He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 185

< Diplomacy Strategy 2 >

Teo received their strong rebuttals with a relaxed expression.

“That’s an excellent point. That’s why diplomatic strategy is paramount when formulating trade policies with other countries.”

Teo looked around at the ministers and continued.

“As you mentioned, if we hastily engage in trade with Joseon [historical Korean kingdom], Qing China [historical Chinese dynasty] will worry that the Joseon Kingdom might join forces with us and potentially revolt.

Furthermore, Joseon, strongly governed by Confucian ideology, consistently adheres to a policy of refusing trade and rejects contact with foreign powers. Even if a trade table is set up with great difficulty, it could lead to war with Qing China, so the Joseon Kingdom will not readily accept our trade proposal.”

One Member of Parliament with an impressive mustache clicked his tongue and said,

“Then what on earth are you suggesting? Stop just acting confident and present a plan that allows us to trade without war!”

“The solution is simpler than you think. We just need to ‘notify’ Qing China in advance that we intend to trade with the Joseon Kingdom.”

“…Notify?”

“According to reliable information, European neighboring countries are aiming for Qing China’s vast market and are preparing to demand trade in earnest starting a few years from now. Our Commercial Economic Research Institute estimates that time to be two or three years from now.

However, Qing China will allow the purchase of their goods but will try to reject full-scale opening of ports.

Eventually, European powers will resort to armed demonstrations to force trade.

For Qing China, a very troublesome and complicated problem will arise at that time, and we can seize that opportunity.”

“Explain in more detail. What opportunity are you talking about?”

“When many countries conduct armed demonstrations in Qing China to open ports, we can make the ‘notification’ I mentioned earlier that we will trade with Joseon.

Qing China will be anxious that we, with the most powerful navy in Europe, might also rush in to demand the opening of ports.

In such a situation, notifying them that we will trade with Joseon will be welcomed by Qing China in several ways.

First, they will think of our prior notification as a request for permission, which will save their face as a great power. More importantly, they will feel relieved that one of the most concerning foreign powers has been reduced.

Of course, Qing China may still have some concerns about losing the tea market, but they will not have the leisure to worry about it, given the pressure from foreign powers bringing their ships in from all directions.

If we take the initiative to report our trade with Joseon in that way, Qing China will likely not pay much attention, thinking that we have acknowledged them as a great power.”

Several ministers immediately protested the idea of notifying Qing China first before trading.

“What nonsense is that? Why should we have to get permission from a third country, Qing China, to trade? That would be a great disgrace to the British Empire!”

“It’s not about getting permission, but merely a unilateral notification. And I don’t know how disgraceful it is, but it will be far less disgraceful than going through the cumbersome and humiliating formalities that Qing China demands for trade.

Understanding the power structure between Qing China and its neighboring countries in East Asia, and yielding a little, can avoid war and bring enormous practical benefits.”

“But, do you really think Qing China will allow it with just a ‘notification’?”

“Qing China will be under the illusion that we and the Joseon Kingdom are under their control by us notifying them about trade.

If they argue that trade between Britain and the Joseon Kingdom could harm Qing China’s interests and is therefore unacceptable, we can simply retort by saying, ‘Why would the great power, the center of the world, bother with such trivial trade and exchanges between small countries?’ That is a value they cannot argue against.

If Qing China continues to block our trade with Joseon, they will be proving themselves to be a small country rather than a great power, and they will be very ashamed even if we bring it up and question them.”

The MPs tilted their heads.

“Great power? Small country? I don’t understand. Do you really think that kind of persuasion will work? They are manipulating tea prices at will just to push out coffee. Is that the attitude of a great power?”

“That is the result of the Qing government accepting the demands of Qing traders as they are.

Conversely, if we establish a clear justification against the Qing government and assert our claims, Qing traders will no longer be able to do anything about it.

As Qing China has the consciousness of distributing their advanced goods so that they can be used, it will be difficult for them to find a clear justification to block trade between Britain and Joseon.

Moreover, they will be too preoccupied to pay attention to trade between us and Joseon, as they will be very sensitive when several European countries demand the opening of ports through armed demonstrations.”

“To think that Qing China would back down for just that one reason… I think you’re being too simplistic.”

“That is the Confucian characteristic of East Asian culture that we do not understand. The small peninsular country, the Joseon Kingdom, has been able to use that point well to be recognized by Ming [preceding dynasty to Qing] and Qing China and remain an independent country until now.

You must understand that Qing China is a country that values face and justification as a great power, and sometimes even accepts great losses in order not to be called petty.

Even if our persuasion fails and Qing China ultimately blocks trade with the Joseon Kingdom, we can strongly demand trade with Qing again.

With the situation where they have blocked trade with Joseon, Qing China will have a harder time refusing our trade demands. It’s an attempt with nothing to lose.”

“Anyway, if Qing China accepts trade with Joseon in that way, what do we do after that?”

“Once Qing China’s permission is granted, we can approach Joseon by emphasizing Qing’s permission. With Qing’s permission granted, the Joseon king will have no choice but to meet us formally.

That’s when it really matters. A delegation thoroughly trained at Teo School for at least two years will go to the Joseon Kingdom, use the Joseon language, and approach them with Joseon etiquette.

We will convey our intentions smoothly without interpreters, listen to their difficulties according to Joseon’s laws based on Confucian Wangdo politics [a benevolent and just form of governance], and help them, exchanging things one by one.

If we import tea on a large scale in a small market like Joseon, Joseon’s economic situation will improve noticeably.

As time passes, since it is an agricultural society, the demand for our British manufactured goods will naturally increase explosively, and the import of other products will gradually increase as well. We may even be able to build manufacturing plants in Joseon.

After that, we can solidify our relationship by conducting trade in various fields using unofficial channels that Qing China does not pay attention to.

Although the market size is incomparably smaller than Qing China now, Joseon Kingdom is a country with endless potential to grow into a large market if we develop it even a little.

On the other hand, even if we sign a formal trade treaty with Qing China, which has endless labor, productivity, and capital, it is very difficult for us to gain any profit.

Moreover, since Joseon has a subtle negative feeling towards Qing China, if we respect their culture, approach them, and even increase their military power, we can enjoy the effect of checking Russia and Qing China.

So, in any way you look at it, the Joseon Kingdom is no worse than Qing China.”

One of the generals asked worriedly.

“But, isn’t that too dangerous of a support? Even if we deceive Qing China’s eyes at first, we won’t be able to deceive them for long. If we support the military as you said, Count, we might end up waging war with Qing China. Can we handle it?”

At that time, European powers had no direct exchanges or wars with Qing China, so they had a vague fear of Qing China’s military power, which was shrouded in mystery.

They believed that military power would be as great as the development of sophisticated art and culture, a large population, and the prosperity of commerce.

Teo thought it was time to reveal the reality of Qing China based on the information he had collected.

“In fact, I have received a lot of detailed information about Qing China. As a result of synthesizing all of that, I have come to the conclusion that Qing China is not as strong as we thought.”

The ministers buzzed.

“Economically, most people are shabby except for some wealthy people, and the soldiers’ weapons are so poor that spears and swords are their main weapons. Even the matchlock guns and cannons they have are very old and crude.

If we provide our new weapons to the Joseon Kingdom and provide education, the situation will not be unfavorable even if Qing China and Joseon fight. Moreover, if we naturally participate as allied forces in the event of war…”

“Oh, Count Sanderson! Aren’t you overstepping too much?”

One of the defense ministers raised his voice.

“Overstepping?”

“How could a country with such a small national power have created huge buildings, porcelain, and various sophisticated scientific goods? What great trouble are you trying to cause by giving confusion with such inaccurate information?”

“I’m just telling you based on reliable information. Well, I think confirmation is always necessary.

Then I’ll make a suggestion. After all, trade with the Joseon Kingdom cannot be carried out immediately, and it will take at least two to three years for all the circumstances to be right. Within that period, we can thoroughly review whether the information I have received is true or not, and then decide.”

The powerful information network of the Economic Research Institute run by Teo is one of the best in Europe.

The defense minister had no choice but to shut his mouth at Teo’s confident claim.

When there was no more opposition, Teo took out a document.

“Trade with Qing China will only be a trade that cannot expect great benefits in the short or long term.

If we calculate the ripple effect and our benefits in the East Asian region when the Joseon Kingdom, which no one is currently interested in, gains strong economic and military power in East Asia with our help and becomes our ally…”

After that, Teo’s meticulous predictions poured out relentlessly.

Everyone was hearing about the history, culture, and characteristics of East Asia for the first time, but the story coming from Teo, who was born and raised in Korea and understood Chinese history and culture well, was bound to be persuasive.

And it made them feel that Teo and his research institute had really put a lot of thought and research into how Britain could exert influence in East Asia.

At that time, one of the MPs who was making a lot of profit from trade with Qing China asked bluntly.

“Listening to you, it’s as if you, Count, have chosen the Joseon Kingdom as your counterpart after much deliberation for the future development of your country. All right. Then how about this?”

“?”

“As Count Sanderson said, we will train and produce talents from your school for exchange with the Joseon Kingdom, but the person in charge of leading them to Joseon will be decided by the parliament among people who have nothing to do with you. Shouldn’t we guarantee objectivity in this important matter and for the sake of our country?

Frankly, many elders and aristocrats are very concerned about your actions, Count. If we leave it as it is, won’t you set up the board with all your closest aides, just like the Sanderson Treaty with France last time?”

The suspicion was that Teo was a merchant and would try to make a profit, and to do so, he would either become the head himself or plant his close aides, whom he could control, in the head position.

Moreover, it did not make sense to spend his own money on the country’s affairs and train trade and commerce talents at school.

They thought that it was impossible to do without dreaming of great profits coming to him.

King George also looked at Teo with a curious face.

However, Teo had a hidden intention in stabilizing tea prices through trade with Joseon to avoid the Opium War and laying the foundation for Joseon’s wealth and military power.

‘Yes. They are right. My unavoidable personal feelings for Joseon… It seems they feel that those feelings have been involved. But they can’t even imagine why I’m trying to help Joseon so much.’

Joseon is only busy rejecting Western civilization and being wary of them based on deeply rooted Confucian ideas, missing the opportunity for development and even losing the country.

The idea was that in order to send talents who could change such Joseon, they should not expect profits and should make generous investments.

That would take a considerable amount of time, and since it was something that had to be done even after he died, Teo had no intention of taking any immediate profits.

Teo’s plan was to create Japan’s Meiji Restoration [a period of modernization and reform in Japan] , which was really lucky, decades earlier in Joseon.

A grand picture of achieving proper reform and modernization through genuine cooperation with Britain, not forced opening of ports.

Even if he was criticized that true win-win between countries was just a naive imagination, he intended to nurture key talents who would connect them in order to achieve this dream.

However, this work had to be approached carefully under a meticulous plan, so it would take a lot of time, and Teo could not see the results during his lifetime.

Therefore, he had no desire to become the head himself or to involve his close aides in this plan.

His only goal was to focus on nurturing talents and planting the seeds of proper modernization in Joseon.

“Huh- Count Sanderson, why can’t you speak? Is there any special reason why you or your close aides should be in charge? Or is there any other ulterior motive?”

Teo answered politely, looking at Littleton, who was sneering.

“No. I’ve been thinking about what you meant by that. But after listening to you, I thought it was a very good point, so I was thinking about the method I should take.”

“So? So what’s the result of your consideration?”

“I solemnly declare before His Majesty the King that neither I nor any of my close aides will be placed in the position of responsibility in this matter with the Joseon Kingdom. Of course, I have no intention of interfering in the dispatch of the delegation.

It is to stabilize tea prices in the future, but it is a big task to look ahead 100 or 200 years for England, so there is no way or reason to take private gains.

As you said, I will only train practical talents suitable for carrying out the mission, and after that, it seems that Your Majesty and the parliament will decide on the people in charge.”

Littleton and other opposition forces were at a loss for words and embarrassed by Teo’s declaration.

The ministers and MPs, who were preparing to strongly oppose and break his will if he put in even one of his close aides like in the Sanderson Treaty, lost their justification for arguing and did not know what to do.

Then King George laughed heartily as if to say, “See that?”

“Kulkul- As expected, it’s Count Sanderson! Hehe- Did everyone see it well? Count Sanderson is really investing his own money generously for the future of his country to nurture talents, and he is not aiming for any profit!

Tell the Prime Minister and each minister to actively accept and review this excellent proposal without any selfish intentions!”

* * *

Fifteen days later, the British government’s trade policy toward East Asia began to be discussed with a focus on Joseon, not Qing China or Japan.

It was the result of Teo’s opinion being actively accepted.

As planned, Teo selected about 30 of the most talented students from Teo School, trained them as talents specialized in trade with Joseon, and decided to dispatch them to the Joseon Kingdom when the time was right.

The MPs who advocated trade with Qing China eventually stepped back and resolved to conduct specialized education at Teo School to select talents, but the head and commander to lead the Joseon trade treaty would be elected by the parliament.