North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 287 A Soul-Touching Shock

"Do you know why we found you and are even sponsoring your schooling?"

Upon hearing this question, Edison immediately shook his head vigorously.

Ah Zu smiled and said, "It's good that you don't understand. Maybe you'll understand when you grow up a bit!"

As he spoke, Azu reached out and affectionately patted little Edison's head.

"Little Edison, remember to study hard, and don't worry about anything else, understand?"

Edison nodded vigorously.

Ah Zu can't very well say that recruiting this future "King of Inventions" under his wing is just to exploit his inventive talents and use the same methods he used to exploit inventors like Tesla on himself, can he?
However, to be fair, Edison's later life was that of a typical capitalist, forcibly seizing the patents of other scientists and inventors, and founding the world-dominating "General Electric Company".

However, Edison did indeed make many significant inventions in the first half of his life.

However, once a person acquires wealth and status, they often change and are no longer the simple and pure person they once were.

But in this life, Ah Zu has plenty of ways to make Edison, that little guy, just be a pure person and a pure inventor for his whole life!
In this sense, Azu was saving him from being condemned by future generations.

……

After chatting with Edison for a bit, Azu turned his attention to the fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy.

Azu smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be John D. Rockefeller, right?"

“Yes!” Rockefeller, already in high school, was clearly much more mature than young Edison, and answered respectfully, “Mr. Governor, I am John D. Rockefeller!”

Azu continued, "Mr. Rockefeller Jr., do you know why I sought you out and offered to sponsor your studies?"

John D. Rockefeller calmly shook his head: "I'm sorry, Governor, like Edison, I don't understand why all this happened!"

Ah Zu replied, "Actually, the reason is very simple: I have high hopes for your future...!"

"You're optimistic about our future...?"

The two children and the teenager couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

“Yes!” Azu continued, “Don’t ask me why, I won’t tell you anyway. Just consider it all as God’s will!”

“Mr. Rockefeller Jr., like Edison Jr., I will continue to support you unconditionally until you complete all your studies.”

"You will attend a preparatory course for one or two years until you have acquired the knowledge required for admission to the University of California."

As he spoke, Azu winked at Rockefeller: "What do you think, Mr. Rockefeller Jr.?"

John D. Rockefeller said with heartfelt gratitude, "Governor, my gratitude to you is beyond words!"

"If one day I finish my studies and become a useful person, I will definitely contribute my own strength to the governor's cause!"

"Haha!" Azu reached out and patted Rockefeller's still rather thin shoulder again: "Grateful for kindness, Mr. Rockefeller, you will definitely have a great future!"

……

Finally, Azu's gaze fell on the tall and thin young man of eighteen or nineteen.

"You are Mr. Samuel Langhorn Clement?"

“Yes!” The young man bowed respectfully and said, “Governor, I am Samuel Langhorn Clement!”

Azu sized up the unremarkable-looking man, who was clearly from the lower rungs of society, and frowned slightly. He said, "Samuel Langheng Clement, I don't think this name suits you...!"

The young man's brow twitched; he couldn't understand what this governor, who wasn't much older than him, meant.

Azu continued, "Your name is hard to remember and difficult to pronounce. How about I change it to... Mark Twain? What do you think?"

"Mark Twain...!"

For some reason, the young man liked the new name very much as soon as he heard it, feeling that it suited him perfectly.

The young man thought for a moment and replied, "As you wish, Governor, from now on, my name will be Mark Twain...!"

“Very good!” Azu said with satisfaction, “Mr. Mark Twain, as I have arranged, you and Mr. Rockefeller will first attend a preparatory course for one or two years, and only after meeting the standards will you be admitted to the University of California. How does that sound?”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Governor!” Mark Twain bowed deeply to Azu and said, “I am just a humble typesetter, and I really don’t know how to repay your kindness!”

Azu waved his hand: "Mr. Mark Twain, I have read your articles published in newspapers and magazines. To be honest, compared with mature writers, your writing still seems quite immature."

"But at your age, being able to write such an article is already quite remarkable."

"Mr. Mark Twain, in addition to your studies, I encourage you to continue writing. If one day you can truly become a successful writer, that will be the best way to repay me!"

Upon hearing this, Mark Twain was moved to tears.

He never expected that the high and mighty governor would have actually read his humorous sketches published in tabloids.

This governor, whose national profile rivals that of the president, even encouraged and funded his pursuit of his dreams.

For the young Mark Twain, this was almost an impulse to "have never met a wise master in my life, and wish to take my benefactor as my godfather"!

Seeing tears welling up in Mark Twain's eyes, Azu smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Mr. Mark Twain, study hard and practice your writing. I believe that one day you will become a successful writer."

"Until then, I will continue to provide you with funding and assistance...!"

Mark Twain could no longer hold back his tears, which streamed down his face.

"Governor...you...you can rest assured, I will definitely work hard and will never let you down...!"

"Haha, that's good, that's good...!"

The future "King of Inventions" Edison, the "Oil King" Rockefeller, and the first American writer to be called a literary giant Mark Twain, plus the "Steel King" Carnegie who had already been brought under his wing.

Regardless of how useful these people may be in the future, it greatly satisfies his hobby of collecting celebrities.
-
After arranging the stories of the three teenagers who have achieved extraordinary success in their respective fields and will have a bright future, I suddenly remembered the Native American boy I hadn't seen in a long time.

When Victoria, who had recently become pregnant, came in carrying a stack of the latest intelligence reports, Azu immediately asked, "How's that Indian kid, Crazy Horse, doing lately? Has he been behaving himself?"

Victoria glanced at Azu: "I'm just wondering, why are you paying so much attention to that Native American child?"

"Didn't we say long ago that the complete subjugation of the Sioux and the Native Americans would most likely depend on this Native American child?"

Victoria stroked her still-not-very-protruding belly and muttered, "I don't know if it's true or not, but I've never seen you care about your own child like this before...!"

"Haha...!" Azu stood up, pulled Victoria into his arms, and cuddled her tenderly for a while.

It is said that pregnant women become exceptionally sensitive and suspicious.

Sure enough, even a heroine like Victoria couldn't escape the laws of nature.

It's all due to the endocrine system and hormones.

After Victoria finally calmed down, she replied, "It's strange, but ever since you visited the elementary school last time, that crazy horse has become much quieter, and all the Native American children have become much more well-behaved."

"According to the teachers at the school, many of the Native American children, including Crazy Horse, have started to study hard."

Azu laughed and said, "That's good. My efforts have not been in vain. As long as they are willing to learn, they will eventually understand the truth of this world and find a way to save all the Native Americans."

Victoria pressed on curiously, "Aren't you afraid that once you've taught your apprentice, they'll turn around and beat you up, their master?"

"Heh, you have so little confidence in me?" Azu smiled dismissively. "If I can't even beat a twelve or thirteen-year-old, what's the point of my life?"

"That's true... Even if that crazy horse grows up and can cause chaos, he still won't escape your grasp!"

Victoria didn't dwell on the matter any longer. Instead, she picked up a piece of intelligence and handed it to Azu.

“What is this?” Azu asked.

Victoria said, "The Vatican project you arranged last year is basically complete."

"Is that so?" Azu raised an eyebrow, took the information, and quickly glanced through it.

"Of the forty-three cardinal cardinals eligible to participate in the next papal election and vote, thirty-two have already been secured in this year...!"

Azu said with satisfaction, "Well done... This means that if His Holiness the Pope unfortunately passes away, the votes we have are enough to put Uncle Evan in that position...!"

Victoria asked, "Then when will we send our people to make their move...?"

Azu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Give the order now; the time is ripe!"

"Hmm...!" Victoria suddenly remembered something, lowered her head and stroked her mostly flat stomach, hesitatingly said, "Grandma, could we... do it a little later?"

"Later? Why?" Azu asked curiously.

"Sigh...!" Victoria sighed softly, "What we did was just too much... I'm not afraid of any retribution, but our children...!"

Ah Zu looked down at Victoria's lower abdomen, thought for a moment, and then said, "Since you're worried about this, let's wait a bit. It's not too late to take action after our child is born next year!"

"Really? That's great...!"

"Bo-er...!"

Victoria was overjoyed and gave Ah Zu a big, firm kiss on the cheek.

Aroused by the teasing, Ah Zu reached out and pulled Victoria into his arms, then began to caress her all over.

"No...no...!" Victoria's cheeks flushed red and she was panting, but she still tried her best to push him away: "I'm only two months pregnant...no...don't come in...!"

……

After a while, Ah Zu managed to control his impulse and sat down to continue reading the thick intelligence report.

First, there was the progress of the Civil War that year.

To everyone's surprise, in this war that has been officially underway for a year, the Southern Army, which is clearly weaker in all aspects, has actually gained the upper hand for most of the time and on most battlefields!
The Confederate army even pushed its front line to within fifty miles of the capital, Washington!
If it weren't for the Northern Army's shallow-draft gunboats, which held an absolute advantage, disregarding the dangers of running aground and hitting reefs, and directly ramming into the inland river, blocking the Southern Army, who were preparing to cross, on the other side of the river.

Otherwise, it is very likely that Washington, the northern capital, would have already fallen into the hands of the Confederate army.

Throughout the year, both sides issued general mobilization orders for the war, and everything on both sides revolved around this life-or-death war.

The Northern Army has tripled in size from over 500,000 last year, with a total strength exceeding 1.5 million.

The Southern Army was equally determined, with its total strength exceeding one million.

The main battleground for both sides is now the repeated struggle over the three states of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

The largest battle that took place that year was the Battle of the Boer River, in which both sides committed more than 1.2 million men. The battle ended in a Pyrrhic victory for the Southern Army after both sides suffered more than 400,000 casualties.

It was precisely because of this battle that the Confederate army gained the initiative in the war and was able to push the front line to the vicinity of Washington.

In addition to the main battleground in the East, the two sides also engaged in a series of major battles in the central states of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia.

In particular, the Battle of Charlottesville involved a total of 600,000 troops on both sides, and ultimately ended in a Pyrrhic victory for the Confederate army after suffering nearly 300,000 casualties.

In just one year, the combined casualties on both sides have exceeded one million.

……

Ah Zu, after reviewing the war situation of the Civil War, asked, "How many new arms orders did both the North and the South place with us this year?"

Victoria flipped through the folder in her hand and replied, "This year, the North has added another 60 million US dollars in orders."

"The Southern Army's new orders are even larger, totaling more than 90 million US dollars this year, and will soon exceed 100 million US dollars."

"If both sides combine their resources, it already amounts to over 150 million US dollars. Even if our arsenal's production capacity more than doubles compared to last year...!"

"Even if all our production lines work day and night, it will still take at least a year to complete these arms orders."

“However…!” Victoria said, “The Southern Army’s resident procurement representative has made it clear that the Southern government’s finances are exhausted and there is no money left to continue purchasing arms…!”

Azu smiled slightly: "The Southern State does not have a complete and large-scale industrial production capacity, and its weapons are basically entirely dependent on foreign purchases."

"And California is undoubtedly the most stable and reliable source of arms for the Southern states."

"There is no doubt that their arms orders are larger than those of the North."

"But the Southern states' cotton export channels were cut off, and they lost their most important source of income, leading to financial exhaustion, which was to be expected."

Azu continued, "They have no money, but they have countless cotton!"

"Let the cost of military cotton from the south be directly offset against the cost of military equipment."

"We want as much cotton as the Confederate army has. Moreover, we will use it to offset the cost of the arms at a high price of three hundred dollars per ton."

"Pfft...!"

Victoria couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing, while poking Azu's forehead hard with her finger: "The price of North American cotton in the European market has now risen to $1,100."

"You're offering $300 a ton as a discount on arms costs and still dare to call it a high price? You're shameless!"

Azu smiled and said, "You can't say that! The price of three hundred dollars per ton is based on the fact that they don't need to transport anything, let alone break through the Northern Fleet's tight blockade."

"If a quarter of the cotton transport ships departing from the south manage to break through the blockade from the north and manage to reach Europe, that would be quite good."

"More than three-quarters of the cotton ships were sunk directly by the Northern Fleet, and a few were seized by the Northern Army, becoming a source of supplies for the Northern Army."

Azu continued, "So, even though the price of cotton in Europe has risen to over 1,100 US dollars, while our purchase price in the south is only 300 US dollars, the risks involved are enormous, and there's not much profit to be made...!"

“You’re kidding me…!” Victoria poked his forehead again: “Our high-speed merchant ships are simply too fast for the Northern Fleet to catch up with or intercept.”

"Over the past year, apart from a few unfortunate or malfunctioning high-speed merchant ships that were intercepted and sunk, we have transported millions of tons of cotton to Europe."

"In order not to suppress European cotton prices, we have only sold 500,000 tons in installments, but we have already made a profit of more than 300 million US dollars...!"

"Compared to risking your life to produce weapons for both the North and South, this is much more profitable and much easier...!"

"That year, our company made a total profit of 740 million US dollars, the largest contribution of which came from cotton trading!"

"The profits from the cotton trade exceeded the combined profits from penicillin, gold mining, and arms!"

"If we combine the profits from cotton trading with the high prices we make selling grain and various other goods in the south, it has already exceeded half of this year's net profit...!"

Ah Zu laughed dismissively, "We did earn a lot this year, but we spent even more!"

"In Guangdong, including the expedition of 60,000 people, as well as the various construction funds and materials invested, one hundred million US dollars were spent in less than half a year!"

"Next year, we will invest even more in construction in Guangdong, with an estimated budget of at least 250 million US dollars...!"

"Sigh...!" Azu sighed softly, "This is just the construction investment for one province. In the future, we will be building the entire country, and the investment of funds and materials will be at least ten times that... The pressure is immense!"

Victoria comforted her, saying, "There will definitely be returns on investment! Although the construction investment in Guangdong is large, we will start to see the returns in two or three years."

"When Guangdong's various industries are developed and Guangdong-made products are sold all over the world, that will be our time to reap the rewards!"

Ah Zu looked at her and laughed, "After following me for several years, you, this lone wolf, have actually learned to think about problems with a business mindset!"

"You're right!"

"Once Guangdong's various industries are developed and its products are sold all over the world, that's when we'll reap the rewards."

"Moreover, various industries will create a large number of jobs, which will lead to a significant increase in the income of people in Guangdong. Increased income means a larger consumer market and more tax revenue..."

Azu continued, "This is a virtuous cycle, and the most important thing is the initial large-scale investment in the industry."

All beginnings are hard!

This is especially true for cultivating markets and industries.

Western countries, through colonization and plunder of the world, used the blood and lives of people worldwide to complete the primitive accumulation of capital in the most bloody way, thus gaining the capital to invest heavily in various industries.

By mining for gold, penicillin, and arms, and by seizing opportunities to hoard and speculate, Azu not only reaped the benefits of Western powers but also completed the primitive accumulation of capital.

Moreover, Ah Zu's methods are faster, more efficient, more subtle, more pervasive, and less likely to attract attention!
One accumulated capital by using guns and cannons, while the other accumulated capital by providing guns and cannons to others.

It's obvious who's better and who's worse!
……

At this point, Azu said, "Darling, go and call Wu Qingfeng and Carnegie over. Give them some instructions."

"Yes, my dear BOSS!"

A moment later, Wu Qingfeng and Carnegie arrived at Azu's study almost simultaneously.

Upon seeing the two young men, Azu personally poured a cup of wine for each of them.

After the three clinked glasses, Azu said, "Qingfeng, you've been back for a while now. Have you coordinated and integrated with the settlers I prepared for you?"

Wu Qingfeng nodded solemnly: "Boss, I have formed a settlement team of 20,000 people, and everything is ready. We also have all kinds of supplies, equipment and facilities ready, and we can set off for Alaska at any time!"

California's population has now reached 1.7 million, the vast majority of whom are young adults. Organizing a settlement force of 20,000 people would not be difficult.

"No rush, it's not too late to leave after the New Year. Besides, it's the coldest season in Alaska right now, so you won't be able to do anything even if you go."

"Then let's do as you say, boss. Let's set off after the New Year when it's warmer."

Ah Zu then asked, "What's the current situation with Ye Mingchen, Jiang Guolin, and those dozens of Guangdong officials?"

Wu Qingfeng replied, "They have all entered the University of California for further studies. After they receive their diplomas, they will be arranged for internships, and after they pass the internships, they will be formally assigned positions."

"These people were originally high-ranking officials. Making them start from scratch, enter university and learn modern knowledge systems like ordinary students, will definitely cause resentment in most of them."

"However, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Even if they have grievances, they don't dare to show them at all."

Ah Zu said, "Yes, holding grudges won't do!"

"These officials are all honest and capable, rare talents in the Qing Dynasty. How can they possibly learn well if they are full of complaints?"

"So, boss, what do you mean by 'what should we do'?"

After a moment's thought, Azu said, "The biggest problem with these people is that they have been immersed in the closed, corrupt, and outdated atmosphere of the country for far too long."

"Although I have gained some understanding after this battle and visited various industries and military forces in California, it is still not enough to shake my soul."

"How about this, since you don't have much to do these days, why don't you organize an inspection team, gather all these officials together, and go to the East to witness firsthand the bloody battlefields of the Civil War...!"

"Facing the monsters of modern warfare that devour countless lives and flesh, give these officials with rigid and rusted minds a soul-stirring shock...!"

(End of this chapter)