SGB Chapter 328

## Chapter 328: Political Deal

As a law enforcement officer, Arthur was well-versed in the art of interrogating suspects.

Hirst’s initial stubbornness stemmed from his belief that he was part of a collective, a group that would protect him.

Unfortunately, in many cases, this was merely an illusion.

All it took was a few pieces of evidence and well-placed questions to expose the cracks in his supposed protection, revealing his isolation from the collective. In such scenarios, few individuals could withstand the pressure of accountability.

Those who could typically wouldn’t dare to single out “healthcare” expenses in their official budgets.

Even someone like Mr. Bernie Harrison, a man known for his lavish lifestyle, knew to spend his own money rather than dipping into the budget of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee he chaired.

Of course, Harrison’s restraint might not be attributed to his intelligence but rather his lack of influence in London.

The Port Director, however, was a prominent figure in Liverpool, at least within his own sphere.

Within the Port Authority, Director Hirst held absolute authority. This tendency to abuse power was a common trait among department heads.

Faced with Arthur’s questions, Hirst quickly sensed an unsettling air of “I’m not targeting everyone, I’m specifically targeting you.”

Gazing at Arthur, whose office was adorned with plaques bearing the names “Magistrates’ Court” and “Customs and Excise,” Hirst jolted awake. He finally realized that this wasn’t the Liverpool Port Authority, his perceived safe haven.

This sense of insecurity further fueled his innate desire for self-preservation. He quickly grasped a fundamental truth: the best choice for an individual may not be the best choice for the group, and vice versa.

While shielding the Liverpool Association might earn him the support of local gentry, what good would that be if the Customs and Excise removed him from his position as director due to the budget issues?

Self-interest was an ingrained human flaw, and the saying “out of sight, out of mind” applied universally.

Could he really expect these profit-driven merchants to remember his kindness?

Years ago, Viscount Goderich, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, survived the scandal of embezzling public funds to maintain his mistress due to his powerful connections. His father, Lord Graham, was a veteran Tory. His uncle was Earl Hardwicke, the former Viceroy of Ireland. His wife was the daughter of the Earl of Buckingham. His brother-in-law was Viscount Castlereagh, the Foreign Secretary who had a significant influence at the Congress of Vienna. Goderich himself was one of the leading figures in the Canningite faction of the Tories.

Therefore, despite the scandal that rocked London, Prime Minister Earl Liverpool chose to downplay the incident instead of removing Goderich from his position. He simply demanded a public apology in the House of Commons and closed the case.

Once the public forgot about the scandal, Goderich even briefly served as the interim Prime Minister for six months after the death of Prime Minister Canning.

However, his tenure was disastrous. His attempts to form a coalition government with the Whigs failed, and he was even rebuked by King George IV as “a damned, sniveling, whining fool.”

The king, who had grown tired of Goderich’s incompetence, finally forced him to resign after six months of failed attempts to form a government. The Duke of Wellington, the leader of the Tory hardliners, was appointed to form a new government.

While Goderich briefly disappeared from public view, he made a triumphant return last year when the Wellington government faltered.

As the Wellington government teetered on the brink of collapse, Goderich declared his separation from the Tories and led a group of Canningite MPs to join the Whigs.

Earl Grey, the leader of the Whigs, welcomed them with open arms. As a sign of respect for Goderich, Grey appointed him as the Secretary of State for War and Colonies upon assuming office.

Although this position wasn’t as prestigious as interim Prime Minister or Chancellor of the Exchequer, it marked a political resurgence for Goderich.

However, Port Director Hirst knew that he couldn’t compare to the Canningite leader in terms of background or connections. While Goderich had a second act, Hirst couldn’t replicate his success.

If he had the ability, he wouldn’t be in Liverpool managing the Port Authority but instead working for the Public Works Commission in London.

For Hirst, losing his position meant true downfall, with no chance of redemption.

This was as clear as the lice on Darwin’s head.

Hirst understood this, and Arthur understood it as well.

While the Liverpool Port Director might seem worlds apart from the prisoners in Newgate Prison, interrogating him was far easier for Arthur.

Seeing Arthur’s silence, Hirst, who had initially appeared relaxed, became restless.

He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his shiny head, then muttered in a conciliatory tone, “Mr. Hastings, financial irregularities are commonplace. It’s like the holes in cheese, some big, some small, but it’s impossible to have none. Besides, it’s a tradition here in the Port Authority. Before William Pitt the Younger became Prime Minister, and before the Customs Department was reorganized, things were even worse.”

Arthur, unfazed, simply smiled and asked, “How did things work in Liverpool back then?”

Hirst, still wiping his brow, replied in a veiled tone, “Let’s just say, in the 18th century, if you wanted to climb the ranks in the Customs Department, marrying a good wife was crucial. Of course, you didn’t get to decide what constituted a good wife, that depended on whether she earned the favor of your superiors.”

“Whew…” Dumas, who was standing by the window smoking, nearly choked on his cigarette. “Britain, always full of surprises.”

Heine, who had repeatedly been rejected by his cousin, was equally shocked. “From this perspective, marrying a German country girl isn’t so bad after all. The sense of security they provide is unparalleled.”

Louis continued to diligently take notes, flipping to a fresh page and asking, “Sir, how would you like me to write this?”

Arthur crossed his fingers and rested his elbows on his knees, leaning back in his chair with a smile. “That depends on Mr. Hirst’s attitude.”

Hirst, after careful consideration, finally gritted his teeth and held up two fingers to Arthur. “Their limit is this much. You’ll be fine if you negotiate within that range. Any more, and they might get scared.”

Arthur nodded slightly and addressed Louis in a loud voice, “Louis, write it down. During Mr. Rhys Hirst’s tenure as Director, the Liverpool Port Authority eradicated the outdated practices of the previous century, ensuring meticulous and clear accounting. They also vigorously prohibited private dealings among employees. Moreover, they fully embraced the free trade spirit advocated by the Cabinet, ensuring that every penny was spent where it was intended…”

Louis kept writing without looking up, asking, “Do we need to specify where those pennies went?”

Hirst quickly intervened, “That’s unnecessary!”

Arthur, however, changed his tone abruptly. “However, in terms of practical implementation, the Liverpool Port Authority has some shortcomings, such as a lack of social services…”

Hirst, whose heart had just settled, immediately felt a surge of anxiety. “Mr. Hastings, where is this coming from?”

Arthur replied, “Mr. Hirst, I’ve been upfront and honest from the moment you walked in. I’ve learned about the Port Authority’s work solely through your words, there’s no fabrication involved. At most, I’ve embellished things slightly.

If I’m not mistaken, you mentioned earlier that the Port Authority’s “healthcare” expenditure was exclusively for the leadership, not for ordinary employees, let alone extending to general social services. Now, I’m using your own words to give you this assessment, which shouldn’t be considered excessive, should it?”

Hirst, gritting his teeth, asked, “Mr. Hastings, isn’t this matter settled?”

Arthur responded, “Mr. Hirst, I’m here for an audit, there’s no settling of scores. The Port Authority’s budget has had this entry every month for the past five years. While the specific amount isn’t large, if the Customs and Excise inquire about it, I can’t simply say it was due to personal negligence.

Furthermore, with the current cholera outbreak, the term “healthcare” is too conspicuous. You need to find a reasonable explanation for it. I’ll give you an evening to come up with a satisfactory written explanation. Two copies, one for the Port Authority to keep, and one for me to take back to London. Finally, don’t forget to stamp it with the Port Authority seal; that will give it legal validity.”

Finally, Hirst understood Arthur’s intentions.

He could let this matter go, but the price of forgiveness was a fabricated reason to deceive his superiors if the truth came out.

Hirst, terrified of both the wolf and the tiger, imagined himself being ousted from his lucrative position as Port Director, perhaps even imprisoned in Newgate. He felt a wave of fear wash over him.

He cautiously asked, “Mr. Hastings, will you be free after the banquet? Or…or tomorrow, any time you’re free, could I spare half an hour of your time to visit my home?”

The French胖子, who had been harboring ill intentions, turned around and said, “Mr. Hirst, you wouldn’t be planning to use some of the Port Authority’s traditional methods, would you?”

“No, no, how could I? Mr. Hastings’ report mentions that those were outdated practices.”

Hirst, drenched in sweat, chuckled nervously. “May I ask, who are you?”

Dumas adjusted his tailcoat, revealing his holster. “I’m a special employee of the London Police Intelligence Bureau, tasked with protecting Mr. Hastings. For security reasons, I believe Mr. Hastings shouldn’t visit you privately.”

Hirst, mistaking Dumas for a troublesome kid, pursed his lips and replied, “Then will you be free to visit the Port Authority tomorrow? I’d like to have a private conversation with you about Mr. Hastings’ security arrangements.”

Heine, seizing the opportunity to cause trouble, piped up, “What about me? Mr. Hirst, I’m the one who writes the articles.”

Hirst, forced to bite his tongue, could only mutter, “All of you, all of you! I’ll be waiting for your arrival at the Port Authority tomorrow morning.”

Seeing Hirst’s demeanor soften like a puddle of mud, Arthur knew he couldn’t push him too hard.

After all, he was a prominent gentleman in Liverpool, and some semblance of dignity needed to be preserved.

Besides, Arthur’s primary goal was never to extort Hirst.

Arthur removed his pipe and said, “Mr. Hirst, there’s no need for all this trouble. Since the budget entry states ‘healthcare’ expenses, you can simply proceed under that heading. However, given that there have been such expenses for five consecutive years, and Port Authority employees are unaware of this, you’ll have to find a different approach.”

Hirst was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Arthur to offer a solution.

“You mean…?”

Arthur pulled out a business card from his pocket and slid it across the table to Hirst. “I met a gentleman today who claimed to be the chairman of the British Child Protection Association. He said the association has been dedicated to sending homeless children abroad. I don’t know if you’ve heard of this.”

Hirst took the card and glanced at it, quickly recalling the incident. “You’re talking about Mr. Brenton, right? He contacted me earlier, mentioning this matter. He said his immigration ship was detained and quarantined by the Port Authority, so there are hundreds of children stranded in Liverpool.”

Arthur asked, “How long has he been doing this? Did the immigration permits follow the proper procedures?”

Hirst rubbed his temples. “It’s been about two years. The immigration permits were indeed obtained through official channels, and the Colonial Office is aware of it. You’re a Scotland Yard policeman, so you should know the Cabinet’s policy.

Britain can’t support so many people, so it’s better to send criminals overseas to make a contribution to the colonies. However, when Sir Robert Peel was Home Secretary, he emphasized a gradual shift away from the harsh law enforcement style and bloody laws of the past.

There are fewer death sentences now than before, and fewer people are being transported. But if these hardened criminals aren’t transported, they’ll end up committing crimes without any money. To address this issue, the Colonial Office has implemented subsidies for overseas immigration, encouraging those who can afford it to leave the country.

Brenton’s Child Protection Association shares the same sentiment, except they take in orphans with no money, who can’t afford the fare even with the subsidies. So they’ve been raising funds and contacting factories and farms overseas, hoping to send these children as apprentices while they’re still young.

Once their apprenticeship is over, they’ll have some money saved, if they’re lucky. Whether they continue working, start a small business, or clear land, it’s better than staying in Britain.

The oldest child at Brenton’s is eleven or twelve, but most children have to support themselves at eight years old. They should be able to make the right decision. And from my personal perspective, I think the criticism of Brenton is completely unwarranted. It’s a bunch of self-righteous, well-fed people whining.

If they came to Liverpool, they’d see that most of the ships leaving for the colonies are filled with farmworkers and craftsmen with some savings. A ship ticket is not cheap, even with the Colonial Office subsidies, it’s not something ordinary poor people can afford. Brenton and his organization are already doing a lot by covering the difference in costs.”

Arthur, upon hearing this, simply said, “Since you think this is a good thing, why not get involved?”

“Huh?” Hirst asked, “You mean…”

Arthur replied, “There are hundreds of children stranded at the Liverpool docks, and it’s a cholera outbreak. If we don’t address their situation properly and allow disease to spread among them, the news will spread, and it won’t just be the Port Authority and the City Council that suffer. I…you know. From this perspective, I think the Port Authority’s establishment of a ‘healthcare’ special expenditure is completely justified and beyond question.”

“Ah…” Hirst was enlightened. “I never considered it from that angle…turning a bad thing into a good thing, that’s a real skill.”

Arthur shook his head with a smile. “There’s no such thing as turning a bad thing into a good thing. If it can be turned into a good thing, it means it was always a good thing, just that people initially misunderstood it.”

As Arthur finished speaking, the door to the smoking room opened, and Gladstone walked in with an elderly gentleman.

“Father, this is Mr. Hastings.”

(End of Chapter)