The Shadow of Great Britain

What would become of his life if he couldn't complete his studies at the university?

Bismarck's mind drifted into imagination.

He would most likely spend a few years as a junior officer in the army, shouting at recruits every day.

Then he would marry, have children, farm the land, produce distilled liquor without restraint, and use it to corrupt the morals of the peasants on his estate.

If ten years later, those alumni from University of Gottingen who studied with him happened to visit his hometown, he would certainly invite these old classmates to revel together, and find a flirtatious, curvaceous maiden from the manor to frolic with them.

He would also invite friends to drink potato brandy, as much as they wanted. He would invite them to hunt, playing with great merriment.

At that time, Bismarck would probably be a stout militia officer, sporting a mustache with upturned ends, cursing with such fury that the earth trembles, hating Jews and Frenchmen, wantonly whipping dogs and servants. Meanwhile, he would still be under the strict guidance of his wife, just like the generations of the Bismarck family.

When the sun was out in autumn, he would drink heavily, then wear leather pants, riding a scrawny little horse, commanding servants to use ox-carts to bring goods to the wool market in Stettin, making a scene.

If anyone in the market paid respects to him, the Junker nobility, he would kindly rub his mustache, and then offer everyone a discount.

On the King's birthday, he would get terribly drunk, and loudly toast His Majesty's life.

The rest of the time, he would regularly engage in grand discussions.

Even his catchphrase would become: "My heavens! What a magnificent horse!"

"Oh! No!" Bismarck wailed painfully, clutching his head: "I don't want to become such a Junker bumpkin!"

Bismarck looked eagerly at Arthur, again recalling the Sword of Honor granted by the King.

He knew well that this young man, not much older than himself and quite irritating, was indeed a legitimate British Knight.

Though knights in Britain are not part of the nobility, instead being a form of honorary citizenship and not hereditary.

However, if he were ennobled in Germany, for example, in the Kingdom of Hanover, he would be an unequivocal hereditary noble of the state.

Though this does not compare to the imperial nobility enobled by the Holy Roman Empire Emperor, it is still far more prestigious than the nobility decree obtained by the Bismarck family.

Even as a British Knight, he could incite immense envy from the young Bismarck.

And if Arthur were an Imperial Knight enobled before 1806, Bismarck would most likely regard him as his ambition.

Because being an Imperial Knight meant he is a free knight directly under the Holy Roman Empire, with no Lord other than the Emperor, nominally equal to other dukes, marquises, earls, and imperial free cities directly under the Empire.

Although Imperial Knights don't have seats or voting rights in the Empire Conference, they enjoy a certain degree of sovereignty over their domain, on their small fief, they can legislate freely, levy taxes, civil jurisdiction, mint coins, etc.

When the Holy Roman Empire was destroyed by Napoleon in 1806, there were about 350 such Imperial Knights, with roughly 450,000 Germans living under their rule.

However, in Germany not everyone wants to become imperial nobility.

For instance, the Naturalist Johann Senkenberg once scolded loudly: "A decent person's worth surpasses all nobility and barons combined. If anyone wants to ennoble me as a baron, I'll curse them as a wretch, or curse them as a baron. That's my view on noble titles."

But people like Senkenberg are ultimately the minority, most Germans and Frenchmen alike would give whatever it takes to obtain a noble title.

Likewise, some young people have already achieved knighthood, and according to this trend, potentially acquire a hereditary title in the future.

Yet some young people face the concern of being expelled from university, and are heavily in debt.

Bismarck knows full well, he can't outmatch him, since this fellow can't be intimidated, it'd be best to cooperate with him.

Just endure for two to three years, until he graduates successfully from University of Gottingen, holding the school's recommendation letter to obtain the Prussian judge position, then it will be 'making waves in a vast ocean, letting birds fly in the high sky'!

He would rely on this recommendation letter to soar in the judicial system, then find opportunities to blend into diplomatic circles, and finally establish his own career, becoming a noble of high rank.

By then, he can reveal the disgraceful secrets of Arthur Hastings however he wishes.

Under the nearly limitless power of the Academic Director and National Special Representative, the young Junker Bismarck decided to yield for now: "Your Excellency, I apologize to you, I was joking with you just now."

"I am sorry too, Otto." Arthur replied with righteous indignation: "Because I'm not joking."

Bismarck felt chilled from head to toe, despite standing in front of Arthur, he began seriously pondering how to run for society president.

Seeing this boy finally yield, Arthur tossed him another bait: "Otto, how much do you owe others at school?"

Feeling disturbed, Bismarck responded casually: "Probably about a hundred florins."

"Oh! What a coincidence!" Arthur said: "The Hastings Scholarship I'm considering establishing just happens to be a hundred florins."