Chapter 164
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: A Story Only You Don't Know (2)
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Those who serve as diplomatic envoys to foreign lands are, for all intents and purposes, the face of their nation.
Every action, every nuance of tone, every chosen word must be deliberate and measured; they must never speak carelessly.
Of course, the story is a little different when an empire like the Qing Dynasty, at the height of its power and fearing nothing in the world, sends an envoy to a tributary state.
There is no shortage of examples of officials who arrived as envoys and behaved like utter scoundrels.
But when negotiating with a nation unquestionably more powerful than their own, there are no exceptions.
Diplomacy is the art of choosing one's words with extreme caution, striving to give no opening, lest the other side find any pretext for complaint.
In that respect, the scene unfolding before my eyes could hardly be called diplomacy; it was more of a farce.
“Your Highness! Lord Heungseon must have been momentarily confused. Haha… Naturally, that is not our official position, so please pay it no mind.”
“Not at all. In fact, this is a first for me, and quite refreshing in its own way. Did the two of you perhaps fail to coordinate your opinions beforehand?”
Kim Jwa-geun, who could not have missed the veiled jab, saw his face grow increasingly ashen.
“Hahaha… ha, no, not at all. We had, in fact, discussed everything before entering this room. I suppose the slight confusion led to this unseemly display. I apologize for that.”
“It's quite all right. But Lord Heungseon, why did you say something different if the matter had already been discussed?”
“Well, that is…”
After a moment of fluster, he shut his eyes tightly and continued.
“You asked for my honest thoughts, so that is what I gave you. I am not entirely opposed to trade. In fact, after coming here to Shanghai and seeing your nation's magnificent warships with my own eyes, I became convinced of its necessity.”
“I see.”
“However, the disparity between Joseon and Britain is simply too vast. I was merely suggesting that it might be premature, as opening trade could lead to a one-sided drain of our silver. Come to think of it, I recall having a similar conversation when I was young…”
Was that directed at me?
He was pretending otherwise, but I could clearly feel his sidelong glance.
Even Kim Jwa-geun, who moments ago had been glaring at Lord Heungseon as if he wanted to tear him apart, now held his breath and watched the exchange.
So, Lord Heungseon's sudden outburst was a gambit, a risky play to gauge my reaction.
After all, anyone would show a flicker of emotion upon hearing something unexpected.
“You've discussed trade in the past? How curious. Has any other European nation besides my own ever requested trade with Joseon?”
Unfortunately for him, I was a man who had spent over a decade in a world where a single misplaced expression could make billions, poised to enter my pocket, vanish into thin air.
As I asked with genuine indifference, Lord Heungseon shook his head, looking disgruntled.
“That is not the case. It's just that a memory of such a conversation from my youth suddenly crossed my mind. Even then, I believed that opening trade would drain the nation's wealth, and my opinion on that has not changed.”
“I see. Your point has merit.”
“In the first place, isn't a request for trade made because the requesting party stands to profit? That would imply the party opening its ports stands to lose.”
“That's a simplistic view, but the reality is different. According to international trade theory, trade often increases the social benefit for both parties. This is not some sweet lie I'm using to deceive you; these are established academic principles in my country.”
Of course, that didn't mean Britain wouldn't stick a straw in Joseon and drink its fill.
Would Britain, or any Western power of this era, really have gone around forcing Asian nations to open their ports with the motto of "let's all live well and prosper"?
If that were the case, they wouldn't have signed unequal treaties in the first place.
I glanced at Lord Heungseon and Kim Jwa-geun, who offered no rebuttal, and calmly continued.
“Besides, since the British Empire is mediating the non-aggression pact between Joseon and Russia, we must receive commensurate compensation. Otherwise, the citizens of my country would not accept it. For your reference, while I may be the husband of Her Majesty the Queen, in my country, the monarch cannot wield state power as they please. I trust you are aware of this.”
“Yes. We are aware. We heard that… officials of the court are chosen through a vote.”
“Not the administrators who handle practical affairs. Ah, but ministers and vice-ministers are often current members of Parliament, so… if I were to draw an analogy, it would be as if the high officials of the Bibyeonsa or the ministers and vice-ministers of the Six Ministries were chosen by vote.”
“Hoh… Is it to that extent?”
Kim Jwa-geun and Yi Ha-eung both offered strained smiles tinged with bewilderment, their words trailing off.
To them, who firmly believed the civil service examination system was the most fair and objective method, choosing leaders by vote must have seemed like utter foolishness.
In truth, for a democracy to function properly, a certain level of average education is necessary, so their perception wasn't entirely wrong.
To introduce democracy to Joseon right now and form a government through elections?
I would bet my entire fortune that it would unleash the "Despair Arc of Joseon Politics" upon the world.
“Ah, but lest there be a misunderstanding, let me say that we have no intention of forcing our system upon you.”
“But what of missionaries and such things…”
Damn. I was hoping to gloss over that, but it seems they aren't that foolish.
“Wouldn't that be something you'd have to accept? However, I can assure you of this: while Christianity teaches that all men are equal, that does not mean it denies the authority of your king. Look at our own British Empire—Her Majesty the Queen is beloved by all her subjects. Russia, which you are so concerned about, is also a monarchy ruled by a king. The same goes for France and Prussia.”
“But this Christianity has too many aspects that conflict with Confucian values. It could cause social unrest.”
“If you are confident you can keep it out for a thousand years, then fine. But think about it objectively and coolly. Can Joseon truly keep its doors locked, refusing trade with Europe forever? The moment the Qing Dynasty was defeated by the British Empire, didn't Russia immediately press its sword to your throat? And right now, Vietnam is being slowly devoured by France. Are you certain that Joseon is stronger than the Qing?”
“That is… which is why we seek a non-aggression pact…”
“And you understand that this non-aggression pact is meaningful only because of the power of the British Empire, which is mediating it, correct? If it is a peace maintained by Britain's strength, then it is only natural that Britain should have commensurate rights. That means Joseon must give something to our side as well. Is that not diplomacy?”
You don't want to trade? Fine. Then there's no non-aggression pact. Let's see how well you fare sharing a border with Russia.
“No. As we said before, we have no objection to opening trade. It is merely the timing…”
“The time is now. We have just concluded a treaty with Japan, so wouldn't it be best to open your doors at the same time to avoid any confusion?”
“Right now?”
“Yes. That way, Russia will not grow more ambitious and will be content with just the Maritime Province. And I say this for Joseon's benefit: the only time you can secure a treaty on the most favorable terms is right now. I have already argued in Parliament that we must use Joseon as a bulwark to block Russia's southward expansion. But I am on my way back from signing a treaty with Japan. If Joseon says it needs more time to prepare here…”
I didn't need to spell out what would happen next.
Viewed dispassionately, with the British Empire already holding Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tainan, bringing Japan into its sphere of influence would essentially complete its encirclement of the Pacific.
Having Joseon as well would be ideal, but from the perspective of the British Empire, a naval power, the essential defensive line was already complete.
“B-But, Your Highness.”
“In that respect, your decision to seek me out was certainly a good one. I also think it's understandable that Lord Heungseon feels anxious, even while believing you must open your ports. However, to believe you still have time to delay the choice… does that not seem a bit complacent?”
“…Still, your mediation of the non-aggression pact is already a settled matter…”
“In international diplomacy, nothing is settled until the agreement is signed. It is all too common for planned treaties to fall through.”
If I were to leave now because I was displeased with Joseon's attitude, the non-aggression pact between Joseon and Russia would naturally be off the table.
With Japan now siding with the British Empire, Joseon would be left utterly and completely alone.
Furthermore, having flatly ignored the Qing's request for reinforcements, asking them for help was no longer an option.
Not that the Qing had any capacity left to help Joseon, anyway.
Realizing that Joseon was now, without its own knowledge, completely isolated, Lord Heungseon could say no more and simply lowered his head.
Kim Jwa-geun, however, seemed to have anticipated such a situation to some extent and remained composed.
“We have already considered opening our ports, so there is no disagreement on that point. However, we believe the terms and scope are still open for negotiation. What are your thoughts?”
“We already have a treaty with Japan. I believe a similar format would be appropriate.”
“Understood. We will review it immediately.”
Lord Heungseon's constant interruptions had likely been a form of protest, an attempt to secure slightly better terms if a trade treaty was inevitable.
And I had drawn a clear line, showing them they were in no position to make such demands.
Still, seeing the man who was once so arrogant and self-important now tuck his tail and avert his gaze at a single word from me… it was a bit anticlimactic.
If he had come back with a more structured counterargument, I could have taken more pleasure in thoroughly crushing it.
It was a pity, but for now, he was just Royal Family Member A. There was no real fun to be had in toying with him, so it was probably best to leave it at this.
Reminding him of the past would be far more effective once Yi Ha-eung had risen to a much higher position, wouldn't it?
So, I hoped he would take today's experience and climb his way to the position of Daewongun.
The real fun would begin then.
***
Emerging from their meeting with Killian Gore in a half-dazed state, Kim Jwa-geun and Yi Ha-eung sighed and shook their heads almost in unison.
“What is that man? We were just sitting and talking, yet I feel as if my very spirit has been ground down to nothing.”
“Didn't I tell you beforehand? He is a man with a hundred serpents coiled in his gut. Now you see how ignorant those old fools in the Bibyeonsa are, spouting nonsense about him being a mere Westerner of mixed blood, don't you?”
“Yes. I can well imagine how frustrated you must have been, my lord Minister of War.”
“By the way, what did you think after speaking with him? Is he the mixed-blood slave you met in your youth? It seemed you couldn't tell at first.”
In truth, even Kim Jwa-geun thought it was nearly impossible to recognize a Westerner one had seen only once as a child.
Still, wasn't it the nature of human memory that something might suddenly click, unbidden, during a slow conversation?
He had held out a small sliver of hope, but seeing Yi Ha-eung's darkening expression, it seemed no such convenient revelation had occurred.
“…I don't know. It feels like it could be him, but at the same time, it feels like it couldn't.”
“Not a yes or no, but you still don't know?”
“I tried to surprise him by bringing up the past, hoping to see a reaction, but he showed astonishingly none at all.”
“…Then shouldn't we assume it's not him?”
“And yet, I can't dismiss it entirely, as he also made some rather pointed remarks. It felt as if he might be toying with us… I honestly do not know.”
Watching Lord Heungseon let out a heavy sigh, saying he felt utterly played, Kim Jwa-geun felt a strange sense of kinship.
“Lord Heungseon. As you must have felt since coming here, Joseon is in a position where we will inevitably be swept up in the power struggles of those great European nations, regardless of our own will.”
“Yes. I felt it too.”
“The Qing is losing territory piece by piece, and Japan has already bowed down. And though we must confirm it, they say Vietnam to the south is on the verge of falling to France. This means we may have less time left than we think.”
“It could be a lie meant to unsettle us, but if it is true, then our situation is indeed perilous.”
“Yes. But look at the court now. We cannot go on like this. If things continue as they are, we will never survive in this rapidly changing world that surrounds us. This nation must change.”
Lord Heungseon, too, seemed to have been deeply affected, and he nodded his head without a word.
Yes. This nation had to change.
But if a country could change simply by wanting to, why would any nation in the world ever fall to ruin?
Righting a declining nation is many times more difficult than founding a new one.
And in Joseon right now, there was only one person capable of shouldering this monumental task.
No one but himself, the future head of the Andong Kim clan.
*Pwoooooo!*
Gazing at a massive black ship in the distance as it let out a thunderous horn and billowed hazy smoke upon its departure, Kim Jwa-geun solidified his resolve.
He would remake Joseon—under the heel of the Andong Kim clan, no, under *his own* heel—tearing it down to its very foundations and rebuilding it.
That was the only way for this nation to survive.