North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 293 The Fall of a Star, The Death of Lincoln

The last weekend of February, 1855.

Since becoming president, Abraham Lincoln would accompany his wife to Ford's Theatre in Washington every weekend to watch plays or operas.

This had become a habit for Lincoln, and one of his few forms of entertainment.

However, this time was slightly different from usual.

The person accompanying the president and his wife to Ford's Theatre was no longer Zhou Hongwen, the deputy director of the Secret Service!
After Lincoln was assassinated at the San Diego Naval Base, and his California guards, led by Zhou Hongwen, risked their lives to protect then-Vice President Lincoln at the cost of dozens of lives, Lincoln placed unconditional and absolute trust in Zhou Hongwen.

After that, the personal safety of Lincoln and his family was almost entirely the responsibility of Zhou Hongwen.

However, when Lincoln learned of the cotton and arms trade between his staunchest ally and closest friend and the Southern states, his trust in Zhou Hongwen and the other guards sent by California diminished considerably.

Once a crack in trust is created, it is extremely difficult to mend, and it will only grow wider!

This was true for his staunchest ally and closest friend, and it was also true for Zhou Hongwen and his group of California guards.

Tonight, Lincoln was accompanied to Ford's Theatre by two white Secret Service officers, one named Eckert and the other Brian.

……

"Abraham, what's wrong?"

On the carriage to Ford's Theatre, First Lady Mary Todd asked Lincoln with concern, "Why do you look so pale?"

"Honey, I'm fine...!"

Abraham Lincoln, his face full of worry and weariness, his brows furrowed, stared blankly out the car window at the gradually brightening lights of countless homes.

“Abraham, ever since you learned about those secret deals between California and the rebel southern states, you’ve been frowning and sullen!”

As she spoke, Mary reached out her warm hand and lovingly stroked her husband's haggard face: "Don't do this, darling! You've always been so brave and determined. Don't torture yourself like this because of what happened in California...!"

"Take it easy, darling, everything will be alright...!"

"Sigh...!" Lincoln sighed softly, shaking his head slightly. "Mary, you don't understand just how terrifying that young Chinese governor is; you don't understand the terrifying power California now possesses; you also don't understand that California's choice is enough to influence the final outcome of this war...!"

"Although he was in faraway California, he single-handedly founded the Republican Party, personally put me on the presidential throne, and even orchestrated this war...!"

At this point, a look of fear, unlike anything he had ever seen in his life, appeared on Lincoln's face: "I once thought he was my staunchest ally and closest friend, and that our political stances were almost completely aligned."

"Until recently, after learning about his secret dealings with the Southern States, I thought it over and over again and suddenly realized... he had been using me and manipulating me all along!"

"He silently hid behind the scenes, subtly using and manipulating me to achieve his own political goals!"

"By using me, the President of the United States, by using the Republican Party he created, by using this war... he will gain unimaginable profits!"

As he spoke, Lincoln's whole body began to tremble slightly: "Mary, I dare not think any deeper... If it is really as I suspect, then not only am I, the president, completely finished; the Republican Party is completely finished too...!"

"Even America... is completely finished!!!"

"He is currently only engaged in cotton and arms trade with the South; he hasn't taken any particularly outrageous actions yet."

"If I were in his position, I would definitely seize the opportunity to take action, like a giant whale with its jaws wide open, swallowing at least half of America in one gulp...!"

Abraham Lincoln, this tough guy, closed his eyes in pain, his whole body trembling.

Two streams of tears involuntarily flowed from the corners of his eyes!
At this moment, Lincoln was no longer the indestructible, mentally resolute tough guy he once was; instead, he resembled a fragile teenager whose mind and emotions had been destroyed.

At this moment, he was so helpless, so broken, so desperate...!
Seeing her husband's helplessness, breakdown, and despair, which she had never shown before, Mary felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Mary reached out and pulled Lincoln's head into her warm embrace.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...!"

In his wife's arms, Lincoln wept uncontrollably, like a desperate child!

"It's okay, darling... everything will be alright!"

Mary patted her husband's back gently, doing her best to comfort him, to soothe his heart that had been betrayed and was in despair!
There is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln, as the greatest American president in history, possessed an extremely strong and resilient heart and nerves.

Under his leadership, the United States won the Civil War, destroyed slavery, and laid the most solid foundation for rebuilding a completely new and modern nation from ruins.

His perseverance and greatness are beyond question.

Without Abraham Lincoln, there would be no United States, which has dominated the world for a century!

However, even the strongest heart, the most resilient brain, and the most robust nerves have their limits.

The more indestructible a heart and nerves are, the more likely they are to break down once their limits are exceeded.

Just like Lincoln at this moment, he completely exposed his vulnerable side to his wife.

……

After a long while, Lincoln, having finally vented his emotions, wiped away the tears on his face, composed himself, and resumed the demeanor befitting a president.

“I’m sorry, Mary, I shouldn’t have confided in you and vented my emotions.”

"My dearest, we are husband and wife, we are one... Abraham, no matter what the future holds, I will always be with you!"

"Even if you lose the whole world, you will never lose me; even if the whole world opposes you, I will always support you...!"

"My dearest Mary, to be your husband is the greatest blessing of my life...!"

……

As the couple poured out their hearts to each other in the carriage, the carriage arrived at Ford's Theatre.

Two Secret Service officers alighted from the carriage in front, cautiously surveyed the surroundings, and then opened the doors on both sides of the presidential carriage.

At this moment, Lincoln had vented his emotions, and his complexion looked much better.

But as he was about to step off the carriage, he looked up at the magnificent Ford Theatre and suddenly his heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

Consequently, his movements paused slightly.

Secret Service officer Eckert, keenly observing the president's body language, asked, "Mr. President, what's wrong?"

Lincoln looked up, glanced silently at Ford's Theatre for a moment, and then replied, "Nothing, it's just... I have a bad feeling!"

"A bad feeling?" Eckert frowned slightly. "Then, Mr. President, should we cancel tonight's opera performance?"

Lincoln did not rush to answer, but turned to look at the First Lady, who had gotten out of the car and was standing expectantly at the theater entrance.

"Since you're already here...!" President Lincoln said as he stepped out of the car, "Just make sure you keep a high level of vigilance!"

Eckert nodded and replied, "Mr. President, please rest assured that in addition to Brian and I providing close protection, there are Secret Service agents outside the presidential suite responsible for perimeter security to ensure absolute safety!"

Lincoln nodded slightly, got out of the car and took a few steps, then suddenly asked, "Zhou, has he arrived?"

Eckert replied, "As per your request, Mr. President, Deputy Director Zhou is no longer in charge of your security. Therefore, he did not come tonight...!"

"Hmm...!" Lincoln remembered his order and suddenly felt a little regretful and uneasy.

This was the inexplicable trust, even a psychological dependence, that had developed with Zhou Hongwen over a long period of time.

Without Zhou Hongwen by his side, Lincoln always felt a little insecure.

"Let's send someone to invite Zhou over...!"

"Yes, Mr. President...!"

Eckert immediately arranged for the perimeter security personnel to invite Zhou Hongwen to come in person.

Only then did Lincoln feel a little more at ease.

He then stepped forward, took his wife's arm, and, amidst the flattery and entourage of the surrounding dignitaries, sat down in the presidential box at Ford's Theatre.

……

That night, the opera "Our American Cousins" was performed.

Tonight's performance was absolutely fantastic.

Because of the presence of the president, vice president, and other high-ranking officials, the actors put on an extra energetic performance tonight.

As the opera reached its climax, the Lincolns were so captivated by the wonderful plot and performance that they gradually forgot their ominous premonition.

Cheers and applause filled the theater.

Just as the plot reached its climax, a waiter in a tuxedo carried a fruit platter toward the presidential box.

As is customary, the Secret Service agents responsible for security around the presidential suite thoroughly searched the waiters' bodies.

Then, under the watchful eyes of the agents, the waiter was made to eat a piece of fruit himself.

After waiting a moment and confirming that everything was normal, the waiter was allowed to carry the fruit platter into the presidential suite.

Eckert and Brian, who were responsible for the president's personal security, kept a vigilant eye on the waiters' every move.

The two only breathed a sigh of relief when the waiter respectfully placed the fruit plate down, bowed, and withdrew.

Suddenly, at that moment, something unexpected happened!

Just as the unassuming waiter was about to turn and leave, he suddenly turned his head and blew on the air.

"puff……!"

A beam of black light struck Abraham Lincoln with perfect precision at the back of the neck.

Lincoln, who was engrossed in watching the opera, suddenly felt a slight pain on the back of his neck, as if he had been bitten by a mosquito.

"What happened...?"

Lincoln reached up and touched his neck, only to find a short, fine needle!

Immediately afterwards, Lincoln felt a wave of dizziness and his vision went black...!
It was only at this moment that the two close agents realized: "Oh no, there's an assassin... Protect the president...!"

Before he could finish speaking, Eckert and Brian pounced on him, pinning the assassin disguised as a waiter to the ground.

Unexpectedly, the assassin did not resist at all, but instead gave the two agents a strange smile.

Immediately afterwards, the assassin gritted his teeth and then made a swallowing motion.

In just two breaths, a terrifying deathly gray appeared on the assassin's face, and strange black blood flowed from his mouth!

Then, the assassin's head lolled to the side, and he fell completely silent.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted throughout the presidential suite.

"Abraham, my dear, how are you...?"

Mary grabbed Abraham Lincoln's arm in terror and cried out in alarm.

The white Secret Service agents responsible for perimeter security also swarmed in.

The presidential box quickly descended into chaos and became extremely crowded.

A horrifying deathly pale face appeared on Abraham Lincoln's face, and he collapsed limply into his wife's arms.

“Mary… I, I can’t breathe…!” Lincoln struggled, managing to utter a single, broken sentence.

"Quick, quick, get a doctor...!" Mary frantically untied Lincoln's black bow tie to ease his breathing difficulties, exclaiming in alarm.

Eckert and Brian reacted quickly, carrying the president and rushing out of the theater.

At this moment, many people in the theater also heard the news of the president's assassination, and chaos immediately broke out.

In particular, Vice President Andrew Johnson and his wife, who were in the other presidential box, also hurriedly left the theater under the protection of Secret Service agents.

Just as President Lincoln was being carried to the theater entrance, Zhou Hongwen, who had been summoned, arrived with his men.

Seeing this, Zhou Hongwen, his eyes bloodshot with rage, pushed through the crowd and rushed to Lincoln's side.

"Mr. President, what...what happened?"

"week……!"

Lincoln, who had been shot in the back of the neck with a poisoned needle, had a swollen throat. Although he was still conscious, he was having great difficulty speaking.

Lincoln gripped Zhou Hongwen's hand tightly: "Zhou...Zhou...I'm...sorry, I...I shouldn't have distrusted you...!"

"Mr. President, I'm sorry, I... I'm a step too late!"

Zhou Hongwen's eyes were filled with tears.

Over the years, he and Lincoln have developed a genuine friendship.

Zhou Hongwen valued Lincoln's safety more than his own life.

Seeing this happen right after he left the president's side, Zhou Hongwen, a tough man, burst into tears.

With everyone's help, Lincoln was helped into the carriage.

Besides Lincoln, the First Lady and Zhou Hongwen were also in the carriage.

But just as the carriage was about to start moving, Lincoln suddenly struggled to speak: "Ann...Ann...Andrew...!"

Vice President Andrew Johnson, who was standing anxiously and helplessly next to the carriage, quickly squeezed into the carriage upon hearing the commotion.

"Abraham, here I am!"

Lincoln held Zhou Hongwen's hand with his left hand and Andrew Johnson's hand with his right.

"Ann...Ann...Andrew, war...war!"

Vice President Andrew Johnson nodded vigorously, "Abraham, rest assured, we will win the war no matter what!"

"No...!" Lincoln shook his head with difficulty: "End the war as soon as possible...!"

The vice president was greatly surprised upon hearing this: "Why? Abraham, why?"

"California...West...West!"

"Remember...remember!" Lincoln said, gripping the Vice President's hand tightly with all his might. "Don't...don't mess with...don't mess with Lee...!"

"He...he is an angel...and...he is also a demon!"

"We...we...America...can't...can't beat him...!"

Andrew Johnson nodded again emphatically: “Abraham, rest assured, I will not be his enemy.”

Lincoln was still worried and said with all his might, "Even more...don't...don't be friends with him...!"

"I understand!" Andrew Johnson said, tears welling in his eyes, nodding frantically. After giving instructions to Andrew Johnson, Lincoln turned to Zhou Hongwen: "Zhou...Zhou, please...please pass on...please tell Li!"

"Yes, Mr. President, I'm listening, and I will definitely pass on your message...!"

Zhou Hongwen was also moved to tears and nodded emphatically.

Lincoln struggled to say, "Tell Lee...tell him that I...he and I...are still...still...best friends!"

"Well, I remembered it!"

Lincoln continued, "He...he is the one who understands me best...and is the one who supports me the most!"

"With...with him...this...friend, I...I have no regrets in this life!!"

"Mmm...!" Zhou Hongwen, tears streaming down his face, was too grief-stricken to speak, and could only nod frantically.

Lincoln continued to struggle, saying, "Tell...tell Lee...please...show mercy to America...to America...!"

"Mmm!" Zhou Hongwen could only nod frantically.

After giving his instructions to the Vice President and Zhou Hongwen, Lincoln finally turned his gaze to his wife, Mary.

"Darling...my dear...live well...take good care of us...our son!"

Mary held her husband's head tightly and wept uncontrollably: "Abraham, you will be alright, you must live, you cannot die!"

"Ahem...!"

Lincoln coughed twice, a trickle of black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, but a smile remained on his face: "Mary... if you encounter any difficulties... go... find Lee!"

"He...he will definitely...take good care of...you!"

"Mmm...I understand!"

After saying this, a relieved smile appeared on Lincoln's face.

"My life...it's been so...so painful...!"

"I'm so...so tired...I really need to...rest properly!!!"

After saying that, Lincoln slowly exhaled his last breath!

……

A great man of America's generation, the greatest president in American history, died in his wife's arms with a relieved smile on his face!
……

The devastating news brought grief to the entire nation!

The following week, all states in the United States lowered their flags to half-staff and observed a moment of silence.

Countless Americans spontaneously went to the White House, Ford's Theatre, and Lincoln's birthplace in Illinois to mourn the assassinated president!

……

At the same time, the identity of the assassin who committed suicide by poison was quickly investigated and clarified.

John Bruce, an assassin, is a Freemason born into a ranch family in Alabama. He is a thoroughbred slave apologist and has undergone long and rigorous Freemason training.

Under the joint direction and arrangement of the rebellious Southern states and Freemason-backed slave-owning factions, John Bruce, who had been plotting for a long time, had been lying in wait at Ford's Theatre for a year.

After receiving orders to assassinate the president, John Bruce took advantage of the opportunity to deliver a fruit platter and used a small poison syringe hidden in his mouth to precisely assassinate President Abraham Lincoln by blowing it into the air.

After a series of tests and examinations, it was found that the poison in which President Abraham Lincoln was poisoned was almost identical to that in which President Fillmore, who was assassinated after taking office, was poisoned.

This further confirms the Freemasons' heinous crime of assassinating two presidents in succession!
After President Lincoln was assassinated, his successor, President Andrew Johnson, immediately signed a decree designating Freemasonry as a terrorist organization and subjecting it to the most severe crackdown.

Within a month or two, the Freemasons, who had once been invincible and secretly controlled the American government, scattered like birds and beasts, each fleeing for their lives.

Apart from a small number who were arrested and publicly executed, most Freemasons fled overseas.

……

The rebellious Southern states that secretly orchestrated the assassination of the president further fueled public outrage among the people of the North.

Public opinion surged, demanding that the war be won at all costs to avenge the martyred President Lincoln.

Before his death, Lincoln left a will asking Andrew Johnson to end the war as soon as possible.

But once Andrew Johnson truly grasped power, he discovered that once the war machine was set in motion, the course of the war was not at all controlled by a successor president whose position was unstable.

If you want to end the war, you should ask the Southern states that currently have the upper hand if they agree.

Ask the masses, who are eager to avenge President Lincoln, whether they agree.

We also need to ask whether the high-ranking officials and generals in the federal government and the military, who are already deeply involved in the war, would agree.

Let alone Andrew Johnson, who lacked prestige and a solid foundation, even if Lincoln were still alive, it would have been impossible for him to end the war in a short period of time.

……

It was early March when Azu received news of Lincoln's assassination.

Upon receiving the news, Azu locked himself in his study and drank alone all day.

In Azu's heart, Lincoln was a friend, a confidant, and his feelings for him were genuine and undeniable.

However, for the sake of the nation and the hundreds of millions of Chinese people, Azu had to personally order Lincoln to be taken offline in a timely manner.

Ah Zu always said that personal feelings should not influence judgment and decision-making.

But after he personally gave the order and lost his friends and confidants, he finally tasted the full pain and bitterness of it all.

Humans are not machines.

Only machines are immune to the influence of emotions.

Everyone is influenced and swayed by personal feelings, only to varying degrees.

……

"Squeak...!"

The night was deep when the door to the study was gently pushed open.

Victoria, who was six months pregnant, walked in with her large belly sticking out.

"Stop drinking...!"

Victoria snatched the wine glass from Ah Zu's hand.

Already tipsy, Ah Zu raised his bleary eyes and glanced at Victoria.

Then, without saying a word, he took out another wine glass and continued pouring wine.

"I said, stop drinking!"

Victoria snatched the bottle and glass from Azu's hands again, furious: "You were the one who ordered Lincoln's killing, and now that Lincoln is dead, you're the one here grieving and drinking alone!"

"If you knew this outcome would cause you this much pain, why did you kill him in the first place?"

Ah Zu slumped on the sofa, her eyes closed, and two silent tears streamed down her face.

"I killed him because I bear the weight of the livelihoods and happiness of hundreds of millions of people on my shoulders!"

Ah Zu closed his eyes and murmured to himself, "I am in pain now... because I am also a human being, my heart is made of flesh and blood, and I also feel heartbroken when I lose my confidants and friends...!"

"Lincoln is one of my best friends and confidants. When we gradually move towards each other because of the responsibilities we each bear, he will also be my strongest opponent."

"Under his leadership, if the entire nation of America is united and determined, I am not certain of victory."

"Even if we win and achieve our ultimate goal, we will have to pay a much heavier price."

"Therefore, Lincoln must die!"

Azu slowly shook his head: "With great power comes great responsibility! Because of this responsibility, I must personally give the order to kill my friends and confidants."

"Hehe...!" Azu suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Maybe I'm just being too sentimental!"

"If I were a heartless, callous person, I wouldn't be in so much pain and suffering right now...!"

Victoria slowly sat down next to Azu, tenderly pulling Azu's head into her warm chest.

“Grandma, if you were truly heartless and cold-blooded, how could we sisters like you? And why would we all follow you so devotedly?”

"The words 'loyalty' and 'friendship' are the most hurtful. But more often than not, what makes us human is precisely these two words."

"Otherwise, what difference would there be between us and machines, or animals?"

Victoria whispered in Azu's ear, "If it were Lincoln, and eliminating you would be beneficial to the country and its people, I believe he would have done the same."

“You are all the same kind of people. I believe he will understand you.”

"Maybe!" Azu wrapped his arms around Victoria's large belly, pressing them against it, listening to the faint heartbeat of the baby.

Even, Ah Zu felt the faint fetal movement.

At this moment, Azu's painful and conflicted emotions finally began to calm down.

"In order to allow more Chinese people, and even more so for our next generation, to live a better life, I will bear all the sins!"

Victoria instinctively ran her fingers through Azu's hair by her ear: "No! I'll share all the sins with you...!"

"If you go to hell someday, I'll go with you!"

Ah Zu looked up and gazed at the beautiful face so close to his, and said from the bottom of his heart, "Wife, it's so good to have married you!"

"What can we do?" Victoria retorted. "You bought me for eighteen dollars, you got incredibly lucky, you stumbled upon a steal...!!!"

"hey-hey!"

Ah Zu couldn't help but recall the time when he spent eighteen dollars on the streets of San Francisco to pick up the dying Victoria from a Chinese doctor.

It happened only five or six years ago, but it feels like a lifetime ago.

"Let's go, my wonderful wife whom I snagged at a bargain, let's go to sleep...!"

……

The following day, like other states, California lowered its flags to half-staff to mourn the assassination of President Lincoln.

Compared to the eastern states, the people of California were largely indifferent to the assassination of the US president.

The U.S. federal government has a very low profile in California and even throughout the West.

As a result, most people only know Governor Lee Tsu-nien and have no idea that there is a President of the United States.

“Our great-grandmother…!”

This has become a common saying among Californians, and they often say it.

This is both a sign of respect and admiration for the young governor, and the highest praise for the governor who is unpretentious and approachable.

So when people saw flags flying at half-staff all over California, the vast majority of them were shocked, thinking that something had happened to their young and capable governor.

When it was finally discovered that the US president had been assassinated, the public breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, many people inquired: "What country is this America from?"

"Who is that American president...?"

"It's just the death of a foreign president, why should California lower its flag to half-staff for him...?"

……

After Lincoln's death, everything appeared to continue as before.

But beneath the surface, even more turbulent undercurrents began to surge.

Taking advantage of the lull before the new president removed him from his position as commander of the Western Theater Command, Azu deployed a total of 80,000 California Army troops to various parts of the West under the pretext of stabilizing the situation there.

In the western states, some garrisoned a division, while others garrisoned a battalion or half a regiment.

This is especially true in the states that border the East and are close to the Mississippi River: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

In these states, Azu deployed at least one division in each state.

Along the Mississippi coast, under the command of Feng Zicai, the deployment was accelerated and defensive fortifications were constructed.

In name, Azu, the commander of the Western Theater Command, was there to prevent the war that was raging in the East from spreading to the western states.

But his true intentions are pretty much obvious to anyone with a discerning eye.

But even if you guess their intentions, so what?
Both the Northern and Southern governments devoted all their resources to the eastern battlefield.

They simply don't have the slightest spare capacity to deal with that ambitious California governor in the West.

The western states, however, each have their own militia or National Guard, ranging from seven or eight thousand to one or two thousand.

But they had the moral high ground of being the commander of the Western Theater Command, and their excuse was quite reasonable. They didn't do anything outrageous, so what could the western states do?
We can only let it be!

Furthermore, the West's time under American rule was extremely short, and it had no sense of belonging to the country.

Even if Azu openly declares independence, occupies the western states, and divides the country with the United States, so what?
The western states used to belong to England, France, Spain, Mexico, and so on. The longest they were part of the United States was only a little over thirty years, while the shortest was only a few years.

In the vast western region, where there is a large population but limited land and information is scarce, some people still don't know what nationality they belong to...!
By June 1855, tens of thousands of California troops had established a largely complete defensive line on the west bank of the Mississippi River, blocking both the Confederate and American armies on the opposite bank.

Along this defensive line stretching thousands of miles, tens of thousands of California troops merely held the key crossing points and major towns.

However, both the Confederate and American armies were very conscious of avoiding any conflict with the California troops.

Any seemingly insignificant conflict could ignite California's fury like a spark, potentially pushing this powerful, essentially neutral state into opposition—a consequence neither the North nor the South can afford.

……

Also in this month, Victoria gave birth to a beautiful little princess with dark blonde hair for Azuma.

Azu named his third daughter "Li Su"!
Before Princess Li Su, Youma gave birth to Azu's second son, named "Li Yi"!
Now, Azu has two sons and three daughters, and Monica's due date is just around the corner.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, in Tianjing, the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a massive storm of bloodshed was brewing!

(End of this chapter)