America 1869: A Doppelganger Every Day

Chapter 160 Australia Plan

The trade winds of the Pacific Ocean, carrying a humid and warm atmosphere, sweep across the coral reefs of the Solomon Islands.

The ironclad warship "Zhenyuan" of the Seventh Fleet of the Rim of the Pacific was anchored at Guadalcanal Island, and the sunlight reflected off its hull caused schools of tropical fish in the shallow water to scatter and flee.

Li Changsheng's alter ego, fleet commander Qin Feng, stood on the bridge, holding an urgent telegram in his hand, his brows furrowed.

"Commander, news has come from Malaita Island in the north. Three days ago, three indigenous tribes raided our rubber plantation and tin mine." The communications officer strode over, his voice urgent. "The plantation's steam harvester was burned down, twelve Chinese overseers and thirty local workers were killed, and the mine's explosives depot was detonated, paralyzing the entire mining area."

Qin Feng's fingertips traced the mark "Malaita Island" on the nautical chart, a cold glint in his eyes. Since the Solomon Islands joined the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the RIMPAC had invested millions of yuan to build plantations, mines, and schools on its major islands, promoting a "work-for-relief" policy—indigenous people could earn far more than traditional fishing and hunting wages simply by participating in labor, and their children could attend school for free to learn Mandarin and simplified Chinese characters. Most tribes chose to accept the RIMPAC's rule, but the Kolo tribe on Malaita Island, the Lanar tribe on Guadalcanal Island, and the Makira tribe on Santa Isabelle Island consistently refused to come into contact with outside civilization, and even repeatedly harassed the RIMPAC's construction camps.

"Have you found out who's behind this?" Qin Feng asked.

"According to reports from intelligence agents infiltrating the tribes, it was missionaries from the Dutch East India Company who were secretly instigating this." The communications officer handed over a statement. "They told the natives that the alliance wanted to seize their land and their gods, and they also fabricated false news about Chinese massacring the natives. The chief of the Kolo tribe, Karon, was persuaded and joined forces with two other tribes to launch a surprise attack."

Qin Feng sneered. After their interests in the Lanfang Republic were harmed, the Dutch were unwilling to withdraw from Southeast Asia, and now they were even instigating indigenous rebellions, attempting to disrupt the construction of the Rim of the Pacific Alliance. He turned to his deputy beside him: "Send a formal letter to the Alliance headquarters, requesting authorization to suppress the rebellious tribes. Simultaneously, contact the autonomous government of the Solomon Islands and request the Iraqi tribe and the Turani tribe west of Malaita to send troops to cooperate—they owe the Alliance a favor, and it's time to repay it."

The Ira and Turani tribes of the Solomon Islands were among the first indigenous groups to accept the Alliance's rule. Amos, the Solomon Islands' Prime Minister and a clone of Li Changsheng, was the former leader of the Ira tribe. Under his leadership, these two tribes not only received weaponry from the Alliance but also amassed considerable wealth through rubber cultivation and coconut oil exports. Upon receiving Qin Feng's orders, Amos immediately gathered his tribal warriors, equipped them with rifles and grenades provided by the Alliance, and set off for Malaita Island.

On Malaita Island, a victory celebration was taking place at the Kolo tribe's camp. Around the campfire, Chief Caron brandished a steel knife he had stolen from the plantation, boasting to his people of their "victory over the white invaders." The tribe's shaman, draped in a feathered cloak, danced a ritual dance around the bonfire, chanting incantations that "the gods will protect us and drive away all the outsiders."

"Chief, will those yellow-skinned people send big ships to retaliate?" A young indigenous warrior looked fearful. He had seen the Allied fleet's ironclad warships from afar, and their massive size filled him with awe.

Caron kicked him to the ground and roared, "What are you afraid of? We have divine protection! Those big ships can't maneuver in shallow waters at all, but our canoes can move nimbly, and we can pierce their hulls with spears!"

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of gunfire suddenly erupted from the distant jungle. Kalon jumped to his feet and saw rows of figures holding rifles appearing at the edge of the jungle—warriors from the Ira and Turani tribes. They wore khaki uniforms issued by the Alliance, their faces painted with red tribal totems, and their guns were pointed at the camp.

"A traitor! One of Amos's men!" someone exclaimed.

Karon drew his steel knife, intending to organize a resistance, but found the tribe's warriors scattering and fleeing amidst the gunfire. Accustomed to traditional hunting and close combat, they were utterly powerless against rifles with a range far exceeding that of bows and arrows. The warriors of the Ira tribe, like tigers descending from the mountains, quickly stormed into the camp and subdued the rebels one by one.

Just then, a deafening roar of cannon fire erupted from the sea. Qin Feng led three ironclad warships and five gunboats of the Seventh Fleet, sailing along the coastline of Malaita Island, their cannons booming as they bombarded the resistance outposts on the shore. Shells landed in the jungle, exploding into clouds of mud and broken wood, instantly destroying the indigenous outposts hidden within.

"Those who lay down their weapons will be pardoned! Those who resist will be killed without mercy!" The Allied forces repeatedly shouted through loudspeakers in the local dialect.

Most of the indigenous people surrendered amidst the gunfire and artillery barrage, with only Karon leading several hundred die-hards to escape into the deep mountains inland. Qin Feng did not rush to pursue them, but instead ordered the fleet to blockade the coastline and sent warriors from the Iraqi tribe into the mountains to search for them. He knew that the Solomon Islands' rainforest terrain was complex, and a forced pursuit might cause unnecessary casualties, while a blockade would leave the rebels without ammunition or supplies.

Three days later, Kalon was captured in the cave. When he was brought before Qin Feng, he was still covered in mud and blood, his eyes filled with arrogance. "You invaders, you will be punished by the gods sooner or later!" he roared, trying to break free of his restraints.

Qin Feng looked at him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "The Alliance gave you a choice. We brought advanced tools so you no longer have to rely on the heavens for your livelihood; we established schools so your children can learn knowledge."

We provided you with jobs so you could live a stable life. But you chose to believe lies, slaughter innocent workers, and destroy the hard-won peace.

He waved his hand, ordering the soldiers to take Kalon away and imprison him. Afterwards, Qin Feng met with Amos and began to consolidate the tribal forces of the Solomon Islands. At Amos's urging, most of the wavering tribes chose to submit, while the three tribes that had participated in the rebellion were required to surrender all their weapons and accept the alliance's control.

"Commander, according to the count, a total of 53,000 natives participated in this rebellion." Amos handed over a roster. "Among them, there are 18,000 adult men, 21,000 women, and 14,000 children. How to deal with them is your decision."

Qin Feng stared at the roster, lost in thought. Execution would escalate the conflict, imprisonment would consume vast resources, and releasing them back to their original tribes might leave hidden dangers. He recalled Li Changsheng's instructions: "For stubborn rebels, take effective measures to eliminate the threat while simultaneously creating value for the alliance's development."

"Notify the Alliance headquarters and request that these rebel natives be relocated to Australia," Qin Feng decided. "Queensland and Western Australia have vast tracts of undeveloped land that require a large workforce for sugarcane cultivation and gold mining. Sending them to Australia will not only eliminate the threat in the Solomon Islands but also provide manpower support for the Alliance's Australian colonies."

When the news reached New York, Li Changsheng's main body was reviewing the "White Paper on the Second Industrial Revolution" at the Chinese American Newspaper. After receiving Qin Feng's request, he immediately contacted his Australian clone, Lu Ming. Lu Ming had by then become the president of the Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, controlling vast plantations and gold mines in Queensland.

"The main body, Australia is in dire need of labor." Lu Ming's memories came through, "Sugarcane plantations in Queensland are expected to reduce production by 30% this year due to a lack of manpower; gold mines in Western Australia are also shut down due to a shortage of miners."

Relocating these 50,000 natives will perfectly fill the gap.

Li Changsheng nodded in agreement and issued instructions: "Basic human rights must be guaranteed during the relocation process, and sufficient food and supplies must be provided."

Medical care. Upon arrival in Australia, they were dispersed and resettled in various plantations and mines, implementing a "work for survival" policy—as long as they followed the rules and participated in labor, they could obtain food and clothing, and their children could also attend school. However, strict management was necessary to prevent them from organizing and causing trouble.

Ten days later, ship horns sounded simultaneously in several ports across the Solomon Islands. Allied fleet transport ships docked at the piers, and the natives were brought aboard in batches. Most were barefoot, wrapped in simple burlap sacks, carrying young children in their arms, their eyes filled with fear and confusion. Some elderly people knelt before the sea, praying for divine protection; some young men attempted to resist but were subdued by Allied soldiers with rifle butts.

Amos stood on the dock, watching his people being led away, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He approached an old chief and said in his native tongue, "Chief, this is not punishment, but a new beginning. Australia has fertile land and a stable life, far better than living a precarious existence on the island. As long as you are willing to integrate into the alliance, you will surely have a good future."

The old chief remained silent, only gazing deeply at the island where he had lived his entire life, his eyes filled with reluctance. He knew that resistance had failed, and following the alliance might be the only way out.

The transport ship set sail, with over 50,000 natives imprisoned in its hold. The Allied forces provided them with compressed biscuits and fresh water, and also arranged for medical personnel to accompany them. Although the conditions were rudimentary, compared to the brutal treatment of natives by European colonists, the Allied approach was considered merciful—in the 19th-century history of Pacific colonization, white colonists often sold natives into slavery through kidnapping and deception, with a mortality rate exceeding 30% during the journey.

Qin Feng stood on the deck of the Zhenyuan, watching the transport ship convoy sail towards Australia, feeling no pity whatsoever.

He knew that the progress of civilization was often accompanied by growing pains. For these indigenous people who refused to accept modern civilization and insisted on their barbaric customs, gentle persuasion was meaningless; only coercive measures could establish order. As a crucial stronghold of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in the South Pacific, the Solomon Islands had to maintain absolute stability to provide the RIMPAC with a continuous supply of strategic resources such as rubber and tin ore for its industrial revolution.

Meanwhile, under the intimidation of the Alliance fleet, the other tribes of the Solomon Islands completely abandoned any thought of resistance. Amos seized the opportunity to implement the Alliance's policy of cultural integration, building more Chinese schools on the islands, translating simplified Chinese textbooks into local languages, and requiring all school-age children to attend. In plantations and mines, Mandarin became the common language, and the Alliance-issued Chinese currency replaced the traditional barter system.

A month later, the transport fleet arrived at the port of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. Lu Ming was already waiting at the dock, followed by hundreds of Chinese overseers and rows of horse-drawn carriages. The indigenous people were led off the ship in batches and assigned to different plantations and mines according to their gender and age.

"From today onwards, you will work here," Lu Ming said to the natives through a translator. "You will work eight hours a day, and you will receive rations for completing your quota. Those who perform exceptionally well will also receive a reward of Hua Yuan. Your children can attend the nearby school, and as long as they learn Mandarin and simplified characters, they can become official citizens of the Alliance in the future."

The Aboriginal people were transported by horse-drawn carts to various destinations. In the sugarcane plantations of Queensland, they learned to use steam-powered farm implements provided by the union; in the gold mines of Western Australia, they mined ore under the guidance of Chinese overseers. Although they spoke different languages ​​and had different customs, most Aboriginal people chose to accept reality, tempted by the prospect of sustenance. The union also fulfilled its promises, providing them with basic living necessities and establishing makeshift schools near the plantations and mines so that Aboriginal children could receive an education.

When the news reached the Solomon Islands, Qin Feng was overseeing the reconstruction of the destroyed plantations and mines. New steam-powered harvesters and mining equipment were transported from the Far East, and Chinese overseers and local workers returned to work, restoring the island to its former bustling state. The Ira and Turani tribes, for their meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, received additional rewards from the alliance, including more weapons and supplies, as well as partial shares in the plantations.

Qin Feng received feedback from Lu Ming: "All 50,000 natives have been resettled. The situation is currently stable, and there have been no large-scale resistances. Some natives have begun learning Mandarin, and I believe it won't be long before they are integrated into the alliance's system."

He reported the message to the Alliance headquarters, and Zhao Lie's reply came quickly: "Well done. The stability of the Solomon Islands is crucial to the Alliance. We need to intensify our crackdown on Dutch missionaries to prevent them from causing trouble again. At the same time, we should accelerate our cooperation with the Global Patent Group to establish rubber processing plants and tin smelters on the islands, making the Solomon Islands an important raw material base for the Alliance's industrial revolution."

At this time in the Pacific Ocean, the ironclad warships of the Rim of the Pacific Alliance patrolled between the islands, maintaining the safety of the sea lanes; in the plantations of the Solomon Islands, steam-powered machinery roared, processing rubber and sugarcane into industrial raw materials; in the plantations and mines of Australia, indigenous laborers worked hard, injecting new impetus into the economic development of the alliance.