Of Pride and Power - 37. Chapter 31: "Crush your enemy totally"

I am doing away with the blog entry, I am not sure if anyone is really reading the historical inspiration behind a chapter  

War is not new to humanity, let alone civil war. One of the earliest settlements on Earth in Mesopotamia, known as the City of Ur, was destroyed by invasions and internal strife. Its inhabitants were slowly integrated into various neighbors. Their literature became more hierarchal with relationships, most apparent with pederastic lovers in stories replacing equal homoerotic partnerships like Gilgamesh and Enkidu. I hoped to prevent such a dramatic destruction of social and cultural ideals through my efforts. Up until that day, I thought I was successful tragically.

I was under no illusion that nation-states were mortal and could be killed just like their human inhabitants, I had done everything in my power to improve the quality of life within my realm from improving transportation, to increasing job opportunities through new industries and creating sanitary conditions with the advent of running water and basic electrical lighting. Yet, the rapid modernization and industrialization course I pursued had created upheavals with noble lands that I needed to acquire for access and resources, along with the dislocation of existing skilled workers like blacksmiths, wheelers, and coopers after new factory complexes began. Beyond economic incentives, the spiritual issue that rose during the Acts of Unity and Primacy debate earlier in the decade festered within the Church of England. In my history, the Church of England during the 16^th century was incredibly corrupt due to the various joint interests of its noble members for land rights. As a result, these clergymen used their authority to attack Catholics and non-English protestants within the realm by embellishing issues and slights in front of their commoner parishes. My historical alter-ego, Queen Elizabeth I, had turned a blind eye to these issues and even joined in the corruption by receiving elaborate gifts, which were thinly concealed bribes by any other name. In contrast to how history operated, I punished those who perpetrated these acts, setting Francis and his agents to arrest various conspirators within the Church of England. I ignored Protestant outrage against the veritas sect, a secular group spawned from my industrial-progressive reforms and the fair folk beliefs in the Omega messianic message. They were also vying for influence within the populace, contradicting many established doctrines from both the Church of England and Catholic remnants, including several public speeches and effigy burnings. Maybe it was my folly as such minor things were a common background noise in my era, where freedom of speech had already been long-established. I did not expect the various groups to align or to have contact with an outside party, since both in history and my present, Francis Walsingham created a powerful intelligence network within the Habsburg-Roman domains.

At that moment, I didn’t know the Russian Empire had organized the noble factions against me, but Harry raised everyone’s alarm to an internal and external threat. In my two lives, I’ve seen people fight against their friends and family, when their perceived ideals cannot be reconciled. The Western Charter faction perhaps chose to create their empire based on absolute monarchy to counteract the elements that saw the political and social disruptions in the 21^st century. Giving people’s voices to make policy and allowing them to form factions within your nation was dangerous during my era. On one hand, it brought forth a revival of democratic movements among the populous, when certain groups were able to combine their efforts to topple dictators. However, as time progressed, the same tools that allowed events such as the “Arab Spring” in North Africa and the Middle East or the “Orange Revolution” in Eastern Europe, were used by more conservative elements within national governments from the suppression of protesters in Hong Kong and Russia, rallying of political extremist factions to disrupt internal politics in the United States and Europe, and nationalist propaganda for territorial acquisition. The popular will is only as benign as the people’s emotions at a given point in time, majority rules are not always democratic representation. Being a progressive transplant from the 21^st century, I failed to remember the lessons learned through tragedy and blood during my era as I believe I could do better.

With all those grand recriminations about my role in causing this failure in my mind, the memories of Henry would constantly spring up, like a vengeful spirit. My first conscious memory of Henry clinging to my chest flashed. Memories of my engineering-oriented son’s various sketches, projects, and pranks also appeared. My ability to hold and disburse knowledge like a computer database granted me eidetic memory, better known as total recall. The ability’s curse was that I remember clearly every moment of my child’s life, creating a regret I can never remove.

As my mind wandered, St. Stephen’s chapel, where Parliament was housed, grew restless. The doors were blocked off by several armed members, who claimed that they were trying to protect everyone until “their troops” could enter the city. Ostensibly, the troops were “royal” troops after the authorization by Parliament to Thomas Radclyffe for the northern expedition. Despite various screams and arguments in the room, I picked up on the lack of decorum the armed members of Parliament at the door described as a military intercession. The armed doormen held pistols, which, like any weapon, was banned in the 14^th century under Edward II’s decree “Statutum de Defensione portandi Arma”, banning all Members of Parliament including noble peers from bringing arms or armor to a Parliamentary session. These men had smuggled their pistols with foreknowledge of problems that would occur that day. As the birthday party would have started immediately after this session of Parliament and all members were invited, it was a calculated risk to be armed. Henry had said members of the household staff and royal guards had betrayed our nation, most of these roles were held by nobles. It was reasonable to assume other members of these noble households were co-conspirators, which made sense as many of the armed men were ranked nobles. The remaining armed members of Parliament were wealthy landowners with specialties in blacksmiths and carpenters; essentially, we broke their local monopolies with our concentrated industrial complexes. I counted 22 armed members, a tenth of the total members in attendance. They were concentrated near the two main entryways, but a small group of five approached the center, where my group was. However, they were being blocked by the representatives from western England, Wales, and Ireland. Essentially, my most loyal contingent formed a human wall to obstruct them. The obstructionists totaled 41 members, so they did outnumber the incoming group but lacked firearms. It would be a bloodbath if the two sides fought. However, it was an unnecessary conflict to consider with my abilities. I can disarm all the weapons, or even kill all 22-armed members in a millisecond. I was very tempted to go full Targaryen on these treacherous scumbags, especially after what happened to Henry. However, I wanted to gauge how deep this conspiracy went and these men were a perfect catalyst. A lesson from my era, if you are going to take revenge into your own hands, make sure you destroy your foes completely.

With Jamie clinging to me and John along with the remaining two royal guards flanking us, I approached the armed men.

“I do not wish to spill blood within these halls. Can we parlay with you?” I pointed at the five men.

Sir Robert Howard, a second cousin of Frances and part of the influential Howard family, spoke for the group, “Elias Tudor, it is obvious to all those who stand in this chamber that your reign is about to end. If you wish to spare your loyal followers and their families, we demand that you surrender yourself to our custody.”

Cries could be heard all around us, John snorted a response to Sir Robert Howard, “Traitors! We can still suppress you fools and make a path for Aelfric Eli’s escape with Prince Jamie. Prince Henry’s words will alert every barrack and fortress across the land. What path of victory do you hold?”

Robert Howard’s expression frayed at the mention of Henry’s warning, which had likely interfered with their plans. John had hit the nail on the head, they had lost the element of surprise, and any chance of a coup was unlikely.

Robert Howard gathered himself after the moment of weakness, probably rationalizing his next moves.

“All we must do is kill Elias Tudor and all resistance will end. You are surrounded and have no path of escaping this building. Even if you can escape us, the expeditionary forces surrounding London are loyal to Lord Radclyffe and will pour into London to secure our victory. Additionally, our allies in the shadows can hide their visages from sight and have a fleet off the shore. There is no safe place for your unholy ruler.”

It was a gift that very few people knew about my abilities. My analysis and inner sight ability allow me to perceive people and objects in a 360° arc within several hundred yards, offering details equivalent to an integrated MRI imager. My displacement ability could kill my foes within that range and prevent incoming sniper bullets. However, I am limited in these abilities to several uses within a three-hour cycle.

In a calculated move, I laughed at Robert Howard and began inciting him, “You foolish knave, you are too few in numbers and only armed with older versions of the revolver pistols. If I were so important to your grand plans, you should have sent someone to request reinforcements from Lord Radclyffe to secure Westminster Palace and the Parliament. Perhaps, your army outside London has already abandoned the plan as the Royal Marines and mechanized corps converged on their positions. As for your invisible allies, they can only strike from the shadows, and you do not know if they have abandoned your cause with the radio communication jammed.”

Upon my words, Robert Howard shouted to the armed men, a group of knights from the Midlands, “Go find Lord Radclyffe and ask him for support. We need additional men to secure Parliament and suppress Elias Tudor.”

Several men quickly left the chamber, reducing the overall count of armed men to 16 from 22. In the meantime, several fair folk members of Parliament, including Oberon, approached me.

Oberon whispered, “Lord Eli, we should be able to overpower these fiends. You do not need to expose your abilities to the world.”

I shook my head in disagreement with his assessment, “I hesitated to show off my inhuman abilities because I do not want to be feared by the masses. However, I can no longer be reserved at this moment of dire need.”

Oberon nodded and I made my way back to the center of the room, where a podium stood for public speaking. I had already displaced all the firing pins from their revolvers, making all the guns useless. At this moment, I could have stood back and allowed my angry supporters to maul the traitors. Instead, I wanted to know how deep the treason went across the government as more than 70% of the members had not displayed any allegiance. I gave a speech on the spot, offering everyone a choice of an England I desired to create, or an England mired with intrigue and divisions.

“Lords and Gentlemen of Parliament,

We stand today in the hallowed halls of Westminster, where the echoes of history mingle with the urgency of our present moment. Our nation, England, stands besieged by enemies both external and insidious within. These rebels have dared to challenge the very foundation of our sovereignty, seizing the entrances with their armed cohorts. But let me remind you, their numbers are but a fraction compared to the loyal souls standing in their opposition.

These rebels, cloaked in the false garb of English finery and zealotry, have stooped so low as to call upon foreign troops to bolster their misguided cause. They seek to tear down all that we have built—a decade of peace and progress under the banner of industrial reform. They fail to see that our commitment to progress has transformed England, propelling us into an era of prosperity and innovation unrivaled in history.

Under my reign, we have ushered in reforms that have elevated the lives of our people. From the bustling factories to the burgeoning cities, England thrives not through empty rhetoric and foreign meddling, but through the sweat and toil of our hardworking citizens. We have expanded education, improved healthcare, and championed the rights of humanity. This is the England we stand to defend today—an England of progress, opportunity, and peace.

And now, as we face this treacherous challenge within our midst, I call upon each of you to stand firm. To stand with England, not with those who would betray her for their selfish gain. I will not disguise the dire present state. We are surrounded and outgunned. If you should join me, even in victory, the cost may be extremely high to you and your fellows. If you should join the rebels and their allies against England, no mercy will be shown to you. The rebels have violated their ancient oaths and severed all ties in their heinous acts.

My son and many others have already made the ultimate sacrifice for England. They chose our kingdom rather than relative safety. They gave their last full measure in the defense of our kingdom despite the odds and dangers. The rebels have given nothing, the scales must be balanced. The die has been cast with the blood spilled, so mercy is impossible.

This is a solemn moment of reckoning. Let those who have chosen the path of betrayal step forward now and show their true colors. For England will not falter, and justice will prevail, even if we should fall here today. Those who stand with us, who stand for progress and unity, will gain immortality. Those who stand against us, who stand for repression and division, will be forgotten.

Together, we will protect our industrial gains, our reforms, and our hard-won peace. Let the light of our unity dispel the shadows of division and discord cast by our enemies. For today, in this chamber, a vote of great consequence must occur without room for compromise or abstention.”

The quiet members of the chamber began to murmur. While I could have revealed my abilities immediately and finished off the known armed rebel members of Parliament in a single moment, I wanted to clear the floor of anyone who would accept their actions.

I agree with Souma Kazuya’s approach from the manga series, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom. He argued that Machiavelli’s application of cruelty through punishment and murder is a necessary tool for leaders. Even when you live in a proto-democratic society, the dangers of having rebel sympathizers and opportunistic allies cannot be underestimated. In history, the best example can be seen in the treatment of the southern states of the United States after the American Civil War. Historical revisionists can argue that “Reconstruction” was harsh and cruel in the 19^th century as part of their narrative for the “Lost Cause” and the “War of Northern Aggression”, because the victors were too lenient and tolerant to the defeated, especially the leadership and elites. Freedom of speech and freedom of association granted fertile ground for two centuries of lingering regional issues, which continued into the 21^st century. A merciful compromise was the ultimate cruelty to all the fallen heroes and future generations, who lived under Jim Crow and segregation. In the end, peace and order can only be achieved by examples such as the Nuremberg trials and the maintenance of the principles that peace is founded on. Killing just the rebels would not have been enough, which I agree with my biographers and chroniclers.

Parliament began to cast their lots with England or the rebel’s fate. Of course, representatives from Cornwall, Devonshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wales, and Ireland flocked to my side immediately. The fair folk knew about my abilities, while the Cornish, Welsh, and Irish were firmly aligned with me due to industrial and military projects. The Midlands and southern coast were split between areas around major cities like Birmingham and Portsmouth versus the rural townships and country gentry lands. Eastern and northern England were aligned with the rebels with several exceptions such as the members from the cities of Norwich and York. At the end of the counts, I was surprised to find that in a democratic count of representatives, we had 113 siding with the rebels and 107 siding with me. A part of me knew that might be the case with the higher population in Eastern England, despite the rapid growth of industry and newborns in Western England in the last decade. The census for proportional representation was based on 1560 headcounts.

However, I never expected so many important allies to turn against me at that moment, including William Paulet. My old friend and former finance minister joined the rebels. I knew he was friends with Thomas Radclyffe, but I do not believe he was an active part of the conspiracy. However, he picked his side, despite having been one of my longest supporters. Another defection came from Sir Thomas Smith, who held the role of leader of the House of Lords as a member of the royalist faction within parliament. He was best friends with William Cecil and his historical counterpart was reliably loyal to Elizabeth I. I had considered naming him as Secretary of State after his term in Parliament ended.

When the votes were fully tallied, the speaker heralded the results.

"By a majority of 113 to 107," the speaker declared with a sad expression, "a motion for armed rebellion against the ruler of England has been passed."

A wave of murmurs swept through the assembly. The decision was monumental for its members. Sir Robert Howard laughed with glee alongside his newly acquired allies. As the leader of the armed rebels in Parliament, he nodded to his comrades at the door, believing with the majority and a vote, they had won. Lord William Paulet and Sir Thomas Smith exchanged uneasy glances. They had been swayed by the insurmountable forces surrounding us. Yet, I could tell that doubt gnawed at them, the enormity of their betrayal was weighing heavily on their shoulders based on their brain activity.

Robert Howard and his group of four men walked toward the center of the chamber and took the podium.

He addressed everyone, “Today, we take a stand for the future of our nation. Know this truth, we will not bow before a degenerate Tudor or the Habsburg Catholic ruler. With the support of our friends from the Russian Empire and their formidable phantom legions, which shall arrive with Lord Thomas Radclyffe, we are poised to usher in a new era,” he pointed to me and Jamie, who clung onto me, “Apprehend the degenerate sovereign and his abomination.”

Before they could finalize their plans, the doors to the chamber burst open. A six-foot-tall mecha knight stormed in. His presence was like a dark storm, his eyes were cold and unyielding. He began to shoot air bullets and slash with his longsword at the armed men around the doorways, efficiently killing all eleven.

After completing the slaughter, Marc knelt on one knee, “Aelfric Eli, I have arrived.”

Those who sided with Robert Howard’s group quickly distanced themselves from the rebel leader, but I had already marked them for their fates, including my former supporters. In essence, the coup succeeded with a democratic process as a cherry on top. However, I am not a president or prime minister, I am Aelfric Elias Tudor, sovereign of England. The existence of the nation supersedes everything else.

With a wave of one hand, I used my displacement ability. All the remaining armed rebels, except Robert Howard, had their heads perfectly sliced off, simultaneously. As a spectacle, I wanted to inspire awe and fear with my actions.

I pointed to Robert Howard, "Did you truly believe you could conspire against the Crown without consequence?"

My voice was icy with each word acting like a dagger to all those who sided with the rebels. I pointed at William Paulet and Thomas Smith. They were paralyzed by fear and regret, offering no words for their lives or last-minute resistance against their fate.

“You have both served me for many years and done good work for our nation. I cannot forgive this offense, but your efforts shall be rewarded with a painless death.”

I caused an air embolism to occur, killing both men instantly.

The rest were executed with extreme prejudice. They pleaded for their lives, argued that they were merely cowards in the face of the rebels, and tried to offer proof of their loyalty with past deeds of merit. I showed them no mercy.