shadow of britain

Chapter 137 The Many Faces of Politics
The rain outside the window was still falling slowly, and the dense raindrops almost connected into a water-colored curtain. Although it looked transparent, it covered Arthur and Disraeli in the coffee shop.

Maybe it was the black tea that improved Disraeli's bad mood, or maybe he suppressed his mood for too long.

In Greenwich District, this constituency that did not belong to Disraeli, this coffee shop that did not know him, he was finally able to pour bitter water unscrupulously, and step by step into the trap carefully woven for him by Arthur.

In Arthur's view, the first priority of domestic intelligence work is to protect sensitive national information.

But in order to complete this work, Arthur, as a humble public tool, had to reluctantly start by understanding sensitive information.

A young member of Parliament who has received Rothschild's attention, and a talented writer of the new generation, his personal information is obviously also included in this category.

Holding the teacup in both hands, Arthur felt the temperature from the white porcelain surface. He asked, "I didn't expect you to be a Jew who converted to the State Church. This situation is really strange."

Disraeli was obviously worried about his identity: "If I were an Englishman, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been attacked so violently. Even though I was converted by my father to learn the rites of the State Church from the priest of the State Church when I was a child, but in retrospect, the conversion helped me to run for parliament normally, but the prejudices buried deep in people's hearts cannot be easily changed.

Mr. Hastings, if you hadn't told me you didn't have the right to vote, I wouldn't be so casual about revealing my blood.I'm Jewish, but I'm also British, and other than that, I'm a normal, devout Christian.Two-thirds of my composition is very British, but they always like to stare at the other third. "

Arthur smiled and said, "It's no big deal. I'm an Englishman, but I'm also a spiritual Oriental. Besides, I'm an abnormal, heterogeneous Catholic. But I can get to where I am now, which shows that those people don't actually care what part of you you have. The important thing is that you can work for them."

"Eastern people?" Disraeli's eyes lit up, "Are you talking about the Holy Land established by King Solomon, Jerusalem?"

The Red Devil, who was dozing off by the window, suddenly regained his energy when he heard this. He snorted coldly, and pushed his glasses thinking it was cool: "When it comes to the research on King Solomon, I am your grandfather's grandfather."

Arthur glanced at Agares, held down his chatterbox in time, and spoke to Disraeli.

"The East includes Jerusalem, and, of course, the region further east. You are a writer, so you should understand that mysterious things always have a different kind of charm."

"Further east?"

Disraeli thought for a while: "I'm afraid you are talking about India and China? That is indeed an ancient and mysterious area. When I traveled to Germany with my father a few years ago, I heard that Mr. Goethe of the Weimar Principality was also very fascinated by China. He spent all day in the library looking for Chinese books in English and French translations.

I ran into him once in the library, he was indeed a kind person, I was just an inconspicuous young man, but he didn’t look down on me because of it, and very enthusiastically introduced me to a Chinese epic legend he was reading, the name of that legendary story seemed to be... called... what kind of orphan..."

Arthur's mind turned, and he blinked twice: "Mr. Disraeli, as far as I know, there are quite a lot of novels about orphans in China, and most of them are collected in a large library called Qidian."

"Really?" Disraeli was stunned for a moment: "I have only heard that the place where the Chinese emperor lives is called the Forbidden City. Most of the Chinese tea we drink comes from Guangzhou and Quanzhou. As for the great library called Qidian, I have never heard of it. Is that a wonder building like the Parthenon in Greece?"

Arthur replied vaguely: "Almost, anyway, it is indeed a miracle to gather so many orphans."

Disraeli murmured: "Maybe one day, my works will also be collected there. After all, I also like to write about orphans."

Arthur almost choked on the tea, he coughed repeatedly: "What did you say?"

Disraeli quickly waved his hands: "It's nothing, nothing, just talking to myself."

Immediately, he fell into deep thought again. Suddenly Disraeli's eyes lit up, he slapped the table and said, "I remember! Mr. Goethe read "The Orphan of Zhao", and the character 'Zhao' is really difficult to pronounce, no wonder I have such a deep memory. Mr. Goethe also told me at the time that he planned to create a play based on it. After several years, I don’t know whether he has completed it or not."

Arthur asked, "It sounds like you've traveled a lot in Europe?"

When Disraeli heard this, he immediately opened up the conversation: "To tell you the truth, I just came back from the Two Sicilies, and I went to Switzerland before. After all, you know, I was so restless because of the "Vivien Gray" incident, I had to go out to relax. Originally, I wanted to continue to travel around the Balkan Peninsula, to Ottoman Turkey, and to visit Palestine and Egypt in the Near East.

But I suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a general election in China, so I decided to come back first to try my luck.If I can't choose this time, at least I have planned my next journey. "

Arthur nodded slightly and said: "It can be seen that you are a person with a strong purpose and planning. If one day you become the prime minister, I will not be surprised."

Hearing this, the Red Devil on the side couldn't help covering his mouth with a smirk: "Oh! Arthur, you are such a heinous little bastard. It's the nature of young people to please others, especially when they are insignificant and have nothing to do. If you flatter him like this, it will make him willingly pour his heart out to you."

However, Arthur didn't seem to hear Agares' words, and Disraeli, who was sitting opposite him, was half-blushing with excitement.

In fact, he had already imagined being the prime minister in his heart, but even though he had imagined it countless times, when the words came out of other people's mouths, it still made him extremely happy.

Disraeli tried his best to restrain his emotions, but the gradually raised corners of his mouth and gradually twitching facial expression still betrayed him.

"Although I don't want to criticize others, Mr. Hastings, you may have misjudged the person this time. Compared with those truly outstanding great men and statesmen, such as Plato, Aristotle, Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare, or Napoleon Bonaparte, I still have a lot to learn from."

When Agares heard this, the Red Devil couldn't help being stunned for a moment, then he pushed his glasses and nodded seriously.

"Unexpectedly, I still underestimated the arrogant ambition of this young man. Although he suffered a heavy blow not long ago, he still compares himself with these stars in human history in his heart."

Arthur nodded slightly. He leaned back in his chair and said with great interest, "Although I don't have the right to vote, would you like to tell me about your political views? I'm really interested in you."

Disraeli, who had clearly gone to his head with enthusiasm, readily agreed.

"Of course! I'm glad you'd take the time to listen to me explain these things. I never bother to explain things to ordinary people. But you are different, Mr. Hastings.

Because I feel that you are the same person as me, I am a proud person, and my efforts come from my pride.Yes!It's pride that motivates me, not ideals!I should be good, not because of my pursuit of goals, but because I am born to be good.

Although I am still just a low-status little person, I should not be mediocre all my life.Mr. Hastings, you must think so, too? "

Arthur would not refuse any identity that Disraeli threw at him.

He smiled and nodded slightly: "Of course, we will all be big men in Great Britain one day. Although you are a Jew and I am a spiritual oriental, what's the big deal? No one likes to spend their lives in the mud."

Disraeli nodded excitedly and said, "If I can become prime minister, I will first eliminate the public's hostility towards people of different ethnicities and different beliefs. The English, Scots, Welsh, Irish, and Jews are all British in the final analysis. Christians, Catholics, and Jews are all God's chosen people.

I know it may be difficult, but it's like Bacon said: It's enviable to have good luck, but it's really admirable to overcome bad luck.I want everyone to admire me, and I want to be like Lord Byron, even if I have bad luck, even if I fight against the most fierce enemy, I must win the final victory.

Are you a fan of Lord Byron?Although I don't agree with some of his views, his life and books really let me draw a lot of strength.

He spent all his wealth to support the Greek independence movement, and finally died for Greece like those "Byronic heroes" in his writings.

God!Who would have thought that this man who had been expelled from Great Britain before his death would allow Greece to hold the most noble state funeral ceremony for him after his death.This name, which was taboo in Britain more than ten years ago, has now become one of the most dazzling stars in British history! "

Disraeli talked endlessly about his ideals and aspirations, but the rain outside the window didn't mean to slow down in the slightest.

The rain is dense and the sunset is blurred.

In the quiet environment, Arthur looked at Disraeli's impassioned expression, just smiled and did not respond.

After an unknown amount of time, Disraeli finally confided his feelings.

He let out a long breath of satisfaction, picked up the coat on the back of the chair and stood up.

He smiled and spoke to Arthur, and the address between the two had already become familiar.

He asked intimately: "Arthur, let's go back together, anyway, your home is not far from mine. The environment of this coffee shop is pretty good. If there is a chance in the future, let's come here again."

Arthur also stretched his waist: "No problem, you go and call a car, and I will go to the shopkeeper to pay the bill."

Disraeli blinked at Arthur, pointed at him and said, "Okay, then I'll wait for you outside."

Arthur watched him walk out of the coffee shop, then licked his lips, and slowly took out a brown paper bag from the bag beside him.

There are only a few simple lines written on the cover of the paper bag.

Office of Temporary Surveys and Statistics for the London Area: File 001

"Enter: Code A"

Subject of Investigation: Benjamin Disraeli

Arthur looked at the brown paper bag and thought for a while, then finally took out a pen from his chest, and casually drew two strokes on it.

——The degree of importance of the character: concern level

— Thought Danger Level: Very Safe

——Follow-up investigation arrangement: continue to follow up
(End of this chapter)