Indeed, even to this day, London’s "lighting improvement project" has yet to officially commence—

The gas streetlights over in Manchester have begun to be installed, but there remains a lot of suspicion between City Hall and the contracting company. The former is worried about another "lightning coal mine" situation, and therefore is extremely stringent with project funds, conducting evaluations at any moment. The latter fears the project might suddenly terminate, so they only dare to purchase a small amount of raw materials each time and are reluctant to hire more workers.

As a result, what cities including London see is Manchester pouring over 200,000 British Pounds and spending a year and a half yet still digging the foundation for the coal tar distillation plant.

Rumors are flying that Manchester’s lighting improvement project is also a scam, causing investors to steer clear.

Stock shook his head and muttered to himself, "Actually, oil lamps aren’t that bad, just a bit dimmer, at least they don’t waste hundreds of thousands of British Pounds."

Though he said so, visions of his trip to Paris for the theater festival last year floated in his mind. That bustling, affluent, and technology-laden city is increasingly becoming the center of Europe.

The speed of the carriage suddenly slowed down.

Stock leaned out, peering through the fog, vaguely seeing a large crowd gathered in front of the City Hall square wall, with several officials posting notices on the wall.

His coachman shouted loudly, driving away people blocking the path, struggling to push through on the barely one-fifth width of the street.

As Stock passed by the notice, he finally saw it was an announcement about the government easing sugar cane prices.

He had heard about this matter. With the recent bumper harvest of sugar cane in India, overseas sugar prices had dropped significantly, so Ten Downing Street decided to reduce sugar subsidies.

This means that the sugar cane prices in London might rise slightly.

Sure enough, the crowd began to complain loudly, "Damn it, the newspaper said India is full of sugar cane, so why are the prices rising?"

"What’s so strange? Flour, wine, coal, everything is getting more expensive."

"That’s right, I’ve heard that cotton production is 12% higher than last year, yet the price keeps rising."

A young man with brown curly hair grinned and said, "That’s because the government’s printing presses work harder than the looms."

His words immediately sparked a burst of laughter from the people.

Stock also felt this deeply.

In previous years, his salary, after covering the various expenses of his family, still allowed him to save a hundred British Pounds annually in the Bank of England.

However, starting last year, even though his salary increased by 7 pounds, and his eldest son graduated from university, eliminating the need for the 80-pound tuition fee, the household became increasingly financially-strapped.

Yes, from beef to cheese, from clothes to wigs, from balls to salons, more and more money was needed. The personal income tax rate had increased three times in a row.

No room for savings at all, last month his mother fell ill with a fever, and his wife had to sell a piece of land in the countryside to pay the medical bills.

Stock winced recalling Doctor Garcia’s 43-pound consultation fee.

There was no other way; just the phenol and BDP used to treat his mother cost 20 pounds—these were all imported from France. He’d heard last year they only cost 15 pounds, but now the French wouldn’t take British Pound banknotes anymore, and paying with gold coins is indeed much more expensive.

At this moment, a sudden commotion erupted among the onlookers in front of City Hall.

Stock saw six or seven men dressed in black coats rushing into the crowd, pinning the young brown-haired man to the ground.

One of the black-clad men pressed a gun against his waist and loudly announced to the surroundings, "Stay put where you are, don’t move. We are the Interior Ministry Sheriffs!"

The so-called "Interior Ministry Sheriffs" are actually England’s Secret Police.

The Secret Police captain then bent down, looking at the struggling young man and said coldly, "Just now you publicly defamed the government’s financial policy, seriously violating the Sedition Act, so I am arresting you now."

He then pointed around, "Also, this one, this one, and that one, take them away together."

He pointed at those who had been commenting earlier.

Several Secret Police officers brandished their batons and rushed up, causing a scene of chaos.

Stock’s carriage was blocked by people trying to escape, and it wasn’t until half an hour passed that they could continue on their way.

Stock looked at his pocket watch, constantly urging the coachman to speed up.

Fortunately, the remaining journey had no mishaps, and four minutes before the meeting began, he finally saw the guards standing in front of Ten Downing Street.

Before the carriage had come to a full stop, Stock leaped down, and after taking just two steps, a luxurious French-style "gemstone" carriage pulled up right in front of him.

Stock was furious, ready to reprimand the uncultured fellow, but then he saw a red-faced, square-jawed man getting out of the carriage, and immediately put on a smile, bowing to greet him, "Sir Ross."

After the Old Temple Earl passed away, George Rose assumed the position of England’s Second Finance Minister.

Rose nodded in response to Stock and then quickly marched toward Ten Downing Street, complaining sideways, "Damn it, just now near the East District a vehicle was caught in a pipeline trench, and the ground was covered in blood. My car nearly got dirty; I hope I won’t be late...

"You know, lately the East District is full of people moving house, it’s really frustratingly chaotic."

What he refers to as "pipeline trenches" are the ditches dug when gas pipelines were laid years ago. Later on, due to a lack of funds, they were left to be washed away by rain. Unfamiliar coachmen can easily trip into them if they’re not careful.

Stock knew that the East District was a place where London’s poor gathered, and as more and more workers went bankrupt, many buildings there had become empty.

"We have spent too much money on Portugal and Gibraltar, now we have to repeatedly consider even this little money for urban maintenance." He sighed deeply, "In the past years, we have hardly gotten any advantage in our struggle with the French..."

Sir Ross glanced at him and smiled, "Cheer up, Mr. Stock. The Empire possesses the world’s largest colonies and the most powerful navy, and with just one opportunity, the situation can be completely reversed.

"Actually, the Prime Minister has summoned us here this time to launch a comprehensive counterattack."

"Counterattack?" Stock was taken aback, "Are we going to war? But right now we don’t have any suitable footholds on the European Continent."

Austria is in the midst of a revolution, Prussia is already on France’s side, and Russia is embroiled in fierce battles with Poland.

Rose strode into the Prime Minister’s residence, speaking softly, "Certainly not in Europe, but in America."

"Are you saying, attacking Louisiana?"

Rose shook his head, "Our military is hard to deploy there. But you probably haven’t noticed, actually we have a great advantage in America, and that is the Portuguese."