I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 217

When I decided to sign a treaty with England, I anticipated that something like this might happen.

While I hadn’t considered the possibility of Kim Jwa-geun himself being effectively exiled to England, the decline in the authority of the powerful families was well within my expectations.

Once the Western powers began to exert their influence on Joseon in earnest, what significance would the petty power of the Andong Kim clan or the Pungyang Jo clan have?

Unless the entire Joseon united to resist, there was no way a single family could block an opponent who was legitimately entering the country.

People from the same clan and the influential figures of the Pungyang Jo clan still seemed unable to grasp the situation, but Kim Jwa-geun was accurately reading the signs of the times.

“Sir, is it true that you are going to England this time?”

“That’s how it turned out.”

“There were rumors that His Majesty has recently been trying to give more power to Lord Jo In-yeong. Was it due to that influence?”

“Using His Majesty’s maternal relatives is the easiest way to weaken our family’s power. I expect the flow will be roughly like that.”

Originally, he should have lost his power when his brother, the father-in-law of the King, Jo Man-yeong, died, but thanks to catching the eye of the King, who was suppressing the Andong Kim clan, he was able to enjoy a little more power.

A living corpse who had already received the date of his burial.

When he left the Council of State with a face as if he had won, saying things like, ‘You’re going to a remote and dangerous place, so take good care of yourself,’ I felt a fire burning inside me.

“What are the opinions coming from the family? Even so, sending the Minister of War to England is too much…”

“His Majesty’s justification was so perfect that there was no way to refuse. In fact, the only people who could really be entrusted with the position of Grand Scholar are me and Lord Heungseon, aren’t they?”

“That’s…”

Perhaps worried that I might tell him to go, Heungseon-gun Lee Ha-eung gave an awkward smile and subtly avoided my gaze.

Well, he seems to be preparing something in Joseon, so he would definitely want to decline going all the way to German Europa [Europe].

Since there was no way that a member of the royal family would be entrusted with such an important task, the conclusion was that there was only one person in Joseon who could take on the mission from the start.

I am angry, but the fact that this reality doesn’t feel like a bolt from the blue is probably because deep down, I expected this might happen.

“Sir… So, are you really going to England like this?”

“I have to go. His Majesty wants that, and the Border Defense Council is not raising any objections.”

“This is… I thought that Joseon was maintaining a balance in the midst of those greedy Westerners because you were here, sir. His Majesty must know that fact, but isn’t this too much of a check…?”

No matter how much he was Sunwon Wanghu’s younger brother and the current head of the Andong Kim clan, how could he maintain his power if he left for that faraway England?

His arms and legs would be cut off, so at best, he would only gain the plausible honor of having represented Joseon and grow old as a backroom old man.

That was the King’s aim.

By exiling Kim Heung-geun, who was the head of the Andong Kim clan, and sending Kim Jwa-geun, the remaining one, to England, it would not be difficult to neutralize the Kim clan.

After that, if he slowly excluded the Pungyang Jo clan from the government, he would be able to end the Seodo politics [politics dominated by powerful in-law families] that had lasted for a long time.

Although he used the external factor of England, the King’s ability is not as bad as I thought, just by looking at this plan.

But unfortunately, there was one thing that the King overlooked.

“Only heaven knows whether it’s too much of a check or a self-inflicted move that gave me wings.”

The words of the sages that there is a hole to emerge from even if the sky falls are truly wise sayings that have no flaws.

Kim Jwa-geun, having calmed his mind, expressed his intention to go to the capital of England as quickly as possible at the Council of State the very next day.

“Now that I’ve decided to go, I think going faster than Japan is a way to indirectly show Joseon’s capabilities. They were faster in signing the treaty, but shouldn’t Joseon be the first to actually engage in diplomatic activities?”

“I am truly grateful that Minister of War has made such a big decision. My heart is not light either, having to send the Minister of War to that distant foreign land, but I hope that the Minister of War will do his best, as all of this is for the future of Joseon.”

“Of course, Your Majesty! That’s why there is one thing I would like to ask of you.”

“I would be criticized for being immoral if I refused the request of the Minister of War, who is going to a foreign land so far away. What do you want?”

“According to the information we have gathered in various fields, England undoubtedly has the most advanced technology in the world. The meaning of building a consulate is that we are legally guaranteed Joseon’s territory in such a place. Therefore, I think we should make the most of this opportunity to achieve Joseon’s wealth and military strength.”

After England established itself in Shanghai, the morons among Joseon’s officials who didn’t know how powerful England was have now disappeared.

In the past, a French ship caused a commotion on its own, ran into a reef, and was wrecked, but those who really had insight did not simply end up laughing at them.

If given unlimited time and resources, could Joseon really build such a ship?

Of course, the answer that came back was no.

Even if all the technicians and famous artisans in Joseon were gathered, it would be impossible for Joseon to build such a warship.

Aside from building it, most of them didn’t even understand why such a ship could exist.

To put it bluntly, shouldn’t this be seen as the difference between Joseon and the Western powers today?

“So, does the Minister of War think that simply establishing a consulate is not enough?”

“That is correct. We should place a fact-finding mission under the English ambassador to study England’s systems and technologies and make every effort to apply them to Joseon. By combining Eastern ethics and Western technology, we can achieve Joseon’s own wealth and military strength. I, Kim Jwa-geun, Minister of War, pledge my life to take on this important task, so please allow me to do so!”

Kim Jwa-geun’s remarks, as if possessed by a patriot, echoed loudly, and the Council of State was momentarily silent.

If they hadn’t seen the French warship directly a while ago, the king and his ministers would have dismissed his words without much thought.

However, since they had recently seen evidence that Joseon was hopelessly behind, they couldn’t just ignore this reality.

Since Kim Jwa-geun, who will go to England as an ambassador, will take responsibility for researching the advanced civilization over there, there was no reason to refuse this.

“I didn’t know that the Minister of War was so worried about the future of Joseon. Eastern ethics and Western technology… Isn’t that truly the right thing to say? Yes, if we can protect Joseon’s ethics and only bring in Western technology, there would be no more ideal development than this. I will accept the Minister of War’s request and dispatch a fact-finding mission directly under the English Embassy. How many people should we send?”

“Since we are learning new things in a foreign land, it would be better to have young people with good physical strength.”

“Alright. It shall be as the Minister of War wishes.”

“Thank you for your grace!”

As permission was readily granted, Kim Jwa-geun bowed and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Since he was taking young and promising young people, he thought that the high-ranking officials above the level of Dangsanggwan [a high-ranking official position] here would not openly refuse.

They were bound to be thinking that it was okay as long as it wasn’t them, so what did it matter if a few young people were dragged all the way to England?

However, this was a judgment that could be made because they still mistook England for strong barbarians.

Eastern ethics and Western technology. The slogan is grand, but it was based on the premise that Joseon’s ethics were superior to the West.

Since they had seen the French warship with their own eyes, they could not deny the technological gap even if they were beaten to death, but they believed that Joseon’s Confucianism, which had been going on for hundreds of years, was no worse than their system.

But logically, does that make sense?

Kim Jwa-geun intended to dig into the doubts that had been rising in his mind for several years on this occasion.

And if the entire fact-finding mission painfully realizes that Eastern ethics and Western technology were just wishful thinking.

And if all of them return home armed with the knowledge they have seen and learned in England.

It is obvious without even looking at who will be the force leading Joseon’s enlightenment in the future.

The King is trying to create a picture in which Kim Jwa-geun will naturally be eliminated if he spends his time idly in England and returns, but I have no intention of playing along with that tune.

No more, no less, just 10 years. It’s 10 years.

If I endure that time over there, cultivate the enlightenment faction, and become acquainted with other high-ranking English officials besides Gillian and Guai, a huge trend that no one can resist will engulf Joseon.

Since a huge wave that will engulf Asia will come anyway, there is no need to try to create that trend.

Amidst everyone being swept away, the only person who can proudly ride that wave and lead Joseon’s new order is only one person.

Not the Pungyang Jo clan, not the Andong Kim clan, but only Kim Jwa-geun himself.

* * *

At a similar time.

Russian Empire, Saint Petersburg.

“Foreign Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Foreign Minister Nesselrode, who had hurriedly returned home after finishing his business trip to London, looked more determined than ever.

That expression.

Just by looking at the Emperor’s expression, which was becoming increasingly hardened, the choice that Russia would make was already as good as decided.

The Emperor said he would resolve the situation through peaceful negotiations as much as possible… How can Russia’s ruined diplomatic state achieve that?

“How is the preparation for negotiations going? Is it being handled well?”

“I met with British politicians, but their attitude was consistent. They said they had no knowledge of it at all, and they had no intention of inciting the German sphere to antagonize Russia. They have no desire to fight with Russia, nor do they want to cause a dispute. They just kept repeating the same words like a broken record.”

I had already guessed it, but I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“It seems that England will continue to maintain its current stance.”

“Russia has put so much effort into European peace, but they are trying to eat all the fruit themselves? What treacherous people!”

How could Europe have maintained peace until now if it hadn’t been for Russia, which acted as the gendarme of Europe [police force] and actively promoted peace by intervening in various disputes?

They are sucking up all the sweet water from their sacrifices and now they are saying that Russia is a bad friend and are gathering together to play among themselves. Look at those bastards.

“Surely, they are not thinking of dragging Prussia and Austria in and actually fighting us if necessary?”

“I don’t think it’s that far. We don’t want to fight England head-on either, do we? They were talking as if they felt the same way, and there seemed to be no lie in it.”

“Well, those cowardly bastards won’t try to start a war until a very unusual situation arises.”

The only exception would be France during the time of Napoleon, who tried to fight all of Europe alone.

But in the end, what even that brave commander could not overcome was the mountain called Russia.

Unlike the weak European powers, Russia was always prepared and had the power to declare war on the same European countries.

Of course, even so, I didn’t have the sense of reality to decide to fight England or France at the same time.

Nicholas’ goal was to break down the British Empire’s encirclement of Russia.

To do so, it was necessary to move a little faster before their preparations were complete.

“England and France have no intention of going to war right now. They can’t be ready.”

“Is that so…”

If you’re going to start something, you have to do it now.

Even if we crouch here like a docile dog, England or France will not stop trying to grab Russia’s leash.

If we are going to shed blood, it is better to shed blood now, while the German sphere is only testing the waters, before it is completely attached to them.

“How much would it take to occupy the principalities along the Danube River? Can they resist?”

“The Ottomans are no match for the home country anymore.”

“That’s right. In other words, if we occupy it quickly, England and France won’t be able to find a time to intervene, right?”

In the first place, there is no way that the already declining Ottomans would declare war on Russia just because they lost the Danube River region.

Nicholas decided to end this tedious situation.

As always, bullets know the solution in most complicated situations.

There were no exceptions this time, and there will be no exceptions in the future.