Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 327 Bang bang bang, gunshots ring out, people fall

The funeral began in Memphis, Martin Luther King Jr.'s final battlefield.

He came to show his support for the striking sanitation workers, who were Black laborers holding signs in the cold wind that read: "I am a human being!"

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have Reached the Summit" speech still resonates in people's ears. He predicted his own end, but no one expected it to come so swiftly.

In his final speech before his death, titled "I Have Reached the Summit," he said:
"We have already seen the Promised Land! I may not be able to reach it with you, but tonight I want you to know that we, as a nation, will eventually reach the Promised Land! So tonight I am very happy, I have no worries! I fear no one! My eyes have already seen the glory of the Lord's coming!"

The Promised Land is also considered to be heaven, and Martin Luther King Jr. went to heaven before his followers.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s body was transported to RS Lewis Funeral Home, a black-run funeral home located in the heart of Memphis's black community, surrounded by dilapidated log cabins and narrow streets.

The funeral home's living room was temporarily set up as a memorial hall, with his photo hanging on the walls: standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., with his arms raised, and a sea of ​​25 people behind him. Slogans calling for the renaming of the White House were everywhere.

Coreta King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, was the first to arrive.

Their four children—12-year-old Yolanda, 10-year-old Martin III, 8-year-old Dexter, and 5-year-old Bernice—clung tightly to her side.

Ralph Abernathy, as the moderator, spoke with the firmness of a pastor: "Martin has not left us; he has simply gone to another battlefield to continue fighting for justice."

The memorial service in Tennessee was private, attended only by family and closest friends.

His relatives took turns coming forward; some gently touched his cheeks, while others kissed his lips.

Andrew Young recalled Martin Luther King Jr.'s smile during the Montgomery bus boycott and whispered a prayer: "Lord, give us the strength to continue in His ways."

The ceremony lasted less than an hour.

Abernathy led everyone in singing the hymn "We Will Win," his deep and powerful voice echoing in the small room.

Outside, hundreds of people gathered on the streets of Memphis, holding candles and observing a moment of silence.

Police and National Guard troops are on high alert to prevent the riots from spreading.

President Lyndon Johnson ordered a national day of mourning from the White House, and federal buildings flew flags at half-staff.

After the memorial service, the coffin was carefully carried out and placed in the hearse.

Escorted by police cars, the procession slowly drove towards Memphis Airport. The plane took off in the afternoon, carrying Kim's body to Atlanta.

Atlanta received King's body on April 6.

The city was shrouded in mourning, with portraits of Kim displayed on the streets and signs reading, "Kim is dead, but Kim lives on!"

The body was transported to the sister chapel of Spearman College, Corretta's alma mater, for public viewing.

Thousands lined up from dawn till late at night.

The visit lasted two days, with Atlanta police maintaining order to prevent any disturbances.

Georgia Governor Lester Maddox publicly opposed the move, calling Martin Luther King Jr. an “enemy of the state,” refusing to hold a state funeral for him, and even refusing to lower the flag to half-staff.

But a federal order forced him to yield, and the flag at the state capitol eventually flew low.

April 9th ​​marked the official day of the funeral.

The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle fell intermittently, as if even the heavens were weeping.

Lyndon Johnson and his entourage arrived in Atlanta aboard the presidential plane and, escorted by an official motorcade, went straight to the church.

In the original timeline, Lyndon Johnson was overwhelmed by the Vietnam War and his popularity was so bad that he had already announced his withdrawal from the race, so he simply didn't go.

He attended the funeral as his successor, Vice President Robert Humphrey.

Now, Lyndon Johnson's poll numbers have rebounded, and he has regained confidence. This time, it's Lyndon Johnson's turn to attend the funeral, but Robert Humphrey is not going.

The funeral was held at 10:30 a.m. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Built in the late 19th century, the church's red brick walls bear witness to three generations of the Martin Luther King Jr. family preaching here.

Mourners arrived early, and about 1300 people filled the seats.

Coreta sat in the front row, with the children around her.

Lin Ran and Jenny were dressed in black suits with white laces on their arms, looking formal and dignified.

"Please accept my condolences!" Lin Ran said in Chinese to Coreta King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow.

The claim on Baidu Baike that he had a lover named Lucy is completely fabricated.
Two of his extramarital affairs are confirmed: one with Dorothy Cotton, an employee of the Southern Christian Leaders Association, which is confirmed in the autobiography of his close friend Ralph Abernathy; and the other with Kentucky Senator Georgia Davis Bowles, who admitted to a relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. in her memoirs.

The photos used for Lucy on Baidu Baike are even of Martin Luther King Jr.'s wife, Correta King.

After Lin Ran finished speaking, he explained the meaning of the four words in English.

“Professor, thank you for coming. You were the thinker he admired most before his death. He always respected you, and it was his last wish that you would deliver the eulogy at his funeral.” Coreta’s expression was more sorrowful than ever before.

It's truly admirable that Martin Luther King Jr. could come up with a slogan like "the White House should be renamed." In this timeline, his appeal and influence are far greater than in the original timeline.

If Hoover hadn't been a Moscow sympathizer, Martin Luther King Jr. would have been assassinated long ago.

It was only because Hoover restrained himself and balanced the two factors that Martin Luther King Jr. was able to be shot at the originally scheduled time.

Lin Ran nodded: "Although we don't interact much, we are both from minority groups, and we share the same desire to fight for the legal rights of minority groups and to speak out for them."

Lin Ran then circled the coffin once, while Jenny stood beside Corletta and whispered words of comfort.

Ralph Abernathy presided over the ceremony.

He stood on the podium, his voice booming like thunder: "Dear brothers and sisters, today is one of the darkest moments in human history."

Martin Luther King Jr. was no ordinary man; he was a prophet sent by God who fought hatred with love and challenged injustice with nonviolence.

Abernathy's sermon lasted 20 minutes, during which he recounted Martin Luther King Jr.'s life: from the Montgomery bus boycott to his imprisonment in Birmingham, and then to the glory of the Nobel Peace Prize.

He emphasized Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy: "Martin taught us that darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can; hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can."

Everyone present nodded, and many wiped away tears.

Lin Ran looked serious, and he couldn't bring himself to cry. He really didn't believe in religion, and the idea of ​​God's messengers was simply unconvincing to the scientists trained by China's extreme materialism.

Jenny, on the other hand, burst into tears; she still believed in this belief.

In Lin Ran's view, Jenny is a typical early liberal, compassionate, has never experienced setbacks, and has had a very smooth life.

Next, at Corretta's request, Kim's own recording was played.

That was on February 4, 1968, during a sermon in the same church entitled "The Drummer's Instinct".

The tape recorder started, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s voice came through: "If you want to say something at my funeral, don't mention that I won the Nobel Peace Prize. That's not the point."

Don't mention the schools I attended or the degrees I earned... Instead, say that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to serve others with his life.

He said he was trying to love someone.

He said he tried to feed the hungry, the naked, and those visiting prisons.

He said he was trying to make the world a better place because he believed it was God's will.

The recording echoed in the church.

Coreta closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

In the original timeline, BI also sent Coreta a tape recording of Martin Luther King Jr.'s infidelity, attempting to sabotage their relationship.

In this timeline, Hoover was too preoccupied to cause trouble for Martin Luther King Jr., so Corretta knew little about his private life, at most having some guesses, which amounted to nothing in the face of death.

Therefore, in Corretta's view, Martin Luther King Jr. is a saint.

The children listened to their father's voice, and Bernice whispered, "Is that Daddy?" Dexter nodded, "Yes, he's still talking."

Lyndon Johnson clapped, then whispered to his secretary beside him, "We have lost a great civil rights activist, and we must find the killer!"

After the recording ended, Abernathy led a prayer: "Lord, grant Martin eternal rest, and let his spirit live on forever."

Everyone chanted "Amen" in unison.

As the hymn "Amazing Grace" began, the soprano's voice was heavenly. When she sang "The blind will see, the prisoners will be released," the entire audience choked up.

As the ceremony concluded, low chanting could be heard outside the church, with tens of thousands listening through loudspeakers and millions of viewers across the country observing a moment of silence on television.

After the funeral, the coffin was carried out of the church by six pallbearers.

The coffin was placed on a simple wooden farm cart pulled by two mules—Belle and Ada, black field mules, symbolizing Martin Luther King Jr.'s commitment to labor.

The farm cart is made of wood and has no fancy carvings, only a few wildflowers as decoration.

The idea came from Corretta, who said, "Martin always spoke for the poor, so let his final journey be as simple as theirs."

The procession started from the Ebenezer Church and proceeded along Auburn Avenue.

The streets are lined with old Atlanta buildings, oak trees with drooping leaves, and rain drips down their branches.

Leading the way were Abernathy and Coreta, who walked slowly.

Behind him were guests from Washington, including Lyndon Johnson, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy.

Fred and Nixon wouldn't go looking for trouble, especially Fred. If he dared to come, he might face a life-threatening situation even before Lin Ran did.

When facing the camera, he has said quite a few times that Martin Luther King Jr. is a hypocrite.

The march route was about 3.5 miles long, passing the church and the Georgia State Capitol, a center of power that had rejected Martin Luther King Jr.'s call for equality.

Flags flew at low in front of the Parliament building, and guards stood at the entrance.

As the procession passed by, a group of white protesters shouted, but were separated by the police.

As the procession moved forward, bursts of singing would occasionally erupt.

The song "We Will Eventually Win" played: "We shall overcome, we shall overcome someday."

In the crowd, an elderly Black worker named George, who had been attacked by police dogs in Birmingham, whispered to the young man beside him, "I saw Martin Luther King Jr. walk on the bridge. We were afraid then, but today, we are no longer afraid!"

The young man nodded, and the line continued.

Along the roadside, 10 people gathered to watch, some throwing flowers and others chanting Martin Luther King Jr.'s name.

The parade lasted for several hours, with the procession winding like a long dragon.

In the afternoon, the group arrived at Morehouse College.

That is Martin Luther King Jr.'s alma mater, the cradle of Black elites.

Lin Ran's speech was also scheduled there as the closing event of Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral.

The public memorial service was held in an open-air plaza, drawing thousands of people, mostly Black, with a minority of whites; Lin Ran was the only Chinese person present. Cameras were positioned below the stage, aimed at the speaker; the footage would be broadcast nationwide.

America's three major public television stations were all broadcasting this scene.

Benjamin Mays, the college principal, stepped onto the temporary podium.

He was Martin Luther King Jr.'s mentor: "Brothers and sisters, Martin Luther King Jr.'s life was a sacrifice."

If death is inevitable, I believe there is no better cause than dying for fair wages for Memphis sanitation workers.

He wasn't doing it for glory.

He wasn't fighting for medals; he was fighting for human dignity.

Mays' eulogy lasted 25 minutes, during which he recalled King's student days: how Martin Luther King Jr., as a graduate of Morehouse College, drew strength from philosophy and theology.

Finally, he quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice exists everywhere and is a threat to all places."

The crowd applauded, and many people stood up and waved.

Then, Corretta stepped onto the podium and said, "Next, let us welcome Randolph Lynn to deliver the final eulogy for King, which was also King's will. He regarded the professor as his mentor, who pointed him in the right direction in his pursuit of racial equality and racial liberation."

Lin Ran walked onto the stage and patted the microphone.

A round of polite applause erupted from the audience.

The Black people present all knew who Lin Ran was; they had all learned about his theories on systemic oppression in church, even though they didn't consider the professor one of their own.

You want Black people to feel that a mathematical genius working in aerospace is one of their own? That's a bit too difficult; you can't achieve that just by proposing a theory of systemic oppression.

This is as absurd as trying to get Chinese people to accept a Black rapper as their spiritual leader, even if that Black rapper put forward a profound theory that is widely accepted by Simplified Chinese internet users, such as the "entering the pass theory".

What you said is interesting and makes a lot of sense, but you're a Black rapper, so you can't possibly be one of us.

Even 60 years later, the status of a mathematical master was considered heretical among the Black community. Now? It's even more heretical than heresy.

Petrov, as a member of the security team, stood closest to Lin Ran, looking up at him from below the stage, already prepared to sacrifice himself.

A life for a life, especially for someone as important as the professor, would be well worth it!

If he had asked someone else to assassinate him, Petrov would have hesitated for a long time.

Lin Ran waited for the applause from the audience to subside, then glanced at Petrov.

He had already sensed danger; he recognized every face on the security team.

Petrov concealed his appearance with makeup and a helmet to ensure he was indistinguishable from the security personnel who had previously carried out the mission.

Such a difference might fool others, but it would never fool Lin Ran.

Following the discovery that his identity had been switched, Lin Ran also noticed that Petrov had been observing him and his surroundings, with his hand constantly on his pistol.

It's normal for a security guard to have his hand on a pistol, but it's not normal for him to keep it on for an extended period.

At this moment, Lin Ran was on high alert. He was not only wary of Petrov, but also of any possible attack.

As for who it is? That goes without saying, wasn't the Soviet Union the one most eager for the Star Wars program?

Soviet Russia was anxious, and through diplomatic channels, Kosygin wanted to meet with him again in Geneva.

"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, and fellow countrymen watching the live broadcast on television."

Today we gather in this sacred place, Ebenezer Baptist Church, to bid farewell to a giant, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

His life was a beacon of hope, an unyielding pursuit of justice, and a testament to the power of nonviolence.

As NASA Administrator, I stand here not only on behalf of our nation’s space program, but also as a fellow traveler on the road to a better world.

Just now, Dr. Kim's widow, Ms. Kim, said that Dr. Kim regarded me as his mentor. I think I dare not accept the title of mentor. We met very few times. He had his pursuits, and I have my ideals.

But we resonate deeply with each other spiritually, and we are helping this country become a better place in our own ways. I am Asian, he is Black, and we are both minorities who have faced discrimination in this country in the past.

Historically, there were Jim Crow laws and voting restrictions targeting Black people, and there was also the Chinese Exclusion Act targeting Chinese Americans. But Dr. King and I did not give up because of such discrimination; we opposed it.

We oppose discrimination through our actions, we fight for the legitimate rights of our race, and our contributions to the country are united!

Lin Ran, who had just completed the reusable rocket, said on site that Martin Luther King Jr. and he made the same contributions to America, which moved the black audience members, and this time the applause was much more sincere.

The conservative white man in front of the TV was unhappy. Big T was watching the live broadcast with his father at Fred's luxury villa. He complained, "Since when can we equate the contributions of King and Professor?"

Isn't all he does is talk the talk, constantly saying that we are black, so we should get welfare and a raise?

The question is why? It's because our ancestors were Black and they suffered unfair treatment, which means that Black people today also suffer unfair treatment. What kind of logic is that?
"Forget reusable rockets, could Black people even build a car engine if they got together?"

Fred, on the other hand, was much calmer. He still wanted to get votes from Black people. "Hey, how can you say that? Black people are people too! Why can't they build engines?"
When Black people are under white leadership, they can build engines too.

Lyndon Johnson sat in the audience, feeling envious. Apart from not being able to become president, Lin Ran's life was perfect.

Moreover, just because you can't be president now doesn't mean you can't be in the future.

Lyndon Johnson also harbored resentment towards Martin Luther King Jr., saying, "I was the one who pushed for the Civil Rights Act to pass. Why don't you thank me and let me say a few words at your funeral?"
If he could say a few words at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral, it would have a very, very strong effect on his campaign and on his efforts to win over Black and minority voters.

Lyndon Johnson felt that Black people were incredibly ungrateful. He said, "The professor was just giving advice. I have genuinely fought for your interests."

Lin Ran continued, "Dr. King's dream is not limited to Black people; he pursues the liberation of all mankind. Black people, Chinese people, Latinos, and so on—we are one, and we are all on the path to equality in our own ways!"

They need to be tied to each other. The Minions are fighting for their place in America, how can they do it without being tied to the Blacks?

Later generations of Chinese immigrants benefited from the actions of Black people; the rights that Black people fought for were enjoyed by the Chinese without any struggle.

"In these turbulent times, as our cities are consumed by the flames of chaos and our hearts ache with loss, we must remember Dr. King's words on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial: 'I have a dream.'"

That dream is a country where we are defined by character, not by the color of our skin, a land of equality where every child can reach their full potential.

At NASA, we also pursue our dreams.

The Apollo program originated from President Kennedy's bold vision and represented humanity's greatest leap into the unknown.

Our astronauts, courageous souls like Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, walked on the lunar surface, proving that what once seemed impossible can become a reality through unity and determination.

But let's connect these dreams.

Dr. King fights for a barrier-free world where Black and white people, rich and poor, can stand side by side.

Similarly, in space, there are no boundaries, no races, only humanity, looking back at our fragile blue planet, and we are all the same.

We are all Earthlings.

From the Moon, Earth appears as an indivisible whole, a marble sphere suspended in the void, reminding us that we are all passengers on the same spaceship.

The Apollo missions symbolized this unity: engineers from diverse backgrounds and scientists from various origins working side by side to achieve extraordinary things. We also had Black engineers and Black scientists.

Just as Dr. King traveled from Selma to Montgomery, bridging differences with peaceful steps, our rockets are also bridging the gap between Earth and the Moon.

Dr. King challenges us to address poverty, war, and inequality in our country.

While we mourn him, let his passing propel us forward, not just to the moon, but to a just landing on this land.

We need to ensure that every Americana can pursue their American dream fairly.

As Dr. King once said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Today, as we bury him, let us further bend that arc.

Let us commemorate him by continuing the struggle: for civil rights, for peace, for justice.

It is hoped that when future Apollo crews fly to the moon and gaze upon Earth, they will see a nation that is healing, united, and flying together toward the stars.

Rest in peace, Dr. King.

Your dreams live on forever.

Thank you. "

Lin Ran raised his fist to the sky and swung it three times forcefully, ending his speech.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, as this was the final segment, and the applause from the audience was particularly enthusiastic.

Starting with Lyndon Johnson, who was the first to stand up and applaud, followed by the other White House officials around him. Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, Coreta King, stood up, as did his close friend. The crowd rose and applauded like dominoes falling from the front to the back.

The applause was both for Lin Ran's brilliant speech and for Martin Luther King Jr.'s passing.

But at the same time, an untimely gunshot shattered the silence.

The security personnel, who were less than ten meters away from Lin Ran, suddenly turned around, drew their guns, and fired in one swift motion.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots rang out in succession. Lin Ran fell to the ground, the security personnel who fired the shots were subdued, and the scene descended into unprecedented chaos.

Lyndon Johnson has lost his ability to think. No, Martin Luther King Jr. is dead. Professor, things don't look good either. Should I run for president or not?

Jenny rushed ahead, but tripped because of her shoes. Even so, she was the first to reach Lin Ran, shouting as she ran:
"call the ambulance!"

Fred and Big T stared at each other, dumbfounded, in front of the television.

Big T murmured, "Professor, will something happen?"

Fred said, "We need to find out which hospital the professor is receiving treatment at, and we need to get there as soon as possible."

The moment Lin Ran was assassinated, viewership ratings soared, with almost the entire United States watching the live broadcast.

Just as Fred and Big T were talking, they saw Lin Ran stand up again on the TV screen.

Lin Ran stood up and said to Jenny, "Jenny, I'm fine, I'm fine!"

Then all the security personnel rushed up and surrounded him.

At this moment, White House officials also rushed up, all keeping a close eye on the security personnel, fearing that another assassin might appear.

Lin Ran insisted on standing in front of the microphone, and he said loudly:
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

After shouting "fight!" three times, Lin Ran, surrounded by security personnel and followed by senior White House officials, boarded Air Force One in Washington immediately.

The Black crowd made way for them, and they voluntarily raised their hands above their heads to indicate that they did not have guns and had no intention of stabbing anyone.

The live stream camera faithfully recorded this scene.

"As the professor walked through the crowd of Black people, surrounded by them, the Black people spontaneously parted, raised their hands, and watched him leave. This scene reminded me of Moses parting the sea. Just as Moses led the enslaved Israelis out of ancient Egypt and to the rich land of Canaan, so too does the professor, like Moses, lead us into the universe."

A reporter at the scene captured the moment with a pen and wrote the following in his notebook.

While Lin Ran was still on Air Force One, and the accompanying doctor repeatedly confirmed that he was not injured, television stations across the United States were repeatedly broadcasting video footage of his final stabbing.

(End of this chapter)