North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 99 Wash Your Backside Clean, Prepare for War (5,000 words)
After New Year's Day, 1849 finally became a thing of the past.

Time came to 1850.

On the second day of the new year, the pharmaceutical equipment ordered several months earlier finally docked at Clarke Port.

The importance of pharmaceutical factories even far exceeds that of machine factories.

Therefore, many of Huamei Company's core personnel personally went to Clarke Wharf to pick up the ship.

Among those who came to pick up the ship, the most excited person was not Azu, but his future father-in-law, Parker Parker, who had been working hard for the past two months to prepare for the pharmaceutical factory.

Peter Parker, along with Wu Qingfeng, the two chemistry professionals from the East, and the group of people assigned to him by Azu, started almost from scratch, building the factory and recruiting talent. The most important task was to research how to scale up the production of penicillin.

Parker Parker and his team devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the construction of the pharmaceutical factory, working day and night.

Now, with Azu’s occasional personal guidance, the preliminary preparations are basically complete, and the long-awaited equipment and supplies have finally arrived at the port. Therefore, Parker Parker is more excited and impatient than anyone else.

After unloading the equipment and supplies from the ship, Parker Parker immediately led a group of people to devote themselves to the installation and debugging of the equipment with even greater enthusiasm.

With Parker Parker taking the lead, Azu's burden was much lighter, and he would only step in to help when they were completely unable to handle the situation.

With the mechanical experience of Azu's descendants, it wouldn't be too difficult to put penicillin into large-scale production.

However, Ah Zu devoted most of his energy to the second gold rush season a few months later.

Unlike last year's first gold rush season, this year, Azu is prepared to tackle the tough challenge of hard rock gold mines.

Unlike placer gold mining, hard rock gold mining requires finding gold veins buried deep underground. These veins are hot, gold-rich lava that erupted from deep underground millions of years ago.

After solidification, these lava flows became deeply embedded in the surrounding rocks and soil, forming gold veins that were distinctly different from the surrounding soil and rocks.

Last year, Azu led his Blackfoot tribe brothers to identify several of the highest gold-bearing veins in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The current challenge is how to mine the gold ore with the highest efficiency, then crush it, and finally use the amalgam method to dissolve the gold ore in mercury to form an amalgam. The amalgam is then distilled at high temperature in a sealed container, and after the mercury evaporates, the gold obtained can reach a purity of over 90%.

However, the amalgam method is highly toxic and costly, and the gold extraction rate is only around 50% to 60%, requiring secondary extraction of the tailings.

In particular, mercury vapor from the amalgam process can penetrate everywhere and is extremely easy to leak, posing a huge danger to miners.

Therefore, Azu plans to go straight to the point and use sodium cyanide extraction to process hard rock gold ore.

In this era, cyanide has been around for decades and is widely used in dyes, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, so obtaining sodium cyanide is not a problem.

Moreover, sodium cyanide is less expensive and can achieve a gold extraction rate of over 90%, which is more than 40% higher than the amalgam method.

It was precisely because the cyanide extraction method was widely used in the 1880s that the world's gold production experienced a leapfrog growth.

After the 1880s, hard rock gold deposits, which were originally difficult to process and extremely costly, were widely mined with the addition of cyanide extraction.

The main challenge of cyanide extraction is that the process is more complex than that of amalgam extraction, and the highly toxic wastewater is difficult to treat.

Therefore, Azu went into seclusion again to perfect the entire process of cyanide extraction and design all the necessary mechanical equipment.

During the time that Azu was in seclusion, it was also in the Qing Dynasty, which was far away on the other side of the ocean.

Zuojiaduan, Xiangyin County, Hunan Province.

In the center of the village, in a farmhouse courtyard by a large pond, a middle-aged scholar with a dignified appearance was looking at two letters on his desk.

One of the letters was from Lin Zexu, who was recuperating from illness and in retirement, inviting the scholar to Changsha for a chat.

The other letter, however, came from the extremely distant United States!
After reading the two letters, the middle-aged scholar was deeply moved and immediately packed his bags to head to Changsha.

The next day, the middle-aged scholar met Lin Zexu, who was recuperating in a small boat on the river!

While boarding the ship, the overly excited middle-aged scholar accidentally fell into the water with a splash!

"Hahaha!" Lin Zexu laughed heartily upon seeing this scene, "Is this Heaven's will to bathe me in reverence?"

The two felt an instant connection and talked all night long.

From ancient and modern times, both Chinese and foreign, to character assessments, to border defense in the northwest and coastal defense in the southeast, to land reclamation and governance in Xinjiang... we discuss everything and cover everything!

"Ji Gao, I have long heard of your extraordinary talent! But after meeting you today, I realize that others' assessments are inadequate. You are truly a peerless genius of our time!"

Faced with Lin Zexu's praise, the middle-aged scholar humbly replied, "You flatter me, sir! I am but a commoner, how could I possibly deserve such praise?"

The middle-aged scholar was none other than Zuo Jigao and Zuo Zongtang, both thirty-nine years old!

"This is not an overstatement. When the west is pacified, no one but you will be the one to lead the way!" In his excitement, Lin Zexu took out all the military and geographical data, intelligence on Russia, maps and other documents he had collected during his time in Xinjiang.

With trembling hands, Lin Zexu solemnly entrusted the materials he had painstakingly collected to Zuo Zongtang.

"Ji Gao, remember this well: ultimately, the Chinese patients are from Russia!"

Zuo Zongtang, with a solemn expression, respectfully accepted the invaluable scrolls with both hands: "Your Excellency has entrusted me with this important matter as a pillar of the nation, and I, Zuo, would never dare to fail to serve you to the death!"

"Good good!"

Overjoyed, Lin Zexu picked up his brush and spontaneously created a couplet!
Zuo Zongtang took the couplet and recited it with great excitement.

"If it benefits the nation, I will risk my life; how could I avoid it because of personal fortune or misfortune?!"

Zuo Zhongtang felt his blood boiling and his eyes even reddened slightly!
From then on, this couplet was always hung in the center of Zuo Zongtang's study!

……

As dawn broke, the two were engrossed in their conversation.

Zuo Zongtang took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Lin Zexu with both hands, saying, "My lord, I suddenly received a letter from overseas the other day. The person claims to be Li Zunian from Taishan, Guangdong, who works as a gold miner in America and has achieved some success..."

"Oh...?" Lin Zexu was surprised and took out an almost identical letter from his pocket.

"Sir, you actually received a letter from this person as well?"

"Hahaha!" Lin Zexu laughed heartily, "I received this letter while I was recuperating in Nanchang, and I was quite puzzled by it... However, what the letter said has given me a lot to think about!"

"Oh? So it can benefit the old man as well? What was written in the letter to the old man?"

"What did he write in his letter to Ji Gao?"

"How about we exchange letters with the old man and take a look?"

"Haha, that's exactly what I was thinking!"

So Zuo Zongtang and Lin Zexu exchanged letters and read each other's letters.

It bears a striking resemblance to the letter he wrote to Shi Dakai.

In his letter, Azu frankly stated that in today's world, the West is strong and the East is weak, China is suffering from numerous problems, while the West is becoming increasingly powerful.

The strength of the West lies in its open-mindedness, its scientific spirit, and its prosperous industry.

If China is to transform and become stronger, it must learn from Western philosophical thinking, the spirit of science, and the development of industry.

To learn about ideas, science, and how to run a business, one must personally travel overseas to study and learn.

In his letter to Lin Zexu, Azu requested that the elder Lin select and recommend a group of ambitious young people to go to America for study and observation.

If the elder is so inclined, Ah Zu is willing to arrange everything, including the boat and all expenses.

In his letter to Zuo Zongtang, he directly invited him to go overseas, open his eyes to the world, broaden his horizons, and learn from Western experiences.

After reading the letter, Lin Zexu and Zuo Zongtang looked up at each other with a knowing smile.

"What is your opinion on this matter, sir?"

Lin Zexu stroked his stubble and said, "I observe that this young man, though living in a foreign land, still cares deeply for his homeland; he has the heart of a true patriot!" "Then, sir, do you think there is any truth to what this young man said in his letter?"

Lin Zexu pondered for a long time: "Back when the Opium Wars took place, I personally witnessed the powerful ships and cannons of the Westerners, which were indeed beyond human capability! As for the three things this man mentioned in his letter—Western thought, science, and industry—I have very limited knowledge of them and dare not make any hasty judgments."

"However...!" Lin Zexu changed the subject: "Just as you said in your letter, our great China is indeed suffering from numerous problems and is getting worse and worse. It has reached a point where we have no choice but to reform and strengthen ourselves."

"So, what does the old man mean...?" Zuo Zongtang tried to ask.

Lin Zexu nodded and said, "On my trip to the southeast, I will verify whether the magnificent enterprise mentioned in this man's letter is true."

"If this is true, I might recommend two or three young people to go to America and explore the possibilities first!"

"If everything is as you say in your letter, I may indeed select and recommend some young people who have no hope of official success to go overseas, which would be a way out for them."

"As for Ji Gao, you are currently unemployed in the countryside. Perhaps you could travel overseas. Firstly, to broaden your horizons; secondly, to personally investigate the true nature of the West; and thirdly, to find a path of reform for the country and its people!"

Zuo Zongtang replied, "To be honest, sir, that's exactly what I was thinking too!"

"No rush!" Lin Zexu stroked his beard and smiled. "It's not too late to make a decision after I've confirmed everything is true. Ji Gao, you wait for my news."

"I will do as you say, sir!"
-
New Mexico, White Sands Air Base, United States Army.

The lieutenant colonel intelligence officer, who had returned to White Sands Base, was reporting everything about the trip to Brigadier General George Phillips.

After listening to the lieutenant colonel's report, Brigadier General George Phillips did not fly into a rage as expected, but instead fell into a long silence.

The atmosphere in the office became extremely tense because of the general's silence.

After a long silence, Brigadier General George Phillips finally spoke slowly: "You mean, Major Daniel Cameron and his cavalry battalion were annihilated at sea?"

The lieutenant colonel replied, "Based on the intelligence provided by Colonel Brosnan, and all the clues we've gathered, everything points to this most likely outcome!"

The lieutenant colonel continued, "In addition to many San Francisco residents hearing the cannon fire, around the same time, the Monterey police department also received reports of three galleons disappearing."

"Also, a few logistics personnel who remained at the Ranger camp, although they did not participate in the operation, did hear Major Daniel Cameron's order for the cavalry to disperse out of the camp at night and then assemble at Leonion Dock to board the ship."

"Based on all intelligence and clues, our final conclusion is that Major Daniel Cameron was completely annihilated at sea!"

A look of pain flashed across Brigadier General George Phillips' eyes; he was grieving for his daughter and grandson!
"Lieutenant Colonel, do you still believe that it was that Chinese guy from Huamei Industrial Company who annihilated the Northern California Ranger Battalion at sea?"

“Yes, General! In all of California, apart from the Navy, that Chinese man undoubtedly possesses the most powerful naval force! His Huamei Industrial Company has perfectly inherited the armed merchant fleet that originally belonged to the Cameron family.”

"Moreover, Major Daniel Cameron already had a grudge against that Chinese guy! Whether it's his motives or his abilities, he's the prime suspect."

Brigadier General George Phillips pressed further, "Lieutenant Colonel, have you found any evidence?"

The lieutenant colonel shook his head: "There is no evidence whatsoever!"

The brigadier general didn't press for evidence: "So, based on the opinion you and that old man Brosnan came up with, what should we do?"

"Colonel Brosnan suggested that we take action against the Native Americans first. He deduced that the Chinese man must have colluded with a Native American tribe and provided that tribe with a large amount of military supplies."

“As long as we conduct fire reconnaissance of various Indian tribes, we will soon be able to determine which tribe that Chinese man is colluding with.”

“As long as we take down that Native American tribe, that Chinese guy should come to our aid, otherwise we’ll cut off his arm! Once we have this evidence, we can take action against him.”

"Heh!" Brigadier General George Phillips sneered, "That old man Brosnan is still as cowardly as ever!"

"Isn't that old guy the interim governor of California now? Why doesn't he just order the two militia regiments under that Chinese guy to wipe out the Native Americans?"

The lieutenant colonel replied, "I think Colonel Brosnan has no way of commanding those two militia regiments, let alone that Chinaman!"

"Can't be commanded?" Brigadier General George Phillips sneered again: "Then give those two militia regiments and that Chinaman a charge of insubordination or even rebellion!"

"If that old man Brosnan dares to do that, I dare to mobilize our troops deployed in California without going through the president and Congress, to wipe out those two rebel militia groups, that Chinaman, and that Huamei Industrial Company!"

"General, this...!" the lieutenant colonel exclaimed in shock. "If Colonel Brosnan dares to do this, I'm afraid that before we can even mobilize the troops, he, the entire state government, and the state legislature will be completely wiped out by that Chinese guy!"

Brigadier General George Phillips said coldly, "What if our troops happen to be conducting exercises near San Francisco?"

"I think my army is perfectly capable of providing them with sufficient protection, isn't it?"

"That damned Chinaman, does he dare to openly attack the American Army?"

Cold sweat beaded on the lieutenant colonel's forehead: "General, isn't this too... too radical?"

“Radical?” the brigadier general replied. “My son-in-law has been murdered, and my Northern California Ranger battalion has been completely wiped out!”

"I haven't directly mobilized the army to kill that damned Chinese guy; that's already the maximum amount of restraint I've shown. You call me radical?"

The lieutenant colonel's forehead was beaded with sweat: "General, what I mean is, Colonel Brosnan probably won't agree to this plan! It puts them in danger!"

"Hmph!" Brigadier General George Phillips roared, "That damned old man, if it weren't for his letter, would Daniel have led the Rangers on such a risk?"

"That old man is largely to blame for this outcome! Shouldn't they have taken some risks?"

"This, this...!" The lieutenant colonel stammered, unable to answer.

Brigadier General George Phillips roared, "Lieutenant Colonel, inform that old man Brosnan of this plan! Tell him I'm not discussing this with him, but making sure he does exactly what I'm saying!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Get out of my office right now!"

"Yes, Sir! Thank You Sir!"

The lieutenant colonel, an intelligence officer, quickly wrote down the general's plan in code and passed it on to Captain Sean of the fishing boat through secret channels.

Two weeks later, the interim governor of Brosnan, who had finally received the coded letter, fell into a long silence.

Brigadier General George Phillips' plan put him, the entire state government, and the state legislature in utter danger.

"That hot-tempered guy, even if he becomes a general, he'll still be a brainless idiot!"

"He has no idea how terrifying that Chinese guy is!"

"Rebellion? Exercise? Ha! If we completely break ties with him like this, do you really think he wouldn't dare to attack your army?"

"Besides, given the current situation, how can I charge him with treason? Even the parliament and the judicial system have been infiltrated by that Chinese man. It's not that I don't dare, it's simply impossible!"

Brosnan picked up the coded letter and threw it into the roaring fireplace without hesitation.

After pondering for a long time, Brosnan picked up his pen and wrote a coded reply to his former general colleague.

By the time the lieutenant colonel's intelligence officer received the reply, it was already the end of January.

After converting the code into text, Brigadier General George was looking at the long reply.

After reading the letter, George Phillips finally understood the difficulties faced by the interim governor.

"Bang!" Brigadier General George slammed the letter on his desk and said angrily, "Brusnan, you're a really useless old man!"

"You're a truly frustrating interim governor! You can't even fabricate a crime against a Chinese guy. What use are you to me!"

Anger aside, things still need to be done, and revenge must be taken!
Not for anything else, but for my daughter who has been crying her eyes out every day these past few days, and for my little grandson who keeps pestering me for his father!
When his own proposal failed, Brigadier General George Phillips had to reconsider the old man's opinion.

"Lieutenant Colonel, convene a combat meeting with all staff officers at headquarters!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Tell those guys who lie in the sun all day and sleep with women all night, wash your asses clean and get ready for war!"

(End of this chapter)