Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: Empire's Counterattack (1)
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The sea breeze from Bohai Bay, now edging into winter, was quite chilly.
As he touched his face at the gunwale, feeling his skin tighten, Washington recalled the conversation he'd had with Kim Unhaeng.
"I've heard all about it from your men. The Virginia folk fought hard in the last war—the French and Indian War—but instead of granting the promised land, the homeland's trying to squeeze them for even more war costs."
It was English with a thick London accent, as if he'd learned it from Endeavour scholars.
"Britain's got no chance of properly sealing a trade treaty with China this time anyway. When they get back, to cover their defeat, they'll slap taxes on every damn daily necessity. Stamp paper, tea, paper, sugar, glass... Not my slander—this is straight from the British high officers we captured."
In Joseon, they were already doing most of this through the flat tax system. But Kim Unhaeng spoke of it as if it were some grand villainy.
And Washington felt the same way.
For Kim Unhaeng, it was fabricating tales based on fragmentary historical knowledge that the British officers hadn't even said. Surprisingly, though, the Stamp Act had already been under discussion back home before Washington even left.
America had no representatives in Parliament, so they could levy taxes at will.
Sure, with rotten boroughs where voters outnumbered electors and vote-buying was legal, what "representation" did the homeland even have? Still, for Washington—a wealthy man who could aim for a seat as a local notable—it bred a natural sense of victimhood.
Above all, tea was the problem. He wasn't thrilled about direct taxes on tea, as Kim Unhaeng said, but the real terror was something else.
Tax it, and they'd push to expand distribution of the taxed tea. Washington could already see the future: the East India Company legally monopolizing not imports, but colonial circulation of black tea.
Was that telling America's honest smugglers, upright carriers, and hardworking thugs who lived off smuggling tea to hit the streets? Damn right—tea like that deserved to be dumped into the sea with milk and sugar to make proper milk tea.
The question of where Britain would import tea from after losing in East Asia didn't cross Washington's mind at the time.
Britain already knew tea plants existed in Joseon, and Washington had heard that the tea expert right in front of him, Kim Unhaeng, had pegged Ceylon as ideal and exported saplings there.
"Do well this time, and I'll not only free all the Virginia prisoners but appoint you ambassador to Joseon—hand you authority over the tea trade, too. Instead of those wicked, greedy East India bastards."
Instead of futilely defending the Company, Washington voiced practical concerns.
"If just we survive and return, the homeland will suspect something. They might not send taxes—they could send a punitive force."
Kim Unhaeng, as if waiting for those exact words, shot back instantly.
"Punitive force? Where do they make one of those?"
"Pardon?"
"This fleet was nearly Britain's entire available strength. Not one man returns—where do they conjure new troops and ships to invade America? Don't they need armies in Europe? And America's still got French and natives left, hasn't it?"
This was the use Kim Unhaeng had found for Washington.
Like Lee Seong-gye or Zhu Yuanzhang, every founding king was once a rebel. Washington's the father of a nation—he'd enslave the world before becoming its slave.
Washington would ensure Britain never sent another retaliatory fleet to Joseon. To Britain, birthing a rebel-French-Indian mega-alliance across the Atlantic—far more vital than the Pacific—was a catastrophe dwarfing tea trade.
Washington guessed Joseon was using him.
But charitably, it could be read as an "emerging American nation" with Asian tea trade rights allying with a "emerging East Asian nation" still weak at sea.
There were plenty who could tell him what happened to those who took such words charitably, but sadly, none were around Washington now. He swallowed, heart pounding with excitement.
"What exactly do I need to do?"
"You know Joseon's invaded Qing by now. Even if it's just a trivial misunderstanding where we took some British ships, our interests align with Britain's."
The shameless drivel from that impenetrable face didn't anger Washington. He wasn't British, after all.
"Make the British army fight hard against the Qing. They must never abandon Tianjin and retreat. Convince them solid support's at their rear."
"You're saying wear down the British army. I'll do my best. But if they don't buy it or we fail?"
Kim Unhaeng smiled softly.
Washington recalled the smile Yi Jae-un had shown just before surrendering at Nanjing.
The chill creeping up his spine was a true warning. Kim Unhaeng's kindness ended here.
"You're not in a position to fail with peace of mind. Botch it or betray us, and I'll flip everything I said. Your line'll be sugarcane slaves for generations, and I'll send you back telling the British you and the Virginians colluded with China. Your home plantations burn, families arrested. Let's see—you just wed, right? Pity your wife."
The last bit was Kim Unhaeng's misunderstanding. To serial adulterer Washington—Virginia’s swallow—his wife was just a hunt at a ball for a plantation, not that important.
But the outcome was right. Losing his mistresses, above all his plantation and wealth, living as a slave—it truly terrified Washington.
Spreading a debt ledger like a fan, Kim Unhaeng lectured on Eastern history as if soothing him.
"The world's great tides: what divides unites, what unites divides. How could kings, nobles, generals, ministers spring from special seeds? Born a great man, how satisfy with petty plantation wealth? This chance won't come twice—think well."
Washington thought well.
Then answered.
"Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor—we pledge them all to succeed."
Washington went with Yi Jae-un, bearing Kim Unhaeng's letter, and briefed Han Jung-ryang of Samhwa County on the plan.
And so the Nanhai Haeyoung Fleet was sailing to Tianjin with Washington aboard.
Washington tentatively probed Han Jung-ryang, who seemed easier than Kim Unhaeng.
"Admiral. Even if it's the commander-in-chief's plan, no need to idle the many ships of the line we took from Britain and our 30,000 sailors. If the goal's fighting Qing, wouldn't landing now to join the British and crush Qing be better? Betray after that..."
Han Jung-ryang replied simply.
"What nonsense? Can't waste precious soldiers' lives willy-nilly."
"Aren't British lives precious?" nearly burst from Washington's throat but sank back. From experience, Joseoners would just blink and say, "Of course not?"
Fortunately, Han Jung-ryang elaborated.
"And our navy has other tasks elsewhere. Kim Chunsik's scheme eyes farther than some barbarian like you—don't get ideas, just do as ordered."
Washington muttered Iroquois curses.
This ship carried French officers brainwashed via some electric torture device by Joseon troops, so even French was risky.
Around ten years back, scholar Benjamin Franklin he'd met in Albany was researching similar. Washington vaguely knew electricity.
No clue how they got cutting-edge tech even in America, but the name suggested another product of that Joseon commander.
Washington shuddered at the bottomless evil creation.
The British at Tianjin anchor weren't the Nanjing remnants under John Amherst.
This was the expeditionary navy's main force, and numerous. Unlike Nanjing's disjointed army-navy, Tianjin's all under single command of Henry Porter.
Worlds apart. So frigate HMS Roebuck's captain Thomas Lynn—handling coastal guard with her 44 guns—spotted the Joseon fleet at normal range.
The lookout's shout slid down the mast.
"Sixteen bastard ships—Dutch-style hybrids—off the bow!"
Britain's term for Joseon navy's "haran ships," bastardized Dutch designs.
Of course, Han Jung-ryang brought none of his flagship Nanhai Iljeonseon (ex-HMS Pancer) or captured ships of the line. All left in Pyongyang.
Joseon navy flies no national flags.
So nationality was the lookout's call. Lynn said,
"Joseon fleet. Probably responding to the admiral's relief request. But with high command suspicious of Joseon, we can't relax. Assemble sailors on deck."
The bosun's call piped long and clear.
Warships use pipes over wave noise for orders. Contrary to myth, no jaunty shanties pulling ropes—whips played screams instead.
World's top navy, no such slackers. Sailors aligned swiftly.
Ships small, but fleet admiral Han Jung-ryang outranked captain Lynn, so Roebuck piped continuous honors.
Han Jung-ryang surveyed the gathered British navy, smiling pleased.
"Fine elite troops. You'll make good marines."
Thomas Lynn greeting him felt ominous. He asked Washington,
"Colonel. What'd the Joseon admiral say?"
"W-Well, I don't know Joseon well myself..."
True enough. He didn't say he guessed the content.
Washington hurriedly changed subject.
"Anyway, as I said, Joseon's cooperating with British forces and invaded Qing. Proof here..."
A Joseon sailor following Han Jung-ryang beamed, hoisting heads by queues like sticky bean paste blocks.
Officers unlucky enough to miss Russian drones at Samjeondo Stele toss.
Washington, used to scalping Indians, saw nothing odd; neither did the Joseoner. Only Lynn was shocked.
"I... see. But Colonel Washington, why're you here personally?"
Well-trained question. After Russia's armed drones, Dutch construction bots, now America's rogue novel-writing NLP AI activated.
"High command suspects Joseon's silence, so they asked me. We got much aid withdrawing from Nanjing—hard to refuse. Our fleet and troops safe in Formosa. Agreed to rush supplies to Tianjin on faster Dutch-style Joseon ships instead of sluggish ships of the line."
Ploys were for transport and trade anyway. Ships of the line risky in storms if moved often.
Washington's desperate pitch continued.
"Joseon decided full support for British. Forming army to invade Qing, so direct aid tough, but rushed supplies on this fleet first."
Most "supplies" were British preserved rations seized at Nanjing—Joseoners wouldn't touch them, so they brought along.
Can't nitpick. Joseon jumping into war supporting Britain, and Washington's original plan succeeding—drawing Qing main force to Jiangnan—was key "fact."
Lynn nodded.
"Understood. I'll report to the admiral."
"Thank you."
Admiral Henry Porter felt surging morale at the upbeat news.
He spread Hua Shen's threatening letters, tapping them with his baton. They floated like enchanted.
"Hahaha! Joseon stabbing us in the back? You got duped by Joseoners—properly had! No more worries. Crush Qing full force, straight to Peking. Have Virginia Regiment and French join once recovered!"
Would need Ryukyu's King Sho Boku's okay after his serf-reform blitz, but Porter couldn't know.
Free of rear worries, Porter landed more sailors.
Sailors still, but European-trained, nearing 15,000.
Unlike fuming Joseon navy baffled by hardtack and salt pork, culinary Britain had secret recipes.
Smash biscuits with hammers, stew with salt pork—made passable, seasoned gruel. British gorged and charged (Han Jung-ryang later reported: "English eat filth as custom").
General Myeongbok—name like Biblical blessing—felt like fleeing to Russia.
Returning to Shengjing? Joseon swarming there too. Too bad—Qianlong axed the Russian embassy ages ago.
But happily, Myeongbok wasn't the most miserable.
Besides strategic sense, Hua Shen chose Britain first for another reason.
He hadn't reported Joseon's betrayal to the emperor yet.
Better crush Britain first, then quietly focus on Joseon.
Best now: smash British then Joseon, report "Joseon betrayed, but I handled cleanly."
Death sentence might lighten to exile. Survive, and the emperor favoring him would restore him soon.
Outside Taiching Hall's plaque—where Kim Unhaeng once praised emperor's poetry as envoy—stood Qing's Six Boards, like Joseon's.
Hua Shen hunkered there lately, relaying "imperial orders" to ministers.
He snapped at officials thrice his age.
"What's grand about barbarian hordes gaining momentum? Shandong's army not gathered yet?!"
Coming, yes. But Shandong governor captured by Kim Unhaeng, other commanders no greats.
Scattering hastily, they lagged: supplies short, deserters, White Lotus remnants ambushing.
Hong Daeyong didn't dub Kim Unhaeng's Black Tortoise Camp "Dragon Islet" lightly. Beyond mortal feats.
As Hua Shen fumed, trumpets blared.
He exploded.
"Who plays music and sings in this crisis? Drag those clowns in!"
But Yuqian, sent on orders, returned same speed as reporting Joseon's old betrayal.
Yuqian whispered, clutching Hua Shen's sleeve.
"You must see this."
Yuqian wouldn't say idly. No stubborn fool, Hua Shen sensed, urging even ministers up.
Outside: as hoped—or better.
Twin colossal elephants flanked the procession majestically.
Five-colored banners and carts symbolizing directions followed; army in dazzling, orderly splendor marched in perfect unison—nations on brink of ruin don't look this fine.
No Joseon onlookers. Unthinkable in Peking. But Hua Shen was sure plebs peeked through cracks, awe renewed.
The emperor broke long silence, emerging from Taiching Hall.
Hua Shen felt something snap.
His ignorance of the procession meant exclusion from power. Emperor dismissed him most mercifully.
To step up himself.
And Hua Shen welcomed it.
He knelt before mankind's lord.
Author's Notes
1. From chapter 175 'Knowledge is Power' part: East India Company held Asian trade monopoly, tea only from Asia, yet EIC handled just 30-40% of British imports. Rest smuggled (mostly via Dutch).
Boston Tea Party wasn't just tax hikes; EIC enabling legal tea over smuggling was key. Tea prices even dropped without smugglers.
Still, colonial gripes over representation can't be dismissed—won't call it thugs rioting under independence pretext.
Sidenote: Early 20th century molasses plant spill dumped sugar into Boston harbor; Great Depression folks added milk, birthing "Boston milk tea" joke.
2. Kim Unhaeng's tea sapling export from chapter 197 'Terminator' part.
3. Stamp Act on America originally hit 1765—pre-Washington's departure, so he knows up to discussions. Backlash sank it; pulled tea/paper/glass taxes next, then compromised to just tea.
4. Washington's final line from US Declaration of Independence close.
5. Albany Congress (NY)—ten years prior, first known Washington-Franklin meet, forming Iroquois alliance vs France.
6. Story's Thomas Lynn is real Roebuck captain, namesake of 1774-born navy officer/astronomer Thomas Lynn.