Kim Hong-jip looked truly astonished when I said that I had written the amazing book he had just finished reading.
As he was about to say something, I spoke first.
“In addition to those books, I have others I wrote for the children of Sidimi. I will give those to you as well, so please give them a read.”
When I opened the door and gave a signal, Bitu and Chit entered, carrying about a hundred copies of over ten different types of books used in Sidimi, and placed them on the table.
They included ‘Development of Industry’, ‘Development of Machinery’, ‘The Natural World’, ‘Science and Technology’, ‘Joseon Language Textbook’, ‘Basic Mathematics’, ‘Greek Mythology’, ‘Iliad’, ‘Odyssey’, ‘Bible Stories’, ‘Aesop’s Fables’, ‘Arabian Nights’, ‘Grimm’s Fairy Tales’, ‘French Fairy Tales’, ‘English Fairy Tales’, ‘Northern European Fairy Tales’, and ‘Southern European Fairy Tales’.
Everything from ‘Development of Industry’ to ‘Basic Mathematics’ were textbooks used by the children of Sidimi.
They contained content meant to teach the children of Sidimi basic concepts that were, by the standards of this era, quite advanced.
From ‘Greek Mythology’ to the various collections of fairy tales, they were condensed storybooks created to give children who had fully mastered literacy something to read.
I had included Greek Mythology and Bible stories because I felt they were essential for understanding the psychological foundations of Europeans, while the other fairy tale collections were simply compilations of stories that children would find enjoyable to read.
Education does not consist solely of what is taught in schools.
Discipline at home and the process of seeking out things one does not know are absolutely necessary.
Furthermore, for children who have newly learned Hangul, it is necessary to internalize what they have learned by providing them with plenty of reading material.
These books were all condensed versions, so they were easy to make.
Since the content was short and already in my head, writing the text itself usually only took a day or two, while proofreading actually took more time.
“I have prepared about ten copies of each. So, you can share and read them with the rest of the Susinsa party who came with you.”
“Mr. Smith, just who on earth are you…?”
“How about you read these books I wrote today, and we can discuss things in detail tomorrow?”
Joseon politicians are basically bookworms.
Kim Hong-jip was also a scholar who had passed the civil service examination and had kept books close his entire life.
He seemed confused about whether to satisfy his curiosity about the books I gave him or his curiosity about me first.
I told him to read the books first and immediately withdrew.
“Well then, I shall see you tomorrow.”
Meeting Kim Hong-jip today was a great stroke of luck.
Fundamentally, I do not trust most Joseon politicians of this era.
This applies not only to the reactionary Conservative Faction but also to the politicians of the Enlightenment Faction.
Kim Ok-gyun and Park Young-hyo were people who shattered Joseon’s last golden hour for survival with a gamble that could not succeed, and the Daewongun is a legendary troller.
I am not just talking about the isolationist policy or the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung carried out during his time in power.
The Daewongun bears serious responsibility for most of the incidents that occurred after the Imo Incident; he was a man who held back the numerous policies the Royal Court attempted to implement until the fall of Joseon.
In the midst of all that, if there are people I evaluate highly, they are exactly two: Kim Hong-jip and Eo Yun-jung.
By chance, I formed a connection with Kim Hong-jip today and was able to give him books that would broaden his perspective on this era, so it was a great stroke of luck.
However, Kim Hong-jip and Eo Yun-jung are also people I have only encountered through history.
I do not know what kind of personalities they have, nor do I know what thoughts and ideologies they hold privately.
For now, I have to establish this connection and judge the rest gradually.
And if they only show disappointing behavior, our connection will end there.
However, if they show sincerity in reforming Joseon, I plan to help them.
While the biggest reason Joseon eventually fell was the aggression of Japan, the biggest reason Joseon could not achieve modernization on its own was a lack of finances, but I have a lot of money.
A lot, a lot.
Even if I only help with that and nothing else, the reform of Joseon will not be difficult at all.
***
Kim Hong-jip had a truly extraordinary experience.
Meeting a boy who claimed to be a British person named Victor Smith was unusual enough, but the boy’s Joseon language was too fluent, and he seemed too wealthy.
Furthermore, what about the contents of the books the boy said he made himself?
Although Joseon was in the dark regarding Western affairs, it was not as if there were no books explaining Western conditions.
Quite a few Chinese-made books in Hanja about the West had been brought in.
However, the books he read today were different from those.
There was far more knowledge about the West in even half a volume of the books he encountered today—since he had only read half of one—than in all the knowledge of the West he had encountered throughout his life.
Moreover, the contents of the books clearly explained how the West became wealthy and powerful, and how they came to possess technology that the East could not keep up with.
The boy Victor Smith said he was a British person, but based on his appearance, he was clearly of Eastern descent.
He was quite large in stature, but looking at his face, he was roughly fifteen years old?
He couldn’t help but wonder how someone of that age could possess such profound knowledge.
Looking at the books Victor Smith had left behind, Kim Hong-jip could not tell which he was more curious about: the contents of the books or the identity of the boy.
His mind was very confused, but Kim Hong-jip was a man who knew his priorities.
He took one of each type of book Victor Smith had left and set them aside for himself, then called the others to distribute the rest.
The people who came at Kim Hong-jip’s summons were surprised to see the many books on the table.
Books themselves were not surprising objects, but all the titles were written in Eonmun.
Bak Jeong-yang asked.
“What are all these Eonmun books?”
Hong Yeong-sik and Seo Gwang-beom also asked with puzzled expressions.
“These have Western bindings, but how can there be Western-bound books written in Eonmun?”
“Good heavens, even the titles are amazing. ‘World Affairs’? Why is the title so grand?”
Yu Gil-jun also spoke.
“Are these the books that boy Victor Smith gave you? Is that boy a Joseon person by any chance?”
Kim Hong-jip shook his head.
“It is true that these are the books Mr. Victor Smith left behind, but I do not know if that boy is a Joseon person.”
Kim Hong-jip did not mention that these were books Victor Smith had written himself. For some reason, it felt like something he shouldn’t just bring up carelessly in front of everyone.
“You know how there are Joseon people living across the Russian border? He said these were books made to teach those children.”
While they were talking, a few people who had entered with them began to examine the contents of the books, and those who started reading immediately became so absorbed that they stopped talking.
Hong Yeong-sik said.
“What is with the content of these books that everyone is reading without saying a word?”
Then Hong Yeong-sik, who had just spoken, also opened a book titled ‘World Affairs’ and began to read, and after a moment, he too became absorbed in the book and began reading without saying a single word.
The people who had been talking noisily became quiet in an instant, and the only sounds heard in the room were the sounds of their breathing and the turning of pages.
Kim Hong-jip cleared his throat and spoke.
“Hmm, it’s good that everyone is reading, but this is my room, so everyone take them to your own rooms to read.
There are multiple copies of each type of book, so you can take turns reading them.”
Bak Jeong-yang said.
“I cannot believe how such books can exist in this world. I feel as if my eyes have been opened wide by this book today.”
Hong Yeong-sik, Yu Gil-jun, and Seo Gwang-beom also spoke.
“Aren’t these exactly the books we need most right now? How can such books exist in this world?”
“Just what is that boy’s identity?”
“If we can just take these books back to Joseon, our mission will be a great success.”
Kim Hong-jip shook his head and said.
“I understand, so let us have a detailed discussion after everyone has finished reading the books. Everyone, please withdraw with the books; I must read as well.”
Everyone who had entered the room withdrew with about ten books each, and Kim Hong-jip began reading the books Victor Smith had given him once again.
The next morning, everyone had lost sleep from reading the books and could not wake up for breakfast.
The hotel staff, worried that something might have happened, knocked on their doors.
In any case, their official mission was finished, and all that remained was returning home and holding a small banquet before their departure, but Kim Hong-jip told the Manager.
“Everyone lost sleep reading the books we obtained yesterday. Therefore, I would like to cancel all of today’s schedules.”
The Manager immediately said he understood, as it was a request from an honored guest, and sent people everywhere to announce that the Susinsa party’s schedule for that day had been canceled.
Everyone came to Kim Hong-jip with tired faces from reading all night and spoke.
Bak Jeong-yang said.
“Every book was of such incredible content that I simply could not sleep. Also, it was peculiar how the books were written horizontally like Western books and had spaces between words. At first, those parts hindered my reading, but once I started, I quickly became accustomed to it. Is this not also a strange thing?”
Kim Hong-jip had felt the same way, so he nodded immediately.
“I felt the exact same way about that part.”
Hong Yeong-sik said.
“That boy Victor Smith, who gave us these books, is truly a benefactor to us. And the Joseon children in Russia who are studying with these books are truly blessed. If these children grow up and return to Joseon to work for the country, it will be a blessing for all of Joseon.”
Yu Gil-jun said.
“You are scheduled to meet that boy again today, right?”
“That is correct.”
“Then, let us find a way to take that boy to Joseon.”
“How?”
“Well…”
“If there were a way, I would like to do so as well, but isn’t there no way? Even if we try to tempt him with wealth, he is rich enough to own a 2,000-ton steamship. By what means could we possibly take such a person to Joseon?”
Yu Gil-jun, having nothing left to say, closed his mouth.
Seo Gwang-beom asked.
“I heard you are meeting that boy again today; may we join you?”
Kim Hong-jip shook his head.
“Based on my conversation with him yesterday, he only wished to meet with me privately and did not want to meet many people. I understand your desire to meet him and talk, but we cannot treat someone who gave us such precious gifts carelessly, so please be patient this time.”
Hong Yeong-sik said.
“He can truly be called a benefactor to us. How could we be rude to him? We will leave everything to the Jeongsa, so please handle it as you see fit.”
That afternoon, I visited Kim Hong-jip’s room again.
I was concerned that Kim Hong-jip might be tired from reading all night, but fortunately, it seemed he had slept a little as he didn’t look that tired.
“I thought I couldn’t meet Mr. Smith while tired, so I got a bit of shut-eye.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried I might be disturbing your rest.”
“Disturbing? Mr. Smith is a great benefactor to our Susinsa, no, to our Joseon. The books you gave us yesterday were more precious than any valuable treasure. I thank you once again.”
After exchanging a few greetings and pleasantries like that, the conversation began in earnest.
Kim Hong-jip subtly asked if I was perhaps from Joseon, but I avoided the question, and seeing me avoid it, he did not press further.
“In that case, are you saying that the Opening of Ports and reform for Joseon should happen as soon as possible, Mr. Smith?”
“That is correct. Right now, the whole world is becoming connected, yet Joseon alone remains isolated. In this age, closing the country’s doors and not interacting with foreign nations is simply not possible. Did not Joseon open its ports to Japan because it couldn’t even defeat a single small Japanese ship? But on a global scale, Japan is a small, minor nation and doesn’t even count among the truly great world powers.”
“In Joseon, there are many opinions that we should use the power of China to block the Western powers.”
“China, too, could not overcome the power of those great powers and opened the country’s ports. They didn’t just open coastal ports; they opened all the way to Hanyang, which is inland up the Yangtze River. I have even gone as far as Hanyang to do business. With what power can such a China help Joseon? Moreover, they ceded land to Russia, so now Russia and Joseon share a border. You must never ignore this reality.”
“Actually, there is something I wanted to consult with you about, Mr. Smith. Please take a look at this book.”
On the small book Kim Hong-jip held out, the title ‘Joseonchaekryak’ was written.