The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 192



< Two Stars (3) >

“I’ll go first.”

The Virgin Mary who was sitting on my left raised her hand.

I nodded slightly and took on the attitude of ‘Okay you answer first.’

“Of all the sports I find American football the most enjoyable.”

The same goes for the 2000s when I lived as Park Byung-jun.

The same goes for the 1900s when Lee Kang’s body was possessed.

No matter what anyone says the most popular sport in America is American football.

I looked pleased with Shinsungmo’s popular sports taste.

‘You’re not a very good person.’

Then Shin Sung-mo gained confidence and began to explain at length why he chose American football.

“The journey of getting the ball into the end zone while beating the opponents is really like a summary of our life story. Sometimes we feel frustrated and sometimes we cheer isn’t it similar? Sob sob.”

huh?

At this very moment out of the blue Shinsungmo began to shed tears.

‘Huh? Now that I think about it…’

When we first met.

Hwang Gi-hwan was late and in a state of confusion so I just passed by at that time.

Now that I think about it even back then Shinsungmo was crying when she saw me.

“If I ever get the chance I would like to play American football with Your Majesty.”

The Holy Mother sobbed and continued to ramble on and on.

I couldn’t hear what he said.

Because I was a little disturbed by the actions of the Holy Mother just now.

‘Do you normally cry a lot?’

This is a big deal.

It’s not good for a man to shed too many tears for no reason.

America is a macho society.

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If a grown adult cries this often he or she is likely to be teased as a crybaby in the military.

I was a little upset that they didn’t find out about this serious flaw during the interview.

But Shin Sung-mo has already been selected as a new cadet at Annapolis.

Since I couldn’t change it I moved on and continued with the story I was telling.

“What other sports do you like?”

“I also enjoy boxing and judo.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. As a man I have to take care of myself at least once.”

Aside from being tearful Shin Sung-mo was a martial arts master.

He must be quite good at fighting as he says he practiced self-defense in Vladivostok before coming to the US.

“I… unlike this guy here I think I like baseball the best.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Doing it is fun but watching it is even more enjoyable.”

In the United States baseball is one of the two most popular sports along with American football.

Although American football was overwhelmingly popular baseball could not be ignored as a second-place sport because games were played over a long period of time from March to September.

“I would like to watch a major league game with Your Majesty sometime.”

Standard Oil’s stock price rose sharply due to the antitrust laws.

Slowly.

It’s time to sell some of your holdings and invest in other assets.

‘It’s a good time to take over a baseball team.’

Within ten years an instrument called the radio was invented.

The advent of radio led to the development of the sports industry.

Because the game situation is broadcast nationwide interest in and value of sports teams skyrockets.

‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy an existing major league team or an American football team.’

While I agreed with Hwang Ki-hwan’s words I also began to think about what major league teams would be worth acquiring in this era.

“That’s great. It’s not that far from West Point to my New York villa. If the timing is right we can watch the game together.”

“Your Majesty you promised!”

“Yeah. Let’s go watch a game sometime. Oh! Which major league team do you root for?”

“I root for the New York-based Giants.”

“okay?”

They’re giants.

I turned my head.

I asked Shin Sung-mo what team he likes just in case.

“I like American football but I also enjoy baseball. I personally prefer the Dodgers.”

“Which baseball team is Your Majesty interested in?”

At Hwang Gi-hwan’s question I looked thoughtful for a moment.

“I have an underdog personality you know.”

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“Is there a club called Underdog?”

Could it be because I came across a technical word I’ve never encountered before?

Hwang Gi-hwan and Shin Seong-mo tilted their heads.

I looked at these two prospective cadets and explained it to them.

“The tendency to sympathize with the weaker team is called an underdog.”

“ah….”

“okay.”

“Maybe that’s why I’m personally a New York Highlanders fan.”

If I get the chance I would also like to invest in that team.

I didn’t necessarily say the last thought out loud.

If even a rumor spreads the value of the club in question will skyrocket.

I kept quiet because I could clearly see that the existing owner would go around telling everyone that I was interested.

“Why?”

There are three major league teams in New York.

The New York Giants of tradition.

The Brooklyn Dodgers a team that promotes itself as a people’s club.

Finally the New York Highlanders the predecessor to the New York Yankees.

“Just. When I watch the Highlanders I feel like I’m watching Koreans. Strangely I feel drawn to them.”

“ah….”

“Actually the current situation of our people and the Highlanders is similar.”

The Highlanders’ original home ground was Baltimore.

While the Highlanders were relocating from there to New York they were semi-forcibly renting a room with the Giants.

The 21st century Yankees have the image of an aristocratic team but ironically their financial situation was not very good in the early days.

“Let’s stop talking about exercise. What was your original dream before you applied to the military academy?”

I quickly brought up another topic.

I’m slowly getting to the point because if I just keep talking this meeting could end like this.

“I originally wanted to study at a maritime school.”

“Really? And you?”

“I also wanted to be a soldier.”

Hwang Gi-hwan clenched his fists and revealed to me his hidden feelings.

“Kill Japs! Because I thought this was the only way to kill as many Japanese as possible.”

It may be a creepy slogan though.

It is also a lifelong slogan that Koreans of this era have kept hidden in their hearts.

Especially those who lost their family members to the Japanese military would have thought about this at least once.

“The relationship between the two countries is like that between a young man and a young woman. It’s hot and passionate when it’s good but no one knows how long it will last.”

Hwang Gi-hwan continued speaking.

He explained to me very clearly why he wanted to become a senior officer in the US military.

“You think that America will one day turn its back on Japan.”

“Yes. Aren’t the two countries competing over Manchuria knowingly or unknowingly even now?”

Oh oh.

The international situation is also at a high level.

but.

In the history of Won Hwang Gi-hwan also participated in the independence movement as a member of the Paris Committee of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

Basically it means that he is a talented person who has a good grasp of the international situation and already has diplomatic skills.

“If Japan makes a sudden move and undermines American interests even Americans no matter how isolationist will not be able to sit still.”

I agree.

Even now there are still some signs of that happening.

‘In the end we ended up attacking Pearl Harbor and starting an all-out war with the United States.’

There is no guarantee that this time will be the same as it was in the original history.

Since the big picture of the international situation has not changed yet it was highly likely that this would happen.

I listened to Hwang Gi-hwan’s words and showed that I sympathized with him.

“Your Majesty the King.”

“I’m listening.”

“There are a few things I would like to discuss with you.”

As soon as the turn to state the reason for applying was over Hwang Ki-hwan made a rather serious expression.

It seemed like there was something he wanted to discuss.

I felt comfortable with this and tried to figure out what was on his mind.

“What? Tell me.”

“My name is.”

name?

Why this name all of a sudden?

“It seems like a name that would be difficult for foreigners to pronounce properly. How about changing it to something similar to an English name?”

“For example?”

“Eugene which Your Majesty confused with my name a little while ago is fine but names like Yohan or Jaehee would also be good.”

* * *

“Your Majesty I too have had the same concerns.”

Shin Sung-mo also agreed and told me the reason why she was worried.

“The name Seongmo is a very beautiful name given to me by my parents but it sounds a bit embarrassing to the locals.”

If a stone or surname is included.

Because it is also heard as Suck.

Well that could be the case.

Even in the 21st century.

Since this was a problem that many second-generation Koreans were concerned about I gave them an expression of sympathy and answered them.

“These are your names so I think it’s up to you whether you change them or keep them as is.”

“….”

“….”

“But personally I wouldn’t recommend it. Immigrants from Europe or Africa rarely change their names to suit the local pronunciation.”

He’s Asian and his pronunciation is that of an immigrant.

It’s even weirder if the name is something like Emily or Clarke.

Of course they want to change their names to Korean names like ‘Eugene’ ‘Jaehee’ or ‘Yohan’.

I reacted slightly negatively because I thought that changing one’s name as an individual should be a decision that is taken carefully.

“majesty.”

“Tell me.”

“What should I do if I am offered naturalization later?”

This is a concern that is slightly connected to the concern I mentioned earlier.

These two entered West Point and Annapolis as foreign students.

The problem is that I have no home country to return to after graduation.

That’s why it will be even more of a concern.

“You guys should decide this in the direction you think is right.”

I looked at Hwang Gi-hwan and Shin Seong-mo alternately and said.

“After graduating from the military academy you can teach what you have learned at the Korean Military School or you can survive in the U.S. military and pioneer a new path.”

He even mentioned at the end that he personally prefers the latter.

At this the two students’ expressions became even more complicated.

“As Ki-Hwan said earlier international relations can change in an unpredictable way. That’s why. If Japan and the United States go to war our country will be able to gain an advantage in the process. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you were in the U.S. military?”

“but….”

Hwang Gi-hwan asked me clenching his fists.

“If I change my citizenship from then on I will be American not Korean.”

“….”

“If the two countries of Joseon and the United States come into conflict I will inevitably have to side with the United States which has become my new homeland.”

yes.

If Hwang Gi-hwan is serving in the US military he should naturally take America’s side.

Because if you even rebel against orders from above you could be dishonorably discharged.

Hwang Gi-hwan looked slightly worried.

“Something like that might inevitably happen.”

“….”

“But don’t worry. I’m here.”

I patted the two students on the shoulders and comforted them.

“My role is to mediate between the two countries so that such conflicts of interest do not arise. I promise you that I will do my best to prevent such things from happening so you can stop worrying about the distant future and focus on your studies.”

* * *

Hwang Gi-hwan and Shin Seong-mo.

After staying at our house for one night these two left for their respective destinations the Army and Naval academies.

“How was it Your Majesty?”

I looked at the backs of these two as they were leaving my house and recalled the conversation we had yesterday.

“Everyone’s eyes are alive. In particular the Emperor’s insight into the international situation was very interesting.”

When I praised only one person Choi Hyun-woo looked at me with a slightly worried look.

“Are you not a very good student who will be attending Annapolis?”

“Everything is good… but I’m a little worried that there are too many tears.”

“ah….”

“I’m not a tearjerker. I’m a won.”

Choi Hyun-woo seemed to have felt this as well and he made an awkward expression.

But as I mentioned before you can’t beat this.

So Choi Hyun-woo started to defend Shin Sung-mo by thinking from her perspective as much as possible.

“Isn’t it because I personally admire Your Majesty so much? When I saw this I felt that Your Majesty’s loyalty was great.”

Choi Hyun-woo continues to defend Shin Sung-mo.

He mentioned the appearance of Shin Sung-mo during the last interview process and physical test.

He reported to me that he didn’t show the same crybaby behavior as yesterday.

‘Hmm. That’s kind of strange in its own way.’

If Choi Hyun-woo’s report is true it means that he only shed tears when talking to me.

It’s fortunate that he doesn’t usually shed many tears.

“Well I’m satisfied with that except for that. I feel especially reassured because his personality seems to be finite.”

In the US or Korea.

Those who are good at flattering tend to rise to high places.

If you meet soldiers of this era they all have the stubbornness that is typical of soldiers.

I personally feel reassured because Shinsungmo doesn’t seem to be that rigid of a type.

“It seems that the Emperor will be promoted to a higher position in another sense.”

Even though our conversation was brief.

The ability to understand the international situation that Hwang Gi-hwan demonstrated during that time was not something that just anyone could have.

I picked up the fan in the office and glanced at the people leaving for the last time.

“By the way the weather is gradually getting warmer.”

It’s still hot even though it’s May.

At times like this you should drink a cool iced Americano in the air conditioning.

‘Huh? Air conditioning? Refrigerator?’

By the way when did the first air conditioner come out?

Suddenly my brain starts to work faster.

It was because I smelled money again.

< Two Stars (3) > End