I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 353

< Unified Kingdom (2) >

In the 19th century, speed was the top priority for newspapers.

Accuracy? Fairness? Those were secondary to the harsh realities of capitalism.

Newspaper sales soared when they published breaking news immediately. Would the owners cover the losses if the newspaper suffered while verifying whether a story was real or fake?

The world of competition was ruthless.

This wasn’t limited to countries in the Americas like Canada or the United States.

Great Britain? Despite being the world’s strongest power, it wasn’t much different from other countries.

Rather, befitting a nation with the world’s greatest capital, various newspapers sprang up and competed fiercely, leading to even more sensational articles.

This tendency was even stronger before media coverage guidelines or self-regulation were in place.

These outlets couldn’t possibly miss the revolution in the South, so they all began churning out breaking news day after day, which shocked and horrified the citizens.

[Confederate States of America Collapse, Establishment of the American Socialist Union!]

[The Communists Are Coming!]

The political and business circles of Great Britain, though not as much as those in the North or other European countries, also showed tremendous agitation at this news.

Moreover, when Russell and Robert’s reports came in from Canada, Parliament immediately held an emergency meeting and began discussions.

“As feared, the communist fervor seems to be having a negative impact on the Canadian colonies.”

“Negative impact? Are you saying that communists are active in Canada?”

“Not exactly. However, these socialists aren’t just advocating for the communization of the country. Many are also calling for opposition to colonialism and the abolition of inequality. And the problem is that these arguments are very well received in Canada. Both MP Russell and MP Robert are concerned about this.”

“Hmph… For this kind of accident to happen when the debate over incorporating Canada into the mainland is taking place. What does His Highness say?”

Still, the majority of the parliamentarians believed that the local public sentiment in Canada would not be shaken as long as Killian was there.

However, a few people who were well-informed felt uneasy, sensing that the atmosphere was different this time.

“There won’t be a problem while His Highness is there. But if we rely solely on His Highness’s personal skills to stabilize Canadian public sentiment, then His Highness will inevitably have to stay in Canada. Surely that’s not what we want, is it?”

“If His Highness continues to stay in Canada, Her Majesty will follow him. Then it would mean that the royal family has to be in Canada, which is putting the cart before the horse.”

“What’s important is Canada’s potential. Judging from the current rate of development in Canada, it’s highly likely that the level of industrialization itself will reach a stage similar to that of the mainland after a few generations. We need to seriously discuss how long we should leave such a place as a colony.”

“Realistically, integration is the best option. The problem is the method.”

Unlike other colonies that focus on extracting resources or consuming goods from here, Canada is an important land that can never be excluded from the future of Great Britain.

Even if they didn’t know it in the past, there were no fools in Parliament who didn’t know this at the end of the Civil War.

The Great Lakes area, with its optimal terrain and resources for industrialization.

Incredibly, Alaska, where you can dig into the ground and get whatever you need.

An ideal location occupying both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Although most of the northern land is difficult for people to live in, such places mostly have the advantage of abundant resources.

Moreover, unlike the North, the California area is in optimal condition for people to settle, and there are signs that the population will grow at an alarming rate.

If the Panama Canal is built, the trade route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will be further activated, and this will, in turn, increase the value of Canada even more.

Prime Minister Wellesley too.

Disraeli of the Conservative Party and Gladstone of the Liberal Party too.

They completely agreed that Canada should be included as part of Great Britain for practical reasons, not just because of their friendship with Killian.

However, the most important thing was, of course, justification.

Justification to silence those who were uncomfortable with treating mere colonists as equals to the citizens of the mainland.

And whether it was a coincidence or not, a very appropriate justification landed in their hands.

“As it happens, His Highness has also sent me his opinion on this matter. He is not usually one to speak so firmly, but His Highness has said that Canada should be elevated to a kingdom and incorporated as part of the United Kingdom.”

“Prime Minister, isn’t the problem ultimately the method?”

“Of course, that part is also written down. The problem of Canada should be discussed in a larger framework that encompasses not only Canada itself but also the future direction of Great Britain and the response to the newly emerging communism. I agree with this opinion as well.”

“Not handling the Canada issue independently… It’s a kind of bundling sale.”

It was a strategy that they hadn’t even thought of, but after thinking about it a bit, there seemed to be no better way.

After all, the problem related to the new socialist country that had arisen in the South was nothing more than a task that all European countries had to solve.

If they could bundle the incorporation of Canada with this and deal with it at once, wouldn’t they be able to settle it while minimizing social resistance?

“…Then how should we proceed with the integration work? To be honest, the plan that His Highness proposed sounds plausible to me.”

“Then shouldn’t we entrust it to His Highness, since he seems to have something in mind?”

“But if we hand over such an important matter to His Highness, the authority of Parliament will be diminished. The newspapers will surely publish articles as if they had been waiting for it.”

“We make the laws and the executive branch enforces them anyway. So, we can give His Highness the role of giving us appropriate advice as the Duke of Canada. What’s wrong with listening to the opinion of the Canadian Ambassador when dealing with the Canada issue? If the media points that out, they’re out of their minds.”

A truly clear strategy of passing on difficult and complicated tasks to capable people and taking the credit for themselves.

In fact, it wasn’t logically unreasonable, so Parliament decided to gather opinions from experts on the ground as much as possible.

I was listening to all this across the Atlantic.

“As expected, that’s how it’s going to turn out this time too. I knew it would go this way if Prime Minister Wellesley stirred things up a bit.”

“As expected of Your Highness!”

“Robert, I’m sorry I couldn’t come out to meet you after your long journey. I was busy with urgent matters in California and couldn’t make the time.”

“It’s alright. Rather, thanks to that, I was able to hear the vivid opinions of the locals. Now that Parliament has decided to actively accept Your Highness’s opinion, does that mean Canada will become part of the United Kingdom?”

“That’s what we have to make it. There are quite a few things to take care of in the middle.”

It was something I had been planning from the beginning, so frankly, I didn’t feel much emotion.

Now that Parliament has agreed, all that’s left is to avoid irritating the citizens as much as possible, and I’ll have more than enough to do that by using Engels [Friedrich Engels, a German philosopher and socialist].

The impact of our Secretary General Comrade was more enormous than I had imagined. If anyone makes a different noise even with this threat, just brand them as traitors and smash their heads in.

Of course, no matter how thoroughly I planned, not everything would go my way, as I am not a god.

A prime example is the bizarre alliance and signs of division that are currently taking place in Asia. And the fanatical obsession of Canadians who love me more than expected was also a problem I couldn’t ignore.

“Your Highness! Is it true that Canada will be elevated to a kingdom?”

“…Where did you hear such rumors?”

“Finally! Is Canada finally becoming a kingdom! Everyone! His Highness will reign as king and lead our Canada! The great absolute monarch…”

“Hey, wait a minute. That’s nonsense…”

“Long live King Killian of Canada! Long live!”

“Long live Empress Victoria! Long live King Killian!”

They were exaggerating the truth and enthusiastically gathering at the Governor-General’s residence and the royal villa, shouting cheers.

I clutched the back of my neck at this unexpected situation for the first time in a while.

* * *

[Finally, a Rightful King in Canada!]

[Now a King, Not a Duke! When Will the Coronation of His Majesty Killian Take Place?]

[Will It Be a King or a Grand Duke? Goodbye, Colony!]

Strictly speaking, I could wield almost all the power in Canada, so I was equivalent to a king.

However, as long as Canada was a colony of Great Britain, some powers were definitely limited, and I couldn’t really manipulate the country as I pleased like the monarchs of absolute monarchies.

After all, the person nominally in charge of leading this country had to be the parliament, which was the representative of the citizens.

However, it seems that they have accepted the fact that Canada is being elevated to a kingdom as if a monarchy like the old France or Prussia is being established.

Who the hell spread such nonsense?

“First of all, if such rumors spread too much, Parliament will be embarrassed, so I think we should correct the facts first? MP Russell, what does Parliament say?”

“It seems that the opinion has been gathered that Canada’s affairs should be entrusted to Your Highness.”

Look at these damn puppies. Are you just going to stand by and watch me clean up?

If I really get upset and ascend to the throne of Canada and wield my current powers much more strongly, would you approve of that too?

I really wanted to try it once, but wielding power too openly is not my style in the first place.

-I have the power but I don’t wield it. But that’s only on the surface, and in fact, I’m wielding it all from behind.

This was my philosophy of state administration.

However, Robert, who was a member of Parliament, kept adding fuel to the fire as if he secretly wanted me to ascend to the throne of Canada.

“Since Her Majesty is also serving as the Empress of Asia, it wouldn’t be bad to simply elevate the United Kingdom to a true empire and properly organize the royal and imperial titles that are currently being mixed.”

“…That’s not the important thing right now…”

“They’re talking about communism and stuff down there, but in Canada, the atmosphere is welcoming the monarchy instead. It seems that Your Highness’s ability to receive such absolute support from the citizens is amazing.”

No, a surprise worship here?

I wish you would refrain from doing so because I’m not happy at all in the current situation… I was about to think that when.

Certainly, as Robert said, an interesting picture was newly drawn in my head in this paradoxical situation.

The Socialist Union of the South is calling for the rejection of the feudal system, the abolition of discrimination, and the denial of the class system.

Isn’t there a separate way to counter this, rather than the physical method of beating them up and throwing them in jail?

Weeds will soon sprout again even if you pull them out, but if you change the soil so that other plants that are tougher than them grow, the weeds will disappear.

There is no system that completely contradicts the ideas advocated by communism as much as capitalism led by the royal family.

A brilliant move that allows Canada to break away from being a colony and be incorporated into Great Britain, further highlighting my influence there, and then pouring capital into it intensively to naturally eliminate the influence of communism.

How many birds with one stone is this?

Okay. I decided.

Canada needs a strong king.

Why? Because this country must be the strongest breakwater to protect Europe from communism.