He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 131

131. An Impressed King George

◈ Westminster Abbey, London, Government Army Stronghold.

Regimental Commander’s Office.

A Major was reporting to Theo.

“General Howe’s forces, which were guarding the Thames docks and major London thoroughfares, are being rapidly replaced by Count Payne’s soldiers.”

“It seems General Howe is finally making his move in earnest.”

“That appears to be the case.”

General Howe had gathered all the troops that had been deployed for defense.

This was to focus all efforts on attacking King George and the government forces led by Theo.

As a result, the rebels’ offensive became even more relentless and fierce.

Conversely, the morale of the government forces plummeted instantly.

There were even ominous predictions that even Count Montague might turn to General Howe’s side.

The situation was increasingly turning against King George and the government forces.

* * *

Bang- Thud-

Bang bang-

The sounds of gunfire and footsteps echoed chaotically through the alley.

Rat-tat-tat- Thud-

Huff huff-

Theo and five snipers entered a dead-end alley in Covent Garden.

They were being chased by rebels while supporting the infiltration team and retreating.

The squad leader, who was running ahead, turned around with a look of desperation.

“Regimental Commander! There’s no way out!”

Although the alley was densely packed with houses, all the doors were tightly locked, and even the window curtains were drawn.

Unfortunately, there were no sewers connected to underground passages in this area.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

The rebels’ footsteps grew louder and louder.

Soon, when they burst in, they would have no choice but to fight to the death.

The snipers hurriedly filled their gunpowder, preparing for their last stand.

However, instead of grabbing his gun, Theo ran to the house in front of him and frantically knocked on the door.

Bang- Bang-

“Hello! This is the government army! Please open the door! Help us!”

However, the thick, sturdy door did not budge.

“Regimental Commander! It’s no use. They will never open it.”

No one would dare to come forward and risk the retaliation they might face from the rebels if they opened the door and helped the government forces. It was a dangerous act that could cost them their lives.

Still, Theo couldn’t give up. Fighting here meant certain death.

Bang- Bang-

“Please! We’re being chased by rebels! Please help us!”

Then,

Click- Rattle-

The sound of a metal bolt being released came from the door of the house next door, and the door swung open.

Creak-

A middle-aged man with a receding hairline poked his head out and shouted at Theo and the soldiers.

“Come in quickly! Hurry!”

Was this what it felt like when the gates of heaven opened?

“Yes, yes! Get in quickly! Hurry!”

At Theo’s shout, the snipers, who had been preparing for battle, hurriedly grabbed their guns and rushed into the house.

And soon, the door was locked.

Clang- Bang-

Soon, urgent footsteps filled the alley. It was about twenty rebels chasing the government forces.

Thud- Thud- Thud

Thud thud- Thud-

“Huh? Company Commander! They’re not here. They definitely entered this dead end, though?”

“Isn’t there some kind of secret underground passage around here?”

“No, there isn’t. There aren’t even any sewers here!”

“Then, did they hide in one of these houses?”

“Didn’t we have trouble last time because they didn’t cooperate with the search? Given the atmosphere, the residents will never open their doors, but… what should we do? Should we check anyway?”

The Captain hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Yes! It’s certain they hid in this house! Open the doors and search each house! If they do anything foolish or refuse, beat them to death. I’ll take responsibility!”

“Yes! Company Commander!”

At the Captain’s command, the rebel soldiers scattered and knocked on the doors of the houses they saw.

Bang- Bang-

“Open the door! Open the door now!”

Just then, someone urgently called for the Captain.

“Company Commander! Look here! There’s a hole here!”

“A hole?”

At the Sergeant’s shout, the Captain ran over. There was indeed a small hole deeply dug under the stone wall.

“It looks like they escaped through here?”

But the Captain tilted his head, examining the hole.

“How could 5-6 people escape through such a small place that even a dog couldn’t get through?”

“No! If you look here, there’s a torn piece of cloth that looks like a military uniform, and there are traces of someone squeezing through.”

The Sergeant, who had been kneeling and diligently examining the hole, raised his head sharply.

“Huh? Company Commander! Isn’t the Commander’s office in the direction of the hole?”

The Captain examined the other side of the wall and shouted in surprise.

“Damn it, you’re right! We’ve been tricked again! It seems they lured us here and were trying to get to the Commander’s office! Quick, quick, turn around and get out! Hurry! General Howe is in danger!”

“Yes!”

Even before, the rebels were on high alert after the 5th Regimental Commander was killed by government forces’ gunfire.

But the direction the hole faced was in a straight line with the Commander’s office where General Howe was staying.

The rebels, who had been about to search the house, quickly turned around and left the alley.

* * *

Swoosh-

Mr. Edwin Holmes, who had been watching the outside, quietly closed the curtains and turned around.

Then, he lifted the rug on the floor and pulled up the cover of the passage leading to the basement.

Rattle- Creak-

“Fortunately, all the rebels have left. You can come up now.”

Theo and the five soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and climbed the ladder to the living room.

Theo politely thanked Mr. Holmes.

“I don’t know how to repay this kindness. Thank you so much. It would have been really terrible if we had been just a little later.”

The soldiers standing behind him repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Mr. Holmes.

“Oh, it’s nothing, it’s nothing. I am also a citizen of His Majesty and an active supporter of the government forces. Those rebel bastards, they’re the ones who will ruin our country.

Oh, dear, look at my mind. You must be surprised, have some tea? It would be dangerous to go out right now anyway.”

“Yes, we would really appreciate that.”

Mr. Holmes ran a small candle factory in London’s Covent Garden Market.

According to him, before the war, he had been doing quite well, exporting to North American colonies, Caribbean colonies, and European countries.

However, as various wars continued, sales declined, and he was struggling, and recently, he was considering whether to close the business due to the major blow from the war with the North American colonies.

“How nice would it be if we could get along and buy and sell necessary goods? We ignorant people may not know what is politically beneficial or detrimental, but we can only argue about such things if we have enough to eat, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Theo nodded and looked around the living room.

Come to think of it, there were unusually many candlesticks, and their shapes were diverse.

Although it was a small factory, unlike the candlesticks he had often seen, they looked luxurious and sturdy, suggesting that the craftsmanship was quite good.

At that moment, a luxurious blue dress hanging on one side of the wall caught Theo’s eye.

‘A wedding dress…?’

White wedding dresses only became popular and widespread after the mid-19th century.

At this time, blue, symbolizing purity, was a popular color for wedding dresses.

Under the wedding dress, there were also neatly placed formal women’s shoes made of high-quality leather. It seemed like there was a story behind it.

“Is your daughter getting married?”

At Theo’s question, Mr. Holmes said with a bitter smile.

“Yes, the wedding was actually scheduled for a few days ago. But the damn rebels caused a ruckus, and we couldn’t even have the wedding.

Moreover, the cannonballs they fired completely destroyed the wall of the chapel that we had managed to secure as the wedding venue. Ah- those rotten bastards, even if this situation ends, I don’t know if we’ll be able to have a proper wedding.”

He seemed very upset.

He seemed to have made a big decision to prepare for his daughter’s wedding despite his poor circumstances, but unfortunately, the timing was bad, and he lost a lot of money and ruined everything.

“I was wondering how I could repay your gratitude, but it seems that opportunity may come sooner than I thought.”

“Yes? What opportunity?”

“Do you happen to know the Theo Wedding Hall in Kensington?”

Mr. Holmes nodded.

“Yes, I found out about it while looking for places to hold my daughter’s wedding. Isn’t that the place where all families planning a wedding line up and wait, whether they have money or not?”

For those preparing for a wedding, Theo Wedding Hall was already becoming famous.

Sophisticated and luxurious interior and facilities that cannot be found anywhere else in England.

However, due to the unbelievably low cost, it quickly gained great popularity not long after opening.

As a result, reservations were endlessly piling up. It quickly became known as a place where you couldn’t use it unless it was your turn, no matter how much money or power you had.

Mr. Holmes, who was intrigued by the facilities and prices, had tried to make a reservation several times, but the waiting period was too long, so he gave up early on.

“Since you saved our lives, if this rebellion is resolved well, we will allow you to use Theo Wedding Hall, the costume shop, and the ballroom for the reception.”

Mr. Holmes looked puzzled at Theo’s suggestion.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying. It’s a place you can only enjoy if you have a reservation, and we haven’t even made a reservation?”

“Yes, it would have been impossible under normal circumstances. However, all reservations have been canceled due to the rebels’ situation. Once the rebellion is resolved and stabilized, we will have to readjust the reservations from the beginning. There will be many cases where they are postponed or canceled altogether. I will make sure a suitable spot becomes available. I will put you in that spot.”

Mr. Holmes clapped his hands as if he finally understood.

“Ah, perhaps someone you know well is a representative of that Theo Wedding Information Company?”

At Mr. Holmes’s words, the squad leader next to him interjected as if frustrated.

“No. It’s not someone he knows well, but the Regimental Commander here is the one and only Theo Sanderson. He is the CEO of Theo Wedding Information Company.”

For a moment, Mr. Holmes stared blankly at the two of them in turn.

Mr. Holmes asked with a dazed expression.

“So, you’re saying that the Regimental Commander is the famous Theo… Sanderson… is that what you’re saying?”

Theo smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. I am Theo Sanderson. Haha.”

Mr. Holmes’s surprised mouth remained open for a long time.

◈ Westminster Abbey, London, Government Army Stronghold.

Late at night.

Theo and the squad leaders were gathered in the Regimental Commander’s office.

However, the atmosphere was not good. An endlessly heavy air seemed to be pressing down on the room.

“It seems that the troops led by Count Montague will not be able to arrive until 3 days later at the earliest.”

“No, why does it take 3 more days? How can a unit that is supposed to come down and support immediately in an emergency be so sluggish?”

“Isn’t it because they’re taking so long because they’re considering joining the rebels like Count Payne?”

“Then it’s really over.”

The tide of the war turned sharply as Count Payne sided with the rebels.

All of Covent Garden, which had been captured with great difficulty, was taken back.

Now, they were barely holding on to Westminster Abbey, their stronghold.

Moreover, the rebels, who had been searching for underground secret passages with their eyes wide open, found the entrance to the underground passage near the Thames River and blew it up.

The government forces were now trapped in the middle of enemy territory.

“According to the reconnaissance soldiers’ report, many of the cannons that were heading to St. James’s Palace, where His Majesty is staying, are being moved to the vicinity of Westminster Abbey. It is believed that a general offensive will be launched against us tomorrow.”

Theo let out a short sigh at the Major’s report.

“In the end, they decided to smash this historic abbey for their own victory.”

Initially, Theo’s plan was to join forces with Count Payne’s troops, who would arrive first as reinforcements, and then unite with Count Montague’s troops, who would arrive later, to launch a major counterattack.

However, as Count Payne joined hands with the rebels, the Thames River, the bridges, and each road were further strengthened, and the secret passage that could return to Lambeth Palace, the temporary command and control room, was blocked.

In this situation, even if Count Montague’s 20,000 troops came, it would not be enough to confront the nearly 40,000 rebels.

Bullets and food will also be difficult to last for more than two days.

If the intelligence is correct and a general offensive is launched tomorrow, tonight could be the last night.

Theo looked at the squad leaders of each squad and opened his heavy mouth.

“If the rebels’ general offensive begins tomorrow, it seems that there will be no need for further command. It seems that each of you defending your position will be the entirety of the operation. Therefore, starting at 0600 tomorrow, all operational orders will be delegated to the squad leaders of each squad.”

One infiltration squad leader opened his mouth with a dark face.

“Delegation? All the members of the unit are enduring with strength from the Regimental Commander’s command. Please continue to command us until the end!”

Theo shook his head.

“No. Once the offensive begins, there is no other operation than defending your position. You will not be able to receive my command either. And tomorrow, I will also play the role of a sniper with the sniper squads. To delay the shelling even a little bit.”

“Regimental Commander! A sniper? It’s too dangerous. Is it really necessary for the Regimental Commander to go out of his way to do that?”

If a sniper continuously interferes with shelling from one spot, it is only a matter of time before their location is discovered.

To avoid detection, they must constantly change their location, but it was virtually impossible for a sniper who had secured a high position to move to another place.

In the end, there was a very high possibility that their location would be exposed to the rebels and they would be attacked and put in a dangerous situation.

“Shouldn’t the Regimental Commander take up arms in the most dangerous place so that the subordinates will follow? Anyway, all the escape routes are blocked. Once the concentrated shelling begins, it will be equally dangerous no matter where you are.”

Theo couldn’t clearly explain why he was willing to sacrifice himself to this extent.

It was impossible for someone who had come from the 21st-century modern civilization to have any great beliefs.

He just had to lead them for the time being, and he felt sorry for the frustration that his subordinates, who had been diligently following him, would feel if he didn’t take the lead and risk his life here.

Like a sailboat swept away by the raging river, it seemed that he was simply entrusting himself to the flow of a vast history.

Perhaps the inspiring anecdotes of the heroes we know are also just the result of being swept away by this historical flow.

◈ St James’s Palace

At the same time.

King George was calmly listening to the story of Secretary of State Miles Jenner.

“…Thus, Lord Sanderson is harassing them day and night, even volunteering to be a sniper himself, and we have information that the rebels’ nerves are extremely frayed. Thanks to this, it has had a significant impact on preventing attacks on this palace where Your Majesty is staying.”

The Secretary of State reported the information he had heard from the informants to King George in detail.

The fact that Theo Sanderson was alive was good news in itself, but the story that he was leading the troops himself and playing an active role in the middle of enemy territory brought not only surprise but also considerable emotion to King George’s heart.

Even though it was a force of 20,000 troops, the attack on the castle was considered weaker than expected, and King George only then realized that it was due to Theo’s contribution.

“Is Lord Sanderson still holding out in the middle of enemy territory without running away?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There have been rumors that General Howe has been subtly trying to coax and persuade him. He said that if he came under his command, he would not only spare his life but also give him a high position…”

“Dirty traitor….”

“Even though there was a declaration of a massive shelling and a demand for surrender from the rebels tomorrow, the 800 government troops, centered on Lord Sanderson, are shouting the name of His Majesty the King and defending Westminster Abbey without surrendering a single person.”

“Only… 800 people are facing nearly 40,000 enemies in the middle of enemy territory, risking their lives for me and the country?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“…They… they are the true loyal subjects!”

King George had been deeply shocked to hear the news of Count Payne’s betrayal.

At this point, even if Theo had run away, there was nothing he could say.

However, despite the complete reversal of the war situation, he was not running away, but was risking his life and not abandoning his war posture, which brought a surge of emotion.

King George, who had tried to calm his mind, opened his mouth in a subdued voice.

“After experiencing such a great event… now it is becoming clear who my loyal subjects are and who is trying to harm England. Secretary of State! When will Count Montague arrive?”

Secretary Jenner had a troubled expression.

“That is… there has been a lot of rain in the middle of the descent, causing problems with the movement, and it is being delayed for several days.”

“Huh- Does heaven not help me either! At a time when every minute is precious, how frustrating this is….”

The faces of the ministers who had to share their fate with King George were also dark with worry and frustration.