Shadow of great britain

The rumble of artillery fire took off Liverpool's pajamas, and the sleepy citizens frowned and climbed out of bed.

Although everyone couldn't help but curse a few words, they finally got used to the sound of gunfire coming from the sea almost every day these days.

Naturally, it was not only the citizens of Liverpool who stayed awake amidst the sound of artillery fire, but also some people who stayed up all night with their own thoughts.

In Liverpool's old docks, there are many hotels on the street opposite the Golden Lion Hotel.

As a port city, it is not unusual for there to be many hotels near the dock that cater to tourists and sailors.

However, due to the recent port quarantine policy, everyone's business is generally poor.

Hotels that used to be overcrowded are now full of empty rooms. Being able to break even without losing money is considered a booming business.

However, thanks to the fact that the commissioners sent from London stayed at the Golden Lion Hotel, surrounding hotels that could observe the commissioners' rooms up close could occasionally receive a few orders.

The people who stay here are basically sent by various local departments and companies in Liverpool to keep track of them. Their first task is to report the daily itinerary of Arthur and his party to their respective employers.

Of course, not everyone has the same purpose.

At least the guests in Room 304 of the Oak Hotel had a different mood.

The curtains in Room 304 are drooped. Between the narrow gaps in the blue curtains, if you don't look carefully, you will definitely not be able to find that there is an extended monocular telescope in this place.

Through the lens of the monocular telescope, you can see that in the second-floor room of the Golden Lion Hotel, Arthur, who has just woken up, is also holding a telescope and observing the blue ocean in the distance.

Arthur watched the smoke and dust rising from the sea and muttered: "It seems that a new achievement will be added to the Royal Navy's report today."

Alexandre Dumas on the side yawned and took a bite of a bagel with mellow black coffee: "We detained more than a dozen ships in a few days. Although they were all small 'fast crabs', the efficiency was still impressive. I'm so impressed. If Liverpool had maintained this efficiency in combating smuggling, London wouldn't have had to send you here. So in the final analysis, it's not just a nest of snakes and rats working together."

Arthur put away the telescope and returned to the table to pick up the tea cup: "Alexander, it's unfair for you to say that. Perhaps, the middle and high-level figures of the Royal Navy can be associated with smugglers. But the ordinary sailors below are not as good as the ones on the ship." The officers must really want to crack down on smuggling from the bottom of their hearts."

"Why?" Alexandre Dumas raised his eyebrows: "Is it because the spoils will be divided among them?"

"You're oversimplifying the problem. It's not just about money."

Arthur said: "According to the "Regulations of War" promulgated by the Navy Department: receiving orders but not executing them, encountering enemy ships that have the responsibility to attack but not attacking, and failing to lead subordinates to fight bravely when a battle is likely to occur: fleets The commander, captain, and commander shall be sentenced to death or other imprisonment by a court-martial. All persons in the fleet who do not fight bravely, act cunningly, or surrender like cowards shall be sentenced to death by a court-martial.

Although we are only engaged in cholera prevention and control now, we are not fighting a war. But after all, it can be regarded as an order from the Navy to severely punish smuggling. It would be fine if the Royal Navy could not encounter the smuggling ship. If it did encounter it but did not launch an attack, the captain of the ship would definitely be blamed. Although it is not a death sentence, there is absolutely no way to escape from being deprived of the captain's position. "

Alexandre Dumas chewed a bagel and pondered: "Then as long as the captain is willing to spend money to settle the situation below, it will be fine? As long as he can bribe the people below, then he can give whatever orders he wants on the ship?"

Arthur asked: "You should know something like a logbook, right?"

"Of course I do. Is there any difference between the Royal Navy's logbook and the French Navy's logbook?"

Arthur said: "In order to prevent the situation you mentioned from happening, the Admiralty clearly stipulates that there are three types of logbooks in the Royal Navy, one is the captain's log, one is the captain's log, and the other is Officer's log. As for the officer's log, there is not only one copy, but one for each captain on the ship.

After each voyage, these logbooks are sealed and transported to the Admiralty Building in London for inspection. If any discrepancy appears in a logbook, all logwriters of the ship will be reviewed individually. Once it is found that there has been fraud, the lightest result is to be dismissed from the military.

Perhaps an ordinary non-commissioned officer like the navigator who has reached the top would be willing to take risks for money, but most captains would not agree to end their naval careers so hastily. Not to mention, truthfully recording the captain's black accounts is actually beneficial to their promotion. The position of captain in the Royal Navy is always in short supply. If no one comes down, how can others get up? "

Alexandre Dumas couldn't help but marveled when he heard this: "It seems that the Royal Navy is not only well-trained, but these dog-eating-dog regulations are also insidious. Now I understand what 'every enemy must fight against England' is going on. . It is not that you must fight when you encounter an enemy, but you have to fight!

The sailors want a share of the spoils, and the officers under your command are always looking at the captain's position under your butt, and they also need achievements to establish meritorious service. You may not encounter an enemy ship even if you float on the sea for several months. If you finally encounter one, if you still want to run away, you will most likely be tied to a canvas and flown as a kite by the people below.

But thinking about it this way, the abnormal behavior of the Royal Navy that always seizes the upper hand in a war can be explained. Other countries like to take advantage of the wind, because once they find that the situation is unfavorable, they can take advantage of the wind and escape at any time. The maneuverability of the ship in the leeward position is much better, and the ship will not be blown by the wind and capsize at a certain angle.

The Royal Navy had the upper hand because they had no intention of running away from the beginning. Although it would be difficult to get out of the battle if they had the upper hand, it would facilitate pursuit. Although the waves will raise the hull to an elevation, the cannonballs will also gain a range advantage. I have to say, these profit-minded guys are really arrogant. "

Arthur read while eating breakfast: "They do have reason to be proud. The Royal Navy maintained a record of no ship sinking for nine consecutive years. And the end of this record back then is still a little funny in retrospect."

Alexandre Dumas asked: "Speaking of which, who ended this record? France?"

Arthur glanced at him: "Alexander, why do you need to humiliate yourself?"

"Who else could it be if it wasn't France?"

Arthur chewed a bagel and drank some black tea: "The coffee drinkers in the North American colonies."

"Isn't that more embarrassing?"

Arthur shook his head and said: "To be precise, this is not only embarrassing, but also makes people wonder if there is something wrong with the Royal Navy's brains. The Navy should be a technical branch, but in the Royal Navy, they are simply worse than the British." The Army also places more emphasis on courage.

Perhaps because their nine-year unsinkable record made them dizzy, when the Royal Navy's Warrior encountered the USS Constitution, which was twice as large as itself, in 1812, their first thought was not to escape, but to rush for the Constitution. The number fired several shots. What's even more ridiculous is that the Warrior has been damaged during the previous combat voyage, and they were originally on their way back to the base for repairs.

As a result, when they saw the Americans, they forgot about the fact that their speed was only two-thirds. They even wanted to rush up and jump into the Yankee's boat, but they were shot before they even got close. sunk. Let me tell you, France is really bad! "

Alexandre Dumas originally listened with great interest, but when he heard the last sentence, he couldn't help but frowned and asked: "You British guys are fighting with your own sons. What does it have to do with France? No matter what happens, the responsibility lies with France?" "

Arthur took a sip of tea: "I have a basis for saying this, because the Royal Navy's Warrior was captured from France. Elder always told me that if this is an authentic British ship , it will definitely not be sent to the hands of the Americans, so in the final analysis, it is still France that cannot do it.”

When Alexandre Dumas heard this, he felt like bread was stuck in his throat. He stared and asked: "No matter what, the Royal Navy is embarrassed this time. Nelson won ten times at Trafalgar." The honor is not as great as the shame brought to the Royal Navy by the loss of the Warrior."

Arthur nodded and said: "Alexander, maybe you should serve in our Admiralty."

"Why?"

"Because you two have exactly the same idea. After the Admiralty learned the news of the sinking of the Warrior, everyone from the Lord of the Admiralty and the First Sea Lord to the cadets in Greenwich and the janitor of the Admiralty expressed their opinions. Consider it the greatest humiliation since the founding of the Royal Navy. Therefore, in order to retaliate against the Americans, while dealing with Napoleon, the Admiralty also took the opportunity to punish the Americans."

"What did they do?"

Arthur took a sip of tea: "They sent people to squat near the Caribbean Sea for several months, and finally seized the opportunity to ambush the Americans and captured the USS President. According to the tradition of the Royal Navy, the President The ship was incorporated into the nearby West India Fleet and served as the flagship.

And in order to humiliate the Americans, they didn't even change the name of the President. Not only that, the West India Fleet pulled the President to the east coast of the United States for strategic cruises before it was okay. This behavior lasted for nearly half a year before the Navy finally calmed down. . "

When Alexandre Dumas heard this, he laughed so hard that he slapped his thighs and said, "So, your Admiralty is really good at it. With this vengeful character, the behavior of not changing the name of the President is simply the best expression of the British people's dark thoughts. But anyway, this behavior is quite to my liking."

Arthur drank tea calmly: "I'm just joking with you about this. You'd better not talk nonsense about it, especially if you want to order a revolver from Mr. Colt. I'm afraid that if he doesn't hold back, he will raise his hand and kill you."

Alexandre Dumas said: "Isn't Colt planning to set up a factory in London? Doesn't he come to recognize his ancestors and return to his hometown with honor?"

Arthur replied: "He is still hesitating about nationality. After all, he was born and raised in the United States, although in the final analysis he is an Englishman by blood. But in terms of blood, the British are not At least they are Germans, and I have not seen many people crying and shouting to go to Prussia to pay tribute to Frederick III."

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, a sinister voice came from outside the door: "I seem to hear someone wanting to pay filial piety to Frederick III? With all due respect, in Prussia, people who want to pay filial piety to him can't It’s a bit too much, you can’t be ranked now.”

Heine walked into the room, pulled out a chair and sat down.

Alexandre Dumas raised his hand to greet him: "Good morning, Heinrich! You seem to be in good spirits. You started to curse Prussia early in the morning. So it seems that you have arranged for Austria to be in the afternoon session today? But brother , listen to my advice, although you hate Germany, you can't always criticize it, right? Look at me, although I also criticize France, I only criticize Louis Philippe, and I still love the people of France."

Heine just shook his head after hearing this: "No, Alexander, you are a Frenchman, so you don't understand this kind of emotion. I love the motherland as much as you do. I hate it because I love it. It is for this love that I Leave there. If one day, the people of Germany can be like the people of France, even if there is Louis Philippe riding on our heads, I will sing praises for Germany."

When Alexandre Dumas heard this, he just curled his lips and said: "Heinrich, with all due respect, your request is probably too low."

Seeing that the two key politics boys were about to start again, Arthur was about to go out and take a breath of fresh air, but before he could go out, Louis opened the door and walked in.

He said: "The Liverpool Health Committee just sent people over to say that all the handles of water pumps near the cholera outbreak areas have been removed. In order to compensate these citizens for their losses, the Liverpool Municipal Government will issue a fixed amount of stipends to them in the near future. Clean drinks.

Due to tight municipal funds, the City Hall has informed us that this temporary relief is expected to only be distributed for half a month to match your plan. However, the Liverpool Association seems to be willing to donate generously for beer relief in half a month. Under the leadership of Old Gladstone, businessmen have begun to hold charity donations.

In addition, the chairman of the committee, Mr. Rosenberg, also agreed to your request not to deal with Dr. Hardeskar for the time being, but the premise is that he must immediately stop the autopsy activities on the patient. He also hopes to agree with you the specific details of a local treatment plan at a health committee meeting later this afternoon.

Chief Edward of the Liverpool Post Office also sent someone to say that the letter you delivered was sent to London by coordinating the railway company to send a special train at midnight yesterday. At this time, it is probably on the desk in the Chancery Hall waiting for Lord Brougham's review. "

Hearing the good news coming one after another, Arthur's mood improved a lot.

He looked out the window at the sky. The sun was rising over the sea.

Arthur asked: "While it's still early, let's go to the epidemic area."

When Louis heard this, he put the documents back into the folder and said with a smile: "Of course you can go to the epidemic area. But before that, do you want to consider meeting someone?"

"Meeting someone? Who is it?"

Louis said: "Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Mr. Washington Irving. God knows why he came to Liverpool, but looking at him, it seems that he wants to ask you to help him solve some problem. If you feel dissatisfied If it's troublesome, I can help you push it away."