Dark-Haired British Doctor Chapter 495

Episode 495: The Great Famine [5]

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

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

The count heard of our activities and slapped his knee.

Fortunately, the accommodation had low furniture, such as chairs and beds, so I was able to play while sitting.

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 this came all of a sudden!”

What's annoying is that they 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 nation style of fighting.

If you don't like it, why don't you just fight it out loud?

If that were the case, I would have been able to calmly leave Shimoda and head to Tokyo.

Even though our British Empire's army is somewhat small in number, it would certainly be able to drive out such a pre-modern army without much difficulty, right?

"Well done. I was already confused as to whether this was rudeness or custom, but it was rudeness."

I was so angry, but the Count didn't seem particularly angry, perhaps because he was so generous.

I was just analyzing the situation.

In the past, I would have just thought, '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 side.

As expected, nobles are different. I'm not saying they were born that way.

It's just the position and education that lead to that.

As someone of the rank of Earl of Elgin, he would have received an excellent education from a young age, as he was a person of considerable wealth and fame even within England.

'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 a country with such a high cocaine user base that cocaine can be found on over 90% of dollar bills, medical professionals must be aware of the complications that can arise from drugs.

Anyway, the forced arousal caused by cocaine is difficult for even a young person to endure, so 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 Britain to send troops to this remote area? We should have handled things diplomatically as much as possible, but you've done a great job. It's a good thing that you, who harbored ill intentions, have repented and come forward like this."

As expected, my guess was right.

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

Actually, that's inevitable.

Even though the Opium Wars ended so quickly and in a bland manner that it was difficult to even call them "wars," the British Empire was still recovering the money it had spent on them.

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

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 would 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 military force never existed historically.

I also called it a dunchon.

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

There are differences between soldiers who can only stab or stab with a spear and soldiers who have to aim and shoot with a gun, and the military organization itself is also very different.

"You've already done a great job. Honestly, I was glad you were even able to treat a sick VIP, but I didn't expect you to go this far… Indeed, you're not just doctors, you're 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 I knew.

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

In fact, I felt like this was better compared to wine.

"Oh, I'll try it. This is surprisingly good. The Japanese are better at brewing 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 mind for a moment and tried to beat the US economically, but I got scolded once more… … .

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

It's not for nothing that Japan is the fourth most favored country among Americans.

Considering that the first and second places are Canada and the United Kingdom, 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 become militaristic.

I don't know if it would be different if I were the only one like that, but there's no way that would happen, right?

It would be okay if Cheong was still alive, but Cheong has already lost his taste.

It's been a long time since we were treated not just as the sick of Asia, but as just tasty prey.

In fact, not only our UK, but also France, which is always involved in such matters, has also contributed a spoonful.

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

I just found out that they asked for Tsingtao.

Why Tsingtao Beer is famous.

"It's not meaningless. Russia. Aren't they plotting southward expansion here too?"

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

The maps that the British Empire's aristocrats always carried were now spread out.

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

It certainly made me think that it was not for nothing that Europe, and the British Empire in particular, was now dominating 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 truly enormous.”

"Yes, there are many people. And they're also very greedy. If the British Empire hadn't properly pressured them, a significant portion of mainland Europe would have already fallen to Russia. The Slavs are a bit like that."

“Ah… yes. I think so.”

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

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

When you look at 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 inferior things that are not human, then humans are capable of doing all imaginable evil deeds, and even things that you could not have imagined.

“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 out the marrow of the people until now.

Even civilizations that have nothing to do with the Aztecs are really suckers, saying, "See? We're all human except for them."

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

If you think about it, it's also hypocritical of him to say something like that when he's even eating the British Empire's nobility.

“It’s really awkward of you to 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 signs of doing so and simply collapsed.

“The Qing is fundamentally an arrogant country.”

“Ah… that’s absolutely true.”

It wasn't the Qing, but just the unified Chinese dynasties that were like that for generations.

It wasn't without basis.

It was worth it.

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

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

If we do something, we will be considered a great nation and different from small nations… … .

"Despite their miserable defeat in the war against 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 remains the strongest."

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

"Yeah, it's different from India. The Qing have such a strong Qing identity."

Ah, the reason the Count is so well-versed in 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 Parthenon in Greece, which is now in the British Museum.

Oh, it's not the person in front of you right now, it's 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 we did not engage in battle, we leisurely sailed through the battlefield on a black ship, a steamship, which was rare even for the British Empire.

"The Navy suppressed the uprising up to the port, but it was through land battles that the surrounding area was subdued. How many casualties did our military suffer then?"

“There was almost none.”

"Thanks to you, we've saved lives, but we're not a threat. Yet, the royal family remains stubborn. If we continue to rely solely on them, we'll face a disaster when Russia seeks our ice-free ports."

“Well… I guess so.”

Anyway, the problem is that people are too conservative.

The problem is that the world is running ahead of us, and we are holding on to only what we know, as if we are dying.

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

In fact, isn't the 21st century changing so rapidly 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 due to chaos caused by vested interests, I was able to understand the fall of the Qing Dynasty more easily.