1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

Although their goal of "causing trouble for the federal government" is the same, they differ when it comes to specific actions, which is why Hammer feels "crazy and calm."

Outsiders like Henry certainly didn't mind sacrificing the entire state of Texas, but the rebels from Texas generally still retained a trace of "tenderness".

It’s not that they really love their hometown, but they still hold on to hope and are worried that doing so will affect their future rule and interests.

Things are different now. Some information cannot be completely concealed. If it leaks out, it will only make the Federation more powerful and the purge more effective. Besides, we are playing the electoral system, and the votes in the hands of those fools must also be considered!

If it weren't for these considerations, the attacks and explosions would not only have occurred in Austin, where the investigation team is located, but would have extended to other Texas cities such as Houston and even rural areas.

Stupid Texans, how can you be so careless about sacrifice when doing great things! No wonder you are just the planned sacrifice!

The liaison sent by Henry's side curled his lips in his heart and said, "Then there is only the second option."

The day after Hammer's speech, several influential local newspapers, such as the Austin Chronicle and the Texas Guardian, reported the tragedy on their front pages and simultaneously published several "subtle" commentary articles or "letters to the editor":

For example, this Austin Chronicle column: "Who is responsible for our pain?"

"...The recent attacks have cast a shadow of fear over our city. We mourn the victims and condemn the atrocities! But amidst our grief, we cannot help but ask, what is the root cause of this disaster?"

"Was it those deranged attackers? No doubt! But what about before this? When has there ever been such a targeted terrorist attack designed to cause mass panic?"

"...Perhaps the investigation team did eliminate some filth, perhaps they did arrest a few corrupt officials, but at what cost?"

For example, the following (anonymous) letter from a reader of The Texas Guardian reads:

"...I lost my neighbor, a kind and gentle old lady, in that horrific explosion... What did she do wrong? She was just buying bread!"

"...Those federal envoys kept saying they were doing this for justice, for the law, and for the good of Texas! But why did disaster end up on our doorstep?"

"Before they came, Huey Long was arresting people, but at least there wasn't this kind of horror of blowing people up in the street! Now? They investigate their cases, but we have to live in fear every day, worried that we'll be blown up while walking on the street!"

"Please stop this storm! Let Texans solve Texas' problems themselves! What we need is peace and tranquility! We just want a peaceful life! Please don't keep rubbing salt into our wounds and invite more retaliation!"

There are also some new rumors on the streets:

"You said those federal people, why don't they just stay in Washington? Why do they have to come here and stir up trouble? Now, we've pissed off those desperadoes, and we're the ones who are in trouble!"

"That's right! Those Hammer and Ness, what are they doing investigating corrupt officials? They've been investigating for a long time, but they haven't caught many corrupt officials. Instead, they've ruined the peace of us ordinary people! My husband works at the docks, and now the port is under martial law, so there's no work!"

"If you ask me, those who bombed the federal boss are bastards, but they were also cornered! Even a rabbit bites when it's cornered! Those federal people are using chicken feathers as a token of authority and treating Texas as a colony!"

The direction of these public opinion offensives is extremely clear:

Putting aside the attacks and casualties caused by the attackers, the current chaos in Austin and even the entire state of Texas is entirely blamed on the investigation team's efforts to catch corrupt officials and conduct investigations in Texas!

"Good! It's true!"

After noticing these signs of public opinion, Hammer was delighted instead of angry. He slammed the table and said, "Sure enough! Texas has other supporters behind it! We need to dig deeper!"

Obviously, this kind of underhanded propaganda is not the style of Texans. There must be someone behind this!

Stirring up the relationship between the investigation team and the people, the relationship between the previous investigation team and the current one, the relationship between Huey and Hammer, and even internal conflicts within the investigation team... Is this something that the Texans, known for their rough and tumble behavior, could do?

Damn it, the rabbit's tail is finally revealed!

Dig deeper into the media outlets that launched the public opinion offensive, and you'll definitely find surprises!

Ness was worried:

"Mr. Hammer, the mood is very low..."

He knew very well that once this kind of public opinion storm formed, the actions of both NGW and the investigation team would be opposed by the residents - especially when the residents' actual interests had indeed suffered losses;

In fact, some members of the investigation team have been confronted with strange remarks such as "If you weren't here, would those lunatics come and bomb us?", which has dealt a heavy blow to morale. Some have even begun to doubt themselves.

Could we really be...

"What? People believe that bullshit out there?! Are we the disaster? Those bastards who set off the explosions and killed innocent people are the disaster!"

Hammer slammed the table and cursed, once again showing his "ungentle" side: "Ness! Go! Go and give all those mentally challenged idiots a good scolding! Tell them to cheer up and continue their investigation! Leave it to me to deal with these bastards who are fanning the flames and confusing right and wrong behind the scenes!"

"Yes! But how do you plan to fight back?"

"Don't forget! We represent the Union! We represent the Central Government! We represent Field!"

"

Soon, Hammer mobilized the Texas media, which had previously been under federal control and whose bosses had been taken over. Rather than confronting the rhetoric head-on, they focused on three areas of data:

Ms. Field led the NGW to rescue so many people, rebuild so many houses and bridges, etc.;

How much corruption and funds did the federal investigation team uncover, and what livelihood projects were invested in with these funds?

How much support did the "Field New Deal" provide to Texas, how many jobs did it create, how many unreasonable policies did it abolish, and so on.

These real data make all the weird talk seem so pale and powerless.

Is it because of the existence of the federal government and the investigation team that we are in this situation today?

Fuck your grandma!

Do people who say this have any conscience? This is no different from directly attacking Ms. Field!

Public opinion was reversed in an instant. Those who had originally scolded the investigation team for posing risks to their business, jobs and personal safety, as if to cover up their guilt, turned around and sang praises in the bar.

There is no way. Before the overall quality and level reach a certain level, and the speed and transparency of information circulation reach a certain level, the people will be easily led by others.

After all, well, it’s already 2025, and there are still people online who believe the rumor that “XX boss selected concubines and had a group orgy in that sea.”

Hammer and Ness had no time to care about these things and continued to advance their investigation step by step. In particular, the media and individuals who emerged during the attack and the wave of public opinion offensive became their key targets of surveillance and investigation.

The people's hearts have been reassured, and the situation in Austin and Texas has stabilized, but the noose around the necks of the fleas behind the scenes is getting tighter and tighter.

"No! Austin is beyond saving! Evacuate!"

"Evacuate? Are you sure? If we evacuate now, won't we just be waiting for them to target us?" "Don't worry, since they insist on following the rules, then we'll follow their lead."

About thirty miles northwest of Austin, in a secluded valley called Oak Ridge, lies a manor that stands out from the surrounding ranch.

The main body of the manor is a three-story stone mansion in imitation Georgian style, covering a vast area and surrounded by well-manicured lawns and dense oak forests. A winding private drive is the only access point.

On the surface, this manor was the summer home of Texas oil tycoon Harold Winston's family, but according to Huey's team's preliminary secret investigation, it was most likely an important communication hub and command point for the resistance forces;

Now, Hammer and Ness's team continues to take over the investigation. They have sent people to stake out in this area for a week, waiting for the other party to reveal their true intentions.

However, they are not the only ones waiting here.

"Damn it! No progress again!"

Johnny Black, a crack detective from the Hammer team left behind by Huey Long, rapped his knuckles on the telescope's screen and cursed under his breath:

"It's been a fucking week! We've been watching those sons of bitches move around like rats in there! What the hell are those gentlemen in suits waiting for?!"

"Wait for a son-of-a-bitch search warrant, sir."

Another member of the "Iron Hammer" team bit a piece of grass and said sarcastically:

"Attorney Ness's people said that Mr. Winston is a prominent figure in Texas. A hasty arrest would cause unrest. Without solid evidence proving there are insurgents or contraband on the property, and without a judge-issued search warrant, we can't go in and 'harass law-abiding citizens.'"

This is what happened yesterday - the Hammer Squad became increasingly concerned about the estate and requested a search warrant. However, when they applied for a search warrant, the judge refused to issue it, believing that the evidence was insufficient.

This is quite normal in the United States, which believes in the "separation of powers." It's not that the judge himself is necessarily wrong. But the terrible thing is that Ness didn't pursue the matter further, but only asked for increased surveillance!

"Obey the law? Obey the bullshit law!"

Blake sneered and pointed at a car entering the manor in the distance:

"How many cars has this been in the last few days? Why would law-abiding citizens cover their license plates? Are they afraid others will know who they are?"

Everyone was speechless.

There are too many suspicious points, and it is almost certain that someone is definitely plotting something.

In fact, if Huey himself had not been assassinated, this place would have been taken down by NGW long ago, or at least they would have sent people to infiltrate the manor to investigate the situation. However, it happened to be the era of Hammer and Ness, and those "rough methods" in the past were forbidden to be used.

There is no way. "A new emperor means new ministers." Even though the boss has changed, he is still the "presidential envoy" approved by Ms. Field, and they must obey orders.

"If you hesitate any longer..."

Before he could finish his words, a member of the team responsible for monitoring the interior of the manor came running in to report: "Boss! We've noticed something unusual! Winston's butler, along with four other people, is coming out of the side door of the main building, carrying several large boxes! They're loading them into the truck! They're moving fast! The cars inside are all in motion!"

"!! !"

Oh no! Run away!

Blake subconsciously wanted to arrange for his team to intercept them, but then he suddenly remembered something, hammered the tree trunk hard, grabbed the newly issued walkie-talkie and growled:

"Leaf! Leaf! This is Hammer! The target estate is being evacuated! Evidence is being transferred! Personnel are preparing to abscond! The situation is extremely urgent! Requesting immediate authorization to conduct an on-site seizure! I repeat, requesting immediate authorization to conduct an on-site seizure!"

After a burst of buzzing sounds, a calm voice came from the other end of the intercom—from another surveillance point:

"Hammer, this is Leaf. Special Agent Miller is right next to me, and he reiterated that we cannot enter private property and detain people without a search warrant signed by a judge and an arrest warrant for the specific person..."

"This is our last chance! Once those boxes are on the truck, it'll be hard to catch up! Who cares about arrest warrants? Just arrest them first! I'll take the blame if anything goes wrong!"

"...Special Agent Miller has already set off to Austin in person with an emergency report to request a judge to issue an arrest warrant..."

"Sign the fucking head!" Blake yelled.

"By the time that slow-paced Miller finally arrived in town in his old Ford, and by the time that judge, who was either sipping coffee or dozing off, finished reading the report and signed it leisurely... everyone had already run away!"

"...Continue monitoring. Do not act without authorization. This is an order. Over."

The call was cut off, and Blake's face suddenly turned red, and his anger was almost condensed on his face, but he was helpless - the other party was the commander-in-chief of the "Manor Surveillance Operation".

Not long after, thick smoke suddenly rose from the backyard of the manor. Almost at the same time, the gate slowly opened and several Ford cars drove out, obviously destroying evidence and preparing to escape.

Blake couldn't wait any longer, and suddenly pulled out the pistol from his waist and pointed it in the direction of the manor:

"They're about to run away! I can't care less! Brothers! Follow me!"

Several members of the "Hammer" team were from the "Huey era" and were already accustomed to such "fierceness", so they immediately drew their guns.

However, a sergeant from NGW, who was protecting the Hammer Team, suddenly grabbed Blake's shoulder, his eyes as cold as ice:

"Blake! Calm down! Storming the manor by force is against orders and procedures! First you will become criminals and be court-martialed!"

"I don't care about the military court! Completing the mission is the first priority! I said I take responsibility for this matter! I will go to jail if I have to!"

"What if this is a trap?" the sergeant insisted.

"What if they're just waiting for us to use violence against them, then publicize the incident and damage the reputation of the investigation team and Ms. Field? Mr. Hammer has worked so hard to stabilize Austin, we can't let his efforts go to waste!"

It was not known which of the words "Ms. Field" or "all the hard work was in vain" worked, but Blake was breathing heavily, looking at the sergeant's sharp eyes and the alert postures of several NGW soldiers behind him, and his hand holding the gun drooped dejectedly.

The program, the damn program!

However, NGW Sergeant changed the subject:

"However, although we can't directly search or arrest them, we can follow them and keep an eye on these bastards... Hurry and apply for orders!"

Blake's eyes lit up, then dimmed again.

It's not a big deal on this one-way street, but once the enemy drives out of the manor and into the vast Texas wilderness and complex terrain, the possibility of successfully intercepting them with only two surveillance points and two hidden cars is very slim.

However, this is no longer a last resort.

Afterwards, Blake applied to the "Leaf" again, and this time he got approval, so he followed with his people.

However, as he expected, once outside the manor, the enemy convoy immediately dispersed and headed in different directions, leaving Blake and his men unsure which one to pursue, so they could only follow and split up their forces.

What's even worse is that various "accidents" keep happening along the way - either a farmer riding a cow suddenly runs out of the road, or someone spreads nails on the ground to damage the tires, which seriously hinders the team's pursuit.

The pursuit was completely aborted after a reckless truck "accidentally broke down" and blocked Blake's path.

On the other hand, after the command center used emergency relations to make direct contact, the emergency search warrant issued was finally delivered to the gate of Oak Ridge Manor by Special Agent Miller more than two hours later.

Judging from the normal legal procedures for issuing such warrants in the past, the speed can be said to be very fast - at least Prosecutor Miller must have been speeding, but it was still too late.

When a dozen NGW reinforcement vehicles from Austin roared to the manor gate, and when the fully armed NGW soldiers roughly broke open the iron gate that was useless to them, the place was already deserted.

All the rooms were in disarray. The fireplace was filled with a pile of nearly extinguished paper ashes. The important safes were empty, with all the valuable jewelry and gold gone. Several underground passages were open...

The enemy not only took away all valuables and core items, but also systematically destroyed all traces of possible evidence and clues. Even the convoy was probably just a bait.

Johnny Black and his companions, who had been forced to return after failing to track down the enemy, stood in the center of the main building's lobby, looking around at the devastation, their faces livid.

"Procedures are supreme? The law is supreme? Great! Now the person has escaped, the evidence has been destroyed, and all that's left is that 'sacred' arrest warrant in our hands!!"

Special Agent Miller and others who insisted on "procedure first" were as pale as paper, their knuckles of their clenched fists were white, and their nails were deeply embedded in their palms.

At this moment, they couldn't help but wonder whether the "procedural justice" and "supremacy of law" that they insisted on might sometimes cause some problems.

Seeing Miller and the others with gloomy faces and no rebuttal, Blake sneered and angrily kicked an expensive ceramic vase that had been thrown on the ground, smashing it to pieces.

"What you let loose weren't just a few scumbags! What you let loose were bombs! The next Texas massacre! The bottomless pit of 'procedural justice' that will be filled with the lives of more of our brothers and the people!"

619 Luo Quezi will always be healthy!