The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1541: Chapter 263: The London Incident

Since no one is paying attention to or understands what Russia is doing, the Russians have made remarkable progress in all aspects. To curb the Russian expansion, we must focus our efforts on two fronts. The first is to prevent Russian expansion in the Near East and Middle East by maintaining the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire, ensuring the safety of the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the land route from the Persian Gulf to India. The second front is to advance territory and influence from India towards the northwest and northeast, establishing a buffer area in Afghanistan to block Russian southern forces and ensure the security of India’s northern border.

Based on Britain’s practical national interests, blocking Russia’s southward policy is imperative. For this, we need a stable and strong Ottoman Turkish Empire, not a sick man of Western Asia. We need a strong and vigorous central government in Afghanistan, not a fragmented state with local warlords.

Regarding the Ottoman Empire, I know that the current Ottoman Sultan is caught in the dilemma of reform. But I believe that if it can get fifteen to twenty years of peace under the joint protection of the four major powers—England, France, Austria, and Prussia—and these years are used to reorganize its internal system, there is no reason to doubt whether it will once again become a respected strong nation.

However, it is worth noting, as Sir Stratford Canning, Consul in Constantinople, said: After the signing of the Ankara-Scalese Treaty, the Russian ambassador has almost become Sultan Mahmud II’s grand vizier. If we don’t find a way to eliminate the impact of this treaty, restore international supervision over the Dardanelles Strait, and garner pro-British forces within the Ottoman Empire, internal reform in Ottoman is out of the question. Because we welcome a strong Ottoman Empire, but a weak Ottoman is what the Russians need.

As for the Afghan region, I know there are differing opinions domestically. Some want direct military intervention, while others want to support one of the three independent Khanates in Afghanistan. But at least from what I currently understand, I support the latter view. Making Afghanistan a buffer state between Russian forces and British India is far better than engaging in direct conflict with the Russians.

Besides, by taking the lead in public opinion and exposing Russia’s plans, we’ve essentially defeated half of them. By stirring public opinion against the Russians, the difficulties faced by Russia’s southward policy will double. I fully support creating a clamor against Russia, using rhetoric as a deterrent, as the best way to avoid direct confrontation with Russia.

——”1834 Letter from Sir Arthur Hastings to Duke of Wellington”

London’s sky was shrouded in heavy clouds, fine raindrops floated in the air, and the dim daylight filtered through the heavy curtains of St. James’s Palace, casting mottled shadows.

King William IV sat on a chair inlaid with gold and redwood, absentmindedly fiddling with a sapphire-inlaid ring, the pure-white haired old monarch’s eyes were dull, occasionally frowning, clearly troubled by something.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, attempting to dispel the room’s chill, yet the air was permeated with a suffocating tension, rendering the warmth pale and powerless.

Suddenly, the large door to the council chamber was pushed open by the palace attendants, Duke of Wellington in a dark military uniform and cloak removed his rain-soaked hat and slowly stepped in.

Though the old duke was over sixty, he still had a steady stride, his posture as upright as ever, just like the Allied Commander on the spirited Waterloo battlefield.

King William IV saw the minister, and his dull gaze refocused, even his face gained some smiles: ”Wellington, you’ve come?”

Duke of Wellington deeply bowed to the King, then stood still before him: ”Your Majesty summons me, I dare not neglect.”

King William IV raised his eyes, staring at this most respected general of all Britain.

Although he was no longer Prime Minister and leader of the Tory Party, he was still a pivotal political figure in the House of Lords.

King William IV sighed, but there was a bit of uncontainable joy in his tone: ”Grey’s days are numbered.”

Duke of Wellington nodded slightly, showing no signs of surprise on his brow: ”I had told Grey not to touch Ireland earlier, otherwise he would fall just like me eventually. But he thought he could push for parliamentary reform as he did with the Church. In the end, everyone sees it now, the great division within the Whig Party is enough to bog him down, even without me and Peel’s opposition.”

King William IV stood up and paced, snorting, not feeling a bit sorry for Count Grey’s current predicament.

Perhaps for the Whig Party people, Count Grey, who led them through parliamentary reform, is a hero, but for the King, Grey is a complete nuisance.

He was resentful of Count Grey’s series of forced palace tactics to complete parliamentary reform back then, still very unpleased thinking back now.

It’s well known that when King William IV just ascended the throne, he was once a supporter of parliamentary reform, and King William IV always considered himself the most enlightened monarch in the world.

That’s not entirely bragging, because just last year he voluntarily promulgated the most liberal constitution in the Germanic Region for his other dominion, the Kingdom of Hanover, without any internal pressure.