So apparently the richest man in the world was… the hope of communism?
As I stared at Friedrich Engels, who was spouting nonsense that wouldn't even qualify as third-rate propaganda, he finally calmed down and cleared his throat.
But perhaps he misread the disbelief on my face, because he suddenly steered the conversation in another direction.
"Ah… I became a little too excited and spoke out of turn. Your Highness may find the concept of communism difficult to understand since it is unfamiliar."
No, I understood it very well.
In fact, I probably understood it far better than the two of you who were only now beginning to formalize the concept.
What baffled me was why I had suddenly been nominated as the standard-bearer of communism.
"Communism is already drifting across Europe like a ghost," Friedrich continued. "My friend Karl Marx and I are working to refine the concept and establish it as a theory. Simply put, communism aims to abolish private property and socialize the means of production in order to truly liberate the working class."
"So the core idea is preventing individuals from monopolizing the means of production, correct?"
"Exactly. You grasped the essence immediately. It seems my judgment of Your Highness was correct after all. Throughout human history, the masses and the ruling class have struggled against one another. Through that struggle, thesis and antithesis collide to form a new synthesis. In the course of that development, the system humanity ultimately reaches is communism."
One of the most common misconceptions about communism is the idea that all wealth is distributed equally, suppressing human self-interest.
According to that simplistic argument, if everyone receives the same reward regardless of effort, people lose motivation to work.
Productivity collapses, and national competitiveness declines.
But that sort of argument was little more than crude anti-communist propaganda.
In reality, if someone genuinely tried to exploit that logic, they would quickly find themselves shipped off to a labor camp.
Of course, most modern "communist" states were not pure communist societies.
In fact, a true communist state was essentially impossible.
Communism, in theory, could only emerge after capitalism had reached its ultimate stage.
"Still," I said, "while it's admirable that you pursue academic inquiry with such enthusiasm, the concept of communism seems to contain certain contradictions."
"That is understandable," Karl replied. "Our theory is still in its early stages. If Your Highness could point out those contradictions, we would be grateful."
Wait.
If I pointed out the flaws, wouldn't I simply be helping them refine their ideological weapon?
My plan had been to highlight communism's weaknesses and persuade them that reforming capitalism was the faster path.
But things were starting to feel… backwards.
"First of all," I said, "according to your theory, a communist state cannot exist."
"That is correct," Karl answered. "Ultimately the state must disappear for true communism to emerge. Even if a dictatorship of the proletariat appears, it would still only be a socialist state, not a communist society."
"But in all of history," I asked, "has a dictatorship ever voluntarily dissolved itself?"
"There have been rare rulers who relinquished power. But even then, power simply passed to another person or faction."
This was precisely the argument that would later divide Marx and Mikhail Bakunin.
Bakunin criticized the idea that the state would dissolve under proletarian dictatorship as little more than religious faith.
History would later prove him largely correct.
No socialist state had ever achieved true communism.
And the reason was obvious.
"Your ideology is theoretically beautiful," I continued. "Idealistic enough that workers might weep with emotion when they hear it. Some country might even attempt a revolution to create such a society."
"But is that truly what you want?"
"That is… not our intention," Friedrich said quickly. "If we harbored such subversive thoughts, how could we dare speak of them before the Prince Consort of the British Empire?"
"Fair enough."
These two young men had not yet published The Communist Manifesto.
They certainly weren't standing here plotting to drown Europe in red revolution.
As Friedrich himself had said, if that had been their intention, they would never have spoken so freely in front of me.
"However," I said, "there is a strong possibility that others may be influenced by your ideas."
"And from what little I've heard, the potential for misuse is enormous."
"Not just misuse—distortion as well. Your theory could easily become dogmatic."
"Have you considered these possibilities?"
Everything I mentioned were criticisms that would later be directed at communism throughout history.
And to be honest, they were impossible problems to solve.
Even if Karl Marx was a once-in-a-century genius capable of captivating millions, there were limits that brilliance alone could not overcome.
But the younger Karl seemed not to have considered them yet.
"Misuse and distortion?" Karl asked.
"According to your theory, communism emerges only after capitalism has fully developed. But is there any country in the world approaching that stage?"
"Not yet. That is why we believe Your Highness—"
"Hold on. Let me finish."
"In my view, such a society will not appear for a very long time."
At least until the early twenty-first century, I could say that with confidence.
Even if artificial intelligence and automation someday replaced human labor entirely, Marx's vision of communism would still be difficult to realize.
But whether it was theoretically possible wasn't the real issue.
The true danger lay elsewhere.
Communism was extremely appealing to workers, who formed the overwhelming majority of society.
And its structure made it dangerously easy to transform into dictatorship.
History had already demonstrated how easily socialist states slid into authoritarian rule.
"If I were a revolutionary," I said, "I would use your ideology to overthrow a government and claim I was building a socialist paradise."
"Then I would establish a dictatorship of the proletariat and purge all opposition."
"I would justify a powerful army by claiming bourgeois states might invade."
"I would accelerate industrialization to compete with other nations."
"Don't you think your theory provides the perfect blueprint for dictatorship?"
"That would be a misuse of the theory," Friedrich protested. "Such distortions would inevitably correct themselves through internal reform—"
"No," I interrupted.
"If the regime claims it is protecting the proletarian revolution, how could internal reform occur?"
In reality, this exact logic would later be used quite effectively by a certain mustached ruler in Russia.
"Then we must develop safeguards within the theory to prevent dictatorship," Friedrich said.
"And that," I replied, "is another problem."
"When an ideology has a founder, it inevitably becomes dogmatic."
"Capitalism was never proclaimed by a single individual as the correct system. It emerged naturally from economic development. Scholars merely studied and analyzed it afterward."
"But if you create communism and Friedrich spreads it, what happens then?"
Karl fell silent.
He seemed to be considering the argument seriously.
But I already knew the answer.
Capitalism had evolved organically.
Because of that, when contradictions appeared, societies could debate, reform, and adjust the system continuously.
Ironically, it was the fear of communist revolution that later pushed capitalist nations to adopt social welfare reforms.
"So Your Highness believes our theory is fundamentally flawed?" Karl asked.
"I did not say that."
"I agree with your insight that the contradictions of capitalism will eventually push society to its limits."
"I believe the signs are already visible across Europe," Karl replied. "Within three years, a major upheaval will occur."
"I agree."
The revolutions that would engulf Europe—except Britain—were indeed only three years away.
Karl's insight was undeniable.
No wonder he would later leave such an enormous intellectual legacy across philosophy, economics, and politics.
He truly was extraordinary.
Which was precisely why I had briefly considered eliminating both of them quietly before their ideas spread.
But after speaking with them, my thoughts began to change.
Historically, communism justified itself through historical materialism.
Though it ultimately failed, its emergence had been historically inevitable.
No matter how much I improved the British Empire or created better conditions for workers, I could not transform the entire nineteenth century.
Even if I eliminated Marx, some other form of communism would eventually appear.
Perhaps even a more chaotic and dangerous version.
So what should I do?
My original plan had been to persuade Karl and Friedrich to become reformist capitalists.
They were still young—roughly my age.
It seemed possible.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple.
"Your Highness's willingness to listen and your unexpected criticisms are something we will never forget," Karl said. "Your perspective revealed blind spots we had not considered. When we return, Friedrich and I will work on strengthening the theory."
"No," I said.
"That approach will never escape its limitations."
"As you admitted, the weakness of your theory is excessive idealism."
"You have never governed a country. You have never experienced the absurd, irrational chaos that occurs in real politics."
Both Karl and Friedrich nodded.
They were intelligent enough to understand that perspective shaped interpretation.
"You have no intention of abandoning your theory, do you?" I continued.
"You still believe communism will emerge once capitalism reaches its peak—and that I am somehow the ideal figure to guide that process."
"…Yes."
"Then stay here."
"Observe what I am doing."
"Refine your theory while watching reality unfold."
"I will consider any useful aspects of your ideas for practical application. And if parts of your theory lack realism, I will criticize them just as I did today."
"Y-You truly mean that?" Friedrich asked. "But why would Your Highness do such a thing—ah! Of course! You agree with the core principles of our theory!"
No.
I don't.
I hate communism.
But in this era communism was like a hydra.
Cut off one head and another would grow immediately.
Unless capitalism evolved enough to leave no room for it, the ideology could never be eradicated.
So there was only one answer.
"Isn't the ultimate goal of politics to create a society where everyone can live happily?" I said.
"I will work to perfect capitalism and move society forward."
"In return, lend me your wisdom."
"Understood," Karl said. "We will discuss it and give you our answer."
If you cannot defeat them, absorb them.
In this case, it might even be the reverse—but it didn't matter.
If these communist zealots saw me as their destined leader, I could simply play along.
But before unifying the martial world, one must first possess the strength to do so.
My true priority was completing capitalism.
Anyone who tried to start a premature revolution before that point was nothing more than a saboteur.
Once healthy capitalism fully took root, everyone would realize a simple truth:
Heretical sects could never overcome the orthodox path.
The leader of the capitalist alliance… who also happened to be the "heavenly demon" of communism.
Actually, if you thought about it differently—
wasn't that the ultimate unification of the martial world?
I could hardly believe it myself.
But unbelievably, it was all real.
How I ended up in this situation…
Even I had no idea.