## Chapter 112: The Hero Returns
On the deck of the Conqueror, General Codrington enthusiastically pointed towards the city emerging on the coastline ahead, regaling Arthur with its rich history.
This was the headquarters of the Channel Fleet, and the oldest naval base in the history of Great Britain – the Portsmouth Naval Base.
As the birthplace of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Naval Base boasted a proud tradition of overseas operations.
Even during the Roman Empire, Portsmouth had been established as a fortress, with the ancient Portchester Castle on the north side of the harbor being one of the remnants left by the Romans.
During the later Viking Age, it served as a frontline fortress against Viking invasions.
In the 14th century, during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, Portsmouth acted as the forward base for the Plantagenet dynasty’s operations against France.
The naval tradition here began in 1496 with the establishment of the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard. In 1540, the Royal Navy officially declared its establishment there.
From the deck, Arthur gazed out at Portsmouth, witnessing only the distinctive red brick buildings and white lighthouses characteristic of the Royal Navy.
Beyond that, there were the towering fortress walls that enveloped the entire city, and the defensive gun emplacements armed with shore batteries.
In the distance, on the sea, the legendary Royal Navy warship, “Victory,” could be seen.
This ship, which had served as the flagship of renowned Royal Navy admirals John Jervis and Horatio Nelson, and witnessed the triumph of the Battle of Trafalgar, was spared from demolition after being retired from active service in 1812, thanks to special approval from the Admiralty.
Furthermore, the Admiralty allocated funds to refurbish and modernize the aging Victory at the Portsmouth Dockyard, allowing it to continue serving as the flagship of the Portsmouth Base Commander.
As the last rays of the setting sun cast their glow, the Conqueror and the Impetuous towed the heavily damaged Beagle and Blackthorn into the harbor.
On the dock, a large contingent of Royal Navy sailors and British journalists, who had somehow gotten wind of the event, were already waiting.
The Conqueror slowly furled its sails and dropped anchor. The sailors stood at the railings on the side of the ship, their expressions solemn, their heads held high.
As soon as the Conqueror came to a halt, the garrison sailors who were already waiting on shore immediately lowered the gangplank, creating a long stairway for disembarkation.
The sailors on board, following protocol, took out the red carpet they had prepared earlier. They held one end, letting the other end roll down the gangplank.
General Codrington, wearing a red cape, stood before the gangplank and scanned the scene, feeling like something was missing.
He turned his head and realized that Arthur was standing behind him, alongside Captain Fitzroy of the Beagle.
Codrington chuckled and shook his head, then put his arms around the two men and pushed them to stand beside him.
Captain Fitzroy was taken aback. “General…”
Codrington said with a wry smile, “I have no aspirations left, but you two are still young. Besides, this is the honor you deserve. Young men, you should strive for what you want, don’t always hang back. In the Royal Navy, they won’t see it as humility, they’ll just think you’re not very bright.”
Arthur replied, “Your words are true for Captain Fitzroy, but sir, I am not part of the Royal Navy.”
Codrington raised his finger and shook it, smiling at Arthur.
“I heard everything from Fitzroy just now. I can assure you that the Royal Navy is honored to have such an outstanding boarding commander. But the key is that Sir Peel persuaded First Sea Lord Thomas Hardy.
If Sir Peel is willing to let go someday, then I can assure you that the Royal Navy welcomes your joining at any time. My promise to you still stands, because I do need a scientific secretary who is both intelligent and strong.”
As soon as General Codrington finished speaking, the sound of synchronized running reached them from the dock.
Two lines of sailors in neat uniforms lined up along the dock. At the end of the dock stood an old man with white hair, a cane, dressed in full senior officer uniform, his chest adorned with medals. His back was slightly hunched, and even his walk was a bit shaky.
That was the Portsmouth Naval Base Commander – General Edward Pellew.
The old man, leaning on his cane, slowly walked towards the Conqueror, the medals on his chest clinking with each step.
He slowly raised his head, the sea breeze lifting his white eyebrows.
The old man took a deep breath, raised his cane, and slammed it down.
Then, his voice, though old, was strong enough to be heard across the entire harbor.
“Congratulations to the Royal Navy Channel Fleet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on their victorious return!”
At the old man’s command, the gun emplacements on the fortresses in Portsmouth harbor thundered in succession.
The sailors on the dock raised their muskets in unison and fired a salute into the sky.
Codrington gently patted Arthur and Fitzroy on the back. The two understood.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, three white gloves emerged from the deck of the Conqueror: “For Nelson!”
Then, led by General Codrington, Arthur and Fitzroy stepped down the gangplank, followed by the Beagle’s Marines and the rest of the Beagle’s crew who had distinguished themselves.
General Codrington walked in front of General Pellew, saluted, and then said, “The Channel Fleet has not failed its mission.”
General Pellew nodded slightly and patted Codrington on the shoulder. “I’m getting on in years, from now on, Portsmouth will be yours.”
As soon as Pellew finished speaking, the reporters who had been waiting impatiently surged forward, vying to interview General Codrington.
“General Codrington, can you elaborate on the occurrence and details of this diplomatic incident?”
“Who is the man wanted by the French government?”
“After your defeat in the Ottoman Empire, do you think you will be reinstated by the Admiralty because of this opportunity? I heard that the Atlantic Fleet is considering a change of commander.”
However, Codrington just shook his head when he saw this scene.
He didn’t like dealing with these reporters, because a few years ago, he had been subjected to their fierce attacks after being brought before a court-martial by the Admiralty.
面对他们的采访请求，科德林顿将军一概回绝，他只是冲着他们说道：「就像你们这些记者之前说的一样，我不过是个『虽胜犹败』的二流将军。
所以对于这起事件，我并没有过多的参与，只是像往常那样朝著奥斯曼人开火了而已。
你们如果想问的话，还是去问问我身后负责主办此案的亚瑟·黑斯廷斯警官和贝格尔号舰长罗伯特·菲茨罗伊吧。他们才是这起对法外交案件中真正的幕後英雄。」
语罢，科德林顿便攙扶著佩萊將軍在衛兵的掩護下登上了港口的馬車。
失去了目標的記者們，頓時將注意力的焦點轉移到了亞瑟和菲茨羅伊的身上。
這時，忽然有記者一拍腦袋，他像是想起了什麼。
「亚瑟·黑斯廷斯？这不是那个苏格兰场的最强音吗？」
「这起案子又是他办的？」
「你们别忘了，上次那个大型杀人盗屍案也是由他督辦的。」
「黑斯廷斯？请问哪位是黑斯廷斯先生？」
亚瑟听到這話，悄悄把身子往後一縮。
豈料他剛退後一步，身後便響起了埃爾德的聲音。
「该死！亚瑟，怎么每次出风头的都是你？就連科德林頓將軍也久仰你的大名。你是對於這方面有什麼特別的訣竅吗？改天你可一定得教教我。」
亚瑟抬頭看了眼已經被淹沒在記者包圍中的科德林頓，衝著埃爾德搖頭道：「你很羨慕這種待遇嗎？」
埃爾德低聲罵了一句：「當然了！誰不喜歡出風頭？但每次只要我想出風頭，總會發生點什麼事情讓我不能如意。」
亚瑟聞言微微點頭：「行，那我今天滿足你。」
埃爾德聞言一愣：「怎麼滿足我？」
亚瑟也不說話，他只是按著埃爾德的後背，隨後用力把他往前一推。
隨後指著他高喊了一聲：「亚瑟·黑斯廷斯在這裡！」
「什麼？！」
「在哪裡？！」
記者們聞言紛紛扭頭，他們一個個就像是嗅著了血腥味的鯊魚，轉瞬之間就把埃爾德給吃了個乾淨。
亚瑟從兜里摸出菸斗輕輕點燃，他甩了甩手熄滅火柴，隨後叼著菸斗深深地吸了口氣。
濃煙升起，他的身後只能聽見埃爾德大喊大叫的驚恐嗓音。
「別擠！別擠！什麼？你問我什麼問題？我是怎麼一步步從一個普通的小警察走到這裡的？
這就不得不提我的朋友埃爾德·卡特先生對我的啟發和教導了。你們知道埃爾德·卡特的
大名嗎？
什麼？不知道？那我來告訴你們，他可是倫敦大學古典文學系的高材生，很有涵養
和水平，目前單身未婚，因此急需一位適齡女士來填補他深邃的靈魂與空洞的心靈……」
亚瑟聽到這裡，忍不住搖了搖頭。
正當他打算邁步離開這裡時，忽然，一隻手從後面伸出，拽住了他的袖子。
亚瑟回頭一看，那竟然是張熟臉。
那是已經辭去法庭書記員工作，目前專職進行採訪報導工作的狄更斯。
亚瑟打趣道：「怎麼你也來了？要和我去吃個晚飯，順便喝個茶嗎？」
誰知狄更斯聽了這話，只是輕輕壓低帽檐，他小聲道：「亚瑟，在這裡見到你真是謝天謝地。」
「怎麼了？」
「你還不知道吧？曼徹斯特-利物浦客運鐵路的通車儀式上，出大事了！」
(本章完)