American: Native Empire

“I wonder what His Majesty will create this time. Something amazing, no doubt.”

“Heh. He always comes up with innovative inventions. You’re stating the obvious.”

The people’s attention was drawn to the news that Kim Ki-woo was personally leading a research project at the imperial palace. 

Every time Kim Ki-woo was deeply involved in a research, the outcome was always astounding.

The people had no doubt that it would be the same this time. 

And after the demonstration of the telegraph was completed, the development of the telegraph was widely announced.

“Telegraph? It can transmit information across long distances in an instant? Is that even possible?”

“I can hardly believe it myself, but why would the government lie about it? Besides, it’s made by His Majesty himself. You’re not doubting him, are you?”

“Hey, we’re living like this thanks to His Majesty. How could I doubt him? Don’t misunderstand me.”

“Right?”

“Of course! I just hope that the rumored telegraph will be installed all over the empire soon.”

The people were swept by the anticipation of the telegraph. 

The continent was so vast that they all understood the importance of fast information delivery.

And there were those who felt this more urgently than anyone else: the merchants.

“Telegraph… This is bound to be a huge hit. It’s like the railroad. Once you install it, you can keep making money from it.”

“That’s not all, is it? The information delivery speed will be much faster in this vast continent. That’s what matters.”

For merchants, information was money. There were many cases where they suffered huge losses because information was not delivered on time.

They also knew very well how much money the railroad brought them, having experienced the railroad business.

Of course, they couldn’t make more money because of the contract they made with the government, but even so, the money they earned from the railroad was very satisfying.

Therefore, the merchants eagerly waited for the official announcement from the government. 

And as they expected, a related policy was announced soon after.

“A Ministry of Communications… This is a new field that just started, but they’re setting up a ministry for it?”

“Sigh. I guess we can’t get a large-scale investment this time either.”

“Well, we have to get a business license with our own capital or whatever we can do.”

The first announcement was the establishment of a Ministry of Communications. 

This was quite unusual. 

Usually, a certain field had to grow enough to be independent as a ministry after it was established.

But this time, they started with a ministry from the beginning. 

The smart ones guessed that Kim Ki-woo had a great interest in the communication field.

“The market related to communication will grow fast in the future. We should keep an eye on this area.”

“I’m sure the government will push for policies to support it too. Well, it makes sense, considering that the information delivery speed is incomparable to before.”

“Then let’s try to get involved in this too.”

Needless to say, the establishment of a Ministry of Communications was not the end. 

Especially, the merchants paid more attention to the following announcement.

“Hmm… Is the telegraph business going to be similar to the railroad business?”

“Tsk. We won’t be able to invest much this time either.”

“We have to do it anyway. We can’t just let the government and the giant merchants get all the benefits.”

Kim Ki-woo offered a condition similar to when he created a railroad boom: he limited the usage fee above a certain amount and prohibited discrimination in using telegraphs.

However, there was no significant opposition from merchants as they expected this condition. 

The problem was that he started to receive investments for installing and operating telegraphs from government agencies.

“I trust investing in government agencies.”

“Yeah. Once you invest, you get a steady amount of money coming in. How nice is that? There’s no risk of failure either. Heh.”

“How could it fail? It’s impossible for railroad or telegraph businesses to fail.”

Railroads were still being installed all over the continent. 

And investments for middle-class railroads continued as well.

Kim Ki-woo not only charged low prices for railroads, but also distributed most of the profits from railroads to investors.

Not only that. 

He also carried out most of his railroad construction projects in barren lands with government funds. 

It was natural that he made more money than other merchants.

On the other hand, merchants had to make profits. 

So they distributed less money to investors than government agencies did.

Of course, those who invested up to their limit in government agencies invested in merchant groups as a second option, but their investment amount was incomparable to that of government agencies.

As a result, merchant groups either obtained business licenses with their own capital and a small amount of investment, or quickly invested in government telegraph projects.

Of course, since they prohibited investing more than a certain amount of capital, the merchants were not satisfied with the amount they invested.

Kim Ki-woo wanted to keep major fields like railroad and telegraph under his control. 

That’s why he redistributed most of the profits to investors.

But he set a limit on investment for individuals or groups. 

Kim Ki-woo’s goal was to let as many people as possible enjoy the steady income from these businesses.

The economy would run healthily only when wealth was distributed evenly among many people.

Kim Ki-woo was very wary of excessive concentration of wealth by a few rich people.

***

The people eagerly waited for the start of the government telegraph project investment. 

And soon enough, the investment began.

“Huh… Will I be able to invest today?”

“Hmm. I think I’ll have to come back next time. I have no idea when this line will end. Tsk, I should have come earlier.”

“You sound like it’s past lunchtime. It’s still early in the morning…”

The people were stunned by the enormous crowd that lined up in front of the Imperial Bank.

After the establishment of the Ministry of Finance, the existing Financial Agency changed its name to the Imperial Bank. 

Since the restrictions on banking were not lifted yet, the Imperial Bank was the only bank in the empire.

And this time, too, the Imperial Bank was in charge of investing in the government’s telegraph project. 

So, even though the sun had not risen much, a huge crowd gathered in front of the Imperial Bank.

The scene was like a bank run. 

Of course, the difference was that they were not shouting to take out money, but to put it in.

“Haha. This is amazing.”

Kim Ki-woo laughed as he looked at the investment funds that had come in just a week.

“Even after a week, the enthusiasm hasn’t subsided, has it?”

“That’s right. The branches of the Imperial Bank all over the country have no time to rest from opening to closing. Because of that, other banking operations are not going smoothly either.”

“Hmm. We can’t have any problems with banking. We can’t repeat the same situation every time something like this happens. So, increase the number of Imperial Bank branches nationwide.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Minister of Finance accepted Kim Ki-woo’s words without hesitation. 

He also didn’t want a negative image of the Imperial Bank to spread.

‘What a huge amount of investment. Well, I expected this to happen.’

There was nothing wrong with having a lot of investment funds. 

It meant that they could expand the telegraph project explosively.

And as expected, they were already ready to lay down telegraphs.

“Minister of Communications.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry for setting up the Ministry of Communications so abruptly, but do your best to organize it for the time being. The Ministry of Communications will not only manage telegraphs in the future. I’m sure that communication methods will continue to develop.”

“I will live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”

Telegraphs were just the beginning. 

From telephones to wireless communications, the role of the Ministry of Communications was very important.

“And Minister of Construction.”

“Please give me your orders.”

“Don’t worry about money and lay down telegraphs as if you’re covering Wakan Tanka continent. Can you do it?”

“Just leave it to me!”

“Minister of Industry, build power plants in appropriate places so that telegraphs can be fully supplied with electricity. Electricity will not only be needed for telegraphs, but also for many other fields in the future. So keep in mind that you have to increase power plants steadily.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Good. I trust you all to do well as always.”

That’s how the imperial meeting ended and the telegraph project finally began in earnest.

The government hired a lot of manpower. 

As a result, especially in North Continent, there was a severe shortage of manpower. 

It was less so in mainland and south regions.

The important thing was that once again, a huge boom swept over the empire.

***

“It’s been a while.”

“I greet Your Majesty, the great emperor.”

“Haha. Sit down. Do you want some tea?”

“If possible, I would like some coffee.”

“Possible or not.”

Kim Ki-woo gladly accepted Yi Hwang’s request and asked his attendant to bring coffee and cocoa.

Gulp.

“Mmm… I really like this sweet cocoa. Coffee is too bitter for me.”

“Is that so? I love coffee that wakes me up when I’m sleepy.”

Kim Ki-woo didn’t bring coffee seeds from modern times in the first place. 

He wasn’t particularly fond of coffee.

But somehow coffee became popular. 

It seemed that people’s tastes didn’t change even if history changed.

“I heard about it. A lot of blood was shed.”

“It was a necessary measure for the reform of our country. Your Majesty is always grateful to Your Majesty for your generous grace and great support.”

Kim Ki-woo nodded at his words.

‘Well, I’m giving him a lot of support.’

Of course, it was money that had to be paid back in the distant future, but it was practically free since there was no interest. 

The economy was booming so inflation would steadily lower the value of money.

Not only that, he also supported him with six-shot revolvers, rifles, and even machine guns.

Even at this moment, there was a lot of resistance to Joseon’s reform, but the power of the opposition was so weak that it couldn’t even compare with the reformists.

“I see. Now tell me why you really came to see me.”

“Why do I need a reason to see Your Majesty, the great emperor?”

“Haha. Okay then tell me. You’re not going to keep going like this, are you?”

At that, Yi Hwang said with a serious expression.

“It’s nothing else but I need a large amount of food again. Is it possible to get it on the same terms as before?”

“Hahaha. How much more do you want to weaken the power of the landlords?”

At Kim Ki-woo’s teasing, Yi Hwang smiled awkwardly.

“I see. Well, you saw it on your way here. The agricultural productivity of the empire is growing fast.”

“That’s right. I didn’t know the power of agricultural machinery was so great.”

Yi Hwang shivered slightly as he thought of the agricultural machines that were constantly being developed.

The performance of these machines was truly shocking. 

They could cultivate a vast land with a few people.

‘If these machines are distributed in this vast continent of Wakan Tanka… How much food will be produced? I can’t even imagine.’

Not only that, but now there were also things called telegraphs that were installed everywhere. 

Yi Hwang felt overwhelmed by the expanding momentum of the empire.

This turned into a desire for reform in his homeland, and it became a driving force for Yi Hwang to work harder.

“You have to save a lot of food anyway, so do your best for the reform.”

“We will never forget your grace in Joseon.”

After Yi Hwang left, Kim Ki-woo smiled as he looked at the situation in Joseon.

‘Killing off the landlords…’

Kim Ki-woo had transferred a large amount of food to Joseon at almost nothing. 

And the reformists led by Yi Hwang dumped this food into their domestic market at a very low price.

As a result, the food prices plummeted. 

The ones who suffered the most from this were obviously the landlords.

They had no profit from producing food, so their power shrunk in no time. 

The landlords in Honam region, which was a grain-producing area, were the most opposed to the reform, so the power of the opposition was greatly weakened.

At the same time, the farmers in each region also lost the need to farm in an instant. 

The empire’s enormous food made this possible.

Because of this, many farmers lost their jobs. 

If it had just been like this, there would have been a lot of social chaos, but Yi Hwang was not someone who did things without thinking.