The Shadow of Great Britain

41: Chapter 3: The Navy’s Smuggling Problem 41: Chapter 3: The Navy’s Smuggling Problem Arthur read with great interest the “Poor Man’s Guardian,” which cost a penny, and it was not until he reached the end of the article that he realized something was amiss.

The founder of the “Poor Man’s Guardian,” Hetherington, was a figure on Scotland Yard’s surveillance list.

Although the “Combination Acts” had been repealed in 1824 and censorship of publications had gradually relaxed, while the official thresholds had disappeared, there were still plenty of sly tricks behind the scenes.

Since most workers belonged to the impoverished class, it was unlikely they had much money left over for anything beyond basic necessities.

Therefore, to prevent workers’ unions from founding influential publications, the British Government began collecting a stamp duty on newspapers, pushing the price up to four pennies, using the cost increase to limit newspaper sales.

If there were strategies from above, naturally there were countermeasures from below, which was why all sorts of shady pamphlets were emerging on the streets of London.

As long as no tax was paid, a selling price of a penny was enough to cover costs and still turn a profit.

Unfortunately, Arthur never had the chance to come across such a bargain when buying newspapers.

One second, the street newsboys were still hawking cheap newspapers for a penny, but as soon as he approached, the only options left were regular ones like The Times, The Morning Herald, and The Manchester Guardian.

Arthur snatched the newspaper from Eld, leaving him to chat with Darwin while idly scribbling on his manuscript paper with a pencil.

Having finished reading the newspaper, Arthur was about to strike up a conversation when he suddenly noticed the figures that Eld had drawn.

He frowned for a moment, a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he snapped his fingers, “Eld, how well have you honed your drawing skills?”

Eld yawned, “They are passable, why do you ask?”

Arthur said with a smile, “I’d like to ask you to do something for me.

If you can pull it off, the pay won’t be a problem.

The Greenwich Police District’s budget for this quarter is still somewhat surplus.”

“Oh?” Eld perked up at the mention of payment, “Do you want me to help you draw a map?”

“Not just a map.” Arthur took a sip from his teacup, “You must know about ‘General Thief’ Fred, right?”

“Fred?

Of course, I know!

I even had him help me dispose of my smuggled goods last time.”

Arthur was drinking his tea nicely, but he almost choked on his water when he heard what Eld said.

“What did you say?!”

Arthur pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth, “You?

Smuggling?

And you got involved with Fred?”

Eld, however, did not seem to care at all, almost as if he did not mind that he had committed a crime.

He put his legs up on the table and leaned against the back of his chair, “What’s so surprising about that?

Everybody knows the Royal Navy is into smuggling.”

Darwin, who had been quietly reading beside them, changed color in shock when he heard this explosive news.

Arthur, elbow on the table, leaned in closer, “Tell me more, I’ve been lacking a big case recently.”

As soon as Arthur finished his sentence, Eld’s face turned pale.

He lowered his voice and cursed, “Arthur, damn you, are you planning to send me to prison?

Besides, the smuggled goods weren’t mine, I was selling them for my uncle.

After I sold them, that old guy wasn’t even satisfied, saying I sold them too cheaply and didn’t give me a single penny.”

Arthur also lowered his voice, “Then you’re a tainted witness.

I can help you get a lenient deal if we just put your uncle away.

A Royal Navy commodore, that’s big enough for me to live on for many years.

Don’t worry, I won’t forget you when I’m promoted and making money.”

Eld annoyed, “Who’s going to cover for me if you put him away?

Are you off your rocker?

Besides, if you arrest him, won’t you have to lock up the Mediterranean Fleet Commander as well?”

Hearing this, Darwin also leaned in, “There’s something about the Mediterranean Fleet Commander in this?”

Eld said angrily, “Indeed!

Are you also planning to drag in the First Naval Lord, Thomas Hardy?”

Arthur had intended just to make a joke, but before he even started asking, Eld was almost spilling everything.

He hurriedly exclaimed, “Stop!

You definitely shouldn’t say anymore, are you planning to even drag Prince William, Marshal of the Royal Navy, into this?”

Eld paused in surprise, then raised his hand and threw a punch at Arthur’s chest, “You little rascal!

No wonder you can be a Police Superintendent, how did you know?”

Arthur quickly covered his mouth and scanned the surroundings until he was sure no one was paying attention to them before replying.

“I don’t know anything, just talk about the Royal Navy, don’t bring specific individuals into this.”

Eld spread his hands and said, “It’s really not a big deal.

Think about it, although the officers of the Royal Navy are treated well, the sailors’ conditions are terrible!

It would be somewhat better during wartime because at least they could share in the spoils of war, but unfortunately, it is now peacetime.

Under normal circumstances, the income level of merchant sailors can be three or four times higher than that of the navy sailors, and it can even be five or six times higher during the busy transportation seasons.

Moreover, the Royal Navy’s training is so strict, and its internal regulations are rigid.

Who would want to be a sailor when there’s nothing to do?

Drifting on the sea every day and earning hardly any money.

The Navy always has difficulty filling its recruitment quotas, to the point where the recruiting officers even resort to kidnapping.

There should be rumors like that in your hometown too, where upon encountering Navy recruiting officers, the local farmers are not willing to go, so they band together to kidnap a few passers-by from other places to meet the quota.

Or they take those criminals who should have been transported away and put them on a ship.

Originally, they were supposed to be transported, but once on the ship, they can’t be set free.

With such poor treatment, if the Navy Department didn’t allow the lads to do a bit of smuggling, how would they survive?”

Upon hearing this, Darwin nodded slightly and said, “Although I don’t know why, I feel like you make some sense.”

When Arthur heard this, he smiled helplessly and said, “Whenever you talk about the Royal Navy, it always makes me think the place is rotten from top to bottom.

But if it’s that bad, why are they still so combative?”

Eld rolled his eyes and retorted, “Of course, it’s still about the money!

Although everyone earns a fixed salary, during wartime, the Navy Department has a set price.

For destroying an enemy ship, a reward of five shillings per person for the entire ship’s tally of enemies destroyed is granted.

Capturing an enemy ship and towing it back to port, the government purchases it at market price.

As for the spoils obtained in battle, the internal rule of the Navy is that the Captain takes a quarter, the Fleet Commander takes an eighth, and the rest is shared among the sailors.

It’s because of this that, no matter how bad the Royal Navy gets, they can still beat the French, who don’t even dare to leave their ports.

In their eyes, French ships are not enemies but gold floating on the sea.

In the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy could complete two rounds of cannon fire in three and a half minutes.

General Rotherham’s escort ship dared to chase and fight against the French battleship and even initiate boarding combat while at a numerical disadvantage.

He alone killed more than a dozen French sailors with his sword.

As for the French, give them three and a half minutes, and they probably won’t even be able to get their cannonballs out of the hold, though they would have enough time to raise a white flag!”

Having said this, Eld covered his mouth conspiratorially and whispered, “I’ll tell you a secret, but don’t you tell anyone!

I heard from my uncle that some Captains earned a fortune of over three hundred thousand pounds after fighting in the 22-year Napoleonic Wars.

When the Captain feasts on meat, the sailors who follow him naturally get their share of the soup.

How could they lack combat effectiveness in such circumstances?”

He then sighed deeply, “It’s just a pity that Napoleon was disappointing; had he held out for ten more years, couldn’t I also have made a fortune?

Useless man!”

Arthur glanced at the guests at the nearby table, noticing that other people were looking at them with strange expressions.

Therefore, Arthur could only cough and remind Eld, “Let’s talk about how you know Fred instead.”