North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 160 Those who deserve to be beheaded should be beheaded.

The Spring Festival of 1851 was approaching.

With Huamei Company's Lunar New Year party approaching, a long guest list is currently on Ah Zu's desk.

Instead of looking at the list, Azu spoke to Monica beside him.

"Monica, have you found anything during this period of internal investigation?"

Monica placed a stack of documents in front of Azu and said in a soft and charming tone, "My master, since you gave the order last time, our people have been cooperating with the state prosecutor's office to carry out a full internal investigation."

"It wouldn't have mattered if we hadn't investigated, but this investigation has indeed uncovered quite a few corrupt individuals!"

Monica opened the file and pointed to the first name, saying, "My master, this person is a branch manager of a trading company. The prices of grain and various other goods on the market are soaring, and our trading company is making a fortune."

"This branch manager embezzled more than $80,000 from the company in just six months by falsifying accounts and misappropriating supplies."

Upon hearing this, Azu's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't reveal any further emotion.

Monica then pointed to the second name and continued, "This person is a workshop foreman at a pharmaceutical factory. Although the price of penicillin has dropped significantly, it can still be sold for around fifty dollars on the black market."

"This workshop foreman embezzled over a thousand vials of penicillin over several months by falsely reporting qualified products as defective ones. He also earned over $70,000 in illicit profits by selling them on the black market."

"And this deputy factory director of the branch factory...!"

"And the manager of this mine...!"

Looking at the thick document, Azu's expression gradually became serious.

I have risen to prominence like a comet in such a short period of time.

In just over a year, Huamei Company has grown into a behemoth with tens of thousands of employees.

Huamei Company has too short a history, too little foundation, lacks high-quality management talent, employs a mixed bag of good and bad staff, has an imperfect management system, and too many loopholes in the company...!
There was no need for this internal investigation; I've always been very clear about my company's problems and issues.

However, when the results of the internal investigation were finally presented to him, Ah Zu realized that he had still underestimated the greed in human nature.

Monica introduced the top names in the file one by one, and then said, "My master, this is only the result of our preliminary investigation, and it only applies to some management personnel."

At this point, Monica's usually alluring expression turned somewhat unpleasant: "Even so, we still uncovered dozens of corrupt individuals this time. In total, these corrupt individuals caused the company losses of at least two to three million US dollars."

"I believe that what we have uncovered is only a part of the problem. There are still many more who are hiding deeper and using more covert methods."

After Monica finished speaking, Victoria, standing behind Azu, exuded a murderous aura on her pretty face: "BOSS, these guys are like bloodsucking parasites on the company. We must get rid of them completely!"

"Completely eradicate it?" Azu slowly shook his head: "That's almost impossible!"

Monica said, extremely annoyed, "The company treats all its employees so well, paying them salaries far above normal levels. Why do they still work like this? Why are they still greedy?"

Azu's fingers tapped rhythmically on the heavy document: "Greed is inherent in human nature, and it cannot be changed under any circumstances!"

"What we can do is, firstly, to improve the system as much as possible and plug all the loopholes in the system."

"Second, we will continue to strengthen employee training and education so that everyone is aware of the seriousness of illegal and criminal activities and the embezzlement of company assets."

"Third, we should provide all employees with stable and generous benefits as much as possible, and use high salaries to encourage integrity."

"Fourth, we will severely punish all corrupt and wicked individuals to serve as a warning to everyone."

……

After explaining his plan, Azu turned to Edgar Allan Poe, Zuo Zongtang, Vivian, and the others in the room and said in a deep voice, "Following the points I've mentioned, discuss them and come up with a concrete implementation plan as soon as possible. We must stop this wave of corruption as soon as possible."

"Right now, our company is still very young and has a lot of potential. That's why we have to be very vigilant from the very beginning and nip any emerging bad practices in the bud."

Ah Zu added, "As for those corrupt officials who have already been identified...!"

After a moment's thought, Azu said, "Anyone who embezzles more than three thousand US dollars will be executed without mercy! All illegal gains will be confiscated, and if their families are unable to repay the losses, they will all be sent to labor camps for reform through labor."

"Corrupt individuals with less than three thousand dollars, along with their families, will all be sent to hard labor camps for reform through labor! Of course, all illegal gains must also be confiscated."

“This…!” Edgar Allan Poe hesitated. “Boss, isn’t this too harsh? And, according to the existing laws…!”

Azu interrupted him directly, saying, "If it doesn't conform to the existing laws, then amend the laws."

Azu continued, "I have always tried my best to create the best possible working and living environment for my employees. But even in such a perfect and generous environment, so many people still can't control their greed and desires."

"In that case, what mercy is there to show to these greedy and ungrateful people?"

"The wealth obtained through corruption naturally extends to their families as well. Therefore, not only the corrupt individuals but also their families must be severely punished by law!"

"Those guys who are directly corrupt, they should be sent to labor camps for reform through labor, preferably until they die... Well, those who are slightly less corrupt should at least serve a full five years!"

"And their families, depending on the severity of the offense, are subject to penalties ranging from three years of labor reform to lifelong reform...!"

Azu said in a deep voice, "Following my line of thinking, you all go down and discuss it, and come up with a plan as well."

"Now that the New Year is almost here, let these corrupt officials and their families enjoy the rest of the year. This is my final act of mercy!"

"Those who deserve the death penalty should be executed publicly!"

"Not a single one of those destined for forced labor camps should be spared!"

After thinking for a moment, Azu said, "As for the labor camps, don't we have quite a few mines under our name? Pick out the ones with the most difficult conditions from those coal mines, iron mines, copper mines, asphalt mines, etc., and turn them into labor camps so that they can mine for me."

This was the first time anyone in the room had ever seen Ah Zu treat his company employees so sternly; no one dared to look him in the eye.

Finally, Vivian looked at Azu and asked, "Among the families of those corrupt officials, there are inevitably underage children. What should be done about them?"

After a moment's thought, Azu replied, "If any corrupt family has underage children, those under ten years old can be adopted. If no one can adopt them, they should be sent to a church orphanage."

"All children over the age of ten are sent to church orphanages until they are sixteen and can support themselves."

Vivian said with a hint of reluctance, "One act of corruption can lead to the destruction of families, the separation of wives and children... Grandmother, isn't that too harsh?"

"A stern approach is not enough to deter everyone!"

Azu continued, "Furthermore, anyone with a criminal record within three generations shall be barred from joining the government, the military, or the management of Huamei Company. These laws should be promulgated as soon as possible."

“However…!” Azu’s tone shifted: “Those who surrender themselves may receive a reduced punishment. Those who surrender themselves and whose circumstances are minor may be exempt from punishment!”

Ah Zu concluded, "Let's leave it at that! We can't give those corrupt guys any room to survive!"

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

After discussing the corruption, Ah Zu asked, "Besides the corrupt officials, have we discovered any enemy agents lurking within our ranks?"

Victoria and Monica shook their heads simultaneously: "Nothing special was found!"

Victoria added, "That colonel had bribed some of our people, and we focused on them based on the list he provided."

"Even those who were bribed haven't made any unusual moves during this period; they've been very quiet."

Ah Zu said, "According to the Freemasons' so-called elite among elites, if they are lurking within us, it is indeed very difficult for us to find them out unless they take any major actions."

Without dwelling on the issue any longer, Azu reached for the list of names for the New Year's Eve party and slowly began to flip through it.

This list includes, first and foremost, people from the Huamei Corporation, and secondly, prominent figures throughout California, including Archbishop Evan, Chief Justice Burnett, Whig Wilson, and Democrat Ansel, among others.

Then there are various business partners, including raw material suppliers and product distributors.

The list, which included hundreds of people, was very long. Ah Zu patiently flipped to the very end of the list.

Then, at the very end of the list, he found a surname that looked very familiar.

“Tony O’Hara, Susan O’Hara… Heh, O’Hara…!” Azu remembered a famous novel from later years, in which the heroine’s family had this surname?
What was the female lead's name again?

Oh, right, Scarlett O'Hara!
Moreover, the era depicted in that famous work happens to be the present day.

The surname O'Hara is already very rare, so Azu couldn't help but take a second look.

"What's the deal with this O'Hara on the guest list? I've never heard of that name before!"

Faced with Azu's question, everyone present looked completely bewildered.

Vivian, who was in charge of coordinating the guest list, glanced at it before saying, "This should be one of our important suppliers. I'm not sure about him either. Should I ask the staff who are specifically in charge of arranging the guest list?"

Azu nodded: "This name is quite unfamiliar, let's ask about it."

A moment later, Vivian returned after learning the situation and replied, "Zu, this Tony O'Hara and Susan O'Hara are the owners of the O'Hara Cotton Trading Company. The O'Hara Cotton Trading Company is one of our main cotton suppliers now."

"This O'Hara Cotton Trading Company comes from the O'Hara family in Atlanta, Georgia. They have only been in San Francisco for a little over two months. Because the cotton they provide is of high quality, low price, and in ample supply, we have had a pleasant working relationship with them and were therefore invited to the annual meeting."

"The O'Hara family of Atlanta, Georgia... Ha, what a coincidence!"

Ah Zu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Zu, what are you laughing at? Is there something wrong with this Ohara?" Vivian and the others asked curiously.

Azu shook his head: "There's nothing wrong, I'm just a little curious."

Victoria pressed further, "Boss, should we investigate and gather information about this Ohara Cotton Trading Company?"

After a moment's thought, Azu nodded and said, "It's good to investigate. This Ohara Cotton Company has only been in San Francisco for a little over two months, yet it has become one of our important suppliers. Either the family has a deep foundation and great strength, or there are some unknown secrets."

Victoria secretly memorized the name.
-
The decision made that day was made public within the entire Huamei Industrial Group two days later through a public notice.

Overnight, the news that the company was going to severely punish corrupt officials spread to every Huamei employee.

It was still in that small prefabricated house of a few dozen square meters in the living area, and it was still after dinner.

But today, the housewife in this family didn't rush off to the girls' night school; instead, she sat at the dining table, deep in thought, sighing repeatedly.

"You idiot, I told you before, the company's kickbacks aren't so easy to steal!"

A woman in her thirties, her face full of worry, complained to her husband, "Now, the company has announced that anyone who embezzles more than three thousand will be beheaded, and their family members will be sent to a labor camp for reform through labor...!"

"Even the children in the family are either given away to be raised by others or sent to orphanages!"

"Anyone who embezzles less than three thousand will have their entire family sent to a hard labor camp...!"

The woman pressed on, trembling, "You fool, tell me the truth! What percentage of your earnings did that cotton merchant give you? Did it exceed three thousand...?"

The driver never expected that simply giving someone a fare would have such serious consequences.

So the driver, his voice trembling, replied, "Three thousand? How...how is that possible! That cotton...cotton merchant only gave me two hundred in commission...!"

"Two hundred yuan...that's quite a lot!" the woman asked, trembling with fear. "Tell me, do you think...does this count as embezzlement...?"

"I don't think so!" The coachman, covered in cold sweat, tried to light his pipe with trembling hands, but couldn't manage it after a long time.

"You think it doesn't count just because you say so?"

The woman couldn't hold back her tears: "We were starving to death back home, and after crossing the ocean, we finally had a few good days, and it's all... ruined by you, you fool... Waaah!"

Faced with his wife's wailing and crying, the already flustered driver panicked even more.

"Stop wailing... I told you to stop wailing...!" the driver hissed. "What's the use of crying? Hurry up and think of something!"

"A solution? What solution is there?"

The woman finally managed to stop crying: "I saw on the notice that as long as you turn yourself in, you can get a lighter punishment, or even be exempt from punishment! Why don't we... go and turn ourselves in!"

"Confess?"

"Yes, turn yourself in. We didn't spend much money on that two hundred yuan. If we return it to the company, maybe we'll be fine."

The driver took a few puffs before realizing that his pipe remained unlit.

The driver was still heartbroken about losing the two hundred yuan. Moreover, he always felt that he was just driving people around, how could he be involved in corruption?

"Even if you're going to turn yourself in, don't rush off!" the driver said in a muffled voice. "Your fellow villager, Supervisor Hao, is dead. Who else would know about our affairs?"

Mentioning this, the woman also recalled something: "Back then, I always felt that my fellow villager's death was very strange...!"

"What's so strange?"

"So young, and in perfect health, yet he fell into a stinking ditch by the roadside and drowned. You still say it's not strange?"

"The police all say he drowned himself while drunk; it's all his own fault for being so unlucky!"

……

Apart from the driver's family, many people within the entire Huamei Company were unable to sleep that night.

More than 80 percent of Huamei Company’s employees are people who came from overseas because they couldn’t make a living there.

At Huamei Company, everyone lived a stable life.

While not everyone is wealthy, at least a moderately prosperous life has been achieved, with stable jobs and no worries about food and clothing.

For families with children, the company provides free schooling. For those who are illiterate or semi-literate, the company arranges free night school classes.

Whether it's themselves or their families, everyone has something to look forward to and a promising future.

Moreover, the company provides extremely cheap food and lodging, and takes care of almost every aspect of life and work.

For almost all Huamei employees, the company is a big home where they find a sense of belonging and fulfillment.

In these turbulent times, this sense of belonging and fulfillment is so precious and hard-won.

Therefore, Huamei employees cherish their Huamei employee status and are even proud of it.

However, this still cannot curb the greed and evil thoughts in the hearts of some individuals.

After the company announced that it would severely punish corrupt officials, some people began to feel uneasy and unable to sleep at night.

Early the next morning, a long queue formed outside the newly established inspection office of Huamei Industrial.

"Director Guan... what brings you here...?"

"Manager Jack... what are you doing here...?"

"Squad Leader Xu, could it be that you also...?"

……

Those queuing outside the inspection office all looked dejected and dejected.

The driver, along with his wife, stood at the very back of the queue.

"So many people?"

The woman tugged at her husband's sleeve: "How about...we come another day?"

Last night, the driver, who had finally made up his mind, looked up at the long queue, gritted his teeth, and turned to leave.

(End of this chapter)