Noisy noises came from outside the car window from time to time, but Alan Wilson had already practiced the ability to turn a deaf ear, isolating himself from the curry-scented English of the outside world, his young face seemed to have been ironed, and his eyes were not at all
Without moving away from the newspaper in hand, the front page headline stated in a striking headline, "The British Empire is sure to regain the entire Burma within a few months."
"Hey!" He let out a subtle sigh, so low that even the person involved could not hear it. Alan Wilson put away the newspaper and looked out the window calmly. The sound of English hawking with a strong accent had long since disappeared from his ears.
Now the bus has passed through the Delhi Gate and entered New Delhi, the area that later became the capital of India. It is now 1945. The biggest difference between New Delhi and Delhi is that New Delhi is completely British. Because Calcutta is too remote, the British moved the capital of British India.
In the newly built urban areas of Delhi, only British people have lived in New Delhi for a long time.
In 1945, this was the biggest problem that Alan Wilson faced. The British Empire, which had dominated the world for three hundred years, had declined. Although it still had 30 million square kilometers of colonies and five million troops fighting on battlefields around the world.
, but the end of this world war was the beginning of the decline of the British Empire.
Compared to the United States and the Soviet Union, which have two armies of over ten million, one dominates the land and the other dominates the sea, it seems that the post-war world no longer has the position of the former overlord, the British Empire. This makes Alan Wilson, a man who is ready to copy the journey of countless classic protagonists.
Civil servants feel at a loss.
And with the blessing of memories from his previous life, Alan Wilson certainly understood that the clarion call for the disintegration of the British Empire was sounded first on the land beneath his feet, the most important colony of the British Empire in the world, with an area of more than four million square kilometers, British India.
.
And this is simply unstoppable. Not to mention that Alan Wilson is just an inexperienced civil servant. Even if he is now the Governor-General of India, he cannot ignore the independent voice that has become the consensus of British India. All he can think of is to
One day or one day later, what benefits can be gained from it?
After getting off the bus and passing the inspection by the guards, Alan Wilson stood in front of the Governor's Palace of India, which looked like the White House. His eyes swept across the British Indian flag on the dome of the Governor's Palace. He knew the way ahead.
Just ahead.
"Sir, what's wrong with you?" The guard who had just finished the inspection looked at Alan Wilson and said with some humor, "But it's rare to see someone as young as you in the Governor's Mansion."
"I'll take it as a compliment, thank you." Alan Wilson lowered his head slightly and replied with a smile. He also covered up his embarrassment just now and walked towards a building that was somewhat similar to the White House.
The Governor's Palace is full of hurried office workers, and in a well-lit room, the current Governor-General of India, Archibald Percival Wavell, is stretching his hands in front of the fireplace to absorb the heat without turning his head.
He asked back, "Barron, the people from the Muslim League and the Congress Party have left?"
"Yes, Governor, they have already left." The man named Barron looked to be in his forties, with a clean face that had obviously been carefully groomed. He replied seriously, "Every time the two sides meet, the differences seem to be more serious than before.
It’s more, not less, for once, not just for both parties, but for us as well.”
"Damn it, the Prime Minister definitely doesn't want to know this news." Governor Wavell cursed in a low voice, but it was more of a helpless sigh than a curse. Compared with the front line, the British and Indian Army had already invaded Myanmar.
, the public news that he was about to avenge the Japanese humiliation, and the internal disputes that gave him headaches from time to time, could always dilute his good mood as the Governor-General of India.
"They and Ali Jinnah and Nehru they represent really give us a headache. Mr. Governor!" Although Barron still had a calm expression, he had to admit that compared with the world that has seen the dawn of victory,
After the war, the biggest question is whether the pearl of the British Empire is still as shining as it is now.
There was a suffocating awkwardness in the room, and there was no sound except the charcoal fire burning in the fireplace.
Although there are some liberal imperialists in the Conservative Party, they claim that the investment in India and even the entire colony has exceeded output, and they hope that the British Empire will give up the entire colony and stop the current money-losing business.
Just like the reason why Adams, the author of The Wealth of Nations, called for the independence of the thirteen North American states 150 years ago, he believed that British India had become a black hole consuming the wealth of the British Empire just like the original thirteen North American states.
However, this voice is not the mainstream among the Conservative Party. The current Prime Minister of the British Empire, Churchill, has always claimed to defend the glory of the British Empire. However, several leading figures in British India now know that things are far from that simple.
"Inform London, Barron, of the news of the British and Indian Army's penetration into Burma." Governor Wavell withdrew his hands from the fireplace and sighed, "London still hopes for more good news and puts aside the matters of the Congress Party and the Muslim League.
behind."
"Yes, Governor!" Barron agreed with a stylized smile, took a few steps back and walked out of the room.
In the entire Government House of India, as was the norm during the war, everyone was in a hurry, processing information about British India and the entire Southeast Asian battlefield, and seemed very busy.
Barron, who had left Governor Wavell, was waiting for his guest today with a gentle face. At this time, he was not idle, but he was playing chess with himself.
Not long after, the assistant pushed the door open, and Alan Wilson walked in behind him. Barron took the last step without raising his head, finished the game of chess, and then raised his head to look at the young man in front of him.
He stood up and pointed to a place for Alan Wilson to sit down. Then he returned to his seat and took out a stack of document bags. He looked at the person by himself and looked at the person from the corner of his eye, as if he was verifying his identity.
"You are the son of Grote Wilson. I am very sad about your father's passing. He and I have a good relationship!" Barron said while looking at the document. "Born in London in 1924.
Then he followed his father's work and went to live in Hong Kong. Before the Pearl Harbor incident, he obtained extremely important information for the Allies, and then the Hong Kong colony fell to Calcutta. Before the war, you had been admitted to the Oriental College of Oxford University."
Speaking of which, Barron closed the document bag and said, "Your father could have had a bigger job, but it's a pity that there are still more diseases here in South Asia. Allen, you are younger than I thought."
.”
"Maybe this is not an advantage! Entering the Eastern Department is mainly due to my father's work experience." Alan Wilson answered softly, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He had taken advantage of the special environment of the colony to persuade his father in this life to change his age.
When he was three years old, the courses in primary and secondary schools were really not difficult for him. This made his growth experience seem a bit normal.
As for providing information about Pearl Harbor, his original intention was to become a rich second generation who could do anything, and to make his father, a civil servant, prosperous while plating gold. However, things didn't work out, and the responsibility of starting a business fell on his shoulders.
"Very good, but don't be overly modest. Your studies are very good. If the world war hadn't broken out, you could have become the youngest graduate of Oxford University in recent years." Barron sat on the chair and nodded with satisfaction, then changed the subject and asked
He said, "Although I have not completed my studies, I have accumulated some concepts about Oriental studies. What do you think of India?"
Barron knew the purpose of this age group's visit, and Alan Wilson also knew the purpose of the question asked by the civil servant leader. Both parties knew each other's thoughts and understood each other tacitly.
"Huh?" Alan Wilson pondered for a moment and quickly gave the answer, "There is no doubt that during the agricultural era, Eastern countries could accumulate far larger assets than Europe due to their advantages in scale and geographical factors.
of wealth. South Asia is the leader among them. Whether in the past or now, British India has always been the cornerstone of the prosperity of the British Empire and the brightest pearl in the crown."
Barron nodded in approval and heard Alan Wilson continue, "It is precisely because of the wealth created by its extensive colonies that the British Empire can face the attacks of challengers one after another, whether it is Napoleon or William II.
World. India is a land rich in wealth. Oxford University has initiated systematic research on Oriental studies, creating a large number of talents. These talents have a broad vision and understand the nature of the world better than the narrow thinking of other European countries.
"
At the end of the speech, Alan Wilson also praised the University of Oxford. He knew that Barron was also born in Oxford University, which brought the relationship between the two parties closer.
Obviously Barron is very satisfied with this young man who came here. Thinking that the other person's father has a good relationship with him, he also has some support in his heart. In British India, Barron's authority is no worse than that of a few prominent figures.
As a civil servant, Chief Barron quickly asked about his views on British India, the Congress Party and the Muslim League, which are now making trouble from time to time, and his understanding of local Indian politicians such as Gandhi, Nehru and Ali Jinnah.
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Alan Wilson gave his own answers to this and gave some ideas for the future.