The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 75



< Lee Kang and the US-Japan Gentleman’s Agreement >

The Government-General of Korea located near Namsan.

“Your Majesty! The rebels’ momentum is growing stronger by the day.”

“Just this week new attempts at counter-terrorism were detected near Uiju and Pyongyang.”

Ito Hirobumi was receiving detailed information about the Joseon volunteer army in his office.

He approached the Joseon missionary positioned in the center of the office raised two red flags and planted them in Uiju and Pyongyang.

“hmm….”

Ito Hirobumi took a step back and looked at the Joseon situation again.

There were flags everywhere.

What this meant was that volunteer armies were rising up all over the country.

Ito Hirobumi bit his lower lip with a displeased expression.

“I thought it would calm down as time passed like it did two years ago.”

Ito recalled the face of a person with a displeased expression.

“It must be all because of him. He made a ridiculous speech at the Hague Peace Conference and incited the ignorant Korean people…”

Ito Hirobumi expressed his anger by slamming his desk.

He usually suppressed his emotions inside.

Expressing your emotions to this extent means you are very angry.

All the staff working at the Residency-General kept an eye on Ito’s mood and reported the latest information to him one by one.

“Didn’t you forcibly disband the Joseon army at the last meeting?”

“That’s right. Because of the ignorant fools of our home country… we hastily disbanded the Joseon army.”

“Could it be that the rebels are growing stronger because of them?”

“We should have gathered them all in one place and forced them to disarm.”

Old Joseon soldiers were disobeying the orders of the Residency-General and joining the volunteer army one after another.

Ito regretted this.

The current situation has arisen because the hardliners disbanded the army too hastily.

Moreover all that shit ended up on Ito.

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“How big is it?”

Ito Hirobumi reacted nervously and asked his subordinate Fujiwara.

Fujiwara glanced over the report and then began to announce specific numbers.

“The total number of rebels gathered across the country seems to be around 80000. The number is still increasing… wouldn’t it increase to around 100000?”

Thanks to the joining of the old Joseon army soldiers the weapons worn by the volunteers in each region gradually improved.

It is in the process of being upgraded from a peasant army consisting of only the hapless to a militia.

Of course they could not be placed on the same level as the Japanese military.

How are the regular army and the militia equal?

“What is the damage situation?”

“It’s not that big yet.”

The combat exchange rate was ridiculously advantageous to Japan.

When 100 Joseon volunteers died the Japanese soldiers only lost one or two.

This was largely because the Joseon volunteer army’s weapons were poor to begin with.

It was a bit of an improvement but it was only a change from a bamboo spear to a matchlock gun.

‘It can’t be that long.’

but.

The volunteer army was waging guerrilla warfare throughout Joseon and paralyzing land logistics.

further.

Recently Japanese people who came to Joseon to do business were being singled out and killed and the Japanese government was seeing a significant infringement on their interests.

That is why Ito plans to subdue them quickly.

“Your Excellency the Governor-General.”

“Tell me.”

Isato Mori a graduate of a military academy had a personality completely opposite to that of Hirobumi Ito.

He advised Ito.

“We have to deal with them quickly. Look at these.”

“Korean people who are enraged by the atrocities of the Japanese. Fight back with dignity.”

“They say these leaflets are being distributed all over the country. And… even former Joseon soldiers who joined the volunteer army are said to be handing out these leaflets to their families.”

『Start a new life in America. His Majesty the King will support your family.』

Ito narrowed his eyes and looked at the two flyers alternately.

“I’m talking about the people of the Yi River in the Maritime Province. They are said to be supporting all the families of the volunteers who are coming up north. They are said to be encouraging their migration by barely receiving any money for the fare to go to America.”

“her….”

Does this mean that the families of the volunteers will be taken care of by Lee Kang so they can fight to their heart’s content on the Korean Peninsula?

Ito Hirobumi clenched his fist.

To this Isato Mori added the following:

“I heard that Lee Beom-yoon the former Gando administrator recently left the Maritime Province and moved to America. Isn’t it all to meet Lee Kang?”

He whispered to Ito Hirobumi the terrible assumptions he had in his head.

“If Lee Kang were to use his personal wealth to arm the volunteer army… what would happen?”

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People gathered in moderation.

Those who had learned some of Japan’s military doctrine also joined the volunteer army.

What if Lee Kang could provide some modern weapons there with some support?

It was terrifying just to think about it.

“I don’t have time.”

Ito Hirobumi turned again to the map placed in the middle of his office.

Then he bit his lip tightly as he looked at the flags located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula among the countless flags.

“I don’t know about other places but we definitely need to clean up the southern part where the rice paddies are concentrated.”

“That’s right. What our country needs is rice from Joseon.”

“That’s right. Oh… we need funds to subdue the rebels.”

Ito Hirobumi sat on the sofa and covered his head with both hands.

This was because there was not enough money to suppress the Joseon volunteer army.

“Because of this damn money I can’t do anything I want to do… I can’t move an inch.”

Ito Hirobumi called out the name of the subordinate standing blankly next to him.

“Fujiwara.”

“Yes Your Excellency the Inspector General.”

“Has there been any news from the mainland yet?”

Fujiwara took a half step back with a somewhat troubled expression.

He acted that way instinctively thinking that Ito Hirobumi might become hysterical.

“Currently the home country’s economic situation is not good either… so they are just repeating that they cannot increase the budget for the Residency-General.”

“Ugh.”

No what can I do if I have money?

Ito Hirobumi muttered to himself then recalled an incident from the past and asked Fujiwara again.

“I heard that the loan project that the Ministry of Finance (now the Ministry of Finance) was working on last time is currently in negotiations to borrow additional money from American bankers. How is that going?”

“Well… things seem to have gone a bit wrong.”

“Why? I remember the negotiation atmosphere being warm last time.”

“They are complaining that our country has too much debt. We have declared that we will not buy new loans unless we are notified of a specific repayment plan.”

I don’t know if it’s because of my mood but lately the reaction in the English-speaking world has become unusual.

‘Fucking Yankees…’

Before that.

During the Russo-Japanese War the Japanese government took on a huge amount of debt that it could not afford.

Now his complexion has completely changed and he is shouting that he can no longer give loans.

“Lee Kang Lee Kang! It’s all because of that guy…”

Ito thought that all these problems were due to Lee Kang.

I don’t think he’ll be that influential but Lee Kang is already out of favor with Ito.

That’s why whenever something bad happens in Japan it’s all blamed on Lee Kang.

It wasn’t just Ito.

Many politicians in Japan are increasingly beginning to keep a close eye on Lee Kang.

“Fujiwara.”

“Please speak Your Excellency the Inspector General.”

Ito Hirobumi thought about Lee Kang and recalled a piece of information he had recently heard.

“I heard that Lee Kang’s pocket money is quite large.”

“That’s right. Rumor has it that he’s one of the richest men in America.”

“I mean isn’t there any way we can get his pocket money back?”

“….”

Fujiwara looked slightly troubled at Ito’s suggestion.

But no matter how much Fujiwara racked his brain he couldn’t come up with a solution.

“It is realistically impossible.”

“Why is it impossible?”

“If his wife or children were in the Korean Peninsula that would be different… But Lee Kang’s wife and children are currently not in Korea or Japan. That means we have nothing left to threaten him with.”

“Isn’t that bastard’s father in our hands?”

Fujiwara shook his head from side to side and denied Ito’s claim.

“Since Lee Kang left for America he has not had a single personal contact with the King of Joseon. Of course neither has his father. Of course he has been in contact with them on official occasions.”

Ito Hirobumi nodded at Fujiwara’s report.

“Well if you think about it… from the repatriation of Koreans from Mexico to the impersonation of the special envoy for the Hague International Peace Conference in a way they were all official matters. Just like you said.”

“That’s right. Other than those two incidents I treat them like strangers.”

Fujiwara continued his argument adding strength to his opinion.

“Perhaps it is because the relationship between the two rich men has rapidly grown distant due to a series of recent events?”

“If it’s a series of events… are you talking about the incident from five years ago where you used Yu Gil-jun to make Lee Kang look like the leader of the rebellion?”

“Yes that’s right.”

Fujiwara reported additional information he had collected to Ito Hirobumi.

“According to reports from Sejak in America Lee Kang never once mentioned his father in any of his meetings with Korean residents in America.”

“hmm….”

Japan has been working tirelessly to drive a wedge between Gojong and Yi Gang.

The result was the current relationship between the two rich men.

In short it means that the Japanese who brought about the shaking of the Yi River have disappeared.

‘Damn Joseon always used to say that filial piety was the most important thing. But this guy Lee Kang is a born unfilial person.’

Ito who did not know that Lee Kang was a modern person possessed by a spirit groaned softly for a moment as he analyzed it like this.

Then soon he gave up his obsession with Lee Kang’s property.

“Then there is only one way.”

What if the budget is not available in your home country?

It has to be procured locally.

“Complete the land survey plan to be implemented throughout Joseon as soon as possible.”

“Yes Your Excellency the Inspector General.”

Ito intended to carry out the land survey a little faster than originally planned.

If the unreported wasteland is absorbed into the Tong-Gwan-Do then the rights to the crops grown there can be claimed.

Moreover Joseon had not yet implemented national education.

There will be quite a few black eyes.

If the notice period is short lands with owners will not be able to be reported on time and they can easily be placed under the control of the Residency-General.

‘If you don’t have teeth you have to chew with your gums.’

“Your Excellency the Governor-General.”

“Come in.”

Japan is a country that is serious about image making.

They monitored the media trends of the major powers closely observed articles that spoke unfavorably of them and reported rebuttals.

“Here is a summary of the English-language newspapers published today.”

News related to the mainland is reported on the mainland.

News about Joseon is delivered to the Residency-General.

Japan was spending a lot of money on media outlets around the world almost brainwashing Koreans into believing that they were not qualified to run their own country.

『The Joseon I saw. It was truly a beautiful country and a country that was generous to foreigners….』

That is why usually when stories related to Joseon were published in the newspapers of the great powers most of them were negative stories.

but.

Lee Kang-i presents the story of the birth of an evil empire and the persecuted Korean people in The Hague.

Little by little public opinion was changing.

The article in Ito’s hands this time is also the same.

It seems like an American woman wrote a travelogue about Joseon and the content was subtly irritating.

‘They are kind-hearted hard-working generous and kind to foreigners?’

He described corruption among officials as a problem but said that if only this could be fixed they would be more than capable of running their country.

It even says that if you look at the Koreans living in the western United States you can see the future of Joseon.

Ito narrowed his eyes as he searched for the author of the editorial then his eyes widened when he saw her last name.

“Ellis Roosevelt?”

Fuck.

Wasn’t she the eldest daughter of the current President Roosevelt?

Why her?

“This fucking bitch. Why are you only reporting on something that happened years ago now?”

Ito Hirobumi became angry and ordered Fujiwara.

“Right now! Contact Washington. Find out why this kind of article was published in the newspaper.”

After a while.

Fujiwara returned to Ito Hirobumi with a tense expression on his face.

“Did you find out?”

“that is….”

bang-

Ito Hirobumi kicked Fujiwara in the calf.

“100 million.”

“Don’t just stand there blankly. Report.”

Fujiwara without even rubbing his calf handed over a report he was holding to Ito Hirobumi.

At this Ito Hirobumi clenched his fist.

“Lee Kang and Ellis met in Washington recently?”

“yes.”

“That damn Lee Kang this son of a bitch… why on earth is he wandering around all over America like this?”

Ito grumbled putting his hand on my waist as if he was displeased.

“I will order you to monitor Lee Kang’s movements even more closely. Aren’t our people in the United States right now?”

Fujiwara just mentioned the Japan-U.S. Gentleman’s Agreement currently underway in the United States.

“Ah! That’s right. Because of the gentleman’s agreement we invited journalists from the great powers to our empire. Fujiwara. I need to meet them right now. How many of them can I contact right now?”

“I need to investigate the details but I understand that there are currently about five people in the country at the invitation of His Excellency the Prime Minister.”

“hmm….”

Ito Hirobumi looked through the list of foreign correspondents in Tokyo.

He grabbed one of them.

“Stevenson… he’s American and cooperative so the interest would be suitable.”

Ito gave Fujiwara an order with a bitter expression.

“Contact Iza. I have something urgent to tell you.”

< Lee Kang and the US-Japan Gentleman’s Agreement > End