The Shadow of Great Britain

534: Chapter 278 Horrifying News 534: Chapter 278 Horrifying News In Bloomsbury, King’s Cross, Clerkenwell, and Farrington, at the intersection of these areas in London, surrounded by cultural and academic institutions such as the University of London, King’s College, Gray’s Inn, and the British Museum, there is a place called Chancery Lane.

As the name suggests, this name alone signifies the authoritative status of this area within the entire British legal realm.

It not only boasts numerous well-known London law firms but also serves as the headquarters of the British Bar Association; of course, most importantly, it represents the seat of the Court of Chancery, that is, the equity court.

Since officially establishing the status of the equity court in the 15th century, except for exceptional cases such as treason and peerage trials, the Court of Chancery had served as Britain’s supreme appellate court, exercising its final ruling powers.

Such an exalted position naturally made becoming a Chancery judge the lifelong goal of all who make their living under the British legal system.

However, this sacred place in the hearts of all British lawyers and judges had today attracted many uninvited guests.

Among them were doctors rushing to report their findings, members of local health boards seeking aid, and priests and church elders who hold positions on local parish councils.

Of course, during such times, civil servants from various departments would naturally come to gather information.

Rowan and Arthur, both dressed in impeccable uniforms, were mixed in with the rows of navy and army officers.

Arthur followed in their footsteps, occasionally hearing bits of cursing from the officers.

“I suggested to the Navy Department long ago to strictly inspect merchant ships, but the Cabinet was concerned about commercial interests at the time, fearing that it would affect trade revenue.

Look at it now, cholera was introduced directly from Sunderland port, and I heard that in just over a month, almost 400 cases have erupted in Sunderland, with a mortality rate as high as fifty percent.”

“Has the situation in Sunderland gotten so bad?

Four hundred and half are dead?

I remember the entire population of Sunderland is only about ten thousand, right?

With such an outbreak of cholera, can the loading and unloading at the docks still proceed normally?”

“Proceed, proceed my ass!

Now all merchant ships are under quarantine inspection at the port.

Previously, the Duke of Wellington requested a 40-day quarantine for all ships, but those merchantmen involved in overseas trade weren’t happy, complaining that it would delay business.

Didn’t you see how gleeful they were when the Tory Party was ousted a while ago?

As soon as the Whig Party took over, they immediately made concessions on the quarantine, first from 40 days down to 20, and then from 20 down to 10.

Now look, the Navy Department has just officially ordered a mandatory 60-day quarantine inspection for all inbound vessels during the emergency.”

“No wonder I also received orders just now, saying that HMS Agamemnon returning from the Mediterranean must undergo quarantine at Portsmouth Base.

During the quarantine period, all officers and soldiers are strictly forbidden from going ashore, and anyone who violates discipline will be brought before a military court.

So, the Navy Department is treating us as potential sources of infection now?”

“HMS Agamemnon is back?

Ha!

In my opinion, those poor sods won’t be getting off that ship for at least half a year.

I just heard from an old buddy at the Navy Department that they seem to be considering using this cholera outbreak as a means to strike at smuggling merchant ships.

Knowing the Navy Department’s usual style, if the HMS Agamemnon is idle at the port, they’re sure to come up with something for the sailors to do.

I guarantee that the Navy Department will 100% send them out to crack down on smugglers.”

An army officer standing by overheard the navy’s discussion and interjected abruptly.

“The Navy Department willing to crack down on smuggling?

Isn’t the Royal Navy itself the biggest smuggling conglomerate in Britain?

Are you planning to oust everyone else and monopolize the smuggling profits for yourselves?”

“It looks like the price of tea and opium in London is going to rise again, should we stock up a bit beforehand?”

“The Royal Navy’s good for nothing!

Lord Hertzbury, our ambassador to Tsarist Russia, sent a message from Moscow last year: ‘If a disaster befalls Moscow, then no one can prevent it from spreading to the whole of Europe.’ Yet, it seems like the Navy Department didn’t take the matter to heart at all, and the customs officers are a bunch of bastards, only sharp when it comes to tallying the cargo lists.”

“Do you bastards know?

There was a riot in Liverpool a few days ago.

A dockworker and his wife showed symptoms of diarrhea, and when the doctor decided to take them for quarantine in separate hospitals, the couple made a fuss upon hearing they wouldn’t be in the same hospital.

The woman passed out crying, and the man tried throwing punches, wanting to fight, but luckily he was already too weakened by diarrhea, so he was quickly subdued…”

The navy officer frowned and said, “Well, there you have it, where is the riot in this?”

The army officer with a scarred face glared and barked, “Shut your mouth and listen carefully!

We also thought that was the end of it.

But unexpectedly, the neighbors living near the couple, seeing this situation, all started shouting, ‘The army is beating people and pressing them into service again!’ As soon as that cry went out, all the women and children who had been watching from inside their houses poured out.

You didn’t see it, but the place was swarmed with people, just like the sky darkening before a rainstorm.