The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 571 - 292: The Secret of the Port Authority

The banquet scene was lively downstairs, with lights and wine filling the air, young people’s energetic dance steps spreading everywhere along with a strong scent of hormones.

However, when the perspective shifted to the second floor, the atmosphere here was markedly different from the joyful dancing downstairs.

In the entertainment room on the second floor, the old men were huddled in sofas near the fireplace, warming themselves by the fire.

In the process of toasting and drinking, only the swirling liquor and the blurry faces shadowed by the reddish-purple wine could be seen.

The air was misty, filled with the scent of expensive cigars.

In this quiet environment, only the sound of playing cards hitting the table could be heard.

"John, did you deliver the small gift from the society to Mr. Hasting that you were supposed to give him?"

"No rush, let him have fun at the dance first. A bit of wine, coupled with the scent of distracting women, will help a young man clarify what he truly wants in life."

"Didn’t you specifically arrange some suitable ladies to accompany him and also to gather some information that men might find cumbersome to inquire about?"

"Oh Robert, you old pocket watch; I can almost hear the gears turning in your head. I’m not like you; the Gladstone Family’s business is about being open and transparent. I don’t miss what needs to be asked, and I won’t even listen to what shouldn’t be asked, if you ask me to."

"So you didn’t send anyone to keep an eye on him? Had I known you wouldn’t bother, I would have sent someone. I heard the young lad from London has been unaccounted for all day; he wasn’t at the hotel peacefully checking accounts, so what was he out doing?"

"Not everyone didn’t send someone; we just aren’t suitable for that task. Henry sent someone; his coaching company is the best fit for such things."

"Henry, any news?"

"My man followed him for a while; he didn’t go anywhere special, just roamed around Liverpool and then had a drink at Monro Pub."

"Well, he seems to be living quite comfortably! It seems our Mr. Hasting isn’t so difficult to deal with after all. Was all that harsh talk at the Customs meeting just for show?"

"The Royal Navy didn’t take his words as just for show; they dispatched their ships yesterday evening. It seemed, after being on land for too long, that they were quite famished."

"Perhaps the sailors were tempted by the smuggled goods, but the Colonels surely weren’t. After all, everyone knows that each Captain’s position is eyed by at least three reserve Colonels ashore. The Navy Department might not do well in restraining sailors, but they are quite adept at manipulating officers."

"Regardless of what the Navy Department thinks of this, we need the Trade Commission to explain their policy on port isolation. If they want to cut Liverpool’s customs revenue in half as they did during the Napoleonic Wars, then they can implement the full 40-day isolation. But if they still want to cherish Liverpool, the golden goose, then they had better be more flexible in their policies."

"Right, Britain has spent centuries to dominate the trade in America and Levant. The losses that Liverpool suffered due to Napoleon, the ’Europa-grade plague,’ are regrettable, and we understand the Cabinet’s decision. But now, to let go of these hard-won trade shares just because of a minor cholera outbreak is utterly ridiculous!"

"Keep your voice down, Henry; comparing Napoleon to a plague is quite disrespectful. You might not know it, but that little sidekick around Inspector Hastings is one of Napoleon’s family members."

"He’s one of Napoleon’s family?!"

"Yes, if Napoleon and his father were still alive, that young man would be the heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands."

"How did you come to know this?"

"It’s simple; I received a letter from Viscount Palmerston, the Foreign Secretary, this afternoon. His Lordship introduced me to the current situation in London in the letter and explained Mr. Hasting’s background to me.

In summary, his Lordship’s opinion is that we should endure for now; the isolation policy should be adjusted soon. The Foreign Office also believes the 40-day port quarantine policy is overdone and has caused panic in other countries.

Now many countries have marked Britain as a major epidemic area, meaning ships from Britain heading to other countries must undergo quarantine upon arrival, with the actual duration depending on the policies of the individual countries.

Because of this, these past few days, major companies like the West India Company, East India Company, Moscow Company, Levantine Company, Africa Company, and Hudson’s Bay Company, all holding monopoly franchises, have blown up internally.

For us, not doing business is merely like a small vacation, but these companies still have so many people depending on them. Thus, protest letters have been flying to the Foreign Office and the Ministry of War and Colonies like snowflakes. Even if these two departments can withstand the pressure for a while, or plan to join forces with the Lord Chancellor’s office to dismiss public opinion,

By the time the new session of Parliament opens, the places of the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for War and Colonies will probably have to be reassigned. We all know how many relatives of the MPs are employed in these companies, lavished with good food and high salaries. It’s time for these idlers to contribute to their companies."