I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 30

Unexpected Result

“If the Factory Act passes, the economy will be in chaos…”

“It won’t.”

“Factories will face a crisis…”

“They won’t.”

If child labor regulations truly harmed the national economy that much, would other labor laws have been proposed one after another?

Moreover, this wasn’t a ban, but a bill to regulate excessive labor.

Even for simple labor, there’s a significant difference in productivity between those who receive at least a minimal education and those who don’t.

In the grand scheme, this bill was bound to pass, and it would inevitably be evaluated as quite effective.

“Wellesley, I’m telling you this in case you misunderstand, but within the Tory party, those who partially agree with the Whigs don’t do so because they share the same views.”

“What?”

“Think carefully about who the people within the party are who insist on forming a committee. Aren’t most of them from traditional landowning families?”

“Ah, I see what you mean.”

Wellesley isn’t stupid. He understands the situation with just this much explanation.

“Yes. Landowners don’t particularly like capitalists. They probably think this reform bill can slightly adjust the flow of rapid industrialization. Ironically, the results won’t turn out that way.”

“…Do you really think this bill will help the economy?”

“Of course. The urgent times when we had to use children because we didn’t have enough hands are already over. What we’re doing now is just grinding up future resources to gain a tiny bit more profit. Just watch. Capitalists who introduce cutting-edge machinery and run factories on a large scale will actually support this bill more.”

“What? Why is that?”

“Because they’re relatively less dependent on child labor now. They’ll think it’s a good opportunity to push out small and medium-sized factories that still rely heavily on child labor.”

Of course, this isn’t my personal opinion but information I saw in the history of labor law development.

And that means this is the future that will unfold as it is.

“Even if our party opposes it with all our might, if we’re so divided, we practically can’t stop the bill. So, you’re saying we should actively participate?”

“Yes. You can gain two images: the second son of the Duke’s family who cares about working-class children, and an intellectual who thinks about the country’s economy from a truly macro perspective, not just short-sighted gains. And you can dispel the impression that the Tory party ignores the common people.”

“But the party’s heavyweights will dislike it…”

“That itself will turn into public favor towards you. The Tory party’s heavyweights are already branded as unlikeable by many people. That’s why they only won that many seats in the general election. You need to draw a line between yourself and those people and give the impression that you’re different.”

That way, when I enter the National Assembly, I can quickly rise to prominence with the help of Wellesley’s or Disraeli’s influence.

If they falter, I might get lumped in with them and be treated as insignificant.

“Once this commotion is over, you’ll be remembered by everyone as Charles Wellesley, not just the Duke of Wellington’s second son. Just trust me.”

“…Alright. I’ve never failed by listening to you so far, so I’ll close my eyes and try it this time. You’re going to find people to support me, so I won’t be lonely getting beaten up.”

“Then, please give a great speech. Don’t worry about the content; I’ll write it for you.”

After reassuring him for almost 30 minutes, Wellesley finally calmed down and returned to his home.

Even he, who trusts me completely, is like this, so I can easily imagine how others will react when the Factory Act is announced.

And that means a huge opportunity to make money is shimmering before my eyes.

“James, I want to make some investments, so could you investigate some information for me?”

“Yes. What areas should I look into?”

“Focus on machinery manufacturers and companies that provide education or training. We’ll probably make a decent profit.”

James nodded lightly without asking for further explanation.

“I’ll take care of it right away.”

“Good. We spent some money on the election anyway, so let’s replenish it this time.”

I could earn that much petty cash by running the gambling house for just a month, but the gambling house, which is currently acting as a cash cow, will eventually have to be shut down in 1840.

So, I need to extract as much as possible while I can.

Getting angry because a bill that doesn’t suit my interests has passed is what third-raters do.

Just accepting it because there’s nothing I can do even if I get angry is what second-raters do.

No matter what bill or system is implemented, digging in and profiting from it.

That’s the condition for becoming first-rate.

* * *

If there’s one thing truly commendable about the British Parliament of this era, it’s that the public can easily check what statements the members made during the meetings.

This was thanks to the Hansard recording policy, where reporters attended the meetings, took shorthand notes, and then printed and published them.

Unlike today, it wasn’t yet fully designated as the official record of Parliament, but from this time on, the name Hansard was already considered synonymous with the official record of Parliament.

Hansard was easily accessible in books or newspapers, so rumors about which member said what about which bill spread very easily throughout London.

Sometimes, impatient people couldn’t even wait for the printed version to come out and camped out near Parliament.

They would bribe people coming out of the meeting to get information right away.

Therefore, members also tried to be as cautious as possible when making statements.

Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington’s second son and the rising star of the Tory party, was no exception.

Rather, unlike his father and brother who entered the House of Lords, he was in a position where he had to act even more cautiously because he was aiming for the Prime Minister’s office.

‘…Is this right?’

Even now, before the speech, his mouth is parched, but he can’t back out now anyway.

Wellesley took over the baton after the Whig party’s speech calling for the establishment of a committee to investigate the labor conditions of child laborers.

In this situation, where even the same Tory party, of course, and even the Whig party would naturally oppose it.

Wellesley closed his eyes tightly and opened his mouth with a determined tone.

“I fully agree with the Whig party’s statement that a committee should be formed.”

“…?”

“What did he just say…?”

“Does that mean the Duke of Wellington will also support this bill?”

“What? Is he crazy? This is a betrayal!”

“Quiet! Quiet! The speech isn’t over yet!”

The meeting hall instantly turned into chaos, and the shorthand writers’ arms were moving like crazy.

With a strong conviction that the front page of tomorrow’s newspapers and Hansard would definitely be about this, Wellesley continued.

“This committee’s investigation and the subsequent bill won’t completely take away children’s jobs. It’s about giving them adequate rest time even if they work, and giving them time to receive education. And this is not something that will harm the economy in the long run.”

“Come on! Didn’t you learn in college that government intervention in the market can distort the balance?”

“Wait a minute, I’m not finished. You’re worried about market distortion, but strictly speaking, the market is already distorted right now. And economically, individual rational behavior doesn’t necessarily lead to the best outcome for society. There are times when society needs to guide individuals for a better outcome.”

Kilian used the term ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ while explaining this, which Wellesley had never heard of before.

But even though he saw the term for the first time, he understood it immediately when he heard the explanation with equations.

At the same time, he felt like the fog in his head cleared and some kind of realization came in at once.

Where on earth did he come up with such a theory that he, who entered Oxford and graduated from Cambridge, had never heard of?

He even suggested that Kilian should have pursued the path of an economist, but he vehemently denied it.

In any case, Wellesley actively rebutted the objections of the same party members and preached the justification for establishing the committee.

The Whig party showed a nonchalant attitude, wondering what he had eaten wrong, but thanks to that, this place became Wellesley’s perfect solo stage.

“Our Great Britain is a country that will lead the world and is the most advanced country in the world! We need to make policies with a broader perspective, looking to the future, rather than just looking at the present with a short-sighted view. I have no doubt that all of you esteemed members here are true patriots who are concerned about the future of this country.”

“I earnestly ask you to think again about whether our Great Britain is in a situation where we have to push children, who will lead the future of the country, into factories, depriving them of their health and education time!”

When the son of the former party leader and a rising young politician so enthusiastically expressed his opinion, the Tory party’s position became ambiguous.

Even Disraeli, who had newly joined the party, took Wellesley’s side, and there was a growing voice within the Tory party to reconsider.

Seizing this opportunity, the Whig party immediately put the issue of establishing the committee to a vote, and contrary to everyone’s expectations, the result came out in just one day.

* * *

Around the time Wellesley was passionately speaking in the National Assembly.

I was also personally curious about how this meeting would turn out, so I coaxed Robert and took a carriage to Westminster as soon as morning classes were over.

“What do you think, senior? Will this bill pass smoothly?”

“No way. The capitalists will foam at the mouth and have a fit, so how can it pass? Look over there, they’re standing there with their eyes wide open.”

When I turned to where Robert was pointing, I could see a group of people with murderous intent, shaking huge placards.

If children don’t work, they can’t make a living!

Our children also want to work!

Oppose child discrimination! Freedom to work for children!

I took my eyes off the dizzying phrases and chuckled.

“Then shall we bet? I’ll bet on ‘it passes,’ and you bet on ‘it doesn’t pass.’ The condition is that the loser has to grant the winner one request. You can refuse if it’s too much.”

“Really? Why not? No matter how much the Whig party is the ruling party, it’s over if the House of Lords rejects it. What’s going to work out properly?”

“Even if opinions are divided in the Tory party, that opposition might not work properly.”

“There’s no possibility of that. Don’t worry about that and practice cricket more. With your current skills, it’s a relief if you don’t embarrass yourself at the spring event.”

I wondered why he was suddenly talking about cricket, but Robert let out a dumbfounded laugh as if he was even more taken aback.

“What, you really don’t know?”

“What don’t I know?”

“Ah, so you haven’t been practicing cricket hard. Didn’t you notice that the Eton [exclusive private school for boys] people are crazy about cricket? I’m so good that I don’t feel the need to practice now, but you’re different.”

Come to think of it, I saw people gathering in the stadium on the way out today, throwing balls and swinging bats like crazy.

Eton originally plays a lot of cricket, so I just passed it by, but was there a bigger schedule than I thought?

I had no time to interact with the students because the election work and the Factory Act issue broke out one after another, so I was completely deaf to it.

“What is it? A great reason why all Eton students have to grab bats and swing them.”

“Wow, on the one hand, it’s amazing. You’re really going to be a big shot. How can you not know this…? Well, that’s why you suggested going to Westminster in this situation.”

“No, if you keep doing that, I’m getting anxious. Is Her Majesty visiting Eton? There’s no reason to make such a fuss unless it’s that level.”

“It’s similar. Someone who might become the future queen is coming.”

The word ‘future queen’ momentarily froze me.

At the same time, the noisy voices of the factory owners outside disappeared from my brain as if filtered out.

“…Who’s coming?”

“Princess Victoria, who is currently first in the line of succession. Of course, she’s not coming alone, but with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her teacher, Baroness Lehzen. The school was turned upside down the day before yesterday when a visit to Eton College was scheduled as part of the Thames Valley tour. You must have run off somewhere as soon as class was over and didn’t hear it.”

“…”

“The students who have achieved the best grades in each grade can talk to the princess for a while, and the princess and the duchess will watch the students’ cricket match, so everyone is going crazy like that now.”

Yeah. It’s worth going crazy. It would be weirder if you weren’t crazy at this point.

Just as I was about to open my mouth.

There was a commotion in Westminster, and James was seen rushing to this carriage.

I excused myself to Robert, got out of the carriage, and ran straight to James.

“Young Master! It passed! The establishment of the committee passed right away! It’s just as you predicted! You really are…”

“Oh, really? James, you came at the right time. Go right now and prepare what I told you to find out. It doesn’t matter how much money it costs, so as quickly as possible!”

“Yes! The investment funds are already all in. Or should I go and find out about additional companies now…?”

“Find me the best cricket trainer in London.”

“…? Cricket company?”

A dumbfounded question flowed from James’ mouth, who was preparing words of praise for my prediction that had once again hit the mark.

“No. Not a cricket company, but a trainer. I’ve already spread all the bait for the Factory Act, so I’ll leave it to you and Wellesley.”

“…? Ah, yes. Well… it’s okay, but…”

Good, it’s so reassuring to have trustworthy subordinates like this.

I’ll leave making money to them for a while.

I ran back to Robert, leaving James, who was running away in a hurry, not knowing why.

From now on, it’s time to put aside money games and politics and swing the bat.

Cricket that is still very immature?

I don’t need to be good anyway.