roccoschili 8. Wellington and Nelson
8. Wellington and Nelson
The HMS Victory has been sailing out of Portsmouth harbor for over a month.
The sea was calm, and the sunlight shone through the clouds onto the deck, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Dugan was already used to the ship's rocking and would go up to the deck for some fresh air every morning. Arthur would often appear at this time, and the two would chat idly with the sea breeze. The topics were still military and tactics, and occasionally they would talk about the trivial matters of the London aristocracy and the customs and culture of India.
With his historical knowledge from before his time travel, Dugan always manages to offer unique insights during casual conversations. Whether it's his analysis of the flaws in French military tactics or his predictions about the situation in the Indian colony, his insights have made Arthur increasingly impressed.
Arthur was also very open with his experiences, occasionally sharing his early campaigns in Flanders and Ireland, recounting the dangers and choices on the battlefield, which gave Dugan a more realistic understanding of the wars of that era.
"You've never been to India, how do you know so much about India?" Arthur asked Dugan.
Dugan smiled and said, "I write letters. My brother Megan Connbay is an executive at the East India Company, and he often mentions things about India in his letters home, so I know a little about it."
"I see."
The journey from London to Madras in southern India takes three months, a long and tedious trip. Luckily, Arthur keeps him company and keeps him company, otherwise Dugan really wouldn't know how to pass the time.
That afternoon, as usual, Dugan and Arthur were leaning against the ship's side on the deck, talking about the difference in weaponry between the British and French armies.
Just then, the soldiers on deck suddenly became orderly and stood at attention with respectful expressions. The once noisy deck instantly fell silent, with only the sound of the sea breeze whistling through the air.
Dugan followed the soldiers' gaze and saw a man in a naval vice admiral's uniform, accompanied by several adjutants, slowly walking onto the deck to begin his inspection.
The man was not tall, with slightly sloping shoulders. He wore a black eye patch over his left eye and had a faint scar on his face, but it did not look ferocious at all. Instead, it exuded an aura of authority and sharpness from someone who had been through many battles.
His sharp gaze swept over every soldier and every corner of the deck, his expression serious, radiating an aura that commanded respect.
He bent down, touched the deck with his hand, and then said to the soldiers with a smile, "Very good, I'd like to introduce you to two ladies today."
The soldiers were delighted to hear this.
But then his face darkened, and he threw a mop and a bucket at the soldiers. "Lazybones, these are the two ladies I want to introduce to you, Mrs. Mop and Miss Bucket."
The soldiers were terrified.
"You sissies, you can't even clean the deck properly, you don't deserve to be in the navy!" The man pointed at the soldiers and berated them, but the soldiers remained silent.
"Yes, General Nelson. Rinse the deck again immediately." A boatswain stepped forward last and saluted the man.
Horatio Nelson! The legendary vice admiral of the British Royal Navy?
Dugan's eyes lit up; he never expected to meet this legendary figure on the HMS Victory.
Overwhelmed with respect and excitement, Dugan quickly straightened his officer's uniform, strode forward, and bowed respectfully to Nelson, his tone humble yet enthusiastic: "Lieutenant General Nelson, greetings! I am Major Dugan Connby, Staff Officer of the 94th Infantry Regiment. It is an honor to meet you!"
However, Nelson merely glanced at him indifferently, his gaze not lingering at all, as if Dugan were nothing but air, and walked straight past him to continue patrolling the deck without even a word of response.
Dugan stood frozen in place, his smile turning somewhat awkward.
Seeing this, Arthur slowly stepped forward, patted Dugan on the shoulder, and said in a gentle tone with a hint of consolation, "Don't be upset, Major Connaught. This Lieutenant General Nelson has always been like this, arrogant and condescending. It's common for him to ignore even officers of the same rank, let alone a mere major like you."
Dugan slowly came to his senses, and gave a wry smile: "I didn't expect this legendary vice admiral to be so arrogant. I thought that, out of politeness, he would at least have responded."
"Arrogance? Perhaps." Arthur's lips curled into a faint sneer, his tone tinged with disdain. "In my opinion, he's more hypocritical. On the surface, he proclaims himself to serve his country and fight bravely against the enemy, but deep down he's full of vanity and selfishness, single-mindedly focused on making a name for himself and gaining fame. He never cares about the respect and goodwill of his subordinates."
Dugan was suspicious. If someone could speak of Nelson in such a tone, then what about Arthur?
"Mr. Arthur, have you met Lieutenant General Nelson before?" Dugan hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking.
Arthur nodded, his gaze fixed on Nelson's departing figure, and said calmly, "I've met him a few times, always in the Colonial Secretary's office on Downing Street. We were discussing the war plan for the Indian colony; he was in charge of naval escorts and the naval blockade, while I was in charge of the army's operational plans. So we've met a few times."
"The Colonial Secretary's office on Downing Street?" Dugan's heart skipped a beat again.
Downing Street was the core location of the British government, and the Colonial Secretary held great power. Being able to discuss war with Nelson there meant that he was no ordinary officer.
At that moment, Dugen realized that this seemingly ordinary middle-aged man was definitely not simple.
Dugan took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and looked firmly at Arthur, his tone sincere: "Mr. Arthur, please forgive my intrusion. I was too naive before and didn't think much of it. May I ask your full name?"
Arthur looked at Dugan's serious expression, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes—a smile that contained understanding, approval, and a touch of barely perceptible teasing. He paused for a moment, then spoke slowly, his tone calm yet carrying an innate authority: "My full name is Arthur Wellesley."
"Arthur Wellesley..." Dugan murmured the name, swallowing awkwardly.
That legendary military strategist who would later defeat Napoleon, sweep across Europe, and be made Duke of Wellington!
The inventor of the backslope tactic that he casually "borrowed" from before!
Dugan never imagined that the person he had spent the last few days with, chatting casually with, and even "showing off his limited skills" in front of, claiming the other's tactics as his own, was actually General Wellington!
Despite the slight embarrassment, the inherent pride and arrogance of the original owner of the body quickly calmed Dugen down.
"I never imagined you would be Major General Wellesley. I had already heard of your reputation in London, but I never expected to meet you here in this way. Please forgive my rudeness."
Arthur Wellesley's tone was gentle: "It's alright, Major Connaught. I didn't expect that the rumored playboy wasn't just a womanizer. I enjoyed our time together, so there's no need to be so formal."
Although Dugan's mood was on a rollercoaster, as a person with strong mental fortitude and thick skin, he quickly regained his composure.
The two resumed their lively conversation.
In the afternoon, he secretly went to the ship's kitchen, slipped the cook two shillings, and asked him to prepare a steak dinner for himself and Arthur Wellesley. He also secretly stole a bottle of red wine that Yuanbei had prepared for Nelson.
"Who told him to be so rude to me!" Dugan said with a laugh as he poured red wine for Arthur Wellesley.
"Yes, let this arrogant fellow drink seawater." Arthur Wellesley laughed as he took the glass. "Come on, let's continue talking about the rifling in gun barrels."