Even if I had planted the seed of suspicion, Tokugawa Ieyoshi was still the Shogun of an entire country.
He might not be an exceptional leader, but anyone in a position like that possessed a certain degree of instinct. Instead of immediately believing everything I said, he clearly wanted to test my intentions and understand the truth for himself.
"I have heard that the daimyo of Chōshū is an intelligent and capable man. Yet he spoke so carelessly…"
"It was not an improper remark. He was merely voicing concerns that any regional daimyo might reasonably have. I simply reassured him. But after reflecting on our conversation, I began to worry that if things went the wrong way, it might develop into something unpleasant. The daimyo of Chōshū believed I knew nothing about the situation in this country, so he spoke frankly."
"And by 'something unpleasant,' you mean…?"
"The phrase sonnō jōi was originally used on the continent by regional lords who expanded their power under the banner of expelling barbarians and serving the king. In this country it is sometimes called sonnō—revering the Emperor. If people wish to honor the Emperor, who is the foundation of the nation, who am I to object? But lately, this idea has been combined with expel the barbarians, and there are increasing numbers of people shouting revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians. That could naturally become a political burden for the Shogun."
Historically, the sonnō jōi ideology began spreading widely only after Japan was forced open by American pressure during the Black Ships incident.
But in this timeline, the United States had not yet entered the Pacific. Instead, the Tokugawa Shogun was using me to strengthen his authority. As a result, powerful domains began raising voices against Western influence.
Of course, I had been generously feeding their pride in Japan, so the sentiment would likely calm down over time. But information traveled slowly in this era.
If a daimyo hostile to the shogunate simply controlled the flow of information, people in his domain might never learn the truth at all.
"As Your Highness says, there are indeed a few troublemakers who shout such things. But they are a tiny minority. It is not something you need to concern yourself with."
"The reason people value history is because it tends to repeat itself. Sonnō jōi may be nothing more than a slogan, but the people who shout it usually desire something else entirely. Those who invoke such slogans rarely intend to truly enthrone the king. In fact, the Chōshū domain itself seemed very interested in British weapons. That makes one wonder whether they are truly committed to expelling the barbarians."
"You are saying Chōshū covets British weapons?"
"They showed great interest in Britain's military manuals and army organization. I have heard that Chōshū has achieved considerable success in domestic reforms recently and has produced many talented officers. So it seemed plausible."
Since I continued speaking naturally about matters that could not possibly be known without inside information, the Shogun had little choice but to believe me.
"So Your Highness also believes that their ideology could work against the shogunate."
"Of course. As I said, history proves this again and again. To them, it would take only a moment to paint the Shogun as a traitor—someone who threatens the Emperor and seeks to sell the country to Britain."
"…That does seem likely. I also suspected that such slogans were merely an excuse to strengthen their own power."
If the Shogun could simply crush the daimyos whenever they misbehaved, none of these worries would matter.
But even Ieyoshi must have sensed that the rising power of the great domains was becoming dangerous.
As I continued feeding his anxiety, the Shogun—already somewhat flushed with drink—could no longer hide his expression.
"A great mistake is like a thick rope made from dozens of thin fibers. In other words, when small warning signs accumulate, they can soon grow into a great disaster. It would not hurt for the Shogun to prepare in advance."
"Thank you for this valuable information. I will never forget Your Highness's kindness."
"However, if those people learn that I mentioned this to the Shogun, their hostility toward the West may grow even stronger. I would appreciate it if you kept this conversation strictly confidential."
"Of course."
The spark had been lit. Now the Shogun would naturally begin keeping the regional daimyo in check.
Of course, I had not invented everything. Once the powerful domains realized the Shogun was watching them more closely, their opposition would grow even faster.
After a moment of thought, the Shogun quietly poured more sake into my cup and asked in a casual tone:
"By the way, I heard that the trade treaty between our two countries will include a mutual defense clause."
"Yes. That will ensure that France or Russia cannot attempt anything by force."
"Does that mutual defense clause apply only to conflicts between nations?"
I understood the true meaning behind his question.
He was asking what would happen if the enemy was not a foreign country but a rebellious faction.
I gave him exactly the answer he wanted to hear.
"The British Empire will interpret the treaty as being signed with the government of Japan. In other words, if someone attacks the Japanese government, there is certainly room for the mutual defense clause to be invoked."
"Then it seems I have nothing to worry about."
"Even so, foreign intervention would not look very good. It would be best if such a situation never arises."
"Ha ha, of course. I merely asked as a precaution."
He sounded confident now.
But would he still laugh like that after facing the combined strength of the great domains?
From my perspective, it would be ideal if the Shogun were pushed to the brink. That would create the perfect excuse for intervention.
Of course, for that to happen, I would have to quietly support both the Shogun and domains like Satsuma and Chōshū.
What method would work best?
While I was organizing my thoughts, the Shogun tapped his cup lightly with his fingers and changed the subject.
"By the way, you will soon need to visit the place where His Majesty the Emperor resides. Will that be acceptable? His Majesty wishes to meet you personally. Moreover, any treaty with a foreign country must formally receive the Emperor's approval."
"Of course. I have come this far. It would be strange not to pay my respects."
"There is no need to worry! There are procedures and etiquette for an imperial audience, but His Majesty said that insisting on excessive formality during a meeting meant to strengthen friendship between our nations would be improper. Since Your Highness is the husband of Queen Victoria, the act of bowing will be replaced with the Western form of greeting shown to a monarch. So please do not worry."
That was unexpected.
Perhaps centuries of trade with the Dutch had taught them a thing or two.
If they had insisted that I kneel and prostrate myself before the Emperor, things might have become awkward.
"His Majesty must be a truly generous and wise ruler. Just hearing this makes it clear how sincerely he values friendship between our nations. Of course, His Majesty must have made this decision because the Shogun spoke of me with such loyalty."
"You have given me valuable information as well, Your Highness. It is only right that I return the favor. I look forward to our continued cooperation."
We ended the meeting with broad smiles and a firm handshake.
In negotiations, information was everything.
If I had not known the political situation of 19th-century Japan beforehand, would the Shogun have believed my words so easily?
No matter who sat in the Shogun's seat, they would have had little choice but to believe me.
Still, I hoped he would not feel too discouraged.
Even if history had continued unchanged, the Shogunate was destined to fade away.
Thanks to meeting me, at least the Tokugawa family would survive.
As a member of the Tokugawa family myself, I would ensure that the Tokugawa lineage endured.
So he could relax and rely on me.
Joseon — Hanseong
King Yi Hwan, who had recently ended the regency and begun ruling in his own right, was still carefully listening to the ministers as he developed his understanding of state affairs.
Even if royal authority was strong, a king not yet twenty years old could easily provoke resentment if he tried too openly to strengthen the throne.
Aware of this, Yi Hwan outwardly listened to his ministers while quietly waiting for his moment.
Recent international events were complicated and fast-moving, making it difficult to grasp the full picture.
For now, the most important task was to gather the ministers' opinions and make accurate judgments.
"So what you are saying, Minister of War, is that Qing will never defeat Russia?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I personally visited Beijing and witnessed the reality of Qing. The great empire that once dominated the world no longer exists."
"Then the order of the Middle Kingdom has already collapsed. Does that mean we, the Little Middle Kingdom, have inherited its mandate?"
"…Your Majesty. If we wish to preserve that order, we must first ensure that our country does not fall into the same situation as Qing—shaken by foreign invasion."
"That is certainly true. But the Westerners are said to be fierce and bloodthirsty. Still, I hear that we will soon sign an agreement with Russia through British mediation. Would that not be enough to ease our worries?"
It still felt unreal that Qing—once described as the center of the world—had become so powerless.
Yet the fact that it had been beaten first by Britain and now by Russia made it impossible to deny that the times had changed.
The King did not particularly like Kim Jwa-geun, believing him to be a powerful minister who could threaten royal authority. But he acknowledged that the man was intelligent and quick-witted.
That was why he had agreed without protest to the idea of signing a non-aggression agreement with Russia through Britain.
"Your Majesty. Such an agreement may extinguish the immediate fire, but it would only buy time. Unless Joseon develops the strength to repel foreign invasions, whether it is Russia or Britain, they will eventually covet our land."
"You are correct. But realistically, can this country increase military spending and strengthen its forces right now?"
"To be honest, it will not be easy."
"Even so, we cannot refuse to try simply because it is difficult. When we negotiate the agreement with Russia, we must see how Britain can be used to our advantage. By the way, when will this non-aggression treaty be signed?"
"Russia is currently at war with Qing, so we intend to request British mediation once the outcome is decided. According to reports from Shanghai, Killian Gore has accepted an invitation from the shogunate and is currently visiting Japan. Once he returns to Shanghai, we should send another envoy."
The King's eyes twitched at the unexpected news.
"Killian Gore is meeting with the Japanese? Why?"
"Perhaps because we are negotiating an agreement with Russia, they have grown uneasy. They may have invited him to arrange something."
"Hm. Killian Gore may have Western blood, but he was born in Joseon. Yet instead of visiting Joseon first, he goes to Japan?"
"Your Majesty. In Japan's case, their Emperor personally invited him. Moreover, this is only my speculation, but if he personally traveled there, Japan may be forced to give up considerable concessions."
Listening to him speak, it seemed Kim Jwa-geun held a particularly high opinion of Killian Gore.
Other ministers of the State Council did not seem as concerned, but Kim was different.
They accused him of exaggerating, but common sense suggested that a man who had personally met Killian could judge him more accurately than those who had not.
And among all the officials of Joseon, Kim Jwa-geun was the only one who had spoken with him directly.
"So inviting him to Joseon might bring more harm than benefit. Still, if the Japanese treat a man born in Joseon with such respect, we cannot simply ignore it without losing face. When Killian returns from Japan to Shanghai, Minister of War, you should visit Shanghai yourself. Discuss the treaty and consider what we must do to avoid being swept away by the turbulent currents of this era."
"I will obey Your Majesty's command. However, when I go to Shanghai, may I bring one additional person?"
"Since this will be an official mission, the size of the delegation must also be considered. If there are others you wish to include, organize it as you see fit. But if you are naming one person specifically, you must already have someone in mind. Who is it?"
"Someone who may have encountered Killian Gore before me. My investigation suggests otherwise, but I cannot shake my doubts."
"Someone who met Killian Gore? I heard that no matter how thoroughly his past in Joseon was investigated, nothing could be found."
Even if that were true, the State Council would not have submitted a false report.
So what explained this discrepancy?
"I cannot be certain. That is why I intend to verify it during this trip."
"You have made me curious. Who is this person who may have met Killian?"
"Your Majesty knows him well. A member of the royal family—Prince Heungseon."
"…Prince Heungseon?"
Why that name?
The King was momentarily stunned, but whatever the reason, confirming it would do no harm.
In the meantime, he granted Kim Jwa-geun permission to act as he wished.
If it succeeded, all the better.
If it failed, he could use it as an excuse to remove the Andong Kim faction and strengthen royal authority.
Either way, the King would lose nothing.
The young ruler decided not to rush. He would wait to see what answers Kim Jwa-geun and Prince Heungseon would bring back from Shanghai.