Chapter 347: Sydney Royal Zoo
After spending most of the day exploring the forest, Arthur, Kent, and the accompanying guards, with the young ones as witnesses, successfully hunted dozens of wild deer, buffaloes, and other prey, and were satisfied enough to return to the villa.
Australasia still had an abundance of wildlife, especially domesticated animals like cattle and sheep that, after escaping from their farms, slowly reverted to a wild state. For the hunting team, the main food sources during this period were the wild animals they had captured.
Despite having hundreds of people in the hunting team, consuming hundreds of kilograms of food daily, the meals were relatively simple. Aside from some staple foods like potatoes and flour, Arthur's main meals consisted of roasted venison, beef, lamb, and some wild fruits from the forest.
Luckily, the accompanying chefs were skilled, so even with simple ingredients, the food was delicious. However, the servants and guards didn't enjoy the same treatment; their food was mostly just simple roasted meat with occasional wild fruits and staple foods.
As for drinking water, there was a very clear creek near the villa. Though the flow was not strong, the water was clean and free from any industrial pollution. The soldiers usually fetched water directly from the creek to drink, but Arthur had to boil it first.
Thanks to this creek, personal hygiene was not an issue for Arthur and the little ones. Otherwise, based on past hunting trips, it often took several days to bathe, depending on the availability of a clean water source.
That evening, after a simple wash-up, Arthur, Anna, and William sat together to enjoy the dinner carefully prepared by the chef. The two little ones were still very excited about the day's hunting experience, tirelessly discussing the white stag they had encountered and other animals.
"Father, when can I hunt like you?" William asked curiously as he put down his knife and fork.
Though the hunt was thrilling, for the two little ones, they were merely carried on horseback, passively experiencing everything. Witnessing something firsthand was a completely different experience from just hearing about it, which made William curious to ask.
"Wait until you get your shooting skills in order, William. Your shooting lessons haven't even started, and you can't even hold a gun properly, so how can you hunt?" Arthur said, laughing.
"Deal, Father." William responded eagerly, not discouraged at all.
For traditional aristocrats, having good shooting skills was a necessary requirement. Especially for a noble like William, who was expected to become the ruler of the country, he not only needed to be familiar with the most mainstream weapons in the world and understand their structure, advantages, and disadvantages, but he also had to have a deeper understanding of military affairs. Military schools were a mandatory institution for him.
If things went as expected, regardless of how William performed academically before university, his choice of college would undoubtedly be the Sydney Royal Military Academy. The three main departments of the military academy didn't matter, but after graduating from the Royal Military Academy, William would have to serve at least three years in the army, undergoing proper training to understand the military and the lower ranks of the army.
The King of Australasia held significant power, especially in military matters. Arthur didn't want William to have an interest in the military without the corresponding abilities. Arthur didn't want to see William blindly commanding a war and causing defeat.
To have power, one must have the capability. If William lacked military talent, Arthur would consider reducing his future military power and reassigning the command of wartime operations to the Ministry of Defense.
Of course, the royal guard, such as the elite guard units, would always remain under the control of the royal family as the final line of defense. But if William's military talent was subpar, the elite guard might be the only unit he could personally command.
As the father and sons conversed in a lighthearted manner, the busy day quickly passed.
To ensure the injured white stag was taken care of, Arthur decided to end the hunting trip after two more days in the forest. On April 28, 1913, Arthur made the decision to return to Sydney.
The hunting trip had been a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and Arthur was quite satisfied. At least he felt much more relaxed, and the little ones no longer had as much academic pressure.
The return journey from the hunting grounds to Sydney took nearly a full day. When the convoy finally stopped in front of the Sydney Palace, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.
Though Australasia didn't have many wild carnivores that could pose a threat to Arthur's hunting party, the presence of numerous venomous snakes and insects in the wild made the hunt risky. Especially in the deep forests, poisonous creatures and insects were often encountered.
Although Arthur had the protection of the entire hunting team, medical care at the time was not advanced, and being bitten by these snakes or insects could be deadly. Thus, Arthur was cautious about hidden dangers during the hunt.
Fortunately, the hunts had gone smoothly, and even though snakes and insects occasionally appeared, they quickly fled due to the large presence of the hunting party. Wild animals generally feared humans, and these snakes and insects were no exception.
The news of Arthur's successful capture of a white stag spread quickly, and newspapers were already buzzing with attention. Even European media contacted Arthur, eager for firsthand information.
Though the religious influence of Europe had lessened by the 20th century, the capture of a pure wild white stag was still a remarkable event worthy of commemoration and publicity.
Even as scientific progress led to more rational explanations, the public still tended to attribute awe-inspiring events to divine intervention. The impact of thousands of years of religious traditions was not something that could be easily erased.
In Australasia, Arthur was already referred to as the "child of divine favor," and many believed that God had sent Arthur to help build a prosperous Australasia. With Arthur's achievements over the past decade, his popularity and support from the people had skyrocketed.
What had previously been mere recognition and support for Arthur had now turned into fervent admiration and praise. If it were the Middle Ages, with proper publicity and the live white stag, Arthur would undoubtedly be seen as a legendary figure.
When the convoy reached Sydney Palace, large crowds had gathered outside, eager to catch a glimpse of the white stag and to greet Arthur, the monarch who had become a great figure for Australasia.
Unfortunately, the white stag was well-protected, and people could only catch a fleeting glimpse before it disappeared from view. However, the royal guards soon relayed news that Arthur had decided to exhibit the white stag at the Sydney Royal Zoo starting three days later.
During the exhibition, the zoo would remain open seven days a week for ticket sales, with a special discount for legal citizens of Australasia, offering them a 30% discount.
The zoo's tickets didn't bring in much revenue, and even with the added fame of the white stag, the sales wouldn't skyrocket. However, offering a discount to the citizens of Australasia was a way to boost national pride and gain more favor from the public.
Once the news of the white stag reached Europe, it was expected to attract a significant number of European visitors and media. The discounted tickets for Australasians would only further enhance their pride.
Arthur knew that a nation's success depended on its people's national pride and unity. The pride of a nation, built on self-respect and recognition, was essential for its progress. As long as the people and the country prospered together, they would be unstoppable.
After three days of treatment at the Sydney Palace's private hospital, the white stag, named "Little White" by Anna, was released into the Sydney Royal Zoo. During its recovery, Arthur's mother, Princess Louise, Queen Mary, and the two young ones frequently visited "Little White," curious and fascinated by the fluffy white animal.
Although the family was reluctant to send "Little White" to the zoo, they understood that it was better for the world to see the rare creature, which would also increase Arthur's legendary status and showcase the generosity of the royal family.
In the meantime, Kent, upon returning to the palace, had already begun to execute Arthur's plan to collect endangered species for the future. Discussions with countries in East Asia and Europe were already underway, and in one or two months, they would begin to purchase and bring back rare wildlife to Australasia.
The first batch of animals, including the Caribbean monk seal, Mexican grizzly bear, black bear, Green Mountain wolf, and Wake Island moorhen, were all species that had gone extinct by the 20th century. These animals were rare and incredibly precious.
Arthur's ultimate goal was to create an endangered species museum in Australasia, where these animals would live on, even after they went extinct in other parts of the world.
(End of Chapter)
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