Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Re-creation of the Great Ming (2)
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A rank-3 high official infiltrating a foreign country? It was an unprecedented, utterly absurd operation, but it was possible only because Hangzhou was a trading port opened exclusively to Joseon.
In the meantime, the Qing's trade with Japan and the West through Jiangnan—which had been managed somewhat systematically under a mix of customs and half-baked laws—had collapsed amid the great lockdown era that Kim Unhaeng had flung wide open.
And the Joseon trade, opened by the emperor on a whim—wrapped in goodwill, that is—simply hadn't had time to establish any such traditions.
In this era, where people capable of reading and executing manuals were exceedingly rare, the country still couldn't be run on laws and documents alone. There's a reason centralized bureaucratic administration showed little efficacy in pre-modern times—or even in the modern era, for that matter.
And this was the result.
As Kim Unhaeng always pointed out paradoxically, indiscriminately opening ports was dangerous for exactly this reason.
Of course, the fleet bearing down on them now was on such a massive scale that whether the port was open or not was irrelevant.
Park Jiwon, naturally, hadn't come to Hangzhou alone.
Just as Kim Unhaeng had built up Yi Jae-un and the Three Harmony Hall back in Seoul, Park Jiwon had been nurturing the broker Kim Man-deok on Jeju Island.
The method was similar to Kim Unhaeng's approach.
Merchants use deception, armies use guns and swords, prosecutors use punishment, and government offices use regulations to conduct business.
For a merchant like Kim Man-deok, it was the first option. And for Park Jiwon, the Jeju governor who oversaw military, judicial, and administrative affairs in one body, he had all four at his disposal.
Simply bypassing the cumbersome procedures even modern nations couldn't avoid in international trade was a massive boon for merchants.
And if anyone tried to report them, a "fair" judgment would follow. There was no way to express感動 over a righteous verdict with a crossbow here—the judiciary controlled the weapons themselves. Joseon was a nation where military and government were unified.
When a "senior" who usually had their back needed urgent help, it was the "junior's" duty to rush over with a baseball bat and sashimi knife at the ready.
Kim Man-deok had assigned Park Jiwon, now bearing heavy responsibilities, seven or eight "kids" who were quick on their feet and sharp-minded.
They blended seamlessly into the filthy, noisy docks—common merchant scum who could die anywhere without family raising a fuss, gutsy enough to pull off crazy stunts without batting an eye.
Park Jiwon thought it might be good to gather people like this later for use as spies. It was a field Kim Unhaeng, who had no interest in state intelligence agencies, hadn't considered.
These "spies," entering Hangzhou disguised as the usual Joseon traders, ate meals, drank liquor, sold shameless Joseon specialties in back alleys, and poked around gambling dens.
And casually, they began flooding the "Jurchen/Controversy" section with entries everywhere.
"They say the Zhili Army picked the cruelest of the Jurchens and buried tens of thousands alive in Shandong!"
"They're off to fight Westerners, but whether the Westerners win or the Zhili Army does, it's the same. Those bastards will take out their anger on the Wu and Min lands (Zhejiang, Fujian) for losing at Antong Mountain."
"The governor-general's some big shot who'll pull strings to survive, but what about the common folk? They'll have to fend for themselves!"
It was information brimming with credibility, unbelievable for something anyone could edit.
While Han Jung-ryang's heavy fleet was spreading Jurchen horror stories in Zhenjiang to rally people, similar events were unfolding in Hangzhou.
It was the Jurchens' self-inflicted karma, one could say.
Park Jiwon, too, was doing what only he could.
While directly controlling shady underworld figures with his authority, he also focused on winning over the ruling class and intellectuals inaccessible to anyone else.
Lü Bi, Fan Zhengjun, Yan Sheng, and others had swiftly shifted "Aid Qing, Destroy Foreigners" to "Destroy Qing, Destroy Foreigners," making monumental contributions.
"After helping the Qing drive out the Westerners, what's next? Won't it end with just one of those beggar poems like in the last Salma conquest?"
"If it ends there, you're lucky! When the Yinggili folk (East India Company) first came, didn't the court squeeze them dry for military funds and provisions? Even Ye Shang and the salt merchants, who blocked the Yangtze with sacks of money, are ruined now."
"Then the world will mock us. We'll be scholars who read books but failed to guide the people righteously, abandoning both loyalty and profit. Better to side with those merchant thugs who helped the Westerners (the Heaven-Earth Society)."
"We can overlook the gates, but claiming the righteous cause and morality is the only way to avoid a dirty name in posterity."
After the scholars were pushed from the core of power in the Great Ming's Second Empire by the Heaven-Earth Society, their "Aid Qing, Destroy Foreigners" slogan had ultimately invited destruction upon Zhejiang.
They'd helped out of goodwill, only for the predator they'd saved to now hunger and hunt them down.
The intellectuals of Hangzhou and Shanghai needed to shape and lead new public opinion. If they didn't want to be beaten to death as scapegoats for plundered neighboring civilians, that is.
This could be achieved by the Jiangnan gentry reclaiming Great Ming power in place of the now-shrunken Heaven-Earth Society.
And the gift Park Jiwon had promised these scholars—the sole legitimate emperor of the Great Ming, Jupiter I—was being delivered right now.
C.O.D.
From the perspective of Yi Shih-yao, the Minjie Governor-General and Qing loyalist, both the 100,000-plus Zhili Army slowly advancing by land from the west and the 30,000 Joseon troops that had docked first in Hangzhou by sea from the east were officially "allies."
But Yi Shih-yao felt no sense of security from them. Quite the opposite.
His judgment was spot-on. And if both were gangsters anyway, the nearby one took priority.
Thus, the Minjie Governor-General Yi Shih-yao met a young foreigner of unknown status, introduced by "respected local scholars"—someone he'd never have known existed otherwise.
Park Jiwon bowed politely.
"This humble servant is Park of Jeju Island in Joseon, serving as Huangsha Sugar Equalization Herald."
Despite Park Jiwon's sincerity in borrowing even a distant cousin's name, Yi Shih-yao ignored it.
The man before him was far more likely to be the Joseon king than a mere trade tax collector.
Yi Shih-yao swallowed nervously.
"So, you've come to save our people?"
"Indeed. How could we stand by while the Westerners committed arson and pillage in Zhenjiang without fear of heaven? Though we're mere traders sailing ships, many among us are skilled in martial arts and Eastern Spring Arts, so we subdued a few Westerners, reclaiming some ships and men. But we can't decide their fate arbitrarily, so we present them to Your Excellency."
To Yi Shih-yao, they seemed more versed in gunpowder than martial arts, cannons than Eastern Spring Arts. If he refused these "Chinese" "rescued" by Joseon, that prowess would turn on him.
Beyond the Joseon fleet's might, he lacked even justification. Could a Chinese local official refuse shelter to Chinese boat people? Refusing them would spark immediate internal rebellion worries.
But accepting these "castaways" would instantly make Yi Shih-yao an irredeemable traitor.
It was probably deliberate, but the Joseon troops hadn't hidden their identities.
Yi Shih-yao sensed it in that moment.
No matter the choice, he was dead. Whether against the Zhili Army or the Joseon forces and Zhejiang locals.
Two options.
Die as a Qing loyalist.
Die as a Ming loyalist.
Yi Shih-yao drew a deep breath. Then exhaled.
In that brief instant, twenty-four classics flashed through the scholarly Minjie Governor-General's mind.
The choice was clear.
History sides with justice. It just arrives fashionably late.
Yue Fei may have died miserably in this timeline, but his unyielding resistance against the Jurchens was even acknowledged by the current Qing Jurchen regime.
Having abandoned attachment to this life, Yi Shih-yao chose posterity's name.
"We lack provisions here to feed all the refugees. We'll head to Nanjing."
There, he could provide these "refugees" both physical and spiritual sustenance.
Park Jiwon bowed in deep respect.
"Your Excellency's noble will shall endure as a fragrant legacy through the ages."
In this moment, the Great Ming had cast off the filthy Western barbarian taint and been truly re-created.
Han Jung-ryang's Joseon fleet received ample provisions from Yi Shih-yao as "thanks for saving the people" and set sail from Hangzhou.
Yi Shih-yao seemed reluctant to see them go, but Han Jung-ryang shook his head.
"The world's greatest foes are barbarians, and among them, the most wicked are the Westerners. We must hurry to fight them."
Sailing ships weren't much help in land battles anyway.
Yi Shih-yao let them go regretfully. Even if he rebelled against the Qing, he wasn't allying with Westerners. Using Joseon to eliminate them wasn't bad.
John Amherst and Dudley Digges survived the Liberation Fleet's short-range broadsides.
The frigate Kennington couldn't avoid sinking due to the point-blank range, but that same proximity made rescue easy. Solid shot, after all.
Persuaded by Yi Jae-un to surrender, they were bundled with George Washington and the compliant army in the hold.
With no room for Ming folk, stacking them slave-like was unavoidable.
Even after the Ming debarked in Hangzhou, their space didn't expand.
The Liberation Fleet realized these Westerners made perfect ballast for sail balance. The Joseon navy, in the dawn of the age of sail, was engrossed in accumulating new knowledge daily.
Washington felt like he was back in Virginia committing adultery.
The floor leaked constantly, damp; the space was dark; the stench overwhelming. Even the man stacked atop him was identical.
So Captain Amherst's whisper from above startled him like a lover's murmur.
"Where the hell are they taking us? It's been days since the ship started rocking—maybe to Formosa or Batavia for ransom?"
Washington snapped irritably.
"Smoked opium? Got a spark? Burn the ropes and let's mutiny!"
He'd been ransomed before. His aide John Stark had been kidnapped by Indians as a kid, raised among them, then freed by white ransom.
But that was custom born of constant frontier friction. Like gentlemen's agreements on Europe's ever-shifting power battlefields of land and strength. Without it, mutual destruction.
Isolated East Asian states, especially Joseon, didn't apply. As the pirate boss (Han Jung-ryang) said: victory or death.
Such folk wouldn't crawl to unknown Batavia or Formosa for ransom. Washington's guess was more logical.
"They're probably going to ambush Porter's admiral off Tianjin."
Pressed body-to-body, Amherst's spasm transmitted fully—disgustingly so, the gender difference amplifying it.
Captain Amherst's outburst heightened the revulsion.
"We can't let that happen!"
"Agreed. Tell the Joseon troops yourself."
"This happened because you army fools didn't do your job! Defending the navy with main force absent was your role!"
Washington lacked energy to retort.
Whether due to their plight or his independence declaration to Yi Jae-un fueling self-justification, his British identity kept fading.
And not being British had a new perk.
He could ignore Captain Amherst (somehow presuming survival) laying blame to dodge defeat responsibility.
Washington pondered it.
Meanwhile, the British fleet heading to strike Tianjin had a Joseon "guide"—a fluyt ship volunteering per Kim Unhaeng's orders.
Porter was like GPS-tracked. Thus, when Han Jung-ryang hit Zhenjiang, Kim Unhaeng timely alerted Yangseo Haeyoung, allowing them to intercept the British heading north via the Yellow Sea.
Yangseo Haeyoung Commander Hong Yak-su was a Se-hwa pillow-talk appointee to Jeolla Right Naval Commander.
The loot expert who'd snagged Hyde Parker and HMS Panser played his part again.
Without a southern naval command, Joseon lacked means against 12 British frigates and 1 ship-of-the-line.
Yet Hong Yak-su didn't flinch at Porter's demand for hostages first.
"Our land borders Qing's east across a mere stream. This risks much for you. The prisoner ships hold 10,000 catties of powder. One cannon shot, no survivors—mind yourselves."
Porter was shocked by this unflinching foe unmoved by his magic wand.
But hostages were last-ditch excuses if Tianjin failed. Non-negotiable.
The raid proceeded as planned.
Tianjin's Dengzhou Naval Commander and Qing naval officers witnessed a bizarre sight.
One part of Kim Unhaeng's plan via Yi Jae-un was true: handing over British prisoners in Tianjin.
So the waiting Dengzhou fleet soon screamed.
"Joseon troops are being chased!"
The three laboriously rowing panokseons looked precarious. One sail torn off, water spouts occasionally erupting nearby.
Chasing like cats after mice: unmistakably 13 Western capital ships.
Frigates or not, massive to Qing eyes. Dengzhou panicked.
Thus, they missed the panokseons suddenly galley-turning northeast with the current.
British navy ignored the Joseon chase, slamming Dengzhou instead—like a bull goring a wall.
The British navy facing Joseon South Sea Naval Command in Zhenjiang was mere port guard remnants.
This was the true main force.
As cavalry needs horses for power, navy needs sea for might.
Against Qing navy, ship-of-line or frigate mattered little.
Dengzhou shattered without a fight. Tianjin razed in under three days.
Questioning Beijing's Imperial Guards is pointless. They guard the emperor, not the nation. Forbidden Army escorts imperial flight, never rushes elsewhere.
Hiding inevitable news disqualifies a crafty minister. Huashen reported promptly.
"Yinggili barbarians struck Tianjin demanding kin. Prepare to relay to Chengde Summer Palace!"
Emasculated Qianlong trembled, nearly leaping up.
First shock since starting this war—or birth as mankind's rightful lord.
But fleeing pirates? That'd mock him as Goryeo's Gongmin abandoning capital to Red Turbans or Joseon's Seonjo fleeing wokou.
"Dispatch to General Shengjing: lead Yodong Eight Banners to Tianjin!"
Sensible. But Qianlong flashed genius further.
"Order Joseon Marshal Kim Unhaeng in Shandong to Tianjin too."
Precisely for this: gifting him ponies and ancient paintings to encourage control.
Kept Shandong's foreign army in check, preserved 50,000 Qing troops intact against White Lotus remnants.
The wise edict issued. Kim Unhaeng raged at barbarian outrage, obeyed.
Then toured Shandong, extorting grain and funds in the emperor's name.
Author's Notes
1. Kim Man-deok's collaboration with Park Jiwon in mass intelligence dates to Chapter 208, 'Seven Years' War: East Asia Expansion Pack'.
2. As in Chapter 155, 'Schrödinger's Crown Prince', Qing honored even Yue Fei, Jurchen resistor, as loyalty exemplar, favoring descendants. They went further, privileging old Ming loyalists and compiling books shaming Ming-Qing war defectors as cautionary tales. A facet of Qing's claim as 'not mere successor pre-modern dynasty, but new modern confederate empire'.
3. Hong Yak-su first appeared in Chapter 170, 'Sugar High', as Se-hwa kin. Real person, but likely dead by now.
4. Qianlong gifting ponies to war-torn Jiangnan post-Kyushu is from Chapter 198, 'Dice Clicking in the Cucking Stool'.
5. War confusing? Quick summary.
Qing's current main force, Zhili Army 100k+, striking empty Zhenjiang, now moving to Zhejiang, Shanghai-Hangzhou.
Joseon: Liberation Detachment 30k from Zhenjiang to Hangzhou to Tianjin; Kim Unhaeng's separate 10k in Shandong.
Pyeong-an: 20k Joseon army awaiting. Total 60k strains Joseon, but includes foreign auxiliaries as noted repeatedly.
European Coalition: Zhenjiang navy remnants/army routed; Henry Porter's main strike fleet hitting Tianjin.