shadow of britain

Chapter 931 Sir Arthur, why would anyone be as foolish as you?

"Actually, those articles..."

Arthur paused, as if he were considering whether or not to reveal an unpleasant truth.

But in fact, he had already figured out how to explain those articles long before he came to Buckingham Palace.

It would be best if Victoria brought up the issue herself. Even if Victoria didn't bring it up, Arthur would have to find a way to subtly take credit for it.

Of course, taking credit doesn't mean Arthur intends to betray Mr. Lewis.

After all, this incident also made the chairman of the board of directors of Empire Publishing realize his shortcomings in the public opinion circle.

Although classic literary magazines like Blackwood have always looked down on fashion literary magazines like The Englishman, in reality, Fleet Street trendsetters like The Englishman are still not the most down-to-earth publications.

Whether it's The Englishman, The Economist, or Nature, these publications under the Empire Publishing Group primarily target Britain's new elite, the true middle-class families of the industrial age.

If we don't use the Earl of Dallamore's standard for the middle class, but instead use the generally accepted standard for the middle class, then in this day and age, the middle class actually only accounts for 10% to 15% of British society.

The lower and middle classes, who make up 80% of the population, mainly rely on rental, pirated, and secondhand book markets for their cultural and entertainment needs. Even if they occasionally splurge, they will at most buy a weekly newspaper for four pence.

Although "Spark" can reach these groups of people, it is not, after all, a political news program.

The Times, a political newspaper that Imperial Publishing could influence, was never the first choice for the lower and middle classes.

This resulted in Arthur being able to influence the views of the upper and middle classes who held political power through imperial publications, but it was difficult for such positive views to penetrate into the broader social sphere.

The Imperial Publishing's weakness in political news meant that their ability to spread rumors and stir up trouble was even inferior to that of underground tabloids with weekly operating costs of less than £5. Because of this, every move they made appeared overly formal and righteous, which greatly limited the effectiveness of Arthur's underhanded tactics.

However, if Imperial Publishing wants to start afresh in the increasingly competitive news industry, it will probably take three to five years to see initial results.

Moreover, for Arthur, running a newspaper and running a literary magazine are two completely different things.

By publishing a literary magazine, he can easily find a bunch of hidden gems among authors who have yet to shine, and quickly build popularity by publishing a series of hit novels.

Running a newspaper well isn't something that can be easily accomplished by simply poaching two editors-in-chief and reporters.

Even when he was running a literary magazine, he almost messed things up with "Spark." Therefore, learning from his mistakes, Arthur remained cautious about expanding into the news business.

Moreover, after Arthur met a penny reporter like Mr. Lewis, his understanding of the news industry deepened.

Since major newspapers frequently use articles from penny reporters, it would be better to start from the source rather than personally running a newspaper.

In the eyes of 19th-century politicians, public opinion was a strange thing.

If you want to guide it, you must never hug it head-on, because if you get too close it will run away.

If you want to control it, you can't be too obvious about it, after all, people in this line of work all consider themselves superior.

But if you're willing to give them a little sweetness, a little hint, and a little "unofficial official news" that can boost sales, then these people, if not completely subservient to you, will at least show you great respect.

These unspoken rules are generally known to London politicians.

However, most people haven't realized that dealing directly with newspapers still carries risks. While some journalists are highly ethical, the vast majority are incredibly loose-lipped. Furthermore, to get them to speak favorably of you, you have to appease the editors and resident reporters, and the price to pay is never small.

but……

What if you used the money and information used to bribe newspapers to befriend a penny-pincher?

There are generally only two ways for a penny journalist to make a living.

One method is to write the truth while hungry.

One method is to write rumors to fill one's stomach.

Unfortunately, those who survive in this industry are mostly the latter.

If Arthur wants to influence readers who live off penny tabloids, he has to establish himself among them.

After all, he couldn't expect The Times to help him win the battle of public opinion on the streets, because The Times' review process was too strict, and its professional ethics were among the highest in the industry.

He couldn't expect The Englishman to quell the opposition with just a couple of satirical articles. After all, the magazine was too petty-bourgeois, and publishing articles in The Englishman would be like self-promotion, easily giving away his true colors.

And this is the crucial moment when Arthur relies on the penny reporter.

If Arthur could give them the story, the materials, the clues, and everything controversial...

They could then spontaneously help Arthur build an impenetrable network among the lower and middle classes, subtly weaving his message into it.

Moreover, under Lewis's influence, Arthur had already figured out the temperament of this type of person.

One-penny journalists never write for the truth, but they're willing to write for the money. They won't speak out for morality, but they're willing to praise a character for the sake of recognition. Most importantly, because they don't have a newspaper backing them, they're generally afraid to "sit" at Scotland Yard.

Arthur sighed softly in front of Victoria: "Your Majesty... actually, I've been dealing with the issues with those articles these past few days."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Victoria's eyes. She knew that Arthur would definitely not sit idly by and ignore those articles.

Arthur hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I suspect that someone is deliberately trying to bribe journalists in an attempt to undermine public trust in the royal family through insinuations. I've been following the leads for two days and have indeed found the names of several journalists."

"You...you found out?!"

Arthur smiled wryly, as if he felt that saying something would worry her, but he had to say it: "I brought them to Scotland Yard one by one and told them, in the gentlest tone I could, that defaming the Royal Family is a serious crime. Especially defaming His Majesty."

Victoria gripped the hem of her skirt tightly: "And then? Did they promise you they'd behave themselves from now on?"

“Yes, at least they’ve calmed down these past two days.” Arthur nodded. “Because after I warned them, they’ve organized their forces… and started attacking me instead.”

Victoria was incredulous: "Attack you? Why?"

Arthur smiled helplessly: "Because they think I'm interfering with press freedom. They know I can't really arrest all the journalists and bring them to Scotland Yard, plus I have some past grudges with some people on Fleet Street, so this is a perfect excuse for them. Several newspapers have already published articles today saying that I'm trying to use the name of the Royal Family to control the media and secretly suppress the opposition for you, and there's even one... saying that I did this at your behest."

Victoria's face turned pale instantly: "Me? I never..."

“I know.” Arthur looked somewhat guilty. “Of course you didn’t. It was all because of my own actions. Your Majesty, I wasn’t careful enough. My intention was just to shield you from those malicious reports… but now it seems… I’m afraid I’ve gone too far.”

Hearing this, Agares, who had been watching the show from the window, took a affected sip of his red wine: "Yes! It really went too far. I've seen plenty of people who pay others to say nice things over the years. But Arthur, you're truly the first person in history to pay others to write articles attacking you."

Victoria was speechless for a moment.

She originally thought Arthur would only offer a few words of comfort, but she never expected that he had done so much for her in private, even getting himself into trouble because of it.

Arthur looked up, appearing somewhat tired. "Your Majesty, now everyone is pointing the finger at me. If we continue the investigation, it will only give those who spread rumors and cause trouble ammunition. They will say that the government is using the police to suppress the media, which is the complete opposite of the truth."

He gave a slight, bitter smile. "Of course, I personally don't care that much about my reputation; after all, it was ruined in 1832. But... Your Majesty, they've dragged you into this. I'm worried that if I continue to be so hardline, those articles targeting me might eventually turn into accusations that you're using the police to interfere with press freedom." Victoria, upon hearing this, could no longer remain seated. "Arthur, you haven't done anything wrong! I... how could I blame you?"

Her voice trembled slightly, and besides anger, it also sounded like she was suppressing a kind of distress.

She never expected that Arthur had already taken bullets in the shadows while protecting her.

Arthur shook his head and apologized to her again: "Your Majesty, if this incident has implicated you... then the blame lies entirely with me."

“Arthur…you…how could you say that?” Victoria’s breath hitched. She said with heartache, “You are…you are one of the few people who truly care about me.”

Arthur was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, stood up, and said, “Your Majesty… I can only leave the choice to you now. If you wish, I can continue the investigation; I can bring those people to Scotland Yard one by one and make them understand the price of slandering the Royal Family. I am not afraid of them, and I have never been. But…”

Victoria immediately seized on that word: "But what?"

Arthur stared intently into her eyes, his gaze, for the first time clearly pleading, "But I beg Your Majesty, do not pursue this matter further at this critical juncture. This is not for my sake, but for yours."

Victoria fell silent upon hearing this.

Arthur nodded, lowering his voice as if afraid of startling her: "Your Majesty, you have been on the throne for less than three months. The entire country is now watching your every move, and any unnecessary action will be interpreted as 'the young queen trying to control speech'."

“But I clearly didn’t!” Victoria’s voice trembled with grievance.

“I know you haven’t,” Arthur said softly, “but I’m worried that some people… are waiting for you to do so.”

The phrase "We've been waiting for you to do that" sent a chill down Victoria's spine.

Those shadowy figures lurking in the dark, those high-ranking Tories politicians crowding the parliamentary corridors, those who planned to seize power again by taking advantage of her mistakes—all reached out to her, just waiting for her to make the slightest error.

Victoria's expression turned extremely unnatural. She desperately wanted to seek justice for Arthur, but reason told her she couldn't.

Arthur lowered his gaze before her: "Your Majesty, this is not your fault, but because you are too young and too dazzling. Anyone who wants to seize the power of public opinion will not let go of any opportunity to bring you down."

He looked up and said softly, "So... I hope you can allow me to put this on hold for now. At least until your current political situation stabilizes, before the shadow of His Majesty William's death has faded, and while Parliament is still redistributing power... don't hand them a knife."

Victoria seemed to be trying to suppress the grievances and anger in her chest. She raised her head and said, "Then... Arthur, what if I insist on investigating?"

Her fingers clenched white. Victoria could tolerate attacks on her personally, but she found it very difficult to ignore Arthur's act of taking a bullet for her.

Arthur looked at her, his eyes flickering slightly.

It wasn't because I was moved, but because I had a headache.

If those news reports had targeted Victoria, he would have likely summoned the relevant personnel long ago. However, the Viscount of Melbourne was also involved. As one of the most distinguished alumni of the University of London, Arthur had little interest in defending the Prime Minister who had ostracized Lord Brougham and the Earl of Dalamore.

He came to Buckingham Palace today just to find a reason to shut Victoria up beforehand, to stage a self-inflicted injury so that this good student of his respected teacher wouldn't assign him this kind of work.

But now it seems that Victoria is very angry about the Fleet Street reports of the attack on Arthur, and is even willing to damage her reputation to take a hard line against tabloid reporters.

Fortunately, Arthur had a contingency plan. Seeing this, the secretary-general of the police professional committee decisively and rapidly moved towards the second phase.

After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, if you insist, I will certainly comply."

Victoria's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief; she had been worried that Arthur would reject her whims.

But the next moment, her heart was once again gripped by Arthur's words.

"but……"

"but?"

Arthur looked up at her: "I must be honest with you. Investigating is not the best way to solve the problem."

Victoria was stunned: "Why?"

Arthur slowly sat back down in his chair in front of her: "Because, Your Majesty, the best way to cover up a news story... is never to suppress the news."

He paused, giving Victoria enough time to process his words: “Instead, create another, bigger news story. A story big enough, noisy enough, big enough to set the whole Fleet Street ablaze.”

He let out a soft breath: "As soon as news like this appears... your little saga with the Viscount Melbourne will soon be forgotten."

Victoria's breathing became erratic: "You...you're trying to create a news story?"

“No.” Arthur shook his head: “I’m going to release the news.”

Victoria was stunned: "Announce... announce what?"

Arthur pushed the thick, radical draft of the Police Act on the table forward a few inches.

Victoria's heart raced at that moment.

Everything that happened today suddenly connected in her mind.

Why is Arthur in such a hurry to come to Buckingham Palace today?
Why did he submit the draft opinion ahead of schedule, contrary to his usual practice?

Why was even the Viscount of Melbourne unaware beforehand that there was a radical version of the Police Bill?
Why did he pretend to be clueless when I asked him for his opinion on those reports?

He wasn't unaware; he knew everything, but he had planned it all in advance.

If I hadn't pressed him today, he was even prepared to say nothing at all, and instead, without hesitation, push himself into the fire and take the blame for me...

Victoria knew that once this radical version of the proposal was published, all those dissatisfied with police reform—from London to Manchester, from Liverpool to Bristol—would turn their anger toward Arthur.

He will soon become the best target in all of Britain.

Arthur didn't explain further, only shaking his head with a helpless smile: "Your Majesty..."

Victoria's throat tightened slightly: "Arthur, you..."

Arthur didn't say much, just smiled and waved his hand: "Who cares who you spoke to yesterday in front of such big news? Who will keep dredging up an outdated court rumor? When the whole country is debating whether the police department is undermining local autonomy traditions, no one will waste their attention on slandering your personal relationships."

Victoria stared at him, stunned.

For the first time, she realized that the man's frequent saying about "taking a bullet" was not just a metaphor.

He really would get the whole of London to shoot at him.

Arthur said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, this is why I recommended the radical reform version to you today. Not because it is perfect, for it is far from perfect. Nor because it is safe, for it is not safe at all. But even though it is neither perfect nor safe, it is still the most suitable at present.”

(End of this chapter)