The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 136



< The country where the sun never sets (2) >

“Who is currently ruling Manchuria? The Beiyang Clan.”

To Li Hongzhang.

After his death to Yuan Shikai (Yuan Shikai).

Those who have pledged loyalty.

Mentioning such a huge private military organization I revealed some information about them to Walter.

“The Beiyang Clan is one of the strongest forces in the Central Plains. In addition their military discipline is quite good.”

“Yes I know that too.”

“I don’t know about other regions but the areas ruled by the Beiyang Warlords are extremely safe. My subordinates who have been to Qing have testified to this so I can be sure that this information is trustworthy.”

After the Opium Wars China entered a period of rapid chaos.

As the huge centralized state began to falter the mob forces within it began to stir.

Because of this the Qing people were doubly exploited.

As a result the Central Plains continent experiences a population decline.

Because people’s lives have become difficult.

However there was one region that was an exception to this trend and that region was Manchuria.

It could be because there were so few people living there due to the lockdown and there was a lot of land left for farming.

Because public security was relatively stable compared to other regions all the people of the Central Plains flocked to Manchuria.

“But this prince….”

Walter Rothschild gave me a negative opinion citing information he had obtained.

“Don’t they say that a small spark can set a vast field ablaze? Recently large and small civil unrests have been occurring all over the place.”

right.

The civil unrest was still ongoing.

I agreed with that point so I nodded silently.

Walter then continued his story with a hint of confidence.

“Although the Qing authorities are barely able to suppress them their numbers and scale are increasing… There will definitely come a day when the Qing government will no longer be able to handle it.”

“Faster than we expected?”

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“yes.”

Walter Rothschild foresaw the coming chaos in the Qing Dynasty.

For Britain.

Also for the Rothschild family.

China is as important and huge a market as India.

That’s why the Baron is also probably releasing a large amount of money and many people to collect relevant information.

Of course it may not be as accurate as mine who knows the future but if you can come up with an opinion like this it’s just a matter of time before the Qing Dynasty collapses.

It seems like you have a pretty good grasp of the current situation in the Central Plains.

“This prince.”

“Tell me.”

“I believe Your Majesty is well aware that there is a nationalist boom happening all over the world.”

yes.

Didn’t Britain work hard behind the scenes to create this boom?

“This wind will soon blow to Qing.”

This is not the direction Britain wants but not everything goes Britain’s way.

I first took the appearance of agreeing with Walter’s warning.

“Well the Qing emperor was Manchu while the Qing people were Han.”

“Yes that’s right.”

“If the Qing is going to fall faster than we think as you claim it will start in Guangdong or Sichuan far away from Beijing.”

“Yes. These two regions were relatively weakly influenced by the Qing Dynasty.”

I patted Walter on the shoulder who was full of worries and pretended not to care.

“But even so I am not anxious.”

“Why?”

“Even if the Qing cannot handle it… the power that will come to power after the Qing will handle it.”

I continued with a bitter expression.

“If you can’t handle it then make it so you can.”

I shrugged again and said as if it were no big deal.

“Well we don’t have to work hard the situation will naturally lead to this. We just have to sit still and watch.”

“….”

“Think about it. The successors to the Qing Dynasty will all claim to be the legitimate descendants of the Great Ming and Great Qing.”

They will certainly do so in order to secure a justification for taking power.

Because the next ruling power to succeed the Qing would have a weaker power base than the original Qing dynasty.

In a situation where warlords are rampant here and there.

In a situation where the remnants of the Qing Dynasty’s ruling power still held on.

Any gestures must be taken to unite power once again.

In such adverse conditions you deny everything about the existing dynasty and turn foreign powers into your enemies?

That’s something only a fool would do.

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“Would they really be able to overturn the treaty we made with the Qing? If they do chaos will fall upon the Central Plains once again.”

I raised one corner of my mouth with a rotten smile.

“That’s why I’m not worried. They will inevitably guarantee our existing rights.”

“….”

Walter still had a displeased expression on his face.

I pressed him on this.

“Why are you like that? Are you still anxious?”

I gave a slightly puzzled look and cited a country I really dislike as an example.

“Is it perhaps because of the Japanese Kwantung Army entrenched in Port Arthur? Are they afraid that they will interfere with our business?”

I guess that’s right.

Ouch.

When I see you reacting like that.

“Haha don’t worry about it. These three people CEO Rockefeller CEO Morgan and the Baron… own more than 80% of the bonds issued by Japan.”

I appeared confident as I recited the list of major creditors.

“We have a tight grip on their leashes. But do you think the Japanese would dare show their teeth to us?”

“….”

“Japan has been on the move recently but I don’t think they’ll act that recklessly. At least until they pay back all their debt to us they’ll sit quietly and watch. So don’t worry too much.”

Although Japan has joined the ranks of the great powers it has not yet grown to the point where it can become an enemy of the United States or the United Kingdom.

Moreover it is still a long way for Japan to transform into a net creditor nation.

Only after the end of World War I did a net debtor nation become a net creditor nation.

I reassured Walter thinking about that point.

“If you don’t want to invest in the parallel construction of the Manchukuo Line don’t beat around the bush and tell me now. I will immediately fill the share allocated to your family with my investment funds.”

With a curious expression I boasted about how much liquid funds I had.

At this Walter made a slightly strange expression.

“Oh no. How can you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?”

He was pretending to be flustered but his expression was like that of a beast that had caught some important information.

‘I plan to report this to the Baron.’

Rumors are going around in New York and London that my liquid funds have dried up due to my continuous investments.

I guess he thought he had found out useful information since he showed such confidence in that situation.

“Then I guess I’ll go up now. It’s a bit dangerous to leave a pregnant wife alone for a long time.”

“Oh yes. Go up your highness.”

I think I’ve leaked almost all the information that needed to be leaked.

I wonder how the sinister Baron will analyze the various pieces of information I threw at him.

Well we’ll be able to see the results in about a month.

You don’t have to think about it too much.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

I walked towards Ethel leaving Walter behind.

After that I had a comfortable rest for the first time in a long time in a well-decorated first class cruise cabin.

* * *

It hasn’t even been a day since I left the Netherlands.

Our group was able to arrive at the Port of London.

‘It’s so close.’

From Asia to America.

From America to Europe.

Is it because I’ve been crossing long distances?

This amount of time seems like a fleeting moment compared to that time.

“Your Majesty.”

“I’m listening ma’am.”

Ethel takes a step closer and links her arms.

Then she asked me with a cautious expression.

“What time is it now?”

I took out my pocket watch and checked the time.

“Around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.”

“is it so?”

Ethel tilted her head in puzzlement.

“That’s unexpected.”

“Unexpected?”

“Yes. I thought it was evening. It was so dark outside.”

“It’s probably because it’s so foggy. There are a lot of clouds.”

Ethel suddenly covered her mouth with her hand and made a slightly painful expression.

“More than that… I think the air quality is the worst.”

Yes that’s right.

It’s like the air of 21st century Beijing.

no.

Correct it.

It’s worse than that.

The air quality near London Port was so bad that I quickly took out the handkerchief I had with me.

Afterwards he soaked a handkerchief in cold water and handed it to Ethel.

“Put this to your nose. It will help.”

“thank you.”

I looked at Walter who was standing next to me and sighed.

“The weather is so gloomy. It feels like it might rain at any moment.”

Ethel covered her nose with the handkerchief I had handed her and asked Walter in a mute voice.

“Is London always like this?”

“Oh yes Your Highness. That’s right. The gloomy weather and musty smell. Typical of London.”

Walter muttered looking at the approaching London with a slightly bitter expression.

“It is one of the disgraceful things about our British Empire along with food.”

“eww….”

Ethel shudders.

She looked a little worried because she had to give birth here.

Walter quickly added as if he had read Ethel’s mind.

“But the South Cornwall cottage where the Duchess will stay is a little different. Thanks to the warm sea breeze blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean the weather is milder than here in London and the air is also quite clear.”

“It’s all good.”

After getting off the boat I looked up at the sky.

Because a raindrop just fell on the back of my hand.

Walter must have felt it too.

He quickly led us to the car his family had prepared.

“Hmm. The weather is unusual. The princess might catch a cold if she gets caught in the rain. So wouldn’t it be better to hurry up a little?”

okay.

It’s better to walk a little faster than to get hit by acid rain.

I got into the car Walter had prepared taking in the rather shabby image of 20th century London with my own eyes.

As soon as both my husband and I got in the car started moving quickly.

We moved to the mansion where the Baron lives.

* * *

“Hello Your Highness.”

“Baron. Long time no see.”

I have just stepped foot into the home of Baron Rothschild.

Instead of going straight to Buckingham Palace we headed to the Baron’s residence and there was a reason for that.

‘I don’t have much to talk about with the British royal family. I have more to talk about with the Prime Minister and the Barons.’

This is because the political systems are different.

The Netherlands still has a strong queen who exercises great power while the UK is a truly parliamentary state.

So when I first arrived in the Netherlands I headed straight to the Hague Palace.

My relationship with Hendrick is also a relationship.

Above all the Queen’s influence was very strong in the Netherlands so living close to her was helpful to my business.

But Britain is different.

That is why I will be staying a little longer in Baron Rothschild’s annex.

“While the prince remains in England our family will do its best to assist him.”

“Thank you.”

“If there is anything missing please let me know at any time.”

“I will do so.”

The Baron gave me a sneak peek of my schedule which he had been keeping.

“You will arrive at Buckingham Palace the day after tomorrow.”

“day after tomorrow?”

“Yes that’s right.”

If that happens tonight and tomorrow night will be empty.

Who will I be having dinner with this time?

“When can I meet the owner of Downing Street?”

While the American President resides in the White House the British Prime Minister stays in Downing Street.

When I asked when I could meet the head of state the Baron narrowed his eyes slightly and gave a vague answer.

“I think it might be possible after visiting the palace.”

Not today or tomorrow but after that….

Without even notifying you in detail.

this.

Are you showing remorse for not stopping in the UK as the first country on your European tour?

‘These English bastards are full of shit.’

“Before that…..”

The Baron consoled me with a sinister expression.

“Please meet with one of the cabinet members and briefly discuss any relevant issues. I think that would be helpful.”

“As a member of the cabinet…..”

What kind of character will appear?

If a swindler who is not at the center of power comes out it will be a real attempt to deceive me.

I asked with some strength in my throat.

“baron.”

“Please speak Your Majesty.”

“Could you please tell me who that person is that you are introducing me to?”

Baron Rothschild rolled his eyes slightly and briefly introduced the guest who would be visiting the next night.

“A rising star in the British Parliament.”

“Rising star?”

“Yes. Lord Churchill the current Secretary of State for Commerce… Ah! Your Highness have you ever heard of Lord Churchill?”

< The Land Where the Sun Never Sets (2) > End