North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 119 Terrified and Wet His Tail (5,000 words)

The day after the attack in Quincy, several newspapers in California reported on the shocking tragedy with incredible speed!
The small town of Quincy, with a population of just over a hundred, was completely razed to the ground overnight!
The vast majority of the town's residents perished in this sudden attack.

The gold miners in the small town painstakingly panned for gold, only to have it all looted.

In the entire town, only two people survived!
According to newspaper reports, they hid in a latrine, which is how they escaped the attackers' pursuit.

From the two survivors, it was learned that the perpetrators of this shocking massacre were actually those seemingly honest and hardworking outsiders!
According to firsthand accounts from survivors, there had been some conflicts between white gold prospectors and outsiders in Quincy town before this, due to competition for gold-rich deposits.

But no one could have imagined that just last night, hundreds of crazed outsiders, armed with rifles and cannons and wielding swords and spears, stormed into the town of Quincy, killing anyone they saw and robbing any gold they could find...!
Who would have thought that these seemingly docile outsiders would suddenly become so crazy!

To verify all of this, several newspapers went so far as to venture into the devastated town of Quincy and use cameras that had only been around for a little over a decade to document the horrific scene of the tragedy.

The scene was one of ruins and countless corpses that had not yet been cleared away!
The ground was covered in dark brown blood, and there were bullet holes and shell casings everywhere!
One can imagine the bloody battle and massacre that the small town of Quincy experienced at that time!

Especially after these photos were placed on the front page of the newspaper, everything was beyond repair!

Following extensive reports in these newspapers and after witnessing firsthand the tragic state of Quincy, the entire state of California was in an uproar!
The outsiders, who were already discriminated against and oppressed, became even more universally reviled after the Quincy tragedy.

Whether it's San Francisco, Sacramento, Monterey, San Jose, Los Angeles... almost every town in California has experienced a series of heinous incidents!
Outsiders were killed, beaten, and robbed... their shops and houses were vandalized, looted, and burned...!
A wave of discrimination and exclusion against newcomers swept through white communities in California!
Inside the office building and study of Huamei Company's shipyard headquarters.

The core members gathered together, surrounding Azu!
Azu put down the California Tribune in his hand and said in a deep voice, "It seems that interim governor Brosnan has played all his cards!"

Azu turned to Harley and asked, "How much impact have they had on Chinatowns in San Francisco and other towns?"

"Boss, as you planned, our militia were organized in advance in all Chinatowns, including San Francisco. With the militia and organized resistance, all Chinatowns repelled the rioters and suffered no major losses."

Edgar Allan Poe continued, "As per the BOSS's prior arrangements, we have done our best to gather everyone in Chinatown for protection."

"Those who are being impacted now are basically the ones who don't listen to advice and insist on going their own way!"

"Sigh!" Azu sighed softly, "No matter when, there are always people who don't believe in evil and don't listen to advice. They always think that other people's good intentions are to harm them. They always think that they are the best in the world and no one dares to touch them."

"By the time disaster strikes and people realize what's happening, it's too late!"

Victoria said, "According to our comprehensive intelligence from various places, the attacks in the past few days are just isolated cases. The total number of dead and injured should be around thirty, and about seventy shops and residences have been looted and burned."

Parker Parker frowned: "I think all these casualties and losses could have been avoided if we had prevented the Quincy tragedy from happening earlier."

“No!” Azu shook his head slightly: “If we don’t eradicate the discrimination and oppression against us at the root, similar tragedies will inevitably happen sooner or later.”

"We must use this tragedy to achieve an even more important goal."

"A more important goal? Ah Zu, you mean...?"

Azu: "Strive for equal rights for everyone on this land! Especially the right to vote and the right to be elected!"

"The interim governor has played all his cards; I think it's time to close the net!"

As he spoke, Azu looked at Victoria and asked, "Have you caught the lame captain of that fishing boat?"

Victoria replied, "We caught him yesterday! But he's very stubborn. We interrogated him all night, using all our memory techniques, but he didn't utter a single word!"

“Actually, we don’t need to get anything out of him!” Azu slowly stood up: “Take the lame captain, the chief of the Clammy Indian tribe, old Charlie, and the tavern owner with us. It’s time for us to meet the interim governor!”
-
The California interim state government, located halfway up Nob Hill in San Francisco, is an office building converted from a private estate.

In the luxurious and spacious governor's office, interim governor Brosnan was raising a glass with a group of high-ranking officials and state legislators, celebrating their victory!

“Governor, everything is developing exactly as you predicted. Now, throughout California, all outsiders are like rats that everyone wants to kill!”

"Hahaha! Yes, Governor, thanks to your wisdom, the people of California have all stood up. All the outsiders have either been killed or cowered in fear, not daring to show their faces!"

“Governor, I can’t imagine what California would be like now if it weren’t for you. It would probably be full of outsiders and completely controlled by that damn guy, right?”

"After this riot, all the outsiders, including that guy, should never dare to be arrogant again, right?"

"Yes, we should take this opportunity to immediately vote to pass California's Exclusion Act!"

These high-ranking officials and members of parliament are not just talking the talk.

The exclusionary law they secretly drafted is now sitting on the desk of interim governor Brosnan.

Because of the immense pressure Azu put on them, these California officials and legislators prematurely produced the Exclusion Act, which was not expected to be enacted for decades.

Currently, Whigs and Democrats still hold a majority in the state Senate and House of Representatives. Although Azuma installed his own people, he only has five seats in each house.

Although this Exclusion Act was made decades earlier, it included most of the content of the later Exclusion Act, and was even much harsher!

Its core terms are as follows:
1. No captain of any vessel may bring any outsider into California.

2. No California court shall recognize citizenship of any foreign national; all laws that conflict with this law shall be repealed.

3. No government agency in California may employ outsiders; outsiders may not hold any public office.

Fourth, outsiders shall not establish any economic entity, nor shall they hold any important positions such as legal representative, director, shareholder, or supervisor in any economic entity.

5. We do not recognize any patents filed by outsiders or entities related to outsiders.

……

This much harsher exclusion law completely blocked any opportunity for outsiders to take root, grow, and thrive in California.

This exclusion bill will become a formal bill once it passes a vote in both the House and Senate and is signed by interim governor Brosnan!
Interim Governor Brosnan took a small sip of his drink and said calmly, "Don't be so quick to celebrate! Don't you all think that damned Chinaman is far too quiet?"

Brosnan continued, "He's been so quiet, it's so unlike him! And Chinatowns everywhere haven't been really affected."

"Based on the reactions from various towns, Chinatowns across the country are probably prepared. Those yellow-skinned monkeys have already organized themselves and repelled most of the rioters."

At this point, Bruce frowned slightly: "I suspect that damned Chinese guy was probably prepared! Otherwise, the losses of those yellow-skinned monkeys wouldn't have been so minor."

"So what if he was prepared?" one councilor retorted. "Even if he was prepared, would he dare to resist or fight back against such overwhelming public opinion?"

Another high-ranking official laughed heartily, "Hahaha, that damned Chinese guy is probably scared out of his wits by now...?"

"Who said I was scared out of my wits...?!!" Accompanied by the sudden voice from outside the door, Azu led a large group of people and walked straight into the governor's office at a leisurely pace.

The group of white officials and members of parliament in the office stared in disbelief at the uninvited Ah Zu!
"Who just said I was so scared I wet myself?!"

Azu's sharp gaze swept across the faces of everyone in the room.

Anyone whose gaze swept over him felt a chill run down their spine, cold sweat poured down their forehead, and they involuntarily took two steps back!
"Li, how did you get in?" Brosnan slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

As expected of a temporary governor with a military background, his courage is unmatched by any civilian official.

“Come in!” Azu walked straight to the desk, pulled up a chair, and sat down.

Wherever he went, all the white officials and members of Congress retreated in fear.

Behind Azu, Mayor Vic, Edgar Allan Poe, Jason Sr., Peter Parker, Martinez Sr., Harley, Victoria and Monica, and others stood in a neat row, separating them from all the officials and councilors.

Only Azu and interim governor Brosnan remained face to face!
Azu didn't waste any words: "Mr. Interim Governor, and all the officials and members of parliament in this room, I'm very sorry, but I have to arrest you all on charges of 'inciting riots'!"

"What?" Brosnan's eyes widened instantly. "What did you say? What 'sedition'? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Not only Brosnan, but also a group of high-ranking officials and members of parliament, all had their expressions change drastically and were making a great commotion.

"About a month ago, on Captain Sean's fishing boat, Acting Governor Brosnan and a staff officer from the Southwest Command of the United States Army conspired to do everything that is happening today!"

“Mr. Brosnan, more than twenty days ago, you colluded with the Clammy Indians, offering them a reservation, along with a large amount of firearms, ammunition, and food supplies, in exchange for the support of Chief Wolfclaw of the Clammy Indians.”

"After receiving guns, ammunition, and supplies from the interim governor, Chief Wolfclaw disguised his warriors as 'outsiders' and a few days ago, he raided and destroyed the town of Quincy, killing and wounding hundreds of gold prospectors."

“Mr. Brosnan, you had two men pose as survivors of the Quincy massacre and, through several newspapers under your control, publish false reports that ‘outsiders’ had massacred the town of Quincy!”

"By amplifying this false information, the interim governor and your accomplices have successfully incited the anger of all Californians, creating a riot against all outsiders!"

"Through this riot, the interim governor and your accomplices have successfully achieved their goal of suppressing outsiders and portraying them as villains. And then...!"

Azu pointed to the Exclusion Act lying on the table, which the interim governor hadn't yet put away: "Then, you will use public opinion and your majority in the state legislature to pass this Exclusion Act and completely plunge the outsiders on this land into an abyss of no return!"

Azu's sharp gaze fixed on Brosnan's gradually reddening face: "Mr. Interim Governor, I must say, your plan wasn't particularly brilliant, but it was very effective. In just a few days, you've achieved almost everything you wanted to achieve!"

"Right now, all the newcomers in California are trembling in fear of the white fury! Many have been killed or injured, and their homes and businesses have been looted, vandalized, and burned!"

Faced with such overwhelming anger, no one dared to stand up and resist! They could only cower in Chinatown and band together to survive!

Azu continued, "Mr. Bruce, you have basically achieved your goals, but you are still waiting for my counterattack!"

"If my counterattack is not sharp enough or lethal enough, you will naturally put this Exclusion Act on the state legislature's voting platform!"

Azu said coldly, "However, all of this is destined to disappoint you, Mr. Brosnan!"

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!" Brosnan roared angrily. "Li, you're just a rich Chinese guy. What right do you have to sit here? What right do you have to criticize me? What right do you have to spout nonsense?"

"Snap!" Azu snapped his fingers: "Old Martinez, tell the interim governor, do I have the qualifications?"

“Yes, Boss!” Old Martinez stepped forward and said to Brosnan in a deep voice, “Mr. Interim Governor, Mr. Li Zunian is the special prosecutor appointed by our state prosecutor’s office!”

Since taking control of the state attorney general's office, Azu has put old Martinez in the position of state attorney general commissioner.

Although old Martinez, the shipyard foreman and gunner on the Spanish warship, knew absolutely nothing about the law, Azu at least had an assistant for him.

It's that assistant lawyer from the East, Cohen Harris, who graduated from Columbia Law School!

Martinez continued, "Special Prosecutor Li Zunian is absolutely qualified to conduct a special investigation into all illegal and criminal activities that occur throughout California!"

"Furthermore, in addition to conducting investigations, Special Investigator Mr. Li Zunian is also qualified to bring charges against all illegal and criminal activities in the state court!"

"Under the law and the powers granted to him by the California Attorney General's Office, Mr. Li Zunian has the power to investigate and prosecute everyone in California, including but not limited to the governor or interim governor, the speaker or interim speaker of the legislature, legislators, and all officials!"

At this point, old Martinez's eyes swept fiercely over everyone present: "Therefore, every single one of you here is within the scope of Mr. Li Zunian's investigation and prosecution!"

"What...Fuck...?"

Interim Governor Brosnan, along with a host of high-ranking officials and members of Congress, could hardly believe their ears!

"Mr. Interim Governor, do you need to verify my special counsel appointment certificate?"

As he spoke, Azu took an appointment letter bearing the official seal of the state attorney general from old Martinez's hand!

With this appointment letter, Azu is now a genuine and legitimate special prosecutor of the state!

Although this appointment letter was issued less than an hour ago, and the ink on it is still wet!
“Li, you can’t do this. How can a Chinese guy be a state prosecutor?”

Brosnan's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

"Mr. Interim Governor, is there any law in California that prohibits Chinese citizens from serving as state prosecutors?"

Ah Zu retorted, "If the law doesn't prohibit it, then it's permissible! Mr. Acting Governor, you can't possibly be unaware of even this?"

"This...!" Brosnan was speechless, feeling even more strongly the necessity and urgency of passing the Exclusion Act as soon as possible!
“Even if you are the state special prosecutor, you can’t just spout nonsense and pin the serious charge of ‘sedition’ on us!”

When facing Special Prosecutor Li Zunian, Brosnan spoke in a much softer tone, his arrogance diminished considerably.

"Nonsense? Heh...!" Azu clapped his hands: "Bring them in here!"

As Azu spoke, a group of militiamen escorted a group of people into the governor's office!
Upon seeing the people being escorted in, Brosnan's heart sank!

Fishing boat captain Sean, Krami tribe chief Wolfclaw, several newspaper presidents and editors-in-chief...!
There were also a few unfamiliar guys who looked like gold prospectors. With a little thought, Brosnan knew that these were most likely the real survivors of the Quincy massacre!
Azu stared coldly at interim governor Brosnan, his voice sharp and filled with murderous intent!
"Mr. Interim Governor, seeing them, do I need to say anything more?"

"Mr. Interim Governor, should we conduct a public interrogation on the spot to find out the whole truth from them?"

"Mr. Interim Governor, is it necessary to reveal the whole truth to the public...?"

(End of this chapter)