The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 167



< Sowing the Seeds (1) >

The 20th century was a time of great upheaval just like the 21st.

The reality that technology is advancing at a rapid pace every day clearly proves this claim.

“How did your conversation with Representative Rockefeller end? How did it end well?”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

After my interview with Wilson I went straight back to the hotel and contacted Rockefeller.

This would have been unthinkable if I had been in San Francisco since telephone lines had not yet been installed across the United States.

On the eastern coast where most of the population is concentrated it has already been commercialized for about a decade.

So I could conveniently communicate with Rockefeller over the phone without having to go to the post office to write a telegram.

“Yeah. Where is Rockefeller now? Surely he’s not working at headquarters on the weekends?”

Like any successful CEO Rockefeller was a workaholic.

He’s also a really bad workaholic.

That’s why I called Standard Oil headquarters first before calling my home in New Jersey.

“What? You’re not in New Jersey right now?”

I got some unexpected news.

Rockefeller was absent.

“Yes. Mr. Rockefeller has been in Washington since last month on a long-term business trip.”

“Washington… Ah! Right. That must be why.”

You still haven’t let go of your foolishness.

That damn monopoly.

What do you mean by a monopoly?

Are you saying that you give up your weekends to go back and forth to Washington’s political circles and the Supreme Court to lobby?

‘For businessmen of this era monopoly management is the ultimate utopia like a unicorn. It would be difficult to give it up easily.’

I know the future.

Despite Rockefeller’s persistent efforts he met a sad ending.

‘It’s not like Taft who was closer to the center is still in the presidency like in the original history. Isn’t Theodore who was a hard-line progressive still in the White House?’

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In the 1910s America was a time when the gap between rich and poor was extreme.

American citizens were outraged by this grim reality and demanded one thing from President Theodore Roosevelt.

I want you to slaughter those Wall Street bastards.

‘Roosevelt is willing to listen to the people’s wishes.’

Unlike other presidents Roosevelt had his own firm economic philosophy.

He believed that ‘monopoly’ that restricted ‘competition’ was a sin.

And he worked harder than anyone else to break it.

‘Rockefeller too. How happy he is to listen to me.’

Rockefeller ignored my advice to preemptively break up Standard Oil.

He maintained his own management style without giving up his stubbornness which was like an iron tendon.

That’s why I was no longer giving advice and was only calculating the benefits for the near future.

“Your Majesty where will you be heading?”

“Well….”

I hesitated and thought for a moment then calmly stated my destination.

“I’m going to New York.”

“I heard that Mr. Rockefeller is currently staying in Washington. So will you still go to New York?”

“Even if he’s on a long business trip he’ll come back to New York someday. He’s not the type of person who’s interested in politics.”

I snapped my fingers and continued speaking quickly.

“And if they find out I’m in New York they’ll come to me. There’s something we need to discuss.”

The meeting of the seven-member council is scheduled to be held this fall.

It was a very important meeting to discuss the establishment of the Federal Reserve System so they had to kiss at least once.

‘I’m going to let out some steam.’

It’s going to be really frustrating.

I’m not as big as Rockefeller but I own a lot of Standard Oil stock.

Since he is my most reliable comrade at the moment Rockefeller will have no choice but to rely on me on this subject.

“Then what should I say to Dean Wilson?”

“What are you saying? Just stay still.”

I snickered and made a face like “What should I do?”

“When did I promise to introduce you to Rockefeller? I said I would only give you the bridge before the election.”

Anyway the one who’s in a hurry is Wilson.

When you fall in love.

Come to New York and ask me again.

Moreover he was a man who would be criticized starting from the next presidential election.

There’s no need to be so concerned.

It wouldn’t be a problem if you just sent a donation every now and then to make up for the lack of funds.

‘My home isn’t New Jersey.’

The governor of New Jersey is a king only in New Jersey and in other states he is just a local politician.

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That’s why I’m not going to worry about Wilson and just draw the future.

“What are you doing? Get ready to leave for New York quickly.”

* * *

After arriving at the annex in New York I began checking out the network of secret agents I had released across the United States.

At my request to report on all the influential politicians in the area Lee Sang-seol who was staying in New York compiled this and brought it to me.

“Are their names being mentioned in the next presidential election?”

“Yes that’s right.”

All of the leading Democratic politicians of this era are racists.

The names of those I had in mind right now because I was thinking of filtering them out were all Republican politicians.

‘I see some familiar names.’

Leonard Wood who is being pushed by the military.

Frank Rhoden a conservative politician who had Morgan as his guardian.

Charles Warren the current Vice President and longtime friend of Roosevelt.

under!

These are all politicians who have no connection with me.

“Are these the only people who have opened up their faces?”

New York City Mayor George McClellan is someone I met at a recent charity auction.

Charles Evans Hughes the current governor of New York met Rockefeller once while traveling to and from Europe.

“I need my man.”

Building relationships with politicians takes time money and dedication.

It’s been five years since I possessed Lee Kang’s body.

In the beginning I was so focused on raising seed money that I had no connection with the American central political circles.

I crossed my arms with a somewhat regretful expression.

‘Any election is important but… the presidential election in two years is a really important election for me.’

Didn’t World War I break out?

The one who leads this is the winner of this election.

I squinted my eyes at the ideal.

“Is this all?”

“Yes. Here is a list of people being considered as vice presidential candidates. Would you like to take a look?”

Or of little influence.

People who are restricted because they have a strong political inclination.

There are a group of people who cannot become stars but can become shadows.

There I saw the names of several people close to me.

Is that why?

I could barely smile.

“George Padilla.”

It’s been 5 years since I came to the US

It’s not that there were no results at all.

It looks like someone with whom I have a close relationship is being considered as a strong candidate for vice president.

‘He is a person who has fallen out of favor with Wall Street capitalists and the military due to his calls for nationalization of infrastructure and anti-war remarks.’

A person who has the ardent support of progressives.

‘Vice President.’

Important but not important.

Noble but not respected.

That’s the vice president’s seat.

You shouldn’t stand out more than the president.

Although he concurrently served as President of the Senate he was not allowed to publicly reveal his political views.

A position where you have to live like a shadow.

but.

For just one moment you will shine brighter than anyone else.

When the sitting president passes away in an unexpected accident.

Because the perennial second-in-command becomes a new star all at once without an election.

‘The possibility is extremely low though.’

Just look at Theodore Roosevelt who is currently in office.

Didn’t he start out as Vice President but luckily succeed to the presidency after the sudden death of William McKinley?

‘I heard George Pardee is being mentioned as a potential next Vice President. I’ll have to do my best to push for interest.’

George Pardee is not running for governor of California this time.

Instead he was aiming to enter central politics by seeking a seat in the federal Senate.

There is no need to worry about a successor as Hiram Johnson who has similar tendencies has been nominated as the Republican candidate for the next governorship.

That’s why I think I can support the interest with peace of mind.

“I need to find a sprout with a light factional color. I don’t know about the election that will be held in two years but in the next or the next election someone with a connection to me should become president.”

He took a quick look at the list that Lee Sang-seol had handed me and asked for my opinion.

“Who are you thinking of?”

“I can’t say for sure. There isn’t a single politician among the existing politicians who doesn’t have a faction.”

“then….”

“You have to sow the seeds.”

We need to find a new character.

A politician who can care about my interests and the interests of Koreans.

‘The next president will be someone who satisfies both Wall Street and the Roosevelt faction.’

“majesty.”

“What’s going on?”

“Hoover is back.”

Hoover?

You mean Herbert Hoover?

“I heard that His Majesty wants to see you today. What should I do? Should I ask him to come another time?”

“No. Tell them to come right now. I can save you some time.”

I quickly prepared to greet the guests and checked the fit of the clothes I was wearing.

“Herbert Hoover….”

okay.

Even if he were to be used in the 1912 presidential election he would not have been able to do so.

It might be useful in 1920 or 1924.

He is a person who has served as president in the history of the Republic of Korea so his abilities are not lacking.

‘Because I’m from the west coast.’

California is my second home.

In any country there are bound to be regional sentiments.

The United States was also a country that was very picky about which state you were from so Hoover felt quite good about me.

“Then should I start raising my own person from now on?”

* * *

“This prince.”

Is it because you just arrived in the US?

Hoover looked quite tired.

but.

His expression was bright as if he was very much looking forward to the success reward he would soon receive from me.

“You must have had a hard time coming this far. Are you feeling better?”

“Thank you for your concern it’s very good.”

“Have a seat.”

Only uneducated people do things like suddenly bringing up the main topic.

He offered Hoover some warm tea suggesting that he take his time.

“It smells really good. After all tea from the Qing Dynasty is the best.”

During this period tea grown in Guangdong and Sichuan China was considered the best.

I am a prince.

I think Hoover said that because there is a prejudice not a bias that only the best are used.

“This tea is not grown in Guangdong.”

“Yes? Then?”

“These are young leaves harvested in our Korean Empire. They are first-grade tea leaves picked from the famous mountain called Jirisan.”

“Ah… I see.”

Hoover looked embarrassed.

Royals tend to use the best products but they also prefer domestically produced ones.

It seemed like he was berating himself for his own mistake of not expecting the latter.

“I heard that red ginseng has become popular in the US recently?”

“okay?”

“Yes. Word has been spreading in Europe… I heard that the wealthy class in New York are using it these days.”

“I see.”

Praising one’s own country or its products although sometimes puerile makes one feel good.

In an attempt to make up for his mistake Hoover worked hard to promote me and the products of the Korean Empire.

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll pack a lot for you when I go back.”

“thank you.”

It’s been 30 minutes since we started chatting over tea.

Finally Hoover began to search through his briefcase.

“Here is a report on the exploration of the Maritime Province North Manchuria and the Kamchatka Peninsula. Since the exploration was conducted simultaneously with experts in each field the exploration period was short but the content is quite informative. I have prepared a separate summary for your easy reading.”

As I glanced over the summary Hoover had handed me separately I noted the note at the very top of the first page.

“There is a high possibility that oil fields exist in Sakhalin and northern Manchuria?”

“Yes. We haven’t verified it through drilling but… when we gather all the genetic information discovered around the world and look at the statistics there seems to be a high probability that a huge oil field exists.”

I squinted my eyes and checked other things as well.

“Aside from oil there are many other minerals that are sleeping? In particular there are so many iron copper sulfur and bituminous coals?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“The Primorsky Krai is a treasure trove of resources rather than northern Manchuria.”

“That’s right. If you had given me more time I could have found out a more detailed resource situation. It’s a shame.”

Hoover advised him to look at the last page of the report his mouth watering.

“There aren’t many people capable of mining the minerals buried in the Primorsky region so it will take some time before full-scale development can begin.”

“okay?”

“Yes. Ah! Of course if we use Koreans living in the Maritime Province the situation would be different.”

I glanced at Hoover and squinted my eyes.

“What is the likelihood that the results of this report will be leaked to the public?”

“Keeping your security in check is a fundamental quality for an explorer. If you know how to value your name you won’t easily reveal it to others.”

As I continued to look at him with disbelief Hoover handed me another stack of papers he had been keeping in his briefcase.

“Here are the memoranda I received from my team members. The confidentiality clause regarding the results of the exploration is written at the very bottom. Please check it.”

I turn the pages one by one.

We checked who participated in this exploration.

“That’s great.”

“no.”

“It is my turn to fulfill the promises I made to you.”

If the money he will hand over this time is included Hoover will become a wealthy man with a lot of money and stocks.

“Then you’ll need a lawyer to notarize it.”

“…That’s right.”

“Would you like to go downtown New York with me? I’m thinking of asking Roosevelt whom I met with before to do this again.”

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