I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 314

Diplomatic War

Although it was the early stages of the war, the North was unexpectedly taken aback by the strong resistance from the South.

Although the South had wiped out the North’s naval power with a large-scale surprise attack, the difference in troop strength was still close to threefold.

It was telling that even the Northern leaders thought of it as more of a suppression than a war.

“What threat can those Dixie farmers [Southerners] pose by taking up guns instead of farm tools?”

“Three months. We will capture Richmond and quell the rebellion in just three months.”

The confidence shown by the Northern leaders was not arrogance.

Objectively speaking, with such a difference in power, it was only natural to have some confidence.

However, the problem was that they were too optimistic about the situation.

The Confederate South had already framed this fight as a holy war to protect the dignity of white people, and young recruits were lining up to defend their homeland.

On the other hand, the Union relied on the militia, believing that three months would be enough to suppress the civil war, so they set the contract period to three months.

In addition, it was still the early stages of the war, and even the military uniforms were not unified, so there were frequent laughable situations where soldiers mistook Southern soldiers for allies.

In the end, contrary to the generals’ boasts, the initial suppression failed, only boosting the morale of the South, which shocked the Union’s leadership.

Lincoln, who had been watching all of this, recognized the seriousness of the situation and immediately took action.

“We will completely revise the strategy. First, we will abolish all plans focused on short-term suppression. The top priority is to massively reinforce the Union army to prepare for a long-term war so that we are not pushed back by the Southern army. And next, the second priority is to rebuild the navy as soon as possible and aim to blockade the South’s sea. I trust and leave this to our capable generals to do their best. Therefore, the executive branch, especially the State Department, must devote all its efforts to prevent European countries from intervening.”

“Does Your Excellency believe that Europe will intervene?”

“It is possible if the war becomes prolonged. Didn’t the Russian ambassador say before that Europe wants the South to win?”

A heavy silence fell in the room for a moment.

Unlike other European countries, Russia, which wanted the North to win, was playing the role of vividly conveying the current European atmosphere to the Union’s leaders.

You might wonder why Russia is doing this, but Russia had lost almost all of its influence in Europe after losing the last war.

So, they were very honest in saying that they wanted to improve relations with the United States, which would seize hegemony in the New World, so they were trusted.

In particular, from Russia’s point of view, they couldn’t stand seeing Canada, which is part of the British Empire, doing well, which was also a very understandable reason.

“Currently, in Britain, the pro-Union and pro-South factions are fiercely opposed to each other.”

“No, even if the British are the kind of people who prioritize only their national interests, are there people who openly say that they should help those who advocate slavery?”

“International diplomacy is ultimately cold-hearted. Frankly, do you think Britain opposed slavery because they had a great sense of justice? They abolished slavery because it was no longer profitable. Anyway, we must prevent Britain’s intervention at all costs.”

Now that Russia has fallen, the undisputed strongest power in the world is the British Empire.

Moreover, unlike past gangster states such as France and Russia, the British Empire was more enthusiastic than anyone else in securing allies.

If the British Empire joins the war, France will automatically follow, but will the Union have the capacity to stop them?

It would be possible if they were united, but it is impossible in the current state where the South can serve as Europe’s forward base.

In particular, if the British Empire intervenes, the North will not be able to blockade the South’s sea; rather, its ports will be ruined, and this situation must be avoided at all costs.

“Please, Congressman Francis, go as an ambassador to gauge Britain’s intentions and block their intervention. We don’t expect them to support us, but Britain must never support the South.”

“Understood. The South will probably want Europe to recognize them as a formal country. I will do my best to prevent that.”

“Please do your best. At least until the next election, if we don’t achieve meaningful results, the citizens may not support us. For the future of the United States, this war must end in our victory.”

“Your Excellency, what should we do with the proposal to import military supplies from Canada?”

“Let’s accept it for now. But… no. There’s no need to provoke them unnecessarily with assumptions that haven’t happened yet. When you go to England, Ambassador, you must meet the Duke of Canada and find out what he is thinking.”

Perhaps what is more important than the movements of mainland Britain in this war is Canada to the north.

And it was so well known in American political circles that Killian was the one who virtually treated Canada like his own kingdom.

We must understand what that person is thinking and what plans he is making to use this war.

For now, it is generally predicted that there is not much to worry about, as Killian is known to value harmony and love peace.

But is that really the case?

Unfortunately, Lincoln had never had an in-depth conversation with the Duke of Canada, Killian, so he could not be sure what kind of person he was.

There is nothing more foolish than blindly trusting someone who has not been properly understood and then being betrayed.

Lincoln was relatively calmly aware of the reality.

And while the Union’s leaders were assuming the war would be prolonged and modifying their plans.

The South was also busy preparing to gain Europe’s support.

“According to the Spanish Ambassador Belgrano, the current European position is leaning towards maintaining neutrality.”

“Why are those Europeans so stupid when it would be in their best interest in the long run to take our side?”

“It can’t be helped. Europe has officially abolished slavery. So, wouldn’t it be fair to say that maintaining neutrality there is evidence that they are leaning a little more towards us?”

“There is some truth to that. But Your Excellency, how is that Spanish ambassador so well-versed in the affairs of each European country?”

Even before the war broke out, Southern President Jefferson had been receiving a tremendous amount of information from Ambassador Belgrano.

At first, he was skeptical, but as a result, his information and advice were all correct.

So, wouldn’t it be inevitable to trust him for the time being?

“My guess is that Ambassador Belgrano’s opinion is not Ambassador Belgrano’s personal opinion.”

“What do you mean…”

“Ambassador Belgrano said he was getting a lot of information from the Spanish ambassador in England. But no matter how much of an ambassador is in England, how can he know the situation so thoroughly? Even Ambassador Belgrano gave us very timely advice.”

“Are you talking about Vice President Breckenridge?”

“Yes. Thanks to that, we have a very powerful card that we can use when the war becomes prolonged.”

Vice President Breckenridge of the United States was a strong supporter of the South, so he originally planned to join the South as soon as the war began.

The Southern leaders were expecting him to join because he knew high-level information about the Union as Vice President, which would be of great help.

However, Jefferson, after listening to Ambassador Belgrano’s advice, changed his mind and secretly contacted Breckenridge.

After pretending to fight with him over the leadership of the South, he told him to remain in the Union as a traitor who had been expelled from the South.

“The information that Vice President Breckenridge has will be useful in the early stages of the war, but its effectiveness will decrease when the war becomes prolonged. However, we can already secure a sufficiently advantageous position in the early stages of the war without having to use such information. So, it will be much more helpful in the long run for Vice President Breckenridge to continue to stay in the Union as a traitor abandoned by the South.”

“It was certainly a persuasive point of view. Moreover, he recommended that we thoroughly prepare in advance to avoid the Vice President being suspected in the North… As Your Excellency said, it seems right to see that Europe is behind Ambassador Belgrano.”

Ambassador Belgrano’s advice was at a level that could not have been given without deeply considering the current situation of the civil war in the United States and what strategic goals the South and North each have.

“In other words, there are forces in Europe that want to support us while pretending not to. If we can attract these people and make them our allies, it will not be a problem to hold out until anti-war sentiment rises in the North. I would like James Murray as ambassador to England and John Slidell as ambassador to France, respectively.”

“Yes! I will definitely try to persuade England to recognize us as a formal country.”

“Ah, and one more thing. Ambassador Belgrano said that using the cotton we have as a weapon to threaten Europe will only incur Europe’s disfavor. That is only the last resort, and it must never appear to be putting pressure on Europe.”

Nowhere in the world does it say that civil wars must be fought only among themselves.

From the beginning of the war, the war had already begun to take on the aspect of an international diplomatic war.

* * *

<"The quality of a true politician is to not give up either national prestige or practical interests," pointed out His Royal Highness the Duke>

Yes, I knew the article would be published in an instant.

Although it is a war across the Atlantic, the British Empire and the United States were already economically intertwined.

Just a few years ago, the American economic crisis caused a dozen British banks to close, so there were bound to be a bunch of sensitive people.

The ambassadors who rushed over from the United States would have checked the newspapers first, so they would have roughly noticed how things were going in the mainland.

Now, what they will do is…

“Your Highness, the guest you promised has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

As soon as Charles Francis, the newly appointed ambassador of the United States, who had just formally arrived in the country the day before yesterday, entered the room, he bowed his head and greeted him.

“Thank you so much for taking the time to see me so quickly, Your Highness. I am Charles Francis Adams Sr.”

“Thank you for your hard work on the long journey. The Royal Family sincerely welcomes the newly appointed Ambassador. I hope you have a comfortable time during your stay in the British Empire.”

As the servants brought in two cups of coffee and simple refreshments and left, Ambassador Francis immediately opened his mouth.

“I heard about what happened in Parliament recently. I heard that Your Highness clearly drew a line against the words of some members who said that the South should be helped. I would like to express my deep gratitude.”

“I was just stating the obvious. Canada and slavery cannot coexist.”

“That’s right. But unfortunately, those who treat good black people living in Your Highness’s land like slaves will not think so.”

He’s coming in with no brakes from the start. Does that mean he’s that desperate, or does he want to show that to get sympathy?

“Slavery is a relic of the old era. That is why our British Empire, as well as Canada, has completely abolished slavery.”

“That’s right. White people are a race with superior intelligence than other races. Then they should show that superior intelligence, but they enslave and harass people who are inferior to them. What kind of behavior is this for people with intelligence?”

I wish he would just get to the point quickly instead of just listing the introduction if he has something to say.

“I sympathize, but it’s not really our place to interfere in the internal affairs of the United States.”

“So, Your Highness strongly agrees with our Union, but you cannot openly support it because of your international position.”

“Of course.”

“I am truly reassured to hear you say that, Your Highness.”

Of course, such garbage systems as slavery should disappear from this world.

But there’s one thing I didn’t say.

Such garbage systems are bound to disappear over time anyway.

And if such a den of evil as the South disappears, who will supply the population to my Canada?

I’d be disappointed if you couldn’t even do such basic calculations.

“By the way, Your Highness, according to information obtained from the home country, opinions are divided even within Canada… I wonder if Your Highness is also aware of this.”

Yes, you have to ask something like this.

I was expecting a push-and-pull psychological warfare, but you were only talking about obvious things, so I almost yawned.

Now I can have some fun.