I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 313

Consternation, terror, absurdity, shock.

What word could possibly express the emotions I’m feeling right now?

The bewilderment felt by Jeong Yak-yong was immense.

Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] and Wa [ancient name for Japan] uniting?

Even setting aside the fact that the court would scoff at such a proposal, I was curious about the motive behind this insane idea.

“I understand that Minister Jeong is one of the most influential figures in the current Joseon court. If Minister Jeong lends his influence, wouldn’t it be easily accomplished?”

“Well… it’s just such an unexpected proposition…”

“Ah, I understand. It must have been quite sudden. But if you consider the practical benefits, you’ll conclude that this is the best course of action.”

Seeing him speak so passionately, it didn’t seem like a joke or a trap.

But there was still something I didn’t understand.

‘Why does this guy think this is even possible?’

The relationship between Joseon and the Wa shogunate wasn’t that bad.

Recently, Joseon and Wa had both paid tribute to France, which had fizzled out, but until a few years ago, envoys frequently traveled back and forth.

Since the leadership had changed a long time ago, there weren’t many people who were mindful of the past Wa invasions.

However, forming an alliance was a completely different matter.

How many countries in Asia have successfully established an alliance system so far?

No, I even doubt if there are any success stories.

“The ideal of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere is good in itself, but… I don’t see if Joseon and your side can truly unite in a meaningful way. Aren’t the royal families each too firmly established?”

“Ah~ Unlike others, Minister Jeong and I know very well, don’t we? What is the biggest topic sweeping Europe these days?”

“···Federal Empire? So, you’re saying Joseon and your side should also move towards forming a federation?”

“That’s right! And what is the reason why Europe was able to form this federation? It’s the marriage alliance! In this way, both royal families unite, and eventually form a personal union serving the same monarch, and then enter a federal system. What law says we can’t do it?”

…Now I’m starting to get a sense of it.

So, this guy has been in Europe for too long, and his sense of reality has been adjusted to the European side.

But whether Jeong Yak-yong sighed and massaged his temples or not, Kondo kept talking.

“The union of Joseon and the Japanese Imperial Family! The Joseon-Japan Federal Empire, with its name meaning ‘towards the sun.’ The fact that the combined name of the two countries means brilliant morning sunlight is destiny! This is providence!”

“···Providence··· Well, let’s put that aside for now. What about the part about protecting Southeast Asian and Central Plains countries?”

“Small countries that cannot achieve self-defense should naturally be protected by civilized countries. Currently, Joseon and our Japan are the only countries in Asia that can shoulder that great task. For the peace of Asia and the true Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere! I believe we must protect and lead Asia together. That is also our providence!”

Oh, I’ve heard this somewhere before.

Isn’t this what the British Empire, which had just lost the war and had to give up all its money-making lands, was saying?

“Minister Jeong! In your opinion, what is the most powerful force in Asia right now?”

“Of course… it’s Guangdong France.”

“Accurate judgment! Indeed, it is the path for the future of Asia for us to unite. First, in order to secure a position close to Guangdong France, the strongest country in Asia, we must make the countries located in Fujian and Guangxi our protectorates. And then, if necessary, even the Philippines…”

“That… Ah, my goodness, my goodness! Look at my mind. Come to think of it, I was supposed to go give a gift to Her Majesty the Queen this evening, and I think I should go myself, so I’ll have to get up now. I will definitely convey the proposal to the court, so let’s discuss it again later. Haha… Hahaha…”

If I keep indulging in this crazy talk, I’ll go crazy too.

Jeong Yak-yong, who hurriedly made excuses and got up, hastily left the Japanese embassy.

Kondo, who had politely seen him off until the end, did not remove the smile from his face until Jeong Yak-yong’s figure disappeared.

“Hehehe… good, good. Surely, Joseon will be tempted when they hear our proposal.”

“Ambassador, Joseon is famous for its pride. Won’t they look down on us?”

“It’s okay. If so, it’s proof that they don’t have an eye for great powers, so we don’t have to cling to an alliance with them.”

Kondo was shocked when he saw Queen Beatrice, who had recently screwed over the Holy Roman Empire, which had been slowly crawling up next to them, in an instant.

Why hadn’t he thought of this?

Currently, Asia was a no man’s land with no clear second-in-command country except for Guangdong France.

And both they and Joseon had openly supported France in the last Great War, so they had been promised considerable concessions.

If these two countries unite, wouldn’t they be able to become the undisputed second-in-command in Asia, following Guangdong France?

The pie of Asia is infinitely large, so even if the two of them divide it up appropriately, it will never be lacking.

In fact, there would be nothing more to wish for if they could accomplish this task alone, but in that case, there would be too many potential competitors.

In particular, Joseon is currently accelerating its modernization at almost the same pace as them.

The two countries were also too close, so there was a problem that if each of them increased their power, they would likely clash.

At the very least, they had to coordinate a non-aggression treaty and the areas each would occupy in advance to avoid any future problems.

“Now, shall we go and please the French royal family?”

Since Jeong Yak-yong said he was going to present a gift to the Queen, they also had to prepare a gift that was no less impressive.

Kondo began to re-examine the gifts he had been preparing for months from the beginning.

※※※

“···What? The Joseon-Japan Federal Empire? The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere?”

The top power in the Joseon court.

Seo Yong-bo, the Chief State Councilor, who had recently been praised as someone who could make even a flying bird fall, picked his ear with a displeased look.

“Hmph, is it really time for me to go to my ancestors? It seems I can’t hear properly anymore.”

“No, Your Excellency heard correctly.”

Seo Yong-bo blinked as he looked at Jeong Yak-yong’s haggard face, who had returned from his long trip to Paris.

“···Heard correctly? That ridiculous word just now… really?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it!”

Seo Yong-bo pounded his knee with his fist and raged at someone who wasn’t there.

Why is this human being doing this again?

Jeong Yak-yong, who was already tired, yawned slightly and picked up the book that Seo Yong-bo had thrown away and put it back on the desk.

“Was it such infuriating news? Even if it’s absurd.”

“The fact that he said such a thing to you means that a formal proposal will come on a state-to-state level. There are already so many problems to deal with… Damn it, my resignation will be rejected again this time.”

“Ah~ it was because of the resignation. Has Your Majesty still not approved it?”

Originally, the Chief State Councilor was the leader of the court, but his practical power was not proportional to it.

Many people recognize it as a kind of honorary position with high status but not much real power.

However, if a powerful figure who was originally the best power, like Seo Yong-bo, rises to the position of Chief State Councilor, the story is different.

Currently, he exerts considerable influence over all aspects of state affairs and is firmly establishing his presence as the leader of the Enlightenment faction.

Especially during a major transformation of the country like now, the Six Ministries inevitably clashed sharply, so the burden on the Chief State Councilor, who adjusts this, was considerable.

So far, he has done well enough for anyone to see.

However, it’s been more than 10 years of doing this, and his stamina and patience are slowly running out.

So, Seo Yong-bo has been trying to resign continuously since 3 years ago, but it has all been rejected by the King.

-The path Joseon has to take is still long and arduous, so I cannot allow the Chief State Councilor, who is well-versed in Western civilization, to step down.

The logic put forward by His Majesty was valid, so he has been patiently continuing his work until now.

Still, recently, Jeong Yak-yong was promoted to Second State Councilor, and the number of officials who were interested in enlightenment also increased explosively.

He thought it was time to really step down and submitted his resignation, but this happened again.

Jeong Yak-yong, who heard the whole story, immediately understood why Seo Yong-bo was acting like this.

“It’s like Your Excellency’s situation is like Namwonbuwongun [historical figure in Joseon] during the reign of King Sejong [4th king of Joseon]. Now that it’s come to this, why don’t you try to break his record?”

“···Do you know how many years Namwonbuwongun was in the position of Prime Minister? A whopping 24 years. So, are you telling me to stay in this position for several more years…”

“That means you’ll live that long, so if you think about it the other way around, it might be a good thing?”

“If you really think so, you should definitely do it!”

Seo Yong-bo glared at Jeong Yak-yong, who was laughing heartily, and gnashed his teeth.

“You’re laughing now because it seems fun, right? You just wait and see. When I definitely step down, I will recommend you as my successor. Even if I don’t, His Majesty will put you in this position anyway.”

“I’m not in good health due to my long exile…”

“That’s for His Majesty to decide.”

Jeong Yak-yong’s face turned pale for a moment at the realization that this might not be someone else’s story.

Seo Yong-bo looked at his friend’s face with satisfaction and scanned the report that would be sent to the King.

“Anyway, the fact that you brought this to me first means that you want to hear my opinion, right? In my opinion, we must unconditionally consider the feelings of the French side when making a decision.”

“Well… we are in a position of serving France, so that’s theoretically correct. But I don’t think France would care whether two countries in the Far East unite or not.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? But anyway, wouldn’t that be a reason for refusal? If we don’t want to upset France, they won’t have anything to say either.”

In the past, Seo Yong-bo, who was a well-known Confucian old man in Joseon, could be simply summarized as ‘China is the best, and Joseon must serve the Heavenly Dynasty.’

However, now that the object of that China and Heavenly Dynasty has changed to France, he has transformed into a more extreme Enlightenment faction than anyone else.

For example, should we call it the Enlightenment Confucian faction?

Surprisingly, the current Joseon court was a place dominated by this ideology, the identity of which could not be known.

This powerful hybrid, which had never been imagined before, had purged all the opposition.

Simple Enlightenment factions or Isolationist factions cannot survive.

“But what if. It’s just a hypothetical situation, but what if France shows a positive attitude? Of course, they may not interfere with our foreign policy, but they may say that they don’t necessarily oppose it. Maybe they will ask France for their intentions first.”

“Hmm… that could be the case. Then we need to gauge their level first. I’m sorry to say this to you, who went all the way to the other side of the world, but you’ll have to do me one more favor. Go as a Tongsinsa [Joseon diplomatic mission to Japan] and carefully examine the current level of Wa and its future development potential.”

“I’m still the Second State Councilor of this country, so it’s a bit low to go as a Tongsinsa…”

“So, you can dig into their reality as much as that, right? First of all, if they are stronger than we think, we have to pretend to get along appropriately.”

Since when did this human become so meticulous and practical?

Jeong Yak-yong, who looked at the old man in front of him with strange eyes, got up from his seat and asked one last question.

“What is the standard for that ‘getting along appropriately’? You’re not really saying that you’ll even form an alliance, are you?”

“Well… if necessary, we can pretend to do that, can’t we? Delusions are freedom.”

Just hearing about politics and schemes makes my head spin.

Jeong Yak-yong, who gulped down the tea, got up from his seat, packed his report, and started to enter the palace.

A wave of change or a sign of destruction?

The birth of a Joseon-less Joseon-Japan Federation was rapidly approaching.