INV 42

Even if they had entered a flashback, they weren’t following Gwak Deukcheon’s exact flow of thought.

It was as if his past was being edited and displayed like a movie.

Perhaps that was why the history from before Gwak Deukcheon was born was also being presented alongside it, like archival footage.

The scenery, which had started in the Enlightenment period, gradually traced further back in time. The Western influences that had naturally blended in began to vanish, returning to a background where the Policy of Isolationism was increasingly enforced.

Kwon Yihyeon lowered his eyes for a moment and quickly recalled his elementary, middle, and high school Korean history curriculum.

‘If it’s around this time, then it’s that period…’

The late Joseon period. This term, referring to the era of the Korean Empire and the end of the Joseon Dynasty, spans from the time Heungseon Daewongun took power until the year of the National Humiliation of 1910.

If one were to ask what kind of man this Heungseon Daewongun was—a man who could arguably be seen as the start of pre-modern history…

‘Hmm, he was a man with many achievements as well as many faults.’

Heungseon Daewongun was the great-grandson of Crown Prince Sado and the biological father of King Gojong; evaluations of him were divided back then and remain so to this day.

However, setting aside right and wrong and looking only at his innate ability…

From the era of Sedo politics to the establishment of the Korean Empire. He was the one who led the macro-history of the late Joseon period.

One could say Heungseon Daewongun was truly a man of the times who held an entire era in his hands and shook it.

Among his words, there is this saying:

“If there is something harmful to the people, I will not forgive it, even if Confucius himself were to come back to life.”

“To think he was a figure who said such things in Joseon, where Confucian thought was so deeply rooted, even if it was the end of the era.”

“I can say that too, Kwon Yihyeon. So don’t hold others in such high regard so easily. I am more remarkable.”

“Ah, yes…”

Despite having such a direct and intense personality, in his youth, he disguised himself as a dull libertine and acted foolishly. This was to avoid being checked by the Andong Kim clan. While it is said in unofficial histories that he was called a “ruined noble” or a “dog of a funeral house” and hung out with all sorts of street thugs, it is at least true that he was poor enough to have to sell orchid paintings with his exceptional talent.

Thus, while fooling the world’s eyes by acting as if he had no ambition for power, he was nonetheless a presence with a brilliance that could not be hidden, like an awl in a pocket.

It was he who tipped off Queen Dowager Sinjeong, the highest elder of the royal family at the time, to retrieve the royal seal when King Cheoljong passed away. Even after that, he satisfied the Queen Dowager by making his twelve-year-old second son—who was a 17th cousin by blood to the former king—the adopted son of King Ikjong to match the generation gap, while simultaneously connecting the royal lineage to Queen Dowager Sinjeong’s line.

Through such outstanding management of worldly affairs, Heungseon Daewongun was the one who placed his twelve-year-old flesh and blood on the throne as Gojong, the last king of Joseon, and jumped into the political arena as regent.

He implemented various reform policies, expanded finances, and abolished evil customs. During the Daewongun’s regency, all documents for executing orders were attached with “The Daewon-wi commands” instead of “The King says”; it was said that the entire world trembled at those five characters.

However, while currency-related issues were pouring in, he pushed for the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace unreasonably, making the lives of the people difficult. The persecution of Catholics was also an unavoidable issue. Afterward, as Gojong grew up and stepped forward to rule personally, his conflict of opinion with Empress Myeongseong became increasingly sharp. Finally, it led to impeachment, and he was forced to step down from his position.

“Tsk tsk, that wouldn’t have been a situation a human with such a strong ego could endure.”

“Are you watching a drama right now? Priest?”

“Is there any difference? To me, there hasn’t been a single piece of content to enjoy for ten thousand years. History is quite wholesome, isn’t it?”

“If it were just history, sure. The problem is that we’ve intruded into someone else’s flashback!”

Yet, it wasn’t as if the country ran well after Heungseon Daewongun was ousted.

The Min family, who seized power, abused their authority, and corruption became severe. It reached a point where both the common people and many Joseon Confucian scholars came to miss the days of Heungseon Daewongun’s regency.

Is that why? Even after his fall from power, Heungseon Daewongun, who repeatedly aimed for a comeback, tried to use the Imo Incident as an opportunity for resurgence but was thwarted by the Qing Dynasty, kidnapped to Tianjin, and even insulted as the “Vicious Man of Joseon.” Despite this, his indomitable spirit, which would not break, was truly admirable.

However,

The year of Eulmi, the year of the Blue Sheep. October 8, 1895. Empress Myeongseong of the Korean Empire was assassinated (The Eulmi Incident).

The Japanese garrison trampled into Gonlyeonghap, the King’s bedchamber, with muddy feet. They played by shooting court ladies to death with pistols as if it were a game.

And they tried to make it as if all this tragedy had never happened.

They tried to hide the sky with their palms.

That is the Eulmi Incident, an atrocious and horrific tragedy that occurred at the end of the Korean Empire.

“…”

“…”

Idle words, words, words. Floating rumors, rumors, rumors. Distorted information, information, information.

It was an era where one could not distinguish what was truth and what was a lie.

It was a time when there was no power to do so.

At this moment, Kwon Yihyeon was grateful that Chacha kept his mouth shut.

Afterward, Heungseon Daewongun was confined, and even when the Agwan Pacheon occurred, he lived in retirement and seclusion until he died the month after witnessing his wife’s death.

Chacha, after a quiet silence, added a word.

“He was a man with a truly strong presence for a human. No matter what perspective you take, he at least will not change.”

“…I suppose so. Perhaps.”

A man with many achievements and many faults. When seen in a textbook, that was an impression that could end there, but witnessing a person’s life directly through images left a bitter taste.

There are likely many histories yet to be revealed, and what is known as fact in modern times might be a lie. Still, what is certain is…

He was the only one in Joseon history to rise to the position of Daewongun while alive. As such, he was called by a great variety of titles during his lifetime; officially, he was called His Excellency Daewon-wi, His Excellency Daewon-wi, and in his later years, His Highness Guktaegong.

Since he mainly lived in Unhyeongung Palace, the people also called him His Excellency Unhyeon.

He had a will like steel and a firm goal, possessing an indomitable fighting spirit to carry out his intentions no matter what obstacles arose. Just as much, he was arrogant, cruel, and exclusive. For every advantage in all creation, a disadvantage of equal measure always follows.

If asked if he was a figure all the people could love, the answer was no. However, even after dwelling on it, no answer came as to whether he could only be hated. However, given that this politician was affectionately called “His Excellency Unhyeon” or “His Excellency of Unhyeongung” among the people, perhaps everyone recognized that he was, at any rate, a great man acting for the sake of the country.

A man of the times thus set. It was the year 1898.

Twelve years later, the dynasty of Korea is severed.

At the very end of the late Joseon period, when the shame of the National Humiliation took place.

Gwak Deukcheon was born during that period.

“It’s 1910.”

“My young groom was a teenager who studied quite hard back in the day as well. How commendable.”

“…Do I still look like a boy to you?”

“No. But you’re not quite a fully grown man yet. You’re still underripe. Kwon Yihyeon.”

Kwon Yihyeon wanted to snap back and tell him to keep his own mouth “ripe,” but he became dazed by the scene that unfolded in the next moment.

Countless people who had rushed out into the streets were wailing.

The year of the White Dog, the twenty-ninth day of the Month of Rising Heat in the year of Gyeongsul. August 29, 1910.

That day when the sorrow of losing one’s country was thrust upon all the people.

When the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was forcibly signed and the humiliation of the deprivation of national sovereignty was experienced with eyes wide open, Mr. Gwak, Gwak Deukcheon’s father, swore he would never forget this disgrace. No matter what happened, he would not forget.

Nevertheless, the principles that pierce through all creation never changed.

One might want to resent the heartlessness, but time flows regardless.

As if to say that the living must somehow go on living.

Every single day, Mr. Gwak struck his chest in the agony of having lost his country, but when hunger strikes, what else can be done? Taking over the kitchen work on behalf of the woman in labor, he put rice in the pot every day on schedule. Since there was no reason to go out of his way to let freshly cooked warm rice get cold, he prepared various side dishes that Mr. Gwak’s wife said she wanted to eat, even meticulously peeling fruit, and called the family together to sit around. As Mr. Gwak seemed to hold his ground and endure, the family members, who hadn’t been able to compose themselves for a long time, also regained their laughter. It was a good thing. It was a good thing, but Mr. Gwak’s heart was still churning.

He knows. He is aware. Even if one experiences something maddeningly painful, humans are beings who do not live submerged in distress every single day. Enjoying happiness is not a luxury. He should be taking good care of his wife and the child in her womb, yet as a husband, he was having such distracting thoughts.

But, but…

How could the sorrow of losing one’s country fade so easily?