The Bottom of a Large Company Does a Good Job - Chapter 495



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Episode 495: The Great Famine [5]

That day, I just returned to my accommodation like that.

Since I had already officially started raiding, or rather visiting, private homes with the samurai, there was no need to wander around at night without knowing the way.

When the count heard of our exploits, he slapped his knee.

Fortunately, the accommodation had seating furniture, such as chairs and beds, so I was able to sit down and play.

Certainly, since Japan had already established diplomatic relations with the sheep for a long time, it seemed that they had already prepared all the low-slung furniture.

“So that’s why this came so suddenly!”

What’s annoying is that you didn’t give it to me from the beginning.

They say they gave it to us only after seeing our power… … .

I thought this was the island-style fighting.

If you don’t like it, why don’t you just pick a fight with it?

If that were the case, I would have been able to head to Tokyo from Shimoda with peace of mind.

Even though our British Empire’s army is small in number, it would probably be able to drive out this pre-modern army without much difficulty, right?

“Well done. I was already confused as to whether this was rudeness or custom, but it turns out it was rudeness.”

I was so angry, but the Count didn’t seem particularly angry, perhaps because he was too broad-minded.

I was just analyzing the situation.

In the past, I would have just asked, ‘Is he a good person?’ but not anymore.

This is because we have learned that the aristocracy, especially the aristocracy of the British Empire, has a political aspect.

As expected, nobles are different. It’s not like they were born that way.

It’s just the position and education that lead to it.

As the Earl of Elgin was a place with considerable wealth and fame within England, he would have received an excellent education from a young age.

‘It’s not like that’s always the case… … The former Earl of Elgin died screaming while smoking cocaine… … .’

In 21st century America, when a young person comes in with a heart attack, the first thing they do is test for cocaine.

As cocaine is a common drug used in a country where over 90% of dollar bills contain cocaine, medical professionals must be aware of the complications that can arise from the drug.

Anyway, if the forced arousal caused by cocaine is difficult for even young people to endure, how much more difficult must it have been for an old man like the Earl of Elgin.

“In fact, isn’t it too much for us, Britain, to send troops to this remote area? We should have dealt with them as diplomatically as possible, but you did a great job. It’s a good thing that you repented your wrongdoings and came out like this.”

As expected, my guess was right.

The Count had no intention of taking this place by force from the beginning.

Actually, it can’t be helped.

Even though the Opium War ended so quickly and in a bland manner that it was difficult to even call it a “war,” the British Empire was still recovering the money it had spent in the war.

Of course, there is a lot of money to be made because the trade in fruits and vegetables has now become completely unfair.

However, the reason why the recovery speed is not so fast is naturally due to the troops maintained in places such as Hong Kong, which can be considered occupied territories.

‘Well, the military is something that sucks up all resources just by its existence.’

If we run it like North Korea, well… … it might be a little better.

This means that soldiers should be able to farm and raise chickens to become self-sufficient.

It’s not like that’s an army that never existed historically.

I also called it a dull field.

But the problem is that the military back then and the military now are quite different.

There are differences between soldiers who are good at stabbing and those who are good at aiming and shooting guns, and the military organization itself is also very different.

“You guys have already done a great job. In fact, I was glad that you were able to treat even a sick VIP, but I didn’t expect you to do this much… … As expected, you are not just doctors, but also sorcerers and sword masters.”

The count continued speaking with a laugh.

It wasn’t just furniture that had been brought in; there was also sake on the table that looked like it had been made with a lot of passion and care.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t takju, but sake that I knew.

The taste was also similar, so it was quite edible.

Rather, I felt that this was better than wine.

“Oh, I’ll try it. This is surprisingly good. The Japanese are better at making sake than I thought.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“Anyway, hmm… … If this happens, the long arm of our British Empire will reach all the way to Japan.”

“Do you think that would mean anything?”

The count tilted his head at my words.

It couldn’t have been just a gesture.

First of all, they know that I don’t have very good feelings toward Japan.

‘Actually, it wasn’t like that in the 21st century.’

What is Japan in the 21st century…?

Wasn’t this the country that had already coolly defeated Shogun MacArthur and transformed from militarism to liberalism faster than anyone else?

I lost my senses for a moment and tried to beat the US economically, but I got screwed again… … .

Rather, it was a country that listened better because of that.

It’s not for nothing that Japan is the 4th most favored country among Americans.

Considering that the first and second places are Canada and the UK, which are practically one country, and that the third place is France, which was on the same side during World War I and II, this is truly an incredible feat.

Japan was the main villain of the Pacific War.

‘If it were Japan today, the story would be very different.’

The problem was that 19th century Japan would soon fall into militarism.

I don’t know if that would happen to me alone, but there’s no way that would happen, right?

If Cheong was still alive, it would be okay, but Cheong has already lost his taste.

It’s been a long time since Asia was treated as a tasty morsel, not just a sick person.

In fact, not only our UK, but also France, which never fails to contribute in such matters, has also contributed.

In addition, they came from the Netherlands, the United States and even Germany.

They asked for Tsingtao, that’s when I found out.

Why is Tsingtao beer famous?

“It’s not meaningless. Russia. Aren’t they trying to move south from here too?”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, the Count answered.

The British Empire’s aristocracy always had maps lined up.

Considering that it was the mid-19th century, this was a surprisingly accurate map.

Certainly, I felt that there was a reason why Europe, and especially the British Empire, now dominates the world.

Joseon’s Daedongyeojido came out in 1861… … .

These guys have been drawing world maps this accurately for quite some time now.

“Oh, yes. That piece of land is really huge.”

“Yes, there are many people. They are also very greedy. If our British Empire had not pressed them properly, a considerable amount of land in mainland Europe would have already fallen to Russia. The Slavs are a bit like that.”

“Ah… … Yes. I guess so.”

Please don’t say I’m discriminating against people because I nod.

At that time, discrimination based on race, let alone ethnicity, was simply passive.

When you see what the imperialist powers have done, you wonder how people can do such things to their own fellow human beings.

The answer is simple.

You don’t have to see them as the same person.

Although they have similar eyes, nose, and mouth, if you think of them as something inferior and not human, then humans are capable of doing all imaginable evil deeds, and even things you can’t even imagine.

“It would be nice if we could utilize the blue… … but internal circumstances make it seem like that just won’t work.”

“Why is that?”

Think of the conquistadors.

They threatened to wipe out the natives and gave them the clothes of people with smallpox as gifts.

Of course, the cannibalism rampant in the Aztec civilization must have seemed evil to the Spanish soldiers who entered South America at the time… … .

It’s a bit much to use that one excuse to suck the marrow out of you until now.

Even civilizations that have nothing to do with the Aztecs are really suckers for it, saying, “See? Everyone else is human except us.”

Of course, I am not a person who would dare say such a thing in front of the Count.

If you think about it, it’s also a bit hypocritical of you to say something like that when you’re eating up even the nobility of the British Empire.

“It feels really awkward when you ask about Qing… … Please correct me if I’m wrong.”

Leaving that background aside, I first listened to the Count’s words.

Actually, I did that because it was something I was curious about.

There’s a saying that even if a rich family falls, it lasts for three generations.

Moreover, it was strange that Japan succeeded in modernizing through the Meiji Restoration, while the Qing Dynasty showed no sign of doing so and simply collapsed.

“The Qing is fundamentally an arrogant country.”

“Ah… … That’s absolutely true.”

Not just the Qing, but just the unified Chinese dynasties have been like that for generations.

It wasn’t without basis.

It was worth it.

It goes without saying that the Qing were better off just 100 years ago, when Western civilization had already entered the era of full-scale industrialization.

In fact, isn’t 21st century China incredibly arrogant?

If we do something, we say that we are a great country and different from small countries… … .

“Despite being badly defeated in the war with us, their attitude hasn’t changed. From what I’ve heard, they seem to believe that while the Navy has been pushed back, the Army is still the strongest.”

“Well… … it’s actually too big of a land for us to swallow up.”

“Yes, it’s different from India. The Qing have such a strong identity as Qing.”

Oh, the reason why the Count is so well-informed about world affairs is because the titles held by the Counts of Elgin for generations were foreign governors.

Even in the 21st century, it was the Earl of Elgin who personally tore down the walls of the Greek Parthenon temple in the British Museum.

Oh, it’s not the person in front of you right now, it was the previous count.

It’s almost like a pirate, but since that’s what the British Empire aims for, it’s naturally used with great care.

“But the military isn’t that strong. Didn’t I go to the Yeongcheong War with my father?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was there then too.

Although they did not engage in battle, they leisurely cruised through the battlefield on black ships, or steamships, which were rare even for the British Empire.

“The Navy suppressed the port, but it was through land warfare that the surrounding area was suppressed. How many casualties did our military suffer at that time?”

“There was almost none.”

“Thanks to you, we have saved lives, but we are not a threat. But the royal family is stubborn. If we continue to rely on those guys, we will suffer a great defeat when Russia seeks a warm-water port here.”

“Well… I guess so.”

Anyway, the problem is people who are too conservative.

The problem is that the world is running ahead of us, and we are holding on to only what we know, thinking that we will die.

Of course, this is not something that only applies to this period.

In fact, isn’t the 21st century changing so quickly that it’s strange to compare it to the 19th century?

However, as someone who has seen countless cases where the entire country was ruined or almost ruined because of the vested interests in hand, I could understand the fall of the Qing Dynasty more easily.