Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Expel the Barbarians (2)
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I thought of Heungseon Daewongun because of the Oppert incident.
The culprit, Oppert, was some kind of taboo hybrid from the start—a "Jewish" "Prussian."
The French who invaded Joseon served as guides, and the Americans who would soon invade were the backers. They were a tomb-robbing team fit to represent Western civilization.
Whether Heungseon Daewongun truly loved his father, Namyeon-gun, was uncertain.
But if those guys who thought, "If we dig up his dad's skull and toss it at his feet, he'll listen to us, lalala," actually tried friendly trade, it was almost certain the Daewongun would fall from power.
They had already prepared the Eocheon碑 during the previous Byeongin Yangyo, but had paused on erecting them. With the Oppert incident overlapping the Shinmi Yangyo, the rejection steles began rising across the country. I didn't remember the exact years, but the order felt right.
Setting aside personal grudges or the innate wickedness of Westerners, for just one political reason alone, Yi Ha-eung had no choice but to erect the rejection steles.
I was much the same.
Of course, my father was perfectly fine, so no one was digging up his grave.
But if those bastards came in, it would add a massive variable to domestic politics.
First, policy differences on the West would spawn factions, and in the worst case, it could accelerate the Noron's great schism.
Then the foundation of my plan—to seize power as the banner of Chun-sik's Tangpyeong by drawing in the Namin, Soron, and military officials on the Noron base—would crumble. Especially suspicious were those Namin under my control, the proto-Catholics.
Moreover, the current Netherlands was a den of irreverent republicans.
Right here, I truly felt what it meant to get chills down my spine.
If barbarians whose kings and fathers were unknown ran wild, spreading seditious ideas that sparked a republican revolution, the entire court could fly away. It was on a different track from the scholars' "coup."
Afterward, a Korea without yangban leadership might have low odds of "progress," but even if it developed to the ends of the universe, I'd block it. Without the Chief State Councillor seat, I'd be done for.
Don't think I'm doing this for office. Everything is for Joseon.
Why did Japan control their residence with paranoid zeal? Was the shogunate stupid?
I'd heard the current shogun was so dim he pissed himself standing, but the government wasn't that bad. Idiots couldn't rule Japan, far larger than Joseon, for 300 years.
It was quarantine against the European plague spreading.
Can't there be good people among Europeans?
Let's talk about our Chun-sik ranch for a moment. Under Pyo Cheol-ju's command, the hunters I've placed there—even retired military officers—are organized like an army.
Their rapid response is so highly rated they sometimes deploy to the neighboring Salgoti ranch next door. These days, the Crown Prince handles minor matters himself for horse management, so I ordered it.
Our elite hunters, trusted even by the Crown Prince, shoot hyenas or leopards on sight without question. No hunter asks a beast its reason for visiting.
And staking my druid holy skill, I can swear more good ones exist among beasts than Europeans.
Honestly, just imagining what would have happened to Joseon without a futurist like me arriving is horrifying.
It was time for the Matsuura clan to bring in the Dutch bastards.
Matsuura himself said they harbored ill intentions toward those shores.
Of course it was empty talk. Have Europeans ever gone to another country with good intentions?
And you have intentions too, you fake-Western pirate family from the future.
But this time, we're allies.
I turned to Han Jungnyang and said,
"It's time to prepare the scheme. Leave three or four warships and send the rest north of Ulleungdo. Then handle the rest as promised."
"Understood."
I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. The sea air filled my lungs thickly.
Daewongun, watch over me.
Joseon is mine to protect.
Perhaps I came to Joseon to achieve the true expel the barbarians—the feat that failed in original history.
As with Joseon and Japan, the Dutch East India Company naturally didn't trust either nation.
Chief Officer David Vollen was a seasoned VOC executive. A sly criminal, in other words.
He knew that sending a few surveyors or interpreters on Japanese ships made it all too easy for Asians to deceive the Dutch.
In truth, the standard Dejima Dutch outpost had barely twenty residents one way or another, leaving little choice.
But thanks to Joseon smashing the Waegwan, circumstances changed.
Export goods unsold in Tsushima were piling up, so a Dutch ship already in Nagasaki just before Vollen's arrival still hadn't left.
The fluyt ship Deunisveld, anchored in Nagasaki, swiftly raised anchor to meet her chief's expectations.
Of course, if the shogunate found out, it wouldn't end with a reprimand. Japan's anti-Western blockade (except China) was national policy.
That isolation applied domestically too; in principle, Dutch sailors couldn't even enter Dejima.
No matter how long they anchored, crews had to stay strictly aboard. The only Japanese they met were shogunate-selected cash collectors—the courtesans.
It was to prevent armed revolts and spying. The shogunate leaders' foresight shone.
But flipped, it meant instant departure anytime, without wasting time on prep or leaks.
Like Kim Unhaeng's ironclad rule, bribes weren't about the money or favors themselves, but building goodwill.
Fools who thought bribes bought anything were like customers believing a 5,000-won coffee let them abuse the part-timer.
Captain Arie van der Pot commanding the Deunisveld endured the hassle out of deference to the Matsuura clan.
The Deunisveld pretended to head west to Batavia, then slyly turned.
She passed the narrow strait between Dongnae and Tsushima, later named the Korea Strait.
Heading east would join Japan's smuggling fleet.
Tsushima Domain, deeply tied to Matsuura, or Kim Se-hyung, the thousand-man commander of Jiseopo closely linked to Kim Unhaeng, saw nothing.
Naval disarmament wasn't unique to Joseon or China.
The Tokugawa shogunate curbed domain warship building for domestic stability.
Thus, coastal transport speedsters developed over battleships. Japan rebuilt national fleets only after great powers' sea incursions loomed.
So the 850-ton Deunisveld, despite trailing, looked like the flagship.
Matsuura Keisen lamented his fate.
He'd not only secured "negotiations with Joseon high officials over the Waegwan incident" but brought an "extraordinary painting" as friendship token, earning fleet command despite youth.
Ask the clan, and all praised his talent.
And that assessment held partial truth. The "capable" Matsuura Keisen grasped the family's true intent.
In risky early smuggling pioneering, if caught by the Joseon court, take the fall alone and die. Such heartwarming family love rivaled any king's.
Worse, the Dutch seemed to sense it too.
Captain van der Pot, for "proper etiquette toward a noble's son," "courteously invited" Matsuura Keisen aboard his Deunisveld.
Everyone knew Keisen wasn't truly commanding.
Keisen, sailing as virtual hostage, tried improving the situation.
He couldn't escape lizard-tail duty per clan orders, but wanted to disentangle from these barbarians.
He told Captain van der Pot,
"The ship's too big—if Joseon folk spot us, they might panic. How about parting here? If you're surveying routes, you can manage without us from now on..."
Captain van der Pot smirked. Overwhelming the "natives" thrilled him.
"We too want to share friendship with Joseon folk. We're hoping the young lord jonkheer introduces us to their gentlemen."
Naturally, he meant looting via Keisen as guide. Smugglers anyway—no backlash.
And Keisen wanted none of it. Looting Joseon as Japanese wasn't bad, but mingling with Dutch was.
Especially against Kim Unhaeng.
Keisen spoke like a sage offering a greedy fool one last chance.
"This way, we'll all be in trouble. This isn't authorized sailing. I've told the Joseon side you're passing nearby—they'll overlook that—but meeting is entirely different."
"I'll handle it. We're used to irrational foreigner suspicion in Asia. After coming this far, isn't making maps only a waste?"
He seemed to have lost listening skills.
Then came the lookout's report: three or four Joseon ships ahead of the island, small ones. The captain seemed even more excited.
"Even without telescopes, our big ship as you said is surely spotted. Since it's come to this, we'll lead."
Matsuura Keisen nodded with a troubled look.
But Keisen's dismay wasn't from the captain's bravado.
'It's unfolding as Kim Chunsik said.'
Keisen had done his human duty.
This foolish Dutch sailor jumping into the fire pit alone was beyond even Ksitigarbha's salvation.
For the scheme to work, I couldn't be a smuggler—I had to be an official Joseon authority with diplomatic rights.
So I prepared a scenario.
"Four Joseon warships, leading coastal guards to prevent needless clashes after hearing from a captured smuggler on internal probe that Europeans were coming, greeted the Dutch and Japanese."
Normal smugglers would flee at state organs replacing contacts, but those guys would welcome it.
Sure enough, the Dutch accepted my explanation.
Less because it was reasonable, more because four warships were negligible.
Probably sneering, "Did they set a trap?"
Good—sneer more.
Boarding the Dutch ship with Han Jungnyang, I showed clear shock and admiration even Westerners could grasp.
"I've heard tales, but what a massive ship. Those three grand masts are magnificent. Sails furled, yet surely vast beyond imagining."
The captain, whose name evoked some goalkeeper, marveled at Joseon's Dutch amity, then glared at Matsuura for "spreading false foreigner-hating rumors."
Yes, that's them. Don't trust Japanese kids anymore. Though I'd still trust that boy sharing my and Gim Jae-jeong's art world over you Dutch scum.
That van whatever captain told me,
"Your Dutch is fluent—far beyond our deckhands I sometimes suspect are dumb Germans or Englishmen. You mentioned a state-sponsored Dutch school, right?"
"Indeed. Joseon has long rescued and repatriated Dutch castaways politely. That's when Jan Weltevree and Hendrick Hamel founded the school."
"Ah, Hamel is in our East India records. He harshly criticized Joseon for slave-like abuse and liberty curbs—now it's clear he schemed for compensation. Some suspected back then."
"Heartbreaking such misunderstandings persist. That's why I rushed here to prevent more."
"With the plenipotentiary envoy here, no one's more responsible. I salute the Joseon government's sound judgment and promise dutiful, accurate reporting."
The dignified "plenipotentiary envoy"? Me.
No lies—I represented the king as 경차관.
No diplomatic authority? Whatever. The Dutch school was bullshit anyway.
I gazed innocently around the ship.
"These cannons are impressive too. Ten? Fifteen? Pristine condition. We have Dutch-made Hongyippo here—battlefield reputation's stellar."
My desperate bid to package this creaky wooden heap as sea art continued.
Of course bigger and finer than Joseon ships. True.
But I'm a 21st-century man. Like praising Homo erectus' fist-axe—pretty for a hairy brute.
Yet the captain seemed pleased with my nonstop Dutch pride TV. He said amiably,
"Nothing special. Not even large among Company ships, and en route to friendly Joseon, no heavy armament. Usually better equipped. If the envoy's interested, we can discuss sale."
Finally. I shifted from idiot to normal face and asked,
"Sale? Then you have trade authority? Joseon welcomes Dutch trade intent and stands ready for protected commerce anytime."
The captain looked slightly surprised.
"You grasp European diplomacy well. Regrettably no, but I didn't bluff. Can't sign here, but Nagasaki outpost's trade-eager, warships included. To prove, I can trade minor goods at my discretion today."
Hmm. Yeah. Your ship carries profitable cargo.
I tried a bit of push-pull.
"Haha. Discussing trade right away might be hasty. This empty isle lacks even a outpost building yet. You're newly arrived too."
Sure enough, he bit instantly.
"Outpost needs just benches and desks. With Joseon government's firm will, we merchants won't dawdle. So, if the envoy permits, I'd like to land a few for site scouting. Won't take long."
I feigned deep thought.
Then called Han Jungnyang, who'd been excitedly probing the ship's guts like me, and pretended to consult in Korean.
Captain van (let's call him that) seemed anxious.
Jangbok was on land errands, so Kaoru attended me now.
Van beckoned Kaoru slyly—Dejima veteran, more comfy with the Japanese boy.
Then tried cannon-phone payment.
Slipped Kaoru a few small gold coins koban. No account numbers or annoying certs like modern times—great method.
With "Guan Yu's Patience" vision boost, I checked the count, then nodded.
"Very well, Captain. There's a coastal guard shack yonder—shabby, but shall we talk details there till your men return?"
"So straightforward! First time words connect like this. Skip stiff titles—call me Arie. We're friends."
Your name and surname both weird.
Nah. Reminds me of some game kitsune—makes me wanna ask after your parents. You probably don't have any.
And I'm not friending you. Lowly sheep bastard, know your place?
Soon you won't want to either.
Oddly, crew wasn't numerous for ship size. So van dispatched surveyors and workers swiftly.
Han joined for his role. Van saw it as obvious officer duty, no objection.
Instead, he came with a dozen burly sailors. To reassure, I brought only Eoji, Jangbok, and one or two marines.
Moments later, he whistled.
"Shabby hut? Too modest! More refined than Dejima outpost. Maintaining clean offices on such an isle shows His Joseon Majesty rules everywhere."
No—my rule, really. Fishermen's old shack, spruced by my men last month.
And my prep wasn't just that.
I sat smiling.
"Then... for our nations' friendship, a drink first?"
Author's Note
1. The American backer in the Oppert incident was Jenkins, guide was French priest Peron.
2. The Deunisveld was a real Company ship then, with accurate tonnage, masts, etc. She'd just round-tripped Dejima-Batavia before our timeline. No records from Batavia arrival 1750 to 1754 departure suggest anchorage there, but here she returns to Dejima mid-period (story's 1753). Captain Arie van der Pot was real Deunisveld skipper then.
3. Kim Unhaeng's Japanese gold was "koban," key Dutch East India import then, bartered for Indian copper etc. Phone scandals centered on koban pricing too.