HOMA18CL 03

Episode 3: Presence at the Club

Clop. Clop.

“Whoa—whoa—”

The carriage stopped about an hour after they set off, and the coachman announced their arrival at the Intelligence Club.

“We have arrived, my lord.”

The time was 7:20 PM.

It was a little late, but this time, when everyone would be gathered, seemed better for getting a real feel for the club’s atmosphere.

When Tae-oh got out of the carriage and approached the entrance, a solidly built middle-aged man walked over.

“Excuse me, what is your business here?”

Although his eyes were cautious, he was polite and asked respectfully, impressed by Tae-oh’s high-quality attire.

Tae-oh silently handed over the letter of recommendation.

The man took the letter and smiled when he saw Admiral Matthew Bentham’s signature.

“Ah, you were recommended by Admiral Bentham. You may enter for now. The final, detailed approval will be decided after consultation with the other members.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”

Tae-oh was guided into the club.

The club interior exuded a solemn and quiet atmosphere, matching the subdued decor.

Members were seated freely here and there, drinking tea and listening to someone speak.

“…As you said, the colonists are still strongly opposing the various tax levies, and in Boston, hundreds of tea chests were thrown into the sea by the citizens’ attack. However, I don’t believe such radical actions will lead to betrayal against England. No matter how angry they are, how could they raise arms against their motherland?”

“That’s right; no matter what, they are still part of the British citizenry.”

Then, someone asked, “Mr. Smith. What do you think?”

At his question, all eyes in the club focused on one man.

The man, in a dark gray suit, was short, with a round face and a pointed chin. His gaze was fixed in one direction, and he held his fingertips together to form a steeple shape. People unconsciously express a lot with their hands, and the hand gesture he displayed was a ‘steeple,’ often held by group leaders.

‘He’s the leader of this club… and his last name is Smith… Adam Smith?’

Following the gazes of the people, Tae-oh immediately recognized him as Adam Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations.

“I agree with that opinion. It is certainly true that the North American colonists’ emotions are running high, but I don’t see it escalating into any other special situation.”

A voice full of concern was heard from the opposite side in response to Adam Smith’s answer.

“But the letters I’ve received indicate that the situation in North America is much worse than we think. While a significant number of people, including Congressman Benjamin Franklin, are calling for restraint, it seems it will not easily calm down.”

At his words, a gentleman voiced his dissatisfaction.

“Oh—I’ve found that hard to listen to from the start. Well, does that mean the North American residents are going to shoot at the British military and start a war?”

“Of course, I don’t mean that, but considering the Boston Tea Party… isn’t it true that we don’t know how things might escalate because of a few extremists?”

Tae-oh immediately realized that this heated debate was related to the American Revolutionary War.

‘Benjamin Franklin? And the Boston Tea Party? Then this argument they’re having is about whether British-held North America will wage war against Britain?’

Tae-oh recalled the historical events in his mind.

‘The US declares the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. That means the American Revolutionary War breaks out in 1775, the year before. Wait… this year is 1775, isn’t it? Then, the US is going to start a War of Independence against Britain this very year?’

Tae-oh couldn’t recall the exact month the American Revolutionary War started. However, he was sure that the US had publicly announced the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and that the War of Independence had erupted the year before.

In fact, the American Revolutionary War was set to begin next month, on April 19, 1775. Since today, the day Tae-oh arrived at the club, was March 28, 1775, it was only about 20 days away.

‘Listening to the discussion, it seems the war hasn’t started yet. Anyway, it’s definitely an event that will happen this year.’

While Tae-oh was lost in thought, a tall gentleman stood up and tried to change the mood.

“Come, come. Let’s all calm down. I think the various opinions all have some basis, but I guarantee that such a tragic event will never happen in British North America. The North American residents know our formidable military strength better than anyone. Would they rashly provoke a war? Ha ha.”

But then,

“No, war will start soon!”

The eyes of all the club members collectively turned to the source of the voice.

It was Tae-oh.

“The resistance of the North American colonists will become further intensified and exacerbated. If they are not appeased quickly, they will soon declare a full-scale war, starting with an engagement against the British military.”

At Tae-oh’s unrestrained declaration, the atmosphere, which had been trying to settle, instantly turned hostile. Loud voices erupted from the members everywhere.

“What nonsense is that? They’ll start a war! Is that even a plausible claim for a colony belonging to Britain?”

“Who are you? Who are you to so easily spout such ridiculous nonsense!”

However, Tae-oh, who knew the exact history of the future events, was overflowing with confidence.

“Following various tax resistance incidents and the Boston Tea Party, as Britain closed the port and enacted a series of retaliatory laws, the residents of the Thirteen American Colonies have begun strong resistance. This led to a confrontation with the British garrison troops, centered around the American militia. Naturally, the British military will try to disband the militia, won’t they? They will desperately try to prevent the weapons in the armories from falling into the hands of the militia. Given that atmosphere, a battle between the British military and the militia is inevitable. No, it would be strange if a battle didn’t occur. Especially the Massachusetts militia…”

As Tae-oh continued with detailed and specific analyses, everyone quieted down and began to listen.

“…And once a major battle breaks out, contrary to our thoughts, the British military might not be able to perform as strongly as expected.”

“Why wouldn’t they perform strongly?”

“The current thirteen North American colonies have been reasonably well-organized through a long war that took place over a decade ago. Since they have the experience and confidence that they can achieve much more elaborate planning and cooperation than before if a war breaks out, our British military will also face considerable difficulty.”

Just then, someone jumped up and raised his voice.

“Nonsense! Didn’t our British military drive out the French ten years ago, allowing the North American colonies to stand strong today? How can you say it makes sense that they would point a gun at the military that protected them?”

Tae-oh shook his head.

“Well, the North American residents’ thoughts will be completely different now. They are highly antagonistic towards the British military, who they call ‘Redcoats’ and ‘Devils,’ for ignoring them and even taking away military command authority during the seven-year war. That means they regard Britain as an enemy country, essentially.”

“Regard Britain as an enemy country? What absurd…”

Then, someone asked Tae-oh.

“Who are you? Are you perhaps from the North American colonies?”

It was Adam Smith.

“No, I am British. I’ve never even been to North America.”

“Then how do you know the situation there so well in such detail?”

“Well… I have information.”

“Where did you get this information?”

He couldn’t say he got the information from a history book.

“That is difficult to disclose. It is a conclusion I reached through my own information channels and analysis.”

Adam Smith, who had been scrutinizing Tae-oh, asked again, “Then let me ask one more thing. Although the colonists might have a small hope, the British military with its strong naval power will arrive soon. Can the North American forces really stand up to them alone?”

“No, of course, that would be difficult. But the situation will be entirely different if another country intervenes.”

“Another… country?”

The club murmured restlessly.

“If the war begins, I predict that after a period of back-and-forth victories and defeats, France and others will assist the American colonies and confront the British military in the form of an alliance.”

The mention of France’s intervention plunged the club into instant chaos.

“What? Ally with France? What basis do you have for claiming they would cooperate with France, an enemy country?”

“Do you really think it’s a rational prediction that the colonists would wage war against their motherland, Britain, and drag in the enemy state of France, just over a small tax levied on documents?”

Tae-oh answered the furious members’ questions point by point.

“The North American colonies are a nation with greater symbolic significance for ‘freedom and independence’ than any other country in the world. The issue isn’t the amount of the tax; the great anger stems from the fact that the freedom and independence of the citizens who breathe and live there have been restricted and ruthlessly trampled upon by the unilateral laws of the British Parliament.”

The club was once again engulfed in silence.

“And I believe that this anger will eventually lead to the War of Independence, with the conflict between the militia and the British military as the starting point.”

Then, someone shouted accusingly.

“War of Independence? Who are you, exactly? I’ve never seen a person like you in our club!”

“That’s right. I’ve never seen him before. How dare he enter a members-only club and cause such a commotion!”

“Shouldn’t you properly state your identity before speaking? Are you really a native Englishman? To me, you look like someone who emigrated to the North American colonies.”

Tae-oh took off his hat and bowed respectfully to the people.

“My apologies. I am late in introducing myself. I am Theo Sanderson, visiting the club for the first time today, introduced by Admiral Matthew Bentham. I should have participated only after receiving approval from the other members, but I unknowingly got caught up in the heated discussion. I overstepped. I am truly sorry.”

“…Admiral Bentham?”

When the name Matthew Bentham left Tae-oh’s lips, the hostile atmosphere instantly subsided.

“Did you really come with Admiral Bentham’s recommendation?”

“Yes, here is the Admiral’s letter of recommendation. Please verify it.”

Then, an elderly man with a short, heavy build, thick eyebrows, and large nostrils stood up and accepted the letter.

The elderly man, having verified the letter, nodded.

“Hmm… That is definitely Admiral Bentham’s signature. In that case, well, no special approval process seems necessary. Especially for someone with that level of insight and a recommendation from Admiral Bentham.”

Tae-oh later found out this man was Samuel Johnson.

After Tae-oh’s approval process ended anticlimactically, one member sheepishly approached and extended his hand.

“I apologize for shouting earlier. My emotions got a bit heated. I am William Rowland. I am a businessman. I am not a noble; if anything, I belong to the Yeoman (lower gentry) class.”

“I am Theo Sanderson. I’m just a businessman who recently made a little money through sugar trade.”

The surrounding commotion settled, and the discussion about North America resumed. However, opinions were still divided.

Then, Samuel Johnson stepped forward and made an interesting proposal.

“Then how about this? We can write down the points we are arguing about in the betting book and place wagers on the outcome.”

There were immediate responses of agreement everywhere.

“Ah, that’s a great idea.”

“Yes, instead of fighting over who is right or wrong, let’s bet on whether the war will happen this year and see whose foresight is better, ha ha.”

It was very common in 18th-century English clubs to place bets on various social issues and current affairs to test the outcome.

“Then, bring the betting book, and please write down the amount you wish to bet next to the side you support.”

Tae-oh, who had never seen a betting book before, looked bewildered.

However, Tae-oh also wrote his name in the betting book and bet the maximum amount of money.

But Tae-oh was the only one who bet that the war would occur within the year.

Everyone else bet that the war would not happen this year.

Adam Smith and Samuel Johnson also bet that the war would not happen.

‘I thought there were a few people who agreed with my opinion, but it seems everyone is skeptical that the war will actually break out.’

Perhaps because they were upper-class nobles, wealthy businessmen, or intellectuals, the combined amount they had wagered looked to be thousands of pounds.

A slight smile appeared on Tae-oh’s lips.

‘Heh heh. That amount should more than make up for the cost of the carriage.’

For Tae-oh, who knew the upcoming American Revolutionary War, this bet was easier than eating a cold bowl of soup.

And most of all, he was secretly looking forward to the opportunity to firmly establish his presence.