The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1165 Reinforcements (Part )

London, England.

There were mixed reactions in Britain about the construction of the Suez Canal.

There are equally strong voices of support and opposition. Some people think that shortening the voyage is a good thing, while others fear that shortening the voyage will reduce Britain's status.

However, there were huge differences in the British Parliament over whether it was necessary to control the Suez Canal Company.

Both sides agreed on the strategic position of the Suez Canal in the future, but Britain was far away, and the previous disastrous defeat in the Mediterranean also cast a shadow on the British confidence.

If the British Navy cannot defend the Suez Canal, is there any point in holding a controlling stake in the Suez Canal Company?

The Earl of Aberdeen was obviously very dissatisfied with this view. Not only the entire British naval community, but even the shipbuilding, metallurgy and military industry were dissatisfied.

They felt that blocking the Suez Canal was as important as controlling the Strait of Gibraltar, and everything was done to maintain Britain's world hegemony.

Another point of view of the opponents is that the economic situation in the UK is not good at the moment, and the treasury should not use the money to compete for foreign resources. It should first solve the domestic crisis in the UK and lend money to companies in need.

Supporters believe that it is precisely because the economy is bad that we need to find a more stable economic growth point, and the Suez Canal is that growth point that is both stable and profitable.

At this time, British Prime Minister Edward Smith-Stanley felt that they should take control of the Suez Canal in one go, because in this way Britain would take the initiative.

Whether as a strategic point after its opening or as a national investment, the Suez Canal project will not cause losses to the UK.

Even if it is abandoned after being taken, it is actually not a loss. After all, 10 million pounds can hold back the whole of Europe for more than ten years, or even decades, which is definitely worth it.

However, Earl Derby is one of the weakest prime ministers in British history, and it would be strange if he could really convince Parliament.

The Earl of Derby was unable to get the support of more than half of the MPs, so he began to consider whether he could use some special means.

Buckingham Palace.

"Your Excellency, the future of Britain depends on this! As long as the Suez Canal is in our hands, we Britain will control the future of Europe!

And it only costs 10 million pounds!"

The Earl of Derby seemed very excited and he was eager for Prince Albert to take action again.

But what he didn't know was that Prince Albert at that time was devoting himself to the first World Expo in order to restore the image of the royal family.

"Prime Minister, please stop joking. I think you are right. The royal family should not interfere in national politics."

Prince Albert still maintained a polite smile, but there was always a lingering sense of fatigue in it.

That feeling of exhaustion was real, mainly because Prince Albert had tried his best before, but he was always one step behind, which not only wasted a lot of resources, but also missed the best opportunity, resulting in a situation where he had to surrender in the end.

This is a disgrace for Britain and a heavy blow to the British royal family.

A series of wrong decisions have brought the royal family into disrepute, and coupled with the deliberate guidance of some people, the public's distrust of the royal family has reached its peak.

If Prince Albert intervenes in politics again but fails to achieve the desired results, it will most likely lead to a disaster. Perhaps he will be labeled as the "husband of the deficit" and then be sent to the guillotine with his beloved Victoria.

"Your Highness! I'm not kidding! Once the Suez Canal is opened, our British strategy will also change!

A new golden passage that will shorten the empire's path to India and the Far East must be in our British hands! Only in this way can we ensure our British maritime hegemony!"

The Earl of Derby had a firm look and a sincere tone, but it made Prince Albert feel very uncomfortable. He finally understood why the Prime Minister was not popular. It turned out that he was not good at reading people's expressions.

“Mr. Prime Minister, I believe you should know that our country’s laws stipulate that the royal family cannot interfere in politics and must maintain an objective and neutral attitude.

It is your job and that of Parliament to keep Britain strong and prosperous, but it is our job to restore Britain to its former glory - as a country of wisdom and civility."

At this point, Earl Derby could only sigh helplessly. He knew that Prince Albert had made up his mind, but he still made a final attempt.

"Your Excellency, I understand your concerns. But I hope you can consider the future of Britain and the royal family. At this time, some short-sighted people are leading Britain into the abyss."

“I will consider your opinion carefully, but now I want to make the first World’s Fair the best fair in history!
If Congress can’t come up with the money and can’t make up its mind, you might consider listening to the opinions of the Barings and Rothschilds.”

How could Prince Albert not know the importance of the Suez Canal? However, due to his status and the situation, he could only choose to hint at it indirectly.

"Your Highness, I understand! Thank you for your advice."

Prince Albert said nothing, but nodded.

After the Earl of Derby left, Queen Victoria walked in quietly, put her arms around Prince Albert's neck from behind and whispered.

"My dear, you are not going to meddle in politics anymore, are you?"

Prince Albert narrowed his eyes and patted his wife's arm.

"The Suez Canal is indeed very important. I just hope those bankers are not so short-sighted."

Barings Bank, VIP Room.

Francis Baring, then the head of Barings Bank, hadn't run like this for many years.

Such a "business genius" and "one of the two kings of London's financial world" could not help but attract everyone's attention for his incompetence. Everyone knew that something big was going to happen.

But no one can tell whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. After all, the tricks played by the Rothschild family back then seriously cheated the investors in London.

Who knows if the Barin family will come again? No one dares to bet!

So Francis Baring's jog inadvertently caused a large-scale earthquake in the City of London.

A personal visit from the Prime Minister is a big deal for any banker, but it is not right for Francis Baring, who has been in the business world for many years and has such great power, to be so out of control.

In fact, unlike the Rothschild family’s strategy, the Baring family has always been very interested in politics. The latter not only wants to be rich, but also noble.

At this time, another important member of the Baring family was looking for an opportunity to enter politics, and the Prime Minister’s personal visit was undoubtedly the best opportunity for the Baring family.