I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 221

Dasan Jeong Yak-yong began to seriously study Western books the year after he entered Sungkyunkwan [the Joseon Dynasty’s highest educational institution].

It was a novel shock, but at the time, the gap between the West and the East hadn’t yet widened to an insurmountable level.

Rather, what truly surprised him was not their technology but their reformative ideology.

His real goal was to broaden his holistic thinking through engagement with ideologies and studies completely different from those of the East.

Therefore, Jeong Yak-yong’s knowledge of the West wasn’t as comprehensive as the court perceived.

In the first place, how could he fully embrace new knowledge after being exiled to the countryside of Gangjin for so many years?

The shock that Jeong Yak-yong experienced upon first seeing the black, steam-spewing ship sent by the French was no different from Seo Yong-bo’s.

He had never imagined that a ship could move without the power of wind or oars.

“To think that the barbarians’ strange sorcery has developed to this extent…”

“It’s not sorcery; it’s technology.”

“Ha, you seem quite pleased to see the barbarians doing well. You must think you were right, and everyone else was wrong, huh?”

“To be honest, I’m more worried. The information I had heard previously seems to be quite different…”

The reason Seo Yong-bo harbored ill feelings towards Jeong Yak-yong was that Jeong Yak-yong had previously pointed out Seo Yong-bo’s mismanagement of the local magistrates.

Because of this, Seo Yong-bo, fearing dismissal from his position, relentlessly attacked Jeong Yak-yong after King Jeongjo, who had favored Jeong Yak-yong, passed away.

“Prime Minister Seo, let’s put aside our old grievances for a moment. Don’t you feel anything even when looking at this ship?”

“There he goes again, acting all high and mighty.”

“Hasn’t the Prime Minister seen the ‘Map of the Myriad Countries’ [a world map introduced to Korea by Jesuit missionaries]? At that time, we learned that this world is much bigger and wider than we previously thought. Moreover, the world map shown by the French diplomat this time was much more precise and eerily neat than the previous maps.”

“…That’s true.”

“Their rate of development is that fast, to the point of far exceeding our imagination.”

The Joseon delegation was able to reach the port of Marseille after a long voyage.

Jeong Yak-yong and Seo Yong-bo physically realized that the maps they had seen were not wrong.

The West and the East were dizzyingly far apart.

In other words, the Western armies had enough resources and logistical capability to defeat the Qing armies even after traveling such a distance.

The more they learned, the more they felt a growing sense of crisis.

And that feeling peaked when they disembarked at the port and saw a huge, elongated structure they had never heard of.

“Welcome! Delegates from Joseon. If you take this train, we will comfortably transport you to Paris.”

“Train?”

“The official name is steam locomotive. Actually, I don’t know the machine’s structure in detail, but you can think of it as a huge automatic carriage.”

“Following the ship, even the carriage moves automatically… and such a large one at that.”

Jeong Yak-yong and Seo Yong-bo clicked their tongues and entered the VIP room that the French diplomat directed them to.

Soon, as this huge structure began to move on its own with a piercing roar they had never heard before, the two men’s surprise doubled.

“Good heavens… it really moves?”

“And it’s much faster than a carriage?”

“If we fill this with food or people and operate it… I’m starting to understand little by little why the barbarians defeated Qing.”

“Prime Minister, as I said last time…”

“Ahem. Although their strange sorcery is truly amazing, don’t you know that excessive focus on 기술 [skill/technique] without a firm foundation will only confuse society?”

*Is he trying to stifle reform with this kind of nonsense again?*

Of course, I understood why they were being so passive.

You can’t simply import technology literally if you want to introduce it.

Inevitably, new ideas will enter, and based on that, various voices will spread throughout society.

The vested interests couldn’t help but worry that such changes might shake the social system.

It’s not just about protecting one’s own interests, but also because truly negative changes could occur.

If I strongly insist here, I’ll only upset Seo Yong-bo more.

Jeong Yak-yong, having decided to change his strategy, looked around the VIP room and changed the subject.

“By the way, it seems we’re not the only ones who have arrived here. Aren’t those people in the front from Wa [an old term for Japan]?”

“Did they really receive envoys from all the neighboring countries of Qing? Surely they’re not thinking of becoming a new 天子 [Son of Heaven, the Chinese Emperor] and receiving our 入朝 [tribute mission]?”

“Didn’t they already make an 約條 [agreement] with Qing that they wouldn’t? But it certainly doesn’t seem like an ordinary matter. Not only Wa, but also Đại Việt (Vietnam), Champa (South Vietnam), Myanma (Myanmar), 인니 (Indonesia), etc. It seems like they’re sending people from all sorts of places.”

“What they’re thinking as they come here seems quite important too…”

Currently, Joseon basically doesn’t trade with countries other than Qing or Wa.

Therefore, it’s not easy to approach other VIP rooms and gather information.

Fortunately, perhaps because they were thinking similarly, the envoy from Wa cautiously approached and greeted them.

“Greetings. So Joseon also sent a 通信使 [Goodwill Envoy].”

“It’s a pleasure to meet an envoy from a country that has 交流 [exchange] in this distant land. I am Seo Yong-bo, who is responsible for this delegation.”

“If it isn’t Seo Yong-bo, a 重臣 [high-ranking official] who is currently serving as the Right State Councillor of Joseon. It is an honor to meet you in a place like this. I am Kondo, who has been entrusted with this delegation by the 将軍 [Shogun].”

“To recognize me by name alone, you must be quite interested in the political situation of other countries?”

“Aren’t Joseon and we close neighbors right next to each other? Hahaha.”

Even so, the fact that a reaction came out as soon as they heard the name is proof that they have been investigating that hard.

Then perhaps they know more useful information.

Jeong Yak-yong tapped his palm on the seat next to him with a subtle gesture.

“Since we met here, let’s talk a bit on the way to the capital of 佛蘭西 [France]. Do you happen to know anything about them?”

“Hmm… well. If it’s in the form of an exchange, we are willing to respond.”

“Then I’ll give you some very tempting information, so tell me what you know.”

Both sides feel a heavy burden in a place to make acquaintance with an unknown superpower.

Kondo also smiled broadly at the prospect of exchanging information.

“According to our analysis, our 幕府 [Shogunate] and 佛蘭西 seem to have a lot in common. So the 将軍 seems to be considering 通商 [trade] with 佛蘭西 when he gets the chance.”

“Get along well? Why?”

*I knew from the beginning that these guys were good at 설레발 [getting ahead of themselves], but isn’t this drinking 김칫국 [being overly optimistic] to a lethal level?*

“佛蘭西 is said to be a country where the royal family receives tremendous respect from all the people. But the actual rule is said to be done by Prime Minister 크리스티아누 [Cristiano]. In other words, the emotional system is quite similar to ours.”

Is it a relationship like the Emperor and the 将軍?

In fact, the Joseon side did not properly analyze what the French political system was like.

Unlike the 幕府, there was no communication channel to 交流 with the West, so they couldn’t do it even if they wanted to.

“So… the core of 佛蘭西 power is not the king but the vassals under him. Is the Prime Minister in a position like 領議政 [Chief State Councillor]?”

“We are interpreting it as a relationship similar to the Emperor and 将軍.”

It is a system that cannot be understood with the Joseon way of thinking.

Seo Yong-bo, with a contorted expression, muttered lowly in Joseon language.

“Tsk, tsk, as expected, these barbarians have no 根本 [foundation/principles].”

“Prime Minister, of course, you know, but when we arrive in the capital, we must first 맞춰야합니다 [appease/accommodate] their temper.”

“I intend to 맞춰야합니다 their temper, but I will keep my pride as 小中華 [Little China]. You don’t have to worry too much; I’ll take care of it myself, so mind your own business.”

*This is somehow becoming more and more 不安 [anxious].*

Just by looking at it, it seems that Wa is trying to do something with the new superpower that smashed the world’s strongest country, Qing.

Perhaps countries like Đại Việt or Champa may be thinking similarly.

If that’s the case, there was a risk that Joseon alone could become 孤立 [isolated].

It didn’t matter until now, but is there a guarantee that it will be the same in the future?

Jeong Yak-yong glanced at Seo Yong-bo, who had ‘no compromise’ written all over his face, with anxious eyes.

※※※

At the news that the delegation had arrived at the palace, I looked in the mirror and straightened my clothes.

What should I say?

It’s a new feeling.

Envoys from many countries in East Asia are now in Paris, at the Tuileries Palace.

Perhaps in later history, this will be recorded as the official first 交流 between that country and France.

Even if merchants have come and gone, this is the first time that government officials have visited like this.

In fact, having ceded Hong Kong and 박은 말뚝 [driven stakes] in Guangzhou, we can already exert sufficient influence in East Asia.

There was no reason to rush into trade with other countries now.

Of course, there is no thought of colonial rule.

Colonial rule, which is not 가성비 [cost-effective] and only eats away at the future image, was not even a consideration in the first place.

It’s not just about Joseon.

To put it a little coldly, Joseon is just a 들러리 [supporting character], and in fact, it doesn’t affect the big picture no matter what happens.

What I’m aiming for is to 先占 [preemptively occupy] the infrastructure of Asian countries before any other country in Europe.

This is much more 가성비 to 뽑아먹는 [extract profits], and when looking to the distant future, it will be much more helpful to France’s status.

Of course, if they are really hopeless guys, I will have no choice but to 줘팰 [beat them up] so that they understand.

Since war is still commonplace in this era, that much can be rationalized somehow.

And honestly, I was a little curious.

Are the 性理學者 [Neo-Confucian scholars] of this era really such stubborn people?

Hey, honestly, there must have been some exaggeration in the records.

There can’t be that many people who ignore everything they see and hear.

And finally, the humans who will verify my hypothesis came into the reception room of the palace, following the interpreter.

“Thank you for your hard work on the long journey. The official schedule will start tomorrow, so I hope you can rest comfortably today.”

“Thank you so much for the Prime Minister’s direct welcome. I am Seo Yong-bo, who represents this delegation.”

“I am Jeong Yak-yong, who is in charge of assisting the representative.”

“On behalf of France, I welcome you all. I will tell you to pay special attention so that there is no discomfort during your stay here.”

I never imagined that I would see Jeong Yak-yong like this in front of my eyes, let alone anyone else.

Even if you are not interested in history, everyone has heard the name of the book 牧民心書 [Admonitions on Governing the People], right?

Of course, 牧民心書 is not yet written at this time.

According to my knowledge, I really didn’t know that a human who would have to 썩 [rot] in exile for about 10 years would come to Paris.

Is this the butterfly effect that intervened in history?

“By the way, I would like to hear your impressions as you have come from afar. What were your thoughts on seeing our 자랑 [proud] civilization?”

“Of course, that’s amazing…”

“It was certainly amazing. But.”

Before Jeong Yak-yong could finish speaking, Seo Yong-bo cut him off and opened his mouth.

“What is important in human life is not all technology. If you focus too much on material elements, 氣 [spiritual energy] will eventually become 混濁 [turbid]. People should naturally correct their minds and constantly train themselves with right thoughts. I am a little worried that this development may disturb our minds.”

The interpreter was carefully choosing words on how to interpret it, but I could already understand the meaning roughly.

Oh… so this is the 儒教 탈레반 [Confucian Taliban] I’ve only heard about.

No, it may not be because this human really believes this, but because he is drawing a line in advance in case this side asks for 修交 [diplomatic relations].

Then, an approach that ridicules these 答답하고 未開한 똥양인 [frustrating and uncivilized Asians] will have no effect.

Rather, 짓밟아주는 [trampling] them in these humans’ field will make them have nothing to say.

“It seems like you are talking about the 理致 [principles] of 格物致知 [investigation of things and extension of knowledge], but the 格物致知 advocated by Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming have slightly different meanings even if they are the same words. Even if you look at the same object, you will naturally have different thoughts. I hope you will find the answer to your 苦悶 [agonies] while staying here.”

At my words that naturally mentioned Zhu Xi, Seo Yong-bo and Jeong Yak-yong’s eyes widened as big as lanterns.

Why are you so flustered? Is it so shocking that a blue-eyed 코쟁이 [foreigner] discusses Zhu Xi and 性理學 [Neo-Confucianism]?

Of course, my knowledge of 性理學 does not reach the 性理學者, but I know enough to point out the contradictions of 儒學者 [Confucian scholars] who make forced rationalizations.

So, keep 精神 못 차리고 [not coming to your senses] and keep 억지 부리다 [insisting] with 詭辯 [sophistry].

If you want to get 개쪽당하고 [utterly humiliated] in front of envoys from other countries.”

End