The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 61



< The Hague, and After (2) >

“Hey you’ve been waiting for a long time right? The hot meal is here for our guests to enjoy.”

The lodging industry was not developed during the Joseon Dynasty.

Because there is not much travel between regions.

Facilities for travelers to stay separately such as guesthouses or inns existed only in large cities such as Hanyang and Pyongyang.

Merchants and scholars traveling long distances would stay at the homes of local leaders and spend a day there.

“Look at the hospitality of this house. It’s so generous that it makes your legs bend.”

Even Yoon Seong-hwan who ran a lumber store in Hanyang which was just beginning to open its doors was like that.

Yun Seong-hwan was also staying at a wealthy house in Gyeongju not at a guesthouse and was solving the problem of food and lodging.

“Oh my. Please tell Mr. Choi that I am grateful.”

“My my words too! Be sure to tell them.”

“Mr. Yoon. Please continue what you were saying earlier. Are you selling the land that Lord Yeongseok owns? And those brothers too?”

There were many other diners here besides Yun Seong-hwan.

Since they all came from all over the country they would share meals and exchange information about what was going on around the country.

Yoon Seong-hwan continued his story while picking up a piece of dried pollack with his chopsticks.

“Yes. Are they usually rich? A significant portion of Hanyang’s land including Myeongdong is owned by them. If they were to put everything on the market without leaving a single one behind the city would be turned upside down.”

“All that land?”

“Did this person live a life of deception? Well I heard that everyone gathered in front of the house’s front door from dawn to secure a good piece of land?”

Yun Seong-hwan began to pour out the information he had remembered while eating rice in the remaining soup.

“Rumor has it that if you bring foreign currency like dollars yen or pounds they’ll give you a discount. If you’re interested come up to the city immediately.”

“You’re giving preferential treatment to foreign currency? I see you’re thinking of leaving this country.”

“That could be true. The high-ranking officials are really good at gathering information. Perhaps they have other hidden agendas that we don’t know about?”

Sanbeom who worked at Choi Jinsa’s house shared lunch with the guests and listened intently to their stories.

Then I memorized the key information in my head.

‘I must tell Nari this news.’

Choi Hyeon-sik the employee of Sanbeom was also called Choi Jin-sa but he was often referred to as Choi the richest man.

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He was called the richest man in Gyeongju because he owned as much land as Lee Seok-yeong in Hanyang but Choi Hyeon-sik had a very high reputation in the region unlike others.

This was because it was quite different from the actions of the rich who usually bought up surrounding land and built up granaries during times of famine.

His family had been serving guests lavish meals for generations and had access to information that was not easily available around Gyeongju.

Just like right now.

“Nari! Nari!”

After clearing the lunch table again Sanbeom quickly moved to Master Choi’s love house.

Because I had to report to Choi Hyun-sik what I heard today.

* * *

“Well the Lee brothers living in Hanyang are selling off all the prime land.”

Choi Hyun-sik thought about the information Sanbeom reported while storing it in his head.

“hmm….”

He recalled.

Because I heard similar news last week.

‘The person mentioned at that time was Kim a wealthy man who lived in Suncheon.’

A wealthy person is someone who earns ten thousand seok a year.

Lee Seok-yeong and Choi Hyeon-sik were among the Manseok people but even if the Cheonseok people were unknown there were less than a hundred Manseok people in the entire country.

‘The rich man Mr. Yoon who lives in Suwon and another rich man Mr. Han who lived in Chungju are all selling off all their family properties and moving to the coastal region.’

In 21st century terms it would be like three out of the top 100 conglomerate chairmen selling off all their family assets and moving away.

“Sanbeom-ah.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

“Bring all of them to Sarangchae from the first to the fourth.”

“yes.”

Choi Hyun-sik clenched his fists with a solemn expression.

Since the past two years.

I was worried because of some information I heard from diners.

Because he had just made up his mind about the answer to that question.

“Did you call?”

“okay.”

Choi Hyun-sik had four sons.

First from Choi Jun to Choi Yoon Choi Wan and Choi Soon they all resembled him but he was very smart.

“Did something happen?”

“Jun-ah what do you think will become of the fate of this country?”

“….”

Choi Jun kept his mouth tightly shut.

Like other Koreans he believed in Confucianism and in Confucianism loyalty was as important a value as filial piety.

That’s why I didn’t want to reveal that this country was headed toward destruction.

“I think everyone can guess what’s going to happen without me saying anything. That’s why I the father am planning to take special measures.”

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An amazing story came out of Choi Hyun-sik’s mouth.

He declared that he would send three of the four gathered here to study abroad in the distant United States.

“Not Japan but across the Pacific to America?”

“okay.”

From Gyeongju Japan was not far away.

That is why the third son Choi Wan went to nearby Japan to study for a while.

But America was different.

The Choi brothers blinked their eyes repeatedly as if they were dumbfounded.

“Are you serious?”

“Then would this father lie?”

Choi Hyun-sik continued his story with a calm expression.

He announced that he would sell more than 80% of the farmland he owned and divide it among his sons who are sitting here.

“Oh father.”

“If I sell all my land…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave the cemetery behind. I’ll hold the memorial service.”

Since Choi Hyun-sik was a Confucian scholar he decided to remain here.

“One of the four must remain here.”

Earlier he said that he would send only three of his brothers to study abroad.

I plan to leave one here in Gyeongju not in the US in case Choi Hyun-sik makes a mistake.

“So who will stay here and guard the cemetery with this father?”

“I will stay.”

Choi Yoon the second child was the first of the four children to raise his hand.

“The youngest of us is the dumbest. I will stay in my hometown and guard the ancestral graves.”

Choi Hyun-sik nodded satisfied with Choi Yoon’s answer.

“Yes. If you really want then do so. I would like to leave the firstborn behind but I cannot let Jun-i’s abilities rot away like you said. Except for the secondborn the rest of you should prepare to leave for the coastal region immediately.”

Although Choi Hyun-sik had been thinking hard about it he had prepared thoroughly.

The fact that I have issued passports to all four of my sons is also an example.

I finished everything before Hanyang started to rigorously review the issuance.

It’s all because of the information the diners gave us in advance.

Choi Hyun-sik told his children about the people they should meet based on information he heard from other diners.

“Meet a man named Kim Deok-bae and a man named Lee Min-woo in the Maritime Province.”

Lee Min-woo and Kim Deok-bae are people from the Lee Gang clan who are active in Joseon.

Lee Min-woo mainly works as a recruiter to recruit immigrants.

Kim Deok-bae was on a mission to transport them to the Maritime Province and then board a ship bound for America.

At Choi Hyun-sik’s order the three richest brothers hesitated for a moment and then bowed deeply.

“I will have a nice trip to America with my younger siblings.”

“Please stay safe until we meet again.”

“Don’t skip meals and always eat them.”

As expected from a people who live off rice the youngest Choi Soon asked her father to always pack her a meal.

Choi Hyun-sik looked at his son with tears in his eyes showing satisfaction.

Because I was being sent to a faraway place my eyes became moist against my will.

* * *

“Dosan!”

An Chang-ho went to New York with Lee Wi-jong and then returned to San Francisco.

After that I visited the Korean Empire again for educational work.

Yang Gi-tak Shin Chae-ho Lee Dong-hui and others who could be called his long-time comrades welcomed Ahn Chang-ho at Nampo Port in Pyeongan Province.

“You must have had a hard time coming from far away. Now get over your travel fatigue.”

Everyone welcomed Ahn Chang-ho and offered him drinks.

An Chang-ho emptied his glass and began to understand the current domestic situation.

“How is Hanyang going?”

“As always this country is ruled by traitors and villains.”

“It’s a windmill. When I see it spinning I can’t help but sigh.”

“We really need to step forward. If we leave things like this our country will really fall apart.”

An Chang-ho looked at his comrades gathered in Nampo and asked.

“So does that mean everyone is mentally prepared?”

“yes.”

“I am ready to sacrifice my body to save this country.”

Lee Dong-hwi looked at Ahn Chang-ho with a worried face and told him the current situation.

“As we talked about last time let’s create a new organization that will save this country. I think the name would be Shinminhoe as suggested by Mr. Yoon Kang (Yang Gi-tak) here.”

Yang Gi-tak who was sitting next to Ahn Chang-ho quickly opened his mouth.

“Ah Dosan! By the way did you hear the news? I heard that Lord Yeongseok is leaving for America.”

“Your Majesty Yeongseok? I didn’t receive any word…”

An Chang-ho was the second most influential figure in America after Lee Kang.

A big shot like Lee Seok-yeong would have contacted Ahn Chang-ho in advance.

An Chang-ho had not heard this and looked puzzled.

“It seems like you made your decision recently. It must be because of His Majesty the King.”

“ah….”

An Chang-ho made a face that said he understood.

Because Lee Kang’s reputation is well known.

“This is a big deal.”

Lee Dong-hwi looked at Yang Gi-tak and Ahn Chang-ho alternately with a worried expression.

“If we are to raise funds for our activities we desperately need the support of people like Lord Yeongseok. Shouldn’t we visit the Lord’s house now and ask for support before he leaves?”

Everyone nodded to Lee Dong-hwi’s words.

Because operating funds are necessary to run a group.

chin-

That was when.

An Chang-ho began to take something out of his briefcase.

“What is this?”

At this Ahn Chang-ho took out the wad of dollars he had brought with him and made a face telling the comrades gathered there not to worry about money.

“Your Majesty has given us this golden hour.”

“Geumilbong?”

“Yes. His Majesty the King is very interested in education and nurturing the next generation. Just like us.”

Those gathered there narrowed their eyes as they looked at the dollars that Ahn Chang-ho handed over.

I really doubted whether all of this was dollars.

Because the quantity was that large.

“this….”

Seunghoon Lee who has a quick temper even counted how many dollars he had on the spot.

“It’s worth ten thousand dollars. It’s a lot more than I thought. Is it okay to accept this much money?”

An Chang-ho shrugged his shoulders and made a face as if nothing was wrong.

“His Majesty is one of the richest men in America. With his brilliant mind and quick judgment he increases the money he has every hour.”

An Chang-ho felt proud even though it was not his property.

This is because his relationship with Lee Kang has become closer over time.

“I entrusted this large sum of money to you?”

“Yes. This is part of the funds I received.”

Lee Kang entrusted Ahn Chang-ho with funds to train his disciples.

An Chang-ho used some of the funds to establish elementary middle and high schools for Korean residents in San Francisco.

The remaining money was to be used entirely to establish educational institutions in the Korean Empire and Manchuria.

“By the way Dosan… I heard that you created our Shinminhoe’s common articles of association while you were in the US. Let’s take a look at them.”

“Here it is.”

Shin Chae-ho who was sitting across from Ahn Chang-ho made a puzzled expression while reading the document Ahn Chang-ho handed him.

“What is this article? Doesn’t it say that we are seeking a constitutional monarchy not a democratic republic?”

Shin Jae-ho tilted his head and asked.

“Could it be that this general constitution provision was created because of Uiwang?”

“That’s right.”

“Haha this guy.”

As the atmosphere of the meeting became strange Ahn Chang-ho quickly explained why he had written such a common charter.

“The King of Ui is different from other people. He is different from the King of Yeong or the new emperor.”

“….”

“He is incomparable to His Majesty the Emperor who has stepped down. He is not a man who seeks absolute power. So don’t worry and trust me.”

Everyone is quiet.

Because everyone was sick of Emperor Gojong’s absurd lust for power no one believed Ahn Chang-ho’s boasts.

“If you really don’t like it come with me to America. We’ll meet and talk to His Majesty the King there. Then I’m sure your mind will change in no time.”

An Chang-ho raised his voice again and appealed to his comrades.

“Please trust me just this once.”

Shin Chae-ho and Yang Gi-tak nodded although they had displeased expressions.

That is because Ahn Chang-ho’s influence in this group was considerable.

Additionally a recent article also helped change their minds.

Didn’t Yi Kang accomplish great things in The Hague?

“Okay I understand. But let me emphasize that it’s not because of this gold coin.”

of course.

Contrary to what they said the operating funds provided by Lee Kang also played a role.

The amount of money was too large to just accept the daily salary and keep my mouth shut.

* * *

While staying in The Hague I cross-checked in real time what was happening in the international situation.

『New York Stock Exchange Overcame Last Week’s Chaos and Rebounded Successfully.』

Four days ago the Dow Jones Industrial Average the representative index of the United States plummeted significantly.

The 70-point line known as the psychological resistance line has collapsed.

It’s already down 30% from its high but the sad thing is that it hasn’t hit the bottom yet.

‘They say it just broke the 50-point mark in 1907 when the financial panic was at its peak.’

That was when I was at rock bottom and now I’m in my 70s.

I think it’s about knee-high.

‘Livermore seems to have understood my advice and is making a decent profit without going overboard.’

I am constantly receiving related news reports via telegram.

I mean before the crash last week I made about $4 million in profit….

There must be a lot more than that now.

While I was happily reading other foreign economic news articles I came across the following article.

『The U.S. federal government announced that the U.S. economy will still be able to grow rapidly next year. Some European experts are shaking their heads and expressing doubts.』

Well the stock market is down 30% from its high.

I guess he made this bold statement because he thought he had fallen into all that was left to fall into.

Or perhaps this announcement was made to reassure foreign investors.

‘I think I should stay in Europe a little longer.’

It’s not steamed yet.

If you just watch from the sidelines you might get caught in the crossfire when a real crisis strikes.

It looks like I’ll have to take a little more time to return to the US.

‘So what should I do here in Europe?’

That means we’ll have to stay in Europe a little longer.

< After The Hague (2) > End