He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 377

(377) Pitt Dismisses the Chairman of the East India Company

If England rules the seas of the world, the East India Company rules the economy of those seas.

“Therefore, the person sitting in that chair can be called the king of the British business world, Mr. Grant.”

The Prime Minister visited the East India Company in person.

It was a very rare occurrence, made all the more surprising by the fact that the chairman and executives of the East India Company were unaware.

A secret visit, literally.

It was done solely to meet Grant.

In any sense, it was something that could raise suspicions among the East India Company’s board of directors, but Grant couldn’t refuse.

He could ignore the intermediary, Castlereagh.

However, he couldn’t ignore Wilberforce, the only Englishman Grant truly respected.

Suddenly, Prime Minister Pitt turned his head and smiled.

“Thanks to our friend Wilberforce banning the slave trade, the East India Company’s dominance has become even stronger, hasn’t it?”

“Well, it has been relatively beneficial. The power of the Manchester merchants has weakened.”

“But I heard that you, Grant, supported the ban on the slave trade for other reasons.”

Grant wore a bitter smile at Pitt’s words.

“It’s a personal reason, Prime Minister.”

Charles Grant had long been an executive of the East India Company, deeply involved in its operations in India.

Usually, East India Company executives are composed of Britain’s top merchants, financiers, and businessmen.

It’s rare for them to travel by ship themselves, and even fewer are appointed to India.

However, Grant was directly appointed from India, engaged in trade, and amassed a huge fortune.

Then, he lost two of his children to smallpox and experienced a kind of spiritual awakening [a profound change in his beliefs].

It was from then that he came to believe that slaves should be freed.

After returning home, he was recognized for his achievements and became a director of the East India Company, and also took the lead in abolishing the slave trade with Wilberforce.

To the merchants of the East India Company, he was truly an eccentric.

But at the same time, Grant’s actions were also sincere.

Suddenly, Pitt nodded.

“I need someone like you. A talent who knows reality but also dreams of ideals, and is willing to sacrifice for the community.”

However, just because he advocates for the abolition of the slave trade doesn’t mean Grant is a fool.

Rather, as a wealthy man through trade, his calculations were more accurate than anyone else.

That’s why he didn’t immediately reject Jardine’s request for the opium trade but considered it.

Grant narrowed his brows as he looked at the Prime Minister.

Why would the Prime Minister, who had been ousted because of the East India Company and had no contact with them, come to the East India Company?

“Prime Minister, what are you here to ask for?”

“I came to give. That chair right there.”

“The chairman’s position is Lusignan’s. If he steps down, the person Lusignan designates will become the chairman.”

As expected, it was to oust his political opponent, Lusignan.

However, Grant didn’t find the Lusignan system that bad.

He wielded absolute power, but that power was ultimately for the benefit of the East India Company.

Shareholders, directors, and employees all benefited greatly from the Lusignan system.

Did he really need to be ousted?

“Mr. Grant, if you don’t become the chairman, I cannot trust the East India Company.”

Grant raised his eyebrows at Pitt’s threat.

“Prime Minister, our East India Company is helping to make England great. Even in the recent war, we helped expand colonies in India and return them to British territory.”

“It’s just territory controlled by you, the East India Company.”

“Pri, Prime Minister. That’s.”

At that moment, Pitt turned to look at Grant.

“I can revoke the East India Company’s trade monopoly. If the East India Company continues to be under Lusignan’s control as it is now.”

Instantly, Grant swallowed hard.

In fact, the British government had been aiming to abolish the East India Company’s monopoly on Eastern trade for a long time.

Even some of Pitt’s predecessors had attempted to abolish the monopoly.

Each time, the East India Company had solved the problem by replacing the Prime Minister.

However, the current Pitt is in a different situation.

Lusignan had already been replaced once and then returned, making it very difficult for the East India Company to attempt a surprise replacement.

And Pitt’s power within Parliament is very solid.

The abolition of the slave trade and the Anglo-American War.

These processes have actually put Pitt’s power on a firm footing.

Of course, Pitt doesn’t have the power to just install anyone as chairman of the East India Company, and he can’t arbitrarily replace the chairman without internal collaborators.

Pitt approached Grant and said,

“If you help, I will turn a blind eye to the opium trade.”

Grant opened his eyes wide and then closed them.

Opium, the drug of death.

There are loud voices within the East India Company that opium must be sold to prevent the Eastern trade deficit.

Even Grant, who believes that slaves should be freed, is tempted because of the enormous personal loss.

But if the government turns a blind eye, the guilt completely disappears.

“…I would like to hear the plan.”

One of the main forces behind the liberation of the slave trade, the conscience of the East India Company, Grant, sold his conscience to Pitt.

***

Originally, conspiracies are often unknown to the victim until they come to the surface.

“Hmm, Eugene Freischutz has returned, you say?”

William Fullerton Elphinstone, the vice-chairman of the East India Company’s board of directors, is a shipping expert.

He had amassed wealth mainly in the Indian Ocean, but recently, even bigger projects have arisen.

It is the transportation of immigrants from Vendée, France, to the new city of Miami in Florida.

It’s the opposite of the Manchester merchants wailing because the slave trade has been cut off.

However, recently, as relations between France and England suddenly deteriorated, Elphinstone’s work suddenly stopped.

Therefore, he is running around hoping for the situation to improve, and just in time, a message from a France expert has arrived.

The man who can be called England’s top France expert, Francis Baring, laughed heartily and replied.

“That’s right, Vice-Chairman Elphinstone. The time has come to resume the French immigration business.”

“That’s fortunate. Isn’t it a sacred business to relocate unfortunate French citizens to the land of happiness, the New World? It’s also profitable. Hehe!”

“I should go to Paris soon too. I need to ask why the French central bank isn’t giving out dividends.”

Baring, who had responded with a light joke, stopped walking.

“Huh? Who is blocking the front of the board of directors?”

On the roof of the East India Company building, there were soldiers in red uniforms in front of the hallway leading to the board of directors’ meeting room.

Soldiers.

However, it is not easy to see army soldiers in England, which is not the Army Department.

Unless the government has moved.

Baring was about to open his eyes wide at the ominous signs.

-Step, step, step!

Redcoats, British Army soldiers, blocked the directors’ path.

“What is this? Why are you preventing us from entering!”

“It is the will of the new chairman.”

“What are you talking about! The will of the chairman! Isn’t the chairman Director Lusignan! Besides, aren’t you soldiers?”

At that time, a very dignified middle-aged man appeared in front of the hallway.

“No, as of today, the East India Company’s board of directors has resolved to elect me, Charles Grant, as chairman.”

Grant was walking out from between the Redcoats.

In fact, Elphinstone, Baring, and even the chairman had just regarded Grant as an eccentric.

But suddenly, he put himself forward as chairman.

Baring, who had a momentarily embarrassed face, asked urgently.

“In a board of directors without Lusignan, Elphinstone, or me?”

“The quorum was met.”

“What?”

Baring opened his eyes wide.

Directors are appearing one after another behind Grant.

Everyone except the Lusignan faction, which can be said to be the mainstream, has sided with Grant.

It would be impossible unless someone with great power had moved.

At that time, a man wearing a monocle approached Baring from behind.

Lusignan, the man who was chairman until just yesterday.

Adjusting his monocle, Lusignan asked.

“Mr. Grant. What is the meaning of this?”

Grant, with a slightly trembling voice to Lusignan, replied.

“I had no choice. Mr. Lusignan.”

“Is it the Prime Minister? Did you betray us by joining hands with Pitt!”

“It is true that I joined hands with Pitt. However, it is not a betrayal but for the sake of the East India Company.”

Grant said, staring at Lusignan with an indifferent face.

“Prime Minister Pitt has sent a final notice that he will revoke the East India Company’s trade monopoly by parliamentary resolution unless he dismisses you, Lusignan.”

So it’s because of blackmail.

Of course, from the British government’s point of view, abolishing the East India Company’s trade monopoly is a political burden.

However, Pitt had considered abolishing this monopoly several times even in the original history.

Because a super-giant company that actually controls India beyond government power is, of course, threatening in itself.

However, the current Pitt cabinet is a majority party because its competitor, Fox, has been completely pushed out.

Furthermore, those who try to threaten power cannot easily resist Pitt.

Because the war with America has begun, and in order to fight this war, Parliament needs to be united.

Unless they lose badly, Pitt’s power is solid.

Therefore, Pitt’s threat can become a reality.

However, as a result, the East India Company will lose its independence.

Just as Lusignan was about to turn around silently, Baring stared at Grant and warned.

“You will definitely regret this action. Mr. Grant. It will be too late to cry after becoming Pitt’s puppet.”

However, Grant only snorted at Baring.

“Take care of your bank. Mr. Baring. If a war breaks out with France, all your assets may be confiscated.”

Instantly, Baring had no choice but to realize.

That the Pitt cabinet is now willing to risk war with the French Empire.

***

10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s residence, was filled with cheers.

“Finally, he has brought down the chairman!”

Pitt smiled as he looked at Canning, who was shouting excitedly as if he had never opposed it, and turned his head.

“Excellent, Castlereagh.”

“You flatter me. The Prime Minister’s timely threat was a great help.”

“Then, let’s get back to our main business.”

Pitt looked at Granville, Castlereagh, and Wyndham and said.

“Let’s start the Russian coup project.”

A foreign conspiracy operation that the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of War, and the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary have been working on together.

The Tsar’s assassination and regime overthrow project.

Agents from foreign countries have long been dispatched to the British Embassy.

Suddenly, Foreign Secretary Granville tilted his head and asked.

“Barras has brought a letter of protest from the French Emperor. Would you like to receive it?”

“No, delay it as much as possible.”

“Until the coup takes place in Russia. What will you do next?”

Pitt looked at the globe silently and smiled contentedly.

“Next, we must redraw the map of Europe. And all the rulers too.”

This is London, the capital of the island that claims to be the center of the world.

From there, a plot to overthrow Russia, the world’s largest country, began.

Furthermore, a plot to ultimately destroy the French Empire as well.