Detective Ori Hides the Status Window - Chapter 214



Only Krnovel

214. The Rising Empire (2)

China was not the only empire so angry that it burned down.

At first glance, the fleet anchored in Manila in October 1764 according to the Gregorian calendar was unusual.

There are more than 10 ships of the line, and more than half of them are the latest models, less than 5 years old. It was a 74-gun type 3 battleship that had recently begun mass production in various European countries.

Admiral Tidman’s Manila expedition two years ago included many relatively old ships.

Of course, war is not just about equipment, but it was also true that ultimately it failed to bring China to its knees. Moreover, the main forces of the military at that time were the British troops and sepoys stationed in India.

However, the ‘main unit’ that came now was of a different level in all aspects, including numbers, equipment, and skill level.

This meant that Britain treated the value of the Chinese front as higher than that of India, almost equal to that of Europe.

It is a heartbreaking sight for British people.

Therefore, it was repulsive to the average human being.

François Julien du Dresnay, the ‘Knight of the Rock [chevalier des Roches]’ and the captain of the French 64-gun battleship Le Dragon that participated in the expedition, looked around the ships indifferently while standing in the port.

And the Englishman speaking next to me in French doubled the discomfort.

Because it accurately pinpointed the cause of the unpleasantness.

“There is nothing to worry too much about. Captain. You can think of him as just a spectator. “It would be difficult for that old ship to keep up with modern maneuvers and combat.”

The commander-in-chief of this fleet was Jervis Henry Porter, who commanded the flagship HMS Hercules.

Although he is fatherless, just like other rising wizards, Henry Potter does not rely on such uncertain and poor wands. This is because Hercules is equipped with 74 excellent instant death spells.

However, the instant death spell was not Porter’s. Du Drenne coldly sarcasm.

“I guess so. “It’s really perfect, probably because it was designed by stealing a ship from the Kingdom of France.”

Admiral Porter was not embarrassed. It’s the same as Geum Taeyang not being embarrassed when NTR’s scene is discovered.

“That’s right. In fact, at first I wondered if there was any design advantage to a ship that was so easily captured, but seeing its magnificent appearance makes me realize that its power really depends on people, not weapons.”

When Du Drenne fell silent, Henry Potter laughed out loud.

“It’s all in the past, let’s do better from now on. “Now is the time for both countries to cooperate.”

Du Drenne also experienced the same emotions that Koreans feel when Japanese people ask why they get ’emotional’ about the past when they should look at the future with a ‘rational’ attitude. He wanted to knock Admiral Porter’s nose down and ask him why he was doing this after something that happened three seconds ago.

But execution was impossible. Du Drennes well understood why the home country dispatched a warship, which would not be of much help in terms of military power, as an observer.

They were the victors of the Seven Years’ War, and that was a status they earned thanks to the Germans’ fantastic failure in the war.

France did not perform very well in Europe, and non-European countries were even more disastrous. In particular, naval power was almost extinct during the Seven Years’ War.

Battleships were all sunk, stranded, or even worse, kidnapped by the British Navy (this was the most common case). That is why Drennes, who came on behalf of the French Navy, had to come like a spectator with only one boat.

In exchange for gaining the southern Lowlands, France lost almost all of its overseas colonies except Canada and parts of Louisiana. Frankly, it was unclear how much longer America could maintain it.

On the other hand, even from the British perspective, the results of the Seven Years’ War were not enough to make up for the immediate losses.

So, instead of buying Chinese themed stocks alone, the UK formed a reading room and recruited customers.

France could not ignore it either. It is difficult for ordinary people in the 21st century to ignore coins, as they are burdened with student loans and loans for living expenses, but it is obvious how much money they will make in their lifetime. Like Russia, France could not sit idly by and watch Britain dominate the world.

However, reading rooms are not free. Britain demanded enormous military support in exchange for the British army taking over the main force of the Opium Crusade.

And there were no financial institutions willing to lend money to France.

Of course. Currently, France must rely solely on the benevolence of the British Navy for the security of its international commerce.

In the first place, credit has not existed in the Kingdom of France since the Knights Templar was burned to death 400 years ago because he did not want to repay the money. As with Joan of Arc, France has a traditional tendency to repay favors by burning them at the stake.

All the great merchants who were well-versed in history fled from France, citing ‘inevitable circumstances’. The Marquis de Pompadour and the king tried to secure loans by accusing a few seemingly wealthy men of treason, but this was not a method that worked well in the 18th century.

In the end, France had to mortgage several assets in its new territory, Belgium. A victory is a victory, even if only in name, and thanks to that momentum, domestic discontent was somehow able to be quelled.

The coordination of international dynamics in France and the UK was reasonable and meticulous in its own way.

However, criticism that it did not go beyond the level of symptomatic treatment was inevitable. This is because there is nothing to address the core cause of this mess.

To be honest, only one person was an exception.

David Bullen, former head of the Nagasaki Dutch company and now in charge of the battleship Nassau Weilburg, still showed signs of catatonia and stuttered.

“Ju, what you need to be careful about is Joseon rather than China. Those guys, they must be the culprits of all this. In reality, while Japan and China are suffering enormous damage, isn’t only Joseon, Joseon, intact? I have said this many times, but first we must invade Joseon and use it as a bridgehead. “The Europeans who were detained there should also be returned.”

The VOC, which had no choice as it was robbed from Joseon and driven out of Nagasaki and its home country was in decline, took this opportunity.

The Dutch government also did not want to give up all of East Asia to Britain. When the two came to an understanding, David Bullen, the former superior officer who was an escaped prisoner, was able to return as a captain.

However, Bull Run’s right to speak was not strong at this time. It’s the same reason why Spain doesn’t even care about their fingernails even though Britain is occupying Manila.

Henry Potter even showed a pitiful expression.

“It’s like being taken away by a hostage taker. Don’t you know Emperor Qing’s intentions? If we focus on Joseon, the intention is to strike right back in the southern region (Gangnam). So of course we have to deal with China first. After that, Joseon, which is isolated and without a support ship, will sacrifice its ports and Europeans on its own without any need for war.”

“Ma, what if the emperor orders Joseon to kill all Europeans if they don’t stop the invasion of China? Responsibility, can you take responsibility?”

“Of course I can take responsibility.”

That responsible declaration was not Admiral Porter’s.

The three looked back. A young officer who seemed to be well into his 40s took off his hat, showed respect to his superiors, and spoke.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to kill 100 Koreans for every dead white person and take their scalps? We Virginians are accustomed to dealing with savages. Please leave the vanguard to a veteran of the Indian war.”

Admiral Porter did not reprimand the officer.

Thanks to this, the purpose of Britain bringing a large-scale naval battle fleet here against the Qing Dynasty that was not particularly needed did not have to be revealed.

China, Joseon, and Japan are only primary targets. By investing this much military force, Britain’s goal was further advanced.

The European fleet is to deal with Europeans. Once the job is over, they will attack the ruined VOC and take over Java, and then isolate Indochina, which was supposed to recognize France’s interests, from both China and Java.

On the one hand, it sails through the South Pacific, which James Cook could not reach, and ultimately to the American Midwest (still occupied by France). France will never be able to maintain its overseas colonies for the long term.

There was no need to tell foreigners about this grand plan for maritime domination. So Admiral Porter simply nodded in satisfaction.

“I have high expectations of you. Colonel Washington.”

George Washington, the commander of the Colonial Regiment, commonly known as the ‘Continental Army’, which was largely reinforced by the Virginia militia, took a relaxed yet disciplined stance.

“thank you.”

* * *

In the last war, the Royal Navy suffered considerable damage from Chinese large-scale chemical ships.

An in-depth analysis revealed that the biggest cause was the fight despite the disadvantages of the wind direction.

And since it is now October in the solar calendar, the next three or four months will be the season when the northwest wind blows mainly.

Instead of building an altar and holding a ancestral rite, the British decided to wait until spring. In order to give China no room to prepare, only the leadership of the Manila main unit, including Admiral Porter, crossed to Taiwan disguised as a supply ship.

Colonel William Draper and Admiral Richard Tidman, who were in Taiwan, prepared to return to India.

This was a decision made by the company because the soldiers were very tired and, above all, the allowance for sepoys’ overseas expeditions was too burdensome. Anyway, I was able to achieve a major goal of securing Taiwan, so I was able to polish my appearance.

So the only men left were diplomat Robert Clive and interpreter James Flint, with a few troops.

Clive, who will have to deal secretly with Kim Un-haeng in the future for ‘black powder’, also shook his head at the theory of invasion of Joseon.

“At least one of North Korea’s politicians has international sensibilities. As Admiral Porter said, we can expect not only safe repayment of the hostages, but also possibly cooperation in the Chinese expedition.”

“Hoo. “Are you the Korean who gave me the tea tree a long time ago?”

“That’s right. This same man was appointed margrave of northern Joseon a year or two ago. The fact that he sent the lord who held the most powerful military power in Joseon to the Daecheong border speaks volumes.”

Although there are many misunderstandings about the Joseon Dynasty’s official system, in the end, the analysis was not that wrong. The British briefly talked about Ungong ‘Chunsik’ Kim, an influential general in Joseon.

However, George Washington was a little skeptical. he asked Clive.

“Is he a representative of the tribes of the country called Joseon? The Iroquois and Algonquian chiefs liked to ambush people from behind while pretending to negotiate. I’m a bit worried about the rear. Wouldn’t it be better to bring in the main force and land without China having time to use fire ships? We will also be able to ‘supply’ from various parts of the southeastern coastline.”

After destroying the enemy’s naval power, they landed here and there along the long coastline and repeatedly went on a Black Prince Edward-style plundering march. When the enemy’s large army came out in a hurry, they quickly ran away and jumped on a boat.

‘Successful Japanese pirates’ was the traditional strategy of the British Navy. Washington may not know, but it was also the method by which Britain pushed the American Continental Army to the brink of destruction in the future War of Independence.

However, Clive gave me a ‘colonial country bumpkin’ look before answering.

“There are two big problems with the colonel’s opinion. First of all, China is not a country isolated by a coastal blockade. If that were the case, our EIC would have tried that method first. China is a world in itself. “We can’t kill it without blocking the inland canals.”

Washington, who came from an American colony that would dry up and die if the sea was blocked, could not help but be greatly surprised. How in the world can there be such a country?

Oriental expert Colonel Clive continued his explanation.

“But of course, large sailing ships cannot go up the river. In the end, we need small galleys and ferry boats to be used by land combat units, and most importantly, cooperation from local residents. Do you know that we have been playing here in Formosa for two years? There are already ships and key executives impounded here by the rebel forces in southern China (this refers to the Cheonjihoe and Jiangnan merchants). “But let’s attack the civilians on the southeastern coast, their base?”

Washington had no answer. Admiral Porter and Captain Du Drennes were heartbroken that Washington had suffered the embarrassment they would have suffered.

“And the seller of that ship is Joseon. Because she was connected by land, she could not openly rebel against the Qing, but Kim Un-haeng’s actions were clearly consistent in both North and South Korea. Doubts are mostly healthy, but wouldn’t they be irrational in this case? “I think this concludes all of the Colonel’s questions.”

Washington’s surprising insight that Kim Un-haeng might be a cunning traitor had to be quashed. Clive looked around at the people gathered.

“For now, it is wiser to wait and reorganize the military until the wind direction becomes favorable, as decided by Admiral Porter and other captains. Even so, aren’t the soldiers exhausted from the long voyage?”

Admiral Porter answered gloomily, crossing his arms.

“That’s right. “This is an element that cannot be avoided.”

Because James Cook was captured in Joseon, preventive measures against scurvy were not properly implemented in the British Navy. His knowledge was put to great use in the Joseon Liberation Army.

In order to avoid giving the impression that the expedition’s main body was being dragged along by Clive’s opinion, Admiral Porter ended the meeting by adding a word that was not particularly necessary.

“Then there is no change. In addition to continuing his deception about China, Colonel Clive must make contact with that Korean man named Kim Un-haeng. Even if you are not immediately hostile to Joseon, as the colonel said, a healthy suspicion is not a bad thing. “Now that we have the time, let’s put it to good use.”

“All right. “Admiral.”

* * *

As its name suggests, the Hyeopryeongun (挾輦軍) of the Hun Kingdom is the king’s closest bodyguard, carrying the king’s kite.

Since the Sangwang could not be lower than the king, Lee Hwon also assigned a nominal alliance army to his father, King Lee Geum.

There was so much work for the military training department to do that Suwon-bu created a unit with the same name and sent it out, but Suwon’s army was not inferior in quality as it was an elite force that played a major role during the Rebellion of Yi In-jwa.

Kim Yi-hwan, the first officer of the Hyeopryeongun, warmly welcomed Jeong Hoo-gyeom, who came to Namhansanseong Fortress under the pretext of ‘acting on behalf of Prince Yongdu to offer his greetings to King Sang.’

There was no need to get into political talk right away, so I needed an ice breaker. Jeong Hoo-gyeom, who was thinking about the right words to say, looked at the flower pot in Kim Yi-hwan’s room and asked.

“What is this? “The flowers are very beautiful.”

I think I saw it somewhere, but I couldn’t pinpoint it. Kim Yi-hwan said as if it was no big deal.

“Didn’t a man named Lee Deok-mu enter Gangwon in the form of Seo-eol this time? His father highly regarded the study and recommended it to those around him, and this is the medicine he taught him. And the man was well-versed in all things, and he told me that although this flower did not look very similar at first glance, it was of the same family as tobacco or eggplant. They say even Westerners know this.”

Several concepts passed through Jeong Hoo-gyeom’s brilliant mind.

Kim Un-haeng (to be precise, Chundang, since Kim Un-haeng had no authority) was the first person in the Joseon Dynasty to appoint Seo-eol to an important civil official position.

This is a repayment and a sign of support for the medical community. This is a signal that the door to Seoul will be opened in the future.

And in Jeong Hu-gyeom’s opinion, this is also a check on the Western missionaries who are favored by the Crown Prince in Chunbang and are envious of other subjects.

As expected, Kim Unhaeng is also secretly helping them. This is to prevent harm to the crown prince if he falls.

‘And the fact that Seo-eol was able to enter Chunbang means that other subjects also thought that Western priests were undesirable. This is an opportunity to greatly reduce the crown prince’s prestige.’

Kim Yi-hwan just said ‘Seol’ and ‘Westerner’ together, but Jeong Hoo-gyeom was completely manipulated. The scenario was completed in his head in an instant.

All you have to do is to eliminate the crown prince while Kim Un-haeng is relieved by his duty, and then sweep away Kim Un-haeng as well. Kim Un-haeng only thinks of them as the Yongdu Daegun faction, and would not have thought that they even dream of reinstating the Shang Dynasty.

It was worth it. If it were not for the current situation where the military was rushing north one after another, it was something that even Jeong Hoo-gyeom and Princess Hwawan could not have dreamed of.

In that case, there is no need to mess with Kim Un-haeng’s child for a long time now. Jeong Hoo-gyeom believed that, unlike that stupid guy, he could minimize the exposure of information.

So, after sharing meaningless words of gratitude with Kim Yi-hwan for a while, Jeong Hoo-gyeom soon parted ways and left the room.

Kim Yi-hwan looked somewhat disappointed.

Jeong Hoo-gyeom was so caught up in his grand scheme that he didn’t know the name of the flower he saw today.

Lee-hwan Kim reached out to the beautiful garden plant that Westerners call ‘Angel’s Morning Glory.’

However, I didn’t touch it.

Author’s Note

1. The 74-gun class 3 ships of the line, represented by the Temeraire class and Slade class, began to be built in large quantities around this time. It is the result of an appropriate compromise between the old multi-deck large battleships that had difficulty resisting waves and the existing 50-60 gun battleships that were somewhat lacking in firepower. The design itself originated in France, but the British military who seized it also thought it was useful and mass-produced it. Some say it is ‘the final form of a wooden sailing warship.’

2. The Knights Templar, which often appears as a conspiracy theory group, had a strong character as a financial institution. At the end of the 13th century, Philip, King of France, owed a huge debt to the Knights Templar, and as a novel way to get rid of the debt, he accused the leader of the knights, Jacques de Molay, of homosexuality and had him burned at the stake.

This happened 400 years ago at the time of the story, but even since then, monarchs in Europe, especially France and Spain, have mainly raised funds in this way. They suddenly start a fight with the Jewish community and confiscate all their property and drive them out… … Here, the Dutch ‘Republic’, with the catchphrase ‘We do not oppress with the authority of a despot, but pay our debts fairly!’, became a refuge for many merchants and prospered.

3. It is true that Jervis Henry Porter (his father was his stepfather. He was not yet an admiral in history) and Du Drennes commanded Hercules (Hercules) and Le Dragone respectively during this period in actual history, but David Bullen (before that) (I am correcting the spelling that said ‘Volun’) was not in the Navy and never commanded Nassau Weilburg.

4. As you know, the Continental Army is the name of the American colonial army that George Washington led against Britain during the Revolutionary War.

5. ‘Angel’s Morning Glory’ is a type of Datura. Datura itself grows in East Asia and was used as a medicine or anesthetic. The place of origin is unclear, but Linnaeus classified it in 1753, after the flower had settled in America.

Most plants in the nightshade family, such as tobacco and eggplant, are toxic, and Datura contains a particularly strong hallucinogenic alkaloid poison. British troops mistakenly consumed this flower in Jamestown and suffered a mass poisoning.