Collecting Money

Influenced by France's large-farm plan, British experts and scholars began touting a "food self-sufficiency strategy" as well, proposing that the government establish grain storehouses belonging to Britain in its overseas colonies.

Unlike the French, the British had far too many options. With the Royal Navy's advantage, Britain did not really need to worry about food supplies.

Whether the Confederate States in North America or Argentina and Brazil in South America, all were Britain's granaries.

Even newly developed regions such as New Zealand, Australia, and Canada likewise had the potential to become the Empire's granaries.

And if all else failed, they could simply squeeze a little more out of India.

After all, the population of the British Isles was only so large. The homeland itself could provide 70% of its food, and feeding the remaining few million people was no challenge for John Bull.

No matter how secure Britain's food supply was, it did not stop the experts and scholars from shooting their mouths off. So long as the money was in place, there was nothing they could not make happen.

For the sake of Pound Sterling, the experts swiftly came up with a whole heap of reasons. Even the shameful Irish Great Famine was dragged out for discussion.

Before the government could react, panic had already broken out among the public. No one knew which unscrupulous capitalists were spreading rumors, claiming that Russia and Austria had suffered droughts and that their autumn grain harvests would completely fail in the second half of the year.

Absurd as the rumor was, people actually believed it—and not just one or two of them—because food prices really had risen.

As a lawyer, Bill was far more knowledgeable than ordinary people. Unaffected by the rumors, he did not rush out to snap up food.

"Sir,