North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 277 When it took off, it arrived
The next morning, just as Azu sat down in his office, Victoria burst in, carrying two copies of the latest intelligence reports.

"Boss, good news! The Northern Federation government has officially declared all-out war against the Confederate States of America!"

Upon hearing this, Azu immediately perked up: "Really? Let me see it!"

Victoria handed a piece of intelligence to Azu.

Ah Zu took it and quickly glanced through it.

"Bang!" Azu slammed his hand on the table, his face beaming with joy: "The war has finally officially begun! This is simply wonderful!"

Before Azu could even process the joy of receiving the war intelligence, Victoria waved another intelligence report in her hand and giggled, "Guess what this one contains?"

Azu pondered, "Judging from your excited expression, could it be that the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and other countries have also formally declared war on Tsarist Russia?"

"You guessed absolutely right!"

As she spoke, Victoria handed another intelligence report to Azu: "Just a month ago, the Ottomans, Britain, France, and the Kingdom of Sardinia, among others, officially declared war on Tsarist Russia!"

"According to the intelligence we just received, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has annihilated the Ottoman fleet that was besieging the port!"

"Currently, the combined Anglo-French fleet is on its way to the Black Sea. Perhaps after the new year, the Anglo-French fleet will directly engage in naval battle with the Russian fleet in the Black Sea."

"Once the Anglo-French fleet controls the Black Sea, what follows will be a brutal ground war!"

Azu quickly skimmed through the second intelligence report as well, and exclaimed even more excitedly, "Great! North America and Europe are in chaos!"

"Have our arms ships delivered the first batch of military supplies to Crimea?"

Victoria replied, "Judging by the time, it should be just right. If things go fast, we're already on our way back."

"Hehe!" Azu laughed, "It seems everything is going according to plan!"

"The outbreak of these two wars will be the perfect opportunity for us to reap the benefits."

"It's not just about making a fortune from the war by being an arms dealer. It's also about conquering cities and seizing territory as much as possible."

Azu then asked, "Approximately how much cotton, food, and various supplies have we stockpiled in the port of Colon, Panama?"

Victoria replied, "This year, we've snapped up almost all the available cotton in the southern states at high prices."

"The total amount of cotton stockpiled in the port of Colón has reached more than 300,000 tons, with an average purchase price of about $170 per ton. The purchase of this cotton alone cost a full $50 million!"

"As for grain and other supplies, we have stockpiled more than 700,000 tons, and the purchase price reached more than 40 million US dollars."

"In total, the value of the supplies we've stockpiled in the Port of Colón is approaching one hundred million US dollars!"

Ah Zu nodded and said, "Well done!"

"Now, the American fleet should have blockaded the coastlines of the southern states, preventing cotton from being transported out and various supplies from being transported in."

"It won't be long before international cotton prices skyrocket."

"And the prices of food and various supplies in the southern states will also rise sharply."

"This is a golden opportunity for us to hoard goods and make a fortune."

Azu said in a deep voice, "Write to that kid Jones and tell him to keep an eye on the price of cotton in the European market. Once the price of cotton rises above $800, we can start shipping it out gradually!"

Victoria could hardly believe her ears and asked in utter shock, "How much did you say?"

"I said over eight hundred dollars!"

"What?! The price of cotton in the European market can really rise to over $800?!"

Azu smiled and nodded: "Believe me, eight hundred dollars is not the upper limit of cotton prices at all!"

"As the Civil War continues to develop and expand, the North's naval blockade of the South will become increasingly tight, and cotton prices will continue to soar, easily reaching over a thousand dollars!"

Historically, cotton prices in the European market have skyrocketed from an average of $140-$150 per ton to a peak of over $1386!

Moreover, during the four years of the Civil War, the price of cotton rose steadily and never fell.

At its peak, cotton prices were almost ten times higher than normal!
The Rothschild family, a representative of old European money, made tens of millions of dollars in a short period of time by hoarding 400,000 tons of Egyptian cotton.

However, whether it is Egyptian cotton, Indian cotton, or Brazilian cotton, none of them can compare with North American cotton in terms of quality and quantity.

Egyptian cotton has short fibers, Indian cotton has many impurities, and Brazilian cotton has a high rate of mold growth.

But during the Civil War, cotton produced in these areas all rose to over a thousand dollars!
Moreover, during that era, North America accounted for over 90% of global cotton production. In peacetime, the value of cotton exported from the United States to Europe exceeded $200 million annually, representing over 60% of total US exports!

The combined cotton production of countries like Egypt, India, and Brazil is less than one-tenth of that of North America!

However, the disruption of North American cotton export channels has had a decisive impact on the global cotton market!

Therefore, Azu was absolutely confident that he could make a fortune in the cotton trade by hoarding and speculating.

Azu smiled and continued, "However, we also need to tell that kid Jones that no matter how much cotton we have in stock, we must ship it out in small batches."

"Our bottom line for shipments is that we absolutely cannot significantly impact the upward trend of cotton prices!"

Victoria quickly did the math: "Even if the price doesn't rise to a thousand dollars, and we ship at an average price of eight hundred dollars, plus shipping costs and other expenses, we can still make six hundred dollars per ton!"

"Three hundred thousand tons of cotton, that's 180 million!"

Ah Zu laughed and said, "This is just the beginning!"

"The North American fleet has blockaded the trade routes of the Southern states, but it cannot block our high-speed merchant ships... Therefore, our merchant ships are able to transport the scarce supplies of the Southern states in, and also transport a steady stream of cotton out."

"In a sense, in the next few years, we may be the only reliable large cotton merchant and the only reliable source of high-quality cotton in the world!"

"We might be able to monopolize the cotton trade in North America... through trade, of course!"

Azu continued, "However, once war breaks out, cotton cultivation will inevitably suffer a devastating blow wherever the flames of war reach."

"Even in places where the war hasn't yet reached, the black slaves on those cotton farms will try every means to escape to the north in large numbers."

"Overall, cotton production in the southern states will definitely be greatly reduced in the years to come during the war."

"That's why even if we trade cotton on a large scale, it won't have a significant impact on the crazy rise in cotton prices worldwide."

"In the war that will continue for the next few years, the cotton trade will become one of our most profitable industries, or even... the most profitable industry, who knows!"

At this point, Azu changed the subject: "Victoria, arrange for the people from the 18th Bureau to send all the women and children of the Ohara family out, so that they won't suffer in the war."

The Atlanta area of ​​Georgia, where the O'Hara family is located, will be one of the main areas contested by both sides in the future war.

The two sides fought back and forth, eventually reducing the vast city of Atlanta to ruins.

In the original novel "Gone with the Wind," the O'Hara family, based on the author's maternal grandmother's family, also suffered a great calamity, with wives and children separated and families destroyed.

The O'Hara family are now on his side, and Azu certainly can't stand by and watch his own people end up in the same situation.

So, Azu continued, "Arrange for the Clippers to bring all the women and children of the O'Hara family to California and settle them properly."

“No problem, my boss!” Victoria quickly jotted this down in her notebook.

Azu continued, "As for the men of the O'Hara family, let them stay in the south and buy cotton for us. Buy as much as you can, and it doesn't matter if the price is a little high, as long as it doesn't exceed three hundred dollars per ton."

"The cotton we received is being stockpiled in major coastal ports such as New Orleans, Miami, and Savannah. Our high-speed merchant ships have a way to break through the blockade and transport this cotton out." "Yes, sir!"

Azu added, "The grains and various supplies we trade in are also distributed through the Ohara family."

"One transaction at a time, this is a hugely profitable business!"

"Have the people from the 18th Bureau keep a close eye on the men of the O'Hara family these next few years!"

"I allow the O'Hara family to profit from this and share in my spoils! But I will absolutely not allow them to embezzle my money or even interfere with my grand plans!"

Victoria nodded solemnly: "I will personally make the arrangements. I will absolutely not allow the O'Hara family to embezzle my family's money, nor will I allow them to affect the BOSS's plans!"

"Yes, you must make thorough arrangements. In this major trade plan, the O'Hara family holds a central and crucial position, and they cannot be left unchecked!"

"Of course, their families are all in my hands, I believe they can't cause any major trouble!"

"While arranging for people to monitor and supervise the O'Hara family, we must also protect their safety. We cannot allow them to suffer any accidents for no reason, nor can we allow them to die in the war."

Victoria nodded again: "I will arrange everything, don't worry."

Azu paused for a moment, then continued, "In this war that has lasted for several years, I estimate that we can earn at least a billion dollars through such large-scale trade!"

"Ten...ten billion...dollars!"

Although she was used to hearing exaggerated numbers, Victoria still couldn't help but swallow hard when she heard the incredibly outrageous figure of one billion, and she couldn't believe her ears!

"Hehe!" Azu chuckled lightly, "A billion dollars, is that a lot?"

"If this war lasts four or five years, our annual trade business will only earn us two or three hundred million US dollars."

"You need to understand, we're making money from the entire Southern states and the whole of Europe. If we can't even make a billion dollars, then all our planning, all the effort we put in, all the conspiracies we devised, and all the pawns we laid out would have been for nothing."

To be honest, Azu had already started making plans for this day when he first met Lincoln.

They supported Lincoln becoming president nearly a decade earlier and pushed for the Civil War to start sooner, all for this day!
The day has finally arrived!

It's time to reap the fruits of our long-planned victory!

Ah Zu added, "Moreover, we also need to provide a continuous supply of military supplies to both the North and the South, which will generate a considerable profit!"

"If the war drags on for four or five years, I estimate that we will have to provide both sides with at least one billion US dollars worth of arms and various supplies."

"Even if we only make half the net profit, that's still over five hundred million US dollars. Of course, the profit margin for arms is never that low!"

The total value of funds and materials directly invested by both sides in the American Civil War exceeded three billion US dollars.

Now that Azu has become such a troublemaker, the two sides will definitely fight even more bloodily, for a longer period of time, and with even greater investment of funds and resources.

Therefore, when Azu said he would provide one billion US dollars worth of military supplies to both sides, he was underestimating the situation; it was a very conservative figure.

Azu smiled and continued, "Furthermore, in the wars waged by Britain, France, Austria, Turkey, and other countries against Tsarist Russia, the weaker Tsarist Russia, in order to win the war, would do anything to obtain advanced weapons and necessary supplies from us."

"If that war had lasted three to five years, we probably could have made three to five hundred million from Tsarist Russia!"

"Hehe!" The young Azu laughed like a cunning old fox: "The next three to five years will be the golden age for us to achieve leapfrog development and truly take off!"

"Once the great powers finish their wars, they may suddenly discover that the world has gained a formidable competitor!"
-
On the afternoon of the same day that he received a series of good news, Ah Zu led a group of people to visit San Francisco No. 1 Elementary School.

This elementary school was the first public elementary school built in California after the implementation of six-year compulsory education.

At the same time, this primary school is also one of the best-equipped and highest-quality primary schools.

This September, the primary school enrolled more than 100 children from the Su and Xiayan ethnic groups for the first time.

This move has also attracted a lot of criticism and differing opinions.

Especially for other parents, having their children in the same classroom as vicious and unruly Native American children is not just a question of whether they can learn well, but whether they can leave school alive!
Therefore, Azu's move to recruit Native American children and have them study in the same school as Chinese and white children received a lot of negative comments and opinions, which was very unusual.

Under the leadership of this young Chinese governor, California has become stable, prosperous, and thriving, rising rapidly at a visible pace. The evaluation of the governor has risen from good and excellent to reverence and even worship.

That's right! The people of California love this young governor to the point of worship.

Among them are quite a few mindless and fanatical "ancestor fans"!
Whenever A-Zu's motorcade travels, countless "Zu fans" gather on both sides of the street, frantically shouting the governor's name. Some even faint from happiness due to the overwhelming emotions.

In the eyes of these fanatical worshippers, their governor is the "true god" of the world, the "savior" who can foresee everything and lead the people to ultimate light and happiness!
Ah Zu himself has repeatedly clarified that he is not a "god" and has never publicly acknowledged his status as a "favored one of the gods".

But his experiences over the past few years have been so amazing and legendary, and he has accurately predicted everything that will happen in the future, bringing unparalleled stability, prosperity, and a happy life to the people of California.

So no matter how he explained or clarified, he couldn't stop the growing number of crazy admirers!

In this atmosphere, whatever policies or laws the California government introduces, it can gain the full support of the vast majority of Californians.

However, the enrollment of Native American children in schools is a rare public policy that many people find difficult to agree with.

When Azuna's massive convoy appeared at the entrance of the First Elementary School, his fanatical admirers, who had somehow gotten wind of it, and many protesters against the enrollment of Native American children, had already clearly separated themselves and gathered there, holding up signs in support and against respectively at the school gate.

A large number of police officers and National Guard soldiers had already separated the two groups of people at a distance.

"Governor, Governor, I love you! I want to have your babies!"

"We oppose admitting Native American children to school, as it endangers student safety. Governor, please listen to our voices!"

"Governor, we support you to become the President of California, the King of California!"

"Governor, please stop enrolling Native American children in school. We are against letting wolves into the house!"

"King of California, our true God, ah, ah, I see our God, getting off the bus!"

Wow, our god, he's so handsome and so young!

"Wow, he waved at us, he smiled at me, ahhh, I'm dizzy!"

Azu got out of the car at the school gate, smiled, and waved to the supporters and protesters on both sides.

He had experienced the same scene far too many times.

Therefore, he rarely makes public appearances now.

Even when going out, try to keep a low profile to avoid experiencing this chaotic scene!
Zuo Zongtang, who returned at the end of the year to report on his work, also followed closely by his ancestor this time.

He looked around with deep emotion, stroking his short beard, and murmured, "The people's hearts are turning north; this is quite evident!"

"With such popular support, what great things cannot be accomplished!"

With this thought in mind, Zuo Zongtang took two steps closer and said to Azu, "Boss, how about next year I and Shi Dakai lead the army to fight back together?"

Azu turned around and smiled, "What's wrong, Mr. Zuo? You can't wait to make your mark!"

Zuo Zongtang replied, "I have been away from home for more than two years and I am longing for my hometown! Moreover, after a year of governance, little Panama has initially achieved political harmony and social stability, and people are living and working in peace and contentment!"

"Hehe!" Azu laughed, "I understand Mr. Zuo's thoughts."

"It's a waste of your talents to appoint you as governor of tiny Panama! Moreover, Mr. Zuo is a man of both literary and military talents, and deserves a much larger stage to fully demonstrate your abilities!"

(End of this chapter)