I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 355

< The United Kingdom (4) >

It was late at night on the day the meeting concluded.

Disraeli, while reviewing the agenda from the day’s meeting, instinctively reached for his seafoam pipe and placed it between his lips.

“Robert, care for a smoke?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“Ah, not a pipe man, more of a cigar aficionado?”

“Neither, actually. I don’t smoke at all.”

“A rare breed indeed. A gentleman who abstains from smoking.”

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil.

When you think about it, he’s quite the prodigy.

He’s rapidly gained recognition recently, and it’s no surprise that the person slated for the position of Secretary of State for India is no ordinary man.

He could have participated in the Crimean War to boost his popularity and immediately jumped into politics, but instead, he diligently pursued academics at university before entering the political arena as a young talent.

Even a commoner Member of Parliament with a short career would be arrogant with this much success, but he still hasn’t lost his humble attitude.

Of course, it would be strange to act haughtily in front of Disraeli, the biggest figure in the Conservative Party, but his reputation among other lawmakers was also very good.

But to refuse tobacco, which is almost essential among gentlemen these days, he is definitely an oddball.

Come to think of it, besides Robert, there was another eccentric around who didn’t smoke.

“His Royal Highness doesn’t smoke because he says it’s bad for his health. There’s no way I could smoke when he doesn’t.”

Indeed. There aren’t many oddballs in the British upper class who don’t smoke.

Among the lawmakers, there were some who were disgusted by tobacco, and nine out of ten of them were influenced by Killian.

Of course, Disraeli revered Killian… and still respects him to some extent, but he couldn’t concede on this point.

There’s no way tobacco is bad for the body.

Even if everything else is wrong, Killian is definitely wrong about this.

When you think about it, pouring ice into coffee is not normal.

But Killian didn’t like having smoke blown in his face, so Buckingham Palace was almost a non-smoking area.

And young people who followed everything Killian did naturally didn’t smoke either.

Of course, the majority of gentlemen still thought that Killian just hated the smell of tobacco and puffed away when Killian wasn’t around.

“Anyway, you were in Canada, right? Was the local atmosphere really that serious?”

“Yes. In fact, there was a bit of understatement in Westminster [the Houses of Parliament in London]. In reality, it was a bit more… insane.”

“I see. So that’s why even the fact that a communist state was established was buried. But in your opinion, what impact do you think it will have on the British political scene if Canada develops like this?”

Containing the communist state. Of course, it’s good.

It was a very good cause, and the calculation to incorporate Canada into the British mainland to suppress the South was a brilliant strategy.

It seems incredibly effective, so I’m amazed at how quickly they came up with it if they weren’t planning it from the start.

Moreover, if Canada grows like that, the British Empire can secure clear hegemony in the Americas, so that’s something to look forward to.

And to have hegemony in the Americas means to dominate the Pacific Ocean.

If you dominate the Pacific, you can naturally extend your influence to Asia, so Europe, Africa, Asia, and America will all be in the British Empire’s front yard.

With Oceania also steadily being annexed, the day when all the oceans and continents are under the British Empire’s feet is not far off.

But that’s the benefit of the British Empire, and the Conservative Party’s interests must be taken care of separately.

From the beginning, Killian has been drawing a picture so that the interests of the British Empire and the interests of the royal family are on the same line.

“Canada is absolutely pro-royal. 97% support the royal family. And if His Highness reigns as king, there is no possibility that this approval rating will drop.”

“That’s right. He has already publicly stated that he will use Canada to defeat the communist system.”

Disraeli and Robert were not fools.

Killian’s plan to naturally wither away the American Socialist Union entrenched in the South was clearly a long-term plan that looked far into the future.

How much money would have to be poured in to get to that point?

Now that a communist state has emerged, we have no choice but to take care of the workers to a minimum extent.

Otherwise, mobs of red-tinged rioters will start rampaging everywhere.

In the end, considering all of this, Canada will have no choice but to make the workers live at least better than in the red country in the South.

In addition, they will use the power of the British Empire until they have the national power to seize hegemony in the Americas, so the overall size of the country will increase.

Looking to the future, it may have enough power to shake the position of England, the center of the United Kingdom.

Of course, there is almost no possibility of pushing out England, the center of the British Empire, but Canada is likely to become stronger in terms of national size.

Considering this vast land, I can’t even imagine how much the population will increase.

Most of the north is icy land where it is difficult for people to live, but California is different.

California alone could have more people than all the other kingdoms combined, except for England.

In this case, how much influence will Canada have on the British political scene?

Disraeli, who leads the Conservative Party, had to consider this point.

“Still, Canada will absolutely support His Highness, so wouldn’t they be more inclined to the Conservative Party, which is close to His Highness?”

“You never know. Citizens in the mainland will naturally feel that way out of habit, but will people in the colonies feel that way? Even the Liberal Party doesn’t object to His Highness’s words these days. Besides, among the people who are doing politics in Canada, will anyone say that they are not His Highness’s loyal subjects?”

“That’s unlikely.”

To form a new parliament in Canada, we will have to hold elections now, and I can guess how the election campaign will go.

Everyone will just be giving testimonies of faith, saying that they are Killian’s loyal subjects and will be his trusted aides who will do politics according to his will.

Whether it’s the Conservative Party or the Liberal Party, that’s for sure.

Therefore, even if the Conservative Party emphasizes that it is close to Killian, it is not clear how much benefit it can get.

“If you want to do politics in the British Empire anyway, of course, the members of the Canadian Parliament must join either the Conservative Party or the Liberal Party. And of course, our party must become the majority party in the Canadian Parliament.”

“Of course, that’s what should happen.”

“But the problem is that the Liberal Party also wants to win in Canada, and they can’t not know who is the most worshiped person in Canada. Gladstone wouldn’t be unaware of such a simple fact.”

And that Gladstone would certainly be working furiously to come up with a plan to win as many seats as possible in the Canadian Parliament.

“Our party is the ruling party that occupies the absolute majority in the home country. If we promote the ruling party premium, we will still be able to participate in the election favorably.”

“Well… I think it would be better to think about a pledge tailored to the local situation.”

In any case, victory in the election is impossible without considering the local situation in Canada, presenting personnel arrangements and pledges, and, above all, showing infinite loyalty to the new King Killian.

He muttered to himself, puffing out smoke.

“In any case, the Canadian Parliament will be occupied by the absolute loyalists of His Royal Highness, whether it is the ruling party or the opposition party.”

“I see. It seems like it will be a parliament that gets along well.”

“Kekeke, I can’t help but laugh because I can feel your sincerity.”

“Members of Parliament are the representatives of the citizens. If the citizens absolutely support His Highness, isn’t it natural that the members of Parliament, who are their representatives, also support His Highness?”

That… can be interpreted that way?

It was a truly amazing point of view, but I understood why Robert fervently supported Killian.

It’s an emotion that I, who have grown up with him since I was young, cannot understand, but young friends may think so.

And above all, that is why there was no one more suitable than Robert to take on this role.

“Robert, so, do you really want to go to the Secretary of State for India?”

“Yes? But wasn’t that already decided?”

“It’s not like you’re taking office right now, so I can change that right away if I talk to the Prime Minister. Of course, if you really want to go to that position, I will definitely send you.”

“If there is another position that you want me to take instead of the Secretary of State for India, I will listen to it first.”

“I would like you to directly lead the election of the newly formed Canadian Parliament. Then, naturally, you will become a member of the Canadian Parliament representing our Conservative Party, right?”

In other words, he is asking him to give up his current seat in the House of Commons and run for election again in Canada.

At first glance, it sounds ridiculous, but Robert was already in a position where he had to give up his seat in the House of Commons.

This is because his father, the Marquess of Salisbury, was in poor health and he would have to inherit the title.

“But the member of the House of Lords is…”

“I checked just in case, and members of the Canadian Parliament can also hold noble titles. Of course, there may be people who don’t like the idea of a nobleman begging for votes, so it would be better for you to run for election before you inherit the title.”

“…Well. I’ll have to think about it first.”

If he stays still, he is promised to become the Secretary of State for India and then enter the British House of Lords by receiving the title of Marquess of Salisbury.

To ask such a person to go to Canada and start a new life is naturally reluctant, but if Robert steps up, the Conservative Party’s chances of dominating the Canadian Parliament will increase.

No matter what anyone says, Robert was a famous Killian devotee even in the home country.

No matter who comes out and says that they are Killian’s loyal subject, they have no choice but to back down in front of Robert.

So if he forms a parliament around him, the Conservative Party can easily take over the Canadian Parliament.

“I’m not forcing you, so think about it. But personally, I don’t want to see any other mediocre people other than you bragging about being His Royal Highness’s loyal subjects in the first election held after His Royal Highness ascends to the throne. Isn’t it a fact that the entire British Empire knows that you are His Highness’s true loyal subject?”

“Ahem, that’s right. I understand. I will consider it positively.”

Disraeli grinned and tapped the ashes of his pipe into the ashtray.

That’s why young fools… no, loyal subjects are easy to handle.

In other situations, it wouldn’t matter, but Robert would never lose in the Killian’s Top Loyal Subject Contest.

This time, the majority party was theirs again.

* * *

It was an unexpected flow, but the newly launched business was proceeding along the tracks without derailing.

The announcement that Canada would be promoted to a kingdom and incorporated into the British Empire initially attracted a lot of attention.

It was shocking news that there would be five kingdoms instead of four, so who wouldn’t be concerned?

However, as bills to drastically improve the treatment of workers were announced one after another, public interest rapidly shifted elsewhere.

[Complete revision of the Labor Act! Both the ruling and opposition parties agree to the introduction of social insurance system!]

[Legally guaranteed employment insurance and holidays. A life with weekends is coming!]

[Does proper rest really increase productivity? Surprisingly, research has revealed it to be true.]

The workers, who were already the majority of society and whose voices were growing louder day by day, didn’t care what happened to Canada, as expected.

They can finally live and rest like human beings, so what does it matter what happens to the country across the Atlantic?

Likewise, there was no special reaction to communism.

The capitalists, who had been holding the wealth of society, also breathed a sigh of relief that they had minimized the repercussions of the establishment of a communist state through preemptive measures and did not express dissatisfaction.

No matter how much embers there are, a fire cannot occur without firewood to burn.

The British Empire was steadily walking the right path and was ready to lead the world to the next stage.

And at the same time.

Although it has not received much attention due to the recent major events, an article was published in the corner of the newspaper that a large-scale construction project that would bring great repercussions to the American continent would begin in earnest.

-The British government has begun full-scale work on the construction of the Panama Canal. World’s best canal expert Ferdinand de Lesseps participates.

-Lesseps, “We have also prepared a sure way to deal with malaria, the biggest obstacle to canal construction. Malaria is mainly transmitted by ants, so to prevent ants, we will place tin bowls filled with water on each leg of the workers’ beds…”

Um. That’s a really amazing and touching solution.

Making puddles of water on each of the workers’ beds, I can imagine what kind of pests will infest them, and it’s chilling.

As these major events piled up one after another.

In 1865, British Canada was promoted to a constituent country of the United Kingdom (UK) under the name of the Kingdom of Canada, no longer an overseas colony.