Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Deputy Grand Marshal Kim Unhaeng (3)
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While Deputy Grand Marshal Kim Unhaeng was meeting the British in Ganghwa Island, the Qing army's commander-in-chief was gathering the expeditionary forces scattered across Kyushu here and there, determined this time to finally retake Nagasaki.
But this time, the problem arose not from the sea, but from the land.
The lords who had been dragging their feet had seized the opportunity and poured their massive armies into Kyushu all at once. This was exactly why you could never let a stepson get the upper hand even once.
The Qing forces, scattered throughout Kyushu, began to be defeated individually due to overwhelming numbers and the advantage of interior lines.
The Satsuma Domain had built outer castles everywhere to avoid the "one country, one castle" decree. The original inhabitants had been massacred by the Eight Banners, but fellow Japanese knew how to make good use of those strongholds.
Of course, that didn't mean the Japanese army had suddenly grown stronger.
"How dare these wretched barbarians insult the Heavenly Soldiers!"
It was like releasing a few ferocious beasts in the middle of a city and letting them rampage. The Japanese troops, charging in expecting starving and exhausted stragglers, had to taste total annihilation several times over.
But despite the fierce attrition of the Japanese forces, the Qing army's supply consumption was even more severe.
No matter how hard they fought, Kyushu was an island. The end was clear to anyone who looked.
Unless someone mobilized a large fleet to evacuate them, the tens of thousands of Qing troops would eventually bury their bones in Kyushu.
There was no elaborate Anglo-Japanese military alliance in place. The two nations still didn't know each other well enough for that.
However, the current power holder, Tanuma Okitsugu, knew the timeless truth that you had to row when the tide came in. And besides driving out the Qing army right away, he had another equally important objective.
Tanuma issued a declaration in the name of the Lord of the Eastern Capital.
"The entire army shall land in Kyushu from Akamagaseki (Shimonoseki). Anyone who hesitates or delays is an enemy colluding with the Yuan invaders. The Choshu Domain, which governs that region, bears especially heavy responsibility, so ensure no mistakes are made!"
Geographically, it was an unassailable measure. Considering any other port besides Akamagaseki for Kyushu was a fool's errand and a waste of time in itself.
But for the already burdened Choshu Domain, right in front of Kyushu, it was a killing blow. The Mori clan of lords screamed as their finances melted away and their villages turned to ash one by one.
Yet no one in the shogunate would sympathize with Choshu.
The Choshu Domain, along with Satsuma, was the twin chariot of Edo-era atrocities. Everyone knew the annual New Year's play where vassals conspired against their lord. The Qing invasion that put an end to the insolent rebel twins was almost a blessing.
Other domains that had depleted their armies and finances would stagger for the next hundred years. As long as they placated the English—or whatever those Dutch cousins were called—with lucrative trade they loved, there'd be no problem.
It was all thanks to Tanuma Okitsugu's cunning scheme.
Tanuma smiled much like Kim Unhaeng.
Kamikaze didn't just refer to physical winds. The essence of Kamikaze was not "Japan," but the "shogunate's" divine intervention.
The 13th-century Kamikaze opened the Muromachi Shogunate.
The 20th-century Kamikaze opened the MacArthur Shogunate.
What the 18th-century Kamikaze would open remained to be seen.
The desperate rescue requests the Qing commander sent to the mainland were, needless to say, far from easy.
Most sailors and ships had been lost to the British invasion of Nagasaki. There were some boats around Kagoshima where the Qing first landed, but none large enough to cross the East China Sea in one go.
Knowing this, the Qing commander tried to go via Jeju Island, their supply base.
But even setting aside the treacherous currents near Jeju, fiercer humans made it impossible.
The Green Standard Army troops, reluctantly assigned to ships because they weren't of the earth element, screamed as they were tossed by the waves.
"It's the foreign barbarians' ships!"
"Are those bastards roaming all the way near Joseon?!"
There was no need for the Westerners' prized cannons. The "British Royal Navy" in dark navy robes verging on black, white jackets, and tight trousers skillfully boarded and seized the Chinese liaison ships.
Their movements were suspiciously adept at piracy, but aside from their noses being smaller than rumored, nothing seemed off. All Englishmen were pirates, after all.
Capture took less than an hour. The surviving crew were all bound and thrown into the hold.
And on the flagship commanding the raid stood a single Joseon scholar in unfamiliar military uniform, hands clasped behind his back.
An officer dressed as the British ship captain approached and spoke to him.
"Just as you said, Chun-sik. Holding here will solve everything."
Deputy Grand Marshal Kim Unhaeng replied awkwardly to his old friend Han Jung-ryang, dressed as the Southern Sea Marine Commander.
"Not quite. Why else would I go through the trouble of stealing English clothes for you? If they notice Jeju's news is cut off, they might detour southwest via Ryukyu. From now on, you lead these two ships and roam Kyushu's southwest waters freely, smashing every vessel in sight."
"Your meticulousness truly lives up to the moniker 'Hundred-Strategy Chun-sik.' Oh, can we keep these clothes afterward? Want one for yourself?"
"......Do as you like. I hate the smell."
This was the Joseon court's mistake in entrusting the entire army to Kim Unhaeng.
To protect (his) Joseon in this complex and precarious situation, Kim Unhaeng had chosen the "unlimited seclusion operation."
The Qing would have heard of their defeat anyway. There were ships that fled Nagasaki.
But requests for Joseon's dispatch had to be delayed as much as possible.
Kim Unhaeng planned to negotiate with the British before the Qianlong Emperor pulled a Kublai Khan. Talking after the imperial edict would make it undeniable treason.
To "not hear" the absurd demand for Joseon's navy to defeat the English, Kim Unhaeng was destroying every ship between Jeju and Nagasaki.
Han Jung-ryang didn't hate the mission either.
Not just because it allowed official plundering of Kyushu's coast under the pretext of maritime blockade.
Commanding the mobile strike fleet—including the British frigate Argo (Phaeton was too slow to bring), the Dutch mirror-return ship Gustav Willem, the large fluyt Duinesbelt, and more—was thrilling.
Contrary to Kim Unhaeng's thoughts, people weren't moved solely by ambition or greed. The pride of commanding the mightiest fleet in Joseon history was an irreplaceable thrill. The reason dictators can't quit military parades.
Without the immense authority granted to Deputy Grand Marshal Kim Unhaeng—who held full powers in foreign wars—this task force wouldn't exist. Han Jung-ryang felt renewed respect and asked.
"You're heading to Nagaski from now on, right?"
"Yes. The current situation is as precarious as when the King of Qin and King of Zhao raced horses and played lutes. I shall emulate the resolute Zhang Yi, wielding my three-inch tongue fearlessly for my lord unto death."
Han Jung-ryang nodded solemnly. Kim Unhaeng seemed to have read more than just Romance of the Three Kingdoms lately, so no worries. Nothing had ever gone wrong once Kim Chun-sik started wagging his tongue.
Soon, the Joseon warships arrived to take Kim Unhaeng to Nagasaki.
"Joseon soldiers on Western ships" and "Western soldiers on Joseon ships" crossed paths in the southeast seas off Jeju.
Naturally, the British invading Nagasaki this time couldn't distinguish Chinese from Joseon ships.
So they went into battle stations and prepared to fire the moment an East Asian vessel entered sight. For the Royal Navy, assuming it was Chinese reinforcements wasn't unreasonable.
Until the signal flags from the Joseon ships arrived.
Admiral Tiddeman couldn't help but think of the missing Phaeton and Argo near Ryukyu. If the ships sank but crews survived, it made sense.
The admiral's judgment was spot on. Over 200 British sailors were aboard.
The British negotiator was Robert Clive, responsible for the fleet's diplomacy. As Kim Unhaeng demanded, he crossed alone to the Joseon fleet.
Clive shook hands with Kim Unhaeng. Only Eoji and the other Koreans eyed the bizarre custom curiously.
"It's an honor to meet the Supreme Commander of Joseon forces and Special Envoy with Full Powers by His Majesty the King of Joseon. I am Robert Clive, Colonel of the British East India Company. Having boarded to show respect befitting your noble station, I hope we conclude this meeting with due honor."
Not out of hostage fears. The British fleet loomed ahead with cannons primed. This was a reprimand to feel shame for holding British sailors captive.
Of course, Kim Unhaeng felt no shame.
He handed over letters from (absent) James Cook, Admiral Hyde Parker, and Endeavour's famed scientists.
Like handing over hostage photos from that day's evening papers. Clive groaned.
"I see. So the British fleet shipwrecked and is under Joseon's protection. These letters don't mention warships—what of Phaeton, Argo, and Endeavour?"
"Damaged beyond repair during the wreck, so scrapped."
Even in English—Kim Unhaeng could speak it now—there were polite forms.
Kim Unhaeng's words were blunt, but Clive wasn't offended. At that age for such a high post, surely royalty.
"Regrettable but unavoidable. Now that the British fleet has arrived, will you return His Majesty's subjects? If so, the East India Company and British government will show friendship to Joseon in every way."
Kim Unhaeng replied readily.
"I'll return those I brought now."
These 200 were the cream of the crop—handpicked British sailors by Kim Unhaeng.
The ones who slacked off when assigned to farm, fought drunk, or were too dumb to work properly.
So useless even local garrisons hadn't taken them. Poor Joseon had no rice to feed such trash.
But Britain couldn't just discard them. Officially, gratitude was required.
Kim Unhaeng had forcibly bought British goodwill at bargain prices.
Clive asked cautiously.
"The rest?"
"Depends on you."
As expected. Clive frowned.
But instead of stupid lines like "Is this blackmail?", he cut to the chase.
"What are Joseon's demands?"
At this point, Clive's thinking aligned with hopes of Joseon's King Yi Hwon, Hong Daeyong, Park Jiwon, Chae Je-gong, etc.
Indian rulers craved Europe's advanced military tech too—this was familiar to Clive.
But Kim Unhaeng betrayed both Joseon and British expectations.
"None."
"None?"
"We have no business negotiating with you who invaded the Emperor, and we his vassals. We'll only return the sailors we could bring now. We haven't yet received orders to subdue the British, so we're merely upholding Joseon's fine tradition of protecting castaways."
Clive noted the implications between the lines.
Joseon wouldn't follow the Emperor's orders voluntarily or proactively. Nor did they want soured British relations.
And this was all an "unofficial chat in English unknown to any Joseon." Joseon's official stance would deny the contact itself.
"That's why no interpreter."
Nuances wouldn't translate. Clive was convinced this young man earned his seat through more than birth.
"We thank Joseon for its unconditional goodwill. But if you returned officers or nobles instead of these sailors, Britain would actively aid Joseon."
"Joseon needs no help. Ensure you can take them when you fully withdraw from Asia."
Clive focused intensely.
Kim Unhaeng hadn't threatened instant death if they didn't leave. He'd send them along when returning from the Far East.
If Britain beat China, Joseon would "return hostages riding triumphantly with the British" to show friendship.
For the expeditionary British, neutrality alone was huge aid. Crush Chinese once more, and neutrals become allies.
But Joseon neutrality wasn't fully assured yet.
One more check. Clive struck at the core.
"If the Emperor orders Joseon to fight Britain, what is Joseon's stance?"
Kim Unhaeng smiled faintly.
"We'll fight our utmost even in defeat. Isn't that proper soldiering?"
"I understand perfectly, Excellency."
Joseon would reluctantly sortie on imperial orders.
And "lose," retreating. Weakness unavoidable, right? Just like Renaissance Italian mercenaries.
No witnesses anyway. Only a few Japanese and British in Nagasaki; no Chinese on Joseon's side.
Britain slips "Joseon wasn't much" into the declaration of war to the Emperor; Joseon reports "fought valiantly but tragically defeated"—perfect cross-verification.
The question was how far to trust Joseon's goodwill. If betrayed and hostages killed, British fleet crushes Joseon.
What if Britain loses to China? Clive deemed it unlikely, and even if forced retreat, implanting fear of British return wasn't impossible.
Thus, even then, "on the way out of Asia," hostages retrievable per the commander. Joseon wanted insurance too.
Not humiliating for expeditionaries to "have no choice but follow" due to hostages. Rescuing sponsored scientists or noble officers provided ample excuse for failed China venture.
Clive hadn't expected such refined negotiation in the Far East.
And Kim Unhaeng offered even more refined terms.
He showed Clive inside a Joseon panokseon, like a European military attaché visit.
Not from knowing European etiquette or building British rapport.
Soldiers withdrew, leaving only bodyguard Eoji. Kim Unhaeng led Clive to a crate in the hold corner. Puzzled, Clive watched as Kim Unhaeng opened it.
Clive swallowed hard.
Even he, pariah of India, hesitated at the sheer sum of gold and silver.
To modern eyes, meager next to movie "pirate chests," but such seas of swim-able bullion are media exaggeration.
All gold humanity ever mined fills one pool. Not pirate fare.
Kim Unhaeng dwarfed pirates as a national power broker. Even poor Joseon was a nation.
The gold/silver Kim Unhaeng converted for wartime provisional government met international standards handsomely.
And "India's Kim Unhaeng," Robert Clive, recognized the value instantly. He was, after all, behind 18th-century's greatest corruption scandal.
Kim Unhaeng whispered into Clive's ear, entranced by gold's allure.
"Let's talk privately now. Colonel of the Indian army, was it?"
"Yes."
"Then you've brought plenty of India's 'special products,' right?"
Clive snapped to. Then grinned slyly.
Coming alone was the right call.
"I had no idea Your Excellency was so versed in international trade. Of course, prepared."
Author's Note
1. The Choshu Domain harbors deep grudges against the Tokugawa Shogunate. On January 1st every year, a vassal asks, "Can we subdue the Tokugawa this year?" and the domain lord replies, "Not yet the right time," upholding the tradition of enduring for greater cause.