I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 267

Becoming a Hidden Power in the British Empire – Episode 267

There’s this ridiculous slogan called .

To put it grandly, it’s the divine will for the United States to conquer the American continent. This is a truth that is upheld as a kind of faith among Americans today.

This slogan, which claims that expanding territory is not just a right but a duty, also serves to unite the United States.

It’s a happy ending where expanding the land strengthens their system, reinforces their unity, and makes everyone happy. Wait, what?

Lebensraum [living space]… Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere… Ugh, words that make my head ache suddenly come to mind.

However, the United States was fortunate enough to be born in a good era, so they could make such insane claims in the 19th century, not the 20th, and no European power genuinely challenged them.

If they had said such things in the middle of Europe, they would have been crushed, but no country was very interested in the United States beating up Native Americans or Mexicans.

In the first place, European powers were justifying their colonial policies with the bizarre logic of the white man’s burden, so it was difficult for them to say anything to the United States.

However, as someone who needs to cherish and carefully nurture Canada to make it a future source of income, I can’t help but be anxious about when the United States might go crazy.

You might think they wouldn’t fight the British Empire, but if you approach history with the assumption of ‘surely not,’ you’re bound to get your head cracked open.

Surely Germany wouldn’t start a world war? Surely they wouldn’t do it again after losing once?

Surely Japan wouldn’t attack Pearl Harbor?

Well, as a result, it all happened, right?

Knowing the original history, I know very well how crazy this world can become when it goes mad.

In fact, frankly speaking, who would have known that Russia would take the screws out of its head and shout ‘charge forward’ like that in this Crimean War.

So, at least while I’m alive, the United States needs to be firmly leashed and trained not to bite this way.

But the guys who want this struggle will clearly continue to look for new prey, so I have to keep throwing them fresh bait.

So, there’s no reason not to take advantage of Spain, which is thankfully drawing aggro [aggression] on its own.

“Hello.”

“I wanted to see you anyway, so thank you for inviting me.”

“No, it’s rather late. From my perspective, I had to hear the stories of other countries involved in this matter, so there was some delay.”

“By ‘other side,’ do you mean Spain?”

“Yes.”

When I answered immediately without denying it, the eyes of the American Ambassador Lawrence shook slightly.

I didn’t say anything else and poured whiskey into a glass and handed it over.

He’s probably being pressured by the President or the State Department, so I wonder how much he’s suffering. Have a drink.

That way, we can communicate better.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since the real war ended, but I have to deal with things like this. Of course, you must be having a harder time, Ambassador, since the war hasn’t ended for you yet.”

“No, not at all.”

I took a shot first, and he eventually poured the liquor down his throat as well.

His expression shows that something is burning inside him.

It’s the perfect atmosphere to have a sincere conversation.

“Seeing that I’ve secretly invited you, you can probably guess what I’m going to talk about.”

“…You’re getting to the point faster than I thought.”

“I’m busy too. The Expo is just a few months away, and I’m so overloaded that my head is spinning.”

“I’ve heard that no one in the British Empire works harder than Your Highness. I thought it was a joke, but it seems it’s true.”

Is that dew on the glass now, or my tears? It could be both. Damn it.

“I believe you proposed banning weapon exports to Canada last time, but unfortunately, we can’t grant that.”

“I see. That’s unfortunate.”

“Actually, I said that I was willing to stop considering the relationship between Spain and the United States. However, Spain is demanding it so strongly, and there’s no legal basis to stop it, so it will be difficult to stop.”

“I see. Spain is strongly demanding it…”

At first glance, it might seem like sowing discord, but this isn’t sowing discord.

The dictionary definition of sowing discord is the act of alienating two people who are on good terms, isn’t it?

I’m just trying to sort out two people who already have a terrible relationship.

“The United States may feel wronged by Spain, but you don’t have to think too badly of it. It’s not because Spain has bad feelings towards the United States.”

“What? You’re saying they’re selling weapons to a country at war with our country, not because they have bad feelings towards us?”

“It’s not to harm the United States. Hmm… If we go on like this, misunderstandings will pile up, so it’s better for me to mediate.”

See? This is by no means sowing discord or slander, but merely a gesture of goodwill from the world’s strongest power to reconcile the bickering, pathetic great power wannabes.

“I don’t think there’s anything to misunderstand between us and Spain right now.”

“No. Spain is harming the United States as a result, but as I said, it’s not because they have bad feelings towards your country, but because Spain has its own goals.”

“Goals?”

“Hasn’t Spain been having a hard time lately? They’ve lost a lot of colonies too.”

Ambassador Lawrence nodded with a look that seemed to understand.

“So, Spain is planning to use this opportunity to regain its old influence, starting with Mexico. They’re not aiming for North America, where the United States and Canada are, but they’re trying to increase their power again in the south.”

“…Spain has a plan to do something again in the Americas?”

“I don’t think they’re trying to create colonies again. In the first place, Spain isn’t the Spain of the old days, and they’re not even as good as a toothless tiger, so do they have the capacity to manage colonies?”

“Anyway, they intend to drive stakes back into the Americas, starting with Mexico.”

I nodded with a mischievous expression, implying that’s probably the case.

Okay, with this, he’ll fully understand that Spain isn’t trying to screw over the United States, right?

I really want the two countries to clear up their misunderstandings and have more contact in the future.

Perhaps understanding my sincerity, Ambassador Lawrence emptied another glass of whiskey and smiled much brighter than when he first arrived.

“Thank you. I feel like my head is clearing up now.”

“Is that so? I’m so glad. Hahaha! After all, we white people should all get along.”

As a European-Asian mixed-blood, I spouted nonsense that didn’t even make sense, but Ambassador Lawrence was so happy that he nodded and poured whiskey into my glass himself.

“Of course. His Excellency the President will also be sincerely grateful for Your Highness’s consideration.”

Spain is… the biggest obstacle openly threatening America’s manifest destiny [the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America].

Just by looking at his expression, I can see what’s being noted in his head.

Now, all that’s left is to sell as many weapons as possible and then subtly mediate the war between the two countries.

The British Empire only needs to promote the image that it is doing its best for the peace of the Americas.

If they still fight, it’s their choice, so what can I do?

Did anyone hold a knife to their throats and threaten them to fight?

* * *

“It’s really nice to see you again after a long time.”

For some reason, it seems like everyone I’ve met in the past few days has been saying ‘it’s been a long time’ as if they’re running a macro. Is it just my feeling?

In reality, it’s been years since I’ve met them all, so it’s not wrong, but it feels strange to keep hearing it.

Anyway, I feel refreshed after clearing up the misunderstandings of the American countries that are full of discord.

Kim Jwa-geun, the Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] ambassador whom I called to handle other matters as well, looked a little haggard, perhaps because British food didn’t suit his taste.

“Ambassador, you look a little thinner. Is it possible that the food doesn’t suit your taste?”

“N, no way. English food is the best in the world!”

Well, seeing him say such crazy things so calmly, he must be homesick and have a bit of a headache.

“You don’t have to praise everything about England so much just because I’m English.”

“No! English food is the best in the world, and this can be scientifically proven. I tried French food once, and it was greasy and had a strong smell, so it was hard to eat.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll prepare traditional English dishes for the ambassador’s meal today. I should make kimchi pilaf for myself for the first time in a while.”

“K, kimchi? Where? Is that true?”

“I sometimes miss it, so I asked my personal chef to make it after many trials and errors. Of course, it’s made entirely to my personal taste, so I don’t recommend it to others.”

Since he’s from Joseon, I was going to let him have a taste, but since he says English food is the best, I have no choice but to serve him sardine pie.

“Uh… kimchi…”

“I can’t help it. I’ll eat the kimchi myself, and I’ll have kidney pie with a good texture of the intestines and sardine pie with a good taste of fish served to the ambassador.”

“Uh… guh…”

Kim Jwa-geun kept licking his lips and looked up at me with a pitiful expression, like a puppy needing to pee, probably because all the ingredients he brought from Joseon were gone.

Can a cultured nobleman from the Andong Kim clan [a prominent Korean clan] look so pathetic just because he hasn’t eaten kimchi for a few years?

Actually, I understand.

If a nobleman who has lived his whole life in Joseon is suddenly dropped in England and asked to try eel jelly and sardine pie, he can’t help but be shocked.

His reaction was so funny that I teased him for a long time, unlike myself.

I chuckled and ordered a plate of kimchi pilaf, perfectly customized to my taste, to be brought to Kim Jwa-geun.

“Oh! T, this. To be able to eat rice fried with kimchi in England!”

“Strictly speaking, pilaf is a different dish from fried rice, but…”

Despite my kind explanation, Kim Jwa-geun didn’t listen and diligently moved his spoon, frantically scooping rice and bringing it to his mouth.

It’s been three years since he left Joseon, so it must be time for his body to twist with longing for the taste of his hometown.

I quietly watched him devour the pilaf and subtly brought up the real purpose of today’s meeting.

“It’s been quite a while since the contents of the Treaty of Paris arrived in Joseon, but has there been a reply?”

“…Yes, it has. His Highness… is very grateful for your concern… His Highness’s…”

Even while mumbling, his diction is so clear, as expected, a nobleman of high status is different in some way.

“Ahem! Sorry, excuse me for a moment.”

Kim Jwa-geun quickly drank a glass of water and carefully took out the bundle he had brought and handed it to me.

“Here is a wild ginseng that His Highness sent, saying he is very grateful. It is a special product that has been aged for at least 50 years, and His Majesty sent it himself in the hope of wishing good health to Your Highness Kirian.”

“Wow, it’s amazing to see wild ginseng that I’ve only heard about. Please tell him that I will gratefully accept it. Seeing that he sent something like this, it seems that the Joseon side is quite satisfied with the contents of the Treaty of Paris?”

“Yes. Everyone is happy because they received reparations from Russia and gained unexpected territory, so the officials have a lot of work to do. However, no matter how much we think about it, that island called Sakhalin is not easy to manage with our current administrative power…”

“Would it have been better to receive Manchuria instead of Sakhalin?”

“No! Manchuria is something we can’t manage, and it would only be an opportunity to conflict more severely with the Qing [the last imperial dynasty of China], which is already awkward, so we don’t even dare to wish for it.”

That’s right. Still, as one of the best outputs of the Andong Kim clan, his judgment is good.

“That’s why I gave you half of Sakhalin. Although it is an island, it is easier for our British Empire to help Joseon because it is an island. If necessary, we will build a base so that our troops can easily go there, so there is no need to worry about security.”

Building our military base in another country is practically an act of covering our eyes and making a sound, but Kim Jwa-geun didn’t seem to care much.

In the first place, Sakhalin is a region that has nothing to do with Joseon, and he knows very well that it is land that they cannot hold with their own capabilities.

“And wasn’t it confirmed that Joseon will also participate in the World Expo held in our country this time? I have something to say about that.”

“Ah, yes. Of course, it may not look good from England’s point of view, but it is to introduce Joseon’s traditional technology…”

“Ah, I’m not saying anything, so you don’t have to be so nervous. However, Japan is also participating in the Expo, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to inform other people who are ignorant of Asian culture about Asia, so I’m going to talk about it in advance.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for being so considerate.”

Thanks for what. We also have something we want.

“And I don’t know if the ambassador has heard, but I think it’s time to slowly proceed with that plan that Joseon’s His Highness promised us. Since the world’s attention is focused on London, this seems to be the best time to execute the plan.”

“If it’s the plan that His Majesty promised, could it be…”

“Yes, that’s it.”

It’s good that I don’t have to explain because he already knows.

“But to proceed with that, we must first settle our relationship with the Qing.”

“Isn’t it perfect? Take this opportunity to just go for it. In fact, Qing China is also planning to participate in the Expo this time.”

Kim Jwa-geun hesitated for a moment, rolling his eyes around, but eventually nodded.

In the first place, how could he, a mere subject, overturn the promise that the king himself made?

Joseon is an independent country that has nothing to do with the Qing, and how other countries, including Joseon, treat the British Empire.

The best opportunity has come to show how friendly the Asian countries are in this place where the eyes of the world will be focused.