While Wang Guk-seong was thanking me with tears in his eyes, Lee Geom-min returned on a rickshaw with Lee Geom-yeong and Lee Geom-seon.
Wang Guk-seong and I immediately feigned ignorance.
Lee Geom-min was delighted to see me and made a fuss.
“Myeong-jin, my brother, it is good to see you. Did you come after hearing from Archie?”
“Yes. Archie told me you were looking for me, so I came. What is so important that you called me all the way here, sister?”
After exchanging a few words with Lee Geom-min, Wang Guk-seong slipped away somewhere.
Lee Geom-min then told me a story similar to what Wang Guk-seong had mentioned.
“So, Lord Zuo Zongtang wants to sell off some ships, but he does not want to hand them over to Li Hongzhang’s China Merchants Steam Navigation Company. He wants you and the Shanghai merchants to buy them, is that it?”
“Yes. It is difficult to go against Lord Zuo’s wishes, but the price of the ships is no small sum.”
“Just how many ships are there for you to be this troubled, sister? Are they all Steamships?”
“If they were not Steamships, I would have just bought them since it was Lord Zuo’s command. There are eight ships in total, ranging from 800 to 2,000 tons.”
“Wow, that is massive.”
For Western Steamships of that size, the cost would exceed one million Chinese Silver Tael in China.
That would be the price for new builds; even considering they were used, it would still cost over 300,000 to 400,000 taels.
Even if Lee Geom-min possessed a fortune of a million taels, it was not all in cash.
“How much does Lord Zuo want?”
“It seems Lord Zuo spent about 1.5 million taels when he first purchased the merchant ships, so he is hoping to get 800,000 taels.”
“Still, he has operated them for several years. Isn’t he asking for too much?”
“The ships themselves were quite new. They have only been used for two or three years, and since they were operated only on the Yangtze River rather than the rough open sea, they are in excellent condition. Besides, since the ships were originally bought with government funds, Lord Zuo would be in a difficult position if he sold them for too cheap.”
“Even so, if he wants that kind of price, something else should be included.”
“He said he would grant the operating rights from Hanyang to Yangho.”
That made it understandable.
Yangho refers to Hunan and Hubei provinces, which are China’s largest granaries.
Just transporting the rice produced in Yangho to Hanyang would guarantee sufficient profit.
However, something seemed strange, so I asked, “If the deal is that good, I would expect Hu Xueyan to step forward first. This is odd.”
“Exactly. I found that strange too, so I just came back from visiting Hu Xueyan’s wife. It is easier for us to meet since we are both women.”
“Do you think Lord Zuo has abandoned Hu Xueyan?”
“Ha, Myeong-jin, you really are quick-witted. It is exactly as you said. It seems Lord Zuo has been distancing himself from Hu Xueyan lately.”
“On my way here, I heard some bad rumors about Hu Xueyan from other merchants. If it has reached my ears, it must have already reached Lord Zuo’s.”
“In any case, now that I have confirmed Hu Xueyan cannot step forward, I think we can. Of course, I cannot do it alone; several Shanghai merchants will have to join forces.”
“The China Merchants Steam Navigation Company created by Lord Li Hongzhang struggled with deficits for years until Archie’s brother became the President and improved things. If this venture is also managed properly without government interference, it should be able to reach Jeongsang levels of operation.”
“That is why I told Lord Zuo that point clearly. Lord Zuo also agreed to compromise on that. By the way, what did you bring to Shanghai this time?”
“I brought coal, copper, and silk cocoons from Japan, but only the copper sold. They say silk cocoons aren’t selling because even Chinese ones aren’t moving due to the recession, and they won’t buy the coal because plenty is coming out of Gaepyeong now.”
Hearing my words, Lee Geom-min burst into loud laughter.
“It is true that silk cocoons aren’t selling. Western merchants didn’t buy much this year because of the recession. But you couldn’t sell the coal because you tried to sell it to Archie.”
“Why Archie?”
“It was Archie’s brother who developed the Gaepyeong coal mines. There is no way he would buy your coal when he has his brother’s supply.”
“Did Archie have another brother besides the one who is the President of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company?”
“There are three brothers in the Dang family. The first is Archie, the second is Dang Jeong-su, the President of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, and the third is Dang Jeong-gyeong. They all learned English in Hong Kong and Macau. Dang Jeong-su left the company in the hands of his younger brother, Dang Jeong-gyeong, while he focused on the development of the Gaepyeong mines. Since the brothers are on good terms, Archie is in no position to buy coal from elsewhere.”
“Is the Gaepyeong mine that large?”
“I heard the production is so massive that there is no need to buy coal from anywhere else, and they can even export it. Anyway, did you bring any Ginseng?”
“I could only bring about twenty catties. I managed to get a hundred catties, but I have to use the rest elsewhere.”
“Even that is fine, so please hand it over to me. Ginseng is the most effective thing when dealing with officials.”
“Is Ginseng the only reason you called for me?”
“How could that be? I wanted to consult you about Lord Zuo’s ship purchase, and more precisely, I wanted to ask if it is safe to work with Lord Zuo. Merchants like us have to be extremely careful when working with officials.”
“You mean you are hesitant to work with him because Lord Zuo has many enemies in all directions?”
“Exactly. Lord Zuo is the greatest general of the era and holds military power, so who would he fear? But we are different.”
“If I had to choose between Lord Zuo and Lord Li Hongzhang, you should definitely stay close to Lord Li Hongzhang. Lord Zuo Zongtang is already old and his health is not good, whereas Lord Li Hongzhang is still vigorous. So, even if you take over the ships according to Lord Zuo’s command this time, it would be best to maintain a connection with Lord Li Hongzhang on the side.”
“Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to hear, which is why I looked for you. You are so young, yet it is as if you are predicting the future.”
“Haha, thank you for thinking of me that way, sister.”
“I would like to suggest that you participate in this ship purchase as well, Myeong-jin, but I cannot because it might provoke Lord Zuo’s anger.”
“That is only natural. Lord Zuo bought those ships to prevent Western merchants from taking the inland navigation rights of the Yangtze River; as a foreigner, I cannot get involved. However, sister, you should not pour too much money into this either.”
Lee Geom-min asked with a slightly surprised look, “Why? Does this business look dangerous to you?”
“Is there any business in China right now that isn’t dangerous? So, I am telling you to diversify your investments and not put all your eggs in one basket.”
“‘Do not put all your eggs in one basket.’ That is a good saying. Since you are never wrong, Myeong-jin, I will be careful this time as well.”
***
My visit to Hanyang was simply because Lee Geom-min called for me, but perhaps because she felt bad for making me come all this way, she introduced me to several people.
Among them was Zuo Zongtang.
The one who introduced me directly to Zuo Zongtang was not Lee Geom-min, who felt awkward as a woman, but Wang Guk-seong.
Wang Guk-seong, who frequently received pocket money from me and was very grateful, willingly took on the task of introducing me to Zuo Zongtang.
“Daein, this friend may be an Oriental, but he is a wealthy man with British Citizenship.”
Upon being introduced, I bowed and spoke.
“I am Lee Myeong-jin from Joseon. I was originally from Joseon, but I have now become a British citizen.”
As I spoke and looked at Zuo Zongtang, I saw that despite his aged body, his eyes were piercing and his presence was incredibly dignified.
Zuo Zongtang looked at me with curious eyes after hearing Wang Guk-seong’s introduction.
It was peculiar that I was a British citizen from Joseon, that a mere child was accompanied by two massive Geoin as guards, that I was a wealthy man despite coming from poor Joseon, and that I was an Oriental wearing high-quality Western suits.
“From Joseon, you say?”
“Yes. I was born in Joseon, but I lost my parents at a young age and became a wanderer in foreign lands. Since wandering abroad is forbidden by Joseon law, I cannot return to Joseon.”
Zuo Zongtang looked at Wang Guk-seong and asked, “Did you say this boy is a wealthy man?”
Wang Guk-seong replied with a smile.
As someone with the status of a Geoin, he spoke confidently without appearing at all subservient, even before a giant like Zuo Zongtang.
Wang Guk-seong was always a grand gentleman except when he was in front of his wife, Lee Geom-min.
“He may still be young, but he is much wealthier than my wife.”
Every time I came to Shanghai, I liquidated a significant amount of gold and showed people that I possessed many British pounds.
Therefore, people in Shanghai thought of me as a much wealthier man than those in Russia did.
Zuo Zongtang knew well how rich Wang Guk-seong’s wife, Lee Geom-min, was, so he looked quite surprised at the news that I was much wealthier than her.
“What brings such a wealthy man all the way here to Hanyang?”
“I often stop by Shanghai for business, and since I am close to Brother Wang here, I came to visit him.”
Wang Guk-seong added with a laugh, “He is closer to my wife than to me. They share the same surname, and the fact that he has to do business at a young age is similar to my wife’s situation, having to manage a large fortune as a woman. If you talk with him, you will see; he is a boy with the insight to manage a vast fortune of millions and tens of millions at such a young age. Daein, please do not look down on him for his age and have a conversation with him.”
Zuo Zongtang nodded and spoke with me while treating me to a meal.
When he suggested a meal, I half-expected a chicken dish given the name Zuo Zongtang, but no chicken was served.
As expected, General Tso’s Chicken was not actually created by Zuo Zongtang.
After testing me with a few questions, Zuo Zongtang realized that I knew much more than my age suggested and began to ask more serious questions.
“…So, are you saying that we cannot learn foreign technology?”
“I am not saying that you cannot learn the technology, but rather that learning only the technology is of little use. Every technology in the world has a spirit and an ideology at its foundation. Western history and scholarship are by no means inferior to those of China. I am saying that if you only learn the surface-level technology without learning the foundations beneath it, you will never be able to catch up with the West.”
“Take guns as an example. Guns are weapons that originally came from the West, but how much have they evolved since the guns you used when dealing with the Taiping Rebellion, Daein? Back then, everyone loaded gunpowder and bullets through the muzzle, but now all Western guns are loaded from the rear. Even a single gun has advanced this much in such a short time. If you simply mimic and make Western guns now without understanding the root of this progress, they will all become useless in just twenty years. Of course, I am not saying that mimicking and learning right now is in vain. Learning naturally begins with imitation, so this is the correct order. I am only saying this to mean that you must not stop learning for a single moment just because you have succeeded in making guns and ships now.”
My words implied that merely imitating the West through things like Jungcheseoyong would never allow them to follow the West properly.
However, in China’s current situation, going any further than that was impossible, a fact known by both me and Zuo Zongtang.
Our conversation eventually progressed to the Haebang-Saebang Debate.
The Haebang-Saebang Debate was a dispute between Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang over which area China should focus its defenses on.
Li Hongzhang argued for Haebang, or maritime defense, claiming they should strengthen the navy against Western invasion.
Zuo Zongtang argued for Saebang, or frontier defense, claiming that China’s greatest threat was not the Western nations coming by sea, but Russia.
“Daein, your suppression of Yaqub Beg’s rebellion was an act of stopping Russian invasion, and you have truly achieved a great feat that will last a thousand years. Other Western nations, excluding Russia, merely want commercial interests in China, so they cannot be called a fatal internal disease. However, as nearby Japan is rising, there is a danger they will become a great enemy of China in the future.”
Zuo Zongtang spoke with an expression of disbelief. “Are you saying that tiny Japan will become a more dangerous enemy to China than the West?”
“Clearly, the current Japan is no match for China. However, Japan is a country performing Western-style reforms that China cannot achieve right now, and since they are close to China, they will become a threatening enemy to China in ten years.”
Of course, I was not saying this expecting Zuo Zongtang to listen and put it into practice.
If this country could be fixed by listening to the words of a child like me, it would not have reached this point in the first place.
However, I needed to demonstrate my knowledge to leave an impression on the Chinese.
Joseon had not yet opened the port of Incheon, but it would open within a few years, and I would enter Joseon then.
Since I might travel on a Chinese ship, it was necessary to leave an impression on the Chinese in advance.
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