I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 149

The Moving Powder Keg

To put it bluntly, everyone has heard their parents tell them to get along and not fight when they were young.

But even so, people end up fighting when they need to, and that doesn’t change even when they become adults.

Taking a stand against someone different and ostracizing them is an inherent part of human nature.

It’s absolutely impossible to completely eliminate this.

‘I just hate those pretentious French guys for no reason.’

‘I’m just uncomfortable around those black people for some reason.’

‘I just hate those annoying English guys.’

Unless you can shoot some kind of brainwashing beam, it’s impossible to fundamentally change the way those people think.

However, it is possible to create an atmosphere where they get ganged up on the moment they reveal such thoughts.

“I’m not saying this simply to maintain public order, or to prevent the country from becoming chaotic due to conflicts between different races. We all have unique cultures and traditions that we have built up in our respective situations, and we have refined them to be even greater and more brilliant. For example, Quebec has a majority of French immigrants, right? Is there anyone who doesn’t know that French cuisine is delicious in Europe? Your elegance and artistic sensibility will be an invaluable help in maturing Canada’s culture in the future.”

If you were to pick people who are sincere about boasting about their culture, the French would definitely be in the top three in Europe.

The French representatives from Quebec, huddled together, smiled broadly and bowed repeatedly as my praise landed.

Of course, I wasn’t just trying to appease the French immigrants, so I immediately turned my attention to the next target.

“Next, we have our loyal English immigrants. Your loyalty and respect for the royal family will undoubtedly be an example to everyone here.”

Since Canada was a colony of the British Empire, English people tend to think that they are the foundation of it all.

Subtly praising this point made the English drink with a satisfied smile, as if they were telling the French to get lost.

“And I would always like to express my gratitude to those of you who came from Ireland. Your faith in trusting the government and my words, abandoning your beloved hometown, will surely be rewarded. I will make a firm promise here.”

As for the Irish, I don’t really worry much because they give me overwhelming support, enough to believe me even if I called rye flour [a nonsensical statement, implying blind faith].

However, it would be a little difficult if they overestimated me too much and thought that Canada was now theirs.

My plan was to constantly educate them so that they wouldn’t go astray, and to make the Irish play a lubricating role in smoothly connecting other races and immigrants.

“Finally, our friends who came up from the South in search of true freedom. I know very well that you have longed for true freedom and equality more than anyone else here. Because you can live in peace, we can loudly proclaim that British Canada is a true land of freedom. Paradoxically, until you feel the absence of freedom, you don’t really know how valuable it is. And that’s exactly why this land where you live can be reborn as a true land of freedom.

Under the protection of Her Great Majesty, all of you will continue to enjoy the freedoms and rights protected by law as citizens of British Canada.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

“We will never forget the grace of His Excellency and Her Majesty even in death!”

The black elders who participated as representatives of the frontier villages were so overwhelmed that they even shed tears and bowed repeatedly.

Other immigrants who watched the scene smiled contentedly and applauded.

*Unlike* the uncivilized United States, this is a truly advanced country that values human rights.

After maximizing everyone’s *뽕 [Korean slang for feeling of being high/euphoric, often used in the context of national pride or propaganda]*, I looked around the audience and finished my speech.

“As such, we all share different cultures, but we all have something in common: we are citizens of British Canada. And all these characteristics we have come together to make this country truly greater.

I am the *国书 [Guoshu, likely referring to a high-ranking official or representative of the crown]* of the British Empire, but I was born in Asia, and half of the blood flowing in my body comes from Ireland. And the successor of this country, who will become your king in the future, is also the direct descendant of the English royal family. In other words, in a way, this Canada is a monumental country that symbolizes the future of the British Empire.

So, there is no need to be afraid or reluctant to respect other cultures, accept them, and blend in with them. Take pride, because the whole world will pay attention to you, study your actions, and learn from them in the future.”

If there is no reaction even after doing this much, it means that they are emotionally dry or they hate me so much that they unconditionally oppose anything I say.

As expected, everyone in the room enthusiastically applauded and cheered, and even began to step out of their boundaries and mingle with other immigrants.

In particular, the black representatives who had been crying and shedding tears from my encouragement earlier became a perfect target.

“Oh, how much hardship have you suffered in that barbaric South? How is it after coming here?”

“What can I say? It’s difficult to start anew from the beginning, but even that is just fun and exciting.”

“I see. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you must have suffered a lot because of those guys who are still maintaining that barbaric slavery system. As His Excellency said, I hope you will only build good memories and experiences here in the future.”

“How kind of you. Thank you so much.”

Yes, yes, the atmosphere is good.

From now on, if I give such speeches whenever there are similar events before returning to London, my story will quickly spread throughout Canada.

Even though it seems like nothing now, if this kind of atmosphere takes root, Canada’s prestige will stand out even more in contrast to the United States right below.

How much contrast would there be between a country where people of color still have to use separate restrooms 100 years later and a country that is breaking down racial barriers from now on?

What if the United States is influenced by Canada and tries to solve the race problem?

Then, at that moment, the Civil War will break out, so there is nothing bad for us.

In fact, I was secretly expecting this possibility to be more likely.

Considering the butterfly effect of history, Canada’s current atmosphere will inevitably affect the United States in some way.

Of course, I was also openly spreading voices condemning the barbarity of slavery in the northern part of the United States.

Anyway, now that I have spoken out so extensively, Canada will run smoothly without any major accidents for at least the next few years.

The only thing left is to wonder when Russia will move, but considering Russia’s miserable infrastructure, there should still be quite a bit of time left, right?

Looking back, I, who had not yet properly experienced Russia, was slightly overlooking how far they were from common sense.

* * *

Several months after the Kingston Treaty was signed.

While Canada was in a frenzy as the birth of the British Empire’s queen was imminent, Russia was also filled with tension.

Everyone agreed that Russia’s endless territorial expansion would have to find a breakthrough in Asia since it was sluggish in Europe.

But if that’s Northeast Asia instead of West Asia, then the story changes.

-The only time to attack Primorye [a region in the Russian Far East] is now. Now is the perfect opportunity, and if you miss this, you will regret it forever!

-Do you know how far it is from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Primorye? How are you going to supply it?

-Our strong Russian soldiers are already used to marching through barren lands. Supply? If you work hard and do well, that’s it.

The confrontation between the pro-war faction, which wanted to start a war immediately, and the cautious faction, which wanted to see the situation a little more, has not yet tilted to either side.

Russian Emperor Nicholas I was also initially closer to carefully watching the situation.

As the military said, Russia’s main force was concentrated around Moscow and St. Petersburg, and from here to Primorye at the far east, the march route would be too long.

It wouldn’t be a problem if they had laid railroads like the British, but Russia at the moment didn’t have the capacity to do so.

So, inevitably, they would have to move by land, which would take at least several months, and maintaining the supply line would become too difficult.

-But now is the only time we can afford to replenish our military expenses by selling Alaska! And decisively, we are not the only ones who are having difficulties right now. Qing [referring to the Qing Dynasty in China] is struggling to raise the reparations they have to pay to England, but if we give them time, won’t they recover too! Then it will be even more difficult to seize the opportunity.

To be honest, the pro-war faction’s argument also makes sense.

It’s not easy to move troops to Primorye, but the same was true for the enemies, who were not prepared.

If the cost of the war is covered to some extent by selling Alaska, wouldn’t now be the right time, objectively speaking?

Now that they knew the truth that Qing was an old tiger with not only its teeth but also its claws pulled out, they were honestly not afraid at all.

So, in the end, their real enemy was not Qing, but Russia’s harsh land.

Whether they can win this battle against nature and safely send troops to Primorye is currently the emperor’s biggest concern.

However, this concern tilted to one side in an instant when news of the Kingston Treaty was delivered across the Atlantic.

“…The British Empire has swallowed not only Alaska but the entire western part of the North American continent?”

“Yes. In fact, the entire Pacific region is now in the hands of the British Empire.”

“These greedy bastards were increasing their territory so greedily while we were hesitating.”

Nicholas I’s fist trembled as he looked at the map that his servants had urgently obtained.

No, how greedily did they eat that their territory could swell like that in one day?!

Looking at it this way, it seems that British Canada alone is as big as the entire Russia combined, with some exaggeration, but does this situation make sense right now?

“The guys who incite the whole of Europe to block us whenever we try to expand our territory a little are eating up land so shamelessly?”

“Your Majesty. Still, didn’t the Foreign Minister draw up an agreement that they would not object even if we raised troops and occupied Primorye?”

“Yes… that’s right. But now that I see it, I think that was also a plot for those guys to swallow the entire western part of North America.”

While they were making plans to occupy Primorye, those guys were also meticulously plotting to swallow the New World.

And this time again, their movements were one step faster than theirs.

“Your Majesty! Even if they occupy such a vast territory now, it will still take a lot of time to stabilize the new land. But if we do nothing during that time, it will be difficult to narrow the gap with them even if we occupy Primorye.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Now that the British Empire has occupied the entire eastern part of the Pacific, it is only a matter of time before they extend their reach to Asia.

Moreover, they are building bases where fleets can be stationed in Shanghai, Tainan, Hong Kong, and Singapore in Asia.

If they continue to drag on like this, the eastern and western sides of the Pacific will all be in the hands of the British Empire.

At that time, even if they occupy Primorye, Russia can never be free from the influence of the British Empire.

Nicholas I finally made up his mind not to be dragged around by the British Empire’s pace any longer.

“Good! Now that things have come to this, we can’t hesitate any longer. Immediately organize the army and prepare to march to Primorye as quickly as possible!”

“What should we notify Qing?”

“Originally, that place was the territory of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, but they gave up the territory due to Qing’s pressure. Now that the situation has changed, send a proposal to divide the territory again through a reasonable treaty.”

It was nonsense that no one could understand, but has Russia ever made a reasonable claim in the first place?

Anyway, the current Qing is just a collection of morons who were defeated by England and couldn’t do anything.

“Your Majesty. Not only Qing, but also Korea (*Корея*) [Korea] and Yaponiya (*Япония*) [Japan] in the south, which will border us as soon as we push down, may resist.”

“Do we have to pay attention to the reactions of such small countries one by one? And if they resist, it’s even better. It means we have a justification to take their land as well.”

“That’s right!”

“We will all follow Your Majesty’s will!”

As soon as the emperor’s words fell, the pro-war faction raised their voices, and those who wanted to be cautious had no choice but to bend their opinions and retreat.

In the first place, it was impossible to change the emperor’s mind after seeing the endless territorial expansion of the British Empire.

“I will take Primorye and get the road to the sea! I will never let the British Empire control this world as they please!”

Russia’s self-control, which had been struggling with the desire for territorial expansion, finally crossed the threshold.