I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 167

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire 167

Hidden Power (3)

The House of Lords of the British Empire.

It was a group of nobles with the powerful authority to review laws passed by the House of Commons, but recently, it has been said that they are gradually being pushed back by the House of Commons.

This was because there was too much difference in representation between the nobles, who had monopolized wealth and power from the past, and the members of the House of Commons, who were elected by the votes of the citizens.

In the past, they could simply exercise their unlimited veto power to tame the House of Commons and make them listen, but if they did that now, public opinion would explode.

Therefore, unless it directly infringed on the rights and interests of the nobles, they tried not to exercise their veto power and often passed bills with the idea that it was good to be good.

As a result, meetings tended to be conducted in a perfunctory manner, and the number of members who did not attend, saying that there was no fun, was gradually increasing.

However, exceptions were made when important topics were discussed, as today.

The House of Lords chamber, where almost everyone was seated, was holding a meeting in a solemn atmosphere unlike usual.

“This is a bill passed by the House of Commons, and it deals with interesting content. His Highness the Duke recently made great contributions in Canada and Asia, didn’t he? Therefore, it is said that the purpose is to prepare a bill so that His Highness the Duke can continue to make contributions without burden and help him.”

“I see. The House of Commons, which hates privileges not specified in the law so much, is submitting a bill to honor His Highness the Duke.”

“Isn’t it obvious what they’re thinking?”

A heavyweight in the political world who has recently become interested in observing how the British Empire is flowing, rather than directly intervening in politics.

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, the father of the current Prime Minister and still praised as a great man who illuminated the name of the British Empire, let out a sneer.

‘It’s always been like that.’

‘It will be like that now, and it will not change in the future.’

The British House of Commons has been constantly trying to reduce the power of those who were born with privileges, and, annoyingly, the times were gradually taking their side.

‘When I met Charles [likely referring to his son, the current Prime Minister] a while ago, he seemed to have a lot on his mind, and it seems that this was the cause of my son’s suffering.’

‘Since he was close to Killian, he must have been a little reluctant to pass this bill that seemed to be targeting him.’

‘But isn’t that what politics is all about?’

‘To put it coldly, the greater Killian’s influence, the less good it will be for his son.’

‘I don’t like what the House of Commons is doing, but in the long run, wouldn’t it be better for his son if Killian’s influence diminished?’

The Duke of Wellington was planning to watch how the situation unfolded as usual, rather than directly intervening in this matter.

‘He’s been winning without ever being checked, but he’s going to be checked like this. It’s ruthless, but there’s no eternal winner in politics.’

When he won at Waterloo and became Prime Minister for the first time, he was convinced that his era would last forever.

But the result, as everyone knows, was a crushing defeat in the election and the Conservative Party lost the ruling party seat it had been holding.

‘Killian has also been riding high until now, so it’s time for a fall.’

‘If there is anything he wants, it is that his son Charles will take this as a warning and strengthen his mind.’

He slowly got up and moved to a corner, watching the members exchange opinions.

As the House of Lords, there was no reason to oppose it, so it would probably pass without any problems.

While he was thinking about what kind of vinegar to sprinkle on the meat today without any thought.

“I definitely think we should oppose this bill!”

The Duke’s eyes widened when he saw a familiar voice coming from the front.

‘No, why is that human being taking Killian’s side?’

The Marquis of Anglesey, a competent commander who had been under the Duke’s command in the Battle of Waterloo and a fellow member of the House of Lords, was raising his voice, his face flushed.

“I believe that this bill is full of evil disguised as good intentions. Look. They made it sound like they were praising His Highness the Duke’s achievements, but what is the intention in the end? You must never take any position in the parliament or government in the future, right?”

“But originally, tradition is······.”

“Of course, I know that. So, I’m saying, why are they trying to make a law out of it when we can just leave the tradition as it is? No matter how I look at it, this is the same as preemptively attacking because they are afraid that the citizens will want His Highness the Duke to participate in politics because His Highness the Duke’s popularity is so high right now. They also come up with a plausible excuse. That’s what makes me the most angry.”

“Frankly, it looks a bit petty, but I don’t know why the Marquis of Anglesey is so angry. You’re not that close to His Highness the Duke, are you?”

Come to think of it, there was a time when the House of Lords tried to send Killian to Asia to tame him.

At that time, there were some people who voted in favor but suddenly turned against it, and one of them was the Marquis of Anglesey.

The Duke wondered if Killian had caught him with a weakness, but the Marquis of Anglesey shook his head and raised his voice before such a story could come out.

“I! That’s because I have a past of fighting with my life as a soldier to protect this country. He went all the way to Canada for the sake of the country, and then spent more than half a year on the ship again. But they’re making a law to hit such a person in the back of the head while pretending to praise his achievements? This is not it. No matter what, this is not it!”

“That’s certainly true, but···.”

“In times like this, our House of Lords must resolutely oppose it so that people will know that this country still knows honor and properly treats those who have served the country. The result of being too lenient and passing most of the bills so far is this. Power needs checks and balances, and the House of Commons is now proving it with their own actions!”

‘I didn’t know that human being was so good at talking.’

The Duke, who knew the Marquis of Anglesey well in the past, showed a bewildered reaction, but the atmosphere of the other members of the House of Lords changed immediately.

Those who were excited that a good opportunity had been created because they didn’t like the House of Commons acting up.

Those who sincerely sympathized with the Marquis of Anglesey’s words and believed that those who had made contributions should be treated accordingly.

And even those who were investing in Canada and trying to maximize their profits by showing Killian that they were doing well this time.

Everyone had different thoughts, but the conclusion was one in the end.

The time had come to show the House of Commons the taste of veto power that they had forgotten for a while.

For the Duke of Wellington, who had abandoned all regrets about politics and was only watching from behind, it was truly an absurd comedy.

‘Why is this flowing like this?’

* * *

“···In this way, the House of Lords judged that the bill passed by the House of Commons had many shortcomings and requested that it be reviewed again.”

“I see. That’s good.”

“Was this what His Highness the Duke was thinking? Mobilizing the House of Lords to suspend the passage of the bill?”

“First of all, the first step is correct.”

‘In fact, I didn’t even know that bribing the nobles who received kickbacks while shaking down the opium addicts last time would be so useful.’

‘I’m glad I didn’t cut them off at that time and kept them alive.’

‘If you save it and use it little by little, there will be times when it will be so useful.’

The Marquis of Anglesey performed his role much better than expected.

“But no matter how much the House of Lords rejects it, if this flows into a long-term battle, public opinion will tilt towards the House of Commons.”

“That would be the case if the House of Lords exercised its veto power for no good reason. But this time, the reason is very plausible, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. It’s a good way to put the House of Lords in the middle and use it as a shield, rather than the conflict between the royal family and the House of Commons.”

“Of course, that’s not all.”

People instinctively feel disgusted by the act of betrayal.

Whether it’s an innate nature or a reaction learned later, this was a characteristic common to people all over the world.

And I started printing articles again using the Morning Post, which I used so usefully when I pulled down Robert Peel.

[Conflict between the House of Commons and the House of Lords surrounding the royal family!]

[“The House of Commons is abusing the authority of the legislative body to check the royal family. This is the same as a legislative coup!” The Marquis of Anglesey’s scathing criticism.]

[“This bill only inserts traditions that have been observed for a long time into the wording, and there is no ill intention whatsoever. The House of Lords is rather trying to use this situation as a tool for political strife.” The House of Commons’ immediate rebuttal. What is the truth?]

Fighting between the House of Lords and the House of Commons was something I had experienced so much that I was sick of it, but this time the situation was a little different.

This is because the nobles brought up a strange reason to protect the royal family, rather than challenging the House of Commons to protect their own interests.

At first, people’s opinions were divided because the truth of the incident was not properly known, but that was only for a while.

As the Morning Post, which I was funding, flooded the newspaper market with a barrage of articles, the voices criticizing the House of Commons gradually increased.

And I focused on appealing to emotions instead of reason by conveying the small daily lives of the royal family without immediately joining this commotion.

[Tears of His Highness the Duke Killian. “The children I saw after a year were babbling without me knowing. I realized once again that the road to and from Asia was long.”]

[“But I don’t regret it because it was a devotion to the British Empire. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t be next to my children.” I’m sorry for my children, but if a similar situation arises, I will not hesitate to make the same choice.]

[How dangerous is the route to Asia? Even the navy, who always live on ships, hate it and shudder at the thought.]

I just calmly described how difficult it was coming and going to Asia.

And I recited like a parrot how sorry I was to my wife and children while coming and going, leaving young children behind.

The Marquis of Anglesey did not miss this atmosphere and invited all the reporters to hold a press conference.

People’s interest was growing day by day, to the point that it was said that this was the first time such a large-scale press conference had been held since the last general election.

“I will break down these clauses one by one. The words about Canada and Asia are just packaged with words that look good, but in the end, they are just more specifically specifying the authority that His Highness the Duke currently has. On the other hand, it is written most clearly at the front that he cannot take any position in the country. Just looking at this, isn’t it obvious what the House of Commons is aiming for!”

“But Marquis! Originally, there is an unwritten rule that the royal family maintains political neutrality, isn’t there?”

“Did His Highness the Duke violate that unwritten rule? This is saying that it is forcibly making a law by bringing up something that does not need to be emphasized with the current bill. Reporters, please think about it from the perspective of His Highness the Duke. He came to devote himself to the country without even seeing his lovely children babbling for the first time and standing up and walking, but how would he feel when he sees this bill coming up?”

The House of Commons, which had become impatient, continued to make its own rebuttals, but originally, appealing to emotions works better in public opinion warfare.

The conflict between the House of Lords and the House of Commons, which had intensified in a long time, rapidly began to shift the balance towards the House of Lords, unlike the previous pattern.

* * *

“Stop checking the royal family disguised as a bill!”

“The House of Commons must explain!”

“The representatives of the ruling and opposition parties must immediately apologize to His Highness the Duke and the person in charge must resign!”

“Awake! Apologize!”

Wow, look at the fire under the firewood. It burns very well.

The House of Lords is tanking [taking the brunt of the attacks] in front of me, so it’s very reassuring.

Why is there any reason for the royal family to directly step forward?

If I bring in the House of Lords, who wants to tame the House of Commons whenever the opportunity comes, it will be so clean.

Those two are fighting, and I’m just diligently playing the patriot behind me, so there’s no worry that the image will be damaged.

The House of Commons, which is being pushed back now, will not continue to be unilaterally beaten like that, so the atmosphere will gradually overheat in the future.

I was planning to summon all the reporters to Buckingham Palace at that time.

To end this war.

I am, Kang Rim.