shadow of britain

Chapter 410 It’s Raining in London (6K2)

Facing the current chaotic situation, I have prepared for the worst, but I still have the best expectations for the future. On June 1832, 6, Arthur Hastings wrote in his diary.

——A History of Britain in the Nineteenth Century by George Macaulay William Curry

As soon as Arthur walked out of the theater, he smelled an atmosphere of uneasiness and chaos permeating the streets, like the smell of sweat mixed with the filth emanating from the Thames River, as if the whole city was gasping in pain.

At this moment approaching dusk, the street gas lamps newly installed this year have been lit. However, this flickering light cannot dispel the haze and fog that descends on the streets of London at night.

The carriage drove quickly through Oxford Street. Through the window, Arthur saw the crowds on the stone road surging like a tidal wave. They shouted slogans and their faces were distorted with anger and dissatisfaction.

Rubbles, shards of glass and the remains of carriages that had been overturned covered the road, and the orderly scene of the past was gone.

Some in the crowd waved wooden sticks and broken tools, while others picked up goods from roadside vendors and threw them at the opponents. Whistles, screams and the occasional gunshot were all lost in the sea of ​​noise.

Shop doors and windows were closed, padlocks clanked, and many shopkeepers hid in their shops in fear, peering through the cracks in the windows at the outside world. In the streets and alleys, fires were burning, reflecting the complex expressions of fear and determination on people's faces, and the air was filled with the smell of smoke, sweat and uneasiness.

Among the demonstrators, a few Scotland Yard policemen in dark blue tuxedo uniforms could occasionally be seen. They were holding batons and trying to maintain order. However, in front of the stormy crowd, such meager efforts were tantamount to a mantis trying to stop them. The coming tsunami.

The veins on his neck popped out, and even the flesh at the corner of his mouth was twitching: "I don't have many bullets, but one bullet is enough to send you to hell! And I tell you, I specialize in shooting those at the front. one!"

At No. 4 Whitehall Street, Inspector Ridley King, Chief of Division Five of the Police Intelligence Bureau, anxiously wandered in front of Scotland Yard.

Arthur didn't say anything after hearing this. He emptied the police officer's pockets, and finally added: "Excuse me, please lend me your pipe."

Standing beside the car door was a police officer in the same uniform as them, holding the armrest and holding a Hastings revolver.

Hearing this, several police officers breathed a sigh of relief. The officer pointed at by Arthur smiled reluctantly: "Sir, I have it in my pocket, but you have to pay for it yourself. I...I don't mean to offend you, But the mob hit me with a few sticks on my arm, and now... I really can’t lift it.”

However, before they could settle down, the carriage started moving again.

They were extremely worried about the consequences of the arsenal falling into the hands of the rioters, because according to their knowledge, there were at least more than 74 guns and more than artillery pieces of various calibers that were about to be delivered to the Army Ordnance Bureau in the Woolwich Arsenal. In the shipyard, the Royal Navy's -gun third-class battleship 'Achilles' is currently being repaired and maintained in the port.

In the usually overcrowded third-floor office of the Metropolitan Police, no senior police officer above Ledley could be found.

Several police officers woke up from a dream, and they hurriedly squeezed into Arthur's carriage.

Seeing their uniforms stained with blood, their heads bleeding and miserable, Arthur just shook his head and said: "I don't want to blame you. On the contrary, I think your boss is very irresponsible. If he wants to just If the four of you can suppress a riot, then he should provide you with guns. If he doesn't provide you with guns, then he should provide you with enough manpower. Don't tell me, you are the only ones in this patrol area. Four guys."

And the nervousness and fear that emerged in their hearts could not be disguised either.

Their violent breathing, coupled with the occasional gunshots and burning firelights coming from outside the carriage, made these police officers who had narrowly escaped death unable to completely relax even after escaping from danger.

"Of course not, sir, you...you misunderstood. Of course it's not like this in normal times, but today is an emergency. Most of the team members have been transferred to the headquarters to gather, and there are only four of us left in the police station. . We were unlucky. Not long after the large army left, the mob began to attack the police station. The four of us couldn't resist it, so we were forced to flee to Oxford Street, but there were also violent demonstrators here, so... so it happened. What you just saw."

The carriage jolted violently, Arthur started the fire, took a sharp sip, and his tense face relaxed. He tasted the aftertaste in his mouth, raised his eyebrows and said, "It's so strong. Are you usually under a lot of pressure? That’s why you need help from someone of this level?”

When several police officers heard this, they quickly waved their hands and said, "No, no, we are all used to it. We are all in this business, so there is nothing we can do about it."

What's worse is that the Metropolitan Police Department is now very short of manpower. Not only have all the superintendents received their respective tasks, but even Director Rowan and Deputy Director Sir Richard Mayne have personally led the team. Set off.

I don't know who shouted this, and these rioters quickly gathered together again as if they had discovered the truth. They were like wildfire sweeping the earth, and would soon ignite the entire city.

Behind that carriage were several modified cars with their roofs lifted off. On each car stood two policemen armed with short guns. They fired into the air while pointing at the demonstrators. He screamed angrily: "If you don't want to die, get back home!"

Just fifteen minutes ago, the two retired army colonels each mounted a pure white English thoroughbred horse and led Scotland Yard's last remaining reserve team, 50 Bow Street Mounted Police, to the Greenway in an emergency. Reinforcements were made at Woolwich Arsenal.

After a moment of silence, Arthur pointed at the bulging pockets of one of the officers and asked, "Do you have any cigarettes? I need a lighter."

The young police officer grinned after being slapped by Arthur, but he still stiffened his stiff arms and replied loudly: "Thank you for your kindness, sir! But we were beaten too badly today, and we really have no shame in asking for awards."

"Of course, you... please do as you please."

They looked at the crowds pouring onto the streets like a tide, and their expressions that wanted to tear them and the world apart together. A trace of despair gradually appeared in the eyes of several police officers.

Two gunshots suddenly rang out in the street.

Plunkett's roar was like thunder, and the scene of blood on the street instantly shocked the rioting crowd who had just regained their mood. They didn't want to retreat, but no one wanted to take another step forward. Because everyone knows that most of what this Scotch Yard scoundrel says is true.

Arthur nodded after hearing this, and patted the young police officer on the shoulder: "Well done, you are very worthy of the clothes you are wearing today. When the situation calms down, I will go to the hall to apply for a special commendation for you."

Arthur looked at the numbers hanging on the chests of several police officers, put his hands in his pockets and was about to take out a cigarette, but found that his cigarette case seemed to be lost at the Astley Theatre.

Then, they saw several carriages with open doors speeding toward them.

Boom!

Plunkett, who was chewing tobacco leaves in his mouth, saw this situation and spat out the tobacco residue in his mouth. Without even taking extra aim, he raised his pistol and shot the leader of the crowd in the left leg with one bullet. wear.

Sweat covered their foreheads, and their lips, which were blue and purple due to excessive stress, betrayed their true feelings at the moment.

……

"Overturn their carriages! They are out of bullets!"

The police officer said: "Please rest assured, all the guns in our police station were taken away by them when the large force gathered. However, if the mob searched carefully, they might find some spare civilized sticks we left in the police station. "

Within the past hour, superintendent after superintendent had led their assigned teams out.

Arthur took a puff of his cigarette: "If you feel embarrassed, just make up for it now. Police officer, use your actual actions to prove to everyone that you are worthy of a bonus and notification of praise."

Several police officers had just been staring at Arthur without saying a word, for fear that the officer with the badge of St. Edward on his shoulders and the command baton would scold them for not doing things well.

Taking advantage of the stalemate between Plunkett and the crowd, Arthur quickly urged several police officers surrounded by the rioting crowd to get into the car: "Quick, we don't have much time."

"It's ok."

These gunshots quickly calmed down the situation on the street, but soon, when the rioting crowd discovered that no one was injured after the gunshots, the fear that had just risen quickly disappeared.

"Storm the police station?" Arthur frowned and asked, "Did you lose your gun?"

Once the rioters get these, the consequences are self-evident. This riot is bound to evolve into a large-scale armed uprising. This was also the reason why Minister Rowan and Sir Mayne immediately decided to lead their team to set off after receiving the news that the Bristol agitators had appeared in Greenwich.

The task given to Ladley by the two ministers before leaving was to tell him that before they returned from Woolwich Arsenal, Assistant Superintendent Arthur Hastings would temporarily take charge of Greater London. The current overall work of the National Police Agency.

But what was unexpected was that the house leaked and it rained all night. Just a few minutes after the two ministers set off, another bad news came from the City of London.

The City of London police sent a courier to Scotland Yard for emergency help. The courier told Ledley that the scene inside the London Stock Exchange was nothing short of hell. According to normal trading hours, the stock exchange should have been closed at this time.

But the group of stockbrokers and investors somehow got the news about the agitators in Greenwich, the current fire situation in London, the fireworks that would rise from time to time in the sky, and the fact that the Woolwich Arsenal might explode at any time. Speculation of a breach triggered widespread panic in the City.

The crowds of stock traders and treasury bond holders were so crazy that they almost leveled the threshold of the exchange. They frantically sold British government bonds and stocks that they usually regarded as treasures. In just ten minutes, the price of British government bonds dropped sharply. It dropped five points.

Not only that, these investors even resorted to violent means to prevent the stock exchange from closing, because they were worried that by tomorrow, the stocks and bonds they currently held would become worthless.

Everyone knows what the London Stock Exchange means to the country of the United Kingdom. If there is a state of total collapse, the throne will tilt as well.

Realizing the seriousness of the matter, Ledley's first reaction was to dispatch troops to support the Financial City, but before he could give the order, he found himself in a dilemma. Move troops, where are the troops now?

Whether they are elite troops or miscellaneous troops, they have been sent out for emergency response at this moment. Even the Bow Street Mounted Police, which is used as a reserve team, has also headed to Greenwich.

At present, he only has a small group of left-behind police officers who have just escaped from the riot area. Even if they are added together, there are only twenty or thirty people.

As for the more than ten office staff who are urgently processing letters from various police districts in the lobby on the first floor, regardless of their combat effectiveness, if Ledley pulls them out at this time, who will he call if a special police situation occurs again soon? To deal with it?

As for the Guards Cavalry who were responsible for defense nearby, Ledley was not sure whether these proud gentlemen would be willing to listen to him, let alone let them disobey military orders and go to the Financial City.

Moreover, even if they retreat ten thousand steps, these Guards Cavalry are willing to go, but after they leave, who will be left to guard Whitehall Street?
If those mobs took advantage of this situation and burned down the cabinet ministries on Whitehall Street and smashed the Prime Minister's official residence at No. 10 Downing Street...

The magnitude and impact of these things could be worse than letting the City spiral out of control.

Just when Ledley was about to kneel down and pray to God, he heard the rumble of wheels rolling.

There was a neighing of horses, the door of the black carriage opened, and the hard high-top riding boots stepped on the tiles of Whitehall Street, making a crisp sound.

Arthur smoothed back his messy hair and put on the standard Scotland Yard police top hat again: "Ledley, you look terrible."

Ridley took a deep breath, stood at attention and saluted: "Sir, now I finally understand why believers are so happy to see Jesus resurrected. Because this is the feeling in my heart now."

Arthur held his pipe in his mouth, lit the match and glanced at him: "Are you cursing me to death?"

"No, sir, I don't mean that at all." Laidley responded: "But if you had come a few minutes later, I feel that I would have been close to death."

Arthur raised his head and glanced at the disgraced and dejected patrol officers in front of Scotland Yard who had just escaped from various chaotic areas, and nodded slightly: "I think I probably know what's going on."

He was just about to take a breath when suddenly, a big raindrop fell from the sky, hitting his pipe and extinguishing the sparks.

Arthur looked up at the dark cloud-covered sky and shook his head slightly: "So, can you tell me about the current situation? Where are Director Luowan and the others?"

When Ridley heard this, he hurriedly recounted everything he had learned, like pouring beans through a bamboo tube.

Immediately, he concluded dejectedly: "Sir, the Financial City needs support, but as you can see, we only have these defeated soldiers left in our hands."

Arthur looked around, looking at the dejected faces of the police officers, and suddenly replied: "The remaining soldiers are defeated? I don't think so."

Plunkett also stepped out of the carriage behind him. He had two gun holsters hung on his left and right waists, and a Colt revolver that had just been adjusted on his back.

The sharpshooter put his pistol back into his holster, put his hands on his waist and agreed, "I don't think so either."

"Don't think so? Why?"

Ridley was confused. He didn't know why both Plunkett and Arthur spoke highly of the group of subordinates in front of them who had just suffered a major failure.

But Plunkett did not explain to him, but turned around and winked at Arthur: "Sir, the soldiers are good soldiers, but if they can regain their courage, they have to..."

Arthur nodded understandingly, and he walked towards the group of police officers crowded against the wall.

The beautiful uniforms of Scotland Yard were stained by blood and dust from unknown sources. Everyone was more or less decorated. Seeing the arrival of senior police officers, they did not even dare to raise their heads and look directly into Arthur's eyes. .

But soon, a burst of applause caught their attention. They raised their heads, and what met their gaze was Arthur's admiring eyes.

"Gentlemen, I know what you are worried about. You are afraid of being blamed, afraid of being scolded by everyone, because you just failed to protect the neighborhood you are responsible for in your respective tasks. I know what you think about yourselves, you are a Helping the defeated soldiers is a straggler and an out-and-out loser.

But, I have to say, I don’t see it the same way as you do. Because in my opinion, if you are really losers, you should have gone home crying to your mother by now. But what do I see here now? You guys didn't do that! Although you have just suffered a tragic defeat, you are still strong enough to cross several blocks and face countless dangers and attacks to come here to recover. This shows what? This shows that you still have honor in your hearts! "

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, many police officers' dejected eyes lit up, and look began to appear on their faces again.

Suddenly, a young policeman stood up, took off his hat and said: "Sir...sir, I'm sorry."

Immediately afterwards, one after another police officers all stood up. They also took off their hats and stood up and said: "Sir, we are very sorry!"

"Feel sorry?"

When Arthur heard this, his smiling face suddenly turned serious: "Gentlemen, I am not here to hear you apologize to me. We are not here to dwell on past failures, but to We must draw strength from it in order to make our success more brilliant! And you, you idiots, straighten your backs!"

Arthur's roar echoed in the empty Whitehall Street, like a law, an indescribable belief. For some reason, every police officer present drew strength from it, supporting them to straighten their waists. Like a straight sword.

Arthur stepped forward, sword in hand, and circled their ranks.

"At this decisive moment, we are gathered here, carrying the expectations of a country and the trust of an era. The current British society is undergoing a historic social change, just like a This double-edged sword not only brings the dawn of progress, but also causes uneasiness and resistance among some people. Human nature seeks order in chaos, just like stars seek light in darkness.

We all know that this country is not perfect, it has many problems that need to be solved, and maybe it does need to make changes at this moment. However, we want it to change in a way that brings us closer to that dreamed kingdom of heaven on earth, not further away. The essence of the social contract is that each of us must submit to the laws we collectively create in exchange for peace and stability.

I know some of you must be scared, and I am scared too, because humans are wired to indulge in illusions of hope. When painful reality comes, we often close our eyes and dare not face it. We would rather listen to the song of the siren until we are turned into beasts. This is not something to be ashamed of, it is human nature.

But, gentlemen, when we put on this uniform, we no longer represent the individuals we are. We are the police, the embodiment of order. What we face is not a battle for personal honor, but a battle to defend the concept of the rule of law.

Every person who takes to the streets and attempts to disrupt order with violence is a challenge to our common beliefs. Faced with such challenges, we must, as John Milton said: stand up and defend the supreme truth.

We choose to come forward, and it does not come lightly. We choose to step up because of the difficulty!

At this moment, as practitioners of British law, we will be like a lighthouse and a morning star, guiding the lost ships through the starry night to the land of extreme daylight where darkness is invisible. The task of the brave is not to promote chaos, but to maintain order!

We must bravely stand on the front line and take on the responsibilities no matter what role fate assigns to us.

Do it! As it is said in the Gospel: Let your light shine before others, so that they can see your good deeds. You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden.

We will turn into firewood and burn ourselves, just like a candle offering to light up the fog in London.

We will spread our blood and nourish the vast soil, just for the flowers of order to bloom on the high hills in the mountains.

Do it! Go and light up the night with the afterglow of the setting sun, because I know that we will eventually stand on the top of the world like a city on a mountain, admired by everyone! ! ! "

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, the police team immediately erupted with an alarming volume.

"Yes, sir!!!"

Arthur ripped off the rope of the carriage, got on his horse, drew his sword and shouted: "Boys, all of us! Run towards the Financial City!"

……

Rumble!
In Bentham's apartment, the old man was lying weakly on the bed.

Butler Andrew sat next to him and held his cold hand. Suddenly, he noticed that Bentham's fingers moved slightly.

Bentham struggled to open half of his eyelids, and with his skinned, dry lips, using up his little life force, he asked: "Ann, Ann...Drew...is it thundering outside?"

After hearing this, Andrew looked up at the smoke and falling raindrops in the sky, and nodded slightly: "That's right, Mr. Bentham. It's raining in London."

(End of this chapter)