North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 191 The Biggest Sugar Daddy
The following day, Azu and his party arrived in Washington by train.

At the White House, Azu met Abraham Lincoln again.

However, the two did not rush to meet again, but instead first awarded medals to Zhou Hongwen and Xiao Lizi.

More than a month ago, Zhou Hongwen, Xiao Lizi, and a group of guards risked their lives to protect Abraham Lincoln.

Of the more than twenty guards, only Zhou Hongwen and Xiao Li survived.

Zhou Hongwen, in particular, was seriously injured and only after more than a month of treatment has he basically recovered his health.

Abraham Lincoln had said then that he would award them medals, and now it was time to fulfill that promise.

Lincoln, who was then president, personally awarded Zhou Hongwen the Medal of Honor, the highest congressional honor.

Leonardo DiCaprio received a slightly less prestigious Medal of Honor.

After the medal ceremony, Abraham Lincoln patted Zhou Hongwen on the shoulder and said, "Zhou, seeing you recover is the happiest thing for me recently!"

"Thank you, Mr. President!" Zhou Hongwen replied, standing at attention. "It is my honor to see you again!"

Azu smiled and said, "Mr. President, for your safety, I plan to have Major Zhou stay by your side long-term. What do you think?"

"Oh...?" President Lincoln raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's exactly what I'd like!"

After securing Lincoln's safety, Azu promoted Zhou Hongwen to the rank of Major, Deputy Chief of the Guards.

During Lincoln's return to Washington, Shi Dakai was personally responsible for Lincoln's security.

However, Azu would not keep a general as great as Shi Dakai as a bodyguard for long.

Zhou Hongwen, who has already established trust and affection with Lincoln, is undoubtedly more suitable to stay by Lincoln's side.

……

Shortly thereafter, at the White House, in the Oval Office.

In this room that represented the highest power in America, Azu looked around this legendary office with a hint of curiosity.

"Tsk tsk...!" Azu couldn't help but say, "The president's office looks so-so!"

"It's not even as big as my governor's office, nor as luxurious as my office...!"

Lincoln poured a glass of wine for Azu himself and said with a smile, "Who told me that I, the president, am not as rich as you, the governor, nor do I have all the power you hold?"

Ah Zu took the wine, took a small sip, and then frowned slightly, saying, "Mr. President, you're using this kind of inferior wine to entertain guests from afar?"

"You're lucky to have any wine at all! I'm just a poor lawyer; I can't afford to buy you any good wine!"

"Tsk tsk, I never imagined our president would be such a miser!" Azu laughed. "Didn't I just give him one and a half million dollars? Don't tell me you don't have the money!"

Lincoln replied, "That money is for the establishment of the Republican Party. I will not spend a single dollar on myself."

"Hehe!" Azu couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, "Mr. President, you are such a rigid and boring fellow!"

"Speaking of which...!" Azu changed the subject: "How's the establishment of the Republican Party going?"

Lincoln replied, “The Republican Party must be formed. But I don’t think now is the best time.”

"Oh...? Why do you say that?"

Lincoln said in a deep voice, "Lee, as you know, President Fillmore was assassinated just a month ago, and the Freemason headquarters was also bombed at the same time."

"Over the past month, the entire American political arena has been in turmoil, and people are filled with anxiety."

"The most important thing now is to stabilize the situation and reassure the public as soon as possible."

"If I, as president, were to split the Whig Party and form a new Republican Party at this time, it would undoubtedly make American politics even more turbulent."

After hearing what he said, Azu thought for a moment and agreed, "Indeed, Abraham, what you said makes a lot of sense."

Lincoln continued, "At least for the next few months, my primary responsibility is to quickly stabilize the situation."

"As for the establishment of the Republican Party, it needs to be put on hold for a while."

Azu continued, "However, next year is the time for the next presidential election. In the first half of next year, the Whig Party and the Democratic Party will nominate their respective presidential candidates."

"So, Abraham, you'd better act fast. Otherwise, you'll have a very difficult time even becoming the Whig Party's presidential candidate in next year's election."

Historically, in next year's presidential nomination race, the Whig Party will be competing between Fillmore and Commander-in-Chief Scott.

Ultimately, the Whig Party's presidential candidate was Commander-in-Chief Scott, who represented the slave-owning forces in the South.

Now, Fillmore and Scott are both dead.

However, the balance of power within the Whig Party did not change significantly as a result.

The forces representing Southern slavery still held an advantage within the Whig Party.

Lincoln's chances of becoming the Whig Party's presidential nominee remained slim.

That is why Azumi was so eager for Lincoln to quickly establish a new Republican Party, which would become a new force representing the abolitionist movement.

If the Republican Party can be established, it will certainly be able to absorb most of the forces that support abolitionism into the newly formed Republican Party.

With Lincoln's current presidential power and unlimited financial support, only in this way can he have any hope of winning the election at the end of next year.

Lincoln was certainly aware of the predicament he was in.

"Don't worry, Lee, you will see the new Republican Party formed by October at the latest."

“However…!” Lincoln looked at Azu with interest and said, “Lee, what position do you want to occupy in this newly formed political party?”

“Me…?” Azu asked curiously, “Abraham, do you want to bring me into this new political party?”

“Otherwise?” Lincoln smiled and said, “This newly formed Republican Party was only possible because of your efforts.”

"In other words, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you are the founder of the Republican Party!"

"How could someone like you not join this new political party? And I'd much rather you take the position of party leader...!"

"The party leader...?" Azu was even more surprised.

"Yes, leader! You are now the first governor of California, one of the wealthiest people in America, and the biggest donor to the Republican Party...!"

"Moreover, you possess foresight and remarkable wisdom that I greatly admire... In every respect, you are the only one fit to be the party leader!"

Lincoln smiled and continued, "It's a pity you weren't born in America and can't be a presidential candidate; otherwise, you would be even more suitable than me to be the president of the United States...!"

"Hahaha...!" Azu couldn't help but burst into laughter, "President of America, Abraham, what kind of joke are you making?"

“I’m not kidding!” Lincoln shook his head: “Lee, California was originally a remote and desolate place, but under your governance, it is changing rapidly and becoming prosperous and powerful at an incredible speed.”

"Even the most intractable Native American issues have become peaceful and harmonious in your California."

"Your living, breathing achievements are right before your eyes. The facts prove you're even more suitable to be president than I am. Unfortunately, the U.S. Constitution stipulates that only those born on American soil can run for president, otherwise…!"

Azu laughed until tears streamed down his face: "Hahaha, Abraham, stop joking! This presidency is definitely yours...!"

Lincoln did not dwell on the issue, but instead said, "Although you cannot become the President of the United States, you are the only one fit to be the leader of the Republican Party...!"

“Party leader…?” Abraham stared at the ordinary whiskey in his glass, which cost no more than a few cents a bottle, and pondered, “Abraham, you must understand, I cannot stay in Washington for long. California is where I should be.” “If I become the leader of the Republican Party, and I am not in Washington for a long time, then… my position as party leader will only be a nominal one.”

"Moreover, it is very difficult for the vast majority of American voters to accept that a Chinese person has become the party leader."

"Therefore, I cannot be the party leader! I cannot even become a member of the Republican Party...!"

"What...?" President Lincoln could hardly believe his ears: "You're not even willing to become a member of the Republican Party?"

"Li, I can understand why you don't want to be the party leader. But why are you unwilling to join the Republican Party?"

Abraham Lincoln was genuinely astonished. Why would his close ally, who had single-handedly established the new party, refuse to join it?
Facing the utterly astonished Lincoln, Abraham said in a deep voice, "Abraham, my sole purpose in promoting the formation of this Republican Party is to ensure that you can be re-elected as president in the upcoming presidential election."

"In order to achieve this goal, the Republican Party, led by you, should unite everyone who can be united and expand its political power and influence as much as possible."

"However, you should be very clear that most Americans still hold great prejudice and discrimination against us Chinese."

"If I had a place in the Republican Party, it would definitely influence you to unite all forces as much as possible."

"At that time, I will face the prejudice and discrimination against Chinese people by most people in the Party, and I will represent the strength of the Chinese people."

"At that time, you may face the situation that the Whig Party is facing now, with two completely opposing political views."

"That would split the newly formed Republican Party into two completely different factions...!"

Azu looked up at Abraham Lincoln and continued, "In that case, why should I join the Republican Party?"

After listening to Azu's words, Lincoln couldn't help but fall into deep thought: "But you once said that you would use the power of the Republican Party to fight for the rights of you Chinese as much as possible."

"If you don't join the Republican Party, how can you fight for the rights of the Chinese people?"

Azu smiled slightly: "To fight for the rights of the Chinese people, one does not necessarily have to be within the Party."

"As the largest donor to the Republican Party, I can also exert a huge influence."

"I ask you, will future Republican members dare to offend a generous donor like me?"

"Hehe...!" Azu laughed, "In this way, the Republican Party won't be divided, and I can still exert influence. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

"Hmm...!" President Lincoln pondered for a long time, feeling that what Azu said made a lot of sense, and finally nodded in agreement, saying, "Lee, you're right! But, this would be too unfair to you...!"

Azu replied, "Don't talk about losses or not! Abraham, as long as you can represent us and realize our common political ideals, I will be satisfied!"

Lincoln pondered for a moment and said, "Although a new Republican Party cannot be formed now, I have already begun preparations for it."

“Across America, I’m pushing for the establishment of new newspapers. So far, more than a dozen newspapers are being established one after another.”

"Including the five newspapers we already own, we will be able to control at least twenty large newspapers within the next three months."

"I will try to adopt your method. In the early stages, these new newspapers will be given away for free to increase circulation and influence as quickly as possible."

"With these twenty influential newspapers, we will control the most powerful newspaper group in the United States."

In this era of limited information access and limited means of information dissemination, newspapers were almost the only channel for everyone to obtain external news.

The influence and role that a newspaper can play is far greater than one can imagine.

Moreover, it was the most powerful newspaper group in the United States, comprised of twenty newspapers.
Abraham Lincoln continued, "With this newspaper group, we will be able to exert more political influence than any existing political party."

"Whether it's the Whig Party or the Democratic Party, they can't compete with us in terms of political influence."

"Besides newspapers, I'm also looking for candidates as early as possible."

"After all, any political party is formed by people."

"Therefore, outstanding talent is needed for all important positions in the Republican Party."

"Moreover, these talents need to keep their political views as consistent with ours as possible."

"There are indeed some good people in my original political faction. But that's not enough. While I'm still president, I'm trying my best to network with other people and build up talent reserves for the future Republican Party."

Azu nodded with satisfaction: "Abraham, you are indeed the most outstanding politician of this era, if not one of them!"

"Haha!" Lincoln patted Azu heavily on the shoulder and laughed, "Compared to you, a cunning and treacherous fellow, I'm still far behind."

"Hmm...?" Azu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can the words 'shrewd and calculating' and 'cunning and treacherous' be used together to describe a person?"

Abraham Lincoln lowered his voice and smiled meaningfully at Azu: "Li, you must have blown up the Freemason headquarters, right...?"

"Hey...!" Azu quickly and firmly denied, "Abraham, although we are friends, we can eat whatever we want, but we can't say whatever we want!"

"The Freemason headquarters was bombed, such a huge accusation, how can you pin it all on me like this?"

"Heh...!" Lincoln continued in a low voice, "Lee, don't even think about denying it!"

“Back in California, you said that you had already laid out a backup plan to guard against the Freemasons, who were going completely out of control and becoming increasingly insane.”

"Besides blowing up the Freemasons' headquarters and wiping out all those so-called Round Table Masters in one fell swoop, I can't imagine what other tricks there are to stop the Freemasons from going mad!"

Ah Zu shook his head firmly: "I am also deeply shocked and saddened by the bombing of the Freemason headquarters!"

"Even I couldn't have come up with such a crazy idea!"

"Before I could even use my backup plan, I was shocked to hear that the Freemason headquarters had been bombed and the Round Table Masters had tragically perished."

“Abraham, please don’t associate me with that massive explosion.”

"My small frame can't handle such a big pot!"

"Hahaha...!" Abraham Lincoln patted Azu's shoulder heavily again: "Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you!"

"The Truth Commission, which I personally assembled, has been conducting a full investigation over the past month into the two major events: the bombing of President Fillmore and the Freemason headquarters."

"We now have preliminary investigation results...!"

As he spoke, Lincoln picked up a thick folder from his desk and handed it to Azu, saying, "This is the investigation report. Take a look at it yourself...!"

Azu looked at the word "Top Secret" marked on the document and said in a deep voice, "Abraham, this is a top secret document from the American government. Is it something I can see?"

"Now that you are one of the governors of the United States, you are qualified to know some of the most confidential information about the United States."

“Moreover…!” Lincoln shrugged slightly: “Part of this investigation report will soon be made public to all the American people.”

"So you should go ahead and watch it, there won't be any problems."

Ah Zu then took the top-secret investigation report and quickly skimmed through it.

After a while, Azu, having finished reading through the report, slowly closed the thick investigation report and handed it back to Lincoln.

“So that means…!” Azu recalled the top-secret investigation results and pondered, “The guard who assassinated President Fillmore was a senior Freemason…!”

"Furthermore, the Freemasons used the assassin's family as leverage, forcing the assassin to risk his life to assassinate President Fillmore?"

Lincoln nodded with a grim face and said, "That's right! Not only did they plan to assassinate President Fillmore, they were even preparing to mobilize warships from the Home Fleet to sink my ship at sea...!"

"Fortunately, during the Round Table meeting where they made their final decision, a massive explosion occurred, blasting them all into the sky."

Lincoln said with lingering fear, "If they really mobilized the home fleet without authorization, I might really not escape death...!"

(End of this chapter)