I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 284

< Debate on Rituals (2) >

Debate on Rituals.

This was a fierce debate that occurred twice during the reign of King Hyeonjong over the proper etiquette for royal funerals.

At first glance, it seems like pointless formality unrelated to the lives of the people, but this is actually an unfair criticism.

Confucianism was the foundation of Joseon [the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting for approximately 5 centuries], and this particular issue was directly related to the legitimacy of the monarchy.

In other words, in Joseon, the Debate on Rituals was a crucial matter directly connected to real politics, so its importance could never be taken lightly.

From that perspective, this debate, though different from that time, is not fundamentally different.

In a nation like Joseon, based on Confucian ideology, is it right to establish diplomatic relations with Western powers and embrace modernization?

Or should they uphold the Neo-Confucian order to the end and protect the pride of Little China [a term used to describe Korea’s self-perception as a preserver of Chinese culture after the fall of the Ming dynasty]?

In that this debate is directly related to the national ideology, it was expected to be as fierce as the Debate on Rituals of the past.

The difference is that instead of the court being divided and fighting, they opened a forum for debate to persuade the Confucian scholars of the provinces.

Originally, if the court’s opinion was firm, they could just push ahead regardless of what the Confucian scholars said, but this is an issue that could touch the fundamental ideology of Neo-Confucianism.

If they didn’t nail it down and move on, there would be constant noise in the future, so the King had a grand plan to settle everything 확실히 [hwaksilhi – definitely] this time.

“If you have a head on your shoulders and that head is functioning properly, this is not even a question. Look at the horrors of the continent of Africa in Ambassador Kim Jwa-geun’s report. The great powers of Europe are squeezing the weak countries until not even a drop of water comes out!”

“That’s right. Not only Africa, but many countries in Asia are falling into their colonies. If we, Joseon, don’t want to end up like that, we have no choice but to become strong enough not to be eaten by them. And to buy that time, we have to use the power of 영길리 [Yeonggilli – England], don’t we?”

“In fact, thanks to joining hands with 영길리 [Yeonggilli – England] and defeating 아라사 [Arasa – Russia], we were able to add that vast land in the north to our possession.”

The court officials, who had unknowingly become pragmatists, clicked their tongues and 욕하 [yokha – cursed] the Confucian scholars’ backward perception of reality.

Even if they were Confucian scholars, they had no choice but to have their 사고가 corrected [sagoga – way of thinking] after they had heard so much and actually experienced it.

“Shouldn’t we just send those who are screaming now to the colonies of the Western powers, as His Majesty said before?”

“They say they’re actually doing that. However, before they come back and testify, we need to change the 지방 유생들의 관념 [Jibang yusaengdeurui gwannyeom – the local Confucian students’ perception] to some extent.”

“There’s no need to worry about that. I’ll take the lead and gently massage those hard-headed fools.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on 좌의정 [Jwauijeong – Left State Councillor] Kim Hak-seo’s guarantee, who had suddenly turned into an ultra-hardline pragmatist, as if he had eaten something wrong.

“It’s reassuring to have 좌상 [Jwasang – Left State Councillor] take the lead. But what 바람이 [barami – wind] blew that made you so 적극적으로 [jeokgeukjeogeuro – actively]?”

“Damn it, I need to be able to 살 수 [sal su – live] because I’m 불안해서 [buranhaeseo – anxious]···.”

“···Yes?”

“Ah, no, I mean, seeing those 머저리들 [meojeorideul – idiots] blocking the road with 도끼들고 [dokkideulgo – holding axes] suddenly made me 불안해졌다는 [buranhaejyeotdaneun – anxious]. Imagine some 미친놈 [michinnom – madman] taking an 도끼 [dokki – axe] and attacking 기리안 전하 [Girian Jeonha – His Highness Girian]. That would be the end of Joseon, the end!”

Kim Hak-seo, muttering like someone possessed by a ghost, suddenly 부르짖자 [bureujitja – shouted] out loud, causing the other officials to 의아해하면서도 [uiahaehamyeonseodo – while being puzzled] but nodded for now.

Was that person always like that?

He met 기리안 [Girian] and suddenly became 적극적 [jeokgeukjeok – active] as if he had changed, so much so that it seemed like he had been caught with some weakness.

But what relationship could 기리안 [Girian], who had met Kim Hak-seo for the first time in his life, have with him to 구워삶을 [guwo salmeul – win over] him?

I can only assume that Kim Hak-seo, who saw 지부상소 [jibusangso – a memorial submitted by local Confucian scholars], felt that much 경각심 [gyeonggaksim – a sense of alarm].

Around the time when such integration of opinions was taking place in the Bibyeonsa [a Joseon Dynasty government council].

The 유생들 [yusaengdeul – Confucian students], led by Choi Ik-hyeon and Lee Man-son, who had been imprisoned and released, were also busy devising their own debate strategies.

“They will surely argue that it is unavoidable from a realistic point of view.”

“뻔하지 [ppeonhaji – obvious]. It’s just a different name, but isn’t it 사실상 [sasilsang – in fact] similar to the Northern Learning faction [a group of Joseon scholars who advocated for practical learning and adopting Western technologies]?”

“That’s right. So, 사실상 [sasilsang – in fact], it won’t be that difficult to 반박하는 [banbakaneun – to refute].”

The Northern Learning faction, which advocated for 이용후생 [iyonghusaeng – utilizing things for the benefit of the people] in the past, did voice their opinions to some extent, but in the end, it ended as their own 주장 [jujang – assertion].

Why?

Their 주장 [jujang – assertion] seemed plausible, but in the end, they could not 거스를 [geuseulleul – resist] the tradition of Joseon that had been 쌓여온 [ssayeoon – accumulated] for hundreds of years.

No matter how plausible the logic of reality or practicality is, it is only a fleeting moment.

The tradition that has been 쌓여온 [ssayeoon – accumulated] for decades or hundreds of years is history in itself, and you cannot 거스를 [geuseulleul – resist] history.

“I will gather as much evidence as possible that 서학 [Seohak – Western learning] will only make us 피폐하게 [pipeihage – devastated] in the end.”

“That’s right. If Teacher Lee Gwang-ro saw your disciple 분투하는 [buntuhaneun – struggling] like this, he would surely be very satisfied.”

“Thank you. I will do my best to 다시 일깨워보이겠 [dasi ilkkaewoboiget – reawaken] the 총기 [chonggi – brilliance] of His Majesty, who has been 어두워지신 [eoduwojisin – dimmed] by 사학 [sahak – heterodox learning].”

I don’t know what kind of 사이한 요술 [saihan yosul – strange magic] 기리안 [Girian], a half-Joseon person, used to 오염시켰는지 [oyeomsikyeonneunji – contaminate] the 사상 [sasang – ideology] of the 선비들 [seonbideul – Confucian scholars].

Now that a proper 판이 [pani – situation] has been 마련된 [maryeondoen – prepared], if we prepare with all our 정성과 힘 [jeongseonggwa him – sincerity and strength], His Majesty will surely 다시 눈을 뜨 [dasi nuneul tteu – open his eyes again].

서학 [Seohak – Western learning] in a country of 성리학 [Seongnihak – Neo-Confucianism] that has 이어져 [ieojyeo – continued] for 500 years? I can’t stand to see such a sight before 흙이 [heulgi – dirt] goes into my eyes.

“Let’s go. To save Joseon.”

* * *

“Let’s protect 성리학 [Seongnihak – Neo-Confucianism]! 통촉하 [Tongchokha – Have insight]! 주시옵소서 [Jusiopsoseo – Please watch over us]!”

“Joseon! Must change! Let’s 직시 [jikshi – face] the 현실 [hyeonsil – reality]!”

“사문난 적 [Samunnanjeok – Traitors to Confucianism]! Who are 더럽히는 [deoreophineun – defiling] 성리학 [Seongnihak – Neo-Confucianism]! 물러가라 [Mulleogara – Go away]!”

“개혁만이 [Gyeokmangi – Only reform]! Is the way to live! 유생들 [Yusaengdeul – Confucian students]! 각성하라 [Gakseonghara – Awaken]!”

크으 [keueu – Wow], the atmosphere is 죽여주는구만 [jugyeojuneunguman – amazing].

As the day of the debate approached, 유생들 [yusaengdeul – Confucian students] from all over the country, as well as 유생들 [yusaengdeul – Confucian students] from Sungkyunkwan [Joseon’s highest educational institution], poured out into the streets, having heard the 소문 [somun – rumor].

Those who came from the provinces almost without exception 비판했지만 [bipanhaetjiman – criticized] the 조정’s 대신들 [jojungui daeshindeul – court officials], but surprisingly, those close to 한성 [Hanseong – Seoul] took a 중립적인 [jungnipjeogin – neutral] attitude.

I was honestly a bit 의외 [uiwoe – surprised] when I heard that the debate over 개화 [gaehwa – enlightenment/modernization] and 척사 [cheoksa – rejecting heterodoxy] was 뜨겁다 [tteugeopda – hot] even in Sungkyunkwan.

Even if it is close to 현실 정치 [hyeonsil jeongchi – real politics], students will inevitably 기울 [giul – lean] to 이상주의 [isangjuui – idealism].

When I found out why the 분위기가 흘러갔 [bunwigiga heulleogat – atmosphere flowed] like this, the 시점 [sijeom – point in time] when 여론 [yeoron – public opinion] began to 요동치기 [yodongchigi – fluctuate] was clear.

The day half of Sakhalin became Joseon’s land.

As almost half of the land in South Korea was newly 편입되 [pyeonipdoe – incorporated] into the territory, those who were 거하게 뽕에 취한 [geohage ppong-e chwihan – heavily intoxicated with뽕 (a slang term for drugs or extreme excitement)] began to 나오기 [naogi – appear].

“Even if 기리안 전하 [Girian Jeonha – His Highness Girian] has Joseon blood flowing in his veins, he is still a 영길리 [Yeonggilli – English] person! He will move for the benefit of 영길리 [Yeonggilli – England], not the benefit of Joseon! 덮어두고 [deopeodugo – Ignoring] Trusting him is a 지름길 [jireumgil – shortcut] that leads to 망국 [mangguk – ruin of the country]!”

“갈 [gal – Hey]! You 네 이놈 [ne inom – you rascal]! How dare you 의심 [uisim – doubt] 기리안 전하 [Girian Jeonha – His Highness Girian]! Think about the 은혜 [eunhye – grace] that 기리안 전하 [Girian Jeonha – His Highness Girian] has 베푼 [bepun – bestowed] to Joseon so far! He signed a 상호 방위 조약 [sangho bangwi joyak – mutual defense treaty] to 물리치 [mullichi – repel] the 위협 [wihyeop – threat] of 아라사 [Arasa – Russia], and in the last war, he even 편입시켜주시기까지 [pyeonipsikyeojusigikkaji – even incorporated] half of 살합림 [Salhaprim – Sakhalin] into Joseon’s territory! Who in the world would 베푼 [bepun – bestow] such 호의 [hoeu – favor] for our Joseon! Even when we 사대 [sadae – served] to 명 [Myeong – Ming Dynasty], we never 떼어준 [ttaeojun – given] territory like this!”

Although it is land that they cannot even 유지 [yuji – maintain] and is left almost 무주 공산 [muju gongsang – ownerless land], there is no one who would not 좋아하지 [joahaji – like] that the territory has 늘어났는데 [neureonatneunde – increased].

Especially for Joseon, which has never 빼앗아본 [ppaeasabon – taken] territory in a war with another country, the 병합 [byeonghap – annexation] of Sakhalin must have made them feel an 형용 할 수 없는 감정 [hyeongyong hal su eomneun gamjeong – indescribable feeling].

Even if they are 군자 선비 [gunja seonbi – virtuous scholars] with their mouths, their bodies are honest.

“If we walk the path of 부강 [bugang – wealth] and 자강 [jagang – self-strengthening] as 기리안 전하 [Girian Jeonha – His Highness Girian] said, it’s not just 살합림 [Salhaprim – Sakhalin]! We can 수복 [subok – recover] the ancient territory of Manchuria and Joseon can 거듭날 [geodeumnal – be reborn] into a true 중화 [junghwa – center of civilization]!”

“Are you saying that we should 치자 [chija – govern] Manchuria is the same as saying that we should have a 전쟁 [jeonjaeng – war] with 청나라 [Cheongnara – Qing Dynasty] now? Do you think that’s possible!”

“청나라 [Cheongnara – Qing Dynasty] is 언제적 청나라 [eonjejeok Cheongnara – what era Qing Dynasty], but you’re still 얽매여 [eongmaeyeo – bound] in the 사고방식 [sagobangsik – way of thinking] of 옛날 옛적 [yennal yeotjeok – ancient times]! Let’s 수복 [subok – recover] Manchuria with 기리안 전하 [Girian Jeonha – His Highness Girian] and 되찾자 [doechatja – reclaim] the 영광 [yeonggwang – glory] of Joseon!”

I never said a word about 넘겨준 [neomgyeojun – handing over] even Manchuria, but there are more than a few who are 들이키는 김칫 국 [deurikinun gimchit guk – drinking kimchi soup (making assumptions)] at a 치사량 [chisaryang – lethal dose] level.

I decided to just 놔두기로 [nwadugiro – leave it] it now because there’s no need to 찬물을 끼얹을 [chanmureul kkieonjeul – pour cold water] by saying that you can’t 유지 [yuji – maintain] it even if you 가져봐야 [gajyeobwaya – take] Manchuria here.

In the first place, even if I said that, those who have already 취해 버린 [chwihae beorin – intoxicated] by 대환국 레벤스라움 뽕 [daehwanguk lebenseurau-ppong – Great Korean Lebensraum뽕 (living space)] would not 들어먹을 [deureomeogeul – listen].

In fact, it is not impossible to 떼어주는 [ttaeojuneun – give] Manchuria to Joseon if only a few 조건 [jogeon – conditions] are 충족되 [chungjokdoe – met], but to do so, at least three or more 조건 [jogeon – conditions] must be 충족되 [chungjokdoe – met] and more than 50 years of 시간이 [sigani – time] must 흘러야 [heulleoya – pass].

Anyway, my 호위병들 [howibyeongdeul – guards], who are 바라보는 [baraboneun – looking at] the 군중들 [gunjungdeul – crowds] who are 계속 시끄럽게 외쳐대는 날이면 날마다 [gyesok sikkeureopge oechyeodaeneun narimyeon nalmada – constantly shouting loudly day after day], looked like they couldn’t 이해 [ihae – understand].

Among them, I asked the young 소위 [soi – lieutenant] who seemed to have some 싹수 [ssaksu – potential].

“Lieutenant Gordon, is there anything you’re 궁금한 [gunggeumhan – curious]?”

“No, Your Highness!”

“I know you’re 궁금한 [gunggeumhan – curious], so tell me honestly.”

“I don’t know what kind of 계획 [gyehoek – plan] you have, Your Highness, so we’ve just 나눠본 [nanwobon – shared] several stories among ourselves. We were 고민하고 [gominhago – contemplating] which of their 추론 [churon – inference] is closest to Your Highness’s 생각 [saenggak – thought].”

“Really? Well, I guess it’s 궁금할만 [gunggeumhalman – understandable].”

Not only the soldiers here, but also the politicians in the 본국 [bonkuk – homeland] will be similar.

Why wouldn’t they think that they could just make that 쥐꼬리만한 [jwikkori manhan – tiny] country a 식민지 [sikminji – colony] or 멸망 시키고 [myeolmang sikigo – destroy] the 왕조 [wangjo – dynasty] and 세워버려도 [sewo beoryeodo – establish] a 괴뢰정권 [goeroe jeonggwon – puppet regime]?

But the reason I’m 써먹으려는 [sseomeogeuryeoneun – trying to use] Joseon was a rational choice that thoroughly 고려한 경제성 [goryeohan gyeongjeseong – considered economic feasibility].

First of all, in order to 유용하게 [yuyonghage – usefully] use the 종친 [jongchin – royal family member] status that I 얻어 낸 [eodeo naen – obtained] from that side for free, it is 유리하다 [yurihada – advantageous] for the 왕가 [wangga – royal family] of this land to be 제 구실 [je gusil – functioning properly].

At least until everyone here 떠받들 [tteobatdeul – support] me, I needed to 유용하게 [yuyonghage – usefully] use this 감투 [gamtu – title], and even after that actually happens, wouldn’t it be easier for the 백성들 [baekseongdeul – people] to receive 지지 [jiji – support] if I was a 왕족 [wangjok – royal]?

In addition, if I 무너뜨리고 [muneotteurigo – destroy] this place, which has a 관료제 [gwallyoje – bureaucracy] and 유지하는 [yujihaneun – maintaining] the 틀 [teul – framework] of the country, and 세운다면 [seundamyeon – establish] a new 체제 [cheje – system], that’s all 돈 [don – money].

In the long term, I have to 써먹어야 [sseomeogeoya – use] this 한반도 [hanbando – Korean peninsula] land to 견제 [gyeonje – check] China and Russia, but I can’t even 상상 [sangsang – imagine] how much 돈 [don – money] it would 깨질 [kkaejil – cost] if I 키워 놓으면 [kiwo noeumyeon – raise] it to that point with my own 사비 [sabi – private funds].

Well, of course, I have no intention of 놔둘 [nwadul – leaving] 저 유교 꼰대들과 [jeo yugyo kkondae deulgwa – those Confucian old fogeys] 답이 없는 왕가 그대로 [dabi eomneun wangga geudaero – royal family with no hope].

If you 리모델링 [rimodelling – remodel] even an 낡은 아파트 [nalgeun apateu – old apartment], you can 싸그리 다 바꿀 [ssageuri da bakkul – completely change] the inside as if it were any 신축 [sinchuk – new construction].

어차피 [eochapi – anyway] Once I 만들어 놓으면 [mandeureo noeumyeon – create] an environment where I can 본격적으로 개입 [bongyeokjeogeuro gaeip – intervene in earnest], it will be impossible to 유지 [yuji – maintain] even if I want to 유지 [yuji – maintain] the country called Joseon.

I’m sorry to Lee Ha-eung, who is 부풀 어오른 [bupul eoreun – swollen] with the ambition to become king, but even if he becomes king.

And even if whoever the 후계자들이 [hugyejadeuri – successors] are after that, they will never live 떵떵거리며 [tteongtteonggeorimyeo – prosperously] as the 주인 [juin – owner] of the 용상 [yongsang – throne].

The patient called Joseon needs to have 수술 [suseul – surgery], and then the 의미 [uimi – meaning] that the 존재 [jonjae – existence] called 왕 [wang – king] 가지는 [gajineun – has] will inevitably 많이 바뀌게 [mani bakkwige – change a lot].

In order to 논하려면 [nonharyeomyeon – discuss] the 방침 [bangchim – policy] of the country, you have to 고려 [goryeo – consider] even the 미래 [mirae – future] as well as the 현실 [hyeonsil – reality], but I wonder how many of those who are 부르짖는 매일같이 [bureujinneun maeilgati – shouting every day] there are who have 생각이 미친 [saenggagi michin – thought reached] to that point.

No, rather than how many there are, I should 의심 [uisim – doubt] whether they even 존재 [jonjae – exist].

Still, my 지론 [jiron – pet theory] is that those who can see even the 현실 [hyeonsil – reality], even if they cannot see the 미래 [mirae – future], are much 낫다 [natda – better] than those who 외면 [oemyeon – turn away] even that 현실 [hyeonsil – reality].

Until the day of the debate, I 슬쩍 귀띔 [seuljjeok gwittim – hinted] to Kim Hak-seo, who was 주장하는 [jujanghaneun – insisting] with his whole body to 제발 살려만 [jebal sallyeoman – please save me].

“Before you 임하시기 [imhasigi – attend] in the debate, 상상해 [sangsanghae – imagine] a 광경 [gwanggyeong – scene] where the 깃발 [gitbal – flag] of Joseon is 휘날리는 [hwinallineun – fluttering] in Manchuria and 들어 가세요 [deureo gaseyo – go in].”

“···Yes? 무, of course, there are 뜬소문 [tteun somun – rumors] like that in the 세간 [segan – world], but 설마···진짜로··· [seolma…jinjaro… – no way…really…?]”

“Isn’t there a saying that dreams come true? If you 간절히 바라 [ganjeolhi bara – earnestly wish], 천지신명이 [cheonjisinmyeongi – the gods of heaven and earth] might 도와줄지도 [dowajuljido – help].”

“오오 [oo – Oh]! 오오오오 [ooooo – Ohhhhh]!”

A reaction that was 판이 하게 [panihage – completely] different from the 비굴 한 모습 [bigulhan moseup – cowardly appearance] he had been 보이던 [boideon – showing] to 살기 [salgi – survive] 지금까지 [jigeumkkaji – until now].

“I’ll tell this 말 [mal – word] to the other 대신들 [daeshindeul – officials] right away!”

I also 슬슬 정리하고 [seul seul jeongnihago – slowly organized] the 자료 [jaryo – data] and 일어났다 [ireonatda – got up] from my 자리 [jari – seat], 바라보던 [barabodeon – looking at] Kim Hak-seo’s 뒷모습 [dwitmoseup – back], who had 사라져버린 쏜살같이 [sarajyeobeorin ssonsalgachi – disappeared like an arrow], 걸맞지 않게 나이에 [geolmatji anke naie – unbefitting his age].

I certainly said that I could give Manchuria, but I didn’t say when, did I?

It could be 100 years later, but anyway, I didn’t 거 짓말 [geo jitmal – lie].

In addition, I will 남겨두겠지만 [namgyeodugessjiman – leave behind] the 기록 [girok – record] of the 대화 [daehwa – conversation] I just had, but I clearly said to 상상해보라 [sangsanghaebora – imagine] such a 광경 [gwanggyeong – scene], but I didn’t 주지 [juji – give] any 확답 [hwaktap – confirmation].

Even if things go wrong later, you can just 치부해버리면 [chibuhae beorimyeon – dismiss] it as the 노망난 헛소리 [nomangnan heotsori – senile nonsense] of the 영감님 [yeonggamnim – old man].

But what does it matter what I 내뱉어도 [naebaeteodo – spit out] now that I don’t have to 책임질 [chaeimjil – take responsibility] anything right away?

Even those 유생들 [yusaengdeul – Confucian students] who 달고사는 [dalgosaneun – keep saying] the 도 [do – way] of 성리학 [Seongnihak – Neo-Confucianism] like a 입버릇 [ipbeoreut – habit] will be impossible to 버티는 [beotineun – withstand] Kim Hak-seo’s 공수표 남발 [gongsupyoreul nambal – issuing empty promises].

레벤스라움 [lebenseurau – Lebensraum] of the Korean people, 대환국 공영권 [daehwanguk gongyeonggwon – Greater Korean Co-Prosperity Sphere].

Can the 민족 [minjok – people] of 대한 [daehan – Korea] 참 [cham – endure] this 국뽕 [gukppong – nationalistic뽕 (a slang term for drugs or extreme excitement)]?

Then I’ll 내놓는다 [naenotneunda – put out] all my 전재산 [jeonjaesan – entire fortune].