I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 200

The Bloom of Steel

It’s no exaggeration to say that almost every problem in the world since the establishment of capitalism is caused by money.

The Revolutions of 1848?

If the workers had been guaranteed sufficient wages and enjoyed a healthy work-life balance, such issues wouldn’t have arisen in the first place.

The American Civil War?

This, too, was an inevitable war due to the economic structure of the South, which relied on enslaved labor.

Even the two World Wars were ultimately tragedies that erupted from the entanglement of various nations’ interests.

So, strictly speaking, these were also problems involving enormous sums of money.

As long as the concept of economics exists in this world, countries and money are inextricably linked.

Even socialist countries, which claimed to hate capitalism and build a new society, what happened to them in the end?

Didn’t they transform into money-grubbers, saying, ‘I love money, kekeke [onomatopoeic laughter],’ doing more money-obsessed things than any capitalist country?

“The workers who gathered in France demanding the dissolution of the parliament have dispersed, they say.”

“Really? That’s faster than expected. It seems our Prime Minister Guizot is faithfully using the tactics he learned from me.”

“It’s also thanks to Your Highness sending food. Whether it’s reform or anything else, if he hadn’t filled their empty stomachs first, Prime Minister Guizot would have been dragged down by the angry farmers.”

Of course, that’s also true.

The fact that Britain actively exported food has spread widely, and there’s news that feelings towards Britain have improved significantly in France, which is proof of that.

This is all thanks to actively spreading the rumor that I responded to Guizot’s tearful request for food and persuaded the Prime Minister.

And that will continue to spread throughout France.

To continue instigating France and using them as the gendarmerie [police force] of Europe, it’s necessary for the French public’s feelings towards us to be favorable.

My new collaborator, who has taken on this important role, cautiously opened his mouth, watching my mood from the corner.

“Your Highness, I should have thanked you sooner, but I apologize for the delay in visiting you.”

“Not at all. You have faithfully done what I asked, so there’s no reason to apologize. If anything, shouldn’t I be the one thanking you?”

“Gratitude? We also benefited greatly thanks to you.”

My loyal cash cow… no, collaborator, Jacob Rothschild, the uncle of Lionel Rothschild and the head of the French Rothschild Bank, bowed politely and continued.

“To be honest, when my nephew invested money to improve his social image, I wondered what he was doing, but I was surprised that it actually had a pretty good effect.”

“That’s right. Especially since you are Jewish, you need to be a little more careful than others. I’m not trying to discriminate against you, but it’s unavoidable for practical reasons.”

“We understand. We are grateful that you are even considering that.”

Although we exported food to France, it doesn’t simply go to the citizens just by exporting it.

We need someone to manage whether there are people skimming in the middle, whether it’s going to the people who need it properly, and whether the prices are set appropriately.

And of course, all of this costs money.

The person I connected to Prime Minister Guizot here was Jacob, the head of the French Rothschilds.

The only condition was that the government widely publicize the fact that the Rothschild Bank had stepped up to ease the burden on suffering citizens.

People inherently remember and appreciate those who help them in difficult times for the rest of their lives.

There’s a reason why the culture of treating benefactors with special care is widespread throughout the world.

Even more so if it’s those they usually point fingers at and curse.

If gratitude is combined with guilt, the effect will be so great that it’s pointless to even explain.

“Even though we announced that we would establish the ‘Suez Maritime Canal Company’ in collaboration with the French government, no one found fault with it.”

“It would be strange if anyone did.”

Because the Rothschild Bank had so much money, it was common for other countries to borrow from them when undertaking public works projects.

However, due to the negative perception of Jewish people, they have been reluctant to directly involve them in projects or openly share the benefits, even if they borrowed money.

However, in order to dig the Suez Canal, it was necessary to establish a company and reach an agreement with the Egyptian government, so they inevitably had to be somewhat visible.

“Once the operating rights negotiations with the Egyptian government are completed, we will begin construction in earnest. And we will sell shares under the pretext that more construction funds are needed in the middle. Your Highness can then buy all the shares we have.”

“Good. We can consider the canal issue settled for now.”

I looked at the map spread out on the table and pondered for a moment.

With this, the operating rights of the Suez Canal will be in my hands in at least a year.

But the actual opening of the canal and the revenue generated from it will be much later in the future.

Considering the current situation, even if the British Empire’s mainland is fine, there will be more and more opportunities to invest money in Canada or the United States, and it’s too cumbersome to use money like this every time, bouncing off cushions.

Even if I use Rothschild or Baring Bank, they are still separate people from me.

In the first place, I can’t fully show my cards to those who are only collaborators, let alone someone like James who is my confidant.

After much thought, I came to the conclusion that I must have a bank of my own to safely launder the assets of the businesses I have set up.

Then I can safely register the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal that will be built someday, and my vast assets laundered through the bank as royal assets.

If I go through such double and triple steps, no one will even suspect it, and they will only admire the overwhelming wealth of the royal family.

However, if I, who have already taken ownership of the canal, try to establish a bank, the parliament will naturally try to stop me.

Unfortunately, I will have to use their flaw as Jewish people one more time before it is completely resolved.

“Then, I would like to do one more business with you. Can you listen to me?”

“We would be honored to do business with Your Highness. What kind of business is it this time?”

“You know that Canada is actively fostering industry, right? Create a bank branch there and buy up the resource companies I designate.”

“…Yes?”

“If you do that, the British Empire government will definitely issue a warning.”

You know it well. Arousing that sense of alarm is the goal of this project.

“The mainland is currently preoccupied with the revolutions taking place in Europe. By the time they realize it, you will have already taken over a significant amount of capital. From then on, I will take care of it, so feel free to buy it up.”

“What if the government tells us to return it…?”

“Then I will pay you the price and buy it, so you will only see profits, not losses.”

At the words that they could unconditionally profit, Lionel and Jacob’s expressions returned to those of the original bankers.

France, Austria, Hungary.

And the British Empire.

While all the countries of Europe were entangled in a chaotic party, the future food sources that would be responsible for the future of the British Empire’s royal family were being confirmed one after another.

* * *

Around the time Italy called for independence and revolted, and Hungary rose up, telling the damned Austria to get out.

Prussia, which was directly adjacent to Austria, was also in chaos.

“The Emperor must guarantee the establishment of a liberal system!”

“The nobles must awaken!”

“This country does not belong to the Junkers [Prussian noble landlords]! Guarantee freedom!”

Ridiculous nonsense echoed from all directions, and the capital, Berlin, was reduced to a den of rioters.

I knew that Germans were a disorganized group, but I never imagined they would be such a ragtag bunch.

At first, I thought the best course of action was to beat down all those who were saying such crazy things.

To lend a hand, I tried to arm 40 peasants from my territory and head to Berlin, but unfortunately, the commander of the Potsdam regiment refused, saying that he had to wait for the Emperor’s orders.

I was disappointed at the time, but looking back now, it was actually too extreme and futile a plan.

I definitely need to regain some composure.

Even if I am young, if I act on instinct instead of reason here, I will be no different from the rioters in Berlin.

The rioters must be disbanded, but simply scattering them with force is not the answer.

If I approach it in a more calm and wise way, can’t I control them without bloodshed?

Originally, the German lower classes are extremely ignorant and easily swayed by simple sweet talk.

Later, he met and talked with several nobles who came to Berlin, but their low intellectual level made his head ache.

They still sincerely insist on the futile argument that the bourgeoisie and liberals must be beaten down unconditionally, and that Germany does not need a parliament.

Could it be that the rioters secretly spread a drug in Berlin’s water source that degenerates the brain to the level of an animal?

Otherwise, there is no way they would seriously make such a stupid argument.

Why don’t they know that it is necessary to appease the grievances of the masses and the bourgeoisie in order to maintain the old system?

When he expressed his opinion that it was necessary to reform the election law to give voting rights in proportion to property, the nobles invariably hurled fierce jeers.

“As expected, you are just a farmer from Pomerania, so your insight is truly lacking. This country must be led by us Junkers. No, come to think of it, aren’t you also a Junker? But how can you say such a thing?”

“I don’t deny that either. But governance is not just about suppressing, is it? Eliminating the grievances of those who are governed and building a sustainable system in the future is truly ideal…”

“Did you just farm on the farm and become assimilated with the farmers instead of the landowners?”

“No, that’s not it! If His Majesty hears my story, he will surely understand that what I say makes sense.”

“Wake up. His Majesty will not listen to the voice of a heretic like you.”

“Wahahahaha!”

Other nobles laughed loudly, judged the commotion outside as a temporary disturbance, and indulged in the pleasures of the present, drinking and drinking.

If the complaints become too severe, pretend to listen appropriately.

And when it subsides, magically return to the past and squeeze people again, and when the complaints become too severe again, pretend to listen again.

He inwardly gave these idiots a hopeless diagnosis, saying that there was no answer.

But that didn’t make him feel any better.

Breaking news was reported that the French government had promised moderate reforms and disbanded the protesters.

It is also said that Austria has officially announced its intention to suppress the Hungarian rebellion, following a similar procedure to France.

The method they are doing now was exactly the method the young man had conceived.

Not just a temporary fix, but creating a soil environment so that the seeds of chaos cannot bloom at all.

If a society is not to be dominated by lunatics who shout about joint production and joint distribution, the state must step in to prevent workers from listening to the voices of those madmen.

To do that, shouldn’t we move away from the one-dimensional policy of ‘Okay, we’ll reform, sorry, it’s a lie’?

If Prussia continues to lag behind like this, it may be trampled on by those French bastards again someday.

The young man felt a sense of urgency that Prussia must change quickly, seeing the sophisticated political power of neighboring countries.

And as a result of tracing this trend in reverse, he was able to easily find where the first start was.

[Kilian Gore of the British Empire, quells the grievances of the Chartists [a working-class movement for political reform in Britain] by promising gradual reforms!]

That’s it.

France and Austria must have seen this and taken note.

Kilian Gore.

He is five years younger than himself, but his name, who had already served as a minister in the British Empire a long time ago, was quite famous in Prussia.

In particular, the fact that the other side had already been putting into action the plan that this side had come up with while watching the fierce momentum of the rioters is admirable.

“Indeed. To overhaul everything in the future, we must refer to everything we can.”

For Prussia to truly become stronger.

Even by sacrificing the hopeless old system, we must desperately climb up.

The future of this country will be determined not by the power of the Junkers or liberal ideas, but only by the power of Prussia.

“To do that, I need to see it for myself at least once, right?”

A young man in his early 30s.

Otto von Bismarck left Berlin, where the hopeless Prussian nobles were rampant, and set out on a journey to London.