America 1881: Legend of the West

Chapter 624 Federal Bureau of Investigation
Roosevelt's inauguration looked a bit shabby because he was not elected and the event was rushed.

In addition to representatives of members of Congress, officials from the cabinet government and some representatives of the Rough Riders were also invited.

In addition, there is another person who attracts everyone's attention.

Chen Jianqiu was sitting in the crowd wearing a black cloth robe.

Although he looked inconspicuous, no one present dared to look down upon this Chinese man.

Because he was the only business person here who was invited.

Everyone began to speculate about what Chen Jianqiu's appearance at the inauguration ceremony meant.

In fact, the reason why Chen Jianqiu was invited had nothing to do with him being the richest man in the world.

He was just a comrade who fought alongside Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War.

Besides him there were Indians, blacks, and cowboys among the Rough Riders.

"How united and powerful we were at that time!" Before the ceremony began, Roosevelt looked at the guests and sighed.

The inauguration was a succinct affair.

When taking the oath of office, according to tradition, the newly inaugurated president should place his right hand on the Bible and then recite the oath.

But Roosevelt didn't do that.

The Bible doesn't appear either.

The president just raised his left hand and said loudly:
"I solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of President of the United States and do my best to abide by, preserve, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Then, it's all over.

The United States has always been a country founded on Protestantism. If word of Roosevelt's behavior spread, I'm afraid it would arouse criticism.

Fortunately, there was no media at the scene, and no one else tried to stir up trouble, so the matter just passed.

Just after the inauguration ceremony, Chen Jianqiu stood up to leave, but saw Roosevelt waving to him.

Chen Jianqiu tidied his clothes and entered a small room with Roosevelt in full view of everyone.

"Aren't you afraid that the congressmen outside will make a fuss about this?"

Chen Jianqiu closed the door.

Ever since the incident on the southwest border, Roosevelt had not had much communication with Chen Jianqiu.

Even the message was sent by Hanna.

"Did you do it to McKinley?" Roosevelt did not answer Chen Jianqiu's question, but pointed directly at the point.

"I said no, do you believe it?"

Chen Jianqiu shrugged helplessly.

"I don't need to kill him, it won't do me any good."

"If he were an emperor who held all the power in one body, I might give it a try; but McKinley was a democratically elected president and power would pass on after his death, so there was no point in killing him."

Roosevelt was silent for a moment.

The Chinese leader in front of him is shrewd and cunning.

But he has always been honest in front of himself and does not hide anything.

This is not a judgment made after a day or two of knowing each other, but a ten-year friendship.

"I don't want any more trouble on the southwest border." Roosevelt took a deep breath, stared at Chen Jianqiu and said, "The world is in turmoil, and I hope to see a united America."

"Our requirements are not high, Teddy." Chen Jianqiu said.

"I can agree to all your conditions." Roosevelt answered very simply. "Not only that, Oklahoma and New Mexico will be recognized as Chinese autonomous states and can retain militia teams. At the same time, I will let the Immigration Bureau solve the problems of Chinese immigrants. Identity issues.”

"I will do the work of Congress together with Hanna. Believe me, with him here, the problem will not be too big."

"You continue to do the business of the War Department. I communicated with Root yesterday, and the establishment of the General Staff will be accelerated later. After experiencing this conflict, I believe no one will raise any objections."

"Yo? So generous?"

Chen Jianqiu was also a little surprised by the new president's generosity.

Years of experience and understanding of Roosevelt told him that if he agreed so readily, there must be other requirements.

"You're on the southwest border, and those guys in Texas shouldn't be able to cause any trouble," Roosevelt said.

"What else?" Chen Jianqiu didn't believe this reason.

Roosevelt's eyes flickered behind the round lenses for a moment, and then he said slowly:
"I want the Ministry of Justice to set up an investigative agency to investigate cases within the country."

"Many of McKinley's policies have indeed put the United States on the fast track, but they have also caused many problems."

"A lot of forces are entangled within the states, and I can't count on those state judiciaries."

"Also, I would also like to have a team that can conduct enforcement across state lines."

"Doesn't the Federation have a Secret Service? There is also the IRS. They are all 'elite soldiers and strong generals.'" Chen Jianqiu raised his eyebrows.

"Both of these are under the Ministry of Finance."

"The Secret Service used to be responsible only for detecting counterfeit money and part-timely protecting the president's safety. But you have also seen the effect. McKinley was shot through two holes with a gun. I don't want to end up like him."

"I plan to move the Secret Service under the Department of Justice, and as for the IRS, let them continue to investigate taxes."

Roosevelt suddenly paused and blinked at Chen Jianqiu:

"Do you remember what you promised me? When we were in North Dakota, you saved my life from a mountain lion."

Chen Jianqiu was horrified: "Ah? What did I promise?"

"I said if I become president, I hope to hire you as a bodyguard."

"Ah? Did I say that? Why don't I remember?" Chen Jianqiu pretended to be stupid.

But Roosevelt didn't agree with him.

"I can't afford to hire you as a bodyguard now, but can you lend me your Border Detective Agency?" Mr. President said.

Chen Jianqiu said nothing.

Roosevelt put his hands behind his back and began to pace around the room. "I'm going to name this agency 'The Bureau of Investigation'. What do you think?"

He turned his head and glanced at Chen Jianqiu.

"Teddy, this is like I worked hard to raise a child, and now you take it away at your request and ask me to sell my son. How can I agree?"

Chen Jianqiu sighed.

"What's more, the Border Detective Agency can make me a lot of money every year."

"But this child lives in the shadows every day and holds a knife. Do you think it's appropriate?" Roosevelt actually spoke out and directly expressed his thoughts,
"Besides, not everyone accepts it. I only need some capable personnel, and the others should take over business. As long as they don't do anything illegal, I won't care."

"Because there are too many people and the federal government can't support them."

The president began to bargain with Chen Jianqiu like a business deal.

More than ten years ago, this was something completely unimaginable.

"Or I'll think about it again." Chen Jianqiu touched his nose.

"I'll ask Root to reserve a Chinese position for you in the General Staff. How about that? Is this condition sincere enough?"

Chen Jianqiu felt helpless.

He knew that in Roosevelt's mind, his all-pervasive border detective agency was the most terrifying.

And so it is.

No matter how good their relationship is, the President cannot tolerate an uncontrolled ghost existing on the American continent.

Although Roosevelt said that he was only selecting a part of the elite troops.

But Chen Jianqiu knew that the essence of a detective agency is people.

If the elite were withdrawn, his detective agency would basically have no need to continue operating, just like the Pinkerton Detective Agency in the past.

After that, they would only accept commissions such as "finding out who the wives of those clients who were cuckolded are having an affair with".

Chen Jianqiu thought for a moment and spoke:

"Why don't you just go right ahead and call the FBI."

"FBI?" Roosevelt stroked his palm gently. "Well, good idea."

"In addition, I have another request." Chen Jianqiu spoke again, "When do you plan to take action against Rockefeller and Morgan?"

Roosevelt looked out the window:

"You don't need to tell me this. I have been planning to deal with these people for a long time."

A few days later, a bombshell news came out from New York.

The famous Border Detective Agency will be reorganized and laid off, and its core personnel will join the newly established FBI of the federal government and become employees of the federal government.

But the detectives of the Border Detective Agency, who were paid by the government, were not too happy.

Following Boss Chen, they dare to do anything and enjoy the best of life.

Who knows if we will still have a good life after following the federal government?

Several detective agency bosses including Hanif, White, and Wyatt took the train to New York and arrived at the headquarters of the Border Detective Agency.

Another big guy, Holiday, was already waiting for them there.

Several people discussed going together to meet Chen Jianqiu to hear what the boss meant.

Who knew that Chen Jianqiu would close the door and refuse visitors, not even answering the phone, but just let Camilla bring a message:
From now on, there will be less of an employment relationship between us, and we will be purer friends;

Listen to the government and work hard in any position until you retire and go fishing with yourself.

Several people looked at each other.

They actually didn’t quite understand what Chen Jianqiu meant by “in any position”.

Finally Hanif spoke.

He said to Camilla solemnly: "We have all followed the boss all the way here, and he will always be our boss."

Camilla smiled and agreed.

After Roosevelt established the FBI, he first used the original structure and personnel of the Border Detective Agency for a period of time, and after it became stable, he began to make adjustments.

Several senior officials were "pulled out" from the places where they still ran their businesses.

For example, Holiday was transferred to the IRS and soon replaced the former director who was lying in wait with his own ability;
White joined the Naval Intelligence Department and was sent to Europe due to his rich experience to lead the intelligence work there and compete with European spies in wits and courage.
Wyatt went to New York and became police chief of the largest city in the East;
As for Hanif, he was transferred to the Secret Service Bureau with a transfer order and was promoted to deputy director shortly afterwards.

He never dreamed that one day he would finally get a job dealing with money all day long.

But those banknotes were all counterfeit.

Hanif is in charge of the Secret Service's traditional business: combating the production and circulation of counterfeit banknotes.

It seems that the Border Detective Agency's influence on the FBI no longer exists.

But one day shortly after the FBI was established, in a dense woods on the hills outside Lincolnshire.

Since the number of Chinese residents in New Mexico increased, Chen Jianqiu paid for the construction of a temple here.

The Chinese people who are far away from their hometown now have something to rely on.

So this place is lush and green, and there is constant incense burning.

But it's very quiet here today.

At the entrance of the temple, a row of energetic young people stood respectfully.

Among these people, there are Chinese and white people.

They have all been selected through layers of selection and are about to become the first batch of FBI agents.

A middle-aged man in a black cloth robe, with his back to them, lit a stick of incense in front of the Buddhist shrine and bowed deeply.

After he stood up, he turned around and said with a smile to those young people who looked up to him and regarded him as an idol:

"The fortune teller said that my success was the result of the sacrifice of thousands of men, but I don't think so."

(End of this chapter)