I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 171

Becoming a Hidden Power in the British Empire 171

Farewell to the Old Era (2)

A resounding success!

Since showcasing the telegraph system, explosive interest has poured in, and everyone is praising my insight and achievements.

Even if it was something that would have been introduced in 2 or 3 years in the original history, activating it now is a different story.

Above all, as it is a business guaranteed by the royal family and widely encouraged, numerous investors came with money, and the British Empire’s telegraph business instantly became a great success.

The military’s response was also very positive.

Originally, the military tends not to favor unverified new technologies, but this was an exception.

The Navy immediately insisted that they should utilize the telegraph system before any other military in the world.

The Navy, in particular, pressured Admiral William Parker, who had escorted me to Japan and built a friendship, to secure government support.

So much so that Admiral Parker, who was planning to step down from his position this year, was almost forcibly persuaded to stay in his position for a few more years.

“Your Highness, as you mentioned at the demonstration, the desire for real-time communication within the military is growing day by day. As you said, Your Highness, the power of the British Empire comes from the mighty power of the Navy. Wouldn’t it be possible to connect the telegraph to major naval bases as a priority so that they can quickly adapt to this new technology?”

“I would like to do that, but even so, the royal family cannot unilaterally install telegraphs within the military. That is a matter that must be discussed with the government…”

“Then I will stand as a witness in Parliament!”

I don’t know why he’s pushing so hard when the telegraph will be installed in military facilities as a priority anyway.

Frankly, it was a bit annoying for me, who is trying to achieve revolutionary results not only in this communication revolution but also in other areas.

But the very next day.

I could immediately understand why Admiral Parker was making such a fuss.

“Yooouuur Highness! Giving such privileges only to the Navy is a very unfair decision! The Army should be the first to utilize real-time communication!”

Field Marshal Hugh Gough, Earl of Gough. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of India three years ago, and as soon as he heard about the telegraph while briefly returning to his home country, he came to see me.

It was no exaggeration to say that Field Marshal Gough, one of the leading figures in the British Army, was almost religiously determined to install the telegraph and repeatedly raised his voice.

“The place that needs real-time communication the most is, of course, the Indian garrison. Even if a major order is issued from London, it takes at least a few months for it to reach India! There have been more than a few cases where the situation in India has changed rapidly, and by the time we urgently contact the home country and receive orders, the situation has already ended. But in the meantime, commanders in the field are being reprimanded for moving the army based on their judgment, and the morale of those working in the field is being eroded in real-time. Please, Your Highness, understand the Army’s situation!”

“Ah, Marshal. Please calm down. Why wouldn’t I know that reality? I’ve traveled back and forth to Asia by ship several times.”

“I believe that Your Highness, of all people, will understand the Army’s unfortunate situation better than anyone else!”

“Ah, yes. Of course, the royal family is currently installing telegraphs throughout the British Empire and Canada, but if this is to go inside the military, government approval is naturally required. But as you know, I cannot interfere in domestic politics, so I think it will take a little more time.”

“Then please put me as a witness in Parliament! I will personally inform the Prime Minister of the importance of this matter! I think the Army, which has been guaranteed a certain degree of autonomy, should be the first to benefit from the new system rather than the Navy!”

Now I get it.

I wondered why they were making such a fuss when they would have installed it on their own anyway, but that wasn’t the point.

The important thing is that the new technology must be introduced to the Navy or the Army first.

This battle of pride was the reason why the Navy Admiral and the Army Marshal came to me one after another and begged.

The British Navy has an almost religious belief that they are the root of the British Empire and should be treated the best.

Conversely, the Army resented the Navy while also feeling victimized that the country was pushing the Navy the most.

Therefore, the Army wants to take the symbolism of introducing this technology before the Navy, and the Navy is reacting to it.

What a bunch of tiring people.

“Can’t we just set a date and send and receive telegrams at the same time?”

“If we do that, those seal bastards [a derogatory term for naval officers] will definitely break the promised time and start sending and receiving telegrams first.”

They’re saying that as if they wouldn’t do that themselves.

Whether it’s the Army or the Navy, it’s obvious that 100 out of 100 will turn on the communication first and insist that they are the first military to exchange real-time communication in the world.

“Wouldn’t it be possible for the government to set an official time? Since it’s a historic first message, they should send a message to His Majesty in the royal family at the same time. Surely they wouldn’t advance the time at their own discretion when the recipient is His Majesty.”

“Well, if it’s a message to His Majesty… But, Your Highness. I’m not just conscious of the seals… no, the Navy. Do you know that there was a large-scale battle in India recently? The remnants of the Maratha Empire are still raising troops without getting tired. We repelled them this time, but there may come a day when we have to raise troops again.”

“Is the situation in India that unstable?”

“It’s not so critical that we can call it a huge crisis, but it’s hard to say that it’s completely stable. So, for the morale of our military, please give us some strength so that the Army can use the telegraph before the Navy.”

I remember hearing that there was a commotion in India while I was in Japan when I went to Asia before.

The Maratha army raised an army of nearly 60,000, and Field Marshal Hugh Gough repelled them.

In fact, Field Marshal Hugh Gough’s words were not an exaggeration. As far as I know, large and small rebellions and wars will continue to occur in the future.

And that will accumulate and accumulate and eventually escalate into a super-large rebellion called the Sepoy Mutiny [a widespread uprising against British rule in India in 1857].

I was already thinking about what to do with India, but this might be a good opportunity.

“Marshal. Certainly, when I think about it, I think there is some truth in what you say.”

“Is that so? I knew Your Highness would understand. With this, our Army’s morale will be even higher…”

“But no matter how I think about it, if we are to treat the Army before the Navy, we need a reason and justification for that. Frankly, as you know, Marshal, the symbolism that the Navy has in the British Empire is more than just a military.”

“···That’s right. You’re not wrong···.”

Even Hugh Gough, who has pride as an Army Marshal, reluctantly nodded as if he had no choice but to admit what he had to admit.

In fact, even though he was arguing hard, he probably thought that there was no possibility that the British Empire would push out the Navy and treat the Army first.

To do that, he would have to leave an impact comparable to that of the Duke of Wellington, who achieved the feat of defeating Napoleon.

“But if there is a reason to urgently support the Army, the story will naturally be different. Then it won’t be a burden for me to subtly convey the story to Prime Minister Wellesley.”

“Oh! If that’s the case, we will cooperate immediately!”

The will to cooperate with anything is overflowing if it raises the morale of the Army and creates a topic to mock the Navy.

Besides, they wouldn’t think that the Crown Consort of the British Empire, who is more patriotic than anyone else, would be up to something strange.

It’s as expected. Everything I’m trying to do is for the future of this country.

“When I went on a tour of Asia last time, I heard a lot about the East India Company. There were some embarrassing reports among them.”

Of course, Hugh Gough, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian garrison, is inevitably closely related to the East India Company.

This is because the East India Company is not a simple private company but performs functions almost equivalent to a country, including military affairs, administration, and governance.

“Ah… You mean the East India Company. Were there many voices complaining to Your Highness?”

“Well, it was similar.”

But of course, Hugh Gough, who is a soldier, cannot have a good relationship with the East India Company.

There are parts where they cooperate, but the opinions of the East India Company, which operates its own private soldiers, and Hugh Gough, the Army Marshal of the British Empire, cannot always coincide.

If that happens, it means that the East India Company is unilaterally bowing to Hugh Gough and acting as his servant, doing whatever he tells them to do.

Of course, that can’t be the case, so he took the bait I threw.

That’s why it’s easy to win over people who aren’t politicians.

You can’t hide your expressions, so you can see exactly what they want and what they’re dissatisfied with.

“There are many stories that the East India Company is exploiting the local people in India too harshly and completely alienating them from politics and administration. If you push them too hard, dissatisfaction will accumulate and explode. If that happens, the burden on the Army to suppress the rebellion will naturally increase.”

“I’ve always been dissatisfied with that. Things keep getting bigger with war when we don’t have to fight. But it’s true that I couldn’t do anything because it’s an excessive overreach for a soldier to tell them to do politics properly.”

“You must have had a lot of worries. In fact, it’s the Marshal and the soldiers under your command who are shedding blood and dying.”

“I’m so glad that even Your Highness knows.”

Perhaps because it hasn’t been a year since the end of the great war, the Marshal’s eyes were filled with anger.

Good. At this point, he can be a decisive witness to testify that the East India Company is messing up domestic affairs.

“Marshal. Then let’s do this. This is a way that benefits the British Empire, the Indian garrison, and the Marshal…”

I didn’t say I would interfere in domestic politics, but India is a colony, so I can directly intervene without any complaints, right?

For this country to develop further, it is best to quickly get rid of the freeloaders who are just shitting in the field.

* * *

A few days after Hugh Gough met with Killian.

Rothschild was summoned to Buckingham by Killian.

“Have a cup of milk tea.”

“Thank you.”

It’s been a while since they became acquainted, but he still found it difficult to deal with Killian.

Of course, the Queen would be the only one in this world who could easily deal with the Crown Consort, but apart from the position of Crown Consort, Killian himself brought considerable pressure to him.

What should I say?

I can’t figure out what he’s thinking or what his intentions are, so the more I talk to him, the more energy I feel drained.

“How’s the thing you were preparing in India?”

“Everything is finished. We have established five ghost companies [shell corporations] that have completely manipulated the books, and we are also in contact with local opium suppliers and merchant ship orderers.”

At first, I wondered how he was going to bring down a huge organization like the East India Company, but I guess the scale of thinking is different because he’s a member of the royal family.

I never thought he would completely dismantle the East India Company.

“Your Highness, even if we proceed with the plan, there will be considerable resistance from the local area. Will it be okay?”

“Are you saying that the East India Company will organize a military demonstration with the private soldiers they have organized?”

“That’s unlikely, but you never know what people who are cornered will do. Even if they do something in India, it takes a considerable amount of time for it to reach the home country. The East India Company has been using that point to arbitrarily handle many issues.”

“Don’t worry. They can’t use that excuse anymore. I’d be more grateful if they held a military demonstration, but they won’t do anything that stupid.”

It was amazing.

I’ve seen all kinds of human beings while working in the financial industry, and there are many scammers who live off other people’s money.

But this is the first time I’ve seen someone trying to bankrupt a huge company like the East India Company on this scale and in this way.

If he were a seasoned person in the financial industry, I would have tried to understand him, but this person is one of the most precious people in the British Empire.

I’m just dumbfounded as to how he was able to come up with these methods.

“After we get rid of the East India Company, you’ll be taking the place of the Baring family, right? I think that’s enough compensation for helping me, but is there anything else you want?”

“No. I think that’s more than enough.”

“Good. Then there’s no need to wait any longer since you said you’re ready, right? Proceed.”

Is it finally starting?

I was a little scared at first, but now Rothschild wanted to see the results of this with his own eyes.

To a businessman who lives by handling money, this person in front of him was like a never-ending incarnation of wealth.

Where will it be after India?

Rothschild felt a similar thrill to when he had completed his first deal and bowed deeply.

The road to the golden empire began to be clearly drawn before his eyes.