon and Qing China pavilions!”

“A commotion?”

“Yes. They say there was a fight… I think you should go and take a look.”

If it was a clash between the two countries, not just ordinary visitors, it was only natural that he, as the chief of the expo, should investigate, right?

He had wondered when it would erupt, and it seemed the information had finally reached Qing China’s ears? Excellent.

Following the guide, he approached the Joseon Pavilion and found it surrounded by a buzzing crowd, as expected.

“What is Joseon’s intention in distributing this!”

“Distributing what? We are simply following the normal expo schedule. What are you complaining about?”

“Complaining! Look at this!”

From a distance, he could see the Qing China ambassador, Guo Chongdao, waving a piece of paper and shouting, his neck veins bulging.

He was an ambassador representing a country, yet he was losing his composure to such an extent.

He had heard rumors, but he had never seen the final document, so he skimmed through the English text.

[We want to know. What kind of country is Joseon?

Hello everyone, strong and powerful morning, if someone asks, we are Joseon.

Joseon is an independent country. 5000 years of history. We recognize the Emperor of the Great Heavenly Dynasty [referring to the Qing Dynasty], Her Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Joseon-United Kingdom Treaty of Amity, formally establishing diplomatic relations.

God Save the Queen, the British Empire is an empire, Joseon is a kingdom…]

Well, aside from the awkward phrasing resulting from translation, the key message was clear.

With this official document disguised as an introduction, Joseon had declared its independence from Qing China’s influence to all the countries of Europe.

The execution was certainly effective.

The rage button had been successfully pressed.