The Independence Association's movement to modernize Joseon lost the public's support due to a momentary misjudgment and died down.
Meanwhile, the Qing joins hands with the Boxer Rebellion, an extreme xenophobic group, and takes a final gamble that will determine their fate!

Volume 18 deals with the circumstances of Joseon and Qing, which each undertook their own modernization reforms.
The Independence Association, which had been carrying out a modernization movement in Joseon, was destined to disband due to King Gojong's constant restraint and misreading of public sentiment.
After that, King Gojong attempted to strengthen imperial power and modernize at the same time… .
Meanwhile, in the Qing Dynasty, modernization reforms were underway under the leadership of Emperor Guangxu and Kang Youwei, but the intervention of Empress Dowager Cixi and the Boxer Rebellion brought the country to a dead end.

In January 1898, the emperor personally visited Kang Youwei's court at the arrangement of Ong Donghua.
“In response to your inquiry, I will report on a plan for the survival of the country.
Peter the Great of Russia once transformed his country into a modern empire by traveling around Europe and learning from it, and Japan, a remote island nation, became a wealthy and powerful nation after 25 years of Westernization and became a country that China could not defeat in war.
“Following the humiliation of the Sino-Japanese War, we have suffered the humiliation of having our key positions taken over by four European countries this year (1898). How can we delay the great cause of Yushin for even a moment!! Modernize our country, go for it!!”
--- p.22~23, from “Chapter 2, Martial Arts Reform”

On September 19, 1898, Empress Dowager Cixi returned to the Forbidden City.
On the same day, Empress Dowager Cixi's royal guard raided Kang Youwei's home.
Kang Yu-wi's younger brother, Kang Gwang-in, is captured.
“Now that it’s settled, Your Majesty, you should go cool your head in the lake.” “…Are you going to squander this last chance for CPR to save the very lifeline of this country, the Qing Dynasty?!” “If this country’s lifeline is going to end, I should die while protecting the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. I can’t spend my deathbed watching a ragtag bunch of fake scholars.”
--- p.53~56, from “Chapter 4: Martial Arts Coup”

On October 15, 1898, the Independence Association's general representatives submitted a revision to the Privy Council (a bill to establish a parliament) to the government, beginning discussions on establishing a parliament.
“To put it clearly, the idea is to make the Privy Council into a Western ‘parliament.’
Our Central Council will first seek to play the role of the upper house of a Western parliament.
So, the Privy Council 'deliberates' the government's policies and bills." "Gasp; It's here!! Democracy;;"
--- p.122~124, from “Chapter 10: The Fall of Legislation”

The night of November 4th.
The conservative royalist faction's delegation urgently enters the palace.
“…The agents found this poster while patrolling the four gates and brought it to us… It is a poster inciting treason, calling for tomorrow’s election to elect Park Jeong-yang as president and Yun Chi-ho as vice president and declare a republic!!” “You democratic protesters! I thought you were going to be so rebellious all along!! Let’s immediately begin the operation to arrest the criminals of the times!!” At dawn on November 5, 1898, the Gyeongmu Office arrest unit was dispatched.
17 leaders of the Independence Association, including Lee Sang-jae and Namgung Eok, were suddenly arrested while sleeping at home.
On the morning of November 5th, the people who gathered at Independence Hall to vote were shocked.
An angry crowd gathers in front of the police station.
The People's Assembly continues all night.
--- p.142~146, from “Chapter 11: The Morning of Reversal”

The riots continued until late at night on November 21st, destroying the offices of the Seoul peddlers, the houses of the Hwangguk Association executives, and the houses of the royalist ministers.
“Huh;; Has Demo now developed into Riot;;” From the night of November 22nd to the 23rd, Western ambassadors stay at Gyeongungung Palace to protect the Emperor.
“…People, I will allow the Independence Association to be re-established, so calm down~ calm down~ haha;;” November 22, the Independence Association was re-established.
On November 23, 1898, negotiations between the People's Assembly and the government were concluded.
--- p.161~165, from “Chapter 13 Riot-Martial Arts Rebellion”

Meanwhile, on December 15, 1898, the Privy Council was somehow opened.
“The first modern parliament on the Korean Peninsula begins!!” On December 16, Choi Jeong-deok and other members of the Independence Association presented their first agenda item: “Instead of forming a new government, let’s create a list of candidates and submit it to the higher-ups!” The list of candidates was created based on the votes of the members of the Independence Association.
Park Young-hyo
--- p.175~176, from “Chapter 14: Pro-Yu & Establishment of the National Assembly”

Park Yeong-hyo, who was considered an accomplice in the Eulmi Incident, was a name that touched the emperor's sore spot.
The public was greatly disappointed with the Independence Association's movement to save Park Yeong-hyo and turned away.
The military sentiment was also greatly shaken.
December 21, 1898, Emperor proclaimed.
"Patience is over!! Arrest all those who defend the traitor Park Yeong-hyo!! There will absolutely be no pardon for those who have fled the country!!"
--- p.179~187, from “Chapter 15: The Enemy’s Friend”

“It seems necessary to replace the emperor with a well-behaved child to avoid any trouble later on.
(…) Unlike his father, King Danwang Jaeyi is loyal and intelligent.” (King Danwang Jaeyi) caught the eye of Empress Dowager Cixi and married her niece.
From that marriage, a son, Bujun, is born.
“…I should make your son, Bujun, the next emperor.” “What an excellent choice!” “Oh, that, um, that’s something that the senior officials are concerned about and want you to reconsider…” King Danwang Jaeui and his faction are extreme xenophobic.
In contrast, although Yeongrok and his group destroyed the Wusul Reform, they continued to push for the introduction of Western civilization.
Crucially, the Western powers also vetoed Bujun's succession to the throne.
Bujun refuses to attend the New Year's celebrations of 1900 hosted by the acting emperor.
--- p.282~288, from “Chapter 20, Gihae Geonjeo”

"No, honestly, isn't the right to practice martial arts itself just a martial art? If you look closely, the conflict between local residents and the church is the church's fault.
Catching and beating up bad guys unconditionally is not the solution.
Rather, the best way to control them is to officially recognize the groups of the Righteous Army as "training"!! The point is that the targets of the current popular flow are the Western church, Western civilization, Westerners - the West itself.
And they also consider the Western puppets, the Yangwu faction, as their enemies! So, shouldn't we find out whether they have political value? In February 1898, the Qing government issued an edict recognizing the Boxer Rebellion's discipline.
--- p.305~310, from “Chapter 21: Plum Blossoms and Fists”

“More than anything, there is a rumor that the Marine Corps troops that entered Beijing the day before yesterday were actually troops supporting the coup d’état by the Emperor and the Reform Party.
“It seems necessary to use the Boxer Rebellion’s numbers to exert pressure in order to prevent the Emperor and the Chinese from doing such things.” “What?!?! How can we ignore the beautiful hearts of our children, our loyal subjects, who have come to visit their mother! We permit the Boxers to enter Beijing!” June 7, 1900, the Boxers entered Beijing.
--- p.323, from “Chapter 22, June’s Rhapsody”

On June 20, the German minister, Baron Ketteler, went to the Forbidden City with a small entourage.
On the way, he gets into an altercation with some soldiers.
“Apologize for the Chinese man shot dead by the German embassy guard a few days ago!!” “Oh, that, I gave the order to shoot any rioters approaching the embassy immediately! The cult must die to be cured!” “Oh, let’s shoot Yang Gui right away too!!” “Killing… a diplomat?!” And so the situation went beyond the river of no return.
On June 21, 1900, the Qing Dynasty declared war.
“Shall we live so pathetically that we will leave a mark of shame for all eternity? Let us rise up and compete!”
--- p.343~344, from “Chapter 23: Entering the Battle”

On June 23, the Boxer Rebellion began a full-scale offensive by setting fire to the Hanlinwon in an attempt to attack the British embassy.
The western defensive line is occupied by British and Russian forces, and the eastern defensive line is occupied by French, Japanese, and Austrian forces.
And the southern inner city wall of Beijing overlooking the embassy district.
The east and west sides of the wall are occupied by German and American troops respectively.
The 3,000 or so Chinese Christians who took refuge in the area are responsible for building barricades and carrying out various transportation tasks.
“The final moment is approaching!!! Let’s light the ammunition depot and go with them!!”

--- p.374~379, from “Chapter 26, 55 Days in Summer”