I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 280

The King of Joseon.

For some, a title of such absolute power they dared not even utter it.

The father of all people, reigning over more than fifteen million commoners.

Even though the royal authority wasn’t what it used to be, invoking that name in vain was practically taboo.

That’s why Heungseon Gun, having been hit right on the mark, reflexively searched for words.

“The, the King of Joseon… Your Majesty. I mean…”

“Why are you so nervous? It’s not like I asked something I shouldn’t have.”

Killian, or rather, Killian, lightly lifted the teacup in front of him and brought it to his lips.

“Isn’t Grand Internal Prince Heungseon also a member of the Joseon royal family? You are also highly educated and relatively well-versed in international affairs, so there seems to be no reason why you wouldn’t be considered a candidate, is there?”

“So… yes. To tell you the truth, there have been such talks.”

“I see. But the reason you didn’t say anything was because you were worried it would seem like you were greedy for the throne?”

He seemed to be throwing words lightly, but he completely saw through my inner thoughts.

To be honest, it was undeniable.

The King of Joseon.

Not just any position, but the King of Joseon. The owner of the dragon throne.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t tempted.

If you brought any nobleman living in the eight provinces of Joseon, they would honestly show the same reaction.

It’s just that they don’t even think about it in the first place because they don’t have the qualifications, but if they were given the qualifications to sit on the dragon throne, wouldn’t anyone’s eyes light up?

But he’s discussing such a position so lightly; it somehow felt unreal.

“…May I speak honestly?”

“Isn’t that why I set up this meeting?”

“If the opportunity really arises… I do have the desire to try.”

Killian closed his mouth.

Looking at this mysterious person who didn’t seem to be much different in age, I somehow kept remembering my childhood.

I know it can’t be, but… should I say he keeps overlapping [appearing similar to someone from my past]? I don’t know.

It was so long ago that I don’t even remember his face properly, but why does that fleeting encounter keep lingering?

I even probed him a few times just in case, but each time the answer was ambiguous, neither this nor that.

The feeling that he knows everything but also doesn’t is so strong that it was impossible to dig any further.

If this was just my delusion, it could have been a tremendous discourtesy.

‘Were you perhaps a slave when you were in Joseon?’

If I said such a thing to the son-in-law of England, of all people, what would I do if it wasn’t true?

I didn’t have the guts to do that yet.

Perhaps that’s why he’s deliberately teasing me, but what can I do?

I have no choice but to stay quiet until Killian tells me everything.

But as if he had seen through that thought again, Killian chuckled and tapped the teacup with a small spoon.

“Grand Internal Prince Heungseon, I’ve created this opportunity for you to speak so frankly, but is that all you have to say? You want to try if the opportunity arises? Is that the attitude someone who wants the throne should have?”

“…But.”

“Be honest. Someone with a passive attitude, hoping to be spoon-fed, comes to a place like this? I’ll be the first to drop you.”

Looking at him speaking with a smile, it’s not like he’s saying that because he thinks I’m not determined enough.

He definitely knows everything.

He knows what you’re thinking, so tell me directly while he’s being nice.

In other words, if you want to be the king, you should cling to him.

Otherwise, he’ll drop you.

“Does Your Majesty perhaps have a candidate in mind right now?”

“I heard about it for the first time at this meeting today, so how could I have someone in mind? I should start thinking about it now. But have the Andong Kim clan or the Pungyang Jo clan tried to contact Grand Internal Prince Heungseon?”

“…They tried, but I shook them off in the middle.”

“Oh, really? Why?”

“······.”

If you’re going to make a bet, it’s right now.

You have to speak up here, where Killian has set the stage.

But because it was something that most Joseon people couldn’t even imagine, I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

Even though I’m a member of the royal family, is it really right for me to step forward like this when my rank is higher than the king’s and my relationship is so distant?

Won’t I be ridiculed for having vain delusions?

Even by foreign powers… no. Just looking at the King trying to bring Killian in, it was clear what kind of plan he had.

The Andong Kim clan and the Pungyang Jo clan, who have not yet escaped from the old inertia, still do not know the essence of this crown prince competition.

Only I. Only this Heungseon Gun knew the shortest path to the dragon throne of Joseon.

I left because I was burdened by the powerful families?

That’s just cowardly self-deception to hide my true feelings.

Killian knows that, so he’s telling me to spit it out myself.

The dragon throne of Joseon… the Andong Kim clan and the Pungyang Jo clan, and the British Empire.

Finally, I tried to gauge the balance of power, but a picture was drawn where the weight was undoubtedly leaning to one side.

In the end, Yi Haeung, taking a deep breath, pulled out the true intention that he had never told anyone, the intention of coming here voluntarily, from the depths of his heart.

“I judged that the person who receives Your Majesty’s choice in this crown prince appointment is most likely to become the next king. So, I judged that I, who am the only one with a personal connection to Your Majesty, would be at an advantage, so I applied.”

My heart was pounding, and my breath was getting short.

Killian’s gaze, looking at me with an inscrutable expression, felt unusually sharp today.

It was a fleeting moment, but in a time that felt like eons, Killian chuckled and nodded.

“Well done. If you want something, you have to come out like that. Only then will I seriously consider it, right?”

“…Does Your Majesty think I am a competitive candidate?”

“Competitiveness? What’s the need for that?”

“Yes?”

“As long as you have the proper qualifications as a candidate, the rest is meaningless. Ability is more important than competitiveness. Whether you have the qualities to sit on that dragon throne or not. As long as you have that, the competitiveness of the candidate is irrelevant, whether it’s high or low.”

Yi Haeung was momentarily chilled by the calm tone, as if he were choosing the head of a village school rather than a king.

Is that so? I had been mistaken until now, believing that the King of Joseon is an absolute position that cannot be exchanged for anything, at least in my eyes.

Killian’s view of the King of Joseon was more than enough to be inferred from his words.

It doesn’t matter how competitive the candidate is, as long as they have the qualities?

Isn’t this just a roundabout way of saying that he has the confidence to put whoever he thinks is suitable for the king directly into the position of crown prince?

“Your Majesty. May I know what qualities Your Majesty is looking for?”

“That’s the question I want to ask. Grand Internal Prince Heungseon, what is the reason why you should be the King of Joseon?”

“That’s… because I know the reality much better than the other candidates.”

It was a sudden question, but I wasn’t flustered.

This is because I have been building logic so that I can answer such questions anytime, anywhere.

“Reality, you mean the reality of Joseon?”

“Not just Joseon, but the reality of the world. I can confidently say that there is no member of the royal family who knows more about how wide this world is and how much of a frog in a well Joseon is than I do.”

“But isn’t that just a personal opinion?”

“Of course, that may be the case. However, unlike others, I did not contact the Andong Kim clan or the Pungyang Jo clan and came directly to Shanghai. This is the most definite proof that proves my words. I am confident that Your Majesty will agree.”

There is no need to explain in detail how the system of England is, how the military power is.

As I said before, the very fact that Heungseon Gun is facing Killian like this was proof that he was suitable for the next king.

Killian, who was leisurely tilting his teacup, scanned Yi Haeung, whose lips were parched, and nodded lightly.

“I understand. Then let’s meet in Joseon later.”

“…When are you planning to arrive in Joseon?”

“It seems it will take quite some time to finish preparing the things I need to take care of here. I’ll have some time in between, so I’ll stop by Joseon as well. I think I’ll have time around the end of this month.”

At the words that it was time to leave, Heungseon Gun bowed and stood up from his seat.

“I understand. Then I’ll see you in Joseon.”

“Go carefully. And prepare diligently.”

I didn’t get a definite answer, but I was grateful for just this much.

Because there was no one who didn’t know what the word preparation meant.

* * *

Knowing one’s place is a very important virtue.

It is often used in a negative sense, but in fact, this is not something to be seen only negatively.

The current Joseon is a perfect example.

To put it bluntly, what kind of disaster would happen if Joseon thought they were on par with the British Empire and went around with their shoulders puffed up?

It’s the same with the Andong Kim clan and the Pungyang Jo clan still believing that they can choose the king of that country.

Especially the Andong Kim clan, Kim Jwageun must have given them a heads up in advance, but I want to open their heads to see what they’re thinking.

Or are they acting because they have some other plan?

Anyway, compared to them, Yi Haeung’s ability to grasp the reality of coming directly here can be said to be unmatched in Joseon.

With the exception of Kim Jwageun, few people currently attached to Joseon properly understand the level like that.

Especially among the members of the royal family, wouldn’t it be safe to say that there is virtually no one?

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Yi Haeung has been completely confirmed as the king.

It’s good to have someone with a good head and a sense of things as the king, but if it’s someone who can be completely moved as my chess piece, then I don’t have to look at their abilities that much.

If that’s the case, I can enthrone Cheoljong and run Joseon to my liking, just like the Andong Kim clan did in the original history.

However, if I really do that, wouldn’t my already excessive workload double?

I guess it’s better to just pick a suitable person and let them run on autopilot.

Objectively, looking at Heungseon Gun himself, I honestly had no complaints.

Because he is active in enlightenment and has ties with me, he seemed to be the best choice among the candidates.

If I were to pick a few points of concern, it would be his bulldozer-like personality and his children.

I can control his personality, but what about his children… If Gojong of the original history is reborn, there seem to be many people who will cause a lot of trouble, so I’m a little worried.

Still, as far as I know, Gojong was the second son, so would it be better to make the eldest son the king?

Or there is also a way to make this method a new tradition and make the most promising member of the royal family the new crown prince.

Well, there are many ways to deal with it, so there’s no need to make a decision yet.

The day after I roughly organized my thoughts.

I immediately organized the news to be sent to the home country and began preparing to leave my position for a while.

“Now, this is a document that needs to go to Prime Minister Wellesley in the home country, and this is a letter that needs to be delivered to Her Majesty the Queen, so be careful not to get confused.”

“Yes! Your Majesty!”

“And when the reply comes back, I plan to go to Joseon, so you guys should also prepare.”

“Yes! I will inform the captain immediately.”

The young ensign who received my order shouted solemnly with a tense face.

Anyone would think we were going to war.

Well, it’s no wonder that the ensign who has just been commissioned has become an aide to the envoy of the country and a naval admiral in front of his eyes.

“By the way, Ensign, what was your name again?”

“Charles George Gordon, Your Majesty!”

“Okay. Ensign Gordon, you are also likely to go to Joseon with me, so please prepare.”

“Yes! I will do my best to assist Your Majesty!”

I took my eyes off him as he retreated stiffly like a robot and leaned back in my chair with my eyes closed.

Even though it’s been over 20 years, the memory of leaving Joseon with James’ hand is vivid.

I could vividly describe how I felt at the time and what I was thinking as I left that land behind.

How would that land that rejected me greet me in the distant future? At the time, I couldn’t stand being curious about that.

So now it’s time to go and check.

According to my orders, the navy stationed in Shanghai began working to organize the troops and personnel to escort me to Joseon.

Come to think of it, I wonder if our old man is still alive.

I don’t think he’ll recognize my face, but if he recognizes me first, I should think about what kind of reaction I should show him, right?