I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 455

< Remnants of the Old Era (2) >

The news that the flag of the Imperial Family, so beloved by the people of the British Empire, had been burned and disappeared in a distant land in the Far East finally made it into the newspapers.

The only reason the Korean and Japanese embassies weren’t blown up immediately was simple.

The government had instructed each newspaper to include the phrase ‘many points are still unclear and under investigation’ when writing articles.

If such a sentence had not been included, the embassies of the two countries might have already ceased to exist in London.

“Your Majesty, I repeatedly state that this incident is by no means the intention of the Korean Imperial Family and government, and I once again offer my apologies for this disgraceful event.”

Park Gyu-su, in his capacity as the Korean ambassador, was bowing his head and begging for forgiveness.

I guess the expression ‘begging until one’s hands become feet,’ [an idiom meaning to plead desperately] a common metaphor in the old days, would perfectly describe his current state.

Of course, my beloved Queen Victoria, known for her fiery temper, was merely gazing at the ambassador with a cold gaze.

If she stepped in, Park Gyu-su might really get a severe scolding, so I opened my mouth at the right moment.

“According to the report that came up this time, the names of a considerable number of people in your country’s military are being mentioned as suspects… How would you explain this?”

“I am aware that such reports are being made, but I know that nothing is certain yet. However, anyone involved in this matter will not be able to avoid severe punishment under the law, so I earnestly ask you to wait a little longer. We also know how serious it is for the imperial flag to be insulted, so we will conduct a thorough investigation and impose corresponding punishment.”

“I understand what you mean, but you know we can’t just wait for your country’s investigation to be completed without doing anything, right?”

“Yes? That’s… Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m not asking for anything big. First, we will conduct our own investigation, so please cooperate as much as possible. Let’s discuss the next steps after seeing how the results turn out.”

Park Gyu-su bowed several times and quickly backed out of the room.

Afterward, Japanese Ambassador Yoshida Shoin showed a similar reaction, but he struggled to distance himself from the situation in any way possible.

“According to our understanding, most of those who were at the heart of this riot were Koreans. A small number of Japanese people were also involved, but they will immediately face the stern judgment of the law in their home country…”

“I hear that your country’s military is also involved?”

“No, absolutely not! Well… it’s true that some individuals are connected to the military, but most of them are has-beens! I mean, they are nobodies who have been pushed out of power. Those people were blinded by this incident…”

“Ah, I understand, so you don’t have to elaborate so much. Let’s talk about it when the results come out. I trust that your country will investigate it thoroughly.”

“Yes! Thank you for understanding!”

He seems to want to blame everything on the Korean side, but no way.

Since we’re already in the same boat, we have to live together or sink together.

How dare you try to cowardly run away alone.

As Yoshida carefully retreated, watching my expression, Victoria, who had been displaying dissatisfaction all over her face, finally opened her mouth.

“Aren’t you being too lenient and patient?”

“Why are you saying that now? We decided after discussing it.”

“No… I was like that earlier, but now that I think about it, I wonder if we’re just passing up a good opportunity too generously.”

“It may seem that way in the short term, but looking a little further ahead, it’s right to do as Edward asked.”

In the first place, with a major industrial restructuring coming up, I don’t have the time to send people to Korea or Japan to interfere.

No matter how you look at it, it was best to leave this to Edward, and fortunately, the boy’s handling of the matter was not deviating from my expectations.

“If you don’t put more pressure on them and get something out of it, the parliament and the citizens may think you’re favoring your homeland.”

“It’s okay. More interesting news will break before such words come out.”

In fact, I had been leaving it alone with the mindset that the lesser of two evils is better, but the royal families of Korea and Japan were not very welcome presences from my point of view either.

Japan has always been like that in the past, is now, and will forever live on as a figurehead, so I can overlook that.

However, the case of Korea, which is now calling itself an imperial family rather than a royal family, is a bit different.

Korea was traditionally a country with strong royal authority, and the country itself has been brainwashing people for hundreds of years to regard the king as if he were the sky.

The people naturally believed and followed whatever the ruler did as a default, and this was a problem that has been gradually improved only in the modern era.

But now that Korea has become an imperial family and is about to occupy Manchuria, one can imagine how much the imperial family’s dignity will soar in the Korean peninsula.

If you ask if I have benefited from the Korean royal family in getting to this point, I can’t honestly say that I haven’t.

Wasn’t it thanks to the surprise twist that I turned out to be an Asian prince that I, a mixed-race slave, could become the Prince Consort of the British Empire, even though I was just an aristocrat?

However, the compensation for that has already been more than enough with the current status of Korea.

The country, which should have been at the height of its political dominance and rotting away, succeeded in enlightenment early on and is threatening to defeat the Qing Dynasty [the last imperial dynasty of China], right?

To this extent, I can confidently say that I have given back more than I received.

“Korea and Japan both have heads that are too big. Now is the time to press them down a bit, so we need to press them down at least once.”

“Then shouldn’t we be pushing them even harder? Right now, it seems like you’re being a bit lenient.”

“Then that’s even better. Because they’ll be feeling the same way as you.”

If you believe that we have been mutually benefiting each other until now, and that it will always be the case in the future, then that is the worst thing you can do.

In fact, I had already opened the way for that to happen.

Even if Kim Jwa-geun or Okubo had properly taken the helm of the ship, the balance would have been maintained, albeit precariously.

However, it is human nature to want to wield power when it arises.

Japan had already faithfully demonstrated that in the original history, and this time, they tried to control it, but the fact that it was not easy was proven.

Korea is no different. Is the reason why Korea hasn’t invaded other countries because they have a DNA that truly loves peace deep inside their bodies?

That’s as absurd as saying that Japan has a DNA of harmony that loves peace in modern times.

If there is one realization I have gained from living through both modern and contemporary times, it is that human nature is the same everywhere, and everyone is the same.

As soon as Korea sees that it can easily defeat the Qing Dynasty like Japan, they immediately start advocating for the recovery of Manchuria, claiming that Manchuria is their land, and advancing north.

That doesn’t mean that the Qing Dynasty are the nicest guys, of course.

The four characters of ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ [a term describing assertive and often confrontational diplomatic tactics employed by Chinese diplomats] explain well how arrogant China becomes in its diplomacy when it gains power and becomes strong.

In other words, it should be seen as an inevitable fate that Korea and Japan, having successfully promoted enlightenment, would gradually become more arrogant.

Kim Jwa-geun and Okubo’s attempts to suppress this were only temporary measures, like peeing on a burning foot [a futile effort].

So, if their noses are raised too high, it is necessary to crush them appropriately.

However, if I were to lead troops in, it might damage my image that I have built up so far, right?

The best way to do this is to subtly gnaw away from the inside.

And my lovely son understood his father’s intentions better than anyone else.

* * *

Back in time, when Killian was in the midst of negotiations with Leopold II for the Congo Free State.

Edward, having received all the information about Korea from Killian, was inwardly troubled about what to do with this country.

“…The more I look at it, the more amazing this place is.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the country called Korea. No matter how I look at it, there are many parts that I can’t understand from my way of thinking. Of course, that would have been the same for the Prime Minister when he first came to London, right?”

“Yes… well, that’s…”

Edward chuckled at Kim Jwa-geun’s restless reaction.

The person at the top of the list of useful people his father had sent him.

He is quick-witted, capable, and doesn’t have such a good relationship with the Korean imperial family.

Wouldn’t it be safe to say that there is no better card to use… or rather, to cooperate with?

“Prime Minister, let’s have an open and honest conversation. Do you think Korea is standing upright right now?”

“Yes? Wouldn’t that be obvious? The current Korea is prospering day by day and is enjoying the best heyday since its founding…”

“That’s true now, but I’m asking if it will really be okay in the long run. Actually, I’m only telling you this, but Japan’s Prime Minister Okubo once sent my father a letter begging him to save him.”

Kim Jwa-geun’s eyes twitched at the mention of Okubo.

As the head of the administrative branch, who is losing power day by day due to the pressure from the military, he couldn’t help but react.

In the letter, his father emphasized that he should use Okubo and Kim Jwa-geun as much as possible and give them as much compensation as possible.

It wouldn’t matter if he were to directly rule this land, but once he returns to his home country, when would he ever have the chance to come to this land in the Far East again?

If he is not going to get his feet wet directly, setting up a loyal proxy is not a bad strategy.

Especially if the other party is already inclined towards his father, it would not be difficult to handle them, making it an even better choice.

“Well, Prime Minister. It’s been quite a while since I came to Korea, so I understand how this country works. To me, it’s like… they’re saying something that’s really absurd.”

“Absurd…?”

“Korea occupies Manchuria and Japan dominates the southern part of the Qing Dynasty. After that, they explained to me their grand ambition to create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere [a Japanese concept promoting a self-sufficient bloc of Asian nations led by Japan] by uniting all of Asia… How should I have reacted to that?”

Surprisingly, this was not a fabrication but a perfect truth without a single lie.

It wasn’t said soberly, but it was something that the ministers of the military, who had a lot of alcohol in them at a drinking party, blurted out as they pleased, but I clearly remember it because it was such a novel nonsense.

“What insane person would say such nonsense…? It’s a lie, Your Highness. Just ignore it.”

“The maximum that can be allowed for Korea is up to Manchuria. That’s because the predecessor of the old Korea had territory in Manchuria, so we are generously overlooking it, but if they want more than that, almost all European countries will intervene.”

“I know, of course I know.”

“But unfortunately, the people who said those things to me don’t seem to have any intention of stopping.”

Edward paused for a moment and poured alcohol into a fine white porcelain cup.

Then, he continued in a low voice towards Kim Jwa-geun, who was looking at him with nervous eyes.

“Prime Minister, if things continue like this, Korea will not be in a good shape. You know that better than anyone else, right?”

“…”

“That’s why you’re following me around like this, even though I don’t get involved in politics, because you know that those bomb-like guys might cause another accident at any time.”

“…You’re very perceptive. It seems that a lot of the information I heard was wrong.”

“Prime Minister. Knowing who I am, were you trying to judge me with the information you collected?”

“Yes? Ah, no… I mean. I’m sorry!”

Edward suddenly recalled a useful piece of advice he had written on the front line.

-Don’t think too hard, son. Just pretend you’re something and they’ll all be overwhelmed because of your background.

“So, Prime Minister, if you want to lead Korea to a better future, you’ll have to listen to what I ask you to do from now on. Of course, I believe you will.”

“…”

Looking at Kim Jwa-geun’s face, which seemed completely overwhelmed, Edward realized once again that his father’s teachings were correct.

Father, I learned something really good.

Edward looked down at the flustered Kim Jwa-geun and inwardly repeated Killian’s words.