Chapter One: Governor

Speaking of which, Baron closed the file bag and said, "Your father could have had an even greater job, but unfortunately, there are still quite a few diseases here in South Asia. Allen, you are even younger than I imagined."

The bus has now passed through the India Gate and entered the area of New Delhi, which later became the capital of India. It is now 1945, and the main difference between New Delhi and Delhi is that New Delhi was entirely constructed by the British, as Calcutta was deemed too remote, leading to the relocation of the British Indian capital to the newly built district in Delhi. For a long time, New Delhi was inhabited solely by the British.

Compared to the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, each with armies exceeding 10 million—one dominating the land and the other ruling the seas—it seems that the post-war world has no place for the former hegemon, the British Empire. This leaves Allen Wilson, a civil servant preparing to replicate the journeys of countless classic protagonists, feeling at a loss.

It is evident that Barron is very pleased with the young man who has come here. Considering the good relationship between the young man's father and himself, he harbors a slight intention to offer support. In British India, Barron's authority is no less than that of several prominent figures.

He stood up and casually pointed to a spot for Allen Wilson to sit down, then returned to his position and took out a stack of file folders, engrossed in reading them while occasionally glancing at the newcomer, seemingly verifying his identity

However, such voices are not mainstream within the Conservative Party. The current Prime Minister of the British Empire, Churchill, has consistently claimed to defend the glory of the British Empire. Yet, several prominent figures in British India are well aware that the situation is far from simple

In the end, Allen Wilson also praised the University of Oxford, knowing that Barron also hailed from Oxford, thereby fostering a closer relationship between the two parties

Ah! With a barely perceptible sigh, a sound so faint that even the person involved could not hear it, Allen Wilson folded the newspaper and looked out the window, where the heavy-accented English cries of vendors had long since faded away

With the blessing of memories from a past life, Allen Wilson certainly understood that the horn signaling the disintegration of the British Empire was sounding on the very land beneath his feet. The British Empire's most significant colony, British India, with an area exceeding 4 million square kilometers, was the first to sound this alarm.

Within the Governor's Office, there were numerous office personnel bustling about. In a well-lit room, the current Governor of India, Archibald Percy Wavell, was reaching out to absorb warmth from the fireplace, and without turning his head, he inquired, "Baron, have the members of the Muslim League and the Congress Party already departed?"

Just as Adam Smith, the author of "The Wealth of Nations" one hundred and fifty years ago, called for the independence of the thirteen North American colonies, it is believed that British India has become a black hole consuming the wealth of the British Empire, similar to the situation of the thirteen colonies at that time

Throughout the entire Government House of India, it resembled the norm of wartime, with everyone displaying an air of urgency as they dealt with information pertaining to British India and the broader Southeast Asian theater, appearing exceedingly busy

"I will take that as a compliment, thank you," Allen Wilson replied with a slight bow and a smile, while also masking his earlier embarrassment, as he walked towards a building that bore some resemblance to the White House

Leaving Baron Weivel's residence, with a gentle expression awaiting his guest for the day, he was not idle at that moment, but rather engaged in a game of chess with himself.

Within the Conservative Party, there are some liberal imperialists who claim that the investment in India and even the entire colonies has exceeded the returns, hoping that the British Empire will abandon the entire colonies and cease the current money-losing venture

Perhaps this is not an advantage! Entering the Eastern system mainly stems from my father's work experience. Allen Wilson replied softly, unable to help but sigh inwardly. He had taken advantage of the unique environment of the colonies to persuade his father to increase his age by three years, as the primary and secondary school curriculum posed no difficulty for him. This made his growth experience appear somewhat normal. As for providing intelligence on Pearl Harbor, his original intention was to become a presentable second-generation rich individual, gilding himself while helping his civil servant father achieve great success. However, things did not go as planned, and the responsibility of entrepreneurship fell on his shoulders.

In response to this, Allen Wilson provided his own answers and also presented some future prospects

Very well, but do not be overly modest; your academic achievements are quite impressive. Had it not been for the outbreak of the world war, you could have become the youngest graduate of Oxford University in recent years. Baron nodded in satisfaction while sitting in his chair, then changed the subject and asked, Although you have not completed your studies, you have accumulated some concepts regarding Oriental studies. What is your view on India?

You are the son of Grotte Wilson. I express my deep sorrow regarding your father's departure. He had a good relationship with me!" Baron said while looking at the documents, "Born in 1924 in London, you subsequently followed your father's work to live in Hong Kong. Before the Pearl Harbor incident, you obtained intelligence that was extremely important to the Allies, and later, when the Hong Kong colony fell, you moved to Kolkata. Before the war, you had already been admitted to the Oriental Institute of Oxford University.

Before long, the assistant pushed the door open, and Allen Wilson, who was following behind, walked in. Barren did not look up as he took the final step, finishing the chess game, and only then did he raise his head to look at the young man before him

"Yes, Governor!" he replied with a formulaic smile, stepping back a few paces before exiting the room.

They, along with the representatives of Alijinna and Nehru, indeed give us a great headache. Governor! Although Baron still maintains a calm demeanor, he must admit that the biggest issue is whether the jewel of the British Empire shines as brightly now compared to the world war that has already seen the dawn of victory.

After getting off the bus and passing through the guard's inspection, Allen Wilson stood directly in front of what resembled the White House, the Indian Viceroy's residence. His gaze swept past the British India flag atop the dome of the residence, and he knew that the road ahead lay before him

An oppressive awkwardness filled the room, with no sound other than the crackling of the coals burning in the fireplace

Hmm? Allen Wilson pondered for a moment before quickly providing an answer, "Without a doubt, during the agricultural era, Eastern countries, due to their advantages in scale and geographical factors, were able to accumulate wealth far greater than that of Europe. South Asia is a prime example; both in the past and present, British India has always been the cornerstone of the prosperity of the British Empire, the most brilliant jewel in the crown"

"Sir, what is the matter with you?" The guard who had just finished the inspection looked at Allen Wilson and said with a hint of amusement, "However, it is quite rare to see someone as young as you at the governor's office."

"Inform London that the British Indian Army has advanced deep into Burma, Baron." Governor Wavell withdrew his hands from in front of the fireplace and sighed, "London still hopes for more good news, putting the matters of the Congress Party and the Muslim League aside."

This is fundamentally unavoidable. Not to mention that Allen Wilson is merely a relatively inexperienced civil servant, even if he were the Governor of India now, he could not ignore the independent voices that have already become a consensus in British India. All he can think about is whether it will be sooner or later, and what benefits he might be able to extract from it.

In 1945, this was the greatest challenge faced by Allen Wilson: the British Empire, which had dominated the world for three hundred years, was already in decline. Although it still possessed thirty million square kilometers of colonies and had five million troops fighting on battlefields around the globe, the end of this world war marked the beginning of the decline of the British Empire

Baron nodded in acknowledgment, and then heard Allen Wilson continue, "It is precisely due to the wealth generated by the extensive colonies that the British Empire has been able to face one challenger after another, whether it be Napoleon or Wilhelm II. India is a land rich in resources, and Oxford University has initiated systematic studies in Orientalism, producing a large number of talents. These individuals possess a broader perspective and, compared to the narrower thinking of other European countries, have a deeper understanding of the essence of the world"

Baron understood the purpose of the people at this age, and similarly, Allen Wilson was aware of the intent behind the questions posed by the head of the civil servants. Both parties were mutually aware of each other's thoughts, sharing an unspoken understanding

"Yes, Governor, they have left," said a man named Baron, who appeared to be in his forties, his face well-groomed and serious. "With each meeting, the differences between the two sides seem to increase rather than decrease, and this is not only true for both parties but for us as well"

"Damn it, the Prime Minister certainly does not wish to hear this news." Governor Waverley muttered under his breath, but rather than cursing, it was more of a helpless sigh. Compared to the public announcement that the British Indian Corps had already entered Myanmar and was about to avenge the humiliation against the Japanese, the internal disputes that occasionally troubled him always managed to dampen the good mood of this Governor of India

As the leader of the civil servants, Baron soon inquired about the views on British India, as well as the sporadic disturbances caused by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, and the understanding of local political figures such as Gandhi, Nehru, and Jinnah.

The noisy sounds from outside the car window constantly reached his ears, yet Allen Wilson had long mastered the art of tuning them out, isolating himself from the curry-flavored English of the outside world. His youthful face appeared as if it had been pressed with an iron, and his gaze did not waver from the newspaper in his hands. The front page boldly proclaimed, "The British Empire is confident in its ability to reclaim all of Burma within a few months."