I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 367

To be honest, it wouldn’t matter much to me who won the war in the East.

Whether Qing wins, or Japan and Joseon win, I just need to prepare appropriate countermeasures.

If this were a war that broke out 20 years later, I might worry about Joseon and Japan acting recklessly, but they aren’t capable of that now.

Even if they do run wild, it would only be to demand more land and engage in a futile power struggle with Qing.

The truly important thing is the situation after the war ends.

If Joseon and Japan win, how will they handle the military’s influence, which will surely rise rapidly?

If Qing loses, there will be a huge conflict over responsibility, and what consequences will that bring?

You can gain more significant benefits by preparing for what will happen afterward rather than focusing on the immediate results.

“Your Majesty, Qing says they will buy weapons under the conditions we presented.”

“Prime Minister, you must be grinning from ear to ear. So, what did Governor Parker say?”

“‘An amazing country.’ He only said that.”

Indeed, it is amazing.

I heard that Empress Dowager Cixi’s atrocities are even worse than in the original history. Empress Dowager Cixi beyond the original history? This cannot be stopped.

More than half the reason I expected Joseon and Japan to at least not lose was because of Empress Dowager Cixi’s existence.

“So, what does the Prime Minister plan to do?”

“He said he would push for the annexation of Hainan and Taiwan, as Your Majesty advised. However, we’ve received information that Japan is also eyeing Taiwan.”

“Japan wants Taiwan… That’s good.”

Even though we received part of Taiwan, I hadn’t decided how to take all of it yet, but Japan might give me a good excuse.

Since it’s going to be taken anyway, would they rather be taken by Japan or sold to the British Empire? If given a choice, there’s only one path left for them to choose.

Hainan also has a population of only about 500,000, so it will be easy to annex.

“And Your Majesty, this is just a suggestion.”

“Ah, yes.”

“What do you think would be best?”

Everyone in the room closed their mouths and looked only at me.

These pathetic people, do I have to tell you everything one by one?

‘To secure the Pacific for the British Empire, it is necessary to completely control the seas of Northeast Asia. This also prevents Qing from emerging into the sea when it becomes a powerful country in the future. To appease Prussia and France for that, let’s throw them a suitable bait.’

‘Since Your Majesty initiated the plan, please take charge of the negotiations with Prussia.’

“Me? Why?”

‘Because Your Majesty is the planner.’

No, if I draw the picture, you should do the coloring. What is your reason for existence if you ask me to do everything from A to Z?

‘Ehehehe! If we just stay still, His Majesty will take care of everything.’

‘Why suffer foolishly when His Majesty will do it for us? Long live Emperor Killian!’

I don’t think it’s to this extent, but I feel like international problems are increasingly being passed on to me.

It was true that I could intervene unlike domestic politics, but it’s another story to actively encourage it beyond the level where it doesn’t matter.

“Just watch the Philippines quietly. Don’t react at all.”

“Yes? But…”

“It’s a Spanish colony. Even if we mention it first, it’s like pouring cold water on a good situation, so let’s stay still.”

The most important thing when profiting from someone else’s land is seizing the right moment to intervene.

People were dubious, but I, who regularly listened to complaints from the Spanish ambassador, was sure.

The international stage of the 19th century doesn’t operate rationally.

Right now, Europeans are looking at Asia, which is going crazy, and laughing at the foolish yellow monkeys, but what will they say when they see that white people are no different?

Honestly, I couldn’t help but want to see it a little.

* * *

Around the time when the British Empire was busy establishing a Pacific annexation plan.

Spain was suffering from political chaos, which had become a chronic disease, with prime ministers changing in quick succession.

Narváez, who became the new prime minister after Menéndez, was doing his best to manage the chaotic situation.

But did the other prime ministers intentionally ruin the country and create political chaos?

Continuously decreasing national power, colonies that are becoming difficult to manage.

A government budget and expenditures riddled with holes.

The dissatisfaction of citizens that is constantly growing.

No matter what standard you use, it would be a miracle if the current Spanish political world was functioning well.

At times like this, the royal family should set a good example, but unfortunately, Queen Isabella II’s public opinion is getting worse day by day.

It would be understandable if she had firm beliefs, but a person who practices reactionary politics, going back and forth between progress and conservatism like a migratory bird and only guaranteeing her own authority, cannot be popular.

The re-entry into the American continent was intended to overcome this crisis, but even this ended in miserable failure.

If it had been successful, it would have laid the foundation for Spain’s revival.

“It’s all because of those guys from France and Prussia. They suddenly intervened, and we didn’t get any proper concessions.”

“But if they hadn’t been there, the war wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“It would have been better if that were the case. At least we wouldn’t have lost anything.”

They needlessly deployed the army and suffered a great humiliation, bought weapons that couldn’t be used, owed money to the British Empire, and didn’t get any of the colonies they wanted so much.

Several countries suffered from the Civil War [American Civil War, 1861-1865], but the country that suffered the most was undoubtedly Spain.

The country was staggering even more than the North, which lost a vast land called the South and many people died.

“The British Empire has greatly extended the delivery date, but because of that, we have given up a lot. Well, that’s good. The biggest problem is that we still haven’t paid off the debt! At this rate, we’ll have to sell even the land we have. What should we do?”

“…First of all, we need to raise money from every possible place.”

If that were easy, they would have paid off the money long ago.

Before taking this position, he criticized the previous prime minister’s mistakes and forced him to step down, but once he took the seat, he realized how difficult it was.

In that sense, Spain is a very easy country to become prime minister of.

Because they have a problem that they can never solve, they can attack that point and push the prime minister out.

The problem is that even if you take that position, you will only be paid back in the same way and be kicked out.

“Okay, everyone. But we have hope. The repayment date for the weapons we were supposed to receive from the South is until the end of this year. If we get that, the debt we have to pay to the British Empire will be offset to some extent.”

“That’s right. We had that, didn’t we?”

“I had forgotten because the deadline was so long ago. If we get all that money, this problem will definitely be solved. But can we get the money? Those damn trash haven’t even paid interest recently.”

While the Civil War was taking place, Spain supplied weapons purchased from the British Empire to the South on a large scale.

They even delivered warships that cost a lot of money, and the South, which didn’t have enough cash at the time, signed a contract with the condition that some would be paid in concessions and some would be paid in installments over several years.

However, instead of paying in installments, they haven’t even paid interest recently, and they are being heavily criticized.

“If they don’t give us anything by the due date, we will take cotton and food exported from the South as compensation. That was the original contract, so they won’t be able to complain. We can sell that instead and turn it into cash.”

If you can’t pay with money, you have to pay with your body. It’s the same as a law that is implicitly accepted in the international community.

No matter how rootless the South is, they cannot fail to follow this international order.

Prime Minister Narváez decided to send a final notice to the South to repay the debt.

If they ignore it this time, they will receive compensation in cotton and rice as per the contract.

Spain was in no position to look after other countries’ affairs.

The problem was that the South also didn’t care about other countries’ affairs.

* * *

A new country built by driving out corrupt capitalists.

A true paradise on earth where all people are freed from oppression and enjoy true freedom.

The American Socialist Union, the first communist country on Earth, was undergoing an arduous march, unlike its initial ambition.

“We don’t have enough money. Money.”

“Then, diversify exports more…”

“To diversify exports, we need to produce various products, but we don’t have the money to do that.”

“I’m going crazy.”

It’s good to tear down a ruined country and build a new one.

But why did that ruined country become a ruined country?

Because the environment surrounding it was ruined.

It would have been different if the South had the same industrial power as the North, but unfortunately, the current South has not yet achieved a sufficient level of industrialization.

Still, having established the Socialist Union, we must show at least something.

[All the people of the American Union unanimously resolved to increase the productivity of factories and actually put it into action! It is an achievement made by the will of the people, not the exploitation of capitalists!]

[In Europe, socialist activists, inspired by Comrade Engels’ achievements, are rising up on a national scale and struggling to create a new order in this era. Soon the whole world will be covered in a red wave, and then a true communist paradise will unfold!]

[In the North, they are jealous and envious of Comrade Engels’ great achievements and are suppressing and arresting communist thinkers. This is proof that they fear us, and it is the most solid evidence that their era is not far off.]

Propaganda and fabrication that socialist thinkers criticized so much.

Engels and the council widely distributed phrases praising their achievements throughout the country and continued to increase the amount of food rations.

Not all the words written there were false, so they didn’t forget to tell themselves that they weren’t deceiving people with perfect lies, unlike the capitalists.

Still, fortunately, the situation isn’t easy, but it’s still better than the previous South.

The problem is that it’s really just that much.

At first, they planned to create a sensational socialist craze on the American continent and destroy Canada and the North, but all of this went to waste.

This is because interest in this side faded in an instant as Canada was elevated to the status of a united kingdom with independence.

Still, Engels had no doubt that time was on his side.

Even though finances are difficult, they aren’t to the point of complete bankruptcy, so if they hold out, the seeds of socialist revolution will gradually grow in various parts of Europe.

If more and more socialist countries increase, they can form a huge union and form a single economic community.

“Comrade Secretary, we have received a call from Spain.”

“Don’t those guys get tired of it? What is it this time?”

“If we don’t pay the overdue payments, they will take our food and cotton export rights as per the original contract.”

“What are they going to take? Food export rights? That’s ridiculous.”

After abolishing slavery, cotton production decreased compared to before, but conversely, food production increased even more than before.

Overall, finances were at a similar level, but that’s only when you don’t consider the debt you’re currently carrying.

If they give Spain the money they are demanding, a huge hole will be created in the current finances of the South that they can never handle.

“Comrade Secretary. The deadline is until the end of this year. What should we do…?”

“Wait a minute, comrade. Isn’t the debt to Spain not our American Socialist Union, but the previous country that was overthrown for its tyranny?”

“…That’s right.”

“Is it right for us, who condemned their atrocities and founded a new country, to inherit the previous mistakes?”

A truly amazing logic that they should go to the South to get the money they owe, so why are they doing this to us, who have nothing to do with it.

However, none of the council members raised any objections to Engels’ claim.

“Comrade Secretary is right!”

“When I think about it, I don’t understand why they’re asking us to pay it back.”

If we pay Spain here, there will be nothing left in our pockets.

“What Spain is claiming from the South is ultimately the result of capitalism that exploited and sucked the blood of the people in the past! We cannot give even a penny of our people’s precious taxes!”

What if they say that we have to pay the debt because we still owe it?

Ah, I don’t know. This side is the American ‘Socialist’ Union.

If the American Union has a debt to receive, tell Jefferson in hell to pay it.