Kim Hong-jip held out a book titled Joseonchaekryak, or more precisely, the Private Strategy for Joseon, and spoke.
“This is a text given to me by a Qing Dynasty Seonbi named Huang Zunxian, whom I met in Japan. It is said to describe the direction Joseon should take in the future. It is a short piece, so I would be grateful if you could read it and offer your guidance.”
As a history buff, I had read many accounts of the text known as Joseonchaekryak, but this was my first time seeing the full content.
I had assumed it was a thick volume, but it was actually quite brief.
Upon reading the contents, it felt as though it contained exactly what Li Hongzhang wanted.
Essentially, it argued that Joseon needed to hasten the Opening of Ports, and since Japan and the United States were on the ‘good side,’ Joseon should establish diplomatic relations with them while diligently serving China.
That was the gist of it.
I was curious about Kim Hong-jip’s opinion before I shared my own.
“What is your assessment of this book, Jeongsa?”
“Since Huang Zunxian is a disciple of Li Hongzhang, the Governor of Zhili, it was likely written according to Li Hongzhang’s wishes. From the Qing Dynasty’s perspective, the Opening of Ports for Joseon is an immediate necessity. Is it not a text meant to encourage the opening by omitting the flaws of Japan and the United States while only highlighting their strengths?”
Indeed, a politician of Kim Hong-jip’s caliber could not have failed to notice the intent behind such a writing.
“As we can see from the Un’yō Incident, Japan is constantly looking for an opportunity to devour Joseon, and the United States is a country that does not intervene unless there is profit to be gained. Therefore, one must take the stories about these two countries in this text with a grain of salt. However, I believe it is a decent enough content to persuade those who are hesitant about the Opening of Ports.”
“Do you believe Russia’s intention is truly invasion?”
“Russia is a great power with the largest landmass and population in the world, yet they have no hesitation in expanding their territory. As stated in this text, they are a country like the Qin state of the Warring States period. Looking at the current state of the world, it can certainly be compared to the Warring States period, but rather, that era was a ‘Small Warring States,’ while the present world is a Great Warring States. Furthermore, Joseon is a small country that does not even reach the level of the Han state or Zhongshan of that era, so it can be said to be in a state of precarious crisis. Yet, Joseon remains unaware of this crisis, thinking itself safe as long as it keeps its doors locked. Even a frog in a well would not be as blind as this.”
“Are you saying Russia will soon invade Joseon?”
“It would be difficult right now. Russia is truly a nation with an army of a million men. It is not an exaggerated ‘million,’ but a genuine million comprised of elite Western soldiers. They simply lack the capability to send such a large force all the way here. They recently sent troops to the territory they extorted from China, but they were unable to station a large army there because it was difficult to maintain a steady supply of grain and fodder. However, one day a railroad will be built, and once that happens, sending a massive army will pose no problem at all.”
Actually, I felt a bit apologetic because I was the one who had provided the grain and fodder for the Russian Army.
Kim Hong-jip frowned at the remark that the Russian threat was realistic, so I needed to soothe him a little.
“However, the land Russia is targeting right now is not Joseon, but the northeast of the Qing Dynasty.”
“Have they not already carved out a vast amount of land from the Qing Dynasty?”
“Westerners compare Russia to a bear. It does not mean they are dull; it means they are beast-like, filled with wild ambition. They are not a nation that will stop being greedy just because they devoured that much land last time. Moreover, Joseon has a large population on land with few products, meaning there is little to gain from invading. In contrast, the northeast of China is vast and sparsely populated due to the long-standing Bonggeumlyeong, so they will covet it even more.”
Only after hearing my words that Russia’s ambition would be directed toward Manchuria instead of Joseon did Kim Hong-jip’s troubled expression soften slightly.
This suggested that he trusted my opinion quite a bit, and I suspected the book I gave him yesterday had a significant influence.
I continued speaking.
“However, the real threat facing Joseon is not Russia, but Japan. It would be troublesome to mistake this.”
“Japan is not even one of the great powers. Are you saying Japan is more dangerous than Russia?”
The Susinsa envoys must have felt relieved upon arriving in Japan and seeing that Japan’s national power was not as strong as they had thought.
The military power of the Japanese army was not yet remarkable, nor was their navy.
On top of that, even to a Joseon person, their industrial capacity did not seem particularly impressive.
“Of course, Japan’s national power is not at a great level right now. However, Japan has already begun comprehensive Western-style reforms. In ten years, they will likely have built up enough strength to fight even China. And what about their ambitions? Not only did they force Joseon to open its ports by sending the Un’yō, but that unequal treaty is even more unfair than the ones China or Japan signed with various Western nations. An Opening of Ports without even a tariff… one cannot think of it as anything other than an intent to swallow the country whole.”
Well, having told him this much, I had shared most of what I could, and the rest was up to the people of Joseon.
Kim Hong-jip shook his head.
“Even so, we cannot treat Japan as an enemy right now, nor can we cancel the opening of the ports.”
“That is exactly right. I did not mean anything else other than that you should not follow Japan blindly and must maintain a distance and observe them. Now is the time to learn as much as possible from Japan.”
Kim Hong-jip then asked about his biggest curiosity.
“You mentioned yesterday that you wrote those books yourself. Mr. Smith, do you perhaps have a connection to Joseon?”
The reason he didn’t ask directly if I was Joseon but asked if I had a connection was likely because, if I were Joseon, I would be a criminal who broke the law by fleeing the country.
“I simply have a bond with the Joseon people in Primorsky Krai. Since I can speak several languages, I created books in the Joseon language for the Joseon children living in Russia with whom I have a connection.”
It was a strong denial, but I didn’t exactly lie.
There was no need to reveal that I was Joseon right now, yet I couldn’t let a connection with someone like Kim Hong-jip go to waste, so I created a suitable point of contact with him.
Well, Kim Hong-jip would probably understand well enough.
And I decided to offer one more favor.
“Japan is not a power with advanced science or technology. To truly know Western power, one must visit the United Kingdom, France, or Germany. If you are interested, I would like to sponsor a trip to Europe for about thirty individuals authorized by the Joseon government. How does that sound? I will cover the expenses.”
This was truly an immense favor. Considering the travel costs of this era, it would be a massive financial burden for a country at Joseon’s level, and I was offering to do it for them.
Kim Hong-jip shook his head.
“Joseon has not yet established diplomatic relations with various Western countries. It would be difficult. Furthermore, there is the situation of the Joseon Royal Court, making it difficult to send people abroad recklessly. I am truly grateful for your kindness, but given Joseon’s circumstances, it does not seem like a possible task.”
Since dispatching the Susinsa to Japan was not an easy task either, it wasn’t that I didn’t understand, but wouldn’t it be a waste?
“Even if diplomatic relations haven’t been established, traveling to those countries is perfectly possible. Those great nations will certainly be understanding of that much. No, in fact, they would welcome you if they knew the truth.”
In this era, foreign travel was not that difficult; one didn’t have to worry about things like passport or visa issuance.
My statement that they would be welcomed was not a lie either; even if that country’s government found out, they would treat them as guests from a mysterious, far-off land rather than illegal immigrants and provide them with lavish hospitality.
While they might do so to prepare for future diplomatic ties with Korea, a mysterious guest from a distant land was purely worth treating well.
Despite my explanation of these circumstances, Kim Hong-jip replied that it was impossible for the time being.
Since I knew the reality of Joseon, I understood that much.
“Then, even if not this time, please know that this is an offer that will always be valid if circumstances change in the future.”
Kim Hong-jip was deeply grateful for this.
“Thank you truly for showing such kindness. If an opportunity arises even a few years later, I will certainly accept your favor, Mr. Smith.”
Furthermore, Kim Hong-jip actually suggested that I visit Joseon.
“Mr. Smith, would you be able to visit Joseon sometime? Our Joseon is a country so starved for foreign information that we desperately need the guidance of someone as knowledgeable as you.”
“A visit to Joseon is something I also desire, but since diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Joseon have not yet been established, my visit does not seem like an easy matter. Even though I am a British citizen, might not the Joseon people, who are still ignorant of the outside world, harm me under the pretext of Cheok-sa? Moreover, I speak the language as well as a local and my appearance is similar, so they might even frame me as a criminal who fled from Joseon.”
Kim Hong-jip couldn’t urge me further because he thought it was a scenario that could fully occur.
“If you would allow my ship to dock at Incheon, even if I cannot go all the way to Hanseong, perhaps I could meet and talk with people from the Joseon government in Incheon.”
Joseon had promised to open Busan, Wonsan, and Incheon to Japan, but so far only Busan and Wonsan had been opened.
Incheon had not yet opened, and if I could go there first, I could preoccupy the trade with Joseon.
Furthermore, I could secure the coastal transport volume of Joseon.
I had heard that many of Joseon’s coastal transport routes were currently destroyed, so the tax grain from Honam and Yeongnam was not reaching the government.
Joseon relied entirely on the sea for transporting tax grain from the three southern provinces, but these maritime routes were now mostly destroyed and not being restored.
Coupled with the doubled population of Hanseong and the manipulations of the Gyeonggang merchants, the grain shortage in Hanseong was no joke.
My ship had a transport capacity of well over 20,000 seok by Joseon standards, so if the Joseon government requested it, I could solve this transport problem in an instant.
In fact, the major cause of the Imo Incident was this very grain transport problem.
If I were to solve this, the Imo Incident could be avoided, and the Qing Dynasty’s interference, which lasted for over ten years after the incident, could also be prevented.
I had originally planned to enter Joseon after the Daewongun was taken to the Qing Dynasty following the Imo Incident, but if this were possible, entering a bit earlier would also be meaningful.
However, the plan for me to visit Incheon by ship was not an easy task either.
Incheon was right in front of Hanseong, and if a giant Western ship were stationed in the waters off Incheon, it could give the Joseon isolationists a major excuse.
In the end, since neither this nor that was working, Kim Hong-jip spoke with an embarrassed expression.
“Regarding the proposal for you to come to Incheon, it might not be possible right now, but I will try to persuade His Majesty the King and make it happen somehow.”
“Joseon has its own circumstances, so please do not take it to heart. I only hope that the books I gave you will be of even a little help to the Opening of Ports in Joseon.”
Thinking about the books I had given him, Kim Hong-jip looked anxious to take me back to Joseon again, but I had no intention of entering Joseon territory without a solid guarantee of safety.
‘If I die, this world might disappear, man.’
Instead, I promised to produce a few more books for him.
“If you wish, I can print a few more copies of the books I gave you. Are you interested? Although it’s difficult right now, I have the printing plates in Russia, so I can make as many as you need.”
“If you could do that, I would be truly grateful. If possible, I would appreciate a hundred… no, about two hundred copies. I will prepare the costs even if it’s from my private funds.”
Because Kim Hong-jip had seen a Western-style printing press in Japan, he knew that if there were printing plates, books could be printed much faster than conventional ones, so he requested over a hundred copies.
He was certain that these books would become bestsellers in Joseon.
This was not a bad thing for me either.
The author of a book that deeply impressed or clearly taught someone something usually garnered a favorable impression, so it would be a significant help to my standing in Joseon.
Well, I should probably print about a thousand copies and distribute them.
***