I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 493

< Uproot and Eliminate (3) >

As is usually the case with everything, history is essentially a collection of coincidences and inevitabilities.

Something might seem meaningless at first glance, but after analyzing each factor, you often conclude that it was, in fact, an inevitable result.

Even with World War I, many scholars and politicians initially experienced cognitive dissonance [a state of mental discomfort arising from conflicting beliefs or attitudes].

Sarajevo was indeed a significant event, but could such an incident really drag the entire world into an unprecedented war with nearly 10 million casualties?

Even in the 21st century, many view the trigger for World War I, unlike World War II, as accidental.

However, considering the unprecedented expansion of Europe, the economic reality where demand was slowly failing to keep up with supply,

combined with the great powers’ war of nerves and the exacerbation of the situation by rising nationalism, it was largely seen as a war that was bound to erupt sooner or later, a responsibility of all of Europe.

By thoroughly studying the past from the future and analyzing the background, it’s possible to understand ‘why things went this way.’

However, without the internet or even a proper global telephone network, it was only natural that the full details of any phenomenon couldn’t be grasped.

So, at first, I was worried that after a few historical butterfly effects [the idea that small changes can have large consequences], my future knowledge would lose its advantage.

I had been sweetening the pot until now, but because I had gained so much, the world had changed too much from what I knew.

Let’s start by looking at the Americas.

Here, it can be briefly explained in one sentence: Lincoln served three terms, and the South has become totalitarian, surpassing even a communist state.

Up to a certain point, it was an intentional result, but after Engels succeeded in establishing a dictatorial regime that rivaled the North’s leader, it was out of my hands.

It was uncertain whether Lincoln would run for a fourth term like FDR [Franklin Delano Roosevelt] or end his presidency after three terms.

Was America the only place in such chaos? Of course not.

Even in Asia, as someone who knew the original history, I sometimes couldn’t help but laugh absurdly just by looking at the map.

Joseon [an old Korean kingdom] had recovered almost all of Goguryeo’s territory [another ancient Korean kingdom], and Okubo [likely referring to Okubo Toshimichi, a prominent Japanese statesman] was alive and well, serving as the prime minister of Japan.

In particular, Japan had recently succeeded in purchasing the remaining half of Sakhalin [a large island north of Japan] by trading with Joseon, which was already struggling to manage Manchuria [a historical region in Northeast Asia].

Since Joseon couldn’t manage the land even if left alone, selling it off was an obvious choice, but this was also a fresh shock to me.

Still, I managed to weed out the military, who were full of vigor and becoming increasingly stubborn, and established a normal governing structure, so I could breathe a sigh of relief.

But there were still elements of instability.

Soon, the Qing Dynasty [the last imperial dynasty of China] would inevitably collapse, and how to control this period of upheaval was a concern.

And I needed to pay more attention to the oil-producing regions in the Middle East, where I was currently working hard to establish a firm foothold.

Later, our angry Middle Eastern brothers would surely make a fuss about why we had taken those lands.

Looking back, Earth 4 had become 100 million light-years away from the original history, but fortunately, my strengths were still effective.

The reason was surprisingly simple.

No matter how much the trajectory of history had changed, it was still the late 19th century, and it was a world where people of the late 19th century lived.

Even when things got twisted, the main reasons were similar or almost identical to the events I knew.

Even with events I was seeing for the first time, my hit rate was good enough that if I used my imagination to guess what might happen, it would actually turn out that way.

Anyway, it wasn’t too difficult to come up with an adjustment plan to utilize this opportunity in a way that suited both the original history and the current era.

“If such rumors have reached the Austrian imperial family, it’s safe to say they’ve already spread widely.”

“That’s right. But I’m curious, are such rumors circulating among the upper class in the home country?”

“Not really. I have ears, so I can say for sure that most people think the Crown Princess is a very kind and benevolent person. Of course, most people know that she is very close to His Majesty, but being close to family isn’t exactly strange.”

“That’s right. So, if the citizens of the home country were to hear such rumors, they would feel that someone is engaging in slander.”

“As Your Majesty says.”

After briefly summarizing the contents of the letter from Franz Joseph [Emperor of Austria], Wellesley reacted as I had expected.

This was also due to the slow speed of information transmission in this era.

Even if telephones were available to a limited extent and telegrams were exchanged, they were only the preserve of the upper class.

The Austrian imperial family knew that strange rumors about Gisela [likely referring to Archduchess Gisela of Austria] were circulating, but that was limited to Austria and Prussia, and a strange situation was unfolding where it had nothing to do with this side.

Of course, I had guided it to be that way.

“Then shall we proceed as Your Majesty wishes?”

“Of course. I hear there are forces daring to slander the precious Crown Princess of our imperial family. We must uproot them and show them the wrath of the British Empire.”

“Fortunately, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have agreed to attend the wedding of the French princess and the Prussian Crown Prince, which will be perfect for diverting public opinion.”

“What does Minister Disraeli [Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister] say he will do? If his stamina can’t keep up, we can send someone else.”

He’s almost 70 years old now, so I’m worried that he might feel burdened, and I’m concerned about him going out and about.

Still, he’s so enthusiastic that I think he’ll be fine, but so many bad things have happened recently that I’m worried.

This is all because I didn’t know how long the original Disraeli lived.

I was so surprised when I heard that he had a bad cold the other day.

“I have made several plans to make the Crown Prince stand out even more, so shouldn’t we leave it to Disraeli until this time? Rather, he won’t like being treated like an old man. He still says he can easily do it for another 10 years.”

“It’s said that the weaker the dog, the more it barks, and the unhealthier a person is, the more they tend to overdo it and pretend to be fine.”

I also feel that my stamina is not what it used to be, but the feeling of your body not listening to you due to aging is an indescribable sense of powerlessness.

If it’s just because you’re sick, you might think you’ll get better if you rest, but aging is different.

The feeling that you can’t go back to the way you were, that this state is now the default, that feeling is…

“I’ll be watching from the side, and if it’s really too much, I’ll just give him things to do that can be handled from inside. But don’t worry too much. Rather, I’m more of a problem than Disraeli. That man doesn’t get much stress. It’s good to call him the father of the Conservative Party, but I actually handle all the big stuff.”

“Well, that’s true. But isn’t it because you have a colleague like Disraeli that you feel less burdened?”

“That’s true. Still, there’s an unavoidable sense of pressure that comes with holding the title of Prime Minister. I’ve been in this position for so long that I’m numb to it now, but in my first year, I think I gagged several times.”

When did Wellesley become Prime Minister?

It’s so long ago now that it’s a distant past.

Thinking about it makes me feel even sadder.

“You’re not upset that I only worry about Disraeli, are you? I’m just more relieved because you’re younger. If you feel unwell, don’t overdo it and get some rest.”

“Didn’t you tell me not to even think about retiring until I’m 70?”

“That was just my way of wishing you a long life.”

I wanted everyone around me to live to 90 and see the dawn of the 20th century, but I knew better than anyone that it was just a dream.

“There’s one thought that comes to mind as I get older and closer to stepping down, and do you know what that is?”

“Ah~ I don’t want to get old. Something like that?”

“That’s closer to a wish that I always have. Rather, it’s that I want to see the British Empire develop even more after I step down.”

“Really? Be honest. Don’t you also have this thought? That right after you step down as Prime Minister, things will go wrong and everyone will say, ‘Wellesley was the best Prime Minister in history. We miss Wellesley.’ You can’t help but want to hear such praise, can you?”

I would never want to see the country I had built up my whole life fall apart, but no politician would want things to go so well that they are forgotten.

Wellesley scratched his head with a bitter smile.

“It would be a lie to say I don’t have such thoughts, but Prince Edward is someone I’ve known since I was a child. I hope that in Prince Edward’s era, our British Empire will become an even more overwhelming empire. That’s not a lie.”

“I also want my son to be more successful than me. That’s why I’m working so hard to prepare while going through all this hardship.”

“Hardship? I don’t know about that, but I know better than anyone that Your Majesty is definitely working hard.”

If I’m working hard, then I’m going through hardship, but I’m disappointed that you don’t recognize my plight.

Of course, when others are working their butts off to win, I can nullify everything with a single click using money, power, and future knowledge, but that itself is the result of my efforts.

“Anyway, according to our Majesty’s plan, those terrible fellows who slandered the Crown Princess will be framed as radical nationalist forces emerging in the Balkans. The reason is to plot the division of Austria, and since Austria shouldn’t get close to the British Empire, to distance the two. Looking at it this way, everything fits perfectly.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? No one will doubt it. If this is appropriately linked to what Bismarck [Otto von Bismarck, Prussian statesman] intends to pursue, we won’t have to worry about the problems in the Balkans for the time being.”

With this, the powder keg of Europe is successfully defused!

All that’s left is for Bismarck to appropriately suppress the Junkers [Prussian landed nobility] in Prussia and allow Prussia and Austria to naturally go their separate ways.

“Nationalism isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it always has side effects when it goes too far. Of course, a country aiming for an integrated empire like our British Empire can minimize these side effects, so the stronger the British Empire becomes, the more other countries will try to emulate us.”

“Even calculating that…”

Just as Wellesley was about to question him with a suspicious look.

He went out briefly at the sound of commotion outside, and came back in, shaking his head.

“Your Majesty. You didn’t even tell me and you’ve already started working on it? The processing speed is faster than a Kentucky Derby winner.”

“Working on it? What?”

“I hear that extremists aiming to establish a new Serbian kingdom were arrested while protesting near the residence of Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf. Didn’t Your Majesty have a hand in this?”

“······?”

“Still, please tell me before you proceed with things next time. That way, it’s easier for me to clean up. Hahaha.”

I stared blankly at him as he shook his head and said, ‘Your Majesty is 은근 급하시다니까 [eungeun geup 하시 다니카 – Korean expression meaning ‘you’re secretly impatient’].’

It was truly absurd.

What is it? This isn’t something I ordered.