Chapter 62
Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Oh, My Beloved Yet Unfamiliar Hometown (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After departing from Kiel Harbor, passing through Suez, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean on a long voyage, Prince Adalbert and I finally arrived at Kiaochow, Germany's leased territory on the Shandong Peninsula.
We stayed briefly in Kiaochow for just one day before boarding SMS Hertha, the second ship of the Victoria Luise-class protected cruisers attached to the East Asia Squadron, and heading for Jemulpo.
Prince Adalbert was scheduled to remain in the Korean Empire for a week. Like my uncle Prince Heinrich, he planned to pay respects to Emperor Gojong and inspect German ventures advancing into the Korean Empire, such as the Sechang Trading Company, as well as the Imperial Military Band led by the German instructor Eckert and the Deok-eun School.
Incidentally, our itinerary included a visit to Asan in South Chungcheong Province—the hometown and burial site of General Yi Sun-sin—thanks to the prince's strong insistence (...).
Though the Hyeonchung Shrine would be closed at this time due to the Heungseon Daewongun's abolition of private academies, preventing a visit.
"Your Highness, we'll arrive in Jemulpo shortly."
At the words of SMS Hertha's captain, Friedrich Ingenohl, Prince Adalbert nodded, his face filled with emotion as if he'd finally made it.
"Ugh, urk!"
And as usual, I spent the entire voyage tormented by seasickness that turned my stomach inside out.
"Hans, your hometown is right around the corner, and you're still like this?"
"Urk... I'm not choosing to get seasick, Your Highness."
"Tsk, tsk."
Prince Adalbert clicked his tongue pityingly, but I was in no state to respond.
My gut was churning too fiercely for that.
Why were the waves so damn high today of all days?
I'd sell my soul to the devil if it meant stepping on solid ground even a moment sooner.
Vroom~
"The harbor!"
Not long after.
As the lookout's booming voice rang out, I barely regained my senses amid the sailors bustling to prepare for docking and managed to lift my head.
Beyond the rippling blue sea, a harbor came into view where Western-style buildings mingled with traditional tiled-roof houses.
Jemulpo.
The future Incheon.
We had finally arrived in the Korean Empire.
But the moment SMS Hertha pulled into Jemulpo, the sight that greeted me was utterly unexpected.
"Waaaaah!!!"
"...What the hell is this?"
I muttered blankly at the deafening cheers ringing in my ears, wondering if my eyes were deceiving me. I squeezed them shut and opened them again.
But reality didn't change.
The harbor was packed with people, as if a world star had arrived.
Taegeukgi and black-and-white flags waving everywhere.
And even burdensome banners reading, "Welcome, Baron Choi Hansu!"
No one could deny this was a crowd welcoming me to the Korean Empire.
I couldn't wrap my head around why it existed, though.
"Oh! Look, Hans. They're all here to welcome us!"
Ignoring my still-queasy stomach—worse than during the seasickness—Prince Adalbert flashed a broad grin and waved to the crowd.
Captain Friedrich Ingenohl and the Hertha's crew looked flustered but not displeased; they followed the prince's lead, smiling and waving back.
Then again, how often did Westerners get this kind of reception in Asia during this era?
It was probably a first for them too.
'Was I really that famous in the Korean Empire?'
Of course, the days when Heungseon Daewongun erected the Gate of Closed Doors and preached isolationism were long gone, so my name being known here wasn't strange.
An Easterner—not just Korean, but from Joseon—who'd earned a title from the West in the early 20th century? Not exactly common.
But even so, the fervor of the Koreans before my eyes was over the top.
I'd never made a single statement or taken a single action related to the Korean Empire up to now.
Not that I'd had the chance, but I hadn't wanted to give the Junkers—who were always waiting for me to slip up—any ammunition.
'Ah, could it be because of that?'
Suddenly, an event from two years ago in Germany flashed through my mind.
When Prince Soon-chin performed the full kowtow of three prostrations and nine head-knocks before Wilhelm II to apologize for the Boxer Rebellion.
And that's when I finally understood why the Koreans were greeting me so enthusiastically.
In their eyes, I'd avenged the humiliation of Samjeondo after 200 years.
Not that I'd been thinking of that at the time.
"Salute, fire!"
Bang───!
In familiar Korean for the first time in ages, Korean Empire soldiers fired a ceremonial salute into the sky to welcome our delegation.
As we disembarked, a portly middle-aged man waiting below sweated profusely under the scorching Korean summer sun and bowed deeply toward us.
"You've had a long journey. Welcome, Your Highness. I am Konrad von Saldern, the German Minister to Korea."
"Pleased to meet you, Minister Saldern."
"A pleasure, Minister. Baron Hans von Choi."
After greetings with Minister Saldern, two elderly men I presumed to be high Korean officials appeared with interpreters in tow.
"I am Min Byeong-seok, Senior Minister of the Imperial Household Department. Welcome to the Korean Empire."
"I am Park Je-sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs."
After introducing themselves, the two bowed courteously to Prince Adalbert and me.
While the prince smiled and returned their greeting graciously, I couldn't muster a smile.
Because Park Je-sun and Min Byeong-seok were traitors who would soon sell out their country to Japan in the near future.
Park Je-sun first.
As the equivalent of the Korean Empire's Foreign Minister, he'd signed the Eulsa Treaty two years from now in a state of utter resignation—one of the Five Eulsa Traitors.
And he'd also agreed to the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty during the Korea-Japan Annexation, earning a double spot on the list of national traitors.
And Min Byeong-seok.
The patriarch of the Yeoheung Min Clan, a typical greedy corrupt official like most of his clan, and another who joined the Annexation Treaty, making the Korea-Japan Annexation list.
In fact, aside from Min Yeong-hwan, who took his own life in outrage over the Eulsa Treaty, most of the Yeoheung Min Clan had become pro-Japanese collaborators.
"Pleased to meet you. Baron Hans von Choi."
"Oooh! We've heard so much about you."
But I couldn't show it, so I forced a smile and greeted them. Their eyes sparkled as they beamed back at me.
As I pondered how to deal with these future traitors without getting too chummy, Minister Saldern wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and spoke.
"Whew, I never dreamed this many people would show up."
"I was quite surprised myself. The Koreans are far more enthusiastic than I expected."
"Hahaha, there's a reason for it."
At Prince Adalbert's words, Minister Saldern winked at me and continued.
"The baron's popularity here is through the roof right now. Thanks to that, Germany's reputation in this country has improved quite a bit compared to before."
"Ah, Hans. Makes sense—he's one of their own."
"It's making my stomach hurt from the pressure."
Minister Saldern chuckled awkwardly at my words.
What? Why the ominous reaction?
"It'll be even worse when you get to Hanyang."
"That much?"
I blurted out involuntarily, and he nodded.
Then let out a long sigh.
"The railway—the Gyeongin Line—runs from Jemulpo to Hanyang, so the train ride will be fine. But brace yourself for the route from the station to the legation."
"Oh no..."
I was already weary of the crowd waving at me now, and it would be worse?
My plan to leisurely tour the Korean Empire with the prince and head back to Germany had crumbled from the start.
"Well then, shall we go? It's hot in this country's summer."
Minister Saldern said this and took the lead.
Prince Adalbert and I waved to the still-cheering crowd as we headed to the station.
Incidentally, I didn't get a proper look at Jemulpo.
"Is that the famous Choi boy?"
"Yes, Master Myeonam."
Choe Ik-hyeon, a leading Confucian scholar and head of the Guard the Orthodox, Repel the Heterodox faction, eyed Hans—who was riding in a car with Prince Adalbert under soldiers' protection—through the throng filling Hanyang, having barely secured a spot.
He'd come to Hanyang after ages to see the little baron rumored to have avenged Samjeondo's humiliation, but he was more shocked that so many had gathered just to see one person.
Though he was one of them.
"Even for His Majesty's procession, this many wouldn't gather."
"Ahem. Master Myeonam, you might get in trouble with the censorate again."
Choe Ik-hyeon had been exiled to Heuksan Island long ago for criticizing the tonsure decree.
His followers warned him out of worry it might happen again, but he paid no mind.
It wasn't wrong, after all.
It meant the child's prestige surpassed even the Korean Empire's emperor.
Of course, the quintessential Confucian scholar Choe Ik-hyeon couldn't hide his bitterness at that fact.
"Still, aside from the black hair and skin, he looks just like a Westerner."
"Can't be helped, can it? Word is he left for Europe at a very young age and grew up among them."
As Choe Ik-hyeon muttered disapprovingly at Hans's head-to-toe Western attire, one scholar replied.
Fair enough.
Rumors said he'd even lost his parents young.
A child raised without parents amid Westerners couldn't possibly know Joseon's traditions and customs.
Would that little baron even understand the Three Bonds or the Five Relationships?
"That's what makes it all the more impressive."
"Exactly. For a child that young to live in the Western world and still not forget his roots."
"If he truly saw himself as Western, he never would've thought to avenge Samjeondo. Right?"
One scholar said proudly.
The others nodded in agreement.
But Choe Ik-hyeon alone remained impassive, unlike the rest.
"Whether that's true, or if he's just another wretch puffed up on Western ideas, we'll only know once we meet him."
As Choe Ik-hyeon murmured meaningfully, not far away, other future independence activists whose names would grace history were discussing Hans.
"Look over there, U-dang. The little baron's car is passing by."
"Sun-o, can you really see that from this far?"
"Come on, U-dang. How hard is it to spot a Korean kid among Westerners?"
At Lee Sang-seol—one of the Hague Envoys trio—Lee Sang-seol shook his head helplessly at his old friend from studies and future brother-in-arms Lee Si-young, along with the five brothers including Lee Hoe-yeong who'd devote everything to independence.
"The young Westerner beside him must be the German Kaiser's third son from the papers. They seem closer than expected."
"Well, the little baron lives and travels with the imperial family. Different countries, but people are people, no?"
Lee Hoe-yeong's words drew a nod of agreement from Lee Sang-seol.
"Still, I'd love to have a chat with the baron somehow."
"They say the line of people wanting to befriend that boy could circle Hanyang. You're an official on the government payroll—doesn't that put you a bit out of his league?"
"Still, I have to try asking. You never know how the world turns. He might agree to meet us."
Lee Sang-seol kept his eyes glued to Hans's receding figure.