North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 270 Traveling Through the Nations, Forming Alliances and Strategies

The delegation led by Azu did not stay in St. Petersburg for long.

In just three days, he secretly negotiated all the terms of the agreement with Nicholas I, Alexander II, and a group of Russian leaders.

In this secret negotiation and secret treaty, California would provide Tsarist Russia with enough advanced munitions and weapons to arm an army of 600,000 in two batches in 1853 and 1854.

This includes rifles, machine guns, grenades, mortars, and breech-loading rifled heavy artillery, as well as hundreds of millions of munitions.

Then, California supplied Tsarist Russia with large quantities of special drugs, especially penicillin and artemisinin, two unique life-saving drugs in the world.

Secondly, California would build four 3,000-ton fast armored cruisers and eight 1,500-ton fast armored frigates for Tsarist Russia by the end of 1855.

Finally, after the war, Tsarist Russia would also purchase large quantities of various fertilizers from California to increase agricultural output.

In exchange, the Russian Empire would transfer all of the shares of the Russian-American Company to the China-America Company free of charge by the end of 1853.

After the war, the Russian Empire will transfer sovereignty over the entire territory of Alaska to the China Company.

At the same time, Tsarist Russia will deliver gold worth a total of US$68 million to Huamei Company in batches.

Furthermore, Tsarist Russia signed a treaty of friendship and commerce with California, granting each other most-favored-nation status and opening their ports and markets to each other.

……

After a series of secret treaties were signed, Azu led his delegation away from St. Petersburg and embarked on a long journey back to California.

However, both Russia and California publicly announced that negotiations to acquire Alaska had broken down and no agreement had been reached.

On the surface, Azu's group returned empty-handed.

But inside, this trip to Tsarist Russia turned out to be incredibly lucrative.

Not only did they successfully secure the entire Alaska, but they also signed a massive order totaling $68 million, the largest order ever signed in California's history.

Moreover, the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed with Tsarist Russia opened the door to the Russian market for California, and from then on, all kinds of goods and products from California circulated freely throughout the Russian Empire!
Of course, California also outwardly granted Tsarist Russia the same treatment.

However, given Tsarist Russia's weak industrial production capacity, it could only export some primary agricultural products and various primary raw materials to California.

Therefore, no matter how you look at it, Ah Zu made a huge profit this time.

The tangible economic benefits alone have already made them incredibly wealthy. Not to mention the intangible political and diplomatic benefits.

In this war, by supporting and utilizing Tsarist Russia, the attention and national strength of other powers such as Britain and France were diverted and depleted, leaving them with no time to attend to other matters.

This provided an opportunity for Azu and California to grow and expand, at least several years more.

When this war, which is destined to be bloodier and longer than any in history, comes to an end, the great powers may suddenly discover that an unstoppable behemoth has risen in the far west of North America...!
……

On his return journey to California, Azu made a detour to the British Empire and France, and paid another visit to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and Napoleon III.

Upon learning of Azu's recent visit to St. Petersburg, both Queen Victoria and Napoleon III paid close attention to the visit.

For Britain and France, at this critical moment when war was about to break out, it was a rare opportunity to learn about the Tsar's attitude and the situation in Russia through the young Earl of Goldberg.

"Your Majesty, I have just returned from a visit to St. Petersburg. I must say, although it was only a few days, I could fully feel the tense atmosphere in Tsarist Russia!"

Facing Queen Victoria, who was still charming in her thirties, Azu answered without any hesitation: "Based on my personal experience and the attitude of the leaders of the Russian Empire, the entire country, from top to bottom, was preparing for the upcoming war with all its might!"

Upon hearing this answer, Queen Victoria, along with the assembled heads of the British Empire, all wore extremely serious expressions.

Queen Victoria said in a deep voice, "Given Russia's insatiable greed for territory, if we don't teach them a lesson with a war, Russia will sooner or later threaten the Empire's interests in India and the Middle East!"

"From any perspective, this war is now unavoidable!"

As she spoke, Queen Victoria stared at Azu and asked, "Your Excellency Earl of the Gold Mountain, why did the Tsar not agree to your request to acquire Alaska at this crucial moment?"

"If it were me, I would rather exchange that barren land of Alaska for the support of California or even the whole of the United States. That would be the only reasonable choice in the interests of the empire."

Azu shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty, just as you expected, His Majesty the Tsar made the exact same request to me!"

"But I was the one who didn't agree to the proposal!"

“Oh…?” Victoria stared at the young, handsome count with interest and smiled, “You didn’t agree? Why?”

"Isn't it obvious why I refused?"

Azu replied, "If I support Tsarist Russia, I will be standing against the British and French Empires. My small frame cannot withstand the wrath of two of the world's most powerful empires...!"

"Hehe...!" Queen Victoria chuckled. "Your Excellency, it seems you haven't been blinded by greed and have wisely chosen to refuse the Tsar!"

"However…!" Queen Victoria's tone shifted, her words carrying a warning: "Your Excellency, I expect you to keep your word. In the upcoming war, even if you do not support the British Empire, you absolutely must not provide any support to Tsarist Russia…!"

Azu nodded with a smile: "Of course, Your Majesty can rest assured...!"

……

In England, Azu's delegation placed another order for precision instruments and equipment worth over 20 million US dollars, as well as a large quantity of heavy machinery.

For California right now, the supply chain and product lines are still quite incomplete.

These ordered precision instruments and heavy machinery are not something California can currently produce on its own.

California's covert support for Tsarist Russia will eventually be exposed, and the day will surely come when it is completely revealed.

If the truth comes out in the future, the British Empire is very likely to impose sanctions on California.

These precision instruments and heavy machinery are highly likely to be subject to embargoes and trade bans by the UK.

Therefore, this time, Azu spent a huge sum of money, buying up all the instruments, equipment and gear that might be needed for at least the next five years.

Whether it's in-stock or custom-made, Azu requires suppliers to deliver the goods to California within six months.

According to Azu's assessment, Britain and France will likely realize within six months at the earliest who is secretly supporting Tsarist Russia...!
……

In Paris, the capital of France, Azoulay made the same statement and also made a large-scale purchase when he met with Napoleon III.

Although France's advanced instruments and equipment were far inferior to those of England at that time, it still had some good things.

Therefore, in France, Azou once again spent lavishly, purchasing nearly ten million US dollars worth of various cutting-edge instruments, equipment, and supplies.

Because of the large political donation he made two years earlier, Napoleon III's attitude towards Azu was noticeably more friendly and attentive.

It was thanks to that large sum of political cash that Napoleon III was able to launch a coup, successfully become President of France again, and then overthrow the Republic to become Emperor of the Third French Empire.

Therefore, Napoleon III reciprocated by giving Azu and the whole of California the green light all the way, providing whatever Azu wanted... as long as Azu's wallet was deep enough...!
……

While in England and France, Azu did not forget the task entrusted to him by Lincoln.

Lobbying to the great powers to support the Union federal government in the future American Civil War!

Azu fulfilled his duties and responsibilities. Of course, only Azu himself knew whether he had done his best to win the support of the great powers for the Northern Army.

Just like the impending Crimean War, Azu did not want either side to gain a clear advantage in the Civil War.

Ideally, both sides should be evenly matched, engaging in a protracted war of attrition, rather than a war that could last for five, six, seven, or eight years!

Fighting until they were exhausted, battered and bruised, bleeding until their last drop of blood was gone...!
……

After concluding his European trip, at the end of September, Azu and his party embarked on their final journey back to California. Ten days later, when he returned to Washington, he was greeted by an even more haggard President Lincoln.

Looking at Lincoln, who looked tired and had dark circles under his eyes, Azu couldn't help but ask, "Mr. President, haven't you slept at all during my visit to Europe?"

“I’ve always known you’re a very energetic guy, and you’re only in your forties, in the prime of your life… How come you look completely drained?”

"Heh...!" Lincoln took a big gulp of wine, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "No matter how energetic or vigorous I am, I can't withstand only sleeping three or four hours a day in bits and pieces!"

"Only sleeping three or four hours... Mr. President, are there really so many important things that require your attention?"

Lincoln continued to shake his head and smile wryly: "Lee, there are just too many things in America that require my personal attention right now... Our war with the Confederate army has, in fact, already begun...!"

"It's already started?" Azu asked seriously. "I'm in Europe, how come I haven't heard a single word about it?"

Lincoln replied, "Right now, it's just some sporadic skirmishes and small battles on the North-South border, but the combined losses on both sides are already no less than those of a full-scale war!"

"Along the long border of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and beyond, small-scale conflicts and battles broke out one after another, many of them caused by Confederate troops chasing after enslaved Africans who had fled to the North..."

"In the past month or so, there have been at least a hundred small-scale battles, with casualties ranging from a few to hundreds!"

"Together, there have been thousands of casualties on both sides, and the number continues to rise every day."

"The anger of the soldiers on both sides at the front lines grew stronger and stronger, and the scale of the battle also increased."

Lincoln continued, "According to the War Department's assessment, a full-scale war will break out no later than the end of this year...!"

"Before the end of this year...!" Azu frowned and said, "I didn't expect the situation to develop so quickly in the short two months I was gone!"

"However…!" Lincoln suddenly raised his glass to Azu and said, "There is still good news…!"

"What good news?" Azu pressed.

Lincoln replied, "Lee, using your method of auctioning exploration and mining rights, our federal government has successfully raised over two hundred million dollars in war funds in the past two months...!"

"The federal government finally has the money to fight this war...!"

Two hundred million dollars...that's a lot...!

Upon hearing this number, Azu couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

After years of hard work, the family fortune he accumulated was only three or four hundred million US dollars.

In just two months, the United States raised a full two hundred million US dollars by auctioning exploration and mining rights for mineral resources... completely exceeding Azu's expectations.

Lincoln raised his glass and smiled, "More than two hundred million dollars, isn't that completely beyond your imagination?"

Azu nodded.

"This has completely exceeded my and everyone's expectations!" President Lincoln laughed. "I originally thought that raising tens of millions to a hundred million dollars would be quite good."

"But the United States of America is just too vast!"

"There are just too many completely undeveloped areas on American soil!"

"The auctioning of mineral exploration and mining rights by region has unexpectedly attracted the attention of capital!"

"It's not just domestic capital; even more so, a large amount of capital from Europe has joined the competition for exploration and mining rights."

Lincoln continued, "Everyone knows that the land of America is rich in resources such as gold and coal. Therefore, various capital sources are vying for regions that may be rich in resources such as gold and coal...!"

"These two hundred million dollars are just the results of auctions over the past two months. There are also resource exploration and mining rights in many other areas that are being prepared for auction to secure more funds for the war."

Regarding America's reckless and wasteful spending, Azu says... he wholeheartedly supports it!
In any case, at least a large portion of the money obtained from selling everything they own will eventually end up in their own pockets.

The current auctions are limited to resources in the eastern region.

The vast western region is one that most capital simply dares not venture into.

Even if the natural resources in parts of the west are auctioned off, so what?
Once Azu personally takes over these regions, he can turn his back on everyone and come after whoever auctioned them off. Who can do anything to him then?
Therefore, Azu did not stop this reckless and wasteful behavior.

Instead, he raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Lincoln's: "It seems that, at least, the funding problem for this war has been basically resolved. Is that a fair interpretation?"

“Yes!” Lincoln nodded. “Adding to your previous contributions and the war bonds… if the war can be ended within a year, the federal government will no longer be short of money!”

"Within a year...!"

One hundred million dollars in war bonds, plus more than two hundred million dollars from the auction of resource exploration and mining rights, more than three hundred million dollars, plus regular federal war expenditures, four or five hundred million dollars, would probably only be enough to fight for a year.

But this war lasted far longer than a year in history!
Now that we have Azu, this troublemaker who thrives on chaos, the duration of the war may far exceed the original historical timeline.

So, several hundred million dollars is just the initial investment!

Lincoln continued, "Yes, according to the War Department's expectations, given the balance of power between the North and the South, it is quite certain that the war can be ended within a year."

"Hehe!" Azu smiled without saying a word, then lowered his head and took another sip of wine.

Seeing Azu's attitude, Lincoln couldn't help but ask, "Lee, do you have a different opinion?"

“Mr. President…!” Azu replied solemnly, “In my opinion, we must not underestimate the determination and perseverance of those Southerners to resist to the end!”

"The North is indeed far superior to the South in terms of war potential."

"However, the people of the South are far more rugged than those of the North! Almost every adult male in the South could be a qualified warrior."

"In terms of fighting spirit and combat experience, the South far surpasses the North."

Azu continued, "Never underestimate the enormous role that fighting will and combat experience play in war."

"Therefore, I judge that this war will definitely not be as easy as the War Department expects."

"Mr. President, if you trust my intuition, you should still do your best to prepare for a protracted war!"

After listening to Azu's analysis, President Lincoln's face darkened, and he remained silent for a long time.

If, as Azu says, this war becomes protracted, the damage to America will be beyond imagination.

President Lincoln was willing to resolve the secession of the Southern slave states completely through war.

But a protracted war was something Lincoln absolutely did not want to see.

Although President Lincoln was unwilling to see this situation, his judgments and predictions regarding this staunch ally and closest friend had almost never been wrong.

This forced President Lincoln to confront this real-world problem.

After a long silence, Lincoln, his expression grave, pressed on, "Lee, do you have any way to end this war as soon as possible?"

After pondering for a long time, Azu slowly shook his head: "I'm sorry, Mr. President, the war has not yet begun, and I am not a god who can see the end of the war at a glance."

"I firmly believe that as long as we persevere to the end, victory will undoubtedly belong to the Northern Army and the Federal Government!"

"But ending the war quickly is far beyond my capabilities!"

“However…!” Azu continued, “We in California will also continue to strengthen our preparedness. If necessary, the California National Guard can be directly deployed into battle!”

"I believe this will be of great help to the Northern Army and the federal government."

(End of this chapter)