The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 789: Chapter 371: The Return of Waterloo Story (6K)_3

“Oh dear, my little baby! Do you need daddy to sing you a lullaby? Can’t handle this bit of hardship? Ha! Compared to what we endured in Spain, this is child’s play!”

Plunkett couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke.

“That’s exactly why those who couldn’t sleep pretended to sleep, everyone enduring with a spirit of heroism that deserves admiration. The next morning, when I saw everyone looking exhausted, I can assure you that not a single person had actually slept, not even a tough guy like me.”

We were supposed to head to the battlefield, exhausted as we were, but our good-for-nothing quartermaster finally proved useful. He managed to get some milk and sugar from the unit next door. We boiled a large pot of water, poured in the sugar and milk, as well as the tea leaves soaked from our bags. The officers nearby saw the smoke from our cooking, and they too came for a cup of tea. I assure you, it was the first time I saw so many high-ranking officials from the military there together—there were three or four generals at least.”

There was a new recruit in our unit, a fool who complained the tea was too weak, so he poured some black gunpowder into his cup. I asked him how it tasted, and he told me it was the worst thing he had ever tasted. Ha, I joked with him saying if we ran out of cannonballs later, I would stuff him into the cannon and shoot him out.”

Plunkett said this with a bit of nostalgia, pursing his lips: “Although the memories of that day aren’t pleasant, I don’t know why, even after so many years, I can still remember every minute and every detail of that day. If—I mean if—you were to command me like old nose did at Waterloo against the French, even if it means sleeping in the trenches and drinking tea that has neither sugar nor milk and even added with black gunpowder, I wouldn’t frown.”

Arthur didn’t directly answer Plunkett’s question but instead turned to speak: “Thomas, I cannot match the Duke. But the one thing I can promise you is that the flag you defend will not fall. Moreover, this time, I am entrusting you with the task of flag-bearer. Your task is simple yet complex. In the upcoming period, many unexpected things will definitely happen in London.”

“I need you to allocate a portion of your men to monitor Mr. August Schneider, Assistant Secretary at the Foreign Office. I have reasons to suspect that during Viscount Palmeston’s tenure, they had connections with the Financial City. Thus, if you detect any emergencies there, you may act on your own discretion.”

“Besides, I have already found out the Duke’s travel route for the next few days. I want you and your brothers to set up defenses along his route. If you find anyone daring to harm the Duke, I authorize you to open fire immediately.”

“Open fire immediately?”

Although Plunkett had anticipated it, the notion of firing openly in the street still surprised him somewhat, given it wasn’t wartime. A misjudgment could lead to criminal court and a death sentence by hanging. More importantly, Scotland Yard had no criminal immunity, and Arthur’s authorization sounded like a trap.

Arthur understood Plunkett’s worries and nodded slightly towards Louis who was standing by.

Seeing this, Louis immediately handed over the conference record, in duplicate, to Arthur.

Arthur took the record, didn’t think twice, and stamped his seal on it before standing up and handing it to Plunkett.

His figure blocked the sunlight from the window, lightning flashed outside, illuminating the Order of Saint Edward on his shoulder. Plunkett looked up at the young man’s face, half illuminated and half submerged in darkness, with only the shimmering light in his eyes and the upward curve of his lips visible in the dark.

The damp and cold air, lightning, thunder, and the oppressive atmosphere, made it difficult for Plunkett not to recall the rainy night before the Battle of Waterloo erupted.

“Thomas, this is a record of our conversation today. Check carefully to see if the two documents match. If they do, keep one copy and the other will be archived at Scotland Yard. If misfortune happens in the future, you can use this document to prove your innocence. No matter what happens, the responsibility is mine alone. This is my personal dereliction of duty and overreach, and it has nothing to do with you.”

Upon hearing this, Plunkett couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by Arthur’s presence.

He paused, took a deep breath, and his disobedient fingers reached into his pocket. Plunkett pulled out his pipe, struck a match and took a fierce puff.

The sharpshooter from the 95th Regiment exhaled twin streams of smoke through his nose, lowered his head, shook it slightly, and suddenly chuckled: “Sir, what do you take me for? I’m no fledgling. I’ve fought in both the Peninsular War and Waterloo. Documents and such, I, a rough man, can’t understand, but I understand your stance.”

Arthur slightly tilted his head, one hand resting on the desk: “Thomas, this is no small matter. Take this document, it could save your life at a critical moment. Don’t worry about me; I have my ways, and I will definitely come out unscathed in the end.”