I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 254

The journey from Dongnae to Jeolla Province didn’t take long.

Initially, the purpose was to show Heonjong to a physician, but bringing Joseon’s high-ranking officials aboard a state-of-the-art warship had a surprisingly positive effect.

At first, they tried to maintain their dignity and acted reserved, but once the ship actually started moving, they couldn’t contain their curiosity.

It’s not for nothing that people talk about cultural and technological victories.

With the exception of restricted areas, they were allowed to look around, and it’s said that the Joseon ministers were amazed within just a few hours.

Since they accompanied the king, they must be at least Senior Officials; if they all return to Hanseong [Seoul, the capital of Joseon], something quite interesting will happen, right?

Now, all that’s left is for Heonjong to live a little longer than in the original history.

To truly make the British Empire an empire, a king with strong authority is needed to push back against the opposition in Joseon.

If I had known this would happen, I should have brought all my medical staff, starting with Jon Snow, but they are busy saving the lives of countless soldiers in Europe, so I have no choice.

Fortunately, the physician examined Heonjong’s condition and symptoms and seemed to have an idea, as he rummaged through documents.

“From what I see, it looks like his liver is damaged.”

“Liver?”

“Yes. It’s not just indigestion; fatigue is constantly accumulating. Also, you can see peculiar vascular lesions on his skin, can’t you? His skin is also yellowish, and his eyes are a similar color. It’s a typical case of cirrhosis.”

I also know the saying, ‘It’s because of the liver that I’m tired.’

But usually, if liver damage has progressed to this extent, it means the condition is quite serious, doesn’t it?

As the physician’s expression turned quite serious, Heonjong sighed as if he expected it and said to me.

“It’s fortunate that you recognized the illness right away, but it seems treatment is impossible. It’s a pity, but a person’s lifespan is predetermined…”

“Ah, just a moment. So, is it impossible to treat His Majesty’s illness?”

“Yes, a complete cure is impossible. However, if you continue to manage it well from now on, you may be able to slow down the deterioration, even if a complete cure is impossible. To know that, we need to know the patient’s eating habits and alcohol consumption. Can you tell me what you usually eat?”

When I translated the doctor’s words, Heonjong’s face brightened for a moment at the mention that the progression of the disease could be slowed.

Who wouldn’t feel good at the thought of even a slight extension of their lifespan?

“I used to eat a lot, but these days, my stomach feels bloated even if I eat just a little, so I can’t eat much. However, because I haven’t been able to produce an heir, I keep consuming foods that are said to be good for stamina…”

What is this? This guy with a bad liver is taking all sorts of stamina-boosting foods.

No wonder his liver levels are skyrocketing.

The more I see, the less I understand.

No, seriously, was Korean medicine in the Joseon Dynasty so primitive that it didn’t know about complications from liver damage?

Isn’t that written in the Dongui Bogam [a comprehensive Korean medical text compiled in the 17th century]?

“Didn’t the royal physician tell you that your liver was the cause of your symptoms?”

“Of course, they kept saying my liver was weak. But the king’s ability to produce an heir is important, and since my health isn’t good, my stamina has also declined, so I’ve been continuously taking medicine to replenish my energy.”

“Ah, I see what’s going on.”

It seems the causal relationship between stamina-boosting herbs and cirrhosis hadn’t been properly established yet.

Moreover, if Heonjong dies without producing an heir, the direct lineage of the royal family that has continued since King Jeongjo will be cut off.

So, with all the wishes of the royal family and officials for him to please have a child, he must have been eating stamina-boosting foods without hesitation.

Given that he’s been eating them until recently, it would be strange if his liver was healthy.

After I roughly translated the current situation, the physician sighed deeply and scribbled something on a piece of paper before handing it to me.

“In cases where the liver has deteriorated this much, there’s not much we can do. However, there have been reports that the symptoms of patients with damaged livers have improved after completely changing their eating habits, so if you follow that, it may be effective. However, if you return to your original habits, the disease will recur immediately, so you must live a celibate and strict life. If you do this, you may be able to last at least a few more years.”

“Hmm… I see. Your Majesty, it may be a blessing in disguise, but if you abstain from alcohol for the rest of your life and avoid foods that strain your liver, and cut off all herbal medicine, you may still be better off than you are now.”

“Oh, is that really true?”

“For now, I recommend that you ignore whatever the royal physician or the royal clinic says and follow our doctor’s instructions.”

“I understand. Thank you so much for your concern.”

I can’t honestly imagine what it would feel like for someone who’s living on borrowed time to hear that their lifespan could be extended even a little.

What’s certain is that if Heonjong really takes this advice and his health improves, it could significantly boost the perception of England in Joseon.

Then, naturally, my plan will gain even more momentum.

“Then, take good care of yourself, and I hope to see Your Majesty with a healthier face next time.”

“Oh, do you have plans to come to Joseon next time?”

“Of course. If the work Your Majesty is doing is to be completed successfully, I’ll have to go there myself at least once, won’t I? And there’s also a face I’d like to see.”

“A face you’d like to see? Is there someone you were close to when you were in Joseon?”

“It’s not that, I’m just curious about how they’re doing.”

You don’t necessarily have to be close to someone to want to see them.

I wonder if that person is still alive and well; they must be quite old.

Still, if possible, I hope they’re healthy so they can react sharply when they see me; I hope they haven’t retired at least.

Heonjong, who couldn’t possibly know my inner thoughts, nodded with a smile that was noticeably brighter than when I first saw him.

“Then, we will prepare the most magnificent welcoming ceremony in Joseon’s history, so please be sure to visit.”

“I understand. Then, let’s meet after the war is over.”

When you think about it, ascending to the throne and completely seizing Asia can only be done after completely bringing Russia to its knees.

So, goodbye to Asia for a while.

Of course, I won’t make you wait long.

* * *

Lee Hwan, who parted ways with Killian and returned to Hanseong, immediately began the promised work.

At first, there were voices saying that he shouldn’t rely on unverified Western medicine, but as his deteriorating health showed signs of stabilizing, those voices naturally disappeared.

Rather, using this as an excuse, Lee Hwan gradually began to lay the groundwork for the thousand people from Qing China heading to England.

At the same time, he searched through the registers and thoroughly identified the royal family members who had children under the age of five.

Quick-witted ministers sensed why the king was selecting royal figures of such a young age.

“Your Majesty, if you are going to have a marriage alliance with Killian, wouldn’t it be better to bring a daughter of marriageable age into his household as a concubine?”

“Don’t you think I’ve thought about that? But when I asked him indirectly, he said that their culture is different from ours, so they can’t have concubines.”

“But wouldn’t it be even more difficult in the case of children? They wouldn’t send their children, who they wouldn’t want to take their eyes off of, all the way to Joseon, where they can’t even communicate. Then, naturally, we would have to send people from our side there…”

“It would be difficult. But I think it’s good to try anyway.”

“I’ve heard that Westerners have different aesthetic senses from us, so their standards for accepting handsome men and beautiful women are also different. Then, selection will be even more difficult…”

So, even if we select the best talent with both scholarship and beauty, they may accept it differently over there.

“There’s no choice. Ambassador Kim Jwa-geun over there will have to take care of that. Since we’re on the subject, let’s send a message to the consulate.”

“I understand.”

Joseon and Japan were both benefiting handsomely from fake genealogies, but if they continue to rely on fake genealogies, they could suffer a big loss someday.

Moreover, after looking into it a bit, I found out that, unlike here, it’s not uncommon for royal families from different countries to marry each other in Europe, so there may be a possibility here as well.

Even if it doesn’t work out, there’s no harm in trying.

But it wasn’t just Joseon that had this thought.

In the Edo shogunate [the feudal military government of Japan during the Edo period], which was in a festive mood after virtually winning the recent war with Russia, a strange piece of news was delivered.

“Joseon’s movements are a bit suspicious.”

“Joseon? Why?”

“It’s certain that the King of Joseon recently contacted Killian, but we don’t know what they discussed.”

The shogun [military dictator of Japan], Tokugawa Ieyoshi, clicked his tongue.

The quietest cats are the first to steal the fish; is this the story of him pretending to be gentle while secretly having a rendezvous with Killian behind the scenes?

“But how are you sure that the King of Joseon met with Killian?”

“Didn’t we expand the trading post in Dongnae while deciding to increase exchanges with Joseon recently? This is a confirmed report from there. The King of Joseon came to Dongnae, but it’s unprecedented for the king to travel to such a remote area. And at the same time, a ship from England briefly docked at a port near Dongnae. What does this mean?”

“The King of Joseon went all the way to that remote area to meet Killian. I see. I can’t see it any other way.”

Since a huge procession follows the king’s movements, it’s natural that security can’t be strictly maintained.

Even if they try to hide it, they can’t, so most of the people in Dongnae must have seen the king’s procession.

It was a report that couldn’t be wrong, and there was no particular reason for the King of Joseon to come all the way down there, so it’s right to assume that the two met.

Then, the important thing is what they discussed after meeting, but Ieyoshi didn’t have any particular idea.

“Is it to discuss the aftermath of this war?”

“That’s unlikely. The commanders on the ground have already told Killian directly what Joseon and we want.”

“That’s right. Besides, the king wouldn’t have gone down there himself to have such a conversation. What do you think? If the king dared to make an unprecedented trip to meet Killian, it must have been to discuss an extraordinary topic.”

“As of now, whatever it is, we can’t go beyond the realm of speculation. Why don’t we try to confirm it directly?”

At the advice of his confidant, Toyama, the shogun’s mind gradually began to lean.

“Confirm it? How?”

“Exchanges with Joseon are gradually increasing, intertwined around England. And this trend will only get stronger in the future. So, if we send an envoy to discuss how to respond to Russia and Qing in the future relationship between the two countries, they will never refuse.”

“I see. You’re saying that we should send an envoy to discuss such things and see what kind of movements Joseon is showing?”

“Yes. If the King of Joseon has made a significant agreement with Killian, there will definitely be movements to promote something at the national level.”

Ieyoshi, who had been contemplating for a while, suddenly uttered an inspiration like lightning.

“What if the Joseon royal family were to become related to the English royal family through marriage?”

“Yes?”

“No, I’ve been thinking about that lately. What if we married a daughter of the Tokugawa [the Shogun’s family] to Killian’s son or daughter?”

“Would the proud English accept it? If Killian has about ten children, there might be a possibility…”

That’s true, but someday the queen, who is Killian’s real wife, might give birth to children and have more than ten children.

It’s just a hypothetical possibility, but if one of them chooses a spouse in Asia.

The protagonist must be a descendant of the shogun or the Tenno [the Emperor of Japan].

For the future of Japan, that position cannot be conceded to anyone else.

Of course, there’s no possibility that the rigid Joseon is already drawing such sinister plans, but it wouldn’t be bad to check it out at least once in terms of preparing for the worst.

“Prepare an envoy to go to Joseon. This time, we’re not just going to Dongnae, but we’re going to have an audience with the King of Joseon, so pay special attention to the selection of personnel.”

“Yes! We will form an envoy with high-ranking officials who are knowledgeable about foreign affairs and have excellent scholarship!”

The war in Asia is over, but this is not the end but the beginning.

The aging great empire of Qing, and Joseon and Japan, which are trying to climb up by grabbing the strings of the world’s strongest power, England.

In addition, there are Russia, which may bare its teeth again at any time, and other unknown European powers.

Before there are more variables, we may need to clean up the house as quickly as possible.

The shogun’s gaze, which had been staying in the Korean Peninsula for a while, turned again to Satsuma and Choshu [powerful feudal domains in Japan that historically opposed the shogunate].