I
-°-oOo-°-
Chapter Twenty-Five: Discussions and Goals
I
-°-oOo-°-
Pemberley
I
-°-oOo-°-
November 1821
I
-°-oOo-°-
It had been a surprise for Zangson to encounter the famous Ro Quonru bare chested on the front lawn of the Pemberley Manor sparring with Sunteu.
Both were clearly Masters in their discipline and even if Sunteu was younger and more agile it was her father who was leading the fighting bout. Zangson had since his arrival at Pemberley seen lots of pictures of d'Arcy and even a few of those moving pictures but nothing could have prepared him to the sheer animalness that the man was broadcasting.
His daughter was always on the defensive and Zangson had the clear impression that Quonru was taking it easy on her even if she was very determined to get at him.
Huddled in his fur coat, he kept looking at the sparring pair from the great balcony that was embedded in the façade on the third floor of the Manor. It was a real spectacle and he wasn't alone looking at the match.
D'Arcy's first and second wives were a few yards to his right, and they were looking at the fight with very different faces.
The first wife was clearly enjoying looking at her husband's handsome brawniness while the second wife was looking at the whole spectacle with the eyes of a competitor. She was loudly judging the fighters' skills and commenting it.
- She's good, I would have problems to ward her off, her technique is a lot more versatile than mine.
Jane put her hand on Maureen's.
- But you'd still win, wouldn't you?
- Probably but she does know a lot more moves than I ever was taught. She would be a real challenge.
Jane lifted an eyebrow.
- Why would? She's here, you are here and she's not going anywhere not related with the family. You could ask her to teach you. She's perhaps not as discreet as Geoff was when it comes to teaching us offensive techniques.
Zangson couldn't help but intervene.
- She's probably sworn the same oath as your husband not to reveal the secret techniques of the Fighting School they attended to. There are the usual –if still difficult- techniques all fighting schools teach that are free to teach to outsiders and then there are the techniques each different school has created and which they protect forcefully. He wasn't free to teach them and the fact that he didn't teach them even to his wives speaks highly of him. Another proof that your husband is a trustworthy man and a mighty warrior.
- So, she will refuse as he did?
- If she has her father's honesty she will. The students swear a very thorough oath to keep the schools' techniques secret. A master will still be able to see how they move and try to emulate said moves but the students are bound and will never break their sworn oath.
- So, I'll never be able to learn those techniques… sighed the red-haired second wife.
- Not without their Master's authorization, but nothing stops you to ask to become a member of your husband's and step-daughter's school. Should the Master of the School accept you, your husband and every other student would be endorsed to teach you! You would be members of the same school, those allowed to teach lesser ranking students would have the sanctioned opportunity to teach you.
He smiled at the sparring match that was going on with renewed energy.
- And those both have the techniques and the bearing of true Masters; they could even be allowed by the Master to create a sprout school.
Of course, his use of the words did get the red-head's attention.
- A sprout school is a school that, under the condition that the members go on considering themselves as members of the original school, is allowed to create new moves and new techniques. It has happened once or twice that some of those sprout schools have achieved a greater notoriety than the school of origin. But should you one day have the opportunity to visit one of those schools you'll soon understand that notoriety is not really what is sought. Most of those schools are viewed as if in search of the perfect fighting style, but in reality, what they seek is the way for each of their students to find the path to his true self. So, their search for a fighting style is only a façade. What they really look for it the path that gives the honest student the power to win over himself more than over others.
He smiled at the two sparing partners who were making an impressive demonstration of all the science of bare-handed combat China had developed over centuries. Dozens, perhaps as mcuh as a hundred people had come at the windows or on the balconies to look at the pair and Zangson was sure that not one of them was not impressed by the sheer power those two were packing without even having a knife. Sunteu was breathing heavily while her father was showing a hint of perspiration on his brow and contrary to the first hour, he was reducing his own defensive moves to the bare minimum. From time to time he was commenting and –Zangson could hear and understand it- correcting his daughter's moves.
From what he could see she wasn't happy to be so clearly outclassed but there was also in the way she was holding herself a trace of pride. He was the better fighter and she could not not recognize it, but he was also her father and being bested by kin was always easier.
- When all is said and told the only enemy worth to subdue is the beast hiding within oneself, wouldn't you agree?
I
-°-oOo-°-
After two long and strenuous hours he signaled the end of the sparing bout. She was exhausted and was still able to stand only because her pride was stronger than her shivering legs. He was visibly steaming in the cold weather, but he still was the most relaxed of the both of them.
He nodded approvingly.
- At your age I was a lot more impatient than you. I would never have been able to wait as long as you to see if my opponent would lower his guard.
- You didn't lower your guard, said Sunteu, you lured me to foolishly attack both times.
- And you weren't lured; twenty years ago, I would have jumped right into the trap. I'm impressed with your technicality and your overall knowledge. We didn't have female students twenty-five years ago and I regret it, you would have beaten the crap out the arrogant monkey I was then.
He snickered.
- I was two inches taller than the others and a lot stronger. And I abused of those advantages shamelessly.
He laughed outright out.
- No need to add that I wasn't the most liked student when I was there.
- It had probably more to do with you being a foreigner than with you being taller or stronger. I wasn't liked as a student either and I was at least half Chinese.
He stopped smiling and looked her in the eyes.
- My younger self was not what you could call a kind Human Being, daughter. You wouldn't have liked him. He was self-centered and arrogant, and, in hindsight, probably unable to feel empathy or love. After I was back and in a position of power I have sent people to inquire about your mother and your Aunt but they never found anything about their whereabouts. Which didn't surprise me since I have given them clear instructions about what to do to disappear. So, what my investigators brought back never gave me any hint that there was a child one of them could have born…
He sighed.
- I'm sorry; I should have insisted and searched longer. Had I known that…
- No need to cry over spilled milk. I wasn't happy with my lot but thanks to my mother's love and protection I was never really unhappy. It was more of a sort of never-ending frustration.
She straightened herself to her full six feet two.
- I was too tall and too strong for any bully to really find the courage to get at me. But being an outsider was difficult. I never had a friend and mother never had another child I could have bonded with.
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
- It's not the first time that it happened to me. I begot another daughter with a woman I was with –and loved- while travelling through Asia. It was in Ghandara in the Hindi Kush but she didn't want me to stay and I wasn't at that time in the mood to enter a stable relationship. So, I left and contrary to China I never looked back.
He smiled at her.
- So, I do have a little experience in dealing with forgotten daughters. I know I can't make up for lost time, but I can be at your side from now on. I have power, I have riches and, the best of all, I have a family who supports me and upon whom I can really count to support me. If you want to stay and become a part of that family, I know that you'll be welcomed and accepted. If you want to do something else, anything in fact, just say it, I promise that you'll have the family's and my own support.
Sunteu nodded and made no effort to break the physical link he had built between them.
- I know, your first wife has already said as much. And, for now, I will stay and try to understand what it means to be a d'Arcy. Someday it is possible that I'll pack my duds and go somewhere else to live my own life. For now, as was Yonglin Emperor's wish, I will stay and try and figure out where, between the two worlds I sprang of, I really belong.
- I'm happy if you give me a little time with you. I know I will love to know you better and even if for the next weeks or months I won't be present more than a day in ten, I still would like you to spend a little time with me.
- I'm always in need of a real strenuous sparing bout… Maintaining yourself in shape is a lengthy endeavor.
- I'll be happy to oblige.
I
-°-oOo-°-
- There are rumors running around that the new Chinese Emperor has offered terms to Grand Great Britain?
Talleyrand's smile was as insincere as customarily amongst diplomats and William made great efforts to remain smilingly impassive. He didn't like the man's lack of loyalty, but he was quite in admiration for his numerous astounding diplomatic skills. He was a Master in his field and William loved to learn by observing the best.
He was just surprised that Napoleon hasn't sent Alexandre. With Alexandre they would already be speaking about the facts behind the proposal. Sending Talleyrand was an odd move indeed.
- Do you have any ideas how many rumors are running around in London at any single moment?
- Thousands I would say, answered Talleyrand. But there is only one about China. One who's documented by the appearance of one of the Prince of the Balkans numerous lost daughters. A half-Chinese daughter if you can believe the running rumors.
- Shouldn't you ask His Grace about his daughters? He is as you are yourself a French Imperial Prince. Wouldn't it be easier to get him to answer you?
- His Grace is, for the time being, on a secret mission even I have no real idea about. But some other rumors insist that he spends at least a day each week with his wives. I'm quite sure you, as his son, have a lot more occasions to see him than myself. I'm certainly Napoleon's favorite diplomat but I do fear that my relations with His Grace the Prince of the Balkans have never been very cordial…
To say the least, thought William who knew that his father did loath the toady unscrupulous man facing him. Fluffy had done some indoor spying and his father hadn't liked at all the total lack of loyalty Talleyrand was hiding within his small discreet frame.
- He believes you untrustworthy, said William with a smile. Last time he spoke of you he called you the gimpy snake and he insisted that I never turned my back on you… There was, I believe a grumbled following sentence where the words backstabbing scum were barely intelligible.
The smile on the smug face vanished.
- As I said, said Talleyrand with a shrug, not cordial at all. Luckily for me, it's still the First Consul who has the say in France and he has decided that I'm still France's First Diplomat and Minister of foreign affairs.
The smile was back.
- So, what about the rumor about the Chinese Emperor's offer?
- There is indeed a rumor running in London that associates the Emperor of China and a Peace proposition directed at the Government of Grand Great Britain.
Talleyrand nodded and didn't show any impatience.
- And is there something behind said rumor?
- There is indeed, answered William while trying with difficulty to maintain a blank face. He rather liked the power games some of the diplomats tried to force on him. And today it was his turn.
- And?
William did let a few seconds pass.
- You asked, your excellence and I gave you a straight answer. If there is something else, you want to know please ask your next question. It seems that today I have difficulties to guess what you really want to know.
Talleyrand was too smart not to recognize that William, even if showing none of his feelings, was not totally happy with the way the Frenchman was conducting his interview. He was perhaps young, but he still was the King of the only Power who could pose a real threat to France.
- Will Grand Great Britain answer to the proposition of the Chinese Emperor?
- Grand Great Britain is, as you know, a peace-loving country that prides itself that it has built his Commonwealth more through discussing and convincing than through force and conquest. We believe that this open position is what has convinced the Yonglin Emperor to send an ambassador with a first proposal. Of course, when faced with that proposal, I have nominated a group of experienced diplomats to study said proposition and, once they know what is really asked for, and if I judge that what is demanded is appropriate, I will do what is in my power to get a peace and cooperation agreement with the Middle Empire.
- Will France be informed of the details?
- The Kingdom has a long tradition of officially publishing Treaties and Foreign Agreements. Of course, should a result be achieved the whole text of the Treaty will be published in the Royal British Herald.
- I was more referring to the details of the negotiations...
- It will depend on the secrecy demanded by the Chinese negotiator. Should he insist on a total black out I will not take the risk to jeopardy the talks by opposing him. Should he agree on a weekly dispatch, that's what we will provide!
- What about the Council?
Once more William had to smother a smile. The Council had been for years now Talleyrand's privileged project. He had been for two years its chairman –at his demand not because he had fallen out of his Master's grace- and had worked very hard to make an efficient –and original- tool out of it. If it had been created to avoid situations that could have developed into a shooting war, it has become a lot more important feature that anyone could have planned. In this year 1821 the Council was where the policy of the future world was discussed and often decided.
It was the place where all the available data of all the participating Powers were shared and their implication on future relations between the Powers discussed. It was where the future of the world was prepared and the diplomats who had been nominated to sit at the Council's board were all smart and sensible people who had their rulers' trust. And Talleyrand had made no effort to hide that he was interested to go back there. It was where the world policy was planned and that was exactly where people like him had to be.
- Indeed, what about the Council?
- Will you propose China a seat on the board?
William who would have loved to do just that could only shake his head.
- That's not something I can grant.
- No but the Council has been granted the power to open its midst and to propose a seat to outsider should some worthy outsider appear.
- You still need the rulers' official agreement, remember?
- I have no fear that the Council, should it propose to include China, would be refused. China is clearly the only important world player not yet part of the Council. The Council would greatly benefit from its presence. I'm quite sure that, should I inform the members of the board of these recent developments, they would react like I do: with eagerness and anticipation to finally have all the important world players united in the same political body! It would be a tremendous pace toward world peace. And we need to incorporate China as soon as possible if there is to be a hope of them not considering themselves shunned by us.
- If I remember well you've convinced the Council –against your Master's strong opposition- to earmark a fifth of the explored new lands for China, in case they decided to stop their foolish isolationistic policy.
- Indeed, I did and now we have them making an overture that could bring them smoothly into the international community without feeling that they have been cheated.
- It was their choice to refuse, remember? We proposed!
- And their last Emperor refused, I agree, but I was sure that it couldn't last. It was only a question of time before some of them were bound to understand that their position was self-destructing.
William made a face to show its doubts.
- I'd say that it is what defines idiots that they are incapable to see the foolishness of their ways and correct them. We are lucky Yonglin Emperor has taken the throne in time to save some of the situation. Had it been some of his elder siblings we would be facing what father called an unavoidable war. Yonglin's elder brothers were the same fools as their father and grand-father and they would have continued in the old ways.
Talleyrand didn't comment on the luck the world had had with Yonglin's elevation to the Throne. The people who mattered all knew that Yonglin's accession to the throne had not been normal and that his rank in the succession should have guaranteed the world to never even learn about his name. Something had happened, several somethings to be frank, with the unexpected result to eliminate the normal successors from the race for the throne and open the way for the only candidate smart enough to understand the changes in the world around him and who had the guts to launch immediately after coming into power a thorough cleansing of his administration. Talleyrand didn't know what had happened over there, but he was sure that d'Arcy's twisted schemes had played a role in the occurrence of said events.
Luckily for everybody in Europe, d'Arcy seemed to be quite satisfied with the current situation. The fact that two of his children were already reigning in Britain or about to reign in France was probably gratifying enough even for the most ambitious of men. But a man who had at his disposal the best spy ring available and who had proven that he could, literally on the other side of the world, discreetly make the right candidate for peace happen to climb on the throne was more than dangerous and was playing in a league of his own. Having known that, Talleyrand had taken every conceivable precaution to never appear as d'Arcy's enemy and till now it was a success. As of now, Talleyrand was very decided to stay in that man's good graces. Whatever the price…
- We need them in the Council, Your Majesty, and proposing them to take a part in it should be something worthy to propose. They don't need to know that we need them in there. We could make them pay to get a seat… I'm quite sure that in exchange they could be pushed into widening the number of parties to the Treaty.
William frowned at the savvy Frenchman.
- You mean you want to be associated?
- Of course, we want to be associated, Your Majesty. China is perhaps an antiquated and technologically outdated country but it still is the richest Land in the world and hadn't we airships to control the sky while they have none the sheer number of their armies could still sweep ours in the gutters. Our general staff has made projections –as yours has probably- and the conclusion was always that we would have to retreat to come back at another time. The military estimates at seven the minimal number of assaults to finally break the Chinese's army command's back.
Talleyrand shook his head.
- It's not a foe France wants to fight against right now. But it is an ally that France would love to welcome in the midst of modern Nations.
He snickered.
- Not to mention that they will need a techno boost of the first magnitude. I don't see why French manufacturers would not have a share in the profit!
- Because the Company's products are better, cheaper and more technologically advanced?
- Not true for everything, some of our products are cheaper but all in all you're probably right but even the Company will have problems to deliver everything that will be needed over there! It could be profitable for the both of us. And wouldn't it be interesting for the Company to have the opportunity to ship the needed factories as soon as possible?
William who had already discussed the plan with Charles wasn't surprised by the diplomat's next words.
- There are quite a great number of factories of the right tech level in Egypt and Syria that have for years now needed to be replaced with more modern ones. And don't forget that they are halfway to the market that is in need of them… Nothing but advantages for everybody involved in the deal.
William nodded thoughtfully even if France's involvement had been on his mind from the very beginning. Alexandre was not only his best friend, he was also the heir of the Consulate and as such Britain –or William, not really sure which it was- needed to keep Alexandre in the loop of everything that was important for both countries.
And peace with China was important for France as well as for Britain.
So, he nodded.
- I will inform Alexandre and we will discuss together how to bring the Chinese negotiators to accept a third party at the table. But even if he and I agree upon the method it won't guarantee that the Chinese are interested.
- For a seat in the Council? They would be fools to refuse.
- They had been fools for centuries. A relapse is always possible.
- It shouldn't be the case, Yonglin Emperor seems a reasonable young man, so the man he has nominated to negotiate has to share his views and feel the same way he does. If your own negotiator doesn't screw up, it should be feasible.
- We are still selecting the team; we will do our best to get people who don't have the habit of screwing things up. I suppose that should the Chinese accept you'll be on the French side of the table?
- Nobody else would have my trust not to screw up…
- At least it looks as if we have the same feeling about this negotiation's importance.
- Indeed, we have, your Majesty. The First Consul may like conquest and war; he still is smart enough to understand that war is a dangerous endeavor that can be less successful than wished for. And China would be a tough nut to crack even for our superiorly trained and equipped soldiers. In my opinion France is already overstretched. We have acquired enough territories to occupy our administration and its public servants for the next century. No need to conquer more for now…
- I have an appointment with the Chinese Ambassador this very morning, I'll test the waters. I'll let you know if he is amenable with the prospect.
- I'll stay in London at the Embassy, Your Majesty. Don't hesitate to summon me if I'm needed.
- It will be a pleasure to do so, Your Excellency. .
I
-°-oOo-°-
He was to be greeted by the King in person…
Zou Haihe had been quite surprised by such informality. In China he would perhaps had been admitted into the Emperor's presence. But it would have been a speedy kowtow in and out with, had he been highly appreciated by the Emperor, a slight nod from said Emperor in his general direction. Nod he wouldn't have seen since he would have stayed his head glued to the wooden floor.
Here he had been warned that he would see the King alone…
He just hoped his broken English would be enough to make himself understood.
The door was opened and the servant –a royal butler as he was titled- who had welcomed him at his exit from the funny elevator box with the lights and mirrors, came out and bowed.
- His Majesty is awaiting you.
The butler pointed towards the door and made another bow..
- Please…
Haihe bowed in return. Not quite as deep as the butler's own bow but deeper than he would have bowed for any Chinese servant. After all this servant has been allowed to enter the King's presence alone and without being accompanied by guards which was a sign of great trust and familiarity. The man played the role of a servant but was, more than probably, a confident and a family retainer.
He took a last breath and entered the room behind the double doors.
He heard the doors shut behind him and was soon in presence of the King of Grand Great Britain.
The King –it was him he had seen a lot of pictures of him- was sitting behind a desk covered with numerous stacks of paper files, a lit up lamp, a telephone –the Emperor had acquired the same model a few days earlier- and what looked like a big frame standing on the side. Under the frame a big brown and cream cat was drowsing happily.
The King pointed towards one of three armchairs standing in front of his desk.
- Please feel free to walk normally to the desk and take a seat…
For a second Haihe failed to notice that he did perfectly understand the words. It was only when he arrived at the armchair that it hit his brain that the King had spoken in perfect Beijing Mandarin.
He lost his impassivity for a second and let his surprise be shown on his face.
The King smiled at his surprise.
- Father insisted that we learned the three major Chinese languages, said the King. He always pretended that it would, probably, one day come handy and that understanding the language of a third of Mankind was something like a necessity.
Haihe was too stunned to react and chose to just sit down.
He was alone with the King. There was no guard and no secretary in the room and the King was really speaking directly to him. Looking at him like he was a real person.
- I know it must be difficult for you to realize that you are here, alone with me and that I do speak with you without an intermediary but that's the way it is done here. Contrary to the Yonglin Emperor I don't pretend to be a supra natural being in direct descent from the Sun.
He smiled at Haihe.
- And since the Godly origins of my parents are yet to be demonstrated and proven by my Indian subjects who are very diligently trying to just do that, I prefer to be considered as a normal amenable Human being. So even if it visibly shakes you, I propose to speak normally together. From man to man as I do it with all those other Ambassadors.
The smile vanished.
- It does not, of course, mean that my function is not an atypical one that has to be defended and protected against abuse. Should you try to hit me, or should you be less than polite with me, it would, of course, have dire consequences! But within these restrictions feel free to speak as you would with one of your own hierarchical betters.
The smile was back and Haihe could see the eyes sparkle with mirth.
- It is a real difference with your Chinese Imperial protocol, but you'll have to accept that I'm able to have normal conversations with visitors.
Haihe forced himself to focus on his task. He couldn't fail to admit that he had been shaken. He had even been hugely shaken and had let his shock been seen by his Host. Would there have been witnesses he would have lost his head.
So, should he abstain to make his failures known to his masters, he should be able to save his head and his career.
- It was, still is, a surprise, Your Majesty. That you speak fluent Mandarin is another huge one. I would have believed that China is too far away to awake a Western Potentate's attention.
- I'm the son of a man who, when you listen to mamma, dreams in Mandarin. He never spoke badly about your country. He did say insulting things –very insulting things to say the truth- about your former rulers but he never lost his youthful admiration for the most ancient civilization on Earth. He is and always has been China's most faithful supporter.
The King's eyes sparkled happily.
- You probably ignore it but one of the most printed and read books in all the western world is an adaptation by father of the Chinese science of love making. My father's wives have nothing but praise for the way Chinese teach the path of satisfactory physical love. I believe its original name is 'the Tao of Love'.
He lowered his voice wistfully.
- It was this very book my father offered me and my twin sister for our fifteenth birthday. It was a novelty for Betty but not for me. I never found the courage to confess to him that I already had an exemplary I had gotten through the usual hidden teenagers' smugglings. He probably knows the truth but I'm quite ready never to know if it is the case!
The smile slowly vanished.
- So you should be aware that even if your country has been busy ignoring the rest of the world these last centuries, we, here in Britain, and more specifically we, from the d'Arcy family, we have studied your country with interest and have followed your internal policy with attention.
I
-°-oOo-°-
- … With attention.
William stopped speaking and looked straight at the little man facing him.
- Why exactly have you been sent to me, Your Excellency?
His father had given William a quick curse in Chinese dress code and, thanks to it, William knew that Zou Haihe, the Chinese Ambassador was, the cloth and head gear protocol were revealing, an Eunuch of the Inner Circle –meaning at the same level than a private royal secretary or even a Minister- and a very important public servant who could speak in his Ruler's name.
A lot more than a simple Ambassador sent to test the waters.
The Ambassador, a small and skinny little man with sparkling eyes and an easy smile bobbed his head in a funny manner.
- To make sure that Grand Great Britain and China never ends up at war with each other, Your Majesty.
- I don't see any reason that would have pushed us into that particular situation.
The Ambassador made some eye gesture –half wink, half brow move- while said eyes twinkled with mirth.
- I see many reasons, Your Majesty, the first being Ambition, followed immediately by greed and a necessity to make your people look away from an embarrassing domestic policy problem.
William lifted his left brow –a very Fitzwilliamish gesture- to show his surprised displeasure.
- We have no embarrassing domestic policy problems, Your Excellency!
- You have territories that span half the globe, Your Majesty, believe me when I say that you have somewhere domestic policy problems. They haven't yet made their way to the front page of your very tame and cooperative newspapers, but they still exist and could be used against you to stir up unrest.
William who indeed had been informed of quite a few situations that had the potential of being embarrassing, accepted the Ambassador's words with a light head bow. It had been an example after all of what could push two countries to end up in war.
- I do see the hypothetic reasons that could push two countries to wage war against each other, Your Excellency, but I must insist that I don't have the Ambition to add Sinicus to my name, nor do I have treasury problems I'd have to fill by robbing my neighbors cassettes.
Haihe nodded and let his smile reach his eyes.
He had studied the young King he was facing with everything his foreign agents had been able to find and he had been amazed at the sheer volume of data the world had been given about this young man. He didn't know a tenth about Yonglin Emperor compared to what he had been able to read about this young man. Secret was not a Western Virtue.
Well, Secret is perhaps an Eastern sin, thought Haihe while studying the young King. He was younger -eleven years- than Yonglin but his eyes were showing wisdom and patience. A combination Haihe wouldn't have thought possible with a Ruler so young and with as many possessions. The man is loved and respected and even those corrupt Indian Maharajas who had sworn their allegiance were, for the most of them, impressed by him.
He was the first of a new –or old if one could believe the reports about him being the direct descendant of the First Norman King of England- dynasty and, for now he had shown very unusual qualities for a ruler in possession of so many means.
Well, Yonglin is cut out of the same cloth. For once we Ambassadors are perhaps blessed with reasonable rulers?
- Kings do not rob their neighbors' cassettes, Your Majesty, they just recover what's truly theirs within the bounty of conquest.
- The bounty of conquest is, from what I've studied in the History books, worth a lot less than what has been destroyed by the conquering armies and I don't even mention the death toll wars of conquest do tend to ask from the conquered people and the conquering armies. Most of the territories that had willingly joined Great Britain had done so without having to be stomped into submission… I and my country are richer that way than I would have been had I raided the hidden gold stashes from the coffins of the defeated rulers' ancestors.
- Would you be an adept of poetry?
William nodded.
- I certainly am, but my poetry tells about flowers, winter landscapes, beautiful maidens and love, not coffins, wars and gold stashes, Your Excellency. I try to be a reasonable man and I try also to wear my father's legacy in a way that is acceptable to the people of Britain.
He sighed and for a second his expression was one of mixed pleasure and pain.
- My father is –Uncle Fitzwilliam not included- the most famous man in Great Britain. Everybody knows his name and today probably knows his face even if he is insistent not to let any photographer near him. British people really do admire him and believe he's somewhat taller than normal hero figure. After all, he outfoxed the Royal Navy, came over and conquered us –and I say us because I always felt myself British not French- and he and his army commanders were wise enough to do nothing to estrange the British people from their conquerors. His victory wasn't stained by massacres or plundering. His military campaign has the aura of the ineffable: it happened and because of it a lot of things changed but nobody is really able to link negative aspects with what happened. It was, at the time, a huge shock for the whole Nation and there was the real risk that it would destroy Britain's spirit for all times. But it didn't because it has, now, with so many young people and immigrants added to my overall population, the consistence of a dream. Not a nightmare, a dream where the dreamer wakes up with a smile and the regret that he was forced out of it.
He laughed and Haihe could feel the young man's satisfaction.
- It could have destroyed us, and it didn't. We are still confronting ourselves with the 'why' of our survival and our renewed prosperity.
Haihe couldn't help but nod.
- It can indeed be seen as a resurrection. But it is common accepted knowledge that it was your mother who was the source of Britain's renewal!
William's smile didn't waver, but it became suffused with inner feelings.
- She certainly played a role and her love for father was, undeniably, a major factor in Britain's recent history but it is, in my opinion, only the part we like to show and we even more like to look at. Romance at such a level is at the threshold of miraculous and nobody can stay indifferent to it, but Romance will never stop greed and ambition…
- But it can cover it?
William nodded.
- It can indeed. And it did. Napoleon's greed was at its center just before Father's ambition! But said ambition was just a little more personal than political. His own personal story took priority over his dream of an American Empire. And soon the idea of putting his son –who would also be the son of Britain most romantic muse- on Great Britain's throne, did overcome his dreams of personal power.
William took a few seconds to dwell in his own thoughts. The family History he was about to tell was a matter of great pride for him and his siblings.
- His encounter with mama took place when his military campaign was already a success. I now know that he maintained his non destruction policy not because father was thinking to give England its independence back but because he knew that injustice breeds unrest. Falling in love with mamma just gave him his humanity back. It changed his immediate goals, not his overall policy. He still wanted to create a dynasty, but a new opportunity was presenting itself: putting his heir on Great Britain's Throne. In the end when the French finally retired themselves there had been no real damage done to the land and its people. Of course, our pride did take a beating but in a certain measure it was a good thing since we now know what we must do to never again be conquered!
William looked the Chinese Ambassador in the eyes.
- We know that we could have disappeared, that what we considered eternal and able to resist to anything was in fact ready to collapse because we hadn't done what has to be done to protect what is important. Now we know and I will do what is my power, so it won't happen again for the decades to come…
An air of absolute resolve took hold of the young King's face.
- Don't take me wrong, we will go to war if we are forced to do it and we will do it with all the determination necessary to win said war. But, while I'm the King, we won't play the conquest game anymore. Grand Great Britain is present in Europe, Africa, America, Oceania and Asia. It is a world power with huge mineral resources and, with India, a tremendous manpower reserve. We don't need to show our strength to the world. What we really need to do is show our resolve to live in peace with our neighbors. And your Emperor's proposition gives us the perfect opportunity. I won't let it fade without doing everything in my power to make your journey a success. But it will be our success and I won't sell Britain's alliance for cheap.
Haihe nodded.
- I never hoped it would come easily. But now that I know that both parties want it to happen, I know it will happen. We'll see what advantages both of us will gain in the process.
I
-°-oOo-°-