Joseon Military Officer, Establishing Balhae - Chapter 354



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Episode 354

The Age of Electricity – Epilogue (2)

Hongikjeon Hall of Geonheunggung Palace in Seoul.

The Minister of War Song Chan-hwang and the Chief of the Ikmunsa, Kim Sol, entered Hongikjeon and met with Taegeon. Song Chan-hwang spoke first.

“The expeditionary force commander’s report, written three months ago in Siberian local time, has arrived.”

“Three months? The transmission speed has gotten quite fast.”

“It seems to be due to the active cooperation of the Buryat Federation and the Gyeongcheon Line railway.”

The equal rights of the aimags that make up the federation were guaranteed, and a system was adopted to re-elect or re-select the president every four years through indirect voting by the Council of Elders, and finally a new state encompassing the area around Lake Baikal, the Buryat Federation, was born.

“Good. Keep going.”

“We have driven out the Cossack bandits from the Khakass and Topa territories, but we added that there is a risk of reinvasion as they are men who risk their lives for furs.”

“Of course. They will continue to invade relentlessly from now on.”

“Then should we continue to station our expeditionary force there?”

“For the time being, that’s how it should be. Until the indigenous nations are armed and able to defend themselves. What’s the situation on the ground now?”

“It will be a small state, but they are trying to move towards a state system. It seems that they are determined to change the name of the Yenisei Kyrgyz Kingdom to the Khakass Kingdom and make it a proper state.”

“Are they still planning to maintain the feudal system there?”

“Yes. The land is vast and there are many natural constraints, so it seems difficult to escape the system of a federation of several principalities.”

“It can’t be helped. That’s their limitation. It will change as time goes by. What about Tuva?”

“A meeting of a similar nature to the National Foundation Preparatory Committee is taking place there as well.”

The invasion of the Kazaks and the expedition of the Balhae army shook the indigenous societies of central and southern Siberia. It provided an opportunity for many ethnic groups that had remained at the stage of tribal community society to take a step forward toward a state system.

“What’s the situation with Yangsanjin, Surijin, and Chumikan?”

The three places Taegeon mentioned were representative fortresses located in the northernmost part of Balhae territory.

“I have received encouraging news that the number of resident merchants is increasing. Even though the distance to travel is somewhat far, they are opening branches in these border fortresses because they can obtain furs, skins, and reindeer skins. Among the Awongki nomads, those who have a taste for business live in groups near the fortresses. They collect furs and hand them over to our merchants, and in return they buy weapons, grain, iron tools, and other things. Since it is so profitable, I have also heard reports that some have abandoned their nomadic work and are engaging in commerce.”

“That’s also a good sign. Maybe they can become the backbone of their country.”

“Yes, that’s what everyone thinks. After all, it’s thanks to our border forts that their settlements have sprung up across the border.”

“Tell them to send an instructor when they hand over the gunpowder weapons. It won’t be long before Cossack bandits invade their territory.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

“What about Sahara?”

“A fourth place of exile has been created inland, but the migration of ordinary farmers has not yet taken place.”

The fourth place of exile was the future Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk region.

Tae-Gun nodded with a bitter expression. The development of Saharan Island was so far away.

“Anyway, let’s just manage the settlement well. Development will come later.”

Tae-Geon turned his head and looked at Kim Sol. Then Kim Sol reported on the situation.

“The Yellow River border is now stable, but reports have come in that the west is in shambles. We have only just managed to establish a defensive line in the Yeoju and Jeongju regions to block the Qing army that has taken Luoyang.”

The Ikmunsa was obtaining internal intelligence from Ming merchants in Hong Kong.

“Haha! As expected. Does that mean you’ve given up on managing the West?”

“That’s not true, but I heard that since we are not in a position to send troops, we have neither the power nor the will to suppress any civil unrest that may arise.”

“Then Sacheon will be the biggest problem.”

It was not easy to manage Sichuan Province, a vast basin surrounded by rugged mountains. So it was said that Sichuan Province was almost in a state of anarchy until the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty. It was during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty that Sichuan Province came under the control of the central government.

“It won’t be easy for us to intervene in Ming politics. However, there is one way to indirectly harass Ming. That is, by helping a new political force grow in the Ming’s southern region through Hong Kong.”

“Oh, then you plan to separate the southern part of Ming?”

Taegeon nodded with a smile. Sichuan Province was expected to be the first to separate naturally, and Guangxi Province, where the Zhuang (Buzhang) people mainly lived, would follow the same path. In addition, the relatively large ethnic minorities living in the western mountainous areas of Guizhou, Yunnan, and Huguang Province would all participate in a movement for independence.

In addition to these, the southern provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, which were virtually cut off from the central plains by the huge obstacle of the Nanling Mountains, also had a high possibility of becoming independent. Since these provinces were quite different from the Han people of the central plains in terms of language and culture, whenever the power of the central government weakened, there were always movements to separate and become independent.

“That’s why Hong Kong is important. If merchants in the Guangdong area accumulate wealth through Hong Kong, something will definitely happen. So keep an eye on Hong Kong, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province, and other southern regions of the Ming Dynasty.”

“Yes, geometry.”

“Haha! Now that I think about it, I’ve pretty much completed my homework.”

Taegeon’s expression seemed quite relieved. This was because the international situation was unfolding as he had intended and planned. Japan was divided into three countries, and China was now going to be divided into several countries, including the Qing and Ming.

* * *

Nuri Guesthouse located near Seoul Station.

As soon as Henry Middleton entered the room, he slumped down in his chair.

“I bet you had a hard time today in many ways.”

John Sarris, who followed him in, asked Middleton with an expression that could not hide his excitement.

“What kind of country is Balhae? Is it really a new country that was founded less than 20 years ago?”

“It hasn’t even been 20 years, but since we inherited the legacy of the country called Joseon, the number 20 years seems meaningless.”

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“That’s true. Then what about Joseon? Joseon, which was on the verge of ruin due to the invasion of Japan, which was much more underdeveloped than them?”

“Well, certainly, considering that, I don’t think the current state of Balhae can be explained.”

“This guest house is like that too. How did they make it so clean and convenient? The beds are of the highest quality, and the tableware in the restaurant goes without saying. Everything is so tempting. So much so that I want to steal it.”

“Puhahaha! The Governor had the same thought as I did.”

Sarris burst into laughter without realizing it.

dripping!

“Come in.”

The door opened and British artists came in carrying a stack of paintings, which they placed on a table in the middle of the room. They were sketches that had not yet been colored.

Middleton stood up and examined the paintings one by one.

“You said it was a steam locomotive? It runs on steam power. The railroads and trains were amazing too. I definitely knew about this amazing vehicle through the Balhae newspaper. But when I actually saw it with my own eyes… Phew!”

Middleton recalled the first time he saw the train at Ssalhae Station. When it entered the station with a loud noise and smoke, all the foreign delegations were shocked. Not only the Asian delegations, but also the Spanish and Portuguese were no exception. Of all of them, the expression on the face of the Spanish governor Silva was the most impressive. The expression of shock and greed was so bizarre.

“You drew it well. Even Governor Silva’s expression.”

“It was so impressive that it stayed in my mind for a long time, and I was able to capture the image and turn it into a painting.”

The painter, who captured Silva’s expression on the canvas, said with a smile.

“Hahaha! Actually, you made the same expression several times today, didn’t you?”

Another artist also laughed and said:

Middleton raised her hand and caressed her face, for it stung as she listened to the painters’ conversation.

Sarris picked up another picture.

“This is Bonghwang Square. There’s a carriage, and the figures of the induction motor and steam engine are well captured.”

“That place was really amazing too. No, starting from Geumohdae before that. Geumohdae with all the tall buildings.”

Middleton shook his head.

He got up from his seat, opened the door, and went out onto the terrace. The streets of Seoul and the Nuri River, which were beginning to get dark, came into view.

“Even though Seoul is a new city, it looks quite big?”

“Yes, I heard from the interpreter that the development speed was so fast. So even if you come here in a month or two, the street appearance will be so different that you won’t recognize it.”

Middleton returned to her seat and picked up another painting.

“It’s a cotton textile factory.”

In contrast, Saris focused on the street scenes. There were Balhae men wearing hats and durumagi and women wearing beautiful hanbok. People riding bicycles were also depicted in considerable detail.

“Can’t we make something like this bicycle?”

“Maybe so.”

Middleton looked at the painter and said.

“This bike. Can you draw it in more detail?”

“Yes. I will draw it tomorrow.”

“Aren’t people’s clothes really pretty?”

“Well, it’s a costume I’ve seen a lot in Choryang. What impressed me more was the scene of cotton fabrics being spun out by machines in a factory.”

“Yes, that was true. That also drew exclamations from the delegation.”

“With such high-quality fabrics and cotton yarns being produced in such large quantities and so cheaply… I think Balhae will take away a lot of the market share of Indian cotton textiles in the future?”

“If you look at it from a distance, it will be like that. However, since India is much closer to Europe, it will not happen for the time being. Moreover, it is not easy to pass through the Southeast Asian waters where Dutch pirates are established.”

Middleton shuddered at the mention of events in Southeast Asian waters.

“I wish we could at least make a gentleman’s agreement.”

“It will be difficult. Isn’t piracy the only way they can get Balhae goods? If Balhae forgives the Dutch, then they can try.”

“The Dutch fleet is scary, but Balhae did not strengthen its alliance with them, so the benefits we receive have greatly increased. Strengthening our alliance is not necessarily a good thing.”

“That’s right. It’s really complicated.”

As the Balhae fleet entered the waters off Brunei, Dutch ships began to avoid coming near Borneo. As a result, the Straits of Malacca, the Sunda Strait, and the Java Sea became more dangerous seas for Portuguese, Spanish, and British merchant ships.

“I mean, these paintings. If they are painted in vivid colors and spread throughout Europe, wouldn’t they be able to sell even ordinary stones from Balhae in the future?”

“That’s true. When I was in my home country, the atmosphere was unusual. Porcelain, books, paintings, and manufactured goods came in in large quantities and spread widely among the aristocratic society. Isn’t that why many painters came over? I was like that too.”

Sarris looked at the painters and said. Then the older looking painter smiled and answered.

“For painters, Balhae is a land of dreams. It is a country worth visiting even if it means taking the long sea journey. There are many precious things that can be captured on canvas. The paintings of Choryang Port are an example. So many paintings are circulating in Europe that even though it was my first time seeing Choryang Port, I felt like I had been there many times. Furthermore, the paintings that contained the Balhae style really shocked painters. As a result, a school called Balhae School was already born in the art world.”

“Balhae faction?”

“Yes, it can be said to be an art school that follows the colors and depiction of the Balhae style. It is especially famous for its elegant lines. Also, Balhae itself is so mysterious, so Balhae school painters are treated in the same way.”

“It’s amazing that even industrial products, traditional crafts, and art are popular in Europe. Well, even I, who often come into contact with Balhae, am fascinated by it, so how much more so must Europe be.”

“That’s right. So we in Britain should invest more in the Eastern Sea Route?”

“Wouldn’t it be possible if this Seoul travelogue is published as a book and the illustrations are completed?”

Middleton nodded in agreement to the artist’s words. All the foreign delegations were now writing diaries. So everyone expected that this first visit to Seoul would be published in various books.

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