Shadow of great britain

The rainy season in London arrives as scheduled, like a deep aria from the sky to the earth. The leaden sky hangs low, shrouding the entire city in a hazy and poetic atmosphere.

The dense raindrops weave into a delicate net, sliding down along the outline of the Gothic building spire, hitting the stone-paved streets, making a pattering sound, like a dialogue between rain and history, seemingly harmonious blending. Hidden under the melody is a magnificent splash of water.

The gas lamps in the streets and alleys are looming in the rain and fog. The weak but firm light penetrates the rain and shines on the wet carriages and hurried pedestrians, reflecting unique silhouettes. Gentlemen and ladies wearing dresses and hats and holding umbrellas were walking in a hurry. Their figures were looming in the mist in the rain, as if they had entered a dream country.

The car door opened, hard riding boots stepped on the stone road, and the servant who had been waiting in front of the door hurriedly opened an umbrella to protect the old gentleman in red military uniform from the cold rain.

Immediately afterwards, another fluffy and huge skirt with layers of layers like a blooming lotus floated out of the car. A beige hat made of feathers, lace and various delicate laces, paired with long gloves of silky texture. , all these are enough to show the noble status of this lady.

Lady Harriet Arbuthnot was a well-known socialite in the London social circle. At the same time, she was also a famous political woman.

Perhaps in an era when women were not allowed to participate in politics, the title of political woman sounded a bit harsh.

But for the British political arena that values ​​social interaction, there are actually not a few such strong women. They may not be able to vote directly in the upper and lower houses, but if anyone wants to underestimate their energy because of this, they will trip over their pomegranate skirts sooner or later.

Moreover, Britain not only has strong political women, but these strong women, like the members of the House of Commons, clearly form two camps: the Tories and the Whigs.

The most well-known strong woman on the Whig side is Georgiana Cavendish, daughter of the first Earl Spencer and the fifth Duchess of Devonshire.

On the Tory side was Mrs. Arbuthnot.

However, unlike the Duchess of Devonshire, who came from a distinguished family, Mrs. Arbuthnot's family background seemed much mediocre. Although her father was the son of the 8th Earl of Westmorland, he had no right to inherit the title because he was not the eldest son.

Therefore, although Mrs. Arbuthnot was barely considered to be from a noble family, she ultimately had no choice but to marry Charles Arbuthnot, a former Irish member of Parliament who was 25 years her senior.

However, although this marriage was not suitable in terms of age, her husband's status as a government official opened the door to the upper social circles for her. Mrs. Arbuthnot, who was good at dancing, seized this opportunity very well and broke into the core circle of the Tory Party in one fell swoop.

Whether it is Viscount Castlereagh, the former Foreign Secretary, Viscount Harding, the former War Secretary, or the Duke of Kent, a member of the royal family, they all respect this eloquent and elegant lady. Even some members of the Whig Party spoke highly of the lady's political vision.

However, the reason that allowed Mrs. Arbuthnot to maintain such a high status in the London social circle was naturally not just her vision, but one of her close friends, the Duke of Wellington.

The Duke of Wellington, who was once known as a 'playboy' in his youth, had many lovers and female confidants, but only Lady Arbuthnot was able to maintain a trusting relationship with the old Duke for a long time and exert long-term influence on him. That’s all.

As we all know, before the Duke of Wellington got married, he had not seen the wife he had fallen in love with at first sight for ten years. Ten years is enough to change a person. Mrs. Wellington understands neither military nor politics, so it is difficult for the couple to have anything in common.

Mrs. Arbuthnot filled this vacancy very well, and her relatively mediocre background also allowed her to hone many abilities that aristocratic ladies raised in boudoir did not have, and used these abilities to serve Wellington. The Duke inquired for information.

Everyone in the upper class circles of London basically knew that although she had no formal title, Mrs. Arbuthnot was actually the intelligence officer of the old Duke. You should be careful when talking to this lady.

Sometimes the trust between the lady and the old duke even made other popular figures in the Tory party jump.

Lord Granville sneered that the Duke was surrounded by 'a bunch of women and sycophants'.

Sir Peel was also furious because of this matter: "No one can influence the Duke except women, that is a bunch of fools!"

However, such a lady who could influence the Duke's views slowly faded out of public view when Wellington's cabinet collapsed two years ago.

Some say she has returned to her hometown to live a peaceful life, while others say she is preparing to write a political diary about the Tories. But no matter what everyone said, the lady who had disappeared for a long time appeared in front of Apsley House No. 1 in London at this moment.

And this usually indicates something.

Mrs. Arbuthnot held the old Duke's arm and asked softly: "Catherine..."

The Duke of Wellington sounded a little nasal when he spoke, and he seemed to have caught a cold: "Harriet, we can talk about Catherine later. People cannot be resurrected, and it is useless to talk more now. We have to face some things now. The more important thing, and you should know what I'm talking about, is the thing that brought down the cabinet."

Mrs. Arbuthnot asked: "Of course I understand what you think. Parliamentary reform is really not good for this country. However, it has now passed the third reading of the House of Commons, and everything seems to have become a general trend." Promoting Catholic emancipation has put you in a state of ruin. If you plan to stand on the opposite side of reform at this time, your reputation... To be honest, I am even worried about your life."

The two walked into the reception room, and as soon as they sat down on the chairs, the servant handed the Duke a towel to dry his water-stained clothes.

The Duke of Wellington said while wiping: "As you said, if reforms must be carried out, it will bring overall changes to the social system of Great Britain. I do not intend to be a party to participate in such changes, against my will." I wholeheartedly agree with those opinions. My nature is such that I can only engage in clear dealings between men, not those sneaky tricks in private.

I cannot pretend that I sincerely welcome those measures, and I am unwilling to be a party to them, still less to be their main promoter. I would be deeply saddened if I had been misunderstood, and if Parliament were to adopt the proposed new approach. I can foresee that these will cause a series of disasters to national interests and even affect its security.

Out of my undying loyalty to this country, I cannot be one of those responsible for these disasters. Moreover, now that I have taken action, I am determined to go to the end, just like I am on the battlefield, I will charge out in my own way, and I will definitely achieve final success! "

Mrs. Arbuthnot raised the teapot and poured the Duke a cup of warm black tea, her eyes filled with worry. Because judging from all the news she got, her old friend might really have to fight Waterloo again if she wants to turn defeat into victory this time.

"Your Excellency, don't you really consider supporting the passage of the Reform Bill? In the Catholic Reform Bill, you chose to stand on the side of the reformists, even at the cost of being splashed with dirty water. Throughout Britain, No one will thank you except the Catholic Irish. If you're willing to do the dirty work, why can't there be a slight change in the Reform Bill?"

When the old Duke heard this, he stared into Mrs. Arbuthnot's eyes for a long time, and then slowly shook his head: "Harriet, I thought you would understand me very well."

Mrs. Arbuthnot smiled and replied: "Your Excellency, no one can fully understand you. Your story is too wonderful and your experience is too rich. Sometimes you are complicated, sometimes you are very simple, but this is You, Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington."

The old Duke smiled: "Maybe you are right, but when it comes to Catholic reform and parliamentary reform, in fact, from the bottom of my heart, I am not a reformist. The reason why I support Catholic emancipation is because I found that the only way to establish a stable government in Ireland was to liberate their faith.

As for parliamentary reform, once it is passed, France is Britain's future. That is a replica of the French Revolution born through parliamentary voting. The implementation of parliamentary reform determines that peace will leave us forever.

In terms of policy, I have always insisted on correctness over continuity. I only support correct issues, issues that are conducive to maintaining national peace and stability, rather than issues that support reform or non-reform. If my mind was really that rigid, I would not have agreed to Peel's appointment of a young York man of Catholic faith as a senior police officer. "

Speaking of this, the Duke's eyes seemed to be burning with a ball of fire, as if he was not sitting in a comfortable mansion at this time, but standing on the high hill of Waterloo: "I have long said that let the Whigs It would be a disaster to run the government. And now that they have Canningites like Dudley, Palmerston, and Goderich mixed in with them, it's a disaster!"

When Mrs. Arbuthnot heard this, she immediately understood why the Duke of Wellington had a long-standing grudge with former Prime Minister Sir Canning.

The differences between the two men at that time mainly centered on Britain's foreign policy. Sir Canning advocated recognition of the newly independent South American countries, and also advocated that Britain should help Greece break away from the control of the Ottoman Empire and establish an independent country.

However, this stance made the Duke feel unhappy, and he expressed it to Sir Canning face to face many times.

"Think about what has happened in Ireland, and what is about to happen in Ireland. The prospects there are not good, and if we recognize these South American separatists, it may even frighten the patriots in Ireland. We must be extremely careful. , and cannot encourage any uprising in any country or region.

We cannot allow unrest, selfishness, stock exchanges, and religious friction to compel us to recognize new governments composed of rebellious provinces. If you believe that the Colombian rebels did not commit crimes and that Bolivar was a hero rather than a rebel, then you cannot punish O'Connell for advocating Irish independence.

As for Greece, I admit that the Ottoman Turks brutally oppressed the local people. They are hated by all mankind, and we should not have any cooperation with the government of Constantinople. At the same time, if we want to create a new state in Europe that is our own for the Greeks, we must have it based on modern democratic principles.

But one thing worth noting is that I found that the Russians are using their methods to continuously spread their ideas and influence to Greece, trying to build Greece into their bridgehead into the Mediterranean. Therefore, if we continue to adhere to the current policy, it will definitely do no harm to the establishment of a new Greece based on the British political system. "

The friction between the Duke of Wellington and Lord Canning further led to his increasingly alienated relationship with the Canning MPs.

The old Duke's stubborn temper further aggravated the deterioration of this relationship. On the eve of the Canning faction's decision to withdraw from the party en masse, the Duke of Wellington not only failed to retain him, but also said: "Tell Dudley and Palmer." Stone, if they were to leave with Huskisson, I would have no objection, and I would never beg him like the third grandson."

Although this statement is not elegant, it is true. The Duke of Wellington cannot treat others with two faces like the Cannings. His experience as a field commander for many years has made him always adhere to one point of view, that is: for a general, you must keep your word.

The Duke of Wellington said: "All these documents, the Parliamentary Reform Bill, have nothing to do with principles. I have heard a lot of Whig principles, Royalist principles, Liberal principles, Canning principles. , but I have to confess that I have never seen their precise definitions, nor have I been able to figure out what they mean.

I don't have so many principles. Here, I only have one set of principles, and that is the British principle! I can risk my life to defend this principle. For it I defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. For it I 'surrounded' His Majesty in Catholic Emancipation. What I couldn't destroy in the hail of bullets in the war, I can't just watch it be ruined by the Whigs in peacetime! "

Mrs. Arbuthnot was quite shocked when she heard this.

She looked at the Duke of Wellington standing there as if the Eight-Power Field Marshal was delivering his mobilization speech before the decisive battle.

"Sir, I understand how you feel. You also understand that I have always stood by your side in the past twenty years. In the political arena in London, there is no one else who can make me So interested. Britain has been in chaos for a long time, and there is no peace on the other side of the English Channel. This is the moment when you need to step up."

Wellington took a deep breath. He sat next to Mrs. Arbuthnot and held her hand: "Harriet, at this moment, if we want to solve some things, we can only rely on your help." Social skills. I won’t hide it from you. The Tory Party is now on the verge of collapse. Everyone is fighting on their own. Except for some of my most trusted old subordinates, no one wants to see me at this time.

And you have the ability to change their minds. I beg you, for the sake of our friendship and for the sake of this country, to bring them here to see me. I appoint you as my quartermaster, from here I will re-levy my light cavalry, carry the artillery to the front and reorganize my defensive positions, you will be responsible for harassing their flanks, while I will use my red array to attack the Whig The party launches a surprise attack, catching them off guard! "