Chapter 226 – Danger is also an opportunity

“In this case, you go and discuss with the administrators of the provinces, and another thing is to keep in contact with the NCP and the PML.” Sir Barron made a decision after a moment’s thought, “I’ll leave these two things to you, while I’ll contact Sir Edward and arrange for the NCP and the PML to travel to London, and you’ll inform them of the results when they’re available. Meanwhile I have a meeting with General Erwin.”

General Elwyn was the General of the British Army in India, which had come under General Elwyn’s command after Governor Wavell’s departure, and how could one work in an environment like the colonies without the military on his side?

Preparations for the almost doomed drought were to be made in two ways, on the one hand to break up any resistance that might arise. The other side was to reveal the power of one’s own side and deter the enemy.

Alan Wilson nodded his head, and although he worked in the crater, he was reluctant for the volcano to actually erupt.

There was talk of a famine breaking out in India in nineteen forty-six and starving ten million people to death.

Alan Wilson felt that this was of course an act of God and had nothing to do with himself, but do what you can to arrange for the relief that needs to be done

The bottom line of the Assistant Commissioner of British India was that although the unfavorable situation was more than in history, the deaths due to natural disasters should never exceed that in history.

As long as less than 10 million people died of starvation, the drought could be said to have been a success.

Just as a plague was supposed to kill two million people, but after King Understanding’s efforts, only two hundred thousand died now. This was even an acceptable result!

Leaving Sir Barron’s office, Allen Wilson sent telegrams to the administrators of the provinces, inviting these busy administrators to come to the Governor’s Mansion to catch up.

Although these administrators are indeed busy, busy to pocket money, but at the critical moment should also show the British civil servants to bear it, we also want to save British India in the fire it.

Viceroy’s urgent telegram after all is not a pose, the provincial administrators are already on the road, do not know why this time the telegram is so urgent, how is so urgent, of course, is the heart has been appointed as the British India drought commander-in-chief of Alan Wilson, to take advantage of this natural disaster, to show out their own cadres of the nature of the essence of the people to save hundreds of millions of people in the water and fire.

“It’s the British India thing again, in my last year as Cabinet Secretary, it seems that I can never get a moment’s rest.”

In the Cabinet Secretary’s office, Edward Bridges shook his head helplessly and held out a telegram with a proposal that Sir Barron wished to arrange, for representatives of the two major powers in British India to travel to London and publicly state their ideas.

Although it was a suggestion, Edward Bridges, who knew Barron very well, knew that this subordinate would not normally send a telegram, and to be able to send a telegram so solemnly was almost more of a request than a suggestion.

Norman Brooke frowned, took the telegram that was handed to him, glanced at it and said, “Edward, this is indeed a headache, getting these two parties to come to London?”

“Yes, but I have to get it done, there are signs of drought in British India, and you should know that the same drought occurred last year. Almost all the stocks of grain in British India have been shipped to the mainland. The granaries are now empty.” Edward Bridges looked at his partner with a cold gaze, “Barron means to divert attention on the one hand and ask us for help on the other, what is the exact plan ……”

Norman Brooke nodded his head while listening, “Get the toughest part of the two forces out of British India in a reasonable and legal way, and then it won’t be so easy for them to make trouble if they want to.”

“Barron would never have telegraphed if he could manage it, I know him well.” Edward Bridges said in a deep voice, “As for that little fellow Allen, there are countless whims inside his head, and he can come up with ways to do things without us having to worry about them at all, and now he must ask for our assistance, and it may be that the foreseeable problems will be very serious.”

“General Mountbatten is already in Italy and will be back on the mainland in two days at the most. We already have a lot on our plate, and now it’s surprising how much more energy we have to expend.” Norman Brooke sighed, “Can’t it be quieter.”

“For the civil servants in the colony, we have to be polite and methodical, when they ask for help, no matter how difficult this matter is, we have to try our best to do it, otherwise they are happy and joyful in the colony, why should they listen to us?”

To Norman Brooke, the man who had been handpicked to be the next Cabinet Secretary, Edward Bridges should not have said these things.

But it would have gone wrong if it hadn’t been mentioned, and maintaining the unity of the native civil servants and the colonial civil servants was one of the most important things, if not one of the most important things, for a Cabinet Secretary to do, and the colonial civil servants were the Cabinet Secretary’s authority amplifier.

With the presence of the colonial civil servants as a group, the Cabinet Secretary is the one who is really in control of the whole situation, without the colonial civil servants as a group, the Cabinet Secretary is the humble social public instrument.

“Danger and opportunity at the same time, if the conflict between the two parties is exposed to the citizens of the British Empire, and even the people of the world, so hostile, so unable to coexist. Then perhaps our country will be much less responsible when the time comes.”

Two of Edward Bridges’ fingers had a brutal tapping on the tabletop as he recounted his thoughts. As a matter of fact by now, the partition of India and Pakistan is already a probable event, rather than what the MPs think, maintaining the wholeness of British India.

Then in the event of an Indo-Pakistani partition, the responsibility for the nonsense of those Bibi jabbering MPs was that of the entire British Empire. Is the British Empire not responsible for the series of consequences of the Indo-Pakistani partition?

If any politician can afford to pay this responsibility, Edward Bridges is absolutely optimistic. But it was a responsibility that many countries would only put on Britain’s head.

It was not as if he could open his mouth and say that the partition of India and Pakistan was a foregone conclusion, so he might as well let people come to London themselves and make the matter public for all to see.

“Good, danger is also opportunity.” Norman Brooke was persuaded that Edward Bridges’ words made sense, “Then I am in agreement with you, and I will give the same answer once the Prime Minister asks.”

“That’s the point.” Edward Bridges nodded, “Norman, you and I must be of the same caliber.”

“Danger is also opportunity, it all depends on how the question is viewed, for you, this may be a good opportunity.” Alan Wilson gave his judgment without being shocked.

If it wasn’t for Vivien Lei’s jade body spread out there, there would be no sense of incongruity in saying this in the meeting with the provincial administrators. But in fact a number of executives had not even arrived in New Delhi yet.

Alan Wilson first told Vivien Leigh, who had nothing to do with the matter, about the possibility of a great famine.

“To have a tragedy of this magnitude is opportunity for me, you were what I was then.” Fei Wen Li’s face changed slightly, and her tone also took on a whining tone as she said, “Do you really think I’m Cleopatra?”

“It’s just a matter of fact, don’t overthink it. On the contrary, the more the disaster, the more you have to show your determination to be in the same boat. Maybe even impress the Indians before we leave. Anyway, this has nothing to do with us, but a natural disaster.”

Alan Wilson stared at Vivien Lei’s chest …… felt that it was inappropriate to do so at this time, and averted his gaze to continue, “In such difficult times, the whole of British India needs a spiritual support, and don’t you happen to be in so?”

“What do you want me to do? I’m okay at acting in movies, but it’s not like I’m turning food out of thin air.” Vivienne had a confused look on her face, unable to figure out what White Alan Wilson was thinking.

“But you have influence, you can express sympathy, you’re a public figure, you’ve also been to the United States, you can even make an appeal to American filmmakers, donate money and goods, take out a little bit of insignificant money to express their own kindness. It’s a well-known fact that people who act in movies love this kind of thing.”

“The small amount of money taken out is a very cost-effective deal compared to the widespread acclaim that follows. What else do you think the purpose of doing charity is? Really doing charity?”

Alan Wilson let out a light laugh, he didn’t believe in this kind of thing, there was a purpose to doing anything. For example, Jack Ma, who played the ant forest signboard, dared to covet the credit for the Three North Protective Forest for himself.

Claiming that he was not interested in money, what he was scheming for was not just money, what he wanted could be much more serious than money.

For movie stars, a profession that requires a persona, as long as Vivien Leigh makes a public appeal, countless people will take the opportunity to express their sympathy for the situation in British India, squeezing out a couple of crocodile tears, and isn’t it a piece of cake for the actor to come and talk?

“You think of actors that way? I’m not like that.” Vivienne puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

“I’m not talking about you, how about another way to put it? Begging my angel to help the Governor’s Mansion get through this, it’s really quite hard for me this time.” Alan Wilson’s face was serious, definitely not pretending.

To sit back and watch the drought happen again, but also to show that you tried your best, it was already difficult, “Before I and the administrators of the provinces come up with a decision, you must not divulge it. When you are needed, you will naturally have the opportunity to perform.”

“Got it!” Fei Wenli had an I’ll do as I’m told little girl demeanor, she could feel that this matter was good for her.

The life of the assistant commissioner was not easy, working day and night, not even a moment to breathe, after the administrators of the provinces arrived, they immediately began to discuss their strategies, the core principle was still the same, danger is also an opportunity.

“Gentlemen, if the Great Famine occurs as it does, I hope that you will be on the front line in person and make an example of civil servants.” Alan Wilson slightly forehead, with an unquestionable tone, “Show that you are busy without sleep and fight the famine.”

“But we really aren’t busy.” Andrew, the administrator of Bengal, replied with a bitter smile.

“Then act busy.” Alan Wilson replied without thinking, “Pretend we’re fighting the Great Famine.”