I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 352

The trials to herald the start of the new Republic of Korea and Japan were tap-dancing somewhere between utter chaos and pure entertainment.

It was a shame that I couldn’t see both sides due to the lack of airplanes, but I didn’t regret it since this side seemed more fun than the one-sided beatdown that Korea would be.

As expected, the Japanese courtroom had become a complete mess, with no one knowing who was friend or foe, the defendant standing in the witness box and the witness in the defendant’s seat.

“Then, the defense may proceed.”

“Former Prime Minister Ienari has lived solely for his loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor. If that weren’t the case, why would he have abandoned his position as Shogun [military dictator] and changed the framework of the nation? If there is any fault, it would only be that he neglected the public sentiment while only looking after the Emperor’s heart.”

“Can we take it that the defense is not completely denying the charges?”

“Of course. How could someone who held the position of Prime Minister presumptuously claim complete innocence? However, I would like to point out that the claim that the former Prime Minister is responsible for all wars is a typical scapegoat tactic, nothing more and nothing less.”

Almost all the arguments of those dragged into the trial were like the above.

Even those who had no way to avoid the death penalty cried out that they were only following the Emperor’s orders, as if grasping at the last straw.

Just listening to them, you’d think the Japanese Empire was full of loyal subjects like Yue Fei [a Chinese general known for his loyalty], Yi Sun-sin [a Korean admiral famed for his naval victories], and Yuan Chonghuan [a Ming dynasty general who defended against the Manchus].

But which loyal subject in the world would sell out the king they serve while standing in court?

Of course, not everyone was like this.

“I delivered false information to His Majesty the Emperor. I take full responsibility.”

Some of the staff members calmly admitted their guilt until the end and asked for the death penalty.

Anyone with ears could easily tell who the real loyalists were and who the fake ones were.

What’s interesting is that the higher up the ranks you go, the more accurately the lie detector points to the fake side.

“It was clearly His Majesty who approved the National Total Resistance Operation. I can swear to this much.”

“Does the witness have any other evidence to prove his words?”

“Everyone who was in the conference room at the time is a witness!”

Ienari, who had moved from the defendant’s seat to the witness seat, spat out words as if he were about to vomit blood, and all the other ministers shouted with one heart and one mind.

Of course, that didn’t mean that only the Emperor was being blamed.

In fact, the way to make the most people happy in this trial was for everyone to work together to destroy the evidence and feign ignorance.

If they had done that, the trial would have ended with only the Prime Minister and the Supreme Commanders receiving the most severe penalties.

No, if they had coordinated their stories better, it could have ended with just a prison sentence.

That’s because the definition of justice in law is that you can’t convict someone unless you can prove their guilt, no matter how certain you are.

However, the optimal balance point had gone out the window the moment they started flailing around to survive and spraying accusations in all directions.

Here, the British prosecutors, who were trying to advertise how righteous they were, were aiming to create the most war criminals possible.

To those prosecutors, this spectacle of each other grabbing each other’s ankles and heading to hell together must have looked so beautiful.

“There are five witnesses who heard the Emperor say that he would be fine as long as his position was preserved, even if the entire nation died. There is no contradiction in their testimonies, which can be confirmed by cross-examination.”

“It is a clear lie that former Prime Minister Ienari was only following the Emperor’s orders. There is evidence that the former Prime Minister actually drafted the plans. The Emperor and the former Prime Minister should be seen as accomplices.”

“There is evidence that the former Prime Minister led the surrender on the condition that he was promised his safety. However, the Grand Marshal who signed this contract inserted a clause stating that the contract had no legal effect, so he confirmed that it was invalid.”

Ienari’s mouth dropped open as he checked the fake contract he had signed by mistake.

“F, fabricated evidence! I never said such a thing, and I never signed it!”

“Experts from various countries are testifying that this signature is not a forgery.”

“There are plenty of technicians who can forge signatures with precision! I am being framed!”

No matter how much you shout like a parrot that you don’t know, the court speaks with evidence.

This trial, which was open to the public so that citizens could attend as much as they wanted, only resulted in making the Japanese citizens realize how disgusting politicians are.

“The defendant, Tokugawa Ienari, is sentenced to death, as it is comprehensively recognized that he is the chief perpetrator of the illegal attack and war without a declaration of war against French Guangdong, and the crime of deliberately using his own people as shields.”

In addition to Ienari, the commanders of the army who committed massacres and looting in Fujian Province to carry out the war with France were also sentenced to death.

The Emperor was still the king of a country, so he was spared the death penalty, but everything he had done thoughtlessly was revealed to the world, and he completely lost the public’s trust.

Even if the damage is great, Japan will not abandon the Emperor.

For the sake of the nation, the people and soldiers can gladly give their lives.

Now everyone knew that the Emperor had never once opposed the plans proposed by the Prime Minister and ministers based on this idea.

“I acknowledge the responsibility for driving the Empire into ruin and inflicting unspeakable pain on the people. I deeply lament the appalling act of instilling the fictional concept of ‘現人神(Arahitogami)’ [Living God] into the people and making them sacrifice their precious lives above all else. In the future, the government and the people will value peace and harmony above all else so that such a tragedy never happens again…”

The Emperor was forced to step down as if he were being chased out of his seat, and had to write and read out a de facto apology that was much stronger than the human declaration in the original history.

In fact, the human declaration in the original history was only noisy from the outside because it did not properly understand Japan, and had little impact internally.

But this announcement was different.

It was tantamount to confessing that the Emperor had brainwashed the people with false ideas, going beyond simply saying that he was human.

In particular, the shock was even greater because the faces of the powerful, who did not care how many people died as long as they maintained their positions, were revealed.

Who cares about the Emperor? Voices openly called for the establishment of the next Emperor even after seeing this 꼴 [sight; spectacle].

That’s it for now.

Even if the Emperor system was not abolished right away, the stage was all set.

If we set up a few more pro-government newspapers here and continue to manipulate public opinion, it’s only a matter of time.

The key to a constitutional monarchy lies in the people’s respect for the royal family.

Once this is shaken from the root, no matter how much you try to repair it, it’s just pouring water into a bottomless pit.

The bloodline of unbroken imperial lineage, which they had so proudly claimed, was now a meaningless story of the past.

※※※

[From Empire to Republic. Changes in the New Korean Empire.]

[The End of a 500-Year Dynasty. The Fall of the Former Emperor Sentenced to 50 Years of Exile.]

[The path that the Republic of Korea must take is, first, second, and third, an alliance with France.]

Hanseong, having seen enough fun in Japan, was already half in a festive mood.

“Isn’t this all thanks to my innate sense of balance that I didn’t even know I had?”

I wanted to ask him specifically what he had done, but I’m a perceptive person.

I suppressed my desire to subtly nag him and smiled brightly, handing him a fan that I had brought as a souvenir from Japan.

“As expected of Grand Marshal Napoleon! Then you must have carried out all the instructions I gave you, right?”

“Yes? Instructions?”

“Come on, why is Grand Marshal Napoleon, who has an innate sense of balance, acting like this? There’s no way this country can run properly if it’s a democracy.”

“Ah, you’re talking about that. Of course. Anyway, Jeong Yak-yong [a prominent Joseon dynasty scholar and official] came and brought a bunch of letters of recommendation, saying that His Majesty did this and that.”

“Come to think of it, what is that Jeong Yak-yong going to do in the future?”

He had successfully staged a coup, but there were still some who did not look kindly on him because he was the prime minister of the previous regime.

Still, it seems that he met with Napoleon after the trial and things were settled amicably.

“He says that he is the person who knows the reality of this country the best, so he is an indispensable talent in the interim military government. I’m a little concerned that he’s old, but it doesn’t matter since I’m not the one who’s suffering.”

“That’s a good mindset. And were there any other special circumstances?”

“Not really, but the people here seem to want to feed me everything. They keep telling me to try this and try that…”

After I left, did they try the ‘Do you know kimchi?’ tactic on Napoleon this time?

Still, French people are quite diverse in the food they eat compared to other Europeans, so there shouldn’t be any food that would make them so disgusted.

Of course, I can be sure that there is no one who will tear kimchi and wrap it in meat and give a thumbs up like me.

“Your Majesty, by the way, was the Japanese side resolved well? I had completely turned off my attention because you said you were going…”

“You were the chief person in charge, but you turned off your attention?”

“Well, since Your Majesty went, I didn’t think I needed to presumptuously interfere. This can also be said to be 적재적소(jeokjaejeokso) [the right person in the right place]. Haha.”

“As expected of the owner of an innate sense of balance.”

I can see it.

The future of the military genius in front of me, who will pass on all the work that can be postponed to me, no matter how high he goes.

Failed to be a candidate for the next Prime Minister of Napoleon France.

Let’s just be satisfied with holding an honorary position in the party and end it.

“Even though it’s slower than here, the Japanese side will flow in a good direction for us.”

“Well, this place is abnormally fast. I was surprised. Even though he was their emperor, they quickly dragged him down and handed down a sentence that was no different from life imprisonment, and they cheered and rejoiced.”

“Originally, this place is a bit extreme.”

In fact, France showed an even more extreme side in the original history, but the 함정(hamjeong) [trap] is that this side is extreme enough compared to Japan.

“Still, as a result, we can see that everything is finished now.”

“That’s right…”

I reflexively swallowed my words when I was about to say that I could see it.

Now that I think about it, if it ends here, I have to go back to my home country, right?

I can’t do that.

How long has it been since I had a vacation, and it doesn’t make sense to end it like this.

“…Seeing you thinking, you still lack experience.”

“Yes? Is there anything else I missed?”

“…I need to have Jeong Yak-yong review the list of talents who can be sent to our side for study abroad.”

“That’s true, but wouldn’t it be unnecessary for Your Majesty or I to do that?”

That’s the 정론(jeongron) [right opinion; correct view].

Frankly, there is no reason for the top leaders of the country to meet with ordinary international students.

However, isn’t it up to us to attach a reason to this anyway?

I made up words as they came to my mind.

“Now that things have turned out this way, let’s be a little more generous here. They are not just international students, but future high-ranking officials who will each take a position when they return to their home country. How much help will it be in the future if we educate them here as blind French believers?”

“Ah~ I can see it that way. As expected of Your Majesty.”

“Japan will also send international students, so let’s take this opportunity to show them how generous France is.”

Even though it was a reason that I just made up, it was quite a good idea when I thought about it.

Who knows?

It may be a good opportunity to distinguish between people who need to be cut off and useful people for smooth relations in the future.