Shadow of great britain

London, Westminster, Chancery Hall.

As soon as Arthur got out of the car, he saw several rows of Guardsmen patrolling side by side on Whitehall Street.

He lit the fire out of habit, looked at the group of guys riding tall horses, and murmured: "So rigorously prepared? This is not the point of preventing and controlling cholera, right? Has anything happened in London recently?"

Louis, who accompanied him, said: "It is true that the cavalry was not sent out to prevent cholera. I had a brief chat with other police secretaries in the hall this morning. They said that parliamentary reform, Swain's riot, and cholera again In addition, the shooting incidents in Liverpool are all crowded together, so now everyone's nerves are highly tense, whether in parliament or in the cabinet.

Although there were no major disturbances in London during this period, small-scale riots occurred one after another, with one or two occurring almost every day. It is said that the Duke of Wellington once suggested sending out the army to solve the problem, but was later dissuaded by Sir Peel. However, in view of the current lack of security forces in London, the Ministry of the Interior finally decided to send disarmed Cavalry Guards to participate in patrols. "

"Is that so?"

Arthur glanced at the passing Guards Cavalry: "No wonder they all have a civilized staff on their waists. If you didn't tell me, I would have thought these guys stole it from Scotland Yard."

When Louis heard this, he said with a strange face: "A noble cavalryman can still steal things?"

"Noble? They have long ceased to be noble."

Arthur said: "Although most of the Guards Cavalry were children of nobles in the past, because of the war between Britain and your uncle, almost all the children of the nobles died in the first batch. If we still insist on this selection standard, then we The soldiers will definitely not be able to keep up. Therefore, since then, the standard of the Guards Cavalry has been lowered to that of good citizens."

Louis replied: "France is not much better. When the average quality of French soldiers was at its highest, it was also at the beginning of the Revolution. When my uncle led them into Central Europe, many Germans and Swiss were considered tall and handsome. His appearance, clean and beautiful appearance and military uniform attracted him, so he joined the French army and served.

In the later stages of the Napoleonic Wars, it was not only impossible to ensure that the soldiers were tall and handsome, but even the uniforms of the soldiers could not be guaranteed to be uniform. When marching, they walked like a rainbow, which was really ugly. The worst part is that many of these people are gangsters who have just been released from prison, so as you know, it is difficult for you to find any military discipline from this group of people, let alone chivalry. "

Arthur took a puff of his cigarette: "It seems that in this regard, Britain and France are really inseparable. When I chatted with the Duke of Wellington before, he mentioned this matter to me."

As soon as Louis heard Wellington's name, he was immediately interested. In addition to studying his uncle, his biggest hobby is studying this uncle's lifelong enemy.

"What did your Excellency the Duke say?"

Arthur thought about it for a moment, and immediately imitated the old Duke's cold and impatient tone.

"During the Peninsular War, I led a proud iron army. They were always able to implement my orders and risked their lives for it. To see such outstanding young men sacrificing their lives is always... It makes people feel sad, which is why I hate war.

But when it came to the Battle of Waterloo, it was another story. At that time, I was leading a bunch of British social trash. Sneaking, committing crimes, not obeying military discipline, just asking them to walk in a queue seemed like it could kill them. That's why I never considered Waterloo the greatest moment of my life. I had no interest in standing in the garbage. "

When Louis heard this, he couldn't help laughing out loud: "It seems that great people always have similarities, whether they hate soldiers and ruffians or advocate the use of force to suppress riots. However, the Duke of Wellington's character is compared to mine My uncle is still more restrained. If my uncle were in the position of the Duke of Wellington, he would not listen to Sir Peel and would not agree to let the Guards Cavalry change to the Civilization Rod."

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly remembered the previous book "The Biography of Napoleon".

He took a deep breath of the cold air on the streets of London: "Your Majesty the Duke's reserved personality is Britain's luck. As far as I know, in the past half century, the barricades of Paris were only deflated when facing Napoleon."

Louis also knew what Arthur was talking about.

Napoleon got his start by helping the Thermidorians suppress the Portuguese uprising. When the Royalists broke out in a large-scale uprising in Paris, Napoleon responded with forty cannons. The Paris barricades, which Louis XVI and others could not handle life or death, only lasted for an hour in front of Napoleon.

Louis also knew that this kind of dark history was not easy to put on the table, but he did not answer directly, but changed his words to cover up his embarrassment.

"My uncle did go too far that time. If it were me, I would definitely do it more appropriately than him."

Arthur raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Really? Are you going to reason with the mob?"

"No, I don't do stupid things like that. I like to nip things in the bud."

Louis raised his head confidently, picked up the Liverpool urban renewal document and waved it towards Arthur: "If one day I am lucky enough to serve France, then I will completely transform Paris. I must transform the winding narrow alleys in Paris. It's all straightened out, and no one can build a fucking barricade in Paris."

"It sounds good. At least it's much better than a cannon."

Arthur held his pipe in his mouth and said: "It seems that it is indeed a wise move for you to participate in drafting the Liverpool urban renewal plan this time. Regardless of what the Ministry of Finance and Parliament think of this thing, at least you have gained experience from it."

Arthur and Louis were chatting when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a young affairs officer in his twenties walking down the steps of the Chancery Hall.

That was Edwin Chadwick, private secretary to Lord Justice Brougham.

Chadwick was about to get on the carriage, but suddenly he noticed someone was next to him. He turned his head and met Arthur's eyes.

"Superintendent Hastings?"

Arthur raised his hand and greeted him with a smile: "We meet again."

Chadwick noticed the needle thread in the corner of Arthur's eyes, and suddenly felt a little sorry. He turned around and apologized: "What happened to you in Liverpool has been spread all over Whitehall Street. I asked you to risk your life to go there to supervise the smuggling affairs and For cholera prevention and control, we did not assign enough manpower to you. This is really a lack of consideration on our part."

"No need to apologize."

Arthur smiled and waved his hand: "There are many officers in the Royal Navy and Army who are missing arms and legs. The Duke of Wellington is deaf in one ear, and General Nelson also lost an arm early that year. Although I am not a soldier, But as a police officer, I have been mentally prepared for injuries."

Although Arthur said this, as one of the main people who proposed sending Arthur to Liverpool, Chadwick felt a little embarrassed after all.

He patted his chest and promised: "The assassination has happened, and it is useless to regret the past. However, I promise you, we will severely punish the mastermind behind it. The scar on your face is not just yours." It also belongs to the Chamber of Chancery, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the General Administration of Customs and the Central Health Commission which appointed you.”

When Arthur saw what Chadwick said so convincingly, he didn't feel particularly moved.

After all, he knew that the person who really made a difference was not here.

But although Chadwick cannot represent the Chancery, he certainly has value as a close relative of Lord Brougham.

Arthur said: "Edwin, I can't thank you enough for your help. But at this moment, I think we should focus on cholera prevention and control. The document I sent back from Liverpool a while ago, Brewer Did Lord Mu receive it?"

"That report?" Chadwick smiled and nodded: "The report was very detailed, and the inferences about the cause of cholera and the suggestions for related new treatments were also well-founded. After Lord Brougham saw it, that day So I organized a study and discussion with all the medical authorities in the Central Health Commission. It’s just..."

Arthur had already had a premonition about this, and he asked: "Do any of the medical authorities recognize salt supplementation therapy?"

"You guessed it." Chadwick said awkwardly: "However, although they did not approve it, under the persuasion of Lord Brougham, the doctors finally reluctantly agreed to list salt supplementation therapy in the new edition. "Manual for the Prevention of Cholera. But before that, they needed the originator of this treatment to come to London and answer a few questions in their presence."

"what is the problem?"

Chadwick opened the meeting memo in his hand and listed it item by item: "First, why is the saline concentration of the injection 0.9%? Second, why is it necessary to smear the skin at the injection site with alcohol before injection? Third, before using the needle and syringe What’s the point of having to boil it for 10 minutes? Fourth..."

Arthur originally thought that relying on Hardcastle's withheld paper could help explain the health committee members' doubts, but when he heard this, he discovered that although the health committee members did not question Hardcastle's theory, but the common sense issues of the 21st century that he added casually were questioned one by one.

If the health committee members insist on asking Arthur why, he can only tell them that the first item is taught in junior high school biology class. As for the second and third items, it was because he had seen doctors doing this when giving injections in the hospital.

Although this knowledge is common sense in the 21st century, in this era where even the concept of disinfection is not clear, how to explain this reason to doctors is indeed a big problem.

Judging from Arthur's observations of hospitals, if cholera hadn't come and the miasma and contagionists were quarreling over the source of the disease, most hospitals wouldn't even be able to change a clean sheet every day.

In normal times, whether it is a high-end royal hospital or a low-priced street clinic, the operating rooms everywhere are as described by Darwin who abandoned medicine and turned to god. Everywhere is bloody and dirty.

Coupled with the terrifying instruments such as iron saws placed on the operating table, if you walk in here rashly, you will never be able to tell whether you have entered a hospital or a meat processing workshop.

And what's worse is that Hardeskar has medical ethics issues, so he is determined not to be pushed to the table. Otherwise, the big bosses of the Liverpool Committee would definitely expose the issue of his unauthorized autopsy.

If that happens, let alone promoting salt supplement therapy, The Lancet and London Internal Medicine will have to issue a separate issue of medical ethics and put him on trial.

Arthur thought about it for a moment, and suddenly remembered the little fellow Yorkist he knew in Liverpool. At this time, he could only count on this professional young man to come up with some valid reasons for him.

If even he couldn't do it, then Arthur would have no choice but to go to the Teaching Hospital of the University of London to trick Professor Marsden and see if he could get something out of him.

"It's normal for members to have concerns, which actually shows their responsible attitude towards public health. Since I advocated the necessity of salt supplement therapy to the Chancery of Justice, it is naturally my duty to answer their doubts. After I go back today , I will send a letter to Liverpool and they will send experts over soon."

Chadwick also breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this: "This is the best. To be honest, Arthur, if the salt supplement therapy is as magical as you said, then the horrifyingly high mortality rate of cholera will soon be reduced. . In this case, the priests’ mouths will be shut obediently.”

"Priest?" Louis frowned and said, "Are those guys talking nonsense again?"

When Chadwick thought of this, his tone of voice was filled with anger: "That's not true. And it's not just the priests, some thoughtless guys also started to make noises with them. The priests said that cholera was a gift from God. The punishment of a morally corrupt society, and those guys who live in the West End and have nothing to do but have enough to eat take it a step further. They preach everywhere that cholera only affects the poor, and noble and clean gentlemen and ladies like them will not be infected with cholera."

"Is this really the result?"

"of course not."

Chadwick ridiculed: "There was a brainless guy who went all the way to the East End to prove that he would not be infected with cholera. It turned out that he went there in the morning, the symptoms appeared at noon, and the body was taken away at night, and It also infected all his family members. If we hadn't discovered it in time and sent that family to quarantine immediately, a large-scale epidemic would have definitely occurred in the Western District. In my opinion, cholera does not only infect the poor, but also the poor. They only pick out those with low IQs."

Arthur asked: "Fortunately among misfortunes, at least after this time, these people can finally stop, right?"

"Stop?" Chadwick said angrily and laughed: "Arthur, you really overestimate them. What they are saying now is that the reason why that guy got sick is entirely because he is not religious enough. True believers will not be infected. There’s cholera.”

Arthur shook his head helplessly after hearing this: "Why is it always like this? Whenever something happens, it must be blamed on the gods. It is obvious that humans themselves are enough to commit all crimes."

"Otherwise?" Chadwick sighed: "Do you still want them to blame you?"

Having said this, Chadwick suddenly raised his head and glanced at the sky: "It's getting late, and I have to go to the Central Health Committee for a meeting. Are you here to see Lord Brougham? He is inside." Oh, by the way, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Viscount Melbourne, is also here. If you haven’t reported to him yet, it will save you another trip to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

"What is Viscount Melbourne doing here?"

Chadwick smiled and patted Arthur on the shoulder: "Of course it's a good thing. Regarding the preparatory meeting for the establishment of the London District Prosecutor's Office, Arthur, congratulations, the position of Deputy Prosecutor General has basically been determined. But I don’t know whether this is good or bad for you..."

"How do you say this?"

Chadwick replied: "Because your job after taking office is not light. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Chancery Chamber intend to leave the prosecution of Swain riot prisoners to you. But, for the sake of our friendship, I will not Give you some air...

Because Lord Brougham and Viscount Melbourne also knew that it was not easy to do, and it would be easy to lose their reputation if they went wrong. In addition, you have just been shot in Liverpool, so they are also considering compensating you in other ways. "

Arthur felt something was wrong from Chadwick's words: "You mean..."

Chadwick nodded slowly, with a meaningful smile on his face: "Yes, they plan to apply to the Prime Minister to award you a knighthood with a lower rank. Maybe before long, your business card will be Reprinted with a prefix - Sir Arthur Hastings."

When Arthur heard this, not only was there no joy at all, but he held his forehead and said: "It seems that you are right, this job must not be easy."