The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 98



< Regime Change (2) >

dripping-

The Prime Minister’s official residence located in the heart of Tokyo Japan.

A refreshing knocking sound echoed there.

“Your Excellency the Prime Minister.”

“Report.”

“Representative Saionji Kinmochi and Resident-General of Korea Ito Hirobumi have just arrived at the Prime Minister’s official residence.”

“okay?”

The title of “member of the Diet” was added instead of “Prime Minister” after Saionji Kinmochi.

Katsura Taro raised one corner of his mouth and answered loudly to his secretary.

“Bring both of you here.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

Then Saionji and Ito entered the Prime Minister’s office.

Taro Katsura who became the 13th Prime Minister welcomed the two happily and was the first to extend his hand to them.

“Welcome Representative Saionji.”

“Congratulations Prime Minister.”

“Hahaha thank you.”

Unlike Katsura Taro the two giants had very dark expressions.

In particular Saionji looked like a guest at a funeral.

He gave a soulless compliment as a courtesy.

“It’s amazing that you’ve already climbed a place twice that others find difficult to climb even once.”

As Saionji said Katsura Taro had actually ruled Japan from the same position once before.

He was the highest authority in Japan for five years from 1901 to 1906.

“What Resident-General Ito here has done it four times. Isn’t that right Resident-General Ito?”

Katsura Taro looked moved as he recalled his past.

“Representative Saionji you should try again later. It might be difficult for you to rise to this position again but if you work hard you might be able to become Prime Minister for a second time like me someday.”

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“I will engrave the Prime Minister’s advice deep in my heart and refer to it later.”

The former and current prime ministers exchanged harsh compliments and jokes before the official summit.

Ito Hirobumi who had been quietly watching from the side belatedly extended his hand to Katsura Taro and asked for greeting.

“Congratulations Prime Minister.”

“Thank you. Ah! Ito Resident-General of Korea. How is Korea?”

“As always the Joseon guys are always causing trouble and irritating me.”

“Haha. That’s how all Joseon people are. Come here. Don’t stand around uncomfortably. Sit down and let’s finish the rest of our story.”

Katsura Taro laughing heartily.

Saionji warned Katsura Taro.

“Prime Minister. It is Joseon’s business but our country’s economic situation is very bad.”

“Oh really? I’m just taking over the Prime Minister’s duties so I don’t know the exact figures yet.”

Katsura Taro showed an indifferent attitude toward the domestic economy.

At this Saionji clicked his tongue and glared at Katsura Taro.

“I’m warning you seriously. If you take this lightly you’ll have to give me the position of Prime Minister again.”

Why is Japan’s economy so ruined today?

It’s all because of Katsura Taro who is currently sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office.

As the leader of the hardliners he aimed his guns at Russia in an attempt to swallow up the Korean Peninsula and the war budget he spent was a whopping 2 billion yen.

Japan’s annual tax revenue at this time is about 500 million yen.

This is because four years’ worth of tax revenue was invested in the Russo-Japanese War.

Even without the support of the United States and Britain two years’ worth of national revenue was poured into the war and the side effects were still occurring in various parts of Japan three years later.

“Is that so? I will take note of that.”

Katsura Taro fired back at Saionji.

He lamented his situation saying that if he had handled things better while he was in office these worries would not have come to him.

‘This kid! Who is it that caused our country’s economy to become like this…’

After the Russo-Japanese War ended.

Saionji diligently cleaned up the shit Katsura Taro had done.

But the mistake Katsura Taro made was so big that it couldn’t be resolved all at once.

The economic recession continued.

The impatient Japanese people eventually made the ironic decision to resent Saionji and once again choose Katsura Taro.

Saionji glared at Katsura Taro then recalled the results of the last election.

‘It was just a one-point difference but it’s such a shame.’

Whatever happened.

The Japanese people’s final choice is not Saionji but Katsura Taro.

Saionji who wanted the introduction of a Western-style parliamentary cabinet system more than anyone else was reluctant to admit it but he respected the institution of parliamentary democracy itself.

So Saionji was as patient as possible and treated Katsura Taro as Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister should set economic recovery and foreign debt reduction as the first national goals and move forward. We must increase revenues and reduce expenditures.”

It is really difficult to increase your revenue in a short period of time.

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That is why Saionji ordered a drastic reduction in armaments.

“Yes. Yes. I have taken the former Prime Minister’s advice to heart.”

Katsura Taro a typical hardliner seemed to ignore this and turned his gaze to Ito.

“Ito the Governor-General.”

“Please speak Prime Minister Katsura.”

“I was briefly mentioning the situation in Joseon earlier. How is it going specifically?”

“The Joseon volunteer army operating south of Hanyang has been almost suppressed. The north will likely need more time.”

There was no major disaster in the South Korean region like in the Yuan Dynasty.

This is because most of the volunteers moved north after the failure of the Seoul invasion operation.

There was no choice to go all out in the South.

“exactly?”

“Yes that’s right.”

This is because rumors spread widely that Lee Kang was providing support to the volunteer army located in the north.

So the scale of the Japanese army’s massacre of the volunteers was smaller than in the original history.

“I’m talking about the prisoners we captured. I heard that instead of killing the healthy ones they send them across the Pacific to Panama… Is that rumor true?”

“exactly.”

“Why did you let those damn bastards live?”

“There is a reason for that. It is because the American tycoon Morgan favors Korean laborers.”

Ito Hirobumi quickly began to elaborate.

“Morgan owns a large portion of the foreign debt we owe him and he wants the shipbuilders on the pretext of early completion of the Panama Canal.”

“Heh heh…..”

Katsura Taro didn’t find fault with this either.

He also knew well that the Japanese economy was heavily dependent on the United States and Britain.

“By the way can you personally explain to me what is written in this report?”

“Are you talking about the report on Lee Kang the second prince of Joseon?”

“exactly.”

Ito Hirobumi glanced over the takeover report and relayed to Katsura Taro what he remembered without reserve.

“Since the last International Peace Conference I have been monitoring Lee Kang as a great danger to Japan. I have been investigating how much Lee Kang’s wealth is and which American politicians he exerts influence over.”

“So what’s the result? Briefly summarize it for me.”

“As time goes by his influence is growing. He is growing at an unbelievable rate.”

“That’s what it looks like. You look like a money-making ghost.”

Katsura nodded quickly skimming through the information about Lee Kang.

“Look at this. The profitable mines of Joseon are small but they are under the control of the trust of the river.”

“That’s right.”

Katsura looked back and forth between Saionji and Ito with greedy eyes.

“Can’t we take this back by force?”

“yes?”

“Are you saying that we can’t take the mining rights away from this guy?”

“How can you say such nonsense? It has already been legally handed over to the two bastards. If you take it away by force there will be great side effects.”

Ito again voiced his opposition in an urgent voice.

“If you confiscate the company just to catch the minority shareholders who own only 10% of the company other capitalists in America will rise up. The Prime Minister must be careful.”

Katsura Taro continued reading the report with a displeased expression.

“It’s annoying. It really is annoying. They’re investing in the South Manchurian Railway and exploring iron mines in Manchuria. This bastard Lee Kang is preemptively taking what we want.”

“….”

“….”

Katsura Taro asked Ito Hirobumi with a very displeased expression.

“Your Majesty have you ever seen the real face of Lee Kang?”

“There isn’t any.”

“Is that so? I met him once. When I was in Japan.”

Katsura Taro snapped his fingers imagining the appearance of Lee Kang before the Ice Age.

“He seemed like a mean-spirited rookie… but he grew up to be a tiger. Phew- It’s a shame to think about it now. If I had known earlier that he wasn’t a cat but a tiger cub I wouldn’t have left him alone.”

Although they swallowed their words the two immediately understood why Katsura had said those last words.

The two brought up other news about Lee Kang in urgent voices.

“Prime Minister be careful.”

“That’s right.”

“Lee Kang recently married into the Rockefeller family of Standard Oil increasing her influence in the United States.”

“Haha. Is there really a need to make such a fuss over marrying a nephew let alone a daughter?”

“William Rockefeller who is a prospective father-in-law also refuses. He has 10 percent.”

William Rockefeller is the third largest shareholder of Standard Oil.

John Rockefeller 25%.

13% to his son Rockefeller Jr.

William follows him.

Ito also advised that interest should not be ignored.

“Some of the shares will definitely be inherited by that daughter.”

“There are rumors coming from the consulate that Standard Oil may be split up. Just imagine if the company in the western part of California where that bastard Lee Kang is were to be taken over by him.”

“Currently Japan relies on the United States for more than 70% of its total oil imports. Of the oil imported from the United States more than 90% comes from California.”

“Don’t worry about things that don’t even happen.”

In the United States a capitalist society major shareholders cannot harm the interests of the company.

Because you’ll be charged with breach of trust.

Prime Minister Katsura laughed heartily and glared at Saionji.

“They say that as you get older you become more fearful… It seems that Representative Saionji has been through a lot in the time since I last saw him.”

“It’s not that I’m scared it’s that I’m rational and reasonable.”

Saionji sighed.

“I am worried about the future of our Japan.”

“Why are you saying that in front of me?”

Katsura shrugged his shoulders and questioned Saionji’s warning.

“Is it because of the joke you made before about getting rid of that bastard Lee Kang in the Imperial Diet? Do you still have that in mind?”

Saionji showed a serious expression and showed no sign of backing down.

“I hope you’re joking.”

Ito even brought up the Eulmi Incident which was taboo in Japanese society.

“That’s right Prime Minister. Things have changed a lot since the old days when we hunted foxes. Prime Minister. If we attack Lee Kang first we’ll be providing an excuse.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“If we were to assassinate Lee Kang what would happen when the security of Joseon has not yet stabilized?”

“What can I say? One of the central axes of Joseon’s independence forces has collapsed.”

“No. It would only serve to empower the hardliners.”

“That’s right. High-ranking officials of our country and collaborators of our country who assist our country in Korea Manchuria and the Maritime Province will be targeted.”

It’s like giving a license to kill to aspiring Korean 007s who dream of assassinating key Japanese figures.

Anyway how did it start?

Because Japan was the first to attack.

Until there is an official apology bloody revenge will continue under the pretext of retaliation.

This was shocking news to Ito Hirobumi who was active in Joseon.

Because the Residency-General whose security is weaker than that of the home country will be the first target of assassination.

“I understand. I understand. I understand your concerns so don’t worry too much.”

“….”

“….”

Both of them looked incredulous.

Then Katsura Taro looked at the two again and made a promise.

“Even though I look like this I’m a surprisingly warm-hearted man. I would never touch Lee Kang.”

“Really?”

“I promised. Please remember what I said today for the sake of the Empire of Japan.”

“Okay I understand.”

* * *

Two big shots Ito Hirobumi and Saionji left.

Katsura Taro closed his eyes for a moment in his office where he was left alone.

It was to review the conversation we had today.

“I’ve felt this way for a while now but I don’t like either of them. They’re both busy living their own lives.”

Katsura Taro opened his eyes and jumped up from his seat.

After that I walked to the window and quietly hummed while watching Saionji and Ito return to their home.

“They think that only they are patriots and that only they are the right politicians. They still think that they are in power and they don’t even know where their position is.”

Katsura Taro took his eyes off the window and moved towards the map showing the Japanese archipelago and the Korean Peninsula.

There was a small mirror right next to the map and the expression on Katsura Taro’s face reflected in it looked extremely uncomfortable.

Because his true colors which he had been hiding during his conversation with the two giants were revealed on his face without reservation.

“Where did I put it…”

Katsura Taro quickly grabbed the sake next to the map with his hand.

Because I felt sick after talking to some of my disgusting lifelong rivals.

Gulp gulp-

He immediately poured one of the bottles he had brought and began to fill the glasses with it.

“Even if I die why should I die instead of other guys? They’re funny.”

Usually the Prime Minister is attached to the Japanese mainland.

The only people who travel abroad to negotiate are the foreign ministers.

He called his secretary completely forgetting the warnings of the two giants.

“It’s Kuroda.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

“Go and call Miura Matsujiro.”

“yes.”

Less than five minutes after Katsura’s order was given Miura stepped into the Prime Minister’s office.

Before the two giants visited.

I was waiting at the Prime Minister’s residence so I arrived here early after receiving a call from Katsura.

“Your Majesty. Are you looking for me?”

“okay.”

Katsura put down the glass he was drinking and looked at Miura.

“When I look at you it’s like I’m looking at your father when he was younger.”

Katsura looked at Miura Matsujiro and told him a story about his father.

“Former Minister Miura of Joseon was really good at one thing… I guess you have work to do too?”

Katsura refilled the empty sake and moved to the high seat in the center of the Prime Minister’s office.

After sitting down Katsura told Miura about a wish he had kept deep in his heart.

“I mean I want to hunt a tiger…”

Katsura Taro is the person who started the Russo-Japanese War in the history of Japan and pushed for the forced annexation of Korea.

As expected of someone who is good at making consecutive irrational numbers he tried to make a strong move once again in the changing history.

“That tiger guy is a big shot so everyone around me is trying to dissuade me.”

Miura Matsujiro was a very intelligent person.

So when he thought about who the tiger Katsura was talking about was a person’s name came to mind.

“Your father has a history of hunting nine-tailed foxes in Joseon. I wonder if you can surpass him.”

“If given enough money people and time I believe I could succeed in hunting monsters like my father.”

“okay?”

Katsura made a satisfied expression but then gave Miura a warning.

“There’s a high chance that this hunt will fail. Unlike last time the stage is America. So what I’m saying is… Even if it fails you understand?”

“Yes of course. I have no connection with Your Excellency the Prime Minister. Isn’t this an act of personal gain?”

Katsura Taro patted Miura on the shoulder with a satisfied expression.

“I will trust only you. If possible give me the tiger’s lifeline as soon as possible. If you do that I will look after you and your family for the rest of your life.”

< Regime Change (2) > End