Want to Quash the Rumors? Let Me Help

Several dozen kilometers west of Mysore City.

We're now close to the United Kingdom- controlled Kannur region.

Inside a luxurious building in the style of the Peacock Era, Callum Griffith, a senior representative of the United Kingdom East India Company, stared at Jahan Zeb with a dark expression. "Are you sure the France did this?"

"Well, I have no evidence, Mr. Griffith," the Sultan's private secretary Jahan Zeb, said with a rather certain tone. "These rumors started after the France arrived in Mysore. As far as I know, those France have been secretly encouraging the Sultan to attack United Kingdom territory."

The Vizier of Mysore, or "Vizier," is merely a ceremonial position, above the four core ministers of real power and below the Sultan. There is also the position of Sultan's Secretary, which carries immense power.

However, even such an important minister, after the Second Mysore War, colluded with the United Kingdom and consolidated his position with the United Kingdom help.

Griffith wasn't surprised by this—in India, the British and French had never stopped stabbing each other in the back. It was just that since the Seven Years' War, when France forces had largely withdrawn from India, they hadn't staged such a large-scale conflict.

Logically speaking, France has no interests in the Indian Peninsula anymore, and given France current near-bankrupt Finance situation, they shouldn't be investing so much there.

But Griffith, being cautious, still instructed Jahan Zeb: "I hope these rumors will disappear within a month."

"If you can do that, you can buy half a boatload of cheap fabrics or ironware from me."

United Kingdom Textile and ironware sold very well in India. One could acquire half a shipload of goods at a low price and resell them for almost double the price, making a profit of at least twenty or thirty thousand Pound Sterling.

Jahan Zeb was overjoyed. He immediately flipped his wrist and said earnestly, "Your Excellency, I guarantee you won't hear those rumors by tomorrow morning."

Upon his return to Mysore City, he immediately used the administrative system to order the nationwide arrest of those who spread rumors and slander against the United Kingdom.

In Sheikh Khan's summer Villa, several Mysore officials from the same faction as Sheikh Khan looked anxiously at Salah.

They had received word that Jahan Zeb had ordered a massive crackdown on those spreading rumors. In just three or four days, over a thousand people had been imprisoned, many of whom were people they had sent out.

The most troublesome thing is that Jahan Zeb's actions this time were "reasonable"—even if the matter of eliminating rumors reaches Sultan, they can't find fault with Jahan Zeb.

After a long pause, a gaunt "Umdah," a high-ranking officer in Mysore, said with a grim face, "These days, there aren't many people who dare to talk about the United Kingdom anymore. Even when I send my men to spread the word, no one dares to listen."

The other person immediately nodded. "At this rate, things about the United Kingdom will soon be forgotten. And Jahan Zeb will gain more authority due to the large-scale reshuffling of officials."

Sheikh Khan sighed and said to Salah, "Consul, it seems we need to find a different way to deal with Jahan Zeb."

The latter, who had been deep in thought, finally looked up with a smile, "General, do you remember why we spread 'stories' about the United Kingdom?"

"Of course, it's to incite hatred towards the United Kingdom, thereby bringing down pro-British figures like Jahan Zeb."

"That's right." Salah nodded. "In fact, people's hatred of the United Kingdom cannot directly affect the Pro-England Faction. Something else is needed to ignite public opinion."

"And now, Jahan Zeb's arrest of those spreading rumors has given us this opportunity."

Sheikh Khan and the others exchanged glances, then looked at Salah together. "What do you plan to do? Send more people to spread the message?"

"No, we'll help Jahan Zeb catch the rumor-mongers." Salah gestured with his hand, his voice fierce, "We'll catch them even harder than he did, we'll make everyone fearful!"

A few days later, the Mysore military also began to "respond" to Jahan Zeb's orders, arresting people across the country who were spreading rumors about the United Kingdom.

Their arrest criteria were much stricter than those of administrative officials. If anyone accused someone of speaking ill of the United Kingdom, the soldiers would immediately go to their door and arrest them under the pretext of "carrying out the orders of the Sultan's secretary."

Especially in the political and economic centers of Mysore City and Seringapatam, tens of thousands of people have been imprisoned. Prisons that were originally designed to hold only a hundred or so people are now crammed with over a thousand.

Then even the barracks were filled with prisoners.

At first, Jahan Zeb thought the military was trying to curry favor with him and happily sent people to reward the soldiers who arrested the rumor-mongers—which made people even more certain that the Sultan's secretary was mobilizing the army to make the arrests. Thus, in addition to the United Kingdom, Jahan Zeb was also drawn into the story of the information war.

However, Jahan Zeb soon realized that something was wrong. These military guys were acting like madmen; even a relative of one of his wives was arrested because the latter did not object when he heard people talking about the United Kingdom on the street.

Right now, everyone in Mysore is living in fear, and no one dares to leave their homes, for fear that if they hear anyone on the street mentioning the United Kingdom, they will immediately be in trouble.

At the same time, people's hatred towards the United Kingdom intensified—that's how people are; the more you forbid them from saying something, the more they believe it.

Soon after, even Tipu Sultan was alarmed and summoned Jahan Zeb regarding the large-scale arrests. Knowing that the matter had escalated too much, Jahanzeb explained the rumors and immediately told the Sultan that he would quickly identify those arrested and release anyone who was not a particularly serious rumor-monger.

Sheikh Khan's political inner circle then held a meeting.

"Jahan Zeb was reprimanded by the Sultan and had to start releasing people." The gaunt "Umdah" seemed very pleased. "This will be a significant blow to his prestige."

The other person nodded and said, "Having learned his lesson this time, he certainly won't dare to arrest people arbitrarily in the future. We can continue sending people to tell those 'stories' about the United Kingdom."

The others, realizing this was Salah's brilliant plan, turned to look at him, ready to shower him with praise. But Salah said with a serious expression, "The day after tomorrow morning, Jahan Zeb is releasing the first batch of arrested rumor-mongers. This is our best opportunity; we must seize it!"

"Huh? An opportunity?"

Salah looked at Sheikh Khan: "Please mobilize all available manpower and send them throughout the country to make preparations in advance..."

"We'll launch them simultaneously at noon the day after tomorrow..."