North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 163 Zhiyuan

After the Chinese New Year in 1851, everything returned to normal.

The California legislature passed the "Corruption Punishment Act" with remarkable speed.

According to this law specifically targeting job-related crimes, not only public officials throughout California, but also private companies engaging in crimes such as using their positions for personal gain, abusing their power, and dereliction of duty, will all be subject to exceptionally severe criminal penalties.

Whether it's the government or a business, anyone who causes losses exceeding three thousand US dollars will be sentenced to death.

Those who commit crimes involving more than two hundred US dollars but less than three thousand US dollars shall be sentenced to long-term imprisonment and labor reform.

The most severe punishment wasn't directed at the criminal suspects, but rather at their families, who were also subjected to extremely harsh labor reform.

The enactment of this "Corruption in the Duty Act" has created a climate of fear among managers throughout California's public sector and in private companies.

The fact that the San Francisco court swiftly sentenced some of the corrupt officials at Huamei Corporation to death and their families to labor reform has made many people extremely uneasy and unable to eat or sleep properly!

Only the driver's family breathed a sigh of relief after learning the specific provisions of the "Act on Punishment of Duty-Related Crimes".

Their $200 commission was just barely enough to avoid being punished.

This means that if soliciting business is considered a job-related crime, then they did not meet the standard for committing a crime.

Following the San Francisco ruling, the California court also completed its review as quickly as possible.

In late February, more than 20 corrupt officials from Huamei Company were publicly hanged in San Francisco’s Civic Square.

More than twenty hanged corpses hung high in the city square, serving as a warning to all greedy and malicious individuals.

Meanwhile, in the state government's office on the third floor of the "Nian Yue Building," which belongs exclusively to Azu.

On Azu's desk, there was already a thick stack of confession materials.

Standing to Azu's right, Victoria said, "My boss, during this period of high-pressure propaganda within the company, as well as the powerful deterrent effect of the 'Corruption Prevention Act,' more than a hundred people within our company have turned themselves in!"

“Among these people who surrendered, there are people from almost every industry and every position.”

"Including factory directors, deputy factory directors, managers, deputy managers, directors, deputy directors, department heads, deputy department heads, and so on, in various industries."

"Most of these people's offenses are relatively minor, falling into a gray area between groping the company and committing crimes."

"How to deal with these people is up to you, Boss!"

Azu pondered for a moment and said, "The existence of gray areas indicates that there are still many loopholes in our company's management."

“Since these people’s offenses were minor and they surrendered themselves, let them return the embezzled funds, be demoted, but be exempted from criminal punishment.”

"More than twenty people were just hanged in the city square, which has achieved the purpose of deterrence."

"But deterrence alone is not enough; we also need sufficient appeasement."

"The fact that these people turned themselves in shows that they may still have some conscience. Let's let those with minor offenses go for now and see how they behave."

Victoria nodded: "I understand, Boss!"

Victoria changed the subject, adding, "I just received intelligence from Georgia."

"Is it about the Ohara family?" Azu asked with interest.

"Yes!"

Victoria placed another document next to Azu and said, "According to our intelligence agents' covert investigation, the O'Hara family does exist. They did indeed send Tony O'Hara and Susan O'Hara to San Francisco to open a cotton trading company."

"Whether it's the time, age, appearance, or other characteristics, they all match perfectly."

“Our intelligence agents even investigated the cotton trading ships that the O’Hara family sent to San Francisco. The dates and quantities matched perfectly with the cotton goods we received.”

“Boss, this is the detailed intelligence we have gathered about the Ohara family.”

Azu picked up the intelligence report and quickly glanced through it: "So, this Ohara Cotton Trading Company really has no problems?"

Victoria nodded: "From what we've seen so far, there seems to be no problem!"

"However... we cannot rule out another possibility!"

"What's the possibility?"

"Their disguise was so good, so thorough, that we couldn't detect a single flaw!"

Upon hearing Victoria's analysis, Azu smiled and said, "It seems that our intelligence chief from the 18th Bureau is becoming more and more professional!"

“The enemy is too powerful and too cunning. It’s absolutely impossible not to learn and improve, my BOSS!” Victoria replied with a smug look on her face.

As Azu flipped through the Ohara family's files, his gaze was drawn to a black-and-white photograph of a little girl.

"Is this little girl Scarlett O'Hara?"

"Hehe!" Azu laughed, "Looks like he's just a little kid still wiping his nose!"

Victoria asked in surprise, "My boss, why are you so interested in a six-year-old girl? If I didn't know you so well, I would have thought you had some kind of special fetish!"

"Smack...!" Azu slapped Victoria's firm, bouncy buttocks hard: "What kind of weird ideas are you having?"

“Hmm…!” Victoria wiggled her pert bottom and said reproachfully, “If you don’t have that special fetish, then why are you interested in a six-year-old girl? I was very curious when you asked that brother and sister about this little girl at the annual party.”

Ah Zu didn't know how to answer. He couldn't very well say that the novel reflected reality, could he?
"Ahem, you'll understand in the future!" Azu coughed twice and quickly changed the subject: "Monica, what do you have to report today?"

It was Monica's turn to speak, standing to Azu's right: "My master, isn't it a coincidence that we just talked about the Ohara family and then received an invitation from the Ohara siblings?"

"Invitation? What invitation?"

Monica placed a beautifully decorated, gold-embossed invitation in front of Azu, and said with a charming smile, "My mistress, the beautiful Susan O'Hara, has personally invited you to her birthday party!"

"A birthday party?" Ah Zu picked up the invitation, opened it, and glanced at it.

Inside the invitation, several lines of text were written in very beautiful and delicate handwriting.

“Hehe…!” Monica chuckled. “My master, this Miss Susan seems to have been thinking about you a lot and is very eager to see you again.”

Indeed! In the invitation, Susan O'Hara personally invited Azu to her birthday party, her eagerness and anticipation evident in her words.

"A busy man like me doesn't have time to attend a young widow's birthday party...!"

As he spoke, Azu casually tossed the invitation aside.

"Hehe, my master, should I decline that beautiful lady on your behalf?" Monica asked mischievously.

"Hmm...!" Azu said without changing his expression, "No rush, there's still plenty of time, we'll talk about it later."

"I can tell you really want to go...!"

Victoria and Monica said in unison.

"Nonsense...!" Azu blushed and said seriously, "I have you all, that's enough for me. How could I have the mind to go around flirting with other women!"

"Pah, you stinky man!" Victoria couldn't help but spit.

"Hehe...!" Monica chuckled, "As you Chinese say, no garden flower is as fragrant as a wild one!"

"Such a beautiful, alluring, and seductive woman, and a ripe young widow at that... For you men, she's absolutely the perfect ideal lover, isn't she, my master?"

"Don't talk nonsense...!" Azu's old face turned even redder: "How could I have such thoughts? You're slandering me, you're defaming my innocence...!"

"Tch...!" Victoria and Monica spat out simultaneously.

After saying that, Monica added, "My master, our naval gun factory is about to be completed. Do you need to attend and preside over the groundbreaking ceremony in person?"

Azu shook his head slightly: "This kind of ceremony has no real meaning, so it's optional. The naval gun factory is very important to us. If we really want to hold a ceremony for good luck, we can let Ellen or Mr. Zuo preside over it."

"Okay, master!"

Monica added, "Our first 1,500-ton fast steamship will be launched tomorrow. If you still won't attend the launching ceremony, you should at least name it yourself, right?"

"Naming it... hmm, let's call it 'Zhiyuan'!"

“‘Zhiyuan’!” Victoria couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, what is the specific meaning behind this ship’s name?”

Azu's eyes deepened: "For us Chinese, this ship's name does indeed hold great significance!"

"It represents both shame and glory! It represents both humiliation and courage...!"

Victoria and Monica were completely bewildered, unable to understand what the name meant.

Azu didn't dwell on it too much: "The Zhiyuan is the first ship built and launched for our coast guard force, which is of great significance, so I still want to personally attend this ceremony."

Monica noticed something was off about Azu's expression, but didn't ask any further questions: "Yes, Master!"

The Zhiyuan was a 1,500-ton fast steamship designed by Azu himself and built to the standards of an armored frigate.

Not only did it meet the standards of a warship in every aspect, but it also underwent a series of optimized designs in order to equip it with a brand-new breech-loading rifled gun.

The armor also adopted a revolutionary carburizing and quenching process, using carburized steel to significantly improve the ship's overall protection capabilities.

Coupled with its super high speed and powerful breech-loading rifled guns, the Zhiyuan was virtually unmatched in that era, unless it encountered a powerful fleet.
-
The following day, Ah Zu personally attended and presided over the grand launching ceremony of the "Zhiyuan" at the Huamei headquarters shipyard.

With its 1,500-ton, highly streamlined hull and heavy armor, the armored frigate "Zhiyuan" already exudes a powerful deterrent force, even before it is equipped with naval guns!

In addition to senior executives of Huamei Company, almost all the instructors and students of the California Coast Guard School attended the launching ceremony.

There was even a representative from the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Fleet Chief of Staff Colonel Wayne Hunter.

After a simple but solemn launching ceremony, Chief of Staff Hunter, with a serious expression, patted the sturdy, dark hull of the "Zhiyuan" and said to Azu, "Governor, I would actually prefer to see such a powerful warship in the United States Navy!"

Azu laughed and said, "Colonel, after this batch of construction is completed, we will build 3,000-ton cruisers and 1,500-ton frigates for the U.S. Navy. Don't worry, the warships built for the U.S. Navy in the future will definitely be more powerful than our Coast Guard ships!"

"I hope so...!"

Chief of Staff Hunter said in a deep voice, "Although in theory your California Coast Guard is also a paramilitary force of the United States, we all know that it is actually your navy!"

"General Kim has always thought highly of you and supported you! However, as the chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet, I am actually very worried that one day we will become opposing sides on the sea."

Azu said with slight surprise, "Colonel, you are completely overthinking this! Whether it's the Navy or the Coast Guard, they will all serve the interests of the United States in the future!"

"Heh!" Chief of Staff Hunter shook his head slightly: "I hope so! I really don't want to think about the worst-case scenario...!"

Chief of Staff Hunter abruptly changed the subject, saying, "Governor, did you know that the order to promote General Kim to Major General has already been issued!"

"Oh? So fast?" Azu was genuinely surprised this time.

In the current U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral is the highest rank. Being promoted to Rear Admiral signifies reaching the pinnacle of the U.S. Navy, representing the highest honor and status.

With Brigadier General Paparo Kim's qualifications, he is indeed qualified to be promoted to Major General.

But he's definitely not the only one who's qualified!
His rapid promotion to major general was indeed somewhat unexpected.

Colonel Hunter nodded and said, "It certainly exceeded many people's expectations! According to my estimation, and given Washington's slow and sluggish style of doing things, it's already quite fast that General Kim was able to get promoted in the first half of the year."

Azu remained silent, his mind taking on a completely new assessment of the power struggle far away in Washington.

General Kim's rapid promotion was undoubtedly aided by the Freemasons, in addition to the President and Vice President.

The Freemasons must have gone to great lengths to get rid of Paparo King and free up the command position of the Pacific Fleet.

Colonel Hunter continued, "General Kim has been promoted to Rear Admiral, so the order to transfer him to the Home Fleet is not far off."

"In their place, it was either Commander Andrew Webber of the Africa Squadron or Commander Dave Jenkins of the Mediterranean Squadron."

"And these two are both Freemasons."

As he spoke, Colonel Hunter gave Azu a meaningful look: "When the commander of the Pacific Fleet is replaced by a Freemason, heh... Governor, I can only wish you good luck!"

Chief of Staff Hunter said in a deep voice, "General Kim will also find a way to transfer me to the home fleet. I am very fortunate to be able to get out of the California vortex and not be like that unlucky guy Walton, who was almost killed by his own people."

Azu pondered for a moment and said, "Based on your suggestion, Colonel, is there any way to avoid a conflict between the Pacific Fleet and our California?"

Chief of Staff Hunter pondered for a long time before finally shaking his head: "I can't think of any way to resolve this unless one side concedes defeat in advance."

“Admit defeat?” Azu said, “Admitting defeat is impossible! Neither I nor the Freemasons would admit defeat.”

"Besides, even if I admit defeat, the Freemasons won't let it go!"

After thinking for a moment, Chief of Staff Hunter could only nod silently: "Indeed! You are now in a situation that is almost a fight to the death."

“However…!” Chief of Staff Hunter added, “While I was crossing the San Francisco Strait, I saw a huge fortress under construction.”

“Governor, with this fortress, you should already be in an invincible position!”

A man like Chief of Staff Hunter only needed to glance at the rapidly forming Channel Fortress to understand exactly what this young governor wanted to do.

Ah Zu didn't try to hide it, but of course, it was impossible to hide it anyway.

"Colonel, even if the fortress is built, it can only barely guarantee that the bay area will be free from attacks and harassment by warships."

"However, as long as the Pacific Fleet blocks the California coast, it will severely damage the maritime trade of our Huamei Company."

Chief of Staff Hunter shrugged helplessly: "Until your coast guard has sufficient strength, there's nothing we can do about it."

As he spoke, Hunter forced a smile: "Governor, after arriving in San Francisco yesterday, I had a good drink with my old buddies."

Hunter's gaze fell on the group of instructors at the California Coast Guard Academy: "I heard from them that after retiring, they've been living a much better life here than before."

"High salaries, good benefits, and comprehensive care in all aspects, and they no longer have to risk their lives for the U.S. Navy in the face of wind, sun, and various dangers."

"All I have to do every day is teach students, and I live a comfortable life!"

Chief of Staff Hunter laughed and said, "Governor, hearing that my old buddies are living so well here makes me quite envious."

Azu grinned: "My doors are always open for the Colonel! The California Coast Guard always has a place for the Colonel!"

"Hahaha...!" Chief of Staff Hunter was quite pleased and shook hands with Azu: "Then it's settled."

"When I can no longer make a living in the navy, I will definitely come to you for a living."

"Welcome!"
-
Meanwhile, Major Klein, who had just arrived in Washington and had just set up the sign for the "California Office in Washington," was unexpectedly summoned by the White House.

The tall and handsome Major Klein was summoned to the White House upon his arrival and was deeply flattered!
Outside the Oval Office in the White House, Klein, dressed in a crisp military uniform, tidied his appearance one last time before carefully and gently knocking on the door.

"Beep beep beep...!"

"Come in……!"

(End of this chapter)