Chapter 574: Be Cowardly When You Need to Be Cowardly (4000 words long chapter! Second update)

“This is an atrocity!”

At the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento, the capital of California, Governor Newton shouted in an extremely angry tone.

"Mr. Envoy, your fleet bombarded our forts, our cities, and invaded Los Angeles. Sir, the atrocities you committed will surely be condemned by the whole world!"

As the governor of California, of course he was angry. After all, it was his state and his constituents that were attacked.

Even when he first heard the news, he was shocked and mobilized the militia. He had to fulfill his responsibility to defend California.

While mobilizing the army, he also personally met with the special envoy of the Ming Empire - the special envoy came from the Beihai Governor's Office, and he came here to investigate the "Los Angeles Massacre."

Facing Governor Newton's roar, Zhang Wenli, the special envoy, appeared calm and said.

"Mr. Governor, when you keep talking about all these atrocities, first recall the crimes you have committed before."

The Americans are simply a bunch of double-standard dogs. What did they do before the Ming Dynasty used its naval guns to speak?

"When I arrived here, I warned you that a responsible country would not sit idly by and watch its expatriates being killed, bullied and discriminated against. But what did you do? You made a mockery of all of us with your so-called court!"

Looking directly at Governor Newton, Zhang Wenli sneered.

"Everything that happened in Los Angeles now was not caused by us, but by you! It was you who took it for granted when you committed atrocities. You have never felt ashamed of your actions. Mr. Governor, now you have got what you wanted! Los Angeles was not destroyed by our naval guns, but by your arrogance!"

Zhang Wenli has never been so arrogant and his chest has never been so stiff as it is now! As a special envoy, he arrived in Los Angeles on the third day after the incident. His investigation was artificially blocked. Even when he was here, Newton just laughed with him and told him that the trial was over and that if he had any objections to the trial, he could appeal.

Look how high-sounding their words are.

law?

fair?

There is neither law nor fairness in their so-called courts. Because no one cares about the lives of Chinese people!

In the end, the so-called trial turned into a joke!

shame!

In his view, everything that happened here was an unprecedented humiliation.

And now?

The moment the ship's guns sounded, everything changed!

As it is now, what is the point of American anger?

Just as Americans didn’t care about Ming Dynasty’s anger before, does Ming Dynasty need to care about America’s anger now?

"Mr. Envoy, this is war!"

Secretary of State Ferris said angrily.

"Our army is gathering here now. Soon we will take back our city and wash away all the shame with your blood!"

Facing Ferris's threat, Zhang Wenli was unexpectedly calm. He said seriously.

"Is it war? If you choose war, it can be used to achieve great merits for the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty!"

Then he said again.

"Are you sending General Grant? His army is heading for Oregon. I think our army will welcome them with guns and cannons!"

The Ming Empire didn't care at all about the military response from the United States. Even the Beihai Governor's Office didn't care, even though the Beihai army was far smaller than that of the U.S. military.

So what?

After all, the war is ultimately a war between two countries. Does the United States have the strength to challenge the Ming Dynasty?

"As for the militia you mobilized? Of course that is your right. That's all."

Zhang Wenli laughed.

He seemed to be telling a joke. What role could those militiamen play?

Can they go down to the sea and fight the navy ships?

Now the fleet could even come and bombard the city if they wanted to.

There was no way that the talks in California could produce any results. After all, issues between the two countries would ultimately have to be resolved in Washington.

"War! War!"

In Washington, on Capitol Hill, members of the House and Senate were clamoring for war. While they were discussing whether to declare war on the Ming Empire, in the Oval Office of the White House, Pierce Cullen, the British ambassador to the United States, was talking to President McClellan.

"Mr. President, Britain understands your anger very well. London believes that no civilized country will sit idly by and watch such atrocities. However, it is well known that once the United States declares war on the Ming Empire, France will join the war according to the treaty between them and the Ming Empire. At that time, what can the United States use to stop the Franco-Ming coalition?"

Carls' reminder made McClellan frown. The Franco-Moroccan Alliance... Once upon a time, France was America's closest friend, but what about now?

The French were allies of the Ming Empire! Under the instigation of the emperor, the French had long since abandoned the United States. They even stood on the side of the South during the Civil War.

Damn the French Emperor!

"Mr. Ambassador, have you heard the anger in Washington?"

McClellan asked rhetorically.

"War, almost everyone is calling for war, to respond to the Ming invasion with war!"

It's just an appeal, anyone can make a rhetorical statement. The problem is the huge disparity in power between the two countries.

Even the most arrogant congressman cannot ignore the difference in power between the two.

"Yes, Mr. President, your anger is well known, but you also need to understand that the United States has no power to stop them! Your army and navy are not prepared for war at all. You need more time to prepare for war, rather than rushing into a war without any preparation."

Carls leaned forward slightly and spoke to McClellan in a seductive tone.

"By that time, Britain will definitely stand on the side of the United States!"

Is this a promise from the UK?

Although he knew that Britain had no good intentions, McClellan was of course well aware that with the current strength of the United States, the result of this war would undoubtedly be a disaster!

But if Britain intervenes, the outcome in the future will be completely different.

Even if there are many conflicts between the United States and Britain, so what?

Now they had a common enemy! As a politician, McClellan knew that the situation had changed.

For Britain, France is Britain's enemy. As an ally of the French Empire, the Ming Empire is of course also Britain's imaginary enemy.

In this case, it is possible for the United States and Britain to become friends.

"So what now? How will this matter be handled?"

Facing the British ambassador, McClellan spoke directly.

"How can we calm the anger of the Americans now? Everyone is eager for revenge and war."

Karls smiled in response to the president’s question.

"Mr. President, that's just a desire. But no one desires to die. Now Mr. President, all you need to do is tell them what war will bring!"

…

"Submit it to the International Court of Arbitration!"

During the meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Belden, standing at the podium, spoke in a tone full of sadness.

"This is the best choice for the United States. I know that no one is willing to accept this result, and neither am I. I have shed blood in wars, and I am willing to continue to bleed in wars. But gentlemen, we must face the reality. From the end of the Civil War until now, we have not made any preparations for war. We once had the most powerful army in America, but what about now?"

As the Democratic whip, Belden accepted the task assigned to him by the President - to prevent Congress from passing a vote to declare war.

Of course, in return, Belden will receive the party nomination and become the candidate for the next US president.

It was both a danger and an opportunity, and Belden would certainly seize it.

"Now we only have less than 100,000 land forces left. Perhaps we can mobilize the militia in a short time, but what we need to face is an elite and well-equipped professional army. The most deadly is the navy. Our navy does not have a single ironclad ship. We have not even built a new warship since the end of the Civil War. The once huge fleet has disappeared, our officers are unemployed, and even those backward warships are decaying. This is what we have! Gentlemen, declaring war is easy. As long as we raise our hands, we can declare war on a country - this country has the largest and most modern army and navy in the Americas. They also have the world's most powerful airship force. Once a war breaks out, what can we use to stop their warships and their airships? Gentlemen, we stand here to safeguard the interests of the American people, not because of our anger, let our country and our people fall into a war they are not prepared for at all."

Faced with such a question, even the most angry congressmen fell silent. These congressmen certainly knew that the United States was not ready for war at all.

And they also know the gap between the United States and the Ming Empire. Although the United States' economic strength is stronger than that of the Ming Empire, the Ming Empire has an extremely modern army, which is exactly what the United States lacks.

The United States has not made any preparations for war. If war is declared, it will not only be a disaster,

Maybe the White House will be burned down again. Last time it was the British who set the fire, this time it might be the Ming Empire who set the fire.

It's not even just about arson. These congressmen also watched the documentary.

The Target: Versailles

At any time, it could become "Target - Washington."

Of course it could also become New York, Philadelphia, or any other American city.

And they also had no ability to fight back.

Reality is so cruel!

The Ming Empire's blackmail through a movie achieved amazing results.

"What we need now is patience, patience for everything we have suffered. It is to remember, remember the humiliation we have suffered, and then work hard to change it all. Gentlemen, the sound of the Los Angeles artillery is like a wake-up call, echoing on the land of the United States. Let us remember the sound of the Los Angeles artillery, remember the humiliation of Los Angeles, let us, for ourselves, for the security of the United States of America, to build a strong army. Let's build a modern navy. Let's not indulge in naive dreams and think that war will never come to the United States, gentlemen!"

Facing the silent congressmen, he spoke again with passion.

"The shame of Los Angeles is the shame of the United States of America, and also our shame, because of our naivety, our naive belief that war will never come to this land. We disbanded our army, we destroyed our fleet, and now we will have to bear it all. Bear all the shame, all the pain, but we need to be grateful to the Ming Empire, our neighbor in the south of this continent. It was they who used their cannons to tell us how naive we were. It was also them who used their cannons to awaken a great country to face the challenge. Now this great country will proudly meet the challenge from the south. Gentlemen, let us meet their challenge, and soon they will regret what they did in Los Angeles."

The next moment, thunderous applause broke out in the Capitol. Members of Congress stood up one after another and applauded continuously!

Some of the excited ones even kept clapping their hands on the table and cheering!

Yes, now America has been awakened and received a heavy slap in the face.

It would hurt anyone.

Previously, they were clamoring for war and revenge, but they knew very well that the United States had no capital to retaliate against the Ming Empire.

Now, they will accept and endure all this humiliation. The reason they accept and endure is for a better future - revenge!

America holds grudges!

On this day, in the eyes of almost all American politicians, the Ming Dynasty became their biggest enemy.

“Remember Los Angeles!”

On this day, almost all American newspapers used the same words to tell everyone: What happened in Los Angeles?

Of course, they will distort the facts, their newspapers are full of lies, and they will tell Americans the so-called "truth" of the incident.

But no matter what, the Ming Empire became an enemy of the United States!

“Remember Los Angeles!”

All Americans can do now is to say this with full confidence.

The United States is really a coward!

But if you don't dare, what else can you do?

The American way...be timid when necessary.

(End of this chapter)