I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 312

Day of Division

The Civil War in the Union began with a preemptive strike from the South.

To outsiders, it appeared to be a sudden and unexpected declaration of war, but it was by no means an impromptu attack.

About a month before the outbreak of the Civil War, the Southern states began to coordinate their actions.

Following South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama officially announced their intention to secede from the Union.

In addition, Jefferson Davis demonstrated remarkable negotiating skills by enlisting Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

To bring in Virginia, which had been hesitant, the agreement to make Richmond, the heart of Virginia, the capital of the new nation proved effective.

Having coordinated with over ten states, they possessed enough combined power to be considered a nation in their own right.

However, objectively, the South was inferior to the North in terms of military power, economy, and population.

The leaders of the South were well aware of this disparity.

Despite knowing all this, they initiated the war because they genuinely felt their way of life was threatened.

The North advocated for the abolition of slavery, citing human rights and justice, but the foundation of the South’s economy was slave labor.

From the South’s perspective, the North’s demands were nothing more than a reckless attempt to destroy their livelihood under the guise of moral superiority.

Therefore, they viewed their actions as a legitimate resistance and a struggle for survival.

Jefferson used this logic to hold referendums in each state before formally declaring secession from the Union.

But of course, the Union wasn’t going to simply stand by and watch the South’s departure.

Lincoln even publicly stated that he would rather die than see a single star removed from the Star-Spangled Banner, vowing to prevent the Union’s dissolution.

If they seceded, the South knew the Union would likely use force to suppress them.

Comparing objective military strength, the South and North were vastly different, so if they entered a full-scale war, the South would inevitably face defeat.

Above all, most of the weapons factories were located in the North, so the South had limited means to procure weapons on its own.

They desperately needed to solve this issue.

Then, Jefferson received an unexpected offer of assistance.

“So, you’re saying Spain can take charge of supplying weapons?”

“That’s right.”

Belgrano, the Spanish minister who wasn’t an official ambassador but was effectively acting as one, secretly contacted Jefferson.

“Does Spain have the capacity to produce that many weapons?”

“We don’t necessarily have to produce them ourselves. The key is to obtain good quality weapons. Of course, it will be a bit more expensive.”

“Obtain them? Are you perhaps suggesting using the same method as during the Mexican War?”

During the last war, a significant number of soldiers deployed to Mexico were from the South.

They suffered greatly because of Spain, which bought weapons from Canada and smuggled them through the back door at that time.

Back then, public opinion called for a declaration of war against Spain, and Jefferson himself wanted to do so if he could.

However, waging war on two fronts didn’t make sense, so he endured it, but even now, his feelings towards Spain were far from friendly.

But that was then, and this is now.

If they were willing to supply weapons now, he would have to swallow his pride and accept it.

“But if you supply weapons to us, the North will be furious and retaliate. Do you have any countermeasures?”

“If the sea is blockaded, we will supply you through Mexico to Texas from then on. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?”

“Through Mexico? That’s a good idea. The North has no justification to interfere with legitimate trade between Mexico and Spain.”

“But wouldn’t it be possible to avoid a naval blockade altogether if we concentrate our attacks on the North’s ports as soon as the war breaks out?”

It was the South’s right to decide when to start the war, so if they paralyzed the North’s naval power through a preemptive strike, a stable supply of goods would be possible.

Of course, Jefferson was already planning to do so.

“We absolutely have to do that. However, even so, it is almost impossible for us to build the latest warships on our own. On the other hand, they can. If the war drags on, the balance of power will inevitably shift again. Is it possible to buy warships from your side?”

“Hmm… Selling warships would be too direct an intervention in the war, so we need to consider it further. I will convey Mr. Jefferson’s request to the home country for now.”

“Thank you. Even if warships are impossible, we can definitely receive the weapon supply itself, right?”

“That’s no problem at all. I promise you.”

With this, the most pressing concern was resolved.

Now that they had secured the means to fight, all that remained was to prepare for war.

Jefferson persuaded the Southern states to gradually seize the Union forts in the South and secure their weapons.

And as soon as the war began, he secretly prepared soldiers to concentrate their attacks on the North’s naval bases.

The war began in earnest with the bombardment of Fort Sumter.

The Southern states, which had formally seceded from the Union, established a new nation called the Confederate States of America and concentrated all their attacks on the North’s naval bases.

Jefferson, who was elected as the first president of the Confederate States, devoted all his efforts to emphasizing that the justification for this war lay with the South from the beginning.

“As good citizens, we will fight to protect the superiority of white people over the inferior races that God has ordained! The white color in our flag will be a symbol of our white people’s cause, and our flag will shine brightly in history as the pride of white people!”

“Ooooh!”

“Those Northerners are trying to point guns at us, white people, who are the same compatriots, for the sake of the inferior blacks! Is that what they call justice? On the other hand, we have taken up arms to protect our families, dignity, and livelihoods. True justice is on our side!”

“Drive out the Yankee bastards!”

Although they lacked a capital and sufficient weapons, the people of the South were driven by a sense of mission to expel the invading Yankees and protect their homeland.

Moreover, the almost surprise preemptive strike inflicted significant damage on numerous Northern strongholds from the start, making it virtually impossible for this war to end quickly.

Continuing battles, scattered blood, overflowing deaths.

This wave of madness that began in North America soon crossed the Atlantic.

It began to reach the ears of those distant European countries.

* * *

The news of the conflict in the Union reached the British Empire officially in early 1861, after the new year.

Surely a war won’t break out, right?

Even if a war breaks out, it won’t escalate to a large scale, right?

Even if it escalates to a large-scale war, it won’t be prolonged, right?

The members of Parliament, who had been watching the situation without much thought until now, must have slowly realized the gravity of the situation.

All the assumptions they had been making were proving false, and the conflict was beginning to directly affect the British economy.

“Hahahaha!”

“What’s so funny?”

“Take a look at this. Once again, His Highness’s predictions have come true.”

Wellesley couldn’t stop laughing as he looked at the headline of today’s Times.

“When we first increased cotton imports and bought additional cotton from Egypt, the opposition party, who called it a waste of budget, has now shut their mouths and are admiring that you had a plan after all. With this, it can be said that I have virtually broken the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister of the British Empire.”

“Congratulations. With this, your influence on this war will be absolute. The opposition party will follow your lead unless it’s really something.”

Already, in the parliament and various circles, opinions were divided on how the British Empire should intervene in the American Civil War.

If they had remained dependent on the North for food, their options would have been limited, but since they had diversified their sources, a free and open discussion was possible.

“The parliament is now requesting His Highness to give his opinion. Since it’s the North American region, they can’t help but listen to the words of His Highness, the Duke of Canada.”

“That’s no problem. I’m always ready to attend.”

Should they maintain neutrality or intervene directly?

In fact, opinions were divided on this issue, regardless of party affiliation, so they were eager to hear my perspective.

The next day, I attended the parliament with Wellesley and observed the members of parliament debating.

The first to speak was John Bright, a member of the Liberal Party, who argued that they should side with the North.

“Everyone! The essence of this war is simple: whether to support slavery or not. Our British Empire was the first country in the world to abolish slavery, so it is clear which side we should take. Are the members who say we should side with the South advocating for slavery?”

A significant number of workers in factories showed great support for John Bright’s opinion.

In fact, the Southern leaders of the Union were close to the British nobles and tended to admire and imitate their aristocratic behavior and mannerisms.

Therefore, the common people had an instinctive aversion to the South, which advocated elitism.

However, not all members of the Liberal Party sided with the North.

For example, key figures in the Liberal Party, such as Lord Palmerston and Russell, did not support the North.

However, this was not because they were advocating for slavery, but because it was a pragmatic judgment that only considered the interests of the British Empire.

“The words of the respected Member Bright are reasonable. Morally, the North is right. However, who are we? We are not members of the Union, but members of the British Empire. We have a duty to act for the benefit of the British Empire. Frankly speaking, if we are for morality, we should also intervene in the policies of other European countries that are virtually exploiting blacks as slaves in Africa.”

“That’s a stretch!”

“It’s not a stretch. The reason I argue that we should give strength to the South is basically because the North is already stronger than the South. There is no need to consider any other factors.”

“Is Lord Palmerston saying that he could advocate for slavery if it were for the benefit of the British Empire?”

“Of course not. However, the North also said that they would not care if the South maintained slavery. They are saying that from the start, so why should we interfere in other people’s affairs? I repeat, the longer the division of the United States, the more benefits we can gain in America.”

Most of those who said they should side with the South were nobles and cotton factory owners, but there were also many thorough pragmatists like Palmerston.

Even within the Liberal Party, opinions were divided like this, so what about the Conservative Party?

Disraeli didn’t express it openly, but he seemed to be subtly hoping that the South would win, and even Gladstone, who was usually at odds with him, was no different.

However, if they openly supported the South, the moral standing of the British Empire would be seriously damaged, so they were opposed to openly supporting the South.

As opinions were so sharply divided, the members’ gazes naturally turned to me.

They wanted to hear the thoughts of the Duke of Canada, who held full authority over Canada, not just a symbolic role like the royal family’s national letter [a formal letter representing the monarch’s views].

Since it was necessary to unify the opinions of the parliament before taking any action, I readily got up from my seat and began to speak.

“I have discussed this issue extensively with the Prime Minister, and I believe that all of your arguments are reasonable in their own way. It is right to support the North for the sake of the British Empire’s prestige and morality, and to support the South for the sake of practicality. But the world doesn’t always allow you to have everything you want, and you have to make a choice. First of all, to clarify Canada’s policy, Canada cannot side with the South because it has accepted many blacks and guaranteed various rights.”

“Yes! I knew Your Highness would say that!”

“But Your Highness! If the war in the Union is prolonged…”

“Ah, wait a minute. Respected members, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

You have to listen to what people have to say until the end. Why are you interrupting from the start?

I slowly looked around at the members and continued to speak.

“Usually, I say that you can’t have everything you want, but sometimes you have to be greedy. I think now is one of those times.”

“…Yes?”

They have so little understanding. Do I have to explain everything one by one?

I calmly declared Canada’s official policy in front of everyone, as if I were commenting on the taste of the dinner I had the previous night.

“Canada will issue a statement supporting the North. However, it will not directly intervene in the war and will maintain neutrality. The munitions factories that are currently operating at maximum capacity will continue to do so, so please be aware of that.”