I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 295

Becoming a Hidden Power in the British Empire – 295

Farewell to the Old Order (3)

The heartwarming and rewarding visit to my hometown is slowly coming to an end.

Since I can’t build factories and plant capitalism in Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] right away, I’ll have to be satisfied with just laying the groundwork for now.

I can’t stay in this narrow land forever, so I need to put an end to it.

Fortunately, Kim Eung-geun was the type to keep his word, and he immediately opened the floodgates to chaos.

“It is a fact acknowledged by most under heaven that there has been no king worthy of the name since the year of Sinmyo in the reign of Emperor Chongzhen [the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty]. The culture of rites and music was once in the East, but now the leadership has passed to the West, which means that the one who occupies the position is not the original owner. Since you have already received recognition from the owner of the world when establishing the Crown Prince, now is the time to settle the past relationships and establish a new order.”

In fact, Heonjong [King of Joseon] had already officially declared that he would no longer receive investiture [formal appointment] from Qing [the ruling dynasty of China] since the Crown Prince’s investiture.

And this memorial [formal written petition], containing the names of almost all officials under the influence of the Andong Kim clan, contained the content of declaring it outright.

In fact, since Sinocentrism [belief in the cultural and political superiority of China] was rampant in Joseon, attacking Qing wasn’t that much of a burden.

There were no Confucian scholars particularly denouncing it, and news of how serious the situation in Qing was continued to be reported in real time, so anyone who sided with Qing was being treated like an idiot.

“The suffering that Qing is currently experiencing is not simply due to being pushed back by Western powers. A large-scale rebellion has broken out in the south, which means that the Qing imperial family has lost the hearts of the people. The hearts of the people are the will of heaven, so the turning away of the people’s hearts is evidence that the will of heaven has turned away.”

“It is said that rebellions occurred in almost all countries in Europa [historical term for Europe] several years ago. However, only England was not affected by the damage of the rebellion. From a Confucian perspective, this supports the existing claim that there is providence in England.”

A true scholar of Neo-Confucianism would be appalled to hear this, but there were no Confucian scholars in Joseon who would stand up for the Qing dynasty.

“Since the will of the ministers coincides with my will, I will re-establish the order of this land and determine the path that Joseon should take. Our Joseon no longer needs the approval of Qing, and I hereby declare that we will not allow any interference from Qing in the future.

Furthermore, Joseon officially recognizes that there is providence in England and acknowledges that the Emperor of England, although he did not perform the rites of Guheon and Palil [ancient Chinese rituals], possesses the virtues that an emperor should have…”

The absurd declaration that a Western island nation would be recognized as a Son of Heaven state was made, but since so many absurd things had happened so far, the opposition was not as strong as expected.

Of course, that doesn’t mean people applauded with both hands.

“Severing ties with Qing is something that must be done, but recognizing the King of England as the Son of Heaven is clearly beyond the pale.”

“Your Majesty! How can you abandon the ways of Confucianism and try to walk the path of the barbarians!”

“Although the power of the Westerners is strong, it is only a fleeting moment. It is said that violating morality is immoral, and harming benevolence is treasonous. Please turn your heart back and keep to the right path!”

“If we sever ties with Qing, Joseon should declare itself an empire! Serving the barbarians is something that cannot happen to our nation with its half-millennium history!”

Although they were thoroughly defeated in the debate and temporarily cowered, they had absolutely not all turned to supporting subservience to the British Empire.

Of course, some of the Confucian scholars had learned something from the previous debate and took a wait-and-see attitude, but what kind of country is Joseon?

Even during the Gabo Reform [a series of reforms in Korea in 1894] and Gwangmu Reform [another series of reforms in Korea, 1897], there were plenty of Confucian scholars who stubbornly opposed modernization without ever giving in.

It would have been different if they had seen through Japan’s ambition to invade, but in fact, there were no such people at the time.

Even Ahn Jung-geun [Korean independence activist] initially viewed cooperation with Japan positively, as Japan, which had successfully modernized, seemed like an attractive role model.

The reason why Confucian scholars opposed reform to the end was not due to great insight, but rather because they simply wanted to maintain the order of Confucianism.

So, would they agree to serve a country of Westerners they didn’t even know properly?

It was a foregone conclusion that they would foam at the mouth and come forward.

And Kim Eung-geun, true to his word that he would prove it with action, literally mobilized all the power of the Andong Kim clan that he had accumulated.

“Your Majesty! Unruly Confucian scholars are even mentioning Zhang Zai’s writings from the Northern Song Dynasty to criticize the court’s decision! However, Zhang Zai said that a great king is the eldest son of his parents, and vassals are the vassals of the eldest son, so they must be respected. Openly opposing Your Majesty’s decision is no different from opposing the decision of one’s parents, so is it not truly a rebellious act!”

“If we tolerate the arrogance of those who act like Confucian scholars but are actually negligent in the ways of Confucianism, the order of Joseon will fall to the ground!”

“It is said that the wise must be better than others, but how can we call them wise when they are now? Your Majesty has created a place where we can share our opinions with each other with the grace of the sea, but these are the ones who have failed to make a proper rebuttal. However, they are holding the country back with memorials from behind, so they are the ones who are no less than traitors.”

As the people of the Andong Kim clan, who controlled the overall power of the court, came forward in droves, memorials denouncing the Confucian scholars poured in from all six ministries and the Border Defense Council.

In short, it can be summed up as, ‘Confucian scholars, you are too arrogant.’

No matter how many memorials the Confucian scholars submitted, it was naturally incomparable to the memorials submitted by the court officials in droves.

Unless the opinions of all the Confucian scholars in the country were unified, the leaders of the Hwaseo School were in exile, and the Confucian scholars in the Yeongnam region also had slightly different opinions.

“The Confucian scholars who submitted the memorials must all be punished!”

“Severely punish them according to the law!”

As the Andong Kim clan went crazy and came forward as if they had been stabbed in some kind of weak spot, other forces, including the Pungyang Jo clan, also noticed the situation.

Logically, would they have made such an unnatural and strong claim on their own?

This can only be seen as a consensus of some kind being formed with the King.

That means that the King has a strong will to carry out strong reforms and to remove those who oppose them.

If the Andong Kim clan is allowed to run wild alone here, they will not be able to seize the initiative in the political world later.

The Pungyang Jo clan, who quickly read the situation like a powerful family, also participated in this denunciation race, and Heonjong reluctantly accepted their opinions as if he was being pushed.

“The act of openly criticizing and even mocking the court’s decision, which was promoted with one heart by the officials who considered the cold reality and the general affairs of the country, is truly presumptuous and can only be seen as having a heinous crime. Therefore, we will strictly punish the ringleaders to show the strictness of the national law.”

“It is a wise decision!”

Originally, memorials in such sensitive matters were submitted at the risk of one’s life, so there were quite a few cases of punishment.

However, there were not many cases of really cracking down on them as they pleased, and this was mostly called the behavior of a tyrant, but Heonjong was unstoppable.

If the king just gets angry and cracks down on everyone, that’s a tyrant, but this is only because the high-ranking officials of the Six Ministries, the Three Offices, and even the Border Defense Council were all calling for punishment with one heart, so how could they be criticized as a tyrant?

Even if they were criticized, it would be the officials who blinded the eyes of the King.

Approval was given at an astonishing speed, and the order was executed as soon as the King’s order was issued.

“Arrest the traitors who have disturbed the King’s mind with memorials!”

“Traitors! How can it be said that it is treason to offer loyal advice to protect the foundation of the country!”

“Opposing the decision made out of concern for the future of the country is no different from saying that you will ruin the country! You guys who are all talk are the traitors!”

“You villains! You are the ones who are…”

“There is no need for long words! Take them all away!”

Those who can mobilize public power and those who cannot.

Those who have the King as their backing and those who do not.

From the beginning, a fair fight could not be established, and the Confucian scholars, feeling a sense of crisis, tried to wage a public opinion war, but that was not easy either.

“Minister Kim Eung-geun, the hearts of the people are the will of heaven, but can we really say that the Confucian scholars who speak the opposite of the people’s hearts are following the will of heaven?”

“Absolutely impossible.”

“Then wouldn’t it be easier if you spread their wickedness far and wide to the people?”

“You mean to completely isolate the Confucian scholars. I understand.”

It is true that ignorant people have no real influence, but it can be a very good justification for cracking down on Confucian scholars.

The Andong Kim clan, who received my advice, first began to incite the people of Hanseong [old name for Seoul].

Since there were no newspapers or radios, they had no choice but to spread rumors by word of mouth, but it was easy to sway the public opinion of Hanseong.

“Have you heard the news?”

“It’s been a bit noisy these days, but what happened again?”

“I heard that the King and the ministers are taking various measures to make the country prosperous, but the Confucian scholars in the provinces are opposing it so much.”

“Why would they oppose making the country strong?”

“If the country becomes strong, people like us can eat well and live well, but they say it’s because they can’t live in luxury then? Why, if ignorant people like us become smart, they can’t walk around with their shoulders puffed up like they do now.”

“They’re opposing it for that reason? These sons of bitches!”

In fact, most of the people who make up Joseon are not very interested in Neo-Confucianism.

Even if there are concepts and customs that have been almost instilled, it is not a thought based on sophisticated logic, but rather a perception based on the social concept that it is right to do so.

So, unconditional agitation is a preemptive strike.

If you create a structure of wicked and evil Confucian scholars who have rebelled against the King and his subjects who are agonizing over how to feed the people and let them sleep in warm places, public sentiment will roll on its own.

If public sentiment worsens, then you can cut off their heads for that reason, and the purge will be complete.

The Confucian scholars who felt this flow began to unite around the Seowon [private Confucian academies], which were still intact at this time.

The Seowon, which were called the three major halls of learning in the Joseon Dynasty along with Sungkyunkwan [royal university] and Hyanggyo [government-established local schools], had already grown to over hundreds, and the evils themselves were in a serious situation.

Tax evasion and military service evasion were basic, and even illegally collecting taxes from farmers was commonplace, so it was an opportunity for Heonjong, who had already been sharpening his knife.

“I hear that the evils of the Seowon are serious, should we leave them as they are?”

The Seowon directly affected the social influence of the Yangban [ruling class] families, so even the powerful families did not want the abolition, but the situation was already irreversible.

Even if they had to give up their own flesh, they could not raise objections at the point where they had to completely smash their bones.

“As a result of the investigation, most of the Seowon existing throughout the country were found to be exploiting the blood of the people and disrupting the order of the country under the pretext of worshiping the sages. They talk about the order of Confucianism with their mouths, but they are at the forefront of exploiting the people behind their backs, so it cannot be believed that their claims are truly based on Neo-Confucianism.”

“…Your Majesty is right.”

“Therefore, we will boldly abolish all the remaining Seowon, leaving only the deeply rooted Seowon that have been clearly verified, so you should receive my will and execute it.”

It was truly a case of digging one’s own grave, so no one could refute it, and the will of the court was so strong that those who resisted were all dragged away and sentenced to flogging.

In addition to this unilateral oppression, they also used the method they used on Lee Gwang-ro more extensively, and did not stop working to shake the perceptions of the Confucian scholars representing each region from the root.

“Your Majesty! Confucius said that the king who rules the country without artificial actions is Emperor Shun, so how can you shake the roots of the country so much!”

“The criminal Kim Pyeong-muk is escorted to Shanghai so that he can face reality, and then exiled to Algeria.”

Oh, shut up. Do you want to taste the colony?

“Your Majesty! Sending the Confucian scholars to the land of the barbarians, not the eight provinces of Joseon, is not the way of the scholars…”

“The criminal, Lee Yul-beom, is exiled to Vietnam.”

“Your Majesty! Please follow the laws of morality…”

“The criminal is escorted to Senegal.”

In addition, you are to Sierra Leone, you are to New Caledonia, and finally to Tahiti.

The world was now facing an era of great exile.

The old order that had taken root for hundreds of years was rapidly collapsing, and Killian, the culprit of all this, saw that it was very good.