I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 4

Becoming a Hidden Power in the British Empire 4 (4/537)

Finding the Roots

If I do nothing, Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] will fall.

That’s a confirmed fact from the history I know.

Even if Daewongun [Korean politician of the Joseon period] had implemented different policies, he might not have been able to save the declining Joseon.

But that’s only in the realm of possibility, and the fact that it will collapse if things continue as they are is a confirmed future.

Of course, saying this before the Opium War [wars fought between Great Britain and China over trade disputes] has even broken out would make me seem like a madman.

Daewongun soon relaxed his gaze, sighed, and clicked his tongue.

“It’s such an absurd statement that I don’t even feel it’s worth responding to. In the first place, overreacting to the words of a lowly slave who knows nothing is not something a nobleman should do.”

“Won’t you scold me for cursing the country, even though I’m just a lowly thing?”

“It’s just someone with Yangi [derogatory term for Westerners] blood speaking words befitting their origin. Rather than being displeased, I find it laughable.”

“Even though half of my blood is English, the other half is clearly Joseon’s. I was born and raised in Joseon, so shouldn’t I be considered closer to a Joseon person?”

Lee Ha-eung retorted with a look that said, ‘What nonsense are you spouting?’

“If you plant Yangi crops in Joseon’s soil, can you call it entirely Joseon’s crop? The origin doesn’t just disappear.”

“However, during the Goryeo dynasty [Korean kingdom, 918–1392], Mr. Moon Ik-jeom [Korean scholar and diplomat] skillfully adapted cotton seeds brought from Yuan [Mongol-led dynasty of China] and made them our own. Thanks to him, countless people were able to avoid the cold. Even if the seeds are brought from abroad, if they can greatly contribute to this land, wouldn’t that be Joseon’s?”

The story of Moon Ik-jeom hiding a few cotton seeds in a brush holder and returning is very famous.

In fact, when you think about it, this is a story with a lot of fiction mixed in, but the popularization of cotton itself is a fact.

He was treated as a meritorious subject in Joseon for his contribution, so Lee Ha-eung nodded without refuting.

“That’s not wrong. You certainly have quite the way with words. Well, as you said, if you can dedicate yourself to this land regardless of the seed, then it doesn’t matter where it came from. So, to summarize, you’re confident that you can become like the cotton seeds that Mr. Moon Ik-jeom brought?”

“Yes.”

“Anyone can say words.”

“I don’t say things I can’t keep. As proof, even you, Master, are seriously exchanging words with me now that you’ve talked to me.”

Lee Ha-eung, recalling what I had said earlier, let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

“It’s not like my thoughts have changed… No. It was definitely me who said that there was no one to have a proper conversation with a lowly Yangi bloodline, so I have to admit I was wrong.”

“Then, can you listen to what I have to say seriously from now on?”

“Well… But there’s one thing we need to address. If you’ve heard my name, you’ll know who I am, right? I’m someone who can’t be deeply involved in this country’s politics, no matter how much I study. Of course, you probably don’t know this, but…”

“As a member of the royal family, you can’t receive any official positions other than honorary ones, right?”

“You know that? No, but I can’t figure out why you’re doing this even knowing that.”

Since King Sejo of Joseon [seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty], it’s hard to find any history of a member of the royal family holding a powerful official position.

Moreover, Daewongun, who is only about ten years old, has no intention of making his son the king and wielding power.

In his eyes, I probably looked like a naive child who thought that any royal family member was good.

He seems flustered that it wasn’t the case.

Even if he’s precocious, he’s still a child.

He can’t escape my intuition, which has scammed scammers in the modern world.

“If you make connections when no one is paying attention, won’t you value me more when you rise to great heights? Even with just a short conversation, I’m convinced that you’ll become a great person in the future.”

“Even if the law doesn’t allow it.”

Even though he said that, Lee Ha-eung chuckled as if he wasn’t displeased.

And just as he was about to move his lips to say something more.

“Yoo-seok! Yoo-seok! Oh, you rascal, you were here!”

Seok-san, the number one slave who is the most favored by our house’s master, was panting and rushing towards us.

“Huk, huk! Yoo-seok, let’s go, let’s go quickly. Master… huk, is calling, calling for you.”

“Brother. You’re going to lose your breath. Calm down and speak slowly. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I heard the story so urgently that I don’t know well, but it seems like a distinguished guest has arrived. So, come quickly!”

Seok-san is the most cherished slave of the Vice Minister of the Board of Rites, so I’ve run around for him, but the opposite has never happened before.

But the fact that he came to get me means that something quite big has happened. What could it be?

I glanced at Lee Ha-eung, and he gestured for me to go quickly.

“Let’s talk next time if we have the chance. If you can really convince me then, I promise to listen to your story seriously.”

“Yes. Then, excuse me.”

Since I succeeded in making my presence known for sure in the first meeting, all that’s left is to coax him gently.

There’s still a long way to go before Daewongun becomes the real power holder in this country, so there’s more than enough time.

If I make connections with other powerful figures through him during that time, being freed from slavery will be a moment’s work.

It’s difficult to fully demonstrate my major in Joseon, where modern systems and industrial structures are not yet in place.

Still, I’ve got a sense of the level here, so making a big profit is a piece of cake.

As I watched Daewongun’s back as he said goodbye and walked away, I couldn’t help but be moved that my long suffering had finally come to fruition.

My life, which had been full of ups and downs.

The time has come to overcome the obstacles of the tiresome Confucian old men and make a proper start.

* * *

Dreaming of a rosy future, my steps were light as I returned home.

But when I came back, the atmosphere in the house was really unusual.

The servants were busy moving around and preparing something, and no one was idle.

I know this situation well.

As Seok-san said, it seems like a distinguished guest has arrived.

As I approached the servants to help with the preparations, Seok-san was horrified and dragged me in another direction.

“Oh! Yoo-seok! Come here! Where are you going?”

“Yes? I thought I should help because it seems like there’s a shortage of hands. Wasn’t that why you were looking for me because you were short of even one hand?”

“No, no, don’t help. Go over there quickly… No. Let’s go together. Master told me to find you quickly, wash you, dress you in good clothes, and bring you.”

“Wash me and bring me? Why?”

I wondered if it was a problem that I had been going around from house to house trying to get people to listen to me, but that wasn’t it.

If that was the reason, they would just scold me severely, but would they bother to wash my body and dress me in good clothes?

“Ah, is it something I need to do after cleaning myself?”

“That’s not it! Ah, how should I explain this? As I said before, I didn’t hear the details well, but it seems like there are people who came to find you.”

“They came to find me?”

What is this again? I don’t know anyone in Joseon.

I wondered if it was some kind of hidden camera prank in the Joseon era, but seeing how noisy the whole house is, that doesn’t seem likely.

Soon, I was dragged inside by the servants, washed with warm water even though the weather wasn’t very cold, and dressed in proper silk clothes.

I heard that this clothes was also urgently brought from a noble family with a child of similar age to me.

Seeing them go this far, it seems like it’s not an ordinary thing. What could it be?

The answer became clear as soon as I entered the guest house where the guests were staying.

“Oh! You’ve finally arrived. This child is the one. Come in quickly.”

The Vice Minister of the Board of Rites greeted me in a soft tone that I had never heard before.

In front of him sat a middle-aged man with a queue hairstyle [Manchu hairstyle] in clothes that clearly proclaimed, ‘I’m from Qing [last imperial dynasty of China].’

But my gaze was not on the Qing man I saw for the first time in Joseon.

The man who had been staring at me with wide eyes from the moment I came in.

A gentleman wearing a uniform that was popular in the West around the early to mid-19th century took all my attention.

“How is it? You can tell just by looking at his appearance that this child is definitely the one you were looking for, right?”

The Vice Minister of the Board of Rites’ words were translated into Qing language, and then translated into English for the middle-aged gentleman.

“He has a very handsome face. The elder will be very pleased to see him.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

The Vice Minister of the Board of Rites spoke in a slightly incomprehensible tone, but honestly, my face in this era is a bit too handsome.

Should I say it’s living proof of the saying that there are many handsome and beautiful people among mixed-race people?

Really, the sprouts that will grow are noticeable from a young age. Looking at my current face with the sensibilities of a modern person, there was nothing to criticize.

Honestly, if I had this kind of appearance in my previous life, I wouldn’t have needed to scam anyone.

If I had been a model or an actor, I would have made a fortune.

Unfortunately, the more handsome a mixed-race person is, the more they just become a big-eyed, white-skinned goblin in Joseon.

“Anyway, this child has grown up so healthy, so I’ve done my part. Would you like to take him right away today?”

“Of course. The elder wants to see his son as soon as possible. I will compensate you generously for taking care of him all this time.”

“Hmm, I’m not trying to show off, but I cherished this child very much because he was so bright. You can tell just by looking at the clothes he’s wearing, right?”

“Yes. I’m just grateful.”

Wow. Is that why they washed me clean and dressed me in silk clothes?

As expected of a nobleman who rose to the position of Vice Minister of the Board of Rites, his skill in lying without batting an eye is top-notch.

Regardless of my gaze, which seemed dumbfounded, the three people in front of me were already finishing their calculations.

“Wait. You haven’t forgotten my contribution in bringing you from Qing to Joseon after hearing this information, have you?”

“Of course not. The elder will definitely keep his promise. We will give your company the highest priority for the goods that will be entering from here.”

“Good. Very good.”

“Then, shouldn’t we explain the situation to your son now? He probably doesn’t understand the situation right now.”

“Then I’ll explain it myself! I have some affection for him since I’ve raised him so far.”

The Vice Minister of the Board of Rites quickly stepped forward, probably worried that the lies he had told would be exposed.

It’s not unreasonable for him to assume that I won’t be able to communicate with them for a while since he can’t even imagine that I can speak English.

Perhaps the price he was promised was quite high, he smiled and spoke to me in the most affectionate tone I had ever heard.

“Yoo-seok. The person here is the representative of your father, who is in that distant England. He heard the news that you were in this land and came to take you.”

“Father, is he perhaps a nobleman from England?”

“Yes, yes. And I heard that he has no children to inherit his bloodline except for you. So, he came all the way to this Joseon land to find his only bloodline.”

After briefly hearing the circumstances, I understood the whole story.

My father, who was a diplomat who came to Qing for a while, spent a night with a maidservant of a diplomat from Joseon and returned to his home country.

Until then, he didn’t think much of it, but after several years, he began to feel anxious when he couldn’t have any biological children until he reached an age where it was difficult to have offspring.

Although it’s the modern era, it’s still the early to mid-19th century.

It would be stranger if there weren’t nobles who were more attached to their bloodline than anyone else.

Then, when he visited Qing again, he heard a strange rumor from the official he had met before.

-It seems like there’s a woman who spent a night with you several years ago and got pregnant?

Even if it’s a illegitimate child when strictly speaking, he can cover it up as much as he wants if he sets his mind to it.

He, who had completely given up on having offspring, sent an agent to find me all the way to this Joseon, on the condition that he would give the Qing official, who he was close to, enormous interests.

The Vice Minister of the Board of Rites is happy because he can sell me, who he didn’t like anyway, for a good price.

The Qing official is also happy because he was promised interests in exchange for using his power.

The father is happy because he has found his only bloodline, even if it’s an illegitimate child. It’s truly the best result that everyone is satisfied with.

“Then, am I going to England with him today?”

“Yes. You’ll return to Qing first, and then take a ship to England from there. Even though you grew up here, your roots are in that England anyway. It will be much happier for you to grow up there than to be in Joseon.”

Of course, that’s true.

Not just an ordinary commoner in the West, but a nobleman of the British Empire.

It’s the bloodline of a nobleman from the world’s strongest country at the moment without a doubt.

Even if it’s an illegitimate child, it can’t even be compared to the lowly slave status of Joseon.

Moreover, unlike this land of Joseon, England is undergoing tremendous growth through industrialization.

Wouldn’t I be able to perfectly utilize my talents and major in that land of opportunity?

“Thank you for taking good care of me so far, Master.”

“Hahaha. Yes, yes. Although there were very, very few shortcomings in me towards you, I’ve done my part just by feeding you and putting you to sleep so that you could grow up safely like this. So, if you have any regrets, shake them off and start well in a new land.”

“Of course.”

For some reason, the memories of being treated coldly and ignored because I was a Yangi’s bloodline and not a Joseon person are vividly coming to mind.

It seems that it was only a very slight shortcoming in this human’s mind?

Since there’s no way my words will work here anyway, I also matched the atmosphere and laughed heartily.

If there’s a day when we meet again, I don’t know if we’ll be able to laugh and talk like this, but let’s leave that for future enjoyment.

After a while, I exchanged greetings with the middle-aged gentleman who came as my father’s agent, and together we boarded a ship heading to Qing.

Beyond the gaze that turned back slightly, the land of Joseon, which I don’t know when I’ll see again, was rapidly moving away, but surprisingly, I didn’t feel any regret.

Right now, I’m just wondering how this land that rejected me will treat me in the distant future.