I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 113

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire 113

Land of Opportunity (3)

In 1841, the political scene in the United States of America was anything but peaceful.

The Amistad case, which had already caused diplomatic friction with Spain, escalated into a heated debate over the legality of slavery. This issue deeply divided the nation, sparking intense arguments and further polarizing public opinion.

Adding to the turmoil, newly inaugurated President William Henry Harrison died in an accident just a month after taking office.

Suddenly, Vice President John Tyler was thrust into the presidency. This led to an unexpected controversy over the constitutional question of whether a vice president should fully assume the presidential office upon the president’s death, or merely serve as an interim leader.

Just as John Tyler asserted his right to become president, drawing a clear line and seemingly bringing stability to the political scene, this was only the beginning of more conflict.

After a clash between the ruling Whig Party and President John Tyler over the re-establishment of a national bank (similar to the Second Bank of the United States), the Whig Party expelled the president from their ranks.

Eventually, Tyler’s ambitious cabinet collapsed. All members except Secretary of State Daniel Webster resigned, and Tyler’s momentum in governing vanished within a mere five months.

For the first time in history, a president who inherited the office became an independent, unaffiliated with any political party.

As a result, the government struggled to function effectively. Without the backing of a party to shield him from media and intellectual criticism, Tyler was forced to fight a lonely battle.

Meanwhile, a massive wave of Irish immigrants began pouring into Canada, just across the border. Simultaneously, a high-ranking representative of the British Empire was scheduled to visit the United States.

Tyler, whose political career seemed almost over just five months into his term, saw Killian’s visit as a crucial opportunity.

He believed that by making a strong impression, he could regain the support of the citizens and strike back at the Whig Party that had abandoned him.

“Minister Killian Gore is said to be arriving in a week. What’s the planned schedule?”

“As he is a minister of the British Empire, I, as the Secretary of State, will meet him personally. After discussing various diplomatic matters with Your Excellency, he is also scheduled to meet with several senators.”

“I’ve heard that Minister Gore is considered one of the more moderate figures within the British Empire. Is that accurate?”

“According to Congressman John Quincy Adams, who recently visited the British Empire as a special envoy, that is indeed the case.”

“I understand he will be staying in Canada for the foreseeable future as a plenipotentiary envoy, essentially outranking the Governor-General… Is there a chance he might implement policies that are detrimental to our interests?”

Tyler knew his popularity was at an all-time low. If he provoked conflicts with Canada, or more precisely, the British Empire, he could face impeachment.

Conversely, if he could achieve something significant through negotiations with the British Empire, he might be able to salvage his presidency.

“Based on the available intelligence, there’s little reason to believe Minister Gore will be hostile towards us. However, large-scale immigration policies and development projects inevitably lead to land disputes, so we must remain vigilant and prepared for potential minor conflicts.”

“Indeed… We’re already dealing with ongoing disputes in the Mexican territories. But surely, with goodwill on both sides, we can resolve any issues that arise? Mr. Secretary, you are a renowned expert on such matters within the United States.”

Secretary of State Daniel Webster was one of the most respected figures in the Senate, admired for his deep understanding of British affairs.

He was the only cabinet member who remained in his position after the mass resignation, citing the importance of maintaining continuity in diplomatic relations.

Although they often disagreed on domestic issues, the President trusted and valued Webster’s counsel on foreign policy.

Especially now, with critical issues involving Britain, it was essential for Secretary of State Webster to take a leading role.

“The British Empire likely wants to avoid causing any disturbances, especially with their newly established government. Oh, but according to Congressman Adams, Minister Gore is a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery.”

“Hmm… That’s concerning. If he makes any public statements on that issue, it could embolden the abolitionists in the North and create further unrest. We should avoid the topic of slavery as much as possible.”

After all, the British Empire had already abolished slavery, so it was natural for a minister of that government to hold a negative view of the practice.

However, President Tyler was from Virginia, a state with a strong pro-slavery stance, and he himself owned slaves.

Secretary of State Webster was from the North, but he feared that the slavery debate could tear the United States apart, so he was hesitant to address the issue directly.

If one had to categorize him, he leaned more towards compromise than outright support or opposition.

Therefore, Tyler could trust him not to raise any unnecessary controversies.

As expected, Webster nodded with a troubled expression and sighed softly.

“Of course, I would never bring up that topic with a minister from a country that has already abolished slavery. However, Minister Gore is scheduled to meet with members of Congress, and there’s a risk that abolitionists will deliberately introduce the issue there…”

“Indeed, that’s quite possible. Especially Adams; that man will bring up the abolition of slavery regardless… If we’re not careful, Congress and the government could be thrown into turmoil once again.”

The Amistad case was still a recent memory, and the thought of another similar debate erupting made Tyler’s head spin.

However, if he shifted his perspective, perhaps silencing the abolitionists could help him regain support, at least in the South.

It wouldn’t be easy if Killian Gore was an abolitionist himself, but as a minister from another country, he likely wouldn’t be able to openly comment on the internal affairs of the United States.

If Tyler could leverage this situation, there might be a way to turn it to his advantage.

“First, Mr. Secretary, please welcome Minister Gore with the utmost sincerity. We need to meet him in person and assess his views firsthand. I’ll leave this matter in your capable hands for the time being.”

No matter how brilliant a young man in his early twenties might be, Secretary Webster had dedicated his entire life of sixty years to politics and diplomacy.

The ability to transform a crisis into an opportunity and navigate a difficult path depended more on experience than raw talent.

Tyler had no intention of spending the rest of his term as a political pariah.

He was determined to use this opportunity as a springboard to revive his career and then ride that momentum to win re-election.

To that end, he was willing to cater to the whims of a rookie minister from the British Empire.

It didn’t matter as long as he was the one who emerged victorious in the end, not right now.

Tyler was prepared to collaborate with anyone and use any means necessary to achieve his goal.

* * *

Winter of 1841.

Another cold wind blew, marking the end of the year.

“You’ll be heading to the United States soon. What preparations should we make? The weather is dreadful.”

“As long as it’s not a blizzard, I’m not concerned. Besides, even bad weather is preferable to the stifling atmosphere of London. In fact, the colder it is, the more alert I feel. If I get sleepy, I can simply step outside for a moment, and the drowsiness vanishes instantly, right?”

“You’ve been working all night, and now you’re finally thinking irrationally. Do you have any idea how I feel right now?”

“James, I believe you’re mistaken. If I have more work, you’ll inevitably have even more. Therefore, you should hope that my workload returns to normal as soon as possible, shouldn’t you?”

Recently, my average sleep time had decreased from four hours to a mere three, and I had reached the point where I consumed coffee like water.

If this were my previous life, I would have already collapsed from exhaustion, but the fact that I could endure this workload demonstrated the resilience of youth.

Ah, is this what youth truly means?

I hadn’t desired to experience the greatness of youth in this manner, and I could only resent the ever-growing pile of paperwork.

“My workload has already exceeded human capacity, so even if you assign me more tasks, they’ll simply be passed down the line. Pinkerton has been complaining every time he sees me, lamenting that he shouldn’t have followed you.”

“Complaining? He hasn’t learned his lesson. The fact that he’s complaining means he has too much free time, correct? If I double his workload, he’ll quietly focus on his work instead of indulging in such useless thoughts.”

“Exactly! That’s why I subtly increase his workload every time he complains. The boss is working himself to the bone, while the employee is trying to slack off.”

This was a disaster. I could tell from the conversation that both James and I were on the verge of a breakdown due to the excessive workload.

But honestly, shouldn’t Pinkerton be grateful to me?

I had set the stage for him to establish the best detective agency in the United States a dozen years earlier than in the original timeline, so he should be thankful.

Ah, but even so, the company was practically owned by me, so Pinkerton would only be a salaried president.

My thoughts were becoming muddled due to sleep deprivation.

“By the way, James, when we arrive in the United States, you must never reveal your face to anyone. Understood? If necessary, always use a stand-in and remain in the shadows.”

“Don’t worry. As you instructed, I’ve already found a reliable double. But even so, wouldn’t it be more efficient for me to take the lead in the black civil rights movement? If I use a stand-in, the work efficiency will decrease because I have to communicate through an intermediary.”

“It’s a million times better to have lower work efficiency than to get shot in the head and die. You’ll understand what I mean later. This isn’t the British Empire.”

In London, no one would object if you proclaimed that black people were also human beings, but the situation was vastly different in the United States.

Even in the North, you wouldn’t receive a warm welcome, but in the South, you’d be met with bullets instead of jeers.

James’s name might not be widely known yet, but if Adams continued his activism, there would inevitably come a time when his supporter, James, would be mentioned.

If his face or identity were revealed at that point, he would become a prime target for radical Southerners.

No matter how much wealth you possessed or how many bodyguards you employed, everyone was equal in the face of a gun.

In a country where even the president could be assassinated, would you be foolish enough to reveal your identity and advocate for black civil rights?

That wasn’t courage; it was recklessness and a complete disregard for personal safety.

“Hearing those words makes me apprehensive.”

“That’s precisely why I told you from the beginning not to show your face. Now you understand my concern for the safety of my subordinates, right? Thanks to me, you can proudly have your name recorded as a great civil rights activist in the history books of the United States without any personal risk later on.”

Not only that, but you’re also the president of a global conglomerate that dominates not only the British Empire but also the United States and Canada.

You encountered a good owner, and your life has taken a remarkable turn for the better, you lucky idiot.

“I’m so touched that my whole body is trembling. Did you know? The person I admire most in the British Empire these days is Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Isn’t that the case for everyone? If you asked 100 people, at least 90 of them would choose Her Majesty the Queen as the most popular person in the British Empire.”

“I hope that Her Majesty the Queen will become even more popular in the future. Then Her Majesty’s affection for you will deepen.”

I thought I detected an unspoken implication that she would make me work even harder, but that must have been my imagination, right?

“In order to meet Her Majesty’s expectations, let’s quickly finish our work and return to London. I’ll be meeting with ministers and the president in the United States, so you should use the Pinkerton Detective Agency to investigate whether the rumors are spreading effectively among the black population, as I instructed you earlier.”

“Understood. Oh, and didn’t you tell me to identify promising politicians and provide them with generous donations?”

“I did. I recall already compiling a list of potential candidates, correct?”

“I had Pinkerton conduct some research, and I understand the rationale behind some of them, but others make me question whether they truly possess potential… Are we simply throwing money away?”

“I know who you’re referring to, but he’s the most crucial person on the list, so support him generously. Even if Adams comes to trust us, he’s too advanced in age. I don’t know how many more years he’ll remain active as a congressman, so we need to secure individuals who can develop into influential figures in the future.”

In this era, not to mention in modern times, an elderly man over 70 was truly an old man who could pass away at any moment.

So, even if things went awry, we needed to secure personnel in advance who could replace Adams.

“But this particular individual, even if you examine his track record, he’s never achieved a proper victory in the election arena. And he’s burdened with debt.”

“Isn’t that pathetic?”

“It’s more than just pathetic. He failed in business, lost the state representative election, and then failed again in the next business venture he pursued. He seemed to win the state representative election, but he immediately lost the speaker election, and then he also lost as a presidential elector… At this point, his tenacity is almost admirable. If you’re going to support him because of his unwavering spirit of perseverance, I understand…”

“We have so much money that it’s overflowing anyway. If it doesn’t work out, just consider it a charitable project to assist a struggling young politician. Settle all his debts and push him hard so that he can focus on politics, enabling him to get elected and enter the House in the next election.”

“Haa… I understand. Your judgment has consistently been accurate, so I’ll trust you and defer to your decision this time as well. So this person…”

I recited in a calm voice to James, who was meticulously reviewing the list.

The name of that young man, marked by failure…

“Lincoln.”

Abraham Lincoln.

A name that would become a legend.