I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 984: The Terrifying Aspect of Shire

The Parliament building in London, England.

The left-wing and right-wing were arguing fiercely, even beyond just arguing—some individuals were already exchanging blows, and if not forcibly separated by security, they would have erupted into a full-on brawl.

Liberal Party leader Ramsay MacDonald waved the documents in his hand and yelled at the right-wing, his face flushed red from the intensity:

"We should stand with Shire, for he is the one who is correct."

"Do you know why the Germans refuse to accept our negotiations?"

"Because you always think of war, think of the interests of capitalists, think of your own wallets, this is the fundamental reason why England is so passive!"

"You must be responsible for the mistakes you have made, this has nothing to do with anyone else!"

...

(Above is Ramsay MacDonald, a leading figure of the British left during World War I. He became the Prime Minister of the UK in 1924. The left-wing generally supports the working class and social reform, with MacDonald advocating for peace through negotiation and opposing unlimited war mobilization.)

Prime Minister Lloyd George heavily banged the gavel on the podium, which emitted a loud "bang bang," accompanying his angry shout: "Quiet, quiet!"

(Above is the gavel, used to maintain order and control the rhythm)

After a while, the parliament finally calmed down, and the members focused their gaze on the Prime Minister.

"The issue now is not the attitude with which we handle this," George emphasized facing the left-wing:

"It is how we solve this problem."

"You constantly stress negotiations and oppose war; we agree on negotiations, and that’s exactly what we’re doing."

"However, the Germans do not agree to negotiate."

The left-wing let out a series of boos.

MacDonald loudly questioned: "Is it the Germans who refuse to negotiate?"

Then he waved the document in his hand toward the row of members on either side and turned his gaze to the podium again:

"Let’s hear the terms of negotiation proposed by Britain."

"Germany must unconditionally release all prisoners of war, while we have no prisoners for exchange."

"Germany must compensate Britain 13 billion US Dollars while compensating the United States 10 billion US Dollars. Yet, France only requires a 2 billion US Dollar compensation!"

"France, that’s Shire-led France. They defeated the Germans and only require 2 billion, yet we demand 13 billion!"

"Prime Minister, please tell me, on what basis do you think we can obtain a compensation many times more than France? Is it because capitalists have such demands?"

The left-wing members let out a series of mockery, shouting chaotically:

"This isn’t negotiation, this is extortion, no one will agree to such negotiation terms!"

"You intentionally sabotage the negotiations, you don’t want peace because you’re not the ones sent to the battlefield."

"If capitalists have such compensation needs, let them grab rifles and head to the battlefield!"

...

Prime Minister George’s face turned ashen, he knocked the gavel again, and as the members’ shouting lessened, he responded eagerly: "Have you forgotten the 10 billion US Dollar loan we obtained from the United States? If we can’t get a similar amount of compensation, what would we use to pay it off?"

Prime Minister George felt very innocent.

The right-wing also doesn’t want the war to continue, they also want peace, because as representatives of capitalists, they can barely hold on.

So the accusation of "intentionally sabotaging negotiations" is not factual.

However...

The left-wing members loudly refuted:

"This has nothing to do with us, nor with the British civilians, this is your matter."

"It doesn’t even concern the Germans, you profiteered from the war, secured a loan from the Americans, but most of it ended up in your pockets."

"Why should these bills be paid by British civilians? You don’t even have the right to demand Germans to pay it!"

...

The left-wing believes the correct approach would be for the right-wing members to conduct self-checks, return the embezzled money, and that should be almost enough to pay off the American loan.

Or let the right-wing resolve these problems themselves, since they initiated the war, they should now bear the responsibility of it, rather than shifting the burden to civilians.

Proposing a compensation of 13 billion US Dollars in negotiations and using it to pay off loans actually indirectly transfers the risk onto civilians.

The Minister of Military Supplies quietly sat in the chair, not saying a word, as if all that was happening had nothing to do with him.

Prime Minister George cast an angry look toward the Minister of Military Supplies.

The biggest war faction within the right-wing was indeed the Minister of Military Supplies, from the Dardanelles Sea Battle onward it has been this way, yet now, facing this mess, does he intend to stay out of it?

Perhaps unable to withstand the Prime Minister’s gaze, the Minister of Military Supplies slowly stood up, and said calmly: "Gentlemen, I think we should put this issue aside for now."

MacDonald stood up and asked back:

"What do you mean?"

"Isn’t it precisely because of this issue we can’t reach an agreement with the Germans?"

"As long as you abandon the demand for 13 billion US Dollars, the war would be over. This is undoubtedly the most important issue right now!"

The Minister of Military Supplies calmly retorted: "Is that how you see it, Mr. MacDonald?"

"Certainly, what else could it be?" MacDonald questioned back.

MacDonald fell for it, the Minister of Military Supplies successfully piqued his and the left-wing members’ curiosity.

Not only that, the right-wing members also wanted to hear what the Minister of Military Supplies would say.

Once others are willing to listen to the Minister of Military Supplies’ statement, the rest is about how the Minister of Military Supplies "argues."

The Minister of Military Supplies, leaning on a cane, walked to the open space between seating rows, strolling leisurely as if taking a walk along a calm seaside after a meal.

"Let’s consider what will happen after peace," said the Minister of Military Supplies:

"Suppose we’ve solved the compensation issue, and Britain doesn’t need to bear this loan."

"But is this really our only problem?"

"Have you overlooked Shire’s ’Spirit of France’?"

"The ’freedom’, ’equality’, and ’fraternity’ he advocates have spread to the heart of every colonial army, even every soldier on the battlefield, no matter how we blockade it, it’s futile."

The left-wing members remain speechless; indeed, this is a bigger issue than compensation.

With colonies, the 10 billion loan can be shifted onto the colonies.

But if we lose the colonies, is the Sun Never Sets Empire still the Sun Never Sets Empire?

The Minister of Military Supplies spread his hands:

"Perhaps you might say, this is also the right-wing’s problem."

"If we hadn’t participated in this war, Shire wouldn’t be able to spread this ideology to the colonial armies."

"But is this really the case?"

The left-wing members were unable to refute.

The spread of ideology is pervasive, unable to be blocked by rifles, bullets, or a defensive line.

As long as Shire uses this rhetoric to liberate a few French colonies, they’ll immediately spread worldwide, and then the British colonies will follow suit.

This is the formidable part of it, and what makes Shire fearsome.