Chapter 0900: The Situation in India

The capital of India, Delhi.

It has been nearly four years since the British colonial authorities moved the capital from Kolkata to Delhi in 1912. From that point onward, Delhi has remained the capital of India. Additionally, New Delhi has been under construction since 1911. However, it is still incomplete, which is why the Viceroy's residence remains in Delhi.

The current Viceroy of India is Baron Charles Harding, whose full title also includes that of the Deputy King of India. After the abolition of the Indian Emperor by the British colonial government, the title of Indian Emperor was assumed by the King of the British Empire. The Viceroy of India is thus regarded as the highest ruler of the subcontinent.

It is well known that India is one of the wealthiest regions in the world. To be the Viceroy of India is undeniably a highly comfortable position. After all, during the tenure, one can easily plunder enough wealth to live the rest of their life in luxury.

Baron Charles Harding has served as Viceroy since 1910, and over the years, he has accumulated a considerable fortune. His term was originally set to end this year. However, the British Empire faced defeat in the ongoing war and lost its homeland, leaving it to wither in Canada. Thus, Baron Harding's prospects of advancing further have been dashed. He had planned to return to Britain after his tenure, assuming a cabinet position once he had amassed enough wealth for his retirement. But now, all his plans have been thwarted.

This is why, during this period, Baron Harding has accelerated his efforts to amass even more wealth. He has already submitted a request to the British Cabinet, seeking to step down as Viceroy of India. While India remains far from the European battlefront, and the war is unlikely to reach India immediately, Baron Harding is still uneasy. He is well aware that the greedy Germans will not overlook India, and it is only a matter of time before they launch an assault on the subcontinent.

Unfortunately, his request for resignation has been denied. In times of peace, anyone seeking to resign early from such an important post would undoubtedly be ridiculed as a fool. But during these times, only a fool would assume the role of Viceroy. The British government, unable to find a suitable successor, has been forced to deny his resignation and has instructed him to continue in the role, ensuring that Britain can continue to profit from India.

The British Cabinet, too, is aware that India is likely to be lost. Therefore, they have urged Baron Harding to extract as much as he can during his remaining time and send vital resources to Canada. Should India fall, the exiled British government's finances may be in jeopardy, and the British will be left without the means to sustain themselves. With only a few million people in Canada, it is clear that the British government cannot survive on Canadian resources alone, particularly given their ongoing investments in military expansion, which require vast amounts of capital.

Baron Harding, too, is deeply troubled by this prospect, especially upon learning that German forces have begun their assault on Egypt. He fears that once Germany secures Egypt, their next target will be India, and there is little hope of defending the subcontinent.

"Sir, Lord Nicholson is here to see you," the secretary announced.

"Please, let him in, and bring two cups of tea," Baron Harding instructed.

"Yes, sir," the secretary nodded and hurried off.

Lord William Nicholson, the commander of the British forces in India, held authority over the entire military in the region. Together with Baron Harding, they controlled both the military and political reins of India. While Baron Harding was officially the highest authority in India, the military leader, Lord Nicholson, held significant power. In the event of war, it was Lord Nicholson's leadership that would take precedence. To win the war, Baron Harding knew he would have to cooperate with him, for a defeat would bring disastrous consequences.

Soon, Lord Nicholson, dressed in his military uniform, entered the room.

"Good morning, Viceroy," Lord Nicholson greeted.

"Good morning, my lord. Please, have a seat," Baron Harding replied with a nod.

After the secretary brought in the tea, Baron Harding began his inquiry.

"My lord, what is the current situation?" Baron Harding asked.

"My lord, the situation is dire. The Germans have taken the Suez Canal, and we expect them to soon advance into the Middle East. We are in the process of retreating, but the local forces in the Middle East are unreliable. It is almost impossible to stop the Germans," Lord Nicholson said, his face grim. As both the commander of the British forces in India and the British Indian Army, the pressure on him was immense. If the Germans launched an attack, he would have to lead his forces into battle, though he had no confidence that they could hold back the German advance.

"Sigh! It seems that war is now inevitable. After so many years of British rule in India, it appears that it is coming to an end," Baron Harding lamented. He had little hope for the coming conflict. The German forces were too formidable, and the British forces in India were far too weak to withstand them.

Lord Nicholson nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my lord. We will do our best. If we can delay the Germans here long enough, we might be able to evacuate more people and resources to Canada, preparing for our resurgence. Perhaps, in the future, we may still have a chance to defeat the Germans."

"India has a population of over three hundred million. Having ruled here for so many years, we have a foundation of power. If we manage it well, we might still turn India into a quagmire for the Germans. In that case, they will be bogged down, depleting their strength. We could become the great benefactors of the British Empire!" Baron Harding said with a glimmer of hope.

Though unable to resign, Baron Harding had come to terms with the situation. Since he could not leave, he would do his best to serve the British Empire. After all, most of his wealth had already been transferred to Canada. That wealth was more than enough to ensure his family could live comfortably for generations.