North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 164 I'll reward you handsomely! (A long chapter of 10,000 words)
"You're Klein Perry? Brigadier General Matthew Perry's son?"

Klein snapped to attention and gave a perfect military salute.

"Yes, Mr. President!"

"I am Klein Perry, Major of the California Maritime National Guard, and Director of the California Office in Washington!"

President Fillmore put down his pipe and looked at the tall, handsome young man with great interest.

Similarly, Vice President Abraham Lincoln, standing nearby, was also sizing up the young man from California.

"Lieutenant Commander Perry, I heard you had a bright future in the Navy. Why did you leave the Navy and join the California Maritime National Guard?"

When asked the President's question, Klein answered without hesitation and with confidence: "Because the California Coast Guard pays more than the Navy, and... much more, Mr. President!"

"Ha ha ha ha……!"

President Fillmore and Vice President Lincoln were both amused by this straightforward answer and burst into laughter.

"Major Klein, you bastard... hahaha!"

President Fillmore wiped away the tears of laughter from the corner of his eye: "I thought you were going to spout some profound wisdom, but... haha... so you're just after money?"

Klein remained ramrod straight and answered bluntly, "Yes! Mr. President, our Governor of California offered so much money that I couldn't refuse!"

Fillmore managed to suppress his smile: "Major Klein, do you know why the Vice President and I summoned you?"

"I don't know, Mr. President!"

"There are two reasons for summoning you. First, both Vice President Lincoln and I are very curious about what your California office in Washington is trying to do and what role it can play."

In the American system, each state has senators and representatives in Washington, D.C., who represent the interests of their respective states.

The interests of each state are essentially realized through these members of Congress.

Therefore, there is no such thing as a representative office for each state in Washington.

However, California, which had just joined the United States, took the lead in the world by openly sending its own representative office, which surprised both the president and the vice president.

Klein was equally outspoken: "As instructed by the Governor, our Washington office is doing everything possible to secure the greatest possible benefits for California, while also coordinating relations between Washington and California...!"

These are all the truths that Azu personally told Klein, without any falsehood.

After listening, Fillmore and Lincoln exchanged a glance before saying, "Major Klein, from what you've said, this representative office seems to play a significant role. Are you, a young man, confident in fulfilling the tasks and responsibilities assigned to you by the Governor?"

"I will do my utmost to live up to the trust that the Governor and the people of California have placed in me! And of course... I must also live up to this generous salary, Mr. President!"

"Hahaha...!" Fillmore and Lincoln couldn't help but burst out laughing at the same time.

In just a few words, these two powerful figures at the pinnacle of American power had taken a liking to the young major.

At that moment, they seemed to understand why the Chinese governor of California had sent such a young man to cultivate relationships with powerful figures and secure benefits for the entire state.

“Very good!” President Fillmore nodded in agreement with Klein’s answer.

Then President Fillmore asked another question: "Major Klein, you were once a member of the Pacific Fleet, and now you represent the entire state of California in Washington."

"So, my second question is closely related to you, the Pacific Fleet, and California. You should think it through before you answer."

"Yes, Mr. President!"

President Fillmore said, "I have already issued an order to promote Brigadier General Paparo King to Rear Admiral, and he will soon be transferred to the position of Commander of the Home Fleet."

Klein already knew about this, so he wasn't surprised at all.

President Fillmore continued, "But this leaves the position of Commander of the Pacific Fleet vacant. Major, I'd like to hear your opinion on who is best suited to be the new Commander of the Pacific Fleet?"

Klein paused for a moment, then replied, "Mr. President, may I say that my father, Brigadier General Matthew Perry, currently the commander of the Far East Fleet, is the most suitable candidate to be transferred to the position of commander of the Pacific Fleet?"

Fillmore and Lincoln exchanged another glance: "Major, continue!"

“Yes, Mr. President!” Klein maintained his upright military posture and continued, “In my opinion, Brigadier General Matthew Perry is qualified, both in terms of experience and contributions, to serve as the commander of the Pacific Fleet!”

"Most importantly, Brigadier General Matthew Perry and the current Governor of California have maintained excellent communication. If Brigadier General Matthew Perry becomes the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, the entire state of California and the entire West will be safe and sound!"

“Oh…?” Fillmore was unaware that Brigadier General Perry and the first governor of California had this connection.

Klein then explained further: "More than a year ago, the Governor of California and Brigadier General Perry established correspondence. This is because California has a large Chinese immigrant population and very frequent business dealings with China."

"And Brigadier General Perry, stationed in the Far East, has a responsibility to provide maritime security for American immigrant ships and merchant vessels, so...!"

Upon hearing this, Fillmore and Lincoln finally understood.

Klein couldn't help but add, "There's one more very important point: my father, Brigadier General Matthew Perry, was never a Freemason...!"

"Ahem...!" Fillmore coughed softly twice. "Of course, I think we all understand that...!"

After a moment of silence, Fillmore said, "Major, I have one last question!"

"Yes, Mr. President!"

After a moment of silence, Fillmore asked, "What do you think of the young Chinese man who was California's first governor?"

"How was it...?" Klein was unsure how to answer such a vague question.

After thinking for a moment, Klein could only give a general answer: "I think the governor is an extraordinary person beyond imagination!"

“That’s it…? Major, could you elaborate?” Fillmore prompted, “For example, his character, personality, ambition…?”

Klein replied carefully, “I think the governor is a kind, generous, gentlemanly, pioneering, unconventional, and miracle-making man!”

"As for ambition... such a word doesn't apply to such a great and extraordinary person! Because... only unattainable goals can be called ambition!"

President Fillmore slowly put away his smile: "Major, so you mean that whatever your governor wants, he can do?"

Klein's heart skipped a beat, feeling as if he had overpraised his boss.

“Mr. President, what I mean is, given the Governor’s rationality, he would never think about things that are impossible!”

"Heh!" Fillmore nodded slightly. "I understand! You may leave now, Major!"

"Yes, Mr. President!"

Klein snapped to attention and saluted again before turning and leaving.

After the office door slowly closed, Fillmore lit his pipe, took a puff, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

"Abraham, what do you think?"

Lincoln slowly shook his head: "My opinion remains unchanged. Major Klein is right. Brigadier General Matthew Perry is indeed the only choice for commander of the Pacific Fleet."

Fillmore nodded: "I agree with you. If that Chinese governor really doesn't have any other ambitions...!"

Lincoln raised a thick eyebrow: "Mr. President, do you really believe the Freemasons' rumors that the governor will manipulate California toward independence?"

Fillmore replied in a deep voice, "Judging from the series of actions this governor has taken since taking office, he is indeed out of step with our America."

"In particular, his introduction of the Foreign Workers Affirmative Action Act and the Indians Affirmative Action Act completely broke with the national policies that our United States has always adhered to."

"These two bills set a very bad precedent, and to put it more seriously, they even shook the very foundations of our nation!"

President Fillmore was right!
While the United States is indeed a nation of immigrants, it is primarily a nation of white immigrants.

White immigrants and Anglo-Saxon culture are the foundation of this nation.

Now, the Foreign Workers Affirmative Action Act and the Indians Affirmative Action Act grant immigrants of other races and Native Americans almost equal citizenship.

If this is not shaking the very foundation of the United States, then what is shaking the very foundation?
After thinking for a moment, Lincoln replied, “Mr. President, California is a special case. It is very different from the remote and desolate West and the densely populated and prosperous East.”

“Our white people are quite weak there! That governor’s election is proof enough.”

"While these two bills passed in California are not worth promoting, they are clearly legal safeguards to ensure harmonious coexistence among different races."

"In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with these two bills in the West and in California."

After a moment of silence, Fillmore said, "In any case, these two affirmative action bills make the vast majority of white people very uncomfortable, including myself."

"That governor rose to power too quickly and too rapidly. Now, the American Army and Navy are begging him to provide them with new firearms and warships."

"It's time to curb his momentum, otherwise, in a few years, I'm afraid I won't be able to control him anymore."

President Fillmore said in a deep voice, "I have made up my mind. Since they have already relinquished such a crucial position as the commander of the Home Fleet, we have no choice but to compromise as well."

"If they want the position of commander of the Pacific Fleet so badly, then give it to them."

"However, even so, we still need to select a relatively mild-mannered fellow from among those Freemasons."

"If it were still a paranoid and reckless guy like George Phillips, who knows what kind of huge incident might have occurred in California."

Seeing that the president was determined, Lincoln said no more, only saying, "If that's the case, I suggest sending Commodore Andrew Webber of the Africa Squadron. In Freemasonry, he's considered a relatively rational and moderate fellow."

“Okay…!” Fillmore nodded in agreement: “Hopefully, Brigadier General Andrew Webber can keep that governor in check without causing any major incidents that are difficult to handle.”

Abraham Lincoln shook his head slightly: "Difficult, very difficult! The balance is too delicate to strike. I don't think Brigadier General Andrew Webber possesses such extraordinary methods and abilities."

Fillmore replied, "Abraham, stay optimistic! I'll have a good talk with Brigadier General Andrew Webber myself...!"

"Also, Abraham, you can have a good talk with Major Klein. Since he represents California, you might as well tell him directly that California is the California of the United States, and that governor should tone it down a bit and consider the feelings of the American government and people!"

Lincoln nodded silently: "I will convey the President's message to the Governor as accurately as possible!"

President Fillmore added, "If, and I mean if, that governor is willing to compromise, we can actually mediate between him and the Freemasons!"

"What the Freemasons want is penicillin, gold, new firearms, and high-speed steamships, isn't it? If that governor were to give up some of his interests, I believe the Freemasons would be willing to stop the conflict."

"Heh!" Lincoln couldn't help but sneer, "Mr. President, I think you've greatly underestimated the Freemasons' greed...!"
-
At this time, Azu appeared in the model village in California's Central Valley.

The Central Valley covers a total area of ​​over 11 million acres, of which more than half, or about 6 million acres, are fertile soil suitable for cultivation (one acre is approximately equal to six mu).

Numerous rivers, large and small, originating from the Sierra Nevada Mountains provide convenient irrigation, and the alluvial soil is extremely fertile. Coupled with the warm and pleasant climate, the Central Valley has become the undisputed "Land of Abundance" in North America.

Such a vast alluvial plain and valley is enough to support hundreds of millions of people.

In later generations, the fruits and vegetables produced in the Central Valley alone accounted for more than one-third of the total in the United States.

The original Central Valley was still in a primitive, undeveloped state, and the value of the unclaimed land was extremely low.

Under the U.S. Preoccupation Act, these unclaimed lands can become fully legal private lands by paying the government $1.50 per acre.

Therefore, Azu has been continuously buying land in the Central Valley.

Today, almost all of the six million acres of arable land in the Central Valley have become the private property of Huamei Industries.

Ah Zu then used the nearly ten million dollars that Huamei Industrial paid to the California government to build the National Guard and Coast Guard.

The National Guard and Coast Guard used this huge sum of money to place large orders for weapons and warships with Huamei Industrial.

After going around in circles, most of the huge sum of money used to purchase the land ended up back in the pockets of Huamei Company.

This essentially means that Azu got over 30 million acres of fertile land for free, and in a completely reasonable and legal way.

After 1851, the number of Chinese coming to California increased significantly. Some of them, after rigorous selection, entered various industries of the Chinese American Company and became formal employees of the company.

A small number of the most outstanding young men are selected to join the California National Guard and Coast Guard, becoming honorable soldiers.

The rest of the people were settled by Azu in the model village in the central valley.

One after another, model villages sprang up like mushrooms after rain on this fertile land.

Now, there are a total of twenty model villages in the Central Valley. In addition to settling more than 20,000 Chinese people, several thousand Native American women have also been attracted by the stable life in these model villages.

In early March, under the warm sunshine of early spring, Azu led a group of people through the crisscrossing fields.

In the distance, there are model villages standing proudly, while nearby, there are vast expanses of lush green wheat fields.

In the endless wheat fields, countless farmers are working diligently under the sun.

Azu walked up to a man in his thirties who was sitting on the edge of a field, drinking water and resting.

Ah Zu sat down on the ridge next to the man, smiling as he asked, "Brother, what's your surname? Where are you from? How long have you been here?"

The man turned to look at Azu and the large group of people following behind him, and grinned憨厚ly.

"Brother, my surname is Zhao. I'm from Shantou, Guangdong. I came here last June, so it's been more than half a year!"

Ah Zu then asked, "So it's Brother Zhao. How are you doing here?"

"Great, hehe, everything's great!" The man's grin widened even further: "The company here provides land, houses, farm tools, seeds, oxen... Not only is there no tax this year, but they also give us 100 jin of grain every month!"

"Brother, you wouldn't believe it, the company has provided us with everything, from pots and pans to clothes and blankets."

"The company also arranged for us to attend night school to learn to read and write, and even made us train with guns...!"

"Hey bro, this is way better than back home! Coming here, I finally know what it feels like to be a decent human being!"

The man laughed heartily: "In our village, there are over a hundred bachelors, and some have even married Native American women. Many of these Native American women are pregnant with our Chinese children, hehe...!"

Ah Zu laughed and said, "Why didn't Brother Zhao find an Indian wife?"

The man scratched the back of his head: "I have a wife and four kids back home! I wrote home last year, asking the whole family to come and live a better life. My wife and kids should be here in a month or two."

“Back in my hometown, my family and I didn’t own a single plot of land. We could only rent land to farm. After working ourselves to the bone all year round, we couldn’t even afford a full meal after paying the landlords and the government.”

"Once we got here, not only did the government not come to collect taxes, but we only had to hand over fifty catties of grain to the company for each mu of land... Haha!"

“Brother, look…!” The man pointed to a large expanse of lush green wheat field in front of him: “This whole area, ten acres, was allocated to me by the company.”

The man bent down again, grabbed a handful of fertile soil from the ground, and held it right in front of Azu's eyes, praising, "Brother, look again, how fertile this soil is! You could squeeze oil out of it!"

"By May, after the first crop of wheat is harvested, I estimate that my ten mu of land will yield at least three to four thousand jin of grain. Then, after planting a crop of rice, I can harvest several thousand more jin."

"I only need to give the company 500 jin, and the rest will be enough for my whole family to have enough to eat every day!"

"Brother, this is better, this is better...!"

"When my wife and kids come, each of them will get ten mu of land. Our whole family will have a total of sixty mu of land. If it weren't for the village and commune organizing mutual assistance during the busy farming season, I'm really afraid we wouldn't be able to manage to cultivate it all... Haha!"

"A full sixty acres of land, yielding tens of thousands of catties of grain every year... more than we can eat, far more than we can eat! Haha, haha...!" The man became more and more cheerful as he spoke, his mouth almost stretching to his ears.

"Ha ha……!"

Ah Zu smiled happily: "Our lives will only get better and better!"
-
After saying goodbye to Brother Zhao, Azu arrived at the first model village he had built with his own hands.

This is the oldest model village, although it has only been around for less than a year, but it has the most complete infrastructure and the most comprehensive facilities.

After a year of training and development, the villagers of this model village have become the best in terms of both quality and fighting spirit among the twenty model villages.

The other model villages around it were actually built one after another around this model village.

The California National Guard's Independent Cavalry Regiment also has its headquarters here.

Ah Zu came without notifying anyone in advance.

When he appeared at the cavalry training ground with his entourage, he attracted almost no attention.

"Da da da……!"

"Hiss...!"

"Beep beep beep...!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
On the huge cavalry training ground located outside the village, hundreds of cavalrymen are practicing various tactical maneuvers with great enthusiasm.

Some were charging and slashing, some were practicing archery on horseback, and some were training their formations...!
Roaring east and west, charging north and south... Hundreds of strong and tall warhorses and hundreds of imposing cavalrymen filled the training ground with dust and noise!
Seeing this, Azu couldn't help but exclaim, "It seems our little Youma is doing a very good job!" Victoria, standing beside him, nodded in agreement, "I didn't expect that Youma, who looks so gentle and shy, would actually be so capable as a cavalry commander."

"If it were me, I would never have been able to train a brand-new cavalry unit to this level in just over two months."

As they spoke, Youma, who was standing high on the reviewing stand directing the training, dressed in military uniform and looking dashing, inadvertently glanced at the group of people by the training ground.

"That is how the matter?"

Too far away, Youma couldn't see the group's faces clearly, so he asked his adjutant, "Didn't I give orders that no outsiders are allowed to observe during training?"

"Where are the sentries outside? Why didn't they stop these people from entering the training ground?"

As he spoke, Youma pointed with his riding whip at a group of people on the edge of the training field.

"Snap...!" Lieutenant Blood Eagle immediately snapped to attention: "Commander, I'll get them out of here right away!"

"Go now...!" Youma frowned and ordered, "Also, all the sentries from today, lock them up for three days!"

"Yes, Sir...!"

Blood Eagle strode away, but a moment later, instead of chasing the group away, he eagerly led them toward the reviewing stand.

Seeing this scene from afar, Youma's brows furrowed even more. Just as she was about to lash out, she suddenly recognized the face of the person in the lead.

"Azu... BOSS...!"

Youma was overjoyed and exclaimed in surprise.

She was about to take a step and rush towards the man she had been longing for day and night.

But then she abruptly stopped, remaining motionless and firmly rooted to the reviewing stand.

In the blink of an eye, Azu led his group, guided by Blood Eagle, and strode confidently onto the reviewing stand.

"Commander Youma, you've done a very good job!" Azu walked up to Youma with a stern face and stood beside her.

"Snap...!" Youma snapped to attention and gave Azu a very standard military salute.

"Commander of the Independent Cavalry Regiment of the California National Guard, Yuma, reporting to the Governor!"

"very good!"

Azu said calmly, "Commander Youma, the Independent Cavalry Regiment has been established for more than two months now. Please give a brief report on the current situation in all aspects."

"Yes, sir!!"

So, on the high reviewing stand, Youma gave a truthful report on the progress of the Independent Cavalry Regiment in all aspects over the past two months.

"Governor, our regiment currently has 1,779 officers and soldiers."

"Among them, there were 1,450 cavalrymen and 329 command and logistics personnel."

"Among them were 1,028 Indian cavalrymen and 751 Chinese soldiers and officers."

"Our regiment currently has a total of 2,960 warhorses and 1,300 packhorses."

"Our regiment is currently equipped with 1,700 HM49 rifles and 450 Colt revolvers."

"Our regiment is currently equipped with 22 81mm mortars and 31 HM51 machine guns. Due to the limited production capacity of the arsenal, our regiment's heavy firepower is not yet fully equipped."

"My regiment has three cavalry battalions, a regimental heavy firepower company, and a regimental reconnaissance cavalry company."

“Mr. Governor, what you are seeing now is the training situation of the regimental heavy firepower company and the reconnaissance cavalry company.”

"The other three cavalry battalions are stationed in Model Village 5, Village 11 and Village 17 respectively, and are intensifying their training to strive to form combat capability as soon as possible!"

"Report complete, Governor!"

"good, very good!"

Azu was quite pleased and patted Youma on the shoulder heavily: "Commander Youma, you have completed the task I assigned you very well!"

“Therefore, I have decided to reward you!” Azu said calmly, “Commander Youma, what kind of reward do you want?”

“Report, Governor, I request that more heavy firepower be deployed to my regiment as soon as possible…!” Yuma replied almost without hesitation.

"That's it...?" Azu stepped forward and whispered in Youma's ear, "Didn't you think of me at all?"

"Reporting, Governor, yes!"

Youma raised his head and chest, answering loudly without hesitation.

"Ahem...!"

Faced with Youma, who was too engrossed in his role, Azu couldn't help but cough twice and ask, "Commander Youma, where is your command post? I need to speak with you alone!"

"Please follow me, Governor...!"

With Azu by his side, Youma and the two of them went into the regimental command post located in the center of Model Village.

As soon as he entered the empty room, Youma ripped off his military cap, and his long, shiny black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

“Hmm…!”

Youma turned his head, wrapped his arms around Azu's neck, and gave him a passionate kiss.

Ah Zu wrapped his arms around her slender waist, picked her up, and placed her on the long table where he directed the battle.

"Grandma... I miss you so much... Do you know... Every night... I miss you so much... *sobs*!"

"My little pony, let me reward you properly...!"

……

After a fierce storm, Youma collapsed into Azu's arms.

“Grandma, you said you would come to see me often, but it took me two whole months to finally see you... Have you already forgotten me?”

Youma slowly traced circles on Azu's chest with her finger, then whispered a mournful murmur into Azu's ear.

"How can it be!"

Ah Zu hugged his beloved tightly and kissed her forehead hard: "I miss my little Yuma every day, but I've just become governor, and I'm really busy...!"

"I just had a little time, and I couldn't wait to come see my little pony...!"

"Really……?"

"Of course it's true...!"

"I don't believe it... *sobs*!"

Two passionate bodies were once again entangled in a fierce embrace.

……

That evening, the Blackfoot Tribe's chief of the Great Stone Wars, Elder Bearskin, and others, having received the news, also rushed from their tribe to Model Village.

"Li, it's been so long, my blood brother...!"

The boulder gave Azu a very warm hug.

“Giant Rock, my good brother…!” Azu responded with a powerful and enthusiastic hug in return.

Jushi released Azu, looked him up and down, and said with delight, "Li, it's been so long! You've grown taller, stronger, and much more powerful."

For a long time, Azu had been following Feng Zicai and Shi Dakai, learning techniques to strengthen his body and martial arts. He had also learned a lot of martial arts skills, and he had indeed become much stronger.

"Haha!" Azu laughed heartily, "My rock brother, you've gotten even stronger!"

The giant stone laughed heartily and said, "My people and I are living a good life with no worries about food and clothing, how could we not grow strong and healthy?"

“Li, now our Blackfoot tribe members are gradually migrating back to our ancestral land! On this fertile land, there is no longer the expulsion and massacre by those white people, and our lives are getting better day by day.”

"Since the vaccination against smallpox, no one in the tribe has died from smallpox."

"Without war, no more of our people will die under the guns of white men."

"In just a few years, our Blackfoot tribe will recover to its peak population, with even more warriors, more women, and more children running around everywhere...!" the giant rock exclaimed excitedly.

Azu allocated ample living space for various Native American tribes, including the Blackfoot, enough for them to thrive and multiply.

Hearing that the Blackfoot tribe was doing well, Azu was happy for them.

After everyone was seated, Azu said, "I came here specifically to visit my little Youma...!"

Hearing this, Youma, who was sitting close to Azu, couldn't help but lower her head shyly.

"Hehe...!" Jushi couldn't help but reveal a meaningful smile as he looked at his own sister's appearance.

"At the same time, I would also like to express my special thanks to the Blackfoot Tribe!"

Azu added, "Among my independent cavalry regiment, the Blackfoot tribe contributed a full three hundred valiant warriors!"

"It can be said that the Blackfoot tribe sent its most valiant and skilled warriors into the Independent Cavalry Regiment without reservation!"

"Therefore, I must personally express my heartfelt gratitude to you!"

"Haha, we're all brothers, no need for thanks...!" Jushi laughed, patting Azu's arm.

"The sacrifice of so many brave warriors will surely affect the Blackfoot tribe's hunting. Therefore, I will arrange for people to deliver food to the Blackfoot tribe regularly."

"Hahaha!" Boulder was even happier: "That's perfect! I knew you wouldn't treat us unfairly."

“Besides that…!” Azu continued, “I also want to discuss the future of the Blackfoot Clan with Elder Bearskin and Brother Giant Stone.”

"The future of the Blackfoot Clan...?"

Giant Stone and Elder Bearskin couldn't help but exchange a glance: "Li, our Blackfoot tribe is doing quite well now."

“No!” Azu shook his head and said, “In my opinion, the Blackfoot tribe has at most solved the problem of survival, but it is far from living well.”

"what……?"

Boulder and Elder Bearskin exchanged another glance and asked curiously, "Then what counts as living well?"

"Living upright and honestly between heaven and earth, just like anyone else, never again being bullied or discriminated against. Only then can one be considered truly living well."

Azu continued, "Right now, the Blackfoot tribe and other Indians are only enjoying temporary peace under my protection."

“But my protection will one day disappear, and you Indians will still face discrimination, expulsion, and slaughter by the white people!”

Upon hearing what Azu said, Elder Bearskin and Giant Stone's expressions finally turned serious.

Elder Bearskin opened his mouth, which had only a few teeth left, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Li, according to your instructions, what should my people and I do?"

Azu replied, "All Native Americans, including the Blackfoot tribe, can only avoid being eliminated by the times by becoming strong, keeping up with the times, and becoming a part of the times!"

Do you understand what I'm saying...?

Elder Bearskin seemed to be deep in thought, while the boulder was completely bewildered.

Only Yuma truly understood!

Youma spoke up: "Elder Xiongpi, brother, what Azu means is that we should learn and master the knowledge of this era, just like the white people and the Chinese!"

"Without knowledge, we will forever remain as primitive Native Americans, forever ignorant and weak, discriminated against, driven out, and slaughtered by white people!"

"I've been by Azu's side for so long, and I've seen so many new things, learned a lot of incredible knowledge, and witnessed a constant stream of powerful weapons."

"If all we know is how to make bows and arrows and spears, how can we deal with those vicious white men?"

Youma said in a deep voice, "Like this cavalry regiment I trained, it only has a little over a thousand men, but I am very certain that even if they encountered ten or a hundred times more Indian warriors, it would only be a one-sided massacre!"

"Even our most valiant warriors, forged through countless battles and tempered by fire, are no match for bullets produced in an arsenal in just one minute!"

Hearing this, Boulder and Elder Bearskin finally understood completely.

Elder Bearskin looked at Azu with his cloudy eyes: "Li, tell us, what should we do?"

Azu replied, "Indigenous people, including the Blackfoot tribe, need to learn, to keep learning. Through learning, they can integrate into this era and become a part of it!"

“If you agree, I can establish schools among the Blackfoot tribe and teach Blackfoot children and adults everything related to modern society, including Chinese and English.”

"Establish schools...!"

Elder Bearskin and the Boulder both fell into a long silence.

Although they were out of touch with modern society and isolated from the times, they were not stupid.

They knew exactly what it would mean to establish a school within the tribe.

That would mean that many of their ancient traditions, passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years, would be forgotten, abandoned... and permanently!

Once those ancient traditions are forgotten or abandoned, they can never be found again!
Azu continued, “I know that establishing a school in the tribe is an extremely difficult decision. I will not force you to agree; it is up to you to decide.”

“If it is too difficult for you to build a school directly in the tribe, you can select some children and send them to the school in the model village.”

"Why not let the children try it out and see if learning new knowledge of this era is a good thing or a bad thing?"

In Model Village and several other villages, primary schools have been built, not only to provide basic education for all children, but also to take on the responsibility of literacy education for adults.

Model Village is not too far from the Blackfoot tribe, and sending Native American children to Model Village Elementary School is the simplest and most direct way to do so.

Elder Bearskin asked in a hoarse voice, "Li, I want to ask you a question."

"of course can!"

Elder Bearskin said, "The reason why the Blackfoot Clan is the Blackfoot Clan is not only because of the bloodline of its people, but also because of the ancient traditions passed down from generation to generation."

“Li, you look so similar to us, there’s not much difference in appearance. But the reason you are Chinese and I am a Blackfoot tribesman is because of the different ancient traditions we follow, right?”

After a moment of contemplation, Azu nodded: "Elder Xiongpi, you are right."

Elder Bearskin continued, "If our children all enter your schools and learn the new knowledge of this era, but forget and abandon the ancient traditions of the Blackfoot tribe, then what difference will there be between these children and you Chinese in the future?"

It has to be said, people become wise with age!
Elder Bearskin went almost straight to the point, directly revealing Azu's intentions.

Azu shook his head slightly and replied, "Learning new knowledge does not mean completely abandoning ancient traditions."

“We Chinese are actually just like you Native Americans, abandoning and forgetting some of our ancient traditions.”

"It's not that those old traditions are wrong, but that those traditions are no longer suitable for this era and must be discarded and innovated."

"Like bows and arrows and spears, are they wrong? No, they are not!"

"But bows and arrows and spears have been rendered obsolete by this era and must be replaced by more advanced and powerful weapons."

"If bows and spears are not phased out, then this era will phase out those who use them!"

"The same goes for those ancient traditions!"

"As for Elder Bearskin's concern that we have educated the Native American children to be Chinese, haha, there is absolutely no need to have such a worry."

Azu continued, "I will arrange for someone to systematically compile the ancient traditions of the Blackfoot tribe and the Indians, and teach them to the Indian children as a special course."

"As long as they retain their ancestral bloodline and ancestral traditions, they will always be Native Americans, always Blackfoot people!"

(End of this chapter)