The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 861: Original text: Chapter 5 2nd Class Secretary_2

In those Free States, the development of commerce, trade, and industry is actually quite good, and the atmosphere is far more open than that of Austria and Prussia. Especially in minor matters like public baths, they are far less strict than in London, and you should be able to find plenty of saunas there.

Moreover, since you are stationed in the Kingdom of Hanover as a second-class secretary, you don’t have to worry about being criticized for enjoying a sauna because it’s part of your job.”

“Taking a sauna is part of my job?” Arthur frowned. “August, are you joking with me? I remember His Majesty the King assigning me the task of helping the Kingdom of Hanover pass a new liberal constitution, specifically to provide advice on police reform. Although I hold the position of second-class secretary, I’m practically doing the work of a police adviser.”

Schneider ordered another beer, savoring it as he smiled and replied, “No, no, no, my friend, you don’t understand the role of a second-class secretary in the Foreign Office. There’s more to it.”

“In what way?”

Schneider began, “In every way. Generally speaking, there are many second-class secretaries at embassies, each responsible for different aspects of affairs. Some handle expatriate management, some deal with economic and trade cooperation, and others are responsible for political consultations.”

Arthur asked, “Which category do I fall into?”

“None of the above, you are the most special kind.”

Schneider took a sip of beer, squinting his eyes as he enjoyed it, “Your position as a second-class secretary is typically used for Foreign Office intelligence personnel stationed abroad, specifically responsible for cultural exchanges.”

Arthur pondered this with a spoonful of ice cream for a moment before speaking, “Cultural exchange? Police culture?”

Schneider laughed heartily, “Arthur, don’t put it so harshly. Whether it’s in Britain, Hanover, or other parts of the world, people usually don’t like police, but they can’t deny that policing is a part of culture.

Moreover, as I said earlier, with this position, going to take a bath or sauna is also considered part of experiencing local citizen’s life and culture. Don’t complain about the lowly rank of a second-class secretary, it’s actually a great job. Because the position is quite special, you basically don’t have to stay in the embassy all day.

If there is any position among the various roles in the Foreign Office that is the most comfortable, it would definitely be the second-class secretary responsible for cultural exchanges abroad. You can go wherever you want, and the ambassador can’t completely control you, because to some extent, you don’t report directly to the ambassador, but serve the Foreign Office directly.

Moreover, since your appointment this time is ordered directly by His Majesty the King, you don’t even need to pay much heed to the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Palmerston. At most, you just need to send him an innocuous monthly report. The passage of the liberal new constitution in the Kingdom of Hanover is without any opposition. You are just there to catch a ride and add a feather to your cap. Is there any job more pleasant than this?”

Schneider held his wine glass and mused, “It’s only December now, and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Hanover should still be in recess, so the work on the new constitution can’t proceed yet. If I were you, I wouldn’t rush to Germany, but I’d first take a trip to Paris. You could also tour Geneva in Switzerland, Brussels in Belgium, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, then slowly make your way through Prussia to reach Hanover.

Once in Hanover, first visit the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Adolfus Frederick, the Governor of Hanover at the Leineschloss Palace, to build a good relationship and explore the local sights. After that, His Highness will likely send you to Gottingen, where you can meet some distinguished scholars at the University of Gottingen.”

Arthur silently noted Schneider’s words before raising his hand to ask, “August, setting aside the leisure trip, why do you think His Highness will send me to Gottingen?”

Schneider raised his glass to clink with Arthur’s, saying, “Because the drafting of the new constitution by the parliamentarians alone is impossible. Although His Majesty the King has already had the Cabinet of the Kingdom of Hanover create a draft, it needs further revisions before being submitted to the Parliament.

And such academic and legal matters must be entrusted to erudite professors. The most learned professors in the Kingdom of Hanover are gathered at the University of Gottingen, the premier institution of the Germanic Region, the gem of German higher education, and the stronghold of the German Historical School of Law, established by the late King George II.”

Hearing this, Arthur suddenly laughed, “August, your assessment of the University of Gottingen differs from what I’ve heard from others. According to someone, the University of Gottingen is a combination of decay, rigidity, and obsolescence.”

“Oh? Who said that?” Schneider queried.

Arthur answered, “Heinrich Heine. When he came to London, I once monitored him on behalf of Scotland Yard.”

“Oh, that guy.” Schneider mocked, “An out-and-out German hothead. No matter how backward Hanover and Gottingen might be, they are a hundred times more enlightened than his hometown of Dusseldorf. A Prussian talking about freedom is like a eunuch at the Ottoman court going to a brothel. If he could restrain his mouth a bit, he might have earned British citizenship. But this guy didn’t restrain himself and instead courted favor with the French, who have always been at odds with the Germans. How can he claim to be a German?”

Arthur joked, “So, Germans don’t like the French either?”

“What neighboring countries have good relations? If they get along well, it usually means one is much stronger than the other. Not only Germans dislike the French; so do the Spaniards and, of course, us Britons as well.”

Schneider raised an eyebrow and said, “If not for this, why would my father, a mercenary, choose to serve Britain? He could have served anywhere. I admit that part of it was economic because Napoleon seized our land, and his army destroyed our crops and savings.

But Britain provided three times as much pay as the French did in times of crisis, and even spared no expense to equip the King’s German Legion with a full set of new equipment and ample supplies. However, the most important reason was the Schneider family’s deep hatred for France and their heartfelt loyalty to Britain.”

Saying this, Schneider paused and rolled his eyes before continuing, “However, I must admit, there are always some lowlifes in every country who like to put France on a pedestal. Take Heine, for example, and certainly also some brainless admirers of Napoleon Bonaparte.”

Hearing this, Arthur roughly understood Schneider’s background. This guy was most likely from a Junker landlord family in Germany. Given the tradition of Junkers serving in the military, it wasn’t hard to understand why Schneider’s father fought the Napoleonic Wars with the King’s German Legion from start to finish.

German Junker landlords liked to join the military, and Britain, sharing a king with the Kingdom of Hanover, liked to recruit German mercenaries during wars. Schneider’s father’s generation was sent to fight the Napoleonic Wars, while his grandfather’s generation had many German soldiers sent to the North American colonies to battle the locals.

Many mercenaries stayed there after the war. After all, the land and resource conditions in the United States were much better than their German homeland. This is also why German Americans are the second-largest ethnic group in the United States after British Americans.

At this point, Schneider seemed to remember something unpleasant and changed the topic, “Though I haven’t been back to Germany in a long time, and it’s far from matching Britain, Germany isn’t without merits. At least its food is much more delicious than British cuisine.”

Arthur put down his notebook and asked with a smile, “Do you have any recommendations?”

Schneider’s eyes lit up with a nostalgic look as he said, “If I had to recommend something, there would be too many. When you go to Germany, the first thing to taste is the crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, juicy and delicious roasted pork knuckle. However, for a guy like me from Hesse, the most delicious dish is our local specialty, sauerkraut with pork knuckles. Pair it with some mashed potatoes, a glass of apple cider, a neatly sliced Frankfurt sausage, and for dessert, I suggest the Black Forest cake, which combines the sourness of cherries, the sweetness of cream, and the bitterness of chocolate, along with Nuremberg gingerbread coated with honey, spices, almonds and candied dried fruits.”