The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 1638 - 38: The Scholar (2)

Cochrane, not forgetting to jest, said: "Young man, don’t be too discouraged. The troubles I encountered when I was young were much bigger than yours. At least you don’t have to hide away in South American countries like Brazil or Chile now. Attending a banquet at Kensington Palace is much more comfortable than fighting to the death with the Spanish and Portuguese fleets at sea."

Arthur retorted with a jest of his own: "Going to South America may indeed not be as comfortable, but you are a founding hero of both Chile and Brazil, and also the Marquis of Maranhão, decreed by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil. Before the Brazil Independence War started, their navy couldn’t find even a single battleship, and even with all auxiliary ships, their fleet amounted to only 38 ships. But by the end of the war? Brazil’s navy became number one in South America, boasting 96 warships of all types and 690 naval cannons, of which at least half were thanks to you, the Brazilian Navy Commander. Although I have no prejudice against our Navy Department, from an outsider’s perspective, I must fairly say they indeed don’t respect brave and skilled Navy Generals like you enough." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Arthur’s flattering words evidently pleased Cochrane deeply, and he replied with a cheerful smile: "I agree with your viewpoint, and also feel the Foreign Office doesn’t respect young talents like you enough. By the way, I just overheard Mrs. Levin saying that the Tsar originally wanted to keep you in Russia? What kind of high positions and rewards did they offer you?"

Arthur gestured dismissively and said: "Your Excellency, this has nothing to do with high positions or rewards. I can’t say I’m entirely unswayed by personal gain, and Russian noble life is indeed very enticing, and the Tsar’s kindness was moving as well. But when I heard him say, ’I don’t need scholars, but loyal subjects,’ I felt my relationship with Russia was over. I don’t know if I count as a scholar, but if I went to Russia, I certainly wouldn’t be considered a loyal subject."

Though Arthur spoke of loyalty, those who knew him understood that for a Talleyrand-like diplomat:

Oaths of loyalty only bind actions, not beliefs. It’s like a return ticket at the theater; people acquire it so they can return at any time after stepping out during the show.

The most absurd people in the world are those who never change.

Is correcting a mistake a betrayal?

Don’t be silly, the same branch can’t bloom the same flower.

Of course, these words can’t be said in front of Cochrane, since the stubborn Cochrane is neither the astute Duke of Wellington nor Sir Peel, much less the too-cunning balancing master Talleyrand.

Sure enough, Cochrane quite appreciated Arthur’s answer.

Because at least on the surface, the outward image Arthur is now displaying indeed aligns with contemporary society’s aesthetic of a gentleman.

This new gentleman is different from the extravagant and domineering traditional nobility. According to the standards of magazines like "Gentleman’s Magazine" and "Tatler": a true British gentleman should be firm and fearless, without chaotic passions. His heart should be full of tenderness, enthusiasm, and compassion. Thus, when examining the behavior of an outstanding gentleman, he should be humble but not pretentious, straightforward but not arrogant, diligent in helping others but not sycophantic.

Of course, newspapers maintaining traditional positions have naturally ridiculed those industrialists and business owners trying to seize the "gentleman" title by leveraging their growing wealth.

Magazines like "Gossip" and "Leisurely" often portray rich merchants as upstarts with the stink of copper, aspiring to elegance, buying estates and mansions everywhere, purchasing luxurious clothes, and imitating the behavior and speech of noble gentlemen, aiming to destroy the original social hierarchy, thus making society chaotic.

It’s rare that Arthur not only meets the standards of a "new gentleman" but also, by chance, avoids the traits of an upstart.

With a hearty laugh, the former Brazilian Navy Commander began to recount to Arthur stories from the past—how he, with 2 escort ships and about a dozen auxiliary vessels, engaged the Portuguese Navy’s vast fleet of 60 transport ships and 30 escort ships near the waters of Salvador, ultimately winning the "May 4th Naval Battle" and forcing the Portuguese to surrender and be incorporated at Malham Camp.

However, Arthur wasn’t the only guest eager to hear this story.

As Arthur was engrossed in listening to the tale, a warm female voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

Sir John Conroy, busy attending to guests, had somehow found a moment to bring the hostess, the Duchess of Kent, to the two guests and, as customary, introduced the lower-ranked Arthur to the Duchess.

"Your Highness, this is Sir Arthur Hastings, as for the Earl of Dunton, you must be very familiar with him."

The Duchess of Kent smiled and nodded slightly at the two gentlemen, joking with Cochrane: "It’s fortunate that Queen Maria of Portugal is no longer visiting Kensington, otherwise you speaking here of your victory over Portugal would surely sadden her."

Cochrane laughed and replied: "It’s actually no big deal, after all, I was serving her father, Emperor Pedro I of Brazil at the time. However, I do admit, perhaps I was indeed a bit harsh towards her grandfather, John VI of Portugal."

Upon hearing this, Conroy laughed and asked: "But one thing I cannot grasp, why was General Charles Napier sent to Portugal a couple of years ago to command the constitutional army? Judging by the resume, you seem more suitable to be dispatched to Portugal. Although General Napier’s performance in Portugal has been outstanding so far, I believe if it were you, the war might have ended a few months earlier."

As soon as Conroy said this, Arthur sensed the surrounding atmosphere cooled considerably.

Why wasn’t Cochrane sent to support the Portuguese constitutionalists?

It’s naturally because he had long fallen out with Queen Maria’s father, Pedro I. When Cochrane left the Brazilian Navy, it wasn’t an amicable separation. At the time, Cochrane, arrogant from his victories over Portugal, demanded a large reward from Pedro I for himself and his naval subordinates, which was refused.

In anger, Cochrane not only directly embezzled government funds to reward his officers and men but also looted several merchant ships near Saint Louis, and later refused Pedro I’s orders to return to Rio, even capturing a Brazilian escort ship at sea and selling it off.

When Pedro I visited Britain to seek aid for his daughter, the young Queen of Portugal, Maria, he didn’t pin Cochrane as a wanted criminal for Brazil’s benefit, let alone allow him to command Portugal’s fleet?

Arthur timely intervened to defuse the situation for Cochrane: "From what I understand, General Cochrane was invited by the Navy Department to command the frontline fleet, but he refused. After all, he is not only a Navy General but also a member of the House of Lords. If General Napier goes to Portugal, the Foreign Office can claim that the retired general’s actions indicate that Britain did not interfere in Portugal’s civil war. However, if a genuine noble like General Cochrane went to Portugal, it would be difficult to clarify diplomatically. Therefore, I believe in declining to go to Portugal, General Cochrane’s reasoning was evidently more thoughtful than the Navy Department’s."

Even though Arthur’s argument might not hold up upon scrutiny, it at least masked the issue on the surface.

Feeling indebted to Arthur’s actions, Cochrane secretly returned the favor.

"Your Highness, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to discuss war stories later. There are many Generals in London, but scholars are few. I remember you mentioned before that as a lady who extols natural philosophy, it’s increasingly hard to meet Michael Faraday these days. Now the young Faraday stands before you, why not seize this opportunity?"