The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 19



<Hogu or Prophet>

Winter has come to San Francisco.

Although the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing like in Seoul it’s still winter.

Because of the Mediterranean climate and frequent rain San Francisco residents preferred to stay indoors rather than go outside.

“Elizabeth are you a little late?”

“Oh my… Joanna. You made my favorite pecan pie. Thank you.”

It was a cold winter but San Francisco’s social scene was hotter than ever.

Humans are social animals.

Did you just stay home alone because the weather wasn’t good for going out?

Let’s get together and chat.

That’s why the rich spent the end and beginning of the year throwing parties.

“Elizabeth did you hear that story?”

“What are you talking about?”

Even as the year changes one theme remains constant in San Francisco’s social scene.

It was a story about a prince from the East.

“Ah… That guy from the Korean Empire or something?”

“Yeah. Did I see that guy the other day?”

“Oh my. This girl. Have you already talked to the prince?”

“No that’s not it. I just saw it from afar.”

Women talked about the river and imagined their future spouses.

Of course it wasn’t just women gossiping about Lee Kang.

Mainstream men living in San Francisco also had quite a few stories about Lee Kang.

Of course it was a little different from the topic of conversation among women.

“Well I heard that guy’s kind of strapped for cash these days.”

“That prince guy?”

“okay.”

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“Why? I heard that he is a wealthy man with a fortune of over 2 million dollars.”

Tyler made a fool of Lee Kang at the entrance of the banquet hall and got taunted in return.

He secretly spread bad rumors about Lee Kang to his group.

“They said they bought the wrong land.”

“The land?”

“It looks like you’ve invested a lot of money in the Sacramento Basin to farm.”

“I heard that too.”

Charles supported Tyler’s argument.

He was a member of a large landowning family with vast land holdings throughout California.

Charles continued Tyler’s words and told the assembled members what he knew.

“Didn’t the governor throw a party for the federal guy? He said it himself at the party. My father heard it clearly. He said he bought up some land in the Sacramento Basin like a swindler.”

“Oh my! Isn’t that land where wheat and corn don’t grow well because the soil is too wet?”

A woman’s voice was heard from one side of the banquet hall filled with low voices.

It was Joanna.

Charles spoke in a much softer voice turned his head and kissed her hand.

“Oh! Joanna my love. I see you are interested in the land too.”

“I learned it on the side. My father also runs a large farm.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Anyway what kind of land did the prince buy?”

“Ah that land. The soil is so soft that everyone has been teasing it until now. Even if the federal government were to repair the irrigation canals it would not be suitable land for wheat farming.”

“Oh my… Looks like you had a really great initiation ceremony.”

“That must be true. Your face looks nice but your brain is a total mess.”

“Why? I heard you graduated from college?”

As Joanna continued to ask questions as if she wanted to know more Tyler intervened between the two men and criticized Lee Kang.

“Well aren’t all royals the same? They must have donated to get into college.”

“But for an Asian I think he was pretty good at English. Wasn’t he actually at an advanced level? Furthermore Prince Lee Kang said he was growing rice there. Doesn’t rice need a lot of water unlike wheat?”

Although Joanna tried to argue on behalf of Lee Kang no one listened to her.

Even though it was already uncomfortable that an Asian suddenly appeared everyone enjoyed the situation thinking that someone else’s misfortune was their own happiness.

“The guy who sold the land really struck it rich.”

“Hey Tyler. It’s not too late. I heard the prince is stupid and keeps buying up land around there.”

“really?”

“Yeah. I guess it’s not just stubbornness seeing as he keeps doing it despite the people around him that the governor introduced him to trying to stop him.”

Charles asked Tyler summarizing their previous conversation.

“So… that prince Lee Kang or something spent all that money buying land?”

Tyler gave you a look that said he was going to tell you guys this secret.

Then he whispered in a small voice.

“Doesn’t my brother-in-law work in the West Bank?”

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“yes.”

“They say a stranger appeared there with the prince.”

Tyler said with confidence in his voice.

“You know my brothers-in-law. Don’t you know everyone’s face in this neighborhood?”

“That’s right. I’ve seen it before.”

“Yes. He said that it was the first time he had seen such a brother-in-law. He must have been a foreigner. Anyway he deposited a large sum of money in the prince’s name but I cannot reveal the exact amount and then he went back.”

huh?

The group tilted their heads.

Doesn’t that mean that Lee Kang’s wealth has increased?

“I don’t understand. If what you say is true… then the prince has become richer right?”

At this Charles made a face as if he knew something about Tyler’s hidden meaning.

“No. That means he ran out of money. He must have bought land from those tough guys and ended up penniless so he must have come from his home country. Hahaha!”

They did not know that this money was actually Emperor Gojong’s slush funds.

That is why Lee Kang was mistaken in thinking that he would receive additional support from the royal family.

“Ah… Are you saying you came to give me extra living expenses?”

“oh!”

Tyler patted Charles on the shoulder and gave him a proud look.

“Your reasoning skills are truly amazing. You figured it out before I could even say anything.”

Tyler believed that this money too would run out sooner or later.

Judging from his spending habits so far he believed that Lee Kang would soon become penniless.

“Anyway it’s not that prince. It’s that fool. Judging from the fact that he doesn’t even throw parties these days he must be tightening his belt a lot.”

Joanna listened to the story about the prince for a while then made a slightly bored expression.

I had lost interest slightly because my peer group was only focused on badmouthing Lee Kang.

“Joanna”

“huh?”

Elizabeth took Joanna’s arm and called her to where she was.

“Why did you call? Is there something interesting going on?”

“Have you heard that rumor?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m just telling you this…”

Elizabeth told Joanna in a small voice the new rumor about Lee Kang.

“Oh my… That guy from the Orient was married?”

“That’s not important. It’s not important anymore. Even if your wife back home passed away?”

Joanna was momentarily taken aback.

What if the prince’s wife died?

I hesitated for a moment wondering if I should even show an expression of condolences to her whom I had never even met before.

“That’s too bad. Is that why the prince hasn’t been showing up at parties lately? Isn’t it because he’s running out of money?”

“You still don’t understand the point I’m making.”

Elizabeth tapped her temple with her index finger making a gesture for Joanna to think about it.

“Oh dear. The seat next to the prince is empty right now.”

“Huh? Oh my!”

At this Joanna’s eyes widened.

Any thought of commemorating her wife disappeared from her mind at once.

“It only takes a day or two to mourn your departed wife. Won’t you return to this social circle someday?”

“I guess so?”

There is one common romanticism among upper-class women of this era and even among ordinary women.

She immediately becomes the prince’s wife and rises in status to queen.

The United States is officially a democracy not a monarchy.

But don’t dreams feel more and more attractive the more impossible they seem?

“You’ll be back soon so you should prepare in advance.”

“That’s true though.”

Even if he is a prince from the East he is still a prince.

That’s why their eyes are turned upside down to catch the eye of the imaginary animal prince who is currently closest to them.

“Why would someone with a different skin color than us try to remarry a Westerner?”

Elizabeth responded to Joanna’s concerns.

“I heard that he had a crush on some college student from the East before. There was a lot of talk that he was going to marry her… Well I heard that she was white.”

“really?”

“Yes. If we look at the prince’s past wouldn’t there be a chance for us too?”

Joanna and Elizabeth closed their eyes for a moment and let their imaginations run wild.

‘Your Majesty.’

‘Oh my prince.’

Oh of course the person next to Lee Kang in their heads was different.

‘Not us but me.’

‘No. I’m the main character.’

In this way rumors about Lee Kang spread like wildfire.

With truth and lies mixed together.

* * *

Three months ago I attended a banquet hosted by the governor.

After that I received several more invitations and became acquainted with influential people in California.

“Your Majesty here is an invitation. Richard a four-term California congressman would like to treat Your Majesty to dinner.”

“Let’s put it on hold for now.”

Many of those who sent invitations were politicians.

He must have contacted me with the intention of asking for election campaign contributions.

I kicked out everyone who wasn’t an influential state legislator mayor or governor.

There was no need to spend money on anything strict.

“What should we do about the trade investment that Mr. Olson suggested last time?”

“I’ll take some more time to think about it and tell you.”

Next were those who contacted me again hoping for my money.

These are the ones who open their mouths wide like baby birds and whine for food asking for investment in their business.

after-

They’re annoying.

Of course investing is something that needs to continue so I appreciate you asking for information.

The problem is that most of them were scammers.

phew-

Since there’s a rumor that he has a lot of money these dung flies are flocking in.

‘I think the rumor about the Sacramento Basin is spreading… Just wait a minute.’

If the mood is reversed the effect will be doubled.

Now people point fingers at him and call him a ‘fool’ but in just one year he will become a real estate god.

“Your Majesty. We have received word from Washington.”

Even a very few nutritious people came to me.

I donated a huge amount of money to Governor Padi to build relationships with these people.

“Did you get a call from that guy Aiden?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“What does he want?”

“I am asking about the rice to be planted this spring. What kind of seeds should I use? Also… the telegram says that if you can give me some information about Japan’s ambitions toward China it would be of great help to me.”

“Support me actively. Tell me everything as long as it’s not a trade secret.”

“Yes. By the way when would you like to make your appointment with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry?”

James Wilson this guy too.

You have a short temper.

When I have some free time I will foolishly contact you first.

“Tell him I’ll come visit him sometime in the second half of the year. I’m busy right now.”

“Yes I understand.”

There was so much to do that I really wish I had two bodies.

“What’s going on with the mansion under construction in the Sausalito area?”

They are continuing to buy up land in the Sacramento Basin while also acquiring land in Nob Hill a representative affluent area of ​​San Francisco.

In addition a place to take refuge for a while was needed when a major earthquake occurred.

I was building another mansion in Sausalito near Richards Bay across from San Francisco.

This is because it was chosen as a annex for use during the summer and as a shelter to escape from this great disaster.

“The construction is nearing completion.”

“We need to focus on building safely rather than completing it quickly.”

A major earthquake is expected to hit San Francisco this coming April.

Since mobs always appear after natural disasters I had to prepare something else to protect my property and my people.

‘Because the Golden Gate Bridge isn’t finished yet… Sausalito is a safe area. It’s far from the city and there’s only one entrance to town so isn’t it easy to defend?’

You can also take a boat from Sausalito Pier directly to San Francisco.

That’s why I’ve been working hard to build my refuge in this area.

‘I don’t want to die in vain. I have to build it according to earthquake-resistant design.’

He also asked us to find out the number of Koreans currently living in San Francisco.

This is because although there are many people who stay and work at our house there are also quite a few other Koreans who live in the city.

I couldn’t save every single citizen of San Francisco but I wanted to save at least one life within my influence.

“Your Majesty. An insurance broker is scheduled to visit this house this afternoon.”

If a major earthquake occurs this place will be completely burned down.

So I studied ways to protect my property and the result of my deliberation was fire insurance.

“I’ll leave it up to you. I have an important appointment today so I won’t be able to confirm it.”

“yes.”

After finishing all the pending work I headed to the interview room.

Because a guest was waiting for me.

* * *

The person we’re going to meet today is a man named Jack Milo.

The person introduced after the mayor of San Francisco at the meeting with the governor.

“Your Majesty. Are you well?”

“Come this way.”

Since our first meeting I have met Jack Milo three or four more times.

Because among the influential figures present at the event he was the most proactive towards me.

“You say there’s such a big gold mine in the Korean Empire? I heard there are quite a few mines on the Korean Peninsula?”

There must be one reason why he aka Gold King is so aggressive towards me.

Because my status fits my interests perfectly.

“Are you really okay? I heard the news. How heartbroken are you?”

“Thank you for comforting me like this.”

I tried my best to hide my tired expression but I’ve been busy lately and my face is covered in shadows.

Jack Milo noticed this and offered his condolences.

“Isn’t it hard? When my parents passed away I felt like I was going to die. I skipped meals for a day or two so my chubby belly became thin.”

“Well… isn’t time the only cure for these things?”

“Yeah that’s true.”

My first wife was the woman I married when Lee Kang was 13.

After that they were separated for 6 years as they went abroad to study.

I had never met her before but I felt a little strange because memories of Lee Kang were still lingering in my mind.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“The drink is good. Do you have an ashtray? I feel like smoking a cigar today.”

A real man.

As expected from a macho country they smoke those strong cigars.

Jack Milo offered me one too but I waved him off.

Because I didn’t want to suffer from lung cancer in my later years.

“Ah! Prince. I brought you a gift to cheer you up.”

The laborers hired by Jack.

They are moving something around.

When I removed the veil covering it I saw a stuffed animal.

‘Investigator?’

Jack Milo grumbled and revealed where the gift came from.

“Last year my brother went to Africa to play and he hunted this thing. What do you think? Isn’t it cool?”

Jack Milo was an immigrant who went from being a miner to a tycoon.

That’s why his nature was very rough.

Because knowingly or unknowingly life influenced his actions when he was young.

He seemed to be aware of this and was stressed but it seemed like it wasn’t getting better.

He smiled heartily and approached the stuffed lion.

“Please receive this investigator’s energy and recover quickly.”

“Thank you.”

“Ah! I heard that the investigator has several female lions. If you wish….”

Jack Milo started to say something but then trailed off.

I kind of expected some gossip but this wasn’t the place to joke around like that.

Because there are many eyes watching.

There was also a servant in our house who had been taking care of my wife for several years so I tried my best to pretend not to know his true intentions.

“I’m sure the prince will do well…”

“You’re talking nonsense. So why did you come to see me today?”

“Your Majesty you are still a little impatient. That must be why you bought all those worthless lands in such a hurry.”

Jack Milo mentioned the rumor that has been going around.

Then he showed me something in his arms.

“This is why I came.”

I squinted my eyes.

It was a scrap of paper with something written on it but the writing was so small that it was difficult to focus.

“Isn’t this… a stock document?”

<Hogu or Prophet> End