The long and meaningful return to Joseon was now nearing its end.
It was impossible to immediately build factories and implant capitalism into this land, so laying the groundwork would have to suffice.
There was no reason to remain in this small country any longer.
It was time to bring things to a close.
Fortunately, Kim Eung-geun proved true to his word and immediately set events into motion.
"Since the year of Chongzhen, it is widely acknowledged that there has been no true ruler under heaven. Once, ritual and culture flourished in the East, but now leadership has passed to the West. This means the one who once held that position is no longer its rightful master. When the foundation of the state was established, it received recognition from the ruler of the world. Therefore, we must sever past relations and establish a new order."
In truth, since the Crown Prince's investiture, King Heonjong had already made clear that Joseon would no longer seek Qing approval.
Now, with a petition signed by nearly all officials under Andong Kim influence, the declaration became explicit.
"Qing's current suffering is not merely due to Western pressure. A massive rebellion has arisen in the south, meaning the imperial court has lost the people's support. And the will of the people is the will of Heaven. If the people have turned away, so too has Heaven."
"In Europe, rebellions have occurred across many nations, yet Britain alone remained stable. Does this not prove that Heaven's mandate now lies with Britain?"
To any true Confucian scholar, such arguments would sound absurd.
But none stepped forward to defend Qing.
"Since the will of the court aligns with that of the ministers, I shall now establish a new order for Joseon. We will no longer seek Qing's approval, nor accept its interference. Furthermore, we recognize that Heaven's principle resides in Britain…"
Declaring a distant Western island nation as the center of civilization was unthinkable.
Yet after everything that had already happened, opposition was weaker than expected.
Not absent, but weaker.
"Breaking with Qing is justified, but recognizing Britain's ruler as Son of Heaven is beyond reason!"
"Your Majesty! Do not abandon Confucian order for barbarian ways!"
Some scholars still resisted fiercely.
But this was expected.
Joseon's scholars had always resisted change, not out of foresight, but from a desire to preserve Neo-Confucian order itself.
And so, Kim Eung-geun acted.
"Those who openly oppose Your Majesty's decision defy not only the throne but the natural order itself!"
Officials flooded the court with petitions condemning the scholars.
In simple terms, the message was clear.
You have gone too far.
Soon, even rival factions joined in.
It was obvious.
This could not be happening without the king's support.
"The leaders of this opposition will be punished."
"Wise decision, Your Majesty!"
With the backing of the Six Ministries and the State Council, enforcement began immediately.
"Arrest those who disrupt the royal will!"
"What crime have we committed in defending the nation's foundation!"
"To oppose the future of the state is to endanger it. That is treason!"
The balance of power was absolute.
Those with authority against those without.
Those backed by the king against those who were not.
It was never a fair fight.
The scholars attempted to turn to public opinion.
But even that failed.
"Do the people truly support those who oppose the strengthening of the nation?"
"Certainly not."
Then the strategy shifted.
Isolate them.
Turn the people against them.
Without newspapers or radios, rumors spread by word of mouth.
"Have you heard? The scholars are opposing reforms meant to strengthen the country."
"Why would they do that?"
"If the country prospers, people like us will live better. Then they can no longer lord over us."
"Those bastards…"
For most people, Confucian ideology meant little.
But survival did.
And once framed this way, public sentiment turned quickly.
With that, justification was complete.
The scholars were isolated.
Their influence collapsed.
Then came the next step.
The academies.
Seowon.
Centers of learning, but also of corruption.
Tax evasion.
Forced labor.
Exploitation of peasants.
All well known.
"Can such institutions be allowed to remain?"
Even powerful factions hesitated.
But the momentum was unstoppable.
"Only those academies with proven legitimacy will remain. The rest will be abolished."
No one could object.
To resist now would be to stand against the entire court.
Enforcement was swift.
Resistance was crushed.
At the same time, ideological resistance was dismantled.
Not only through force.
But through exposure.
Through exile.
"Send him to Shanghai. Then to Algeria."
"Exile him to Vietnam."
"Transport him to Senegal."
One by one, the scholars were sent abroad.
To see.
To experience.
To understand.
The age of mass exile had begun.
And with it—
the old order of Joseon, built over centuries, began to collapse at a terrifying pace.
And as it fell,
Killian watched.
And found it… deeply satisfying.