I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 458

[Qing Dynasty Belongs to Europe? The British Empire Does Not Want the War in Asia to Continue Any Longer!]

[The Crown Prince of the British Empire Hinted that He Wishes for the War in Asia to End Soon. Questions Arise Whether This is a Criticism of Joseon’s Policy to Subjugate All of Manchuria and Japan’s Policy to Completely Occupy Southern Qing!]

The article, which was briefly circulated and then disappeared, infuriated Kim Jwa-geun because it was published while the Crown Prince of the British Empire was staying in Joseon.

“This is a malicious report distorting His Highness the Crown Prince’s words! Take thorough precautions to ensure that no one is influenced by this!”

“Yes!”

“And if anyone attempts to take extreme actions because of this, they will not be forgiven. This has been approved by His Majesty, so pay special attention to prevent the radicals in the military from doing anything foolish.”

Of course, the military guys were only loudmouths in their rooms and couldn’t dare to say anything to the British Empire, but Kim Jwa-geun put on a passionate act as promised.

Of course, that was just Kim Jwa-geun’s inner thoughts, and those who saw his passionate performance showed anxious reactions.

Half of them thought, ‘Even if they are crazy, the military wouldn’t dare to confront the British Empire.’

But the other half was anxious that these crazy mad dogs might really do it and bite anything, even the British Empire.

The military’s method of dealing with people they didn’t like was always the same.

They would use a few radicals to cause an accident, then use public opinion to give them lenient punishments while washing their hands as if they had nothing to do with it.

The problem was that doing such a thing against the British Empire could lead to war, so they wondered if they would really do such a crazy thing.

If Kim Jwa-geun had said nothing, it might have been better, but the Prime Minister was stirring up the fire, causing suspicion to arise in the minds of normal people.

And surprisingly, that very night.

A fire broke out on a British Empire ship anchored in the Han River, burning the hearts of many Joseon officials along with it.

“You crazy bastards! What the hell have you done!”

“Manchuria is clearly ancient Joseon territory! The war must continue until Qing acknowledges this fact! The British Empire must immediately stop its unjust interference in our internal affairs and not harm the spirit of the Korean people!”

“Do not harm it!”

The perpetrators, who caused the incident in the same way as they had done with major incidents in the past, confidently preached their cause.

Manchuria is the legitimate territory of the Joseon Empire, but the British Empire is unjustly trying to interfere.

Many people were shocked by their confident attitude, giving this reason.

Even the radicals in Japan joined in, shouting that the war must continue.

People who had been suppressing their antipathy towards the military couldn’t help but feel their insides boiling.

But it was difficult to express it openly in the current Joseon.

Everyone held their breath and watched the situation when one member of the royal family appeared like a comet.

“The British Empire and Joseon are not just allies but blood brothers. Anyone who tries to drive a wedge between blood brothers is no different from a traitor who sells out the country!”

Prince Seongchin, Yi Hyeong, who appeared and scratched the itchy spot when everyone was hesitant, immediately advised the Emperor to severely punish this situation and was granted full authority over the incident.

Prince Seongchin even showed an amazing appearance of calming down Crown Prince Edward, who was furious at the damage to the imperial flag, and quickly gained the trust of those around him.

Yi Ha-eung, who was restless because of the unexpected accident, felt that his second son, who had awakened in a moment of crisis, was more reliable than ever.

And Prince Seongchin, as if he had become a different person, interrogated the criminals at an incredible speed and revealed the mastermind behind this incident.

As everyone expected, the names of key figures in the military came out of the mouths of the criminals, and Prince Seongchin moved the Imperial Guard to arrest them all before they could even react.

“I am innocent!”

“Your Highness! We don’t know anything about this!”

“If we weren’t crazy, we wouldn’t handle things this way! Please believe us! Your Majesty! Your Highness!”

Everyone who was dragged away appealed and pleaded for their innocence, but it was useless.

In fact, because so many seeds had already been sown, even those who were caught could not doubt that this was someone’s manipulation.

They just thought that some crazy person other than themselves had lost their mind and gone on a rampage.

The situation was not much different in Japan.

Okubo returned to Japan one step ahead of the situation in Joseon being known to Japan, received the Emperor’s approval, and arrested the ministers of the army and navy as criminals caught in the act.

[Military’s Rampage!]

[Unprecedented Diplomatic Disaster!]

The military forces of both Joseon and Japan, which had been united as one to control the country, fell into internal strife in an instant, but the chaos was not easily resolved due to the aftermath of losing their heads in an instant.

The biggest reason was that many people, seeing the situation flowing strangely, quickly sided with Prince Seongchin’s faction.

For them, the most important thing was to protect themselves, and they didn’t care what happened to the higher-ups.

And if the generals were all replaced in this incident, wouldn’t those positions soon be theirs?

After all, it is common sense to cut ties with those who committed the crazy act of terrorism against the British Empire.

In the end, the military ministers, who suddenly became like kites with cut strings, had to wait for their fate in cold prisons without knowing why.

Still, they believed that something was wrong and that they would have a chance to explain their innocence.

Until Kim Jwa-geun came to interrogate them himself.

“Do the criminals still have no intention of confessing their crimes?”

“Criminals? What do you mean criminals! Prime Minister, we are innocent. Prime Minister, you know that we are not such crazy people!”

“The perpetrators have already named all of you, are you still going to deny it?”

“···That’s just their one-sided claim! Without a proper investigation, what is this··· Isn’t Joseon a country ruled by law?”

“The evidence is already clear, so don’t waste your time and just sign the document. Tsk tsk, you should have been careful about who you messed with.”

The ministers and generals realized the moment they heard those words, which seemed to have already reached a conclusion, let alone compromise.

“Pri, Prime Minister! You don’t mean you were trying to get rid of us from the start···!”

“Hey, watch your words. Who are you trying to slander now?”

“You old man, crazy for power! Do you think you’ll be okay if you do this until the end!”

“You son of a bitch! A prime minister of a country is doing such trickery, you should be ashamed!”

As Kim Jwa-geun turned his body with a ridiculous sneer, the screams of those who were driven to evil flew in, but only a refreshing smile was on his lips.

He couldn’t believe that he had been swayed by those who could be so easily swept away.

Was it so easy because he had the backing of the British Empire, which was impossible alone?

The result of the intentions of Kim Jwa-geun, who wanted to get rid of the military, Prince Seongchin, who wanted to receive attention and take the position of the Crown Prince, and Yi Ha-eung, who wanted to avoid the British Empire’s retaliation for this incident, all overlapped.

The unprecedented incident in which the Joseon military damaged the British imperial flag was concluded as guilty in the blink of an eye.

* * *

“Keu··· I feel so refreshed as if a tooth that had been aching has been pulled out.”

“You seem to be. Our Prime Minister must have had a hard time. You didn’t have to go, but you went to meet them in person. Wasn’t that a mockery disguised as an interrogation?”

“To be honest, that’s right. But those guys deserve it. Seeing them not coming to their senses until the end, I didn’t feel any sympathy at all.”

“It’s better for the future of this country to get rid of those piles of dung quickly. By the way, there won’t be any problems later, right? I’m worried that we might have missed something because we handled it too hastily.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Everyone is immediately accepting it as an extension of what happened before, and the judgment will be made that way.”

It was not yesterday’s news in Joseon that the military instigated their subordinates to do things and then washed their hands. [A common practice where higher-ups deny involvement in controversial actions.]

This time, it just seemed that they touched an object that they couldn’t get away with and fell over.

“Still, it’s a relief that it didn’t flow to the worst situation. Your role as Prime Minister will be important to resolve the current chaos, so please work a little harder.”

“There’s nothing I have to do. But are you really going to make Prince Seongchin the Crown Prince of Joseon?”

“Oh? If I say that with my mouth, isn’t that real full-fledged interference in internal affairs?”

“It’s a bit strange to say that now that you’ve made the situation this big. I think I deserve to hear this much since I’m on the same boat as you.”

“Give helpers definite carrots. This is how I learned to handle people from my father. Anyway, if you investigate a little more, the collusion between the military ministers in prison and the Crown Prince will be revealed, so wouldn’t it be natural to replace him?”

In this incident, Prince Seongchin directly led all matters, unlike the Crown Prince, who couldn’t do anything, leaving a strong impression on everyone.

It is clear that Prince Seongchin will succeed to the next throne if things go smoothly like this.

But Edward knew that Kim Jwa-geun didn’t like this very much.

“Do you think Prince Seongchin lacks the qualifications?”

“The current Crown Prince also lacks the qualifications, so I don’t have much complaints. However, the maternal side is a bit······.”

“That’s a problem that can be prepared for from now on. And isn’t it better to have flaws like that? I knew that the Prime Minister originally pursued a cabinet-centered political system that would suppress the power of the royal family as much as possible.”

Min Ja-young, Prince Seongchin’s wife, and her family are full of people who are likely to abuse their power arrogantly if they gain it.

Then, shouldn’t we dig into this point and cut off their hands and feet?

“Your Highness. But I’m over 70 years old now. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in office···.”

“Then you should focus on planting new seeds so that the future of Joseon can stand right from now on. You don’t have to worry about Prince Seongchin’s side.”

The rotten flowers that made Joseon go astray have all been cut off, so young talents with vigorous blood and fresh sense of duty will appear in large numbers.

But when Edward saw it, Prince Seongchin and his wife were closer to the remnants of the old era, not talents suitable for the new era.

As time goes by and citizens’ awareness increases, citizens’ trust and perception of the Joseon royal family will only go down.

I don’t know who will succeed Kim Jwa-geun, but there’s no need to worry because the current Joseon politics is structured so that only pro-British factions can gain a foothold.

It is enough for the royal family to remain as a symbol of faith and trust in this land.

Yi Dynasty? [The ruling dynasty of Joseon.] Their value has long since ended.

Old relics that have not adapted to the changes of the times should quietly enter the museum.

Edward did not even smile as he watched the political situation in Joseon being reorganized according to his plan.

Because this was just the beginning, not the end.