I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 98

Ireland

“This is truly amazing. I never thought I’d see such a sight in my lifetime.”

Daniel O’Connell pondered, reviewing the newspaper articles he had collected over the past week.

This visit of Queen Victoria to Ireland was a culmination of thoroughly planned political engineering from start to finish.

Others were simply cheering, ‘Wow, our Queen, our Minister is the best!’ but O’Connell knew better.

“To think she would eat rutabaga [a type of root vegetable] in front of everyone. And without any seasoning… without even a flicker of expression.”

To be precise, her expression did change.

Instead of frowning, she wore a bright smile.

Watching her, O’Connell felt not just admiration but a hint of respect.

He had tried rutabaga a few times before coming to Ireland, thanks to Killian’s recommendation.

It tasted worse than potatoes, had a terrible texture, and you had to eat 1.5 times more to feel as full as you would with potatoes.

Yet, the Queen of the British Empire ate it in front of everyone, promising to include it in the royal meals every day.

Many, including himself and other Irish parliamentarians who witnessed the scene, said they had a new perspective on the Queen.

“I knew she wasn’t just a young figurehead, but she’s far more impressive than I expected.”

“She’s certainly better than the previous monarchs. Has there ever been a British monarch who cared for Ireland this much?”

“I heard she said similar things not only in Cobh [a town in County Cork, Ireland] but also in Dublin? The public opinion of the royal family is visibly improving in Ireland.”

[Queen Victoria’s Politics of Considering the People]

[Why Did Queen Victoria Come to Ireland? Thanks to Foreign Minister Killian Gore’s Persuasion]

[Minister Killian Gore to Promote Active Immigration Policies for the Irish People]

[The Land of Opportunity That Will Become a New Home for the Irish People. What is Canada Like?]

A flood of articles had poured out in just one week.

The newspapers had already spread throughout sizable cities, and Catholic bishops in rural villages were diligently spreading the news, so soon everyone in Ireland would know.

The reason for inviting so many Catholic bishops, especially those in charge of rural villages, was undoubtedly to keep this in mind.

She showed respect for Catholicism, which the majority of Irish people believed in, and expressed her willingness to share the pain of the citizens.

She didn’t just stop at words but proved her commitment by eating famine food.

As other parliamentarians said, it wasn’t a one-time performance in Cobh, and she was showing the same attitude in Dublin.

In Belfast, she even took the time to meet with citizens and representatives engaged in commerce and industry to hear their grievances, which made him genuinely curious.

Why was the Queen paying so much attention to Ireland?

Killian was Irish, so it was understandable that he would dedicate himself to this land.

But Queen Victoria had never even visited Ireland before, so why was she going to such lengths? He couldn’t fathom the reason.

Was it because she was close to Killian? Could that be the only reason why the Queen of a country would come all the way here to chew on rutabaga?

Even if his wife asked, he wouldn’t be able to eat it so deliciously.

Of course, she had declared herself a spinster to be faithful to the citizens, so perhaps she was genuinely showing this behavior out of concern for the people.

But even so, he never imagined she would be this good to Ireland.

It even led to silly jokes that Queen Victoria had fallen for Killian.

“Have you heard, O’Connell? Some Irish people are saying they wish Minister Killian would become the Prince Consort [the husband of a reigning queen].”

“What nonsense.”

Well, he understood why such stories were circulating.

How long had Ireland been ignored by England?

That’s why the Irish people welcomed Killian’s rise to minister, his great achievements, and his becoming a prominent politician in the British Empire as if it were their own accomplishment.

Moreover, if he became the Prince Consort of the British Empire, they would feel an enormous sense of vicarious satisfaction.

But realistically, it was absurd.

If he became the Prince Consort, his influence in the political world would disappear. Killian, as far as he had seen, was a born politician.

Would such a person want to leave the political arena with his hands and feet cut off, even if he had the opportunity to become the Prince Consort?

Thinking more coldly, the very idea of Queen Victoria falling for an Irish aristocrat was completely unrealistic.

‘Still, one must admit that the two of them have a closer relationship than I expected.’

No matter how politically savvy the Queen was, the actions she had shown this time were unconventional, even beyond what O’Connell had imagined.

He didn’t know there was a way to capture the hearts of citizens like this, and O’Connell wasn’t the only one who thought so.

That’s why it was already being highlighted as ‘Victoria’s way of communication’ and receiving so much attention.

Perhaps later, all sorts of politicians would try to imitate her to gain the support of the citizens?

Considering that Killian was the one who planned this visit to Ireland, it was certain that all of this came from his mind.

He had known since they first met a long time ago that he was a much more outstanding young man than himself.

But to rise to this level at the young age of 20.

The war with the Qing Dynasty [the last imperial dynasty of China] had brought unbelievable results, but he had only received the results, so he hadn’t felt it.

But now, he was watching the process from the side, so he could definitely realize it.

From the moment Queen Victoria set foot in Cobh, the sentiment for independence in Ireland had virtually disappeared.

If they successfully overcame the potato famine and the Irish people settled in Canada, there would be nothing more to say.

To that extent, people who called for independence would definitely be treated as troublemakers.

“The difference in political power is too great… Is this also an inevitable trend?”

Although he called it political engineering, O’Connell didn’t actually see it negatively.

For a politician to realize his ideals, it was essential to gain the support of the citizens, and political power was a means to achieve that.

No matter how high the ideal, if it was unpopular, it was just an empty soliloquy that no one would listen to.

And in fact, strictly speaking, Killian wasn’t just skilled at gaining popularity.

The reason why the sentiment for independence in Ireland had collapsed in just ten days was because the difference in ability between the independence faction and the autonomy faction was too great.

-Our Minister Killian even sent investigators and thought of countermeasures after hearing about the potato famine while being dispatched to the Qing Dynasty, but what have the independence faction people done?

-Minister Killian is the one who persuaded Her Majesty to come to Ireland, so what has the independence faction done?

-Minister Killian is the one who found the rutabaga and created the Canadian immigration program, so what has the independence faction done?

That’s just what he heard yesterday in the southern region, which was the stronghold of the independence faction.

It was a painful story, but he couldn’t refute it.

Why? Because it was true.

But if he said there were no unfair points at all, that wouldn’t be true.

Compared to other politicians, O’Connell had worked much harder and was actually closer to someone who had achieved results.

It was just that Killian, who was being compared to him, was an extraordinary person.

Frankly, isn’t the standard too harsh if you compare him to someone who investigated the truth about the potato famine and prepared countermeasures while working in that distant Qing Dynasty?

But in the end, that statement was no different from admitting that he was less capable than Killian.

Even if he tried to deny it, it was a fact that he was increasingly feeling.

Above all, he was now at an age and physical condition where he had to start thinking about retirement, but Killian was still a young man of only twenty years old.

It meant that he was showing these achievements even at an age when other politicians hadn’t even stood at the starting line.

“If I can confirm just one last thing… I might be able to let go of my lingering feelings.”

What truly meant to benefit Ireland?

Daniel O’Connell, a politician who had devoted his entire life to Irish independence since the day he entered politics, sighed as he closed the newspaper articles filled with praise for Killian and Victoria.

* * *

The Queen’s rutabaga mukbang [a live online audiovisual broadcast in which a host eats large amounts of food while interacting with their audience], which would probably not be recorded in history for the first time, ended amidst greater cheers than expected.

The meeting held in Belfast, following Dublin, was also a great success.

At this rate, Victoria would undoubtedly become the most beloved monarch in the history of the British Empire in Ireland.

In addition, I emerged as a true patriot and the hope of Ireland, who oversaw all of this.

Since all the schedules were successfully completed, it was decided to hold a large-scale ball on the last day to pray for blessings for the future of Ireland.

Victoria had notified me that she would be dancing with me all day here, so I should keep that in mind.

She had worked hard for me by eating rutabaga until now, so I should definitely do that much.

Would dancing be a problem? If I didn’t show the utmost sincerity I could, I wouldn’t be able to stand it.

Showing the Queen and Minister, who are currently the most praised in Ireland, staying together would have a positive impact on local public opinion. There’s nothing bad about it from any point of view.

As I was reviewing the plan to carry out the last schedule in Ireland, Daniel O’Connell came to see me.

“Oh, were you working even at this hour?”

“If you let your guard down now that things have gone well so far, you might ruin it at the end. Isn’t the end the most important thing in everything?”

“That’s true. But seeing you not letting your guard down even after such a great success makes me feel ashamed.”

In fact, the reason for the tension was not because of the event but because of the worry about how to repay Victoria’s favor, but there was no need to correct it.

O’Connell, who was admiring on his own, looked around with a sentimental expression.

“Come to think of it, I remember when I first met you. I didn’t know you would become such a big shot in such a short time. Did you know? I heard that the confrontation between the independence faction and the autonomy faction, which was quite tense in Ireland, has already begun to tilt towards the latter. I think the independence faction will be wiped out here by the time Her Majesty goes to Scotland.”

That the Irish people accepted Victoria as their queen meant that they recognized that they were citizens of the British Empire.

Even if they recognized it without knowing this causal relationship, they couldn’t help but feel that way psychologically as human beings.

Since they recognized the Queen of the British Empire as their queen, they would not be able to separate the British Empire and Ireland.

“Her Majesty is sincerely caring for Ireland. And I will never let the Irish people live in poverty like they do now.”

“…Is the Canadian immigration also a stepping stone for that?”

“Of course. It’s a win-win-win method that benefits Ireland, the British Empire, and Canada.”

Ireland is already caught in the Malthusian trap [a theory that population growth will outpace food production], so they will have to live in poverty for the rest of their lives unless they continue to maintain the current population.

Moreover, if the potato harvest decreases due to the potato famine, there will be no choice but to have starvation deaths even if they plant rutabaga.

Therefore, it is necessary to systematically settle as many people as possible in Canada.

“Yes… Canada is vast, so even if about a million Irish people go there, they can live comfortably enough. But even so, if such a huge population moves there, there will be a lot of confusion at first?”

“So we will be promoting the immigration policy steadily over three years. If we disperse people into three areas: factory zones, agricultural zones, and the western frontier, we can minimize the confusion.”

“The western frontier? Does that mean you’re going to expand Canada’s territory further than it is now? That area is not worth much anyway.”

In modern times, the bridgehead to enter the Pacific Ocean is very important, but in this era, virtually no one knows how important the Pacific Ocean is.

The center of the world was the Atlantic Ocean, and even the United States did not yet have land to go directly to the Pacific Ocean.

So, if you think about the future, you should start developing the west as soon as possible and get as much territory as possible.

“The New World is a treasure trove of resources. We need to occupy a wider area to secure more mining rights in the future.”

“But if people don’t have the motivation to move west, it won’t be easy to develop?”

“You don’t have to worry about that either. I have a plan.”

-Gold mines have been discovered in British Columbia, west of Canada, and the surrounding area to the south.

With this news alone, people will all go crazy and leave for the west.

This is a surefire move with a 100% success rate that historical records have proven.

“You’ve even thought about that. I have no choice but to give up. Then let me ask you just one last thing.”

O’Connell, who had wiped away the faint smile he had been holding, looked at me with a more serious expression than ever before.

Feeling an unusual atmosphere, I also hardened my expression and straightened my posture.

“I will answer anything I can answer.”

“As I said before, the voice of independence within Ireland will only continue to diminish in the future. It’s painful, but reality is reality, so we shouldn’t deny it. But I still can’t be sure. Can Ireland really be better off with autonomy than it is now?”

This is a question from someone who has lived his whole life as an advocate for independence and has devoted himself to his country.

I nodded with as much sincerity as possible.

“Of course.”

“If Ireland cannot become independent from the British Empire, no matter how much it grows, it will eventually be suppressed by the power of England?”

“I won’t let that happen. That’s why I’m moving so busily now.”

“…Now? Then, could it be that this large-scale immigration plan is…?”

“It’s necessary to prevent the famine, but it’s not just that. In order for the Irish to gain power, they must not be buried in the small land of Ireland. They must play in bigger waters and make those bigger waters our own. Of course, the British Empire will pay for it.”

It may be impossible in the short term, but if Ireland does not suffer from the famine, survives safely, and the Irish occupy the core of Canada.

Would the influence of the Irish people at that time be the same as it is now?

Of course, there is a possibility that the political world of the British Empire, feeling a sense of crisis, will overreact, but as long as I am there, there is no risk of that happening.

“You’re saying you’re going to use the power of the British Empire to raise the position of the Irish people…?”

“We may not be able to see it while we are alive, but no one knows whether England will be the center of the British Empire in the distant future. We’ll have to wait and see with pleasure.”

“Haha, I see. That’s what it was.”

O’Connell’s face relaxed much more, as if he had gotten the answer he wanted.

That’s a relief. I was worried about what to do if he still said that Ireland could only survive with unconditional independence.

“I can’t help but admit that you already have plans and solutions for the minor problems I was worried about. In fact, you have proven everything with results that I wanted to do so much but couldn’t, but now what’s the point of me admitting it or not?”

“No. I was able to grow to this point because of you, O’Connell.”

“Yes. I won’t deny that we have been good help to each other so far. But you also know that in order to become a true leader, you must eventually build your own solid power base. But currently, Ireland has the Abolitionist Party, which I lead, holding about half of the seats, so it’s undermining your influence.”

“I think of it as mutual benefit, not undermining.”

“Thank you for saying that. Still, this structure is only a temporary measure in the end. The Irish people want hope that they can truly believe in and follow. I used to think that I was the one who would be that hope, but now I know. I was the one who paved the way for that hope to run without hindrance.”

O’Connell took several breaths like someone who had made a big decision, then closed his eyes tightly and continued.

“In the next general election, the entire Irish Abolitionist Party, including myself, will change our affiliation to the Conservative Party and go under your command. We will spare no support in sending the Irish people to Canada.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course, I’m serious. I was still 고민ing [a Korean word meaning ‘agonizing’ or ‘contemplating’] until the moment I came in here, and I completely made up my mind after listening to your story just now.”

So, this is finally the time.

I had been thinking that this day would inevitably come someday, but I didn’t know I would hear these words before leaving Ireland.

It’s easy to say, but it’s not an easy decision for someone who has been the leader of an organization for half his life to give up his will and go under the command of a young man who hasn’t even lived half his life.

In this case, even uttering words of humility would be rude to the other person.

“I understand. Then I look forward to working with you again in the future.”

“I’m the one who looks forward to it. No, not just me or my party members, but I hope you can make the people of this Ireland live such a life that they are not envious of those English people.”

“I swear.”

Even if I don’t promise, Ireland will continue to rise endlessly in this British Empire and gradually penetrate into the center of the British Empire.

Now that I have the entire Ireland on my shoulders, it has no choice but to be that way.

From now on, I am Ireland.

Because Ireland was me.