Chapter 231 – This Nasty Talk

“Oh, Louis, isn’t there a very suitable candidate right in front of us? You are so familiar with Asia, have extensive contacts, and excel at harmonizing the interests of all parties.” Edward Bridges didn’t give in to Mountbatten’s classy civil service rhetoric and picked right up on it, “There may not be a more suitable candidate in the British Empire than you.”

“I can’t.” Mountbatten simply refused, disinterest in British India are written on the face, only just expressed the affirmation of British India, now can not immediately overturn the previous words, the brain turned sharply, “the Mediterranean fleet is the most important thing, that is to support the lifeblood of the British Empire’s global strategy, absolutely can not have even a little problem. ”

“Mediterranean matters, any admiral can do, we do not lack professional admirals, although the new admiral may not be as suitable as you, Admiral, are more suitable.” Edward Bridges retorted, unperturbed, “The matter of British India is the opposite, and requires a suitable candidate in all respects, one who is dignified, honorable, and compassionate ……”

“The key is reliability.” Prime Minister Adderley took advantage of Edward Bridges’ pause to add from the sidelines.

This almost interrupted Edward Bridges’ train of thought, as the words were normally his, and to have them come from someone else’s mouth made the Cabinet Secretary himself very uncomfortable.

“Yes, the key is reliability.” By this time Edward Bridges wasn’t showing his displeasure at the Prime Minister snatching the floor, “We couldn’t have found a more suitable candidate, and the direction of the whole of British India now rests on your shoulders.”

“No, no, the Empire has so many talented people that it is absolutely possible to find a suitable candidate. To be fair, I have many faults as a person.” Mountbatten’s rare modesty was a very rare thing in his forty-six years of life, but it did appear, “For example, when dealing with emergencies, I need time to think, which doesn’t help the problems in British India.”

“Don’t worry about that Louis, British India has no less a group of professional civil servants than the mainland who have a wealth of experience to help the Governor General with his problems, Governor Wavell is a soldier, and just as well no problems have occurred.” Again Edward Bridges countered Mountbatten’s excuses.

Mountbatten himself grew up amongst the aristocratic community, seeing people from a young age who were either rich or noble, and knew the words of the civil servants very well, so after a short contact, he instantly recognized that this was putting the idea into his own head, and grabbed the other party’s mouth before they could speak, and started to say that he was not suitable.

But as the head of the Imperial Civil Servants, Edward Bridges himself, how could he let Mountbatten easily achieve his goal?

He had already seen that Mountbatten was likewise a master of discourse, which was useful for ordinary civil servants, but he was not an ordinary civil servant, he was a cabinet secretary, the head of civil servants of the entire British Empire.

Dao is one foot taller than the devil, which is a very appropriate description of the duel between Edward Bridges and Mountbatten at this time.

Mountbatten almost instantly came up with five different excuses, ten better candidates, and hundreds of excuses to shrug it off, showing that the matter of British India was a matter of such importance that the Prime Minister’s consideration should be prudent and cautious.

Such prudence was naturally very agreeable, and Edward Bridges, after a moment’s meditation, said that similar excuses did not hold good, and that, although there were seemingly good candidates, Mountbatten had more to offer.

Though Mountbatten was not of high rank, he was young and promising. Although Mountbatten stated that he was from the aristocracy and couldn’t mingle with the lower classes, he was more able to be courteous and could have a better effect.

The streets of London, Patricia is accompanying her sister, Pamela Mountbatten to take a walk, this time after returning to the country, she is her sister’s biggest change, is Pamela Mountbatten in the consumption of like a changed person, the awareness of money seems to become very indifferent, and the original frugality is like a two people.

London has now partially abolished rationing, thanks to the end of the war, the colonial specialties are once again imported into the country.

Just in time to bump into Pamela Mountbatten, who had a strong desire to spend money, and in no time Pamela Mountbatten was carrying a large bag, while also soothing a depressed mood.

“Pamela, enough is good. There’s no need for this.” Patricia looked at her sister helplessly, “I’m getting married next month, so I won’t be able to take care of you later.”

“The man called John? Born in the same year as you, you’re perfect for each other.” Pamela Mountbatten was finally caught by her sister’s words and commented like a young adult, “John Brabourne looks like he’s going to be my brother-in-law soon, I wonder if he has any plans? The war is over and it doesn’t look like he’s going to stay in the army forever.”

“That’s not talked about, but he’s usually interested in movies.” Patricia spoke along with her sister’s words and suddenly snapped back to her senses, “I was talking about you, you’re going to have a very hard time with your husband when you marry later on like that.”

“My husband made me like this, he won’t find it hard.” Pamela Mountbatten jade neck slightly raised as proud as possible, “He said, he is not interested in money, service more people can realize its value of life, he also said, these body things are given to me for safekeeping.”

Here we go again! Patricia held her bare forehead and said helplessly, “How old are you, you think of marrying someone every day. Have you two had that one yet?”

“Which one?” Sister this car sharp turn is a bit unprepared, Pamela Mountbatten a face of confusion, after a few seconds to come back to the taste, embarrassed, “Not yet, but a man outside is not reassuring is true, take your fiancé for example, serious people will go to engage in the movie it? Not all of them are looking at beautiful actresses, sister you have to be careful, this is a word of advice to you as a younger sister.”

On this day, ten thousand miles away, Alan Wilson sneezed incessantly, confusing Vivien Leigh, how could he catch a cold with the current temperature of the subcontinent?

After wandering around for a while, the two sisters, Patricia and Pamela, were also a bit tired and decided to go home first.

At number ten Downing Street, this Magic Road Battle was also in its final stage, and Edward Bridges had already gained the upper hand.

“It’s hard to imagine that the first reaction of a nobleman who bravely enters the middle of a war where he has made a war achievement and is going to be knighted for it would be to refuse, knowing that nobles all represent a series of behavioral models, a true nobleman must be rich in self-control, must have a strong spiritual strength, if it’s because of the difficulties that one fears, even if one has the status of a nobleman, one is still hard to believe, of course I personally have no prejudice against generals, but anyone knows that the bumbling commoners of this world are the majority, it’s hard to say what they think.”

“The spirit of nobility means, first and foremost, that the person should be self-controlled, self-restrained, and dedicate themselves to serving the country. A noble should possess a noble character.” Prime Minister Edley said seemingly unintentionally, “Actually, this knighthood is not without any controversy at all, but of course we all think that it was nothing more than some claptrap and will not be affected by it.”

“Edward, I heard it was an earl, wasn’t it? That’s a very high ranking title. I really wish I could have the title of Earl as well.” Prime Minister Adderley spoke with a look of envy on his face.

Mountbatten’s eyes swept back and forth in front of the two men, “My eldest daughter is getting married next month, it’s not that I don’t want to go to British India to take up my post, but there are indeed things that have trapped me, and I can’t afford to delay my daughter’s marriage.”

“Then the day of the knighthood will be set after Patricia’s wedding!” Edward Bridges spoke up, soliciting Prime Minister Adderley’s opinion, “I wonder what the Prime Minister thinks?”

“How can we let other things interfere with a grand wedding?” Prime Minister Airdrie said with a difficult look on his face, “Of course, things are not even finalized, if the knighthood is delayed that would be …… a lot of meritorious people during the time of the war indeed, and his majesty is a bit busy, there must always be a process.”

General Mountbatten left the Prime Minister’s residence with a not very pleasant mood, Edwina Ashley saw her husband return, but her face was written with unhappiness, inquired, “Why go out for a trip and come back like this.”

“Edward and Adderley, they want me to go to British India as Governor General.” Mountbatten let out a long breath with a reluctant face, “And threatened me with the knighthood thing, saying that I, a commander in the middle of the Imphal campaign, might be offended by the knighthood if I refused to go to Asia, and that a lot of people are also already divided on my merits, and that they would even say such a thing… …”

The words just fell, the upstairs bedroom all of a sudden appeared a chaotic sound, Pamela Mountbatten stepped on slippers, clattered down the stairs, with seventeen years has never had a rich expression, make a strong tense face, but can not help to reveal the gums of the angry shouted, “my father is absolutely not a person who does not have the responsibility, his majesty handed over such an important place to his father, his father can definitely make some achievements to convince everyone.”

With Pamela Mountbatten’s words, her sister Patricia just came out from her room with a look of what happened, not quite understanding the situation.

Mountbatten bowed his head slightly, his eyes looking from under his eyelids to his youngest daughter, and said in a long drawn out voice, “Pamela ……”

“Father, I’m here.” Pamela Mountbatten a face of good behavior, pavilion stood there, “Admittedly, the environment of British India has a certain complexity, the local people may have misunderstandings about the British Empire, but the overall picture to consider, not limited to the specific affairs of the micro ……”

Mountbatten listened to this set after set of civil service rhetoric, the heart of the slander, “This is learned from whom ……”