Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 1231 Long Live the King
Charles II made an excellent first impression on everyone. This king was not arrogant and disdainful like those nobles; on the contrary, he was approachable, kind and friendly.

Upon seeing the group, Charles II not only quickly memorized their names but also kindly helped each of them up and chatted with them amicably. This approach helped to build rapport and ease their nervousness. Under Charles II's influence, everyone gradually calmed down, and their initial tension at meeting the King transformed into gratitude and respect.

Prince Hui watched this scene with a smile. Charles II's actions were something he had secretly planned long ago. His main purpose in returning to England was to win over various parties and prepare for reclaiming the throne. Charles II's biggest rival at present was Richard, the heir to the Lord Protector. Although the English clergy and nobles were already keen to welcome Charles II back and had clashed fiercely with Richard, this was only the beginning, and the final outcome was still unknown.

Moreover, it wouldn't be easy for Charles II to regain the throne. If someone in England opposed his restoration, or even if other European countries were to influence him and prepare to establish a new king, Charles II would face an even more serious problem.

Therefore, even if Charles II returned to England, he wouldn't be guaranteed to reclaim the throne. He would need to make certain gestures to gain more support. Compared to the European nations, Prince Hui, well-versed in history, understood a crucial principle: in such situations, a monarch's charisma often plays a key role, and demonstrating this charisma requires the monarch to act with respect and demeanor that inspires admiration and approachability.

This is similar to Liu Bei in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Liu Bei, with only a vaguely defined status as a member of the imperial clan, eventually became the emperor of Shu Han, relying on his personal charisma. He treated his ministers well, like a gentle breeze, respected the virtuous and learned, and was unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness...

Even these superficial measures can have a significant effect, especially on ordinary people and lower-ranking nobles. Furthermore, by winning over the nobles, officials, and commoners of Dover, the first step in landing in England would be successfully completed. From there, a foothold could be established, allowing for a northward march that would gather more supporters around Charles II, ultimately influencing English politics and forcing fierce infighting among the clergy and high-ranking nobles in London, including Parliament and Richard, thus paving the way for the restoration of the monarchy.

It must be said that Charles II, having lived in the Ming Dynasty for several years, carried out Prince Hui's suggestions quite well. Moreover, Charles II was a man of considerable charisma; his few words and demeanor captivated everyone, leading Robert and his men to believe that he was a good king, the kind of monarch the British people needed.

After making a show of themselves at the dock, Robert and his entourage then remembered to take Charles II to Dover.

Charles II, of course, did not refuse this suggestion. He readily agreed, allowing Robert and others to lead the way, and then his guards escorted him towards the nearby city of Dover. Along the way, Charles II declined Robert's offer to prepare a carriage for him, smiling and saying that he had not returned to England for a long time. Now that he had set foot on his homeland, as king, he wanted to see England in its current state, to get close to his people, and to understand their lives and needs.

This attitude further increased everyone's goodwill towards Charles II. The group walked and talked, and when they were about to arrive in Dover, the sheriff and others who had heard the news finally arrived. Upon seeing His Majesty the King, they hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Charles II remained amiable and friendly upon their arrival, exchanging a few pleasant words with them to dispel their concerns. He then proceeded to the city center accompanied by these individuals.

Dover was in an uproar. The news of Charles II's landing and arrival spread like wildfire, and the city center was soon teeming with people. There were ordinary officials, sons of lower-ranking nobles, local gentry, merchants, artisans, and commoners, even the poor and beggars from the city, all eager to catch a glimpse of the king.

Faced with this scene, Charles II remained unfazed. He refused the sheriff's offer to expel the people to ensure his safety and instead walked among the crowd, warmly greeting everyone. This gesture earned him countless cheers and applause. Among these cheers were shouts of "Long live the King! Long live His Majesty!" As time went on, the latter shouts grew louder and louder, eventually resounding throughout the city. The entire city was filled with celebration of His Majesty's arrival and the appearance of this monarch.

Finally arriving at the city hall in the city center, Charles II ascended the steps and, facing the densely packed crowd, delivered a speech. The speech was not long, but its words moved everyone who heard it to tears, further strengthening their resolve to support the king.

In front of everyone, Charles II stated three points.

First, he's back! He's returned to his homeland, Great Britain. As the King of Great Britain, he has finally returned after years of exile.

Secondly, his purpose in returning this time was to reclaim his rightful throne, a fact acknowledged by God. Moreover, he was not only King of England, but also King of Ireland and Scotland, and rightfully deserved to reclaim his crown and rule the country. Thirdly, Charles II declared that since the past was past, it should be left in the past. England, its people, and himself as king should look forward. He, as king, and with God's witness, would treat all his subjects well and pardon all those who had erred in the civil war, even his enemy, the deceased Lord Protector Cromwell. Since he had returned to God's embrace, God had already punished him, and he, as a human emperor, had no need to dwell on past issues. If his successor, Richard, could abandon those unrealistic ideas, he, as king, could also pardon him.

Over the years, Britain has suffered greatly due to internal strife. Its national strength has declined, and its people are struggling. As King, he was deeply troubled by this. One mistake is enough; the future requires everyone to work together to revitalize the nation, not to continue those pointless conflicts.

If everyone puts aside hatred and joins hands to govern the country well, the country will surely become strong and the people will surely become wealthy. Britain will then be able to escape the predicaments of recent years, rise again, and become a powerful nation in Europe and even the world.

Finally, Charles II concluded his brief speech with a resounding "Long live England!" These words captivated and thrilled everyone present. After Charles II proclaimed "Long live England!", countless others echoed his own cry of "Long live the King!"

That very day, Charles II moved into the city hall and immediately met with officials and nobles of Dover. He won them over with his personal charm and secured their loyalty. Subsequently, Charles II, as King of England, formally announced his return, sending the news from Dover to the rest of England. This news, along with the content of Charles II's previous speeches, spread like wildfire throughout England. Within days, nobles of varying ranks from nearby Dover either came in person or sent their heirs to pay homage to the King, expressing their loyalty. Their support led to the formation of an army. Although initially small, numbering only a few hundred, the number of recruits steadily increased, growing to nearly a thousand within a week.

By this time, Charles II was no longer a figurehead king. He had not only established a foothold in Dover but also gained the support of the surrounding regions. In addition, he had the support of an army of over a thousand men, backed by his elite 1,000 Eight Banners troops, the strongest fighting force in the region, and musketeers provided by his father-in-law. Charles II now possessed sufficient means to protect himself.

That wasn't all. News of Charles II's return to England quickly reached London. London was now at the height of its power struggle. Richard, as Lord Protector, was in a state of utter distress. Since his father Cromwell's death, although he had succeeded him as Lord Protector, Richard, whose prestige and abilities were far inferior to his father's, found himself in a precarious position, like sitting on a volcano.

Perhaps because Cromwell had been too repressive and ruthless towards his political enemies, countless opposition groups emerged after his death. These people were unwilling for Richard to continue to hold power as Lord Protector of England and strongly demanded his resignation and the return of Charles II as King of England.

In reality, their conflict is nothing more than a struggle for power. European countries are different from China. Since Qin Shi Huang unified China, it has been a centralized country where the emperor holds supreme power and is the symbol of the nation. In addition to nobles, those who govern the country must also hold official positions, and all these powers derive from the emperor. This political structure has continued for thousands of years.

However, the European countries are different. Their political structure is similar to that of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The king, as the monarch, is merely a nominal symbol of the state. In reality, most of the power is in the hands of the nobles. In addition, due to religious beliefs, the power of the church or papacy is also strong. The state power is controlled by the king, the clergy, and the nobles, thus forming a balance.

Once this balance is broken, it will inevitably lead to war and conflict. This is why Charles I was beheaded. Charles I attacked the church for the sake of state power, and at the same time dissolved Parliament in an attempt to seize power from the nobles, even at the cost of starting a civil war.

Unfortunately, Charles I ultimately failed, which was the fundamental reason he ended up on the guillotine. Afterwards, Cromwell seized power through military force, eliminated his political rivals, and finally consolidated his power, calling himself Lord Protector. In reality, he placed his power above the church and the nobility, becoming the true ruler of England.

In this respect, Cromwell accomplished what Charles I failed to do. The political structure of Britain changed from a tripartite balance to one where Cromwell held absolute power. Apart from lacking the title of king, Cromwell wielded more power than the king, subtly resembling the centralized power structure of China.

How could the clergy and nobles tolerate this? Yet they were powerless against Cromwell, because military power was in Cromwell's hands, and with his prestige and methods of constant suppression, other forces were simply unable to resist during Cromwell's reign in England.

(End of this chapter)