The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 115



< Price (4) >

“What do you mean…?”

Morgan tilted his head.

A face that says “I don’t know.”

It’s like you’re an elementary school student who doesn’t understand a single one of my questions.

‘Me too.’

Pronunciation too.

Accent too.

More perfect than anyone here.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that expression on your face.

‘If you think you’re going to lose an argument with an Asian that’s exactly what you do. White Americans (WESP).’

This is a face that really makes me want to punch you.

I took a half step forward toward Morgan and began to speak again slowly and steadily.

“There is no force other than your affiliates that can buy up all the Japanese government bonds currently in circulation in the market. No matter how you look at it it seems like your affiliates are the ones leading the way.”

There are currently only about three families that can buy up all the government bonds on the market at once.

One is Rothschild.

The other one is Morgan.

The last one is the Rockefeller family.

Walter Rothschild here before me confessed to me when we spoke earlier that they did not act like that.

‘Even if the purchase of Japanese government bonds was done in the New York market rather than in London that’s the case.’

The Rockefeller family with whom I have a connection would not have done such a big thing without consulting them.

In that case there is only one culprit.

There is nothing but a lump of greed in front of me.

“Was I wrong? Moreover aren’t you the emperor of Wall Street in New York? Even if you didn’t lead this you would definitely know who did it.”

It is important not to give yourself time to think.

I quickly blurted out the following words.

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“Tell me Mr. Morgan. Why did you buy up so much Japanese government bonds?”

Morgan looked puzzled for a moment then called out to a man sipping wine at the next table.

“henry.”

“Yes sir.”

“Come over here.”

“yes.”

Henry P. Davidson.

The brains of the Morgan Group and JP Morgan’s right-hand man.

As he walked over to our table Morgan crossed her arms and pressed Henry against him slightly.

“The prince here asked me a few questions about the purchase of Japanese government bonds.”

“yes.”

“I don’t know anything about this… Do you know anything about this?”

Henry rolled his eyes and tried to say something but then hesitated for a moment perhaps thinking about the aftermath.

“Oh you mean that?”

“okay.”

Nothing particularly meaningful was said.

But the two seemed to be having a silent conversation with their own eyes and expressions.

Having worked together for decades it seems like they work together without even saying a word.

Henry glanced at Morgan for a moment then turned his head and told me.

“I have instructed bond traders to buy all the Japanese government bonds on the market Prince.”

In response to Henry’s answer I crossed my arms and asked him why.

“Why?”

“There is no other big meaning. I just bought all of them because I thought they would be good investments. Haven’t some investors been behaving strangely recently? I understand that the selling started when rumors spread on Wall Street that the Japanese government might go bankrupt.”

Morgan and Rothschild.

Although the two powers may not know each other Rockefeller and I became one power through our marriage alliance.

Some retail investors who invested in Japanese government bonds predicted that the Rockefeller family would not stay still.

At the very least their general expectation is that the Japanese government will impose painfully visible punishment.

As if to mock them Morgan bought up the Japanese government bonds they offered at a very cheap price.

“Why did you think it would be beneficial?”

“Well….”

Henry and Rothschild.

And Morgan.

I also glanced at Rockefeller who was chatting with Washington politicians from afar.

After that he continued talking.

“Aren’t you all very reasonable people? I expected you wouldn’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”

Henry warned that if we value emotion over reason the bonds we lend to Japan could end up as worthless scraps of paper.

‘Then I’d be grateful.’

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Unlike me the three major tycoons here will suffer great losses.

Henry said that the three great powers gathered here were not stupid enough to harm their own bodies.

He explained why he bought all the Japanese government bonds at a cheap price.

“Don’t you think so too Your Majesty?”

well.

I deliberately stayed quiet and did not answer.

Unlike the three previous rich men who sided with Japan in the Russo-Japanese War I don’t own a single Japanese government bond.

If the Japanese government goes bankrupt I will benefit the most.

“If the Japanese government goes bankrupt the burden will be entirely transferred to the Korean Empire since the Korean Empire is a protectorate of Japan.”

Sophistry flowed from Henry’s mouth.

“Just think about it. If that happens the people of the Korean Empire will surely suffer greatly.”

“So you bought Japanese government bonds for me?”

“yes.”

When the great powers catch a cold their protectorates get sick.

Morgan’s argument was that this is the reality of today’s international society where the law of the jungle prevails.

Ssuk-

I turned my head and looked at Morgan.

Morgan didn’t elaborate further but he seemed to agree with Henry.

“I know that Your Majesty loves the people of the Korean Empire more than anyone else. Don’t you?”

It’s not spoon-fed education.

Morgan was now putting unspoken pressure on me not to force myself to sell Japanese government bonds.

“hmm….”

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.

Even if you don’t know Morgan Jr. control freak Morgan is someone you personally wouldn’t want to get close to.

It was the same during the last financial crisis.

Didn’t everyone work together to raise funds but that guy took all the credit and then boasted that it was all his fault?

‘This is the same shit again.’

His decision is not illegal in legal terms.

However all people must live by morality.

My colleague was almost assassinated.

It’s disgusting and repulsive to try to make money using that opportunity even though it can’t be comforting.

For a moment I recalled the biography of JP Morgan in the history of the world.

‘A man who will do anything for money. That’s the world’s brief opinion of Morgan.’

It is said that when Morgan was in trouble no one came to his aid except for his biological son Morgan Jr.

This is something that will happen in about 5 years if history is correct.

As the progressive wing of the Republican Party makes its final push to turn to Wall Street.

That’s when his opponents try to destroy Morgan’s company.

They say no one in New York helped him.

I think I understand the story roughly.

‘Who can help me with this terrible personality?’

I tried to help Morgan Jr. when the incident happened because I had become quite close with him.

I need to change my mind.

As long as you live.

I’m not going to help your company.

“That’s right.”

I thought about it for a moment then answered with a forced smile.

“I love our people more than anyone else. President Henry and Representative Morgan. Your arguments are correct.”

Let’s move on for now.

I’ve grown a lot over the past three years.

Because Morgan’s influence is still overwhelming in the financial markets.

‘Even though Rockefeller personally has the most money in American business that’s only based on the value of his stocks.’

No matter what anyone says the person who currently dominates the American financial world is Morgan.

‘By the end of World War I we should be at least equal to them or more powerful than them.’

I glanced at Morgan making a mental note.

That was when.

“This prince.”

“Representative Rockefeller.”

Ah! Finally.

The world’s four richest people gathered in one place.

Rockefeller looked at Morgan me and Rothschild with some interest.

“What are you doing so enjoyably?”

I clapped my hands once making an expression as if I remembered something I had forgotten.

“Oh right. I told you I had a funny story to tell Mr. Morgan. Would Mr. Rockefeller like to hear it too?”

“Oh I like it.”

I looked back and forth between Rothschild Rockefeller and Morgan and began to talk about the proposal I had been meaning to make.

“How interested are you all in the railroad company?”

“yes?”

“What is that?”

“Which railway company are you referring to?”

“It’s a railway company in Manchuria.”

The three signs’ eyes sparkled at my answer.

* * *

“therefore….”

Rothschild asked me again his face flushed with excitement and spitting.

“Do you plan to demand the South Manchuria Railway from the Japanese government as one of the compensation measures for this incident?”

Hey Walter.

‘Ah’ is different and ‘eo’ is different.

You have to speak straight.

I will not unscrupulously demand that the South Manchuria Railway be handed over ‘in its entirety’.

“You must have heard it before. Didn’t the Qing government make a proposal to the White House and Downing Street last year?”

“Ah! I remember. After the Portsmouth Conference the Qing government proposed to our country the construction of a standard gauge parallel railway along the South Manchuria Railway.”

“Yeah that…..”

The South Manchuria Railway is a long railway that runs from Dalian in Liaoning Province China to Qiqihar in Heilongjiang Province.

Russia which lost the war lost exactly half of this route.

So the southern section from Dalian to Changchun (Xinjing) in Jilin Province was ceded.

‘The South Manchuria Railway was built under Russian leadership.’

Naturally the railway tracks are laid in the Russian-style gauge rather than the international standard gauge.

If you are coming from China and want to pass through that area you will have to change trains which is a very cumbersome process.

To address these shortcomings the Japanese government wanted to convert the Russian-style gauge to standard gauge.

‘There’s one problem here.’

Qing wanted to get back the South Manchuria Railway that Japan had given him.

So I came up with a plan.

The expansion of the standard gauge project for the South Manchuria Railway was entrusted to Britain and the United States.

It was an attempt to half-neutralize Japan’s right to operate the South Manchuria Railway.

‘You can’t say it’s exactly the same but you can see it as similar to the work of taking SRT out of Korail.’

This is a truly stripped-down task.

The South Manchuria Railway’s profits came from trade with China.

Because it’s obvious that everyone will only want to use the convenient new railway.

It was clear that the railways that Japan originally had would only be used for the movement of the Kwantung Army.

Naturally if that were to happen it would have been obvious that the profitability of Japan’s South Manchuria Railway would hit rock bottom.

“Hasn’t there been great difficulty in starting construction of the standard gauge parallel line due to opposition from Japan?”

“Yes.”

“I’m thinking of asking for this as compensation… What do you think?”

The diplomatic authority of the Korean Empire was delegated to the international community through the Treaty of Portsmouth.

Moreover although I have demonstrated economic ability I have not yet demonstrated political ability.

So it would be quite natural for the proposal to hand over the Korean Peninsula to me in place of Japan to be rejected.

Conservative Britain and the United States would prefer to stick with their existing partners and would not want to gamble.

‘but….’

The economic side is different.

I have personally proven this over the past three years.

Moreover the South Manchuria Railway standard gauge parallel construction project is a truly free and lucrative project that is not bound by any treaty.

Moreover since Japan had no reason to oppose this incident it could have easily been achieved if it had pushed hard.

“This seems like a proposal that would please both Washington and Downing Street.”

Rockefeller and Morgan nodded looking interested.

“I heard that the federal government has had several meetings about this proposal since last year.”

The Japanese government and military are under the illusion that they have secured priority over the South Manchuria region following their victory in the Russo-Japanese War.

The problem is that the United States and Great Britain do not agree with Japan’s thinking.

In particular the United States regards Manchuria as something of a ‘commons’ for all.

Is that why?

American officials went beyond my suggestion and even considered “neutralizing” all the railway lines in Manchuria.

This is a situation in which Secretary of State Knox the central figure in Roosevelt’s third cabinet is leading the way.

It was perfect timing as I happened to be pouring oil on it.

“I hear they are even discussing ways to neutralize railroad interests in the Manchurian region.”

“I heard that rumor too.”

“Ah… I think I’ve heard that too.”

As soon as the plate is set people from all over the place run around drooling and trying to get a spoonful.

I restrained them and continued talking.

“We must be wary of the theory of neutrality. If we do Russia will definitely react. I don’t know about Japan but Russia has nothing to do with this incident.”

“That’s true.”

“Moreover Russia has a very strong influence in the northern Manchuria region. If we go that far as the prince warned Russia will not stay still.”

Good good.

I put my head together with the three characters who had been imagining wicked things inside and started to bring the ideas in my head into reality one by one.

“First let’s establish a standard gauge railway mainly in the areas that Japan acquired from Russia. We’ll come up with this among ourselves.”

The age of imperialism.

Colonization is a much more expensive business than you might think.

However if we look at only certain fields we can see it differently and one of them is the railroad business.

‘The people here know better than anyone that railroads are a money-making business.’

Even the Rothschild family is like that.

Aren’t they monopolizing various routes in Britain and even new routes in India and sucking up enormous wealth?

Morgan and Rockefeller too.

He contributed greatly to the monopolization of the disparate American railroad companies by swallowing up four of the five major railroad companies in the United States.

It is no wonder that people who suggest this are turning their backs on them.

“If we pool our money together set up a syndicate (trust) and build a new standard gauge railway line it will be a win-win for both of us.”

“I guess so.”

“No matter how friendly Roosevelt is to Japan he will not miss this opportunity.”

“Yes.”

As Morgan and Rockefeller’s faces brightened they looked at Walter Rothschild.

I was a little worried about how British politics would react.

“But what if Japan strongly objects?”

Then I crossed my arms and looked at Rothschild.

“Downing Street seems to be too concerned about Japan. Of course Japan will object.”

I started raising my voice.

“So that’s what I’m saying. Isn’t this really the right time?”

“That’s true.”

“You’re acting as mediators so it’s going to be tough. If things really don’t work out try selling me out.”

“Wow Prince?”

A fleeting moment.

A smile appeared on Walter’s lips then quickly disappeared.

Uh uh….

this guy.

Have you been looking so worried all this time just to get those words out?

‘Well England…’

During this period Britain was the country that collected more information than any other country.

They must have already investigated my tendencies as an up-and-coming newcomer in American business.

‘You must have known that I was pursuing practicality.’

Could it be that the reason I didn’t bring up the South Manchuria Railway issue to the Japanese government was because I was trying to get this proposal out of my mouth?

『Ah… I tried my best to mediate but that bastard. He rejected my mediation offer. He said he couldn’t accept anything else than this offer. What should I do?』

I am reminded of a colleague who worked next to me in modern times.

He was a notorious racist who roamed around here and there doing politics well.

I could smell that bastard from the British government.

‘Well. We’re using each other and taking advantage of each other.’

I once again think that I chose a good marriage partner.

Of the three powers the one who is the most sane and decent is Rockefeller.

Morgan has been famous from the beginning.

Didn’t Rothschild hide his true intentions well and act like a fox in front of me?

“If that doesn’t work let’s pressure Japan to repay 10% of the national debt it lent. Oh I guess I could say that I suggested that too.”

My hatred for Japan is already at an all-time high so what difference would it make if it were to increase even more?

“I heard that there are a few bonds that are maturing soon. If you refuse to extend them and slowly dump some of them on the international market… you won’t be able to raise new funds so things will soon quiet down.”

You can’t just pass up such delicious food.

I actively suggested the secret weapon of selling government bonds and persuaded them.

“Ah! Since Representative Morgan happened to buy a lot of these I guess I can sell the government bonds I bought at a good time at a low price. How about we start moving now to put pressure on them?”

“Huh? Oh… yes. That’s right.”

Morgan was trying to take advantage of this situation on his own by playing dumb.

If he wants to join the group again he’ll have to pay a friend fee.

‘It’s an offer I can’t refuse.’

The management of Mancheol is a huge project that will bring enormous profits in the future.

Morgan will have to sell some of the Japanese government bonds he had bought so desperately as he could miss out on huge future profits if he were to get out of this business.

“oh.”

That was when.

Ethel who was now my wife slowly approached me.

“What kind of funny stories are you guys talking about?”

Ethel smiled and linked arms with me.

“If it’s not urgent can I borrow the prince for a while?”

Ethel smiled and took me somewhere else.

It was a place where a lot of women gathered and it seemed like the atmosphere was fast-paced perhaps because only famous people in social circles were gathered there.

“Your Majesty please tell me how the Japanese threatened you back then.”

Ethel winked and offered it to me.

It’s as if he’s asking Japan to confess its atrocities to a bunch of loose-lipped women.

“Ahem. How did that happen…..”

This is a great opportunity I can’t miss it.

I started telling the guests what had happened a week ago.

< Price (4) > End