I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 142

The Fork in Hell (2)

“Brave sons of Mexico! We will not yield to the invaders!”

“Repel the vile invaders of the United States! Do not lose hope!”

“Even if we lose all the land to the north, we will fight to the last man!”

Though their power was inferior, Mexico was a nation accustomed to foreign invasions.

They had a fierce determination to fight to the end and overcome any invaders, never surrendering.

But time was not on their side.

No matter how the people rose up, they could not defeat an enemy armed with guns and cannons.

They had hoped that, like other European nations, the enemy would be decimated by endemic diseases, but the United States was different.

The Mexican army realized the overwhelming difference in power after their first engagement near New Mexico.

The leader of Mexico, Santa Anna, felt an ominous premonition that the capital could be overrun within a year if things continued poorly.

However, the seemingly unstoppable army of the United States suddenly halted its advance and fell into internal strife.

A miracle that could not be explained by mere luck.

Mexico crammed all its forces into New Mexico and Arizona. Despite suffering continuous losses, they somehow managed to continue their arduous fight against the United States.

Of course, the commanders on the United States side, facing this absurd situation, were driven to the brink of madness by ever-increasing rage.

“What the FUCK! These goddamn, moronic bastards!”

“General! Lieutenant Colonel Bryant says he needs to return to check on his family’s safety…”

“What nonsense are you spouting when the enemy is right in front of us! Does he think he’s the only one in this unit with slaves in the South?”

Zachary Taylor had defeated countless Indians and Mexican armies, but he swore he had never been in such a messed-up situation.

Initially, the army’s goal was clearly to occupy as much of the west as quickly as possible, but the Texans, who were supposed to cooperate, suddenly stopped listening, and the home country, which was supposed to provide support, changed its tune every minute. It was truly maddening.

Moreover, the commanders were whining every day about how their farms in the South were burning and they needed to go back, making him feel like he would die from frustration before getting shot by the “taco bastards.”

“I, too, inherited one of the most prominent slave plantations in Virginia! If even I am patiently waiting, how can we conduct a war if the officers, who should be models for the soldiers, are only thinking about their own safety!”

“General! But the states where the riots are happening in the South have serious security issues… There are reports of families being beaten to death by the blacks.”

“Those blacks will face the stern judgment of the law, so we have no choice but to trust the nation and wait. The higher-ups ordered us to occupy at least the areas of Arizona and New Mexico, even if we can’t push further.”

Even though Texas wasn’t listening now, if they secured New Mexico and Arizona, Texas would inevitably follow.

If they set up a defensive line here and held their ground, how could those “taco bastards” break through?

It was maddening to be dealing with enemies they could easily crush with proper support, but there was no choice.

The United States was in a situation where their home base was on fire, so they couldn’t fight properly.

If that was all, it could be resolved quickly, but in the north, politicians were blaming each other, adding fuel to the fire.

‘Those trash-like bastards. Even if you fight, you should end the war first. What are the soldiers on the front lines supposed to do if you act like that?’

Of course, he couldn’t completely disagree with the sentiments of the Northern congressmen.

What they feared most right now was the British Empire’s intervention in this situation.

If the British Empire was angered by the United States deceiving them and sent out its navy, they would be in a dilemma.

The justification was so clear that no other European powers would help, and only Mexico would be happy.

No matter how terrible Mexico’s military power was, they would still have to deploy an equal or greater number of troops to avoid taking damage.

In that state, check the Canadian army on the opposite side, face the British Empire’s Royal Navy coming from the sea, and suppress the black riots in the South?

This was not logical.

The only way for the isolated United States to overcome this situation was to appease the British Empire by any means possible.

‘Do something, you goddamn politician bastards.’

Zachary Taylor was overwhelmed with the urge to blow up the White House and the Capitol Building if he could, due to the continued petitions from the officers.

* * *

The soldiers on the battlefield were also in a panic, but the commanders on the ground were not the only ones whose mental state had ascended far away.

The person receiving the most criticism in this situation was, of course, the President of the United States, John Tyler, who oversaw this entire plan.

“This can’t be! This can’t be happening! Does this make any sense? Why? Lincoln? Who the hell is this bastard to bite the President of his own country during a time of war? He must be a spy for Mexico, no, a spy for the British Empire. Killian Gore must have bribed Lincoln, or things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

Tyler, muttering incomprehensible words, turned his gaze to Secretary of State Webster, who was looking at him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Secretary Webster!”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Didn’t you say it was a perfect plan? Then why did it turn out like this?”

Webster rolled his eyes at the President’s sudden shift of blame and swallowed the rising curse words.

He was the one who devised the plan and gave the orders, so what was he supposed to do now that he was saying such things?

“Perhaps it was a mistake not to consider that there might be diaries or journals among the slave hunters’ belongings.”

“So, how could Lincoln have gotten his hands on that item! This is clear evidence that he is colluding with the British Empire!”

“But Your Excellency, if that were the case, wouldn’t the British Empire have known in advance that we were lying? Then they wouldn’t have reacted in this way, but would have criticized us directly. That would have given them a clear justification.”

“That is…”

Both the President and the Secretary of State still had vivid memories of actually meeting Killian Gore.

Killian Gore was young, but clearly a capable politician.

There was no way he would have missed such a good opportunity.

“Your Excellency, we must think calmly now. There are more than a few in Congress who are calling for the President to step down.”

“Isn’t this what I’m doing because I’m judging calmly? In my view, the mastermind behind all of this is the British Empire! These bastards planned everything from the beginning to devour us!”

“Your Excellency… We were the ones who turned the blame on Mexico, and we were the ones who declared war. How could the British Empire have planned all of this?”

“…Lincoln. And the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Those guys must all be puppets of the British Empire. The riots that happened in the South this time are also suspicious. How could those stupid black niggers, with what intelligence, carry out a mass escape as soon as the Southern army left? This is clearly something the British Empire instigated from behind.”

Oh, so Killian Gore knew in advance that they would go to war with Mexico, and he made Pinkerton, who had been doing business perfectly fine in the United States for years, his puppet?

Furthermore, he somehow secured a means to control the slaves in the South, and with all these conditions in place, he manipulated the United States to move according to his will?

What should he do with this man?

“Hoo… Your Excellency, if Congress knows that you said such things, they will immediately begin impeachment proceedings. Right now, the Southern congressmen are still on your side because we are in the same boat, but they won’t want to risk a direct conflict with the British Empire.”

“You’re all so frustrating! Why don’t you realize that you’re being played by the British Empire!”

Last time, he said to blame everything on Mexico, but this time he says it’s all a conspiracy by the British Empire, so he doesn’t know which tune to dance to anymore.

Still, he stayed in his position even when all the other ministers resigned, believing that foreign policy should be consistent, but that was the worst decision.

He let out a deep sigh of belated regret that he should have resigned with everyone else.

‘This bastard is done for.’

A president who believes delusions, not reasoning, as reality.

Webster was now terrified that the British Empire might find out about this nonsense.

He was really going crazy.

* * *

Originally, nothing is resolved with the word “sorry” in diplomatic relations.

In matters between nations, the word “sorry” always requires a corresponding price to be paid, so expressions of apology are rarely used if possible.

No diplomat was unaware of this basic common sense, but Everett, the US ambassador to Canada, continued to apologize more times than he could count.

“I’m sorry! The details are currently being investigated by Congress, so I will share the situation as soon as it is understood.”

“This is not a matter that can be ended with a thorough investigation and an apology.”

“Of course, I know that. But I’m saying that we need to understand the exact facts to know how we should apologize.”

“I repeat, the home country has no intention of taking this matter lightly. Representatives have already been dispatched from Congress to investigate the truth, so please be aware of that.”

Everett repeatedly nodded and bowed his head for hours.

However, it was only natural that he, as a mere ambassador, could do nothing unless instructions came from his home country.

Then, what they had to do was make the US Congress realize how serious the current situation was.

-The citizens living in the border areas, as well as Her Majesty the Queen, were very surprised by this self-inflicted drama and the ensuing Mexican War. We ask the Congress to take additional measures so that Her Majesty can feel psychological stability.

As soon as his letter, written with as much exaggeration as possible, was made public, the public opinion of the citizens as well as the Congress quickly broke through the critical point.

The Queen, whom the citizens of the British Empire loved the most, and who was carrying a child who might become the next king, caused a commotion across the border at this time?

Even the brazen act of blaming it on a completely innocent other country and even waging war.

The Whigs and Conservatives immediately decided to select one representative from each party to send to Canada, and soon I was able to greet the welcome faces who got off the ship, full of excitement.

“Your Royal Highness! How worried you must have been!”

“Congress has resolved to thoroughly investigate this matter and clarify the responsibility. We will help Your Highness in every way, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Disraeli, who came as the representative of the Conservative Party, and Palmerston, who came representing the Whig Party, unanimously condemned the United States and insisted that they should be held strictly accountable.

It was clear what the Conservative Party, which sent Disraeli, as well as the Whig Party, which sent Palmerston instead of a moderate like Gladstone, were thinking without even asking.

“Thank you. I feel much lighter now that Congress is supporting me so strongly. Has Congress said how far they can tolerate it?”

“It will depend on what kind of attitude the United States shows, but the common opinion of both parties is that all possible means can be used.”

In other words, does that mean they will even allow them to form an alliance with Mexico and declare war on the United States?

How reassuring.

Unconditionally shouting opposition and fighting each other in normal times, but when a situation arises where they can devour another country, they harmoniously join forces as if nothing happened.

This is one of the conditions that a xenophobic country that wields power against the world must have.

Disraeli and Palmerston were grinding their teeth and arguing in Congress, but here they were laughing and showing off their friendship like childhood friends.

“In my opinion, we must first isolate the US administration. But if we actually go to impeachment, unexpected variables may arise, so let’s finish the negotiations before proceeding with the impeachment process.”

“As expected, Congressman Disraeli’s insight is extraordinary. I was just thinking about that. And although we have successfully seized Oregon, I think it’s a little disappointing to end it here. What do you think, Your Highness?”

“Of course, we shouldn’t end it here. I plan to negotiate with both the United States and Mexico, so I would appreciate it if you trust me and leave it to me.”

“Of course. Everything is for the British Empire!”

Palmerston raised his glass first and shouted, and then Disraeli and I also clinked glasses and shouted in unison.

“For the British Empire!”

True integration that unites left and right, ruling and opposition parties, conservatives and progressives, nobles and commoners, regardless of status.

This is We Are The World.