Chapter 8

Food War (1)

Where is the boundary between freedom and licentiousness?

The answer to this question is that it varies with the times.

Of course, the boundary between freedom and licentiousness, and the scope of rights, can also fluctuate according to one's social status.

In this era, the freedom of the press could be restricted at the will of those in power.

Or rather, it was questionable whether this should be called a restriction.

After all, the press began to practice self-censorship once it sensed the will of those above.

Discussions about the Malthusian Trap and the Poor Prevention Act gradually disappeared.

Naturally, discussions about the abolition of the Poor Law, which had been ongoing, also vanished.

If we must describe it, it could be called a backlash.

The strong will of the newly enthroned king, along with the exhausted politicians and citizens, formed a public opinion that stifled discussions about the Poor Prevention Act, as well as the abolition or revision of the Poor Law.

Amidst this, a new work was released.

Unlike what some feared, the new work, "The Wolf Does Not Howl at the Moon," did not support the Malthusian Trap. On the contrary, it opposed it.

This was somewhat predictable, given that the author, Count Gentian, was a technocrat who argued that social problems could be solved through scientific and technological advancements.

However, the solution he presented in the novel was somewhat convincing.

Abandoned snowfields, such as Siberia, would be transformed into farmland, and the Mediterranean would be reclaimed for agricultural use.

However, this process would inevitably lead to conflicts among nations.

If a single nation were to produce 90% of the world's food, how much power would it wield?

Would other nations have the ability to protect their own food sovereignty?

***

"Accordingly, I declare that the budget for the Food Sovereignty Research Committee has been approved."

The sound of the gavel echoed clearly in the parliament.

After the last agenda item of the day was concluded, the members gathered in small groups and chatted as they left.

"I don't understand what those who opposed the budget increase are up to."

"Tsk, how disgraceful..."

"Disgraceful or not, they need to speak their minds. Haven't they still not come to their senses after being defeated by Napoleon?"

"There are a few ways to protect food sovereignty."

Block the Strait of Gibraltar, or block the Bering Strait to develop Siberia.

Discussions on this were also ongoing at Buckingham Palace.

"To develop Siberia, we must naturally ally with Russia, and to develop the Mediterranean, we need to project influence over the Italian Peninsula."

"Britain cannot be self-sufficient in food alone. As you know, the Continental Blockade was so devastating to us."

The scars of Napoleon's wars have not yet healed.

The encirclement of Britain by European nations remains a source of fear for the British cabinet.

"Perhaps we should discuss improving relations with Russia."

"Improving relations with Russia, you say."

"Can we ally with France? The long-term possibility of food shortages is clear, and we must strengthen our food security. If we do not act now, future generations will blame us."

"Let's propose these two options: the development of Siberia and the reclamation of the Mediterranean. Do you think they are feasible?"

"Reclaiming fertile farmland is indeed possible. The Dutch are proof of this. And with us controlling the Strait of Gibraltar, it's within our reach."

"However, if the Strait of Gibraltar is blocked, even the construction of the Suez Canal would be useless, and the colonization of India would face difficulties. Reclaiming the Mediterranean is not a good choice."

"Russia would agree. If the Bering Strait can be crossed by land, managing Alaska would be much easier. Considering that Alaska and Canada are connected, we can expect significant profits from the Canadian dominion."

"Russia's main exports, as you know, are grains exported through the Black Sea. Long-term contracts for these grains would be beneficial."

"Wouldn't that be meaningless if the sea routes are blockaded?"

"Therefore, we must strengthen our naval power. At the very least, we must maintain the St. Petersburg-London route."

"I understand that Russia has not yet laid down railways."

Britain was the first to start running locomotives, and no other country in Europe, let alone outside Europe, had commercial railway lines. Not even France or Germany.

"Transporting wheat from Ukraine by rail to the ports, and then moving it to London under the protection of our navy, is the absolute defense line that the United Kingdom must protect, even in the worst-case scenario."

Naturally, a friendly relationship with Russia is essential.

Germany has poor food self-sufficiency, Italy is in a state of disunity and chaos, and France, with the Napoleonic Wars alone, is a topic that could be discussed at length. The Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, was the one who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

Thus, among the food-exporting countries in Europe, Britain's only viable ally is Russia, a blood ally during the Napoleonic Wars.

Transporting food from India is possible, but it comes with significant uncertainty.

King William IV, feeling that the ministers' discussions had reached a conclusion, nodded and spoke.

"Propose high-level diplomatic talks with Russia. Even if it takes a hundred years with current technology, we must start now to prevent a major disaster."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Duke of Wellington bowed.

They had not forgotten Napoleon's nightmare, the terror of the Continental Blockade.

If a single nation monopolizes all food supplies and weaponizes them?

Defeat, inevitable defeat, looms.

For the British Empire, with its declining food self-sufficiency, this is a significant threat.

***

While a human calling for a certain masterpiece was writing editorials about Sherlock Holmes in the newspapers, holding a funeral for Sherlock Holmes in London, and signing petitions, and while dredging up "The Adventure of the Empty House" from memory, things were not peaceful across the Dover Strait.

The July Revolution had recently overthrown the Bourbon dynasty and established the Orleans dynasty, but with only 0.7% of the population having the right to vote, workers were angry and France was in turmoil with strikes and protests.

And at the Tuileries Palace, meetings were ongoing.

"Your Majesty, the workers..."

"What do these uneducated vagrants know about wanting to be included in elections? It's only logical that they pay taxes and demand the right to vote."

A noble grumbled.

"Those who incite the ignorant are the problem. We are catching and punishing them, but it's not enough..."

"Your Majesty, may I make a suggestion?"

"Go ahead."

"I've heard that there was a meeting between Britain and Russia."

"Yes."

"This is a significant security threat."

"......?"

"Like during the Napoleonic era, Britain and Russia will ally to target us. The nostalgia for the Napoleonic era is significant among the ignorant, so they will believe the rumors."

"Hmm."

"If that's not enough, there is another method."

"Go on."

The count smiled and placed two books on the meeting table.

"We will distribute these books. We need to spread the word to the illiterate as well. After gathering public opinion, we will pressure Gibraltar in alliance with Mediterranean coastal states. Even without a war, creating tension will solve the problem. Then, we can label the agitators as British or Russian spies and imprison them."

"The count's idea seems good."

Of course, it was not purely out of good intentions.

Most supporters of the July Monarchy are bourgeois.

If a war crisis arises, each country will expand its military and produce weapons, which could lead to a literal windfall for the arms and ammunition industries.

This would be a threefold strategy: rewarding their supporters, silencing the complainers, and dispersing the protests to calm public opinion.

What if a real war breaks out?

'Absolutely not.'

'Britain will not declare war first. What declaration without any allies? And we won't declare war either.'

There is some technological exchange between Russia and Britain? So what? France has also received significant investment from Britain. Just because the heir visited once, does it mean they are allies? Does exchanging gifts between countries mean they are allies?

If a real war seems likely, they would lower the intensity beforehand.

War has been the business of nobles and monarchs since the Middle Ages.

Of course, after the French Revolution, the concept of total war, where all citizens participate, emerged.

However, such a concept is not accepted today.

In modern France, republicanism is remembered as the terror of the previous republic, and mentioning it is taboo after the restoration of the monarchy.

Revolutions cause social instability, emphasize individual rights, and destroy traditions. Ultimately, this makes it impossible to maintain the state, and since humans are completed by the family, nation, history, culture, and religion they belong to, humans cannot exist.

Having patriotism is not a virtue but a necessity, like breathing to live. One must have patriotism to concretize oneself. Thus, patriotism and the social hierarchy maintain the state.

In a society where this is common sense, a government that decides to go to war based on the public opinion of the ignorant is a reversal of the natural order.

Even the subjects of the French Revolution were the bourgeoisie. Those who influence the British Parliament are the wealthy. And they have close economic ties with France. Unless they are prepared to lose everything after the war, they will certainly avoid it.

Moreover, France had no intention of crossing the line, so who could say anything about merely increasing military spending and waging a propaganda war through newspapers? Would they cross the border? Or demand territory? Of course, they would demand the return of Gibraltar, but it would be just talk with no real action.

As long as they do not declare war on Britain first and forget their original purpose, they can sufficiently suppress the annoying socialists.

And as long as the absurd scenario of the ignorant seizing power does not happen, there will be no war with Britain.

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