I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 223

223. Can’t Stand Falling Behind

The Louvre’s annex, recently expanded lavishly for the King’s frequent visits to Paris, was bustling.

Louis XVI, having received a plethora of valuable tributes from foreign envoys, seemed more pleased than ever.

Still, watching a grown man wield a katana and mimic swordsmanship makes me cringe a little.

Actually, I’m itching to grab that thing and try drawing it myself.

“Look at this, Christian. My stance isn’t half bad, is it?”

“What wouldn’t suit the King of Great France?”

“Hahaha. That Kondo fellow from Zipangu [ancient name for Japan] is quite perceptive.”

It seems men, no matter their age, can’t help but be captivated by fancy toys.

Following the ninja show, Kondo presented a near-acrobatic samurai performance, which surprisingly resonated well with the Westerners.

Adding to that, he offered lavish gifts, carefully considering Louis XVI’s tastes, so it’s no wonder the King is in high spirits.

“What about you? The envoys over there seemed desperate to impress you.”

“There were quite a few eager ones. Their desire to harness our power was transparent.”

“Hmm… So, Zipangu also has something they’re after? Then we don’t necessarily need to play along with their tune, do we?”

“They probably aren’t seeking anything immediate. But they are quick to read situations, so they’ll likely latch onto us the moment they grasp the situation. For now, they’re trying to leave the best impression possible, unsure of what the future holds.”

“I must admit, I’m drawn to Zipangu because no one else has put in as much effort in their preparations…”

They certainly came prepared.

I never imagined they’d prepare a ninja show.

Moreover, the officials from the Shogunate seemed to misunderstand the current French system as similar to their own.

They must have perceived Louis XVI as a sort of Emperor and me as the Shogun [military dictator of Japan].

It’s understandable that Eastern countries might not immediately grasp a system close to a constitutional monarchy.

Perhaps other Asian countries also think of the French King as a figurehead, with the Prime Minister holding the real power.

These two are similar but subtly different.

It’s not just that there’s a supreme ruler akin to a chancellor; they are passing down their position through generations.

In that sense, the military regime of Goryeo [ancient Korean kingdom] or the Maratha Empire of India might be similar.

Maybe the Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] envoys, presuming France to be similar to the late Goryeo period, reacted in such a subtle way.

Noticing such signs wasn’t just me, as Louis XVI clicked his tongue softly while gazing at the white porcelain placed in a corner of the room.

“Speaking of which, the country that wrote those characters for you was openly passive. Do they have no intention of establishing diplomatic relations with us?”

“Are you referring to Joseon? They probably don’t. Their perception of us plummeted after the Catholic issue.”

Strictly speaking, the Catholic side provided the spark for the Sinyu Persecution [a persecution of Catholics in Joseon Korea].

It wasn’t that Joseon was simply a closed-minded, old-fashioned group that indiscriminately persecuted and beheaded people for believing in Catholicism.

The Society of Jesus, which introduced Catholicism to Joseon, initially judged that Joseon’s ancestral rites were unrelated to superstition.

The Confucian ancestral rites of the scholar-officials were indeed far from superstitious, and Joseon was also trying to eradicate superstitious folk rituals.

However, due to subtle power struggles within the Vatican, the Society of Jesus’s claims were ignored, and a total ban on ancestral rites was announced.

From Joseon’s perspective, it was as if foreigners were arbitrarily banning their traditions that had been going on for hundreds of years.

Any normal country would have inevitably launched a bloody purge.

If the Vatican had been a bit more clever and taken a more moderate approach, relations with Joseon might have been completely different.

“If they have such animosity towards us, I wonder if they might cause unnecessary problems. This is the first time in Europe that we’ve received so many diplomats from the East all at once, and it would be a shame if they ruined the good atmosphere…”

“If they do, we can use it as an excuse to push our agenda. It might even make things more interesting. But the person who came as an assistant, if not the representative, seems to have at least some sense, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“The one who wrote those fancy characters? Eastern writing is indeed like a painting, so it’s quite impressive. I wonder if he could write something for me?”

“Originally, they should have offered it as a tribute. I’ll subtly pressure them next time we meet, asking if they have no tact.”

If I tell Jeong Yak-yong, he’ll readily write it, which is no fun. I should hint at it to Seo Yong-bo instead.

I wonder how he’ll react?

If they openly commit a discourtesy, as Louis XVI fears, it would be best for me.

As I said before, we can use that as an excuse to exploit them thoroughly.

But they’ll probably do everything we ask while showing their displeasure with a sour expression.

Expecting more than that from Joseon’s already stagnant diplomatic capabilities would be like being a thief.

That’s why it’s more amusing to watch their predictable reactions.

“Anyway, I just need to ignore everything as usual and show my face at official events, right?”

“Yes. There’s nothing for you to do in this matter, so just enjoy the pleasure without responsibility.”

“That’s my specialty. Leave it to me.”

Currently, the parliament is also actively debating France’s strategy towards Asia.

Regardless of the process, the conclusion that will be reached is already determined.

Even if we don’t need to swallow it ourselves, we can’t stand seeing it go down someone else’s throat.

And even if the land itself isn’t tempting, there are plenty of things to take if you look for them.

No one would refuse the scent of money, right?

※※※

The more days Kondo spent in Paris, the more he became convinced that he had made the best choice.

If he hadn’t come in person, he might not have even realized how far behind they were in the world’s trends.

This couldn’t be explained simply as a difference in culture.

Paris here was a different world from Edo [ancient capital of Japan, now Tokyo].

Thanks to the recent explosive increase in food production, there were hardly any people starving, and there were no people who couldn’t find jobs because there were too many jobs available.

The citizens regularly read newspapers and were keenly aware of global trends, and they gathered in huge stadiums every week to watch sports games.

The French seemed to have no intention of hiding their superiority.

Talleyrand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, personally guided the envoys from each country, generously showcasing the cutting-edge technologies that France boasted.

“Here is a factory that produces iron. Recent advancements in smelting have made it possible to mass-produce steel, leading to tremendous progress in many fields.”

“Oh~ I wondered why such huge buildings were being built on the outskirts of the city. So, this was the secret. But why aren’t such high-rise buildings being built in the center of Paris?”

“The Prime Minister said that as transportation develops and the population increases, the administrative districts of Paris will continue to expand. If we continue with such uncontrolled development, the old appearance of Paris will eventually be lost. To prevent that, he intends to develop the central part in a way that preserves the original form of the city as much as possible.”

“Indeed. They consider the future much more when they do something. I am once again impressed by the Prime Minister’s insight. Haha!”

At these words, Seo Yong-bo, who had been looking around the factory with a complicated expression in the corner, reacted for the first time.

“A ruler who knows how to cherish tradition… Is he really different from the Yangban [aristocratic class in Joseon Korea] we’ve known so far…?”

“Usang [Seo Yong-bo’s title]. Haven’t I been saying this all along? The French Prime Minister is someone who boasts extensive knowledge of Neo-Confucianism. The current French system is completely different from the military regime of late Goryeo. It is said that the country is governed not by powerful subjects wielding power, but by thorough rule of law.”

“…In other words, another form of royal rule?”

“In a way, it may be implementing the minister-centered theory advocated by Jeong Do-jeon [Korean scholar and politician] in the early Joseon period. Whatever the case, we have seen too much to denigrate them as barbarians who do not know virtue.”

Seo Yong-bo wasn’t a fool either.

He clearly knew what Jeong Yak-yong was trying to say, and he was able to understand it sufficiently.

However, acknowledging it was a separate matter.

Joseon is a country that follows the laws of Neo-Confucianism and recognizes the Sino-centric order [China-centered world order].

But if we hastily establish diplomatic relations with the West here, we will surely have to bear tremendous repercussions.

If negative results come out, there is a high possibility that I, the representative of this delegation, will take the blame.

Even if I put aside my animosity towards Jeong Yak-yong, it was not an issue that I could easily make a decision on.

“Do you know that? The phrase you presented to the Prime Minister in the past was a phrase that could only be presented to the Emperor. This could become a problem when you return to Joseon.”

“I know. But all I can do is go back to the exile. If I hadn’t stepped up there, we would have been compared to other countries. If we were evaluated as worse than Waeguk [derogatory term for Japan], let alone Champa [ancient kingdom in Southeast Asia], wouldn’t that be a disgrace to His Majesty’s face?”

“…That’s true. But now that I see it, it seems that it was just a simple stalling tactic after all. Look at the reactions of those people over there. They are desperate to look good to the French Minister, even a little bit.”

“Waeguk have always been those who acquiesce to the logic of power. They are convinced that France is stronger than Qing [the last imperial dynasty of China], and I think they have decided that they can benefit from sticking to it.”

From the beginning, I somehow expected Waeguk to do that.

They were practical if you put it nicely, and they were devoid of righteousness if you put it badly.

But I didn’t expect even Daewol, who had as much pride as Joseon and valued Confucianism, to come out like that.

Was it because of the sense of crisis that Champa, with a different cultural sphere, might revive by sticking to France?

“Dasan [Jeong Yak-yong’s pen name]. If, and this is just a hypothetical story… If all the countries invited here start trading with France and accepting their culture, what do you expect will happen?”

“Unless the Qing Dynasty is still strong, it hasn’t been long since they lost the last war. If such a situation unfolds, I cannot guarantee the maintenance of the Sino-centric order.”

“I am worried about two main things. The first is that France, which has opened its doors in this way, will change its attitude and try to forcibly subjugate us. And the second is that these people armed with Western weapons will reveal their ambition for invasion.”

“…That is a possibility. But if so, shouldn’t Joseon try to strengthen itself in any way possible? Even the mighty Qing has collapsed, so how long can we stick to isolationism? Usang has seen and felt a lot in this city, so I won’t say any more.”

Stung in a sore spot, Seo Yong-bo couldn’t refute and glared at Kondo, who was constantly bowing to Talleyrand in the distance.

If that guy hadn’t been so flamboyant, I wouldn’t have been so troubled.

“I have eyes and ears. I can clearly see that if we continue like this, only our Joseon will be isolated. But if you were in my position, could you go to the Prime Minister and say that you would positively consider trade?”

“Of course, I understand Usang’s position, who has to consider Usang’s realistic aspects. So, let’s trade.”

What is this guy saying?

What has he been listening to so far?

Just as Seo Yong-bo was about to shout, Jeong Yak-yong spoke half a beat faster.

“Even if you return home, there are many excuses. Their technology is truly unusual, and all neighboring countries, including Waeguk, were poised to accept their culture. If that happens, the tragedy of the Imjin War [Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 16th century] could be repeated in the worst case, so you can say that you have taken out insurance.”

“…That’s not convincing enough.”

“Of course not. So, you have to add one more excuse. Prime Minister Geukrisa Jeanak [a play on a Korean transliteration of ‘Classical’ and ‘Practical’] is well-versed in Neo-Confucianism and is a person of a different level from ordinary Western monarchs. The reason why France has become so strong is because they have fully awakened to the Tao [the Way] of Neo-Confucianism and the practicality of Western learning. Therefore, you can judge that Joseon also needs to study this direction of development, right?”

“…Huh?”

It certainly sounds plausible when I listen to it.

“When you think about it, even the Manchus dominated the Central Plains and achieved the Tao of China. There is no reason why the Westerners cannot do that.”

Indeed, this is a bit of an appealing proposal.

If I can talk well, I can protect the laws of Neo-Confucianism and not be isolated alone.

Jeong Yak-yong’s whisper that I can avoid the responsibility of causing the worst-case scenario felt sweeter and sweeter as I pondered it.

Can’t Stand Falling Behind – End