The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 778: Chapter 368: The Final Ultimatum

Oxford Street, at an inconspicuous coffee shop on the corner.

Arthur, with a pipe in his mouth and a wide-brimmed hat on his head, held in his hands the freshly printed “The Times,” the startling headlines of which were enough to strike fear into anyone yearning for a peaceful and stable life.

“The Duke of Wellington has been besieged by the progressive forces of liberty and democracy on the high ground, and we shall annihilate him here,”

“Wellington’s top enforcer, Crook, submitted the ‘Sedition Bill’ draft to the House of Commons, the isolated old nose trying his last desperate gamble,”

“The ‘Sedition Bill’ faces strong resistance in the House of Commons, the Whig Party collectively votes against it, the Tory Party Peel remains noncommittal about the feasibility of the new bill,”

“Is the matter settled? His Majesty the King omits the toast to the Duke of Wellington’s health at a banquet hosting the directors of the East India Company, suggesting three profound implications in His Majesty’s actions,”

“Since the Battle of Waterloo ended, tonight is the darkest sky His Lordship has seen,”

“The Duke of Wellington meets with Tory Party notables such as the Duke of Newcastle, Earl Eldon, Earl of Winchester, Viscount Harding, and others at Apsley House,”

“Former Tory High Chancellor Earl Eldon, after meeting the Duke of Wellington, delivered an incendiary speech to his supporters: Reform is violent democracy, and the direct consequence of democracy is the deprivation of property! If the reform bill passes in the House of Commons, then, we will stop it in the House of Lords!”

“Commander-in-Chief of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland’s Army, Viscount Almaraz, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Roland Hill, former Army Minister and Irish Affairs Minister, Army Major General Henry Harding, former Master General of the Ordnance, Marquis of Anglesey, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Henry Paget, Governor of Cape Colony, former Commander of the British Forces in Bengal, current Governor of Mauritius, Lieutenant General Charles Colvile, issued a joint statement: We earnestly appeal to the Lords to prudently consider whether parliamentary reform is a wise decision,”

“Unforgivable! Old Nose is secretly fortifying his defensive positions,”

“Prime Minister takes a stand! Earl Grey addresses the Whig members at the Reform Club, demanding full confidence: I will reduce the number of ‘cannons’ the House of Lords has set up,”

“Prime Minister Earl Grey visits Windsor Castle at night, talking with His Majesty the King for three hours,”

“According to insiders, Earl Grey is vigorously persuading His Majesty the King to urgently confer peerages on fifty Whig nobles, to ensure the Whigs can hold an absolute majority in the House of Lords, and to secure the smooth passage of the reform bill,”

“Bad news strikes! Although His Majesty the King supports the reform stance, he remains extremely angry about Earl Grey’s demand to urgently confer peerages on fifty nobles to enter the House of Lords,”

“His Majesty furiously rebuked Earl Grey’s audacious idea: The seats of the House of Lords are not second-hand stalls from Covent Garden market and therefore cannot be wholesaled; British nobility titles will only be granted to those who have served the nation,”

Arthur had just read this part when he suddenly felt a hand on the edge of the newspaper.

A kind yet energetic voice arose beside his ear, “Reading ‘The Times’? I thought you would never buy their paper again after they attacked you.”

Arthur put down the paper and said, “I am not so petty, and besides, I did not buy this paper; it was distributed to senior officers at Scotland Yard for free. Why not take it? And, though ‘The Times’ has its flaws and enjoys jumping left and right, even if their news doesn’t always state the facts, it can still somewhat reflect the currents in Britain to a certain extent.”

The one talking to Arthur was none other than Lionel, of the Rothschild Family. Rothschild Familys eldest scion took off his coat and placed it on the chair, his ever-present smile revealing nothing of his recent mood.

Lionel said, “Arthur, that Liverpool city development bond issued by the Treasury — you should have come to me first for cooperation. Although Barings has a stronger say than us in issuing British public debt, Rothschild is not entirely without a voice. Next time there’s such an opportunity, you must consult with us first. The Rothschild and Baring families both started in Germany, and our business philosophies and management models are no worse than theirs.”

Arthur cocked his head and dug in his ear, “In such money-making deals, I would definitely contact you first. But at that time, nothing was certain, nobody knew whether the city bonds of Liverpool would get approved, so I definitely couldn’t push you into this risky venture. Lionel, those words you told me before, I still remember them now. Rothschild pursues a slow and steady, stable profit.”

Lionel responded with a smile and a shrug, “If the risk was only to that extent, we could still take a chance. But I understand why you went to Barings, after all, they practically have the Public Works Committee in their pocket, and they hold a larger share in the Bank of England than us. So, even if you had come to me, I would still have to go to Barings in the end. Letting them take the first bite in Liverpool is no big deal, but if London also starts digging, ignoring us is not acceptable.”