The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 193



< I don’t want to make it a draw (1) >

As of the 21st century the United States is the world’s third-largest country by land area.

Compared to South Korea it was a whopping 98 times larger.

Perhaps because of this the time zone changed when moving between states.

Of course the climate characteristics of each region also varied.

‘Ah now I feel like I can live.’

Since I’ve been staying in the western United States I haven’t felt the summer heat that much.

This is because San Francisco boasts a cool Mediterranean climate all year round.

But as we spend more time in northeastern states like New York and New Jersey we often feel the cold or heat indoors these days.

Because the climate in the northeast is very similar to that of Korea.

‘This is it. If this isn’t heaven then where is heaven?’

The gift of God called air conditioning was already created in the early 1900s.

However it was not widely distributed in the market.

Because of initial funding issues Dr. Carrier has not yet started his own company.

‘You caught a big fish.’

I contacted Dr. Carrier the inventor of the air conditioner and asked him to install a demonstration unit in his annex in New York.

Of course I also proposed a partnership and received approval.

“and!”

As the old saying goes a horse without legs can travel a thousand miles without making a sound.

I heard from somewhere that many visitors started coming to our house.

“My son told me an unbelievable story so I was wondering if it was true. It’s true. I didn’t know it would be this pleasant in mid-July.”

Among them was Rockefeller.

Rockefeller looked around our house with a look of wonder on his face.

Then he rolled his eyes and asked me for the secret.

“How did you do it? Did you learn some hidden ancient magic from somewhere in the Orient?”

“It’s because of an invention called the air conditioner. It’s an electronic device that was patented by an author named Carrier.”

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

I headed to the air-conditioned area with Rockefeller.

There was a rather cool breeze blowing there and Rockefeller reacted with surprise.

“Air conditioners lower the humidity and even the temperature inside a building.”

“Wow. Science is truly amazing. It’s so amazing that it makes my heart swell. A device that can beat the heat… This is worth some money.”

After all businessmen are different.

It doesn’t stop at being surprising it immediately connects it to money.

I chuckled and told Rockefeller a joke.

“Don’t look at me with your eyes. I’ve already put my needle on this item.”

“Oh I understand.”

Rockefeller scratched his head with slight regret.

“If things continue like this I think we’ll eventually come up with something that warms up the floor. Isn’t that right?”

21st century.

Rockefeller mentioned the famous boiler system in Korea.

I mentioned this because while researching air conditioner patents this time I found out that this also existed before.

“Huh? So you’re saying that an Englishman named Baker had already invented a floor heating device?”

“That’s what I said.”

Rockefeller’s face changed.

It was the complete opposite of the expression on his face when he first encountered the air conditioner.

“That guy really has a lot of time on his hands.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well think about it. Do you really need to do that? You wear shoes in the house anyway.”

The difference in perception between Westerners and Easterners is clearly revealed here.

“So in the East people take off their shoes inside the house.”

“okay.”

I taught Rockefeller about Korea’s traditional heating methods.

Then Rockefeller opened his eyes wide and made a face of amusement.

“Not only royalty but even ordinary people.”

“okay.”

“Hearing this it seems much better from a hygienic standpoint.”

“Yes. Because dust doesn’t easily fly around the house. And the bed doesn’t get dirty either.”

“I think many New York ladies who like neat things will be interested.”

But that was it.

Unlike air conditioning Rockefeller showed little interest in underfloor heating.

There may be several reasons.

Perhaps it’s because I haven’t experienced it firsthand.

‘That reminds me of that time.’

Living as lobbyist Park Byeong-jun I have had many experiences.

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

One time I took my colleagues to a hot Korean public sauna.

The faces of old friends holding up their thumbs as they supported themselves on the yellow dirt ground in winter flashed through my mind.

‘I’m sure Westerners will like it too.’

I’ll have to let Rockefeller experience a modern underfloor heating system soon.

I looked at Rockefeller who had come to visit our house with this resolve in my mind.

“Oh by the way. Why have you come to me at this hour without me asking? Have you come to discuss matters related to Morgan or Rothschild?”

The price of crude oil rose to $1 per barrel and then stabilized at $0.80.

However the stocks of the former Standard Oil companies continued to rise because the prices were more than ten times higher than before.

‘There’s been news going around the market recently that the Baron visited the United States.’

Did you come to my house to discuss this?

“Similar but not the same.”

Rockefeller furrowed his brow and squinted his eyes.

Then he looked at me with a solemn expression and said the following.

“This prince.”

“Tell me.”

“They say Roosevelt will send someone.”

“What?”

“The Secretary of Commerce is supposed to be here in three days. What will he propose?”

* * *

There are two main groups that have suffered damages from antitrust lawsuits.

One is the New York capitalists who short-sold stocks like Rothschild and Morgan.

The rest were members of the US administration who were signing papers in Washington and shaking their heads.

“This prince.”

“Secretary of Commerce Aaron.”

“It’s been a while.”

The latter group of forces finally came to me.

“Hello Your Highness.”

“Oh! Representative Morgan is here too.”

Of course it wasn’t just me who was looking for it.

Because Secretary of Commerce Aaron Roosevelt at Roosevelt’s order called together all the businessmen related to the oil industry.

“These are all familiar faces.”

Most of those gathered here were former Standard Oil businessmen.

Only Morgan and I are from the third party.

‘They finally acquired an oil company.’

Morgan acquired the Ohio subsidiary of the old Standard Oil company.

That’s why I was invited to this meeting.

Because he is also a person in the oil industry.

“uh?”

I glanced around the conference room and found a familiar face.

Three days ago.

The face of Rockefeller with whom I had met and discussed the matter in advance was visible in the distance.

“Oh my. Chairman Rockefeller. I saw you yesterday and I see you again today.”

“Please sit here Your Highness.”

Rockefeller’s influence in the oil industry is enormous.

Even though he said he stepped down from the front line.

No one ignored him.

I sat down next to Rockefeller and listened to what they had to say.

“Hmm. Secretary of Commerce Aaron. And you even summoned this busy prince. So. What brought us together here?”

Rockefeller responds curtly.

Then Aaron began to speak looking at his expression.

“I’m sure the chairman had an idea. Oil prices have gone up too much since the anti-monopoly law. Because of this ordinary people are groaning in pain.”

As Commerce Secretary Aaron finished speaking Rockefeller glared at him as if he were going to kill him.

Rockefeller’s unspoken gesture that the cause of the situation was Roosevelt.

Aaron must have sensed Rockefeller’s sharp gaze as well so he tried to ignore it and continued talking.

“President Roosevelt has expressed his concerns informally and has asked the oil industry officials present here to take action.”

“You asked them to stabilize the oil price?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“Why did you split up Standard Oil which was running smoothly like this?”

“….”

“The cause of this situation is all due to the antitrust lawsuit. The President should also acknowledge this.”

Morgan who had been listening quietly began to chime in with Rockefeller.

“I also agree with Chairman Rockefeller. The inflation that is happening now is all because of Teddy’s bad symbol. In the East they call it karma isn’t that right Prince?”

Morgan even dragged me in who had been standing still and maintaining neutrality.

bang-

At this Rockefeller made a displeased expression.

It was unpleasant that Roosevelt’s subordinate came to New York but he couldn’t hold it in any longer when the annoying Morgan was installed.

“Until Teddy apologizes to me personally there’s no way. I told him everything I had to say so he knows that.”

“Chairman Rockefeller.”

As Rockefeller left the conference room several of his close associates leapt to their feet.

I followed him out of the conference room.

I could have left too but I am the prince of a country.

It is true that I was very close to Rockefeller but I kept quiet because following him at this time could have made me look like one of Rockefeller’s henchmen.

“That old man… look at his temper. He’s throwing a tantrum in front of people because things don’t go his way. Tsk tsk.”

Morgan clicked his tongue and stared at the spot where Rockefeller had left for a while.

After a while.

Morgan turned his head and kept looking at me.

The Standard Oil Ohio branch he owns is a very small company.

In contrast SoCal which I owned was the third largest company after New York and New Jersey.

Everyone.

I feel like he’s only looking at my mouth.

So I started to open the mouth that had been sealed.

“I can understand why this meeting was called. Not only our Korean residents but also the common people in the United States are suffering from the steep rise in prices.”

The Secretary of Commerce nodded in agreement with what I said.

At this I immediately started saying negative things.

“But to do that I need to unite my divided oil companies. I can’t do anything right now because of the public opinion.”

“….”

“If we integrate the acquired companies and then get caught up in another antitrust lawsuit the corporate value of Sokal which is just starting to normalize will be destroyed. If that happens I will be committing the same act as dereliction of duty.”

I divided it into 34 parts to keep in mind the opinions of the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court.

How can we come together again in this situation?

When this point was brought up Secretary of Commerce Aaron offered an alternative.

“Don’t worry about that. The President intends to amend the Sherman Act.”

“revision?”

“Yes. “They say they plan to add an additional clause that will allow them to sue and prosecute only monopolies that harm the American people.”

“Is this something that has been agreed upon within my cabinet?”

Suddenly.

Morgan woke up.

Unlike Rockefeller Morgan is still pursuing antitrust litigation with the Justice Department.

IMM and US Steel which were under his ownership will not be free from lawsuits until next year.

“Yes it was agreed upon. The situation is very urgent.”

“I see.”

In some ways Roosevelt’s proposal could be seen as a gesture of reconciliation toward Morgan.

That’s why Morgan was very excited and interested.

“Even if the Republicans say so how do you plan on persuading the opposition party members?”

“They are the ones who most criticized the rise in prices caused by this anti-monopoly ruling. If the Democratic Party opposes it again I plan to try to manipulate public opinion by saying that they are opposing it for the sake of opposing it.”

The Democratic Party which was in opposition was currently criticizing the Roosevelt administration citing the soaring prices.

Commerce Secretary Aaron reassured Morgan by mentioning this.

“I’m glad that Teddy has finally changed his mind.”

Morgan looked at the remaining delegates and expressed his opinion.

“I wholeheartedly support Teddy’s decision. If Teddy is willing to do this favor shouldn’t we be contributing to stabilizing oil prices as much as possible in our history? We can’t let our country fall into the trap of high prices can we?”

Aaron turned his head and looked at me.

“What do you think Your Majesty?”

“well.”

I hesitated to give a definitive answer at this point.

“I think I need to discuss this with our legal team.”

“You mean you need time? Okay.”

Everyone seems to think so.

Rockefeller and I are like family.

like that.

Around the time the meeting was finally over.

“Your Majesty.”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“I’d like to meet you separately and talk.”

Commerce Secretary Aaron requested a private meeting.

* * *

“I thought the conversation ended earlier.”

I sent a negative gaze towards Aaron who was holding me back.

“Why did you ask to see me?”

“This prince. This prince please persuade the capitalists of New York.”

“I?”

“Yes that’s right.”

If you say he is a capitalist from New York you can interpret it as Rockefeller.

Currently Standard Oil is managed by Rockefeller’s younger brother and his only son in addition to me.

“As Your Majesty knows American society is currently experiencing conflict due to the deepening polarization of wealth. President Roosevelt is making every effort to resolve this social conflict.”

Why would Commerce Secretary Aaron say something like that?

Well I was the New York capitalist who most responded to Roosevelt’s move.

My company is constantly working to improve the working conditions of its workers.

Plus the hourly wage continues to rise.

Because I have established a policy to continue to be the best in the industry.

Is this why?

Roosevelt considered me to be the most understanding of his policies among the capitalists in New York.

“Think about it. During your term didn’t you consistently call on the business community to raise the minimum wage or improve working conditions?”

“Is the forced split of Standard Oil part of that?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“So what are you trying to tell me? Are you saying that Roosevelt’s past actions were all for the good of the United States so please persuade Rockefeller who is like my father-in-law for the good of the United States?”

“yes.”

I snickered and walked over to Aaron.

“You’re not asking me to do it naked are you?”

“How could that be? The President has set aside a separate reward for the prince’s efforts.”

As expected Roosevelt is a politician.

Yes if something comes something goes.

“We plan to grant special refugee status to Koreans who have immigrated to the United States.”

He mentioned my fellow Koreans who are both my strength and my weakness.

“Special refugees?”

“Yes. Didn’t the majority of them enter the United States as stateless persons?”

Japan has now usurped the diplomatic rights of the Korean Empire.

The passport issuance service provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has virtually stopped.

Accordingly our citizens were entering the country using temporary passports in the format previously issued by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Of course the United States did not recognize these fake passports.

but.

Knowing the circumstances of their return they were accepting our citizens into the United States while treating them as stateless persons and avoiding conflict with Japan as much as possible.

Roosevelt proposed to grant special refugee status to these Koreans.

“Hmm… interesting.”

“How are you?”

“But that’s not enough.”

It’s a matter of appeasing Rockefeller’s anger.

Something that is impossible without me.

It wasn’t something that could be dealt with so roughly.

“This prince.”

“Tell me.”

“What is the relationship between this prince and Senator George Pardee?”

Suddenly the name of a man named George Pardee is mentioned.

I crossed my arms and took a defensive stance.

“It’s a very special relationship. The first politician I supported after coming to the United States was Congressman Pardee.”

“okay.”

“Why? What were you curious about that made you ask me that question?”

Aaron approached me with a sinister expression.

He glanced around to see if anyone was listening then made a suggestion to me in a small voice.

“There are rumors that Governor George Pardee is running for Vice President in next year’s presidential election. If you could help us out a little….”

“then?”

“The President also promised to support Congressman George Pardee as his vice presidential candidate.”

< I don’t want to make it a draw (1) > End