I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 432

< Age of Storms (4) >

I thought I had a good grasp of Northeast Asia in my head, but reality is different from theory.

Edward had been in Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] for several days, but he was still fascinated by talking to the people here.

In the past, he had suggested whether it would be possible to simply incorporate Joseon and Japan like Canada or Hong Kong.

At that time, his father told him that Canada had been dominated by British Empire immigrants from the beginning, and Hong Kong had a small population, so it was possible.

In fact, he thought that even if the cultures were different, people still lived there, so wouldn’t it be possible to just influence their thinking over a long period?

He had seen some Joseon and Japanese people in London, but he didn’t get the impression that they couldn’t communicate.

So, Edward had considered a considerable number of possibilities when coming to Asia.

In fact, if it were really possible, wouldn’t it be best to make Joseon and Japan kingdoms under the British Empire?

It would be absurd to bring them into the United Kingdom directly, but it might be possible to make them something between a domestic territory and a colony.

In fact, his father seemed to be planning to create such a loose union, and he thought it would be a great help if he went ahead and laid the groundwork.

However, experiencing a completely new culture firsthand was more shocking than expected.

“Oh! Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Please have mercy!”

“Long live the Crown Prince! Long live!”

He went out because he wanted to see the streets, and the streets were full of people kneeling and bowing, which really made his jaw drop at first.

*Why* are these people suddenly kneeling and banging their foreheads on the ground?

He had heard many times that Asians were strangely obsessed with kneeling.

But he doesn’t understand why ordinary citizens are kneeling and rubbing their hands together towards him without being told to do so.

Do people here usually kneel so readily?

“Glory to Joseon’s pride, His Highness Edward!”

“Long live the British Empire! Long live Joseon!”

“Long live His Majesty Killian! Long live His Highness Edward!”

He was happy to be greeted so warmly, but he asked Kim Jwa-geun because he couldn’t understand why he was the pride of Joseon.

Kim Jwa-geun told him that Joseon actually thought of Killian as a Joseon person, so they probably thought of his son as a Joseon person too.

“So, they’re sending such enthusiastic cheers as if their own king is visiting.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Even within the British Empire, the imperial family enjoyed tremendous popularity, but he had never received such treatment.

The citizens of London cheered enthusiastically, but they didn’t kneel and bow their heads like that.

But if you think about it the other way around, the citizens of Joseon are worshiping the British imperial family like this, so if you use it well, wouldn’t it be possible to make it a vassal state?

No matter how different and difficult it is to blend cultures, isn’t the presence of the imperial family what connects them?

“I’m curious, do citizens show such enthusiastic reactions to the Joseon royal family as well?”

“Similar reactions come out when His Majesty the King visits. However, Joseon itself has so thoroughly promoted the greatness of the British imperial family that citizens may be even more enthusiastic about the British imperial family.”

He didn’t know it when he was in London, but Joseon and Japan almost deified his father’s name and adopted a strategy to highlight their superiority.

The current era is clearly led by white people, but Killian is the one who has risen to the top in the white people’s country.

And half of the blood flowing through his body is Asian.

Therefore, Joseon preached that Joseon, even among Asians, had the potential to be equal to or greater than white people, and Japan was no different.

The fact that Joseon and Japan are Asian but can be distinguished from Asia was entirely thanks to Killian, so of course his son had to have a special meaning.

Edward turned his head and saw a crowd of citizens stretching far away.

Everyone was kneeling and slightly raising their foreheads, hoping to catch even a glimpse of his face, which he really couldn’t get used to.

*What is that? It’s really unsettling.*

Still, he had to show that he liked being treated like this, so he nodded with a satisfied smile on his face.

“I’m pleased that Joseon so readily recognizes the authority of my father and me. Since coming to Joseon, I like everything.”

“…Thank you for seeing it that way.”

“Come to think of it, I’m really looking forward to today’s meeting. The Crown Prince of Joseon must be bright and intelligent. Ah, in a few days, I should be addressing him as ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince.'”

“Ah, yes. I hope that a good relationship will continue with His Highness the Crown Prince and the princes…”

*His reaction is lukewarm. Is the Crown Prince such an untrustworthy person?*

In fact, even when he investigated in Hong Kong, no remarkable information came up.

There’s no indication that he is outstanding, and there’s no indication that he is incompetent. The most accurate description is that there’s nothing to evaluate because he has hardly been involved in state affairs.

“Ah, come to think of it, I don’t know very well, but have His Highness the Crown Prince and the princes had their weddings?”

“Of course. They will probably appear together at today’s banquet.”

“I see. I understand. I’m looking forward to it.”

*What kind of people are the Joseon royal family, full of crazy people?*

In order to determine the future of Joseon, the tendencies of the current king and ministers are important, but the abilities and character of the royal family who will succeed the throne are just as important.

If they can be useful puppets, they can be manipulated, but if not…

*Let’s meet and decide first.*

* * *

Yi Jae-hwang, the second son of the current king, Prince Ikseong, swallowed nervously as he looked at the old-fashioned palanquin in the distance.

He had heard since he was young how powerful the British Empire was.

Even his father, the king of this country, cannot easily meet him… or rather, it’s said that the reason his father was able to become king in the first place was thanks to the British Empire.

He is the person who will become the next emperor of the British Empire.

Shouldn’t he be seen as an even greater person than the crown princes of the Ming [Chinese dynasty] or Qing [another Chinese dynasty] dynasties at their peak?

He is truly a person with the power to bring down even flying birds coming from over there.

He had heard that the power of the British Emperor was not as absolute as the power of the Son of Heaven [Chinese emperor] in the old days, but that was only a secondary issue in the first place.

In any case, the emperor is still the face of the country.

Moreover, Joseon has tremendous admiration for the British imperial family, and the blood of Joseon people flows through the Crown Prince’s body.

*That’s right. The fact that Joseon’s blood flows through him is important.*

It is too obvious, but if any country interferes in the selection of the next king, they will become agitated and react negatively.

Even when serving the Ming or Qing dynasties in the past, they received posthumous permission, but they did not designate the king.

However, in the case of the British Empire, it was possible to intervene in the royal family because they did not regard this side as strangers.

To be precise, it is wrong to say that it is intervention.

Killian himself is regarded as a member of the Joseon royal family, so it is more appropriate to say that it is an expression of opinion rather than intervention.

Therefore, this meeting was very important to him.

Prince Ikseong suddenly recalled a brief conversation he had with his wife yesterday.

“The Crown Prince’s arrival is a golden opportunity.”

“It is a great opportunity for Joseon, but isn’t it a bit of an exaggeration to say it’s a golden opportunity?”

“No. That’s not what I’m talking about. Have you heard the rumor that His Majesty Killian’s intentions greatly influenced your Majesty’s ascension to the throne?”

“Well, that’s a well-known rumor.”

Mrs. Min.

Whenever Prince Ikseong shared his opinions with his wife, he often felt that his wife was more capable of political maneuvering than he was.

This time was the same. Frankly, Prince Ikseong could not understand why his wife was telling him this story.

“Think about it. In fact, His Highness the Crown Prince is now considered the successor to the royal family, but strictly speaking, this is wrong.”

“Oh, madam! Careful with your words. You may be punished if you say such things anywhere.”

“Of course, I can’t say it openly in front of others, but this is not wrong. Think about it. His Majesty was chosen as the Crown Prince because he was the most outstanding among the Jongchin [relatives of the royal family]. And he assured that he would maintain that tradition in the future. But didn’t he subtly appoint the current Crown Prince as the Crown Prince?”

“Uh…”

It may be a very sensitive issue, but there was nothing wrong with his wife’s words.

His father had clearly said that the future king would be the most outstanding person when he first ascended the throne.

However, as the royal authority stabilized and the country began to open up, he subtly made his brother the Crown Prince, almost imperceptibly.

As Joseon steadily occupied Manchuria [historical region in Northeast Asia] and the dignity of the royal family increased, no one pointed this out.

The reason why the current royal family is trying so hard to recover Manchuria is also for this reason.

Who would dare to object to the king who first recovered the Manchurian territory in history wanting to pass on the throne to his son?

But what if someone with sufficient influence takes issue with this?

“Madam, could it be…?”

“The British Empire has a legitimate right, because His Majesty promised that in the first place. Moreover, His Highness the Crown Prince, who is visiting now, has even more reason to do so.”

“…Why?”

Mrs. Min sighed quietly and shook her head at Prince Ikseong’s naive question.

“His Highness the Crown Prince of the British Empire will become the Emperor in the future. So, wouldn’t he naturally want the person who will succeed the throne of Joseon to be someone who gets along well with him? It would be much easier to conduct diplomacy if the person who can represent his interests becomes king.”

“Ah… that’s right, madam.”

“So, you must give the Crown Prince the best possible impression. And you must subtly remind him of the promise at that time. It is possible that His Highness the Crown Prince does not even know that fact.”

“…So, what you are trying to say now is…”

“Yes.”

Mrs. Min whispered to Prince Ikseong in a subtle tone.

“The current Crown Prince does not have a definite claim. If we can get His Highness Crown Prince Edward on our side, that position…”

*It could be ours.*

He didn’t finish his words, but Prince Ikseong now clearly understood his wife’s intentions.

His relationship with his brother was neither good nor bad, but… giving up the throne is another matter.

Until now, he had just thought that it was right for his brother, the eldest son, to become the Crown Prince, but if, as his wife said, he also had a chance, wouldn’t it be natural to try?

Prince Ikseong shook off his thoughts, took a deep breath, and took in Edward’s handsome face, which was approaching, at a glance.

As his wife, Min Ja-young, said:

*If there is a possibility that he can become king, he will do his best to seize it.*

*It’s good if it works out, and it’s not a loss if it doesn’t, right?*

Prince Ikseong Yi Jae-hwang carefully stepped forward and bowed his head to the Crown Prince of the British Empire who emerged from the palanquin.