The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1726: Chapter 71: Does a Higher Rank Crush People? Does a Higher Rank Disgust People!

It is well-known that Britain is a country filled with contradictions, and the 19th century is an era also filled with contradictions.

As Dickens said: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity. It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness...

For Dickens to write such immortal words, one must attribute it partly to his literary talent, and partly to his birthplace, this Great Britain Island.

In the 19th century, Britain was both the world’s most pioneering advanced nation, and at the same time, the country that retained the most medieval traditions.

The essence of these medieval traditions was concentrated entirely in the feudal hierarchy that valued seniority and rank.

Although this is no longer the era where lineage was everything, it doesn’t stop people from subconsciously adhering to ancestral rules in their affairs.

Perhaps after the 1832 reforms, the situation in Parliament has somewhat improved.

But in White Hall, in various government departments and public institutions, these organizations still operate on a solid hierarchical system.

Take for example Britain’s youngest government institution, founded in 1829, the Royal Greater London Police Department.

The ranks of officers, chief inspectors, police superintendents, police chiefs, assistant commissioners, and police chiefs perfectly illustrate the power structure of Scotland Yard.

What about the government departments of White Hall?

The situation is clearly worse.

First, there’s the various staff in the realm of labor dispatch, such as female cleaners earning around 30 pounds a year or messengers earning around 40 pounds a year. These people form the foundation of each department in White Hall.

Then, there’s the in-house employed interns and third, second, and first-class clerks. Due to differences in seniority, rank, and department, their salaries generally range from 50 to 100 pounds. These people are the mainstay of White Hall.

Then, there are the esteemed senior civil servants, those are the third-class officers (Deputy Director), second-class officers (Director), first-class officers (Deputy Director-General), and Chief Secretaries (Director-General).

In fact, according to rank, Arthur’s friend Mr. Auguste Schneider is a first-class clerk, responsible for foreign intelligence work as the Director of the Confidential Documents Office in the Foreign Office.

It’s just that due to the highly specialized nature of the work of the Confidential Documents Office, it is not attached to any department within the Foreign Office. You can’t even find this department in the organizational structure of the office.

According to the conventions of the Foreign Office, the Director of the Confidential Documents Office usually also holds the informal title of Assistant Undersecretary, reporting directly to the esteemed Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Office, the ”Silent Diplomatic Hub” John Bickhouse, as an assistant.

Speaking of which, it’s time to talk about those individuals who are second to none but everyone in their departments.

The Ministers’ right-hand men, the dignified individuals with the title of Vice Minister of State.

Or, we can also refer to them by the official titles that appear in government documents, as Parliamentary Secretaries (that is, the Vice Minister for Governmental Affairs, responsible for representing the Minister in Lower House debates and assisting with parliamentary procedures, acting as the Minister’s eyes and ears within the department) and Permanent Secretaries (that is, the Permanent Undersecretary, responsible for departmental administration, controlling the internal departmental agenda, and assisting the Minister in governance).

Usually, in White Hall departments, there will only be two Vice Ministers of State: a Parliamentary Secretary and a Permanent Secretary.

However, due to differences in the nature and importance of departments, some may set additional positions equivalent to or even exceeding the status of Vice Ministers of State.

For example: the Civil Affairs Minister of the Navy Department assists the Naval Minister in overseeing the naval budget, administrative and civilian affairs; the First Sea Lord, the de facto highest commander of the Royal Navy and Chief of Naval Staff; the Financial Secretary of the Treasury assists the Chancellor of the Exchequer in handling budgets, taxes, and parliamentary debates; the Vice Minister of the Lord Chancellor’s office responsible for signing and recording official decrees issued by the King, and so on.

Fortunately, today White Hall sent not the Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Office, John Bickhouse, to monitor Louis, but the newly appointed Vice Minister for Governmental Affairs, Benjamin Disraeli, who is now sitting beside Arthur.

For the clerks at Schneider’s disposal, Sir Arthur Hastings, the former Russian Envoy, even if he was transferred back to the Foreign Office, is on par with first-class officers and those deputy directors. They dare not offend this gentleman too much.

The two clerks from the Foreign Office ”reading the paper” outside the window initially did not realize their cover had been blown.

One pretended to be engrossed in the election column on the front page of The Times, while the other held a copy of the Morning Paper, seemingly absorbed in a current affairs report about a street brawl between University of London students and King’s College students.

It wasn’t until Arthur’s phrase ”the little tail behind you” was clearly heard through the open window that their movements froze almost simultaneously.

A moment later, the elder of the clerks coughed, dusted off his collar, straightened his jacket as if preparing to embark upon serious business, and entered through the door.

The younger one followed carefully behind, even forgetting to straighten the glasses sliding down his nose.

”Sir Arthur Hastings.” The elder one bowed slightly, his tone steady, yet unable to mask the concern in his voice: ”Please forgive our abrupt appearance. We didn’t intend to disturb your gathering, it’s just... um... according to orders from above, we were tasked to observe Mr. Bonaparte’s social activities in London as a precaution.”