North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 204 Playthings that are Flattened and Shaped

As Lilith and Lincoln said, the current situation is excellent.

The new political forces represented by Abraham Lincoln and Azou are gaining tremendous momentum.

As a result, traditional Whig and Democratic parties, as well as Freemasonry, have all faced varying degrees of suppression.

Even Senate President Roberts, a politician who represents the interests of the Southern states and the Freemasons, had to secretly make overtures to Azu, who had just returned to America!

At the California representative office in Washington, Azu met with Speaker Roberts, who had come alone.

This was the first time Ah Zu had ever seen the legendary Freemason Round Table Masters in person!
The once high and mighty Freemason Round Table Master now appeared so humble, even... subservient, before Ah Zu!
“Your Excellency…!” The Senate President and Freemason Round Table Master actually gave Azu a very standard European court salute!

Azu said, "Mr. Speaker, didn't your daughter tell you that I said there are no nobles in America?"

“No, no, no!” Speaker Roberts straightened up, maintaining a polite but insincere smile: “Before you, America truly had no nobles!”

"But after you received the papacy's personal bestowal, America had its first true aristocracy!"

Speaker Roberts's statement doesn't seem to make any mistake.

Although the American government maintains an ambiguous attitude of neither acknowledging nor denying the nobility bestowed by His Holiness the Pope, worldwide, Azu's title of Earl of Gold Mountain is absolutely genuine and of high value!
"Speaker, please have a seat!"

After having Speaker Roberts sit down opposite him, Azu said, "Speaker, we belong to different camps, and are even quite hostile to each other."

"I really don't understand what the point of such an unexpected meeting is?"

“Ahem…!” Speaker Roberts coughed twice before saying, “Your Excellency, I do not deny that the Freemasons have planned a series of hostile actions against you.”

"In fact, these hostile actions once threatened the Earl's personal safety!"

“It wasn’t just a threat!” Azu said with a grim face, shaking his head. “You really seriously injured me. I was just a hair’s breadth away from dying from your assassination attempt.”

"Ahem...!" Roberts coughed twice more, extremely embarrassed. "I'm very sorry, Your Excellency! But please believe me, all hostile actions against you were completely wiped out in that massive explosion!"

"Although I am a Grand Master of the Freemasons' Round Table, I have never participated in any hostile actions against you... All of this was personally planned and implemented by former Grand Master Scott, Master Powell, and others...!"

"Heh!" Azu sneered, "Is that really the case? To push all the blame onto those dead people... Mr. Speaker, isn't what you're doing a bit too cliché?"

“This…!” Speaker Roberts’ forehead was slightly sweaty, but he still managed to maintain a polite and insincere smile: “Your Excellency, could we just let bygones be bygones…?”

"Your grudges and grievances with the Freemasons should have come to a complete end with that earth-shattering explosion!"

"Heh, completely over...!" Azu continued with a cold laugh: "The enormous losses and so many casualties that your Freemasons have caused me, are you just going to end it all with a single, casual remark?"

“This…!” Roberts pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. “My Lord Earl, if the Freemasons are willing to provide reasonable compensation for all the losses they have caused you, then wouldn’t that be…!”

Azu waved his hand: "You guys pay the compensation first, then we'll talk!"

"This... I don't know, how much compensation would the Freemasons need to pay you to let this go?"

After a moment's thought, Azu said, "Five million US dollars... If the Freemasons compensate me with that amount, I'll pretend none of this ever happened!"

"Five million... dollars... glug!"

Speaker Roberts swallowed hard. “Your Excellency, if the Freemasons’ headquarters hadn’t been destroyed, we might have been able to come up with this huge sum of compensation.”

"But most of the wealth that the Freemasons had accumulated over the years was reduced to ashes in that explosion!"

"The Freemasons of today simply cannot afford such a huge sum of compensation...!"

Ah Zu said, "If you don't have cash, property will do!"

"In that explosion, only some of the Freemasons' floating assets were destroyed!"

"But what's truly valuable about Freemasonry is its countless businesses spread across the country!"

"As far as I know, the Freemasons own countless mines, factories, real estate, banks, trading companies... and so on!"

Ah Zu continued, "If you offer assets worth five million US dollars, I can barely accept it!"

“I am particularly interested in the industries in Philadelphia and Washington, as well as the vast cotton fields in the South!”

“This…!” Speaker Roberts was heartbroken, but the Freemasons’ assets weren’t his own. Even if he had to pay this Chinese guy a negligible amount, as long as it achieved his goal, he could accept it.

"My lord, I'm sorry, but I still need to discuss this matter with the organization...!"

Azu nodded slightly: "Okay, but you need to hurry. I need to hear a definite answer before I leave the East."

“Otherwise, hehe…!” Azu sneered, “I wouldn’t mind supporting President Lincoln to continue the full-scale purge and cleansing of the Freemasons.”

"Of course, of course, we will give you a reply as soon as possible!"

After a brief silence, Speaker Roberts continued, "Now that our past grievances are over, Earl, would you be interested in making a deal with me?"

"Tell me, what exactly is the deal?" Azu asked calmly.

Speaker Roberts lowered his voice and said, “Earl, after the other Round Table Masters have unfortunately passed away, as the only surviving Round Table Master, I should rightfully assume the position of Grand Master of the Freemasons.”

"However, the Freemasons are now in a state of chaos, with many factions vying for power and profit. Even the Grand Master has yet to be elected."

"While my chances of becoming president are not small, the opposition and the forces behind it are equally strong."

"My foundation in Freemasonry is still somewhat insufficient, making it difficult to intimidate everyone."

"Therefore, I need external support!"

Azu raised an eyebrow: "Speaker, do you mean you want me to support you in ascending to the throne of President?"

Speaker Roberts nodded: "Not only Your Excellency, but also... Mr. President...!"

"As is well known, the Earl is a close friend and staunch supporter of the President and has a powerful influence over President Lincoln."

"If the Earl and the President could join forces to purge those voices and forces within the Freemasons that oppose me...!"

Upon hearing this, Azu finally understood!

Speaker Roberts actually wanted to use Lincoln and his own hands to purge dissidents from within the Freemasons?
"Oh...?" Azu stared at Speaker Roberts with great interest. "Yesterday, we were complete enemies. Today, the Speaker wants to use us to purge dissidents... Is that really a good idea?"

Speaker Roberts replied with a humble smile, "There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests...!"

Huh...? Isn't this my word?

Speaker Roberts continued, "Your Excellency, outside of the Freemasons, only you and the President have the power and ability to purge dissidents from within the Freemasons."

"so……!"

“Since this is a transaction…!” A playful smile slowly appeared on Azu’s face: “Then, Mr. Speaker, what can you offer us…?”

Speaker Roberts replied, "Earl, you have no shortage of money, power, women, or titles. I really don't know what kind of conditions would be required to gain your support...!"

"Therefore, Your Excellency, you shall set this condition yourself."

"I will consider accepting it if possible...!"

Letting Azu state his own terms suggests that this Speaker is truly determined to obtain the position of President. It's worth noting that just six months ago, this Speaker was practically on the verge of becoming President!

He even served as acting president for a period of time.

Although it was only for less than a day...!
After resting his chin on his hand and pondering for a moment, Azu said, "Speaker Roberts, after Commander-in-Chief Scott's unfortunate passing, has the Democratic Party leadership fallen to you as well?"

“Yes, that’s true!” Roberts nodded. “But this party leader is more symbolic; his actual power is very limited. He can’t compare to the Grand Master of Freemasonry.”

Azu knew that whether it was the Democratic Party, the Whig Party, or the newly formed Republican Party, they were all relatively loose political alliances.

The so-called party leader does not possess supreme power.

These party powers are largely dispersed among many party leaders.

Even the party leader is at most one of the party's bigwigs, nothing more.

Azu said in a deep voice, "If I were to ask the Speaker to support Abraham Lincoln in next year's presidential election, what would you say?"

"What......?"

Roberts considered every possibility, whether it was power or wealth, he could make a deal with the other party.

However, this rather outrageous condition was completely unexpected by Speaker Roberts.

Speaker Roberts is the leader of the Democratic Party and represents the interests of the Southern slave states.

If, in next year's presidential election, someone were to switch sides and support the Republican Party's Lincoln and abolitionism, wouldn't their political career be over?
“Your Excellency…!” Roberts finally dropped his stiff smile and said seriously, “Your condition is simply too outrageous. I’m sorry, I cannot agree to it!”

"No...!" Azu shook his head slightly: "Let me finish...!"

"My condition is not that you should directly switch sides and publicly support Lincoln."

"Instead, you're asked to pick a rookie, a weakling from within the Democratic Party... to represent the Democratic Party in the presidential election...!"

Azu stared into Roberts' eyes and said, "Do you understand what I'm saying, Mr. Speaker?"

“This…!” Roberts, a seasoned politician, surely understood the reasoning!

If you choose a rookie or a weakling from within the Democratic Party to run for president, wouldn't that be tantamount to handing the presidency over to Abraham Lincoln?
Roberts was drenched in cold sweat!
At that moment, he truly realized how terrifying this young Chinese man in front of him was!
It's so terrible!

No wonder even a powerful organization like the Freemasons was defeated by him!
No wonder, in just over two years, he went from a penniless Chinese laborer to a high-ranking governor and noble count!
"Your Excellency... are you serious?!"

Roberts' voice trembled slightly: "Isn't this tantamount to directly placing Abraham Lincoln on the presidential throne?!"

"This is far more direct and effective than me simply switching sides and publicly supporting Lincoln!"

"Hehe!" Azu smiled calmly: "Speaker Roberts, according to your idea, you should rely on our strength to purge the opposition within the Freemasons and then completely control and integrate the Freemasons' power!"

"Then, with the help of the Freemasons, you can become the Democratic presidential candidate representing the Democratic Party at next year's Democratic National Convention!"

"With the combined support of the Freemasons and the Democratic Party, even if you were to face the currently popular Abraham Lincoln, you would have a fighting chance to become president, at least fifty-fifty."

Is this what you think?

In Roberts' mind, the Grand Master of Freemasonry was just a tool, a transition.

His true goal can only be the supreme presidential throne!
This was his obsession, and the ultimate goal he fought for throughout his life.

After Azu so bluntly revealed his ultimate goal, Roberts' expression finally turned sour.

"Count, does that mean it's impossible for you to reach this deal with me?"

Azu slowly shook his head: "No, Mr. Speaker, you must reach this deal with us...!"

“Oh…?” Speaker Roberts, his face turning completely cold, said in a deep voice, “Count, you mean…?”

Azu calmly said, "What I mean is, if you don't make this deal with me, then you'll be the one who gets wiped out...!"

"Thump...!" Speaker Roberts's backside bounced off the chair. "You, what did you say?"

Azu remained calm and continued, "Within the Freemasons, you are definitely not the only one who wants to seize the position of Grand Master."

"If you don't make a deal with us, then I'll make a deal with someone else!"

“If others aren’t purged, then who will be…!” Azu slowly raised his head, his icy gaze fixed on Speaker Roberts: “Of course, it can only be you!”

“You…you…!” Roberts pointed angrily at Azu, his whole body trembling slightly, but he couldn’t utter a word for a long time.

Azu added, “We are all very clear that Speaker Roberts, you were deeply involved in the plot to assassinate President Fillmore and then-Vice President Lincoln.”

"Because, after the president and vice president are assassinated, you will be the constitutionally designated successor to the presidency."

"You're not just a participant, you're one of the masterminds!"

"The reason we've kept you here until today is to avoid causing greater political turmoil."

Azu said, "Now that the political situation in the United States has basically stabilized, it's time to thoroughly settle accounts with you, one of the masterminds!"

"Of course, Mr. Speaker, you are not without the ability to save yourself!"

"The only way to save ourselves is to reach this fair and reasonable deal today!"

Azu calmly said, "We'll purge the Freemasons from your ranks. And you, within the Democratic Party, will elect a weakling to run for president next year!"

"Once this deal is completed, we can forgive you for your serious crime of participating in the plot to assassinate the president and vice president!"

"You must understand, assassinating the president and vice president is a heinous crime! Even if you were just one of the participants, you would still be sentenced to death by hanging, publicly executed in front of the American people...!"

"Tch...!" Azu sneered disdainfully, "Someone like you, still coveting the presidential throne, is truly delusional and utterly ridiculous!"

"Forget about becoming president!"

"The fact that you were made Grand Master of the Freemasons is already because you still have considerable value to us."

……

"Boom...!"

Roberts slumped into a chair like a deflated balloon, drenched in sweat and trembling uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

After a long while, Roberts finally managed to extend a trembling finger and weakly point it at Azu: "You...you...you're a monster!"

Having spent decades in politics and Freemasonry, having seen countless people and met countless capable and powerful individuals, Roberts felt a chilling coldness for the first time!

Throughout his long political career, he had undoubtedly met countless people, but this young Chinese man in front of him made him feel an unprecedented sense of dread!
With a few casual touches from this young Chinese man, he completely severed any possibility of becoming the President of the United States!
Moreover, it also conveniently eliminated the possibility of the Democratic Party winning next year's election!
American politics, in the hands of this young Chinese man, has become a plaything to be molded and manipulated at will!
The mighty United States, before this young Chinese man, was like a naked, snow-white lamb, forced to submit to his overwhelming power!

……

At this moment, Azu's calm voice continued, unhurriedly: "Speaker, now, make your choice...!"

(End of this chapter)