Sitting here like this, it suddenly brings back old memories.
The first time I came to Qing, I also had a rather… pleasant conversation with the Governor-General of Liangguang—Lin Zexu.
Or maybe not.
Memory has a way of polishing things. It might have been pleasant only from my side.
Still, he was the very image of an upright and loyal official… only to be slandered by corrupt courtiers and exiled.
I don't know whether he's still alive, or if he's already passed on.
If Qing had any sense left in it, they would have reinstated men like him and entrusted them with real authority—even if belatedly.
But looking at the man now standing here as "Governor-General," it's hard not to feel that Qing's fate is nearing its end.
A country in decline always reveals itself in these small details first.
To be blunt, this was something I should have anticipated the moment I took on the status of a royal kinsman of Joseon.
At the very least, if it were me, I would have absolutely considered the possibility that the other side might exploit such a position to interfere.
But just look at that dazed expression.
Those trembling eyes practically scream that he never even imagined it.
And that only makes me more certain.
There's still plenty left to squeeze out of them.
"Governor-General, is there something troubling you?"
"N-No… Your Highness. Even so… claiming that Your Highness is a royal kinsman of Joseon feels somewhat… unreasonable."
"Does it? And why would that be?"
"Well, that is because Your Highness is a noble of Great Britain—"
"And what does that have to do with anything?"
The Governor-General once again rolled his eyes around helplessly, unable to respond.
"To begin with, the reason our British Empire was even able to sign agreements with Joseon was precisely because Joseon recognized me as one of their royal kin. From that perspective, you could say Joseon is something like a younger brother to Britain."
"W-Wait a moment, please!"
Of course he's panicking.
If this line of reasoning settles, then Qing's claim that Joseon is its colony collapses entirely.
How dare they call a nation that is effectively Britain's younger sibling a colony?
That alone gives us a perfect pretext to intervene whenever we please.
Even someone as slow as him should be able to grasp that much.
"Is there perhaps some contradiction in what I've said?"
"Well… that is… of course Your Highness may frame it that way. However, wouldn't Joseon's own position be the most important? I believe it would be best to continue this discussion after Joseon's envoy clearly states their stance."
Just moments ago, he was saying he needed to return quickly because of the Taiping Rebellion.
Now he wants to stall for time.
But at this point, would Joseon ever give Qing the answer it wants?
Of course not.
He knows that too.
He's not expecting a miracle—he just wants to delay the inevitable beating for as long as possible.
"Very well. The Joseon representative is already on the way to Shanghai. They'll transfer ships and arrive here soon enough."
The problem, of course, is that delaying it won't make the blow lighter.
If anything, it'll hit even harder.
Still, if that's what he wants, I'll indulge him.
I nodded leisurely and granted Governor-General Xu Guangjin a brief moment of peace.
A few days later.
In not so long a time, Xu Guangjin returned—looking far more haggard than before.
Across from him sat me…
…and a very familiar face representing Joseon.
I had been curious who Joseon would send.
But I didn't expect to see him here again.
"Greetings, Heungseon-gun. I didn't expect Joseon to send you of all people."
"There were opinions among the ministers that, aside from Ambassador Kim Jwa-geun, I was the most suitable choice—especially since I am already acquainted with Your Highness."
If Kim Jwa-geun were here, he would have come.
But the Joseon ambassador in London couldn't possibly make it all the way to Hong Kong.
In a way, this was the best choice Joseon could make.
And the mere fact that Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung had come already revealed what position Joseon intended to take.
Even Qing seemed to sense something ominous, as Xu Guangjin hesitantly spoke.
"Heungseon-gun… does that mean you are a royal kinsman of Joseon?"
"Yes. By coincidence, it seems there are two royal kinsmen of Joseon gathered here today. Wouldn't you agree?"
I smiled warmly as I said it, and Heungseon-gun nodded with an equally awkward grin.
"H-Hahaha… Indeed. Your Highness is also a royal kinsman of Joseon. That is quite true."
"You see, Governor-General? Even Joseon acknowledges me as one of their royal kin. It's not just me making absurd claims."
"T-That makes no sense! Listen here, Heungseon-gun—while it may be true that His Highness is a royal kinsman, that does not mean he has the authority to represent Joseon or speak on its behalf!"
Xu Guangjin raised his voice in desperation.
But Yi Ha-eung was a man who, even in original history, rose to power through sheer cunning and perception.
He immediately grasped the situation and calmly shook his head.
"That is not necessarily true. Of course, being royal kin does not grant one the right to interfere freely in state affairs. However, as you can see with my presence here, the state may entrust important responsibilities to such individuals."
"Then are you saying Joseon intends to entrust such authority to His Highness as well?"
"There is no reason it could not. His Majesty has instructed me to offer His Highness our full cooperation in this matter."
"Full… cooperation?"
If they actually sided with the invaders who crossed their borders, that would be madness.
Joseon had no debt to Qing, nor any obligation of loyalty.
If this were Ming, perhaps there might be talk of moral duty.
But Qing?
Not a chance.
And emotionally speaking, with a bridge already built, Britain hardly felt more distant than Qing.
"Heungseon-gun, let us settle one thing first. Is Joseon a colony of Qing?"
Now that I knew Joseon's stance, there was no need to probe further.
My blunt question, Xu Guangjin's anxious expression—
—and Yi Ha-eung, who had been watching it all, firmly shook his head.
"No. Joseon is an independent sovereign state. I state this clearly here."
"What are you saying! Joseon is undeniably a tributary state of our Qing! This is clearly recorded in our diplomatic documents!"
"Of course. However, being a tributary state does not mean being a colony. We retain independent diplomatic authority, and our king is not appointed by Qing but comes from our own royal family. Your Highness—do British colonies possess the same rights as Joseon?"
"Of course not. Since when do colonies conduct independent diplomacy without approval from the metropole? Though there are exceptions—such as British Canada, where I, as a royal, serve as plenipotentiary with full authority."
Unless Qing princes were ruling Joseon directly—which they were not—this comparison didn't hold.
The tributary system and Western colonialism were fundamentally different systems.
Trying to force them into the same category was bound to collapse under scrutiny.
"So, Joseon is clearly an independent state, and Qing has been attempting to unjustly reduce it to a colony."
"Precisely."
"That's not—! It's not a complete colony, but rather a relationship similar to—"
"In any case, if Joseon possesses independent diplomatic authority, then Qing's claim collapses at its foundation. And if Qing attacked Joseon under that premise, then this is not an internal matter."
Which meant—
"This is an invasion by Qing of Joseon, an ally of the British Empire."
The very logic Qing had used to block British intervention had now turned against them completely.
What remained was simple.
Qing had attacked Britain's ally.
"Now then, Governor-General. Do you know what is being discussed in London? There are even rumors that Qing has allied with Russia to solidify its control over Joseon."
"W-What kind of absurd nonsense is that?! Russia is the nation that stole our territory! Why would we ever—!"
"Logically, it makes sense, does it not? The enemy of your enemy is your friend. Russia would welcome Qing's assistance, and Qing could abandon the already-lost Maritime Province in exchange for firmly subjugating Joseon."
"Th-That is absolutely not true! Qing has no intention of opposing Britain! We are already dealing with rebellion in the south—why would we provoke a war with your empire?!"
"Really? The Taiping Rebellion is merely an internal uprising. Surely Qing, the strongest power in Asia, can suppress a band of rebels? And yet, despite that, you sent troops to attack Joseon."
There was no way out now.
So I drove the final nail in.
"In London, there are voices calling for a declaration of war against Qing to protect our ally. If that happens… your coastal cities may suffer far worse than last time."
Xu Guangjin's face turned deathly pale.
He remembered.
The devastation.
And what would happen if it came again—while the Taiping Rebellion was still raging.
"Y-Your Highness! I told you—Qing has absolutely no connection with Russia! His Majesty despises Russia! We would never—!"
"Then prove it."
"…Pardon?"
"Or can't you?"
"I-I can! Tell me how!"
Hooked.
Completely.
I pointed calmly at the map of Manchuria and the Maritime Province.
"Under Tsar Nicholas's orders, Russian forces in Siberia are currently converging on this region. You are aware of this, correct?"
"…Yes."
"Britain fears that Qing and Russia may join forces to attack the Joseon and Japanese troops there. If their combined forces exceed ten thousand, that becomes a serious threat. That is why some argue we should strike Qing's coast preemptively. So—"
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"You understand what Qing must do to dispel these concerns, don't you?"
"…Surely you don't mean…"
Oh, but I do.
"Attack the Russian forces gathering in the Maritime Province."
"As quickly as possible."
How's that?
Simple, right?