Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 539: Observations of the Korean Enlightenment Sect

New houses made of green bricks and tiles, masonry and wood structures are lined up one after another. The spacious streets are filled with people walking and vendors, each with different movements and expressions. Especially the young storyteller standing in the crowd with his mouth slightly open and a gavel in his hand. He is vivid, and his expression and posture are exactly the same as those of a real person.

"Mr. Wuyuan, your painting skills are truly extraordinary. Even ordinary scenes of the market have a different charm under your brush, especially the commercial street scenes in the paintings. With just a few strokes, you have shown the real scenes of the lives of the Han people. It can be said that it is the finishing touch and superb."

"You are just a small skill. Enlightenment and reform, enriching the country and strengthening the army are the great ways. My mere painting skills cannot help the king relieve his worries, nor can they help the people solve their problems. I have been addicted to painting and wine and women for decades. If it were not for Mr. Yingxian's adoption, and Lord Li and Lord Park's guidance, I am afraid that I would still be like before, drinking, painting and calligraphy to relieve my sorrow, unaware of the vastness of the world and the changes of the times. Korea is too small, and there are too many people like me who are blinded. Today, we are in a major change that has not happened in 5,000 years. Western foreigners are invading, and Chinese civilization is in decline. If we don't wake up and make progress, the Kingdom of Korea may become a colony of Russia and Japan like Annan and Burma."

"The kingdom is plagued by internal suffering and conflicts, and external crises are lurking everywhere. France, America, Japan, Russia, and the Qing court all exert influence and control over the kingdom, especially the Japanese, whose intention to control and annex the kingdom is obvious.

In 1875, the Japanese warship Unyo invaded Ganghwa Island.

In 1876, the Japanese forced the kingdom to sign the humiliating Treaty of Ganghwa, and in 1882 and 1884 they conspired to instigate military coups.

Through the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese became increasingly powerful and their ambitions for the kingdom grew. Only by introducing new forces could the independence and autonomy of the kingdom be guaranteed.

Although the Qing court intended to fully control the kingdom's internal and foreign affairs, it was stale and conservative. Facing the provocation of the Japanese, it gave in step by step. Russia was too greedy and had been trying to obtain seaports and ice-free ports in the Far East. If it relied on Russia, it would be like inviting a tiger to repel a wolf, which would be more harmful. Only the Han Empire, far away from the Far East, maintained military strength in Songkhla and Lan Fang in Southeast Asia. The two sides were far away and there was no fear of the danger of annexing the kingdom. Strengthening relations with the Han Empire, learning the policy of enlightenment and reform of the Han Empire, and relying on the military deterrence of the Han Empire to maintain the kingdom's independent status and enhance the overall national strength of the empire is the key to saving the country and strengthening the country. "

"I don't know much about military affairs, but one thing is very clear. The kingdom has relied on the Central Plains since ancient times. Now the Qing court still has power and influence on the kingdom. If we directly establish a cooperative relationship with the Han Empire, will it cause displeasure to the Qing court?"

"The Han Empire and the Qing court are irreconcilable enemies. Strengthening cooperation with the Han Empire will naturally lead to interference from the Qing court. However, the "Ganghwa Treaty" signed in 1876, the "US-Korea Treaty of Amity and Commerce" signed in 1882, and the "France-Korea Treaty of Amity and Commerce" signed in 1886 were all signed under the witness of the Qing court. Each treaty clearly stipulates that the kingdom is an autonomous country. Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia also legally support the kingdom's independent status. Establishing a cooperative relationship with the Han Empire is legally an internal affair of the kingdom. Even if the Qing court is dissatisfied, it should not take any radical actions according to its previous attitude towards the Japanese, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and other countries."

"Mr. Zhichang, you have your own unique ideas when it comes to running a business, but when it comes to making decisions on state affairs, you and I are both laymen."

The middle-aged painter spoke directly, without any consideration for what he said, which might annoy the other party. He said to himself: "The Qing court strictly guarded against the Han people, and was especially worried that someone would raise the banner of the Great Defense of Chinese and foreigners and attack. I heard that a few years ago, in order to prevent the Chinese from going to sea to join the Han Kingdom, the Qing court even issued a ban on closing the sea again. If it were not for the interference of foreigners, the riots of refugees in various places, and the secret instigation of the Han local governors, the Qing court would never easily lift the ban. The Japanese, Russians, the United States, France, Germany and other countries traded with the kingdom, and the Japanese and Russian forces infiltrated the kingdom and even completely controlled the kingdom. The Qing court was at most dissatisfied, but if it was discovered that the kingdom had established a formal cooperative relationship with the Han Empire, the royal ministers of the Qing court would probably not sleep well every night, worried that the Han Empire would use the kingdom as a springboard to directly attack the city of Yanjing."

"Mr. Wuyuan, what you mean is that the kingdom should not use the power of the Han Kingdom to offset the infiltration of the Japanese?"

"No, no. It is imperative to use the power of the Han Kingdom to carry out reforms and curb the expansion of the Japanese. However, the response of the Qing court must also be taken into consideration. As for how to strike a balance between the two parties, it is a question that Your Highness, the Queen, and Lord Park, Lord Li and other monarchs and ministers need to decide. What we have to do is to follow the instructions of the Queen and express what we have seen and learned about the lives of the people, industry, government, army, navy, etc. of the South American Han Kingdom in words and paper drawings for reference."

"Mr. Wuyuan's words make sense, but there is one point that I feel I need to add. Mr. Wuyuan's painting skills are indeed exquisite. However, with the development of technology today, the cameras produced in the Han Kingdom can take pictures that are exactly the same as real people. In addition to Mr. Wuyuan's paintings, Lord Li and Lord Park also ordered me to buy two cameras and directly hired two Han photographers to take pictures of the local life scenes in the Han Kingdom that I have seen along the way since entering Songjiang Prefecture. I originally wanted to take pictures of the warships and shipyards docked in the port, but unfortunately I was stopped by the Han government. Fortunately, I took some pictures of the Han Army's marches, mobilizations, flour mills, textile mills, match factories, cement factories, electric lights, power stations, etc., and the Han government did not stop me."

"It's okay. I'm just a painter. I'm lucky enough to have traveled thousands of miles to South America and witnessed the revival and prosperity of Chinese civilization in a foreign land. I have no regrets. The difference between photography and paper painting is just a small matter. There's no need to take it to heart."

The middle-aged painter packed up the canvas and turned his head to look at the train station behind him. He saw another train arriving and groups of Chinese and white people wearing different clothes got off the train. Then he turned back and said with a smile: "Let's go. It's a great pleasure in life to travel around the world like a free and easy person."
"Brother Tiao, why are you looking toward the north? Could it be that your honorable wife has come to greet you personally?"

A group of men dressed like ordinary local people got off the train, and one of them joked.

"Brother Dongxing, you misunderstood. I just saw two men wearing Korean clothes, one of whom looked familiar."

"Brother Tiao Qing is in charge of the commercial exchanges between the Far East, Korea, and Japan. In recent years, Korea has opened its doors, and some merchants with official backgrounds in the Kingdom of Korea have gone overseas to conduct commercial trade. Perhaps they are also attracted by the empire's developed industry and come here to purchase industrial products."

“If you have an official background in the Kingdom of Korea, it’s more than just purchasing industrial products.”

Wu Diaoqing smiled and said, "The Kingdom of Korea has been plagued by internal and external troubles. Some time ago, influenced by Japan, some pro-Japanese officials used the excuse of Korean female immigrants to instigate the King of Korea to restrict the Empire's immigration and commercial activities. The Kingdom of Korea doesn't know much about the real situation of the Empire. In order to avoid risks due to policy changes, it may secretly send personnel to the mainland to gather information and assess the overall strength of the Empire."

"The Koreans are very cautious and have some means to maintain their independence by moving between the Qing court, Russia, and Japan."

"Small countries are just trying to survive and have no choice but to respond."

Wu Diaoqing said indifferently.

"Everyone, it's getting late. We have to go to the palace to see the emperor tomorrow, and we need to attend the Imperial Victory Parade the day after tomorrow. Let's find an inn nearby to have a meal and rest for a night. We can discuss other things later, okay?"

"We have been traveling on the sea for a month and have been rushing here from Songjiang Prefecture. We have been traveling non-stop all the way. It is time to have a meal and have a good rest. Governor Mei, General Li, Director Wu, let's go."

(End of this chapter)