The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 45



< Rescue of Korean Residents (2) (Map Attached) >

It is quite a distance from San Francisco to the Yucatan Peninsula where our Korean community is located.

The route of travel was also difficult.

Because you have to take a boat to the Pacific coast port city of Lázaro Cárdenas and then take a train to the transit point Mexico City.

It takes two weeks just to get here.

Even moving like this we are only halfway there.

You have to take another train to the port of Veracruz on the Atlantic coast.

Afterwards you must take a boat to the port of Progreso then Merida and Cancun to complete this long journey.

“Get ready. Mexico is very different from here in the United States.”

Although I told Yun Chi-ho that I would leave immediately the next day I couldn’t really leave.

It’s a long trip taking at least two months round trip.

So there was a lot to prepare.

‘The problem is that the languages ​​are different. We need to find an interpreter first.’

America speaks English but Mexico speaks Spanish which is different from America.

‘The good news is that I can speak a little Spanish. It was a stroke of genius that I chose Spanish as my second language.’

In the United States like in Korea people also learn foreign languages.

The East chose French primarily the West Spanish primarily.

This is due to regional characteristics.

Because the West is seeing a large influx of Central and South American immigrants many stores now use Spanish as their main language.

Thanks to this I was able to understand basic conversational Spanish even though I wasn’t fluent.

“Your Majesty Pablo and Giovanni here will help you.”

“Thank you.”

“Please take care of yourself and have a safe trip.”

Some of Giannini’s entourage followed me to Mexico.

Because Italian and Spanish are languages ​​that are about 80% similar.

So even though we didn’t communicate perfectly Giannini thought it would be helpful and put two of his confidants by my side.

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‘Oh my all these bodies are huge.’

Although he was hired as an interpreter if you just look at his body you could almost say he was a bodyguard.

Actually he’s said to be a pretty good shooter.

Looking at them I think I understand why Max often teases Giannini’s group as the mafia.

“Please take good care of me Your Highness.”

“I will serve you with all my heart.”

Even the greetings are scary like pickled radish.

I shook their hands and greeted them with a cheerful expression.

“That’s what I wanted to say. I think I’ll be relying on you a lot on this journey so please take good care of me.”

The three Irish brothers including Aaron felt threatened by the appearance of Pablo and Giovanni and beat their chests and groaned.

“Boss please trust only us.”

“That’s right Boss. We will protect Boss even if it means sacrificing our lives.”

The scale of the mission grew enormously as if some kind of diplomatic mission had been formed.

This is because a lot of security personnel have been added.

The security situation is actually similar to that of the United States or Mexico in the early 20th century but psychologically it is a bit unstable.

Isn’t it a foreign country?

Moreover Mexico is known as a place with poor public safety even today.

“Okay now let’s really get going.”

* * *

“Do you have some time? If so would you like to talk to me?”

It takes ten days to travel from San Francisco to the Pacific coast port city of Lázaro Cárdenas.

It’s extremely boring on the ship because there’s nothing to do.

In times like these the best way to learn information you didn’t know before is through conversation.

So I urgently called Yun Chi-ho.

“I have a lot to ask you.”

“Please speak.”

“I won’t beat around the bush and get straight to the point. The last time I saw you you were fighting with Gudang (Yu Gil-jun). Do you remember?”

“you’re right.”

“Gudang said that you had previously reported Gudang’s plans. Is that true?”

Yun Chi-ho glanced away from my gaze.

A typical pattern of behavior when feeling guilty.

Since Yu Gil-jun was also next to him he seemed to be thinking for a moment.

“That’s right. I was the one who pushed.”

But he couldn’t possibly lie to me so he quickly confessed the information I had asked him for.

At this Yu Gil-jun who was standing next to me once again trembled with a sense of betrayal.

It was a fact I already knew but this was the first time I heard it directly from a former revolutionary comrade.

“This son of a bitch…..”

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Yu Gil-jun was extremely angry.

This is because the rest of the family except for the two sons were executed in a barbaric manner.

In addition he has been under semi-mandatory house arrest in Japan for the past four years.

Once again Yu Gil-jun tried to grab Yun Chi-ho by the collar.

“Save me!”

At this I slammed the table and glared at Yu Gil-jun.

“Once again you’re being reckless with your body.”

“…I’m sorry. My body moved unconsciously without me knowing.”

“If it’s hard to watch go out for a while. I’ll summarize what Zuo-ong said later.”

“No. I will just quietly watch from the side.”

Yu Gil-jun watched this from a distance suppressing his anger.

After confirming that appearance I turned my gaze back to Yun Chi-ho.

“Can you tell me why?”

Yun Chi-ho asked me with narrowed eyes.

“Before that I would like to ask Your Majesty one thing.”

“Tell me.”

“Gudang attempted to commit such a great act without consulting with Your Majesty. It is Your Majesty who should be angry. But why does Your Majesty not scold Gudang but instead take his side?”

As Yun Chi-ho said the reason I could not return to my country was because of Yu Gil-jun.

Because of Gudang he lost Emperor Gojong’s trust.

‘But that only applies when it’s really Lee Kang-il.’

I took possession of this body around April 1905.

I didn’t really have any hard feelings toward Yu Gil-jun because I wanted to continue to stay in America if only for the sake of my future knowledge.

But since I couldn’t tell the truth I presented myself as if I were a gentleman and answered Yun Chi-ho’s question.

“I have forgiven Gudang. I have forgotten all the mistakes of the past and decided to make him my man.”

I looked at Yun Chi-ho interlocking my fingers.

“Now let’s go back to the question I asked you earlier. Why did you betray the old party? If it’s uncomfortable you don’t have to answer. I’m just asking because I want to understand your actions so please be honest.”

“…If you say so I will honestly tell you the story that I have kept deep in my heart.”

Yun Chi-ho thought about something for a moment and then spoke as if trying to gauge my thoughts.

At this I nodded.

“Okay tell me.”

“The reason I reported it is because after thinking about it carefully I thought that Goo Dang’s plan was absurd.”

“Absurd?”

“Yes. Gudang gathered young military officers who had just returned from studying abroad in Japan and planned a coup. He dreamed of a second Gapsin Coup.”

Gapsin Coup.

The incident known as Samilcheonha was mentioned again.

Originally I didn’t know anything.

However as I looked back on recent Korean history and gained a lot of information about this incident I nodded and recalled the story of the Gapsin Coup.

“But Your Majesty don’t you know very well? How did the coup end?”

Why are you asking when you already know?

What happened?

It’s ruined.

That too perfectly.

Didn’t they push things forward radically without preparation and end up purging even the moderate reformists?

“I analyzed this. And I came to one conclusion.”

“What is it?”

“The failure of the Gapsin Coup was because it did not receive the support of the people.”

yes.

Very well analyzed.

“The people are the same now as they were then. They are all ignorant and unprepared. The middle management is still corrupt.”

huh?

What are you talking about?

Why are we suddenly reaching conclusions in such a strange direction?

“If you were to stage another coup under these circumstances would it succeed? Furthermore the Old Tang wanted to depose His Majesty the Emperor and put His Highness in his place. It was even more violent than the previous coup.”

anything.

Although our thoughts may not quite match I think I have a rough idea of ​​why Yun Chi-ho criticized Yu Gil-jun’s revolution.

I squinted my eyes and asked one thing carefully.

“Ah I see. I have one more question.”

“Please speak.”

“I guess I wasn’t attractive even five years ago in your eyes.”

Yun Chi-ho agreed with my words with a bitter expression.

“That’s the nature of power. Even if Your Majesty came to study abroad in the United States and even if you have little interest in politics it is not easy to give up royal authority.”

Yun Chi-ho spent several decades by the side of Emperor Gojong the incarnation of power.

After seeing and hearing this I also predicted that it would not be easy for me to introduce a constitutional monarchy.

“That’s true but my reputation wasn’t that good back then. That might have been why you hesitated.”

“That’s right. Honestly if I hadn’t met Your Majesty this time I would have continued to think that way. I want to let the world know that Your Majesty….”

“He had a reputation as a womanizer a spendthrift and a lack of interest in politics.”

It was 1901 when Lady Eom was spreading slander about Lee Kang throughout the city.

In fact Lee Kang also behaved in the same way in the United States so the Hanyang officials must have all looked at Lee Kang with disfavor.

“Oh if you hadn’t seen me this time you would have thought that way all along… Has it changed a bit now?”

“Yes. Actually I was a little hesitant even before meeting Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

“Because rumors about His Highness have been circulating in Hanyang since the end of last year. The information was contradictory to what had been said before.”

Have great success in investing.

Gathered Korean residents and improved the image of Koreans in American society.

Moreover since I have set up a separate scholarship foundation to help nurture new talent it seems that my reputation in my home country has greatly improved.

The reason why immigration to America was increasing was because the Joseon people had a glimmer of hope in me.

So you all must have come to me from a foreign land.

“Some people treat His Majesty the King as if he had passed away…”

“I guess you’re talking nonsense because you remind me of my grandfather.”

“That’s right. That’s correct. That’s probably why many people still miss you Your Majesty.”

Being compared to Heungseon Daewongun was a great honor in Joseon.

Although he received a lot of criticism in his later years because of the reconstruction of Dangbaekjeon and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

It was said that Heungseon Daewongun is still missed among the elderly and the poor because there was no other person like him.

Based on the conversation we had I analyzed Yun Chi-ho.

‘Basically I have the ability.’

In particular his language skills seem to be very outstanding.

He is skilled in using advanced Latin and French vocabulary that even locals find difficult.

Because he was also fluent in other languages.

The problem is.

‘He is the one who reported the one who was called a revolutionary comrade. If he betrayed me once he can betray me twice.’

Additionally continuing to show a bystander attitude is also a problem.

It was the same when planning the Gapsin Coup.

Even though he didn’t participate in the coup didn’t he hang around the coup forces hoping for success?

When Yu Gil-jun was trying to plan another revolution I was afraid that I would fail if I just stood by and reported him first.

The same thing happened when the Eulsa Treaty was signed.

He claims that he strongly opposed it but when you listen to other people’s claims they say that wasn’t the case.

Of course he was not as active as Lee Wan-yong in supporting the transfer of diplomatic rights.

‘I guess we’ll have to watch the interest a little longer.’

I guess I’ll have to check for myself whether he’s really useful to me or just a sham.

I evaluated Yun Chi-ho that way and removed him from his position.

* * *

After arriving in Mexico City I took a step back.

Because I wanted to see how Yun Chi-ho behaved.

For this reason negotiations with the Mexican central government began under the leadership of Yun Chi-ho.

“Your Majesty I have made an appointment with the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture.”

Although he had not contacted them in advance Yun Chi-ho arranged a series of meetings with high-ranking Mexican officials.

Probably because I sold my name.

When a prince from a country visits there is no government official who would just send him away.

“I’m sorry but unfortunately the Mexican government cannot help you.”

Just because the meeting was successful it doesn’t mean the content of the talks was good.

They thoroughly put their own interests first and ignored our requests.

“The Korean Empire no longer has diplomatic rights right? The Japanese government has already sent down an official document.”

“What did you say? Treat me well but don’t grant me any favors I ask of you?”

“Yes. I know it may sound harsh but it is true.”

“….”

“….”

I kind of expected this to happen.

Because Yun Chi-ho said that he was keeping an eye on Hulbert.

I’d be a bigger thorn in his side than that so Tokyo would already be monitoring my every move.

‘This plan would have been discovered in Japan by the time Yun Chi-ho came to see me.’

Immigration Service Department of Agriculture Department of Foreign Affairs.

Even after visiting several central government agencies there are no results.

Okay then.

“Your Majesty what should I do?”

Yun Chi-ho stamped his feet and expressed his regret.

But his actions only went so far.

I felt sorry but I didn’t take any further action.

“Unfortunately I think I have to go now.”

He even seemed unwilling to visit the Yucatan Peninsula where his people were forced to work like slaves.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘Does this mean you’ve done everything? Even though you lost do you think you fought well?’

We lost but we fought well.

You have to win to get everything.

‘Looking at it it seems like it will end in failure in history.’

Yun Chi-ho led it and if it ends like this that’s how it will be.

“Slowly. It’s my turn to step forward.”

Yun Chi-ho frowned at my words and tried to persuade me.

“Your Majesty. At this point His Majesty will recognize your hard work. Please go back.”

I raised one corner of my mouth and looked at Yun Chi-ho.

“Just watch me for a moment. The negotiations are just beginning.”

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