North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 184 I want...!
Even a prominent political figure like Abraham Lincoln, with his keen political acumen, could not possibly be completely unaware of Abraham's ambitions, no matter how good his personal relationship with Abraham was.

Even in front of President Fillmore, Lincoln covered up for Azu.

But this same question also lingered in Lincoln's mind.

Faced with this rare opportunity to meet face-to-face, Lincoln finally asked the question that had been lingering in his heart for a long time.

"Li, have you ever thought about building California into an independent country that belongs to you Chinese people?"

When faced with Lincoln's question, Azu shook his head firmly without hesitation.

“Mr. Vice President, you know me, and you know California!”

"California's current population, including Chinese, is only a mere three or four hundred thousand."

"In China, such a small population would only amount to a negligible medium-sized prefecture or county."

"With such a small population, let alone establishing an independent country, it would be difficult to maintain even the normal functioning of society."

"Currently, California still needs to import most of its supplies from outside the country, paying real money."

"Hehe!" Azu laughed self-deprecatingly, "Under these circumstances, how could I possibly have any intention of establishing an independent country?"

"Besides, even if I had the intention of establishing an independent nation, would the white people of California agree? Would the surrounding states agree? Would the United States agree?"

Azu stared into Lincoln's deep eyes: "Mr. Vice President, with the strength of the United States, if I were to take the path of independence and nation-building, it would be tantamount to courting death!"

"With the strength of the United States, it could easily arm a million-strong army and crush California from the inside out, from head to toe."

"Mr. Vice President, do you think I'm that stupid?"

Hearing this, Lincoln was slightly relieved and nodded, saying, "Indeed, Lee, you are an absolutely wise and intelligent fellow."

"If California were to secede under your leadership, it would absolutely trigger a civil war in the United States."

"Although California is a rich land, it is nothing compared to the United States."

"If you have ambitions to establish an independent nation, it is tantamount to courting death."

“Li, this isn’t a warning from the Vice President of the United States!” Lincoln said earnestly, “This is the most sincere and heartfelt advice from your most loyal friend!”

Even if you transport hundreds of thousands of Chinese people from across the ocean to California every year...!

"Even if you possess the rapidly rising Huamei Industrial Group, and own penicillin and advanced arsenals...!"

Even if you own the largest gold mine in all of California, and extract an endless supply of gold...!

"Even if you have a powerful National Guard and a powerful Coast Guard...!"

Even if you possess the smartest, wisest, and most visionary brain in the world...!

Lincoln's expression was unusually serious: "Even if you possess all of this, you will never have the strength to rival the United States in your lifetime!"

"The United States has land dozens of times larger than California and a population hundreds of times larger than California... This determines that California will always be the California of the United States!"

"If I become president, I will allow California under your leadership to have the greatest autonomy! But in any case, I will not stand by and watch California go on to become independent!"

"This vast and fertile land was won with the blood and lives of American soldiers! If I, as the President of the United States, tolerate California's path to independence, then I am a sinner in the history of the entire United States!"

Lincoln's eyes and expression were filled with an indescribable determination and resolve: "Lee, do you understand what I'm saying?"

Azu nodded emphatically: "Mr. Vice President, I fully understand your good intentions!"

"I understand the power balance between California and the United States even better now!"

"Although California is currently thriving and prosperous... it would be if the Freemasons weren't constantly causing trouble!"

"But no matter how California develops, under the iron hammer of America's strong national power, California is just a slightly stronger egg that will be smashed to pieces!"

"Therefore, no matter how crazy the Freemasons' provocations and provocations were, I maintained restraint and calm to the greatest extent possible, so as to avoid provoking the nerves of the entire United States."

"Within the bounds of reason and law, I have kept my retaliation to a minimum. Not to mention, the idea that I would actively pursue independence... that's all nonsense from the Freemasons trying to smear me."

Azu laughed and said, "If I had the ambition to lead California to independence, I would never have chosen to put Mr. Abraham Lincoln on that supreme presidential throne."

"Anyone with even a slight understanding of politics knows that Mr. Lincoln possessed the most tenacious and indomitable spirit and will among all political figures!"

"Heh," Azu chuckled self-deprecatingly, "If I wanted independence, would I choose such a powerful president as my opponent and enemy?!"

"If I were to become independent, I would definitely choose to support an old, senile, incompetent, and cowardly man to ascend to the presidency of the United States."

"In that case, my chances of succeeding independently might be slightly higher!"

Azu smiled as he looked at Lincoln's face: "You agree, don't you, Mr. Vice President?"

Lincoln pondered for a moment and had to admit that the young governor in front of him, his closest ally, was absolutely right!
Judging from the words and actions of this Chinese governor, he not only has no independent ambitions, but also has a long-term vision and works tirelessly for the prosperity and strength of the entire United States!
Otherwise, why would he so vehemently oppose slavery?
Why would he support himself becoming the President of the United States?

Why did he support the creation of a completely new political party?

Why is he so vehemently opposed to Freemasonry?

……

Everything he did was so perfectly aligned with his political beliefs!
At this moment, Lincoln's doubts about Azu had been largely dispelled.

Deep down, Lincoln even felt ashamed that he had doubted his closest ally!

“I’m sorry, Lee!” Lincoln said apologetically, raising his glass high once more. “Perhaps I was truly influenced by the political atmosphere in Washington, which is why I began to doubt you.”

"Perhaps the influence of those Freemasons is just too powerful! I have been subtly influenced by them as well!"

"But after this in-depth conversation, I can assure you that I will have no further doubts about you unless I hear you declare California's independence with your own mouth!!!"

“Of course I believe you!” Azo raised his glass high and clinked it heavily with Lincoln’s. “And please believe me, Abraham, you will absolutely not live to see the day California becomes independent!”

"Clang...!"

Two crystal wine glasses collided heavily together!
An unbreakable and indestructible alliance was fully formed during this meeting between the two.
-
Three days after Azu led the Coast Guard and National Guard to seize the San Diego Naval Base.

Commodore Andrew Webber, leading the Pacific Squadron, finally arrived belatedly.

After the Coast Guard forces and Coast Guard fortresses displayed overwhelming firepower, continuing the blockade would have been pointless.

Moreover, news of Vice President Abraham Lincoln's personal arrival in San Diego finally reached General Andrew Webber's ears.

It's time to end this farce!

Andrew Webber then led all the ships back to the San Diego naval base.

But as soon as the Pacific Fleet's ships docked at the naval port, they were immediately disarmed by California National Guard soldiers who swarmed in from all directions.

Commodore Andrew Webber and even the general's beloved ivory Colt revolver were disarmed!

Then, everyone in the fleet was escorted by heavily armed California National Guard soldiers to an empty training ground.

Here, Vice President Abraham Lincoln was already waiting for them!

In front of everyone in the fleet, Vice President Abraham Lincoln once again announced the President's order.

Having anticipated this outcome, General Andrew Webber offered no resistance and readily handed over command to the Vice President.

Next, all the Freemasons in the fleet were identified, detained, and interrogated separately. It was only then that General Andrew Webber learned of the horrific assassination attempt on Vice President Lincoln at his naval base.

The mastermind behind this assassination attempt on the vice president was none other than his own chief of staff, Colonel Curry, whom he had brought from the Africa Fleet!
In the fleet conference room, Andrew Webber was drenched in cold sweat as he listened to Vice President Lincoln recount that harrowing night.

"Mr. Vice President, please believe me, I have absolutely nothing to do with any plot to assassinate you...!"

Shocked, Andrew Webber's forehead was drenched in cold sweat: "Mr. Vice President, although... although it was very dishonorable of me to be held hostage by an organization and forced to participate in some actions against my will, but... this absolutely does not include plotting to assassinate you...!"

"Before this, I didn't even know that you had personally come to San Diego...!"

Sitting behind the conference table, Lincoln scrutinized Andrew Webber, who stood at a ramrod straight, for a long while before finally saying in a deep voice, "General Webber, do you remember what I told you before you took office?"

“Report, Mr. Vice President, of course I remember…! You instructed me to do everything in my power to maintain peaceful relations with California and the Governor…and not to do anything that would escalate the conflict between us…!”

At this point, Andrew Webber's expression darkened: "Mr. Vice President, please believe me, this is also my intention! But... my family has been taken hostage, I have no choice but to..."

Sitting next to Lincoln, Azu interjected at the opportune moment: "General Weber, our people in the eastern part of California have located your family. At this point, barring any unforeseen circumstances, my men have already rescued your family."

"What……?"

Andrew Webber's eyes widened instantly, and he eagerly asked, "Governor, are you... are you telling the truth?"

Azu nodded: "There's no definite news yet, but it's certain that we've found your family's whereabouts!"

"I believe that once we find their whereabouts, rescuing them won't be that difficult!"

Andrew Webber was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes: "Governor, thank you!"

"After this hostile operation between our two sides, you were still able to rescue my family. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart!"

As he spoke, General Andrew Webber snapped to attention and gave Azu an exceptionally standard military salute.

"If my family can be safely rescued... Governor, Vice President, I am willing to do anything to atone for all the crimes I have committed!"

Azu said in a deep voice, "General Weber, as the final executor of the conspiracy, you have indeed committed an unforgivable crime!"

"Because of you, several warships of the Pacific Squadron were sunk!"

"Because of you, hundreds of officers and men of the Pacific Fleet have sunk to the bottom of the sea forever!"

"Because of you, the prosperity and stability of the entire state of California are under unprecedented threat!"

"Because of you, my Huamei Industrial Group has suffered significant economic losses!"

"Because of you, 20,000 Chinese laborers have been detained for a long time, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of innocent people and the suffering of thousands more from illness...!"

……

Azu listed Andrew Webber's crimes one by one, and concluded: "Although you were not directly involved in the plot to assassinate the Vice President, without you, the Vice President would not have needed this trip to California!"

"So even if you weren't the mastermind, you're still an accomplice!"

General Andrew Webber was sweating profusely when his crimes were listed to his face. He wished he could disappear into the ground!
“Governor, please stop…!” Andrew Webber cried out in anguish, “I am willing to atone with my death… In fact, I have long been prepared to commit suicide, if not… Alas!”

Lincoln said coldly, "General Weber, don't be in such a hurry to die!"

"The crimes you have committed are so serious that the death penalty is not enough to atone for them!"

"On the contrary, I want you to be alive, to appear in court, and to testify publicly about all of this!"

"The Freemasons have completely spiraled out of control!"

"They are not only manipulating you, but also trying to instigate a civil war."

"They were even so insane as to assassinate both the president and the vice president at the same time...!"

"What...?!!"

Andrew Webber had just heard that the Freemasons were plotting to assassinate the president!
This left him utterly shocked.

"Have they...have they...completely gone mad? Those damned guys, what are they trying to do...!!!"

Facing the shocked Andrew Webber, Lincoln continued, "Therefore, this malignant tumor of Freemasonry parasitizing the body of America must be completely cut off!"

"Therefore, General Weber, I need you as an important witness! Do you understand?"

"Snap...!" Andrew Webber stood at attention without the slightest hesitation: "Mr. Vice President, I am willing to testify in court!"

"Very good, General Weber, you must live well!"

After saying this, Lincoln turned to Azu and said, "Governor, for well-known reasons, I must return to Washington as soon as possible."

"General Andrew Webber, along with a group of Freemasons, will return with me to face trial."

"As for the Pacific Fleet... I have taken away most of the mid- to high-ranking officers, so I can only temporarily hand it over to the Army Southwest Command for safekeeping until the fleet commander reappointed by Washington takes office."

Azu nodded and asked, "So, what are California's losses this time...?"

"Losses?" Lincoln raised an eyebrow. "What losses? You sank several ships in our Pacific Squadron. Our losses are undoubtedly greater!"

“That’s not how you say it!” Azu argued forcefully. “We in California are the victims, and we deserve fair compensation! Otherwise, this matter isn’t over yet…!”

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Lincoln couldn't help but click his tongue and say, "You bastard, don't go too far, you're so unforgiving!"

Ah Zu continued, "Don't the families of those hundreds of Chinese laborers who were unjustly detained until their deaths deserve reasonable compensation? Is this excessive?"

"This... shouldn't be too much, right?" Lincoln said, embarrassed.

Azu continued, "Because of the prolonged lockdown that lasted for more than a month, the entire state of California, including my company, suffered huge economic losses. Is it too much to ask for reasonable compensation?"

"This... doesn't seem too excessive!" Even the usually unyielding Lincoln started sweating.

“And…!” Azu continued to calculate the accounts.

"Enough!" Lincoln glared at Azu. "You greedy bastard, are you really never going to stop?"

"Just tell me what kind of compensation you want. As long as it's not too outrageous, I, on behalf of the United States federal government, can agree to it."

"Hehe!" Azu chuckled and said, "Mr. Vice President, don't you think the distance between the East and West coasts of the United States is just too great?"

Lincoln said in surprise, "Can't you just say what you mean? Don't beat around the bush with me. When it comes to beating around the bush and playing mind games, who can outsmart you?"

“Abraham, has anyone ever told you that you are a very boring and old-fashioned fellow?”

Azu complained for a moment before continuing, "Right now, the only way to travel between the east and west is by land. Without trains, it would take at least two months to travel from east to west."

"If you take the sea route, you will need to transit through the Isthmus of Panama, which makes the movement of people and goods extremely complicated and troublesome."

"Unfortunately, the Isthmus of Panama is still under the control of the New Grenada Republic. Our people and goods face complicated procedures and expensive tariffs when crossing the isthmus to leave the country."

Lincoln nodded: "This is common knowledge. What exactly are you trying to say?"

Ah Zu smiled mysteriously.

"Dear Abraham, I want—the Panama Canal!!!"

(End of this chapter)