The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 921: Chapter 27: Commercial Director in China_2

For high-ranking police officers, various trade associations naturally come to them with bribes, while frontline officers often demand money themselves.

At least in Arthur’s experience, when he served at Scotland Yard, he handled quite a few cases of frontline patrolmen extorting cash.

The targets of such extortion are mostly those engaged in shady industries who have been caught holding incriminating evidence.

Of course, bribing police officers isn’t always an option. Apart from the two types with exceptionally high moral standards and extreme greed, whether most officers take bribes largely depends on whether they’re looking for promotion or quick wealth at the moment.

Arthur was just about to chat with Victor, but unexpectedly a low English conversation came from outside the door.

”The East India Company recently sent a message to the home country, saying that China is already aware of their loss of exclusive trade rights with China, so the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi has requested that we quickly dispatch a candidate to replace the East India Company’s Guangzhou Committee Chairman to manage Britain’s trade affairs with China?”

”Indeed, the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi has made several requests for us to assign a dedicated person to handle trade affairs. Viscount Palmerston and the Foreign Office believe this might indicate some relaxation in the Chinese attitude towards foreign trade openness, so he is currently urgently looking for a suitable candidate to fill the newly established position of Commercial Supervisor in China.”

”Who do you think has a chance? Is the Foreign Office planning to directly select someone from East India Company’s administrative management, or choose an experienced official from the War and Colonial Affairs Department?”

”The situation is not clear at the moment, but I heard that Lord William Napier is most likely to take on this significant role. He has a good personal relationship with Viscount Palmerston, and His Excellency trusts him greatly. Furthermore, Lord Napier served in the Royal Navy early in his career, participated in the Battle of Trafalgar as a midshipman, and later acted as an assistant to General Thomas Cochrane, so there should be no doubt regarding his capabilities.”

”Hmm... Napier? What’s his relationship with General Charles Napier, who just helped the Portuguese Liberals and Queen Mary defeat the usurper Miguel in the battle at Cape St. Vincent?”

”William Napier is his cousin. Also, the Napier family has another brother serving in the Army, stationed in Manchester, who commands England’s northern Army garrison, Major General Charles James Napier.”

”No wonder. Viscount Palmerston really chose a fitting candidate. With both brothers having significant influence in the Army and Royal Navy, I think the Colonial Affairs Department should not oppose Lord William Napier’s appointment as Commercial Supervisor in China. However, even though Lord Napier has proven his leadership, merely having experience in the Royal Navy doesn’t ensure he can manage trade well. The Foreign Office might need to appoint a suitable deputy to assist him with everyday duties.”

”Rest assured, Viscount Palmerston has already thought this through and the Foreign Office has appointed him an excellent trade secretary.”

”Who?”

”The person we’re meeting today, Mr. Charles Elliot. He also served for many years in the Royal Navy, performing excellently in combat against slave trade along the coastlines of Africa and Jamaica. He retired from active duty with the rank of Colonel and was then dispatched by the Colonial Affairs Department to serve as a colonial officer in Guyana for many years. You may not be familiar with this name, but you probably recognize his brother.”

”Sir George Elliot?”

”Haha, I didn’t expect you to guess correctly right away.”

”It’s hardly a difficult question; currently, there’s not another Elliott making waves in the political circles. His Majesty the King’s Royal Attendant Officer, former Captain of the flagship ’Victory’ at the Portsmouth Base, a rising star of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars who made independent contributions, with further impressive military actions in Southeast Asia. If I’m not mistaken, he should be due for a promotion soon?”

”If nothing unexpected happens, that’s likely the case. I’ve indeed heard some news from St. James’s Palace that Sir George Elliot is now considered a leading candidate to become the next Navy Department Secretary. Once he proves his capability in that role, the doors of the Royal Navy Commission will be open to him.”

Arthur was originally just standing inside the door, quietly listening, but couldn’t help the familiar names popping up in the conversation outside.

General Charles Napier he had met in Liverpool; this retired Royal Navy Major General, under Arthur’s arrangements, set sail for Portugal and, with strong support from Queen Mary and her father, Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, assumed the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom of Portugal’s Navy.

From the conversation just now, it seems that General Napier is doing well in Portugal; he helped the Portuguese Liberals to completely annihilate the autocratic faction’s naval forces.

However, for retired generals of the Royal Navy, that’s not very surprising.

After all, before Napier, ’Bomb Vessel Maniac’ General Thomas Cochrane and ’Swedish Knight’ General Sidney Smith had already successively helped various South American countries defeat Spain and assisted Sweden in annihilating Tsarist Russia’s Baltic Sea fleet, among other efforts.

As for Sir George Elliot, he could definitely be considered an old acquaintance of Arthur’s.