Chapter 275: Irreconcilable Contradictions
In the slums of the old city, residents who were unwilling to relocate came out of their houses one by one, holding simple weapons in their hands. Most of them were sticks, hoes, etc. Only some people had hunting rifles in their hands. All these people gathered together under the leadership of the leader. They looked very happy, as if they were going to attend a grand event.
Being able to defend their rights as citizens and force large companies to come to negotiate is a victory from any perspective. Beside them, some black people are helping in a friendly manner, building barricades to protect them from harassment from the evil capitalists.
"Although these black people look very annoying at ordinary times, they still have some primitive simplicity." Two men wearing cowboy hats, holding cigarettes in their hands, talked in a relaxed manner.
"Well, it would be nice if they were always so obedient. Although it would be better if we never see them again. I heard that many black men were recruited by the United Company. In fact, sometimes I wonder if the boss of the United Company is white. He is so friendly to black people. Why doesn't he consider our job problems!" Another man said angrily, "I heard that the reconstruction of New Orleans will use yellow people. He is crazy."
"The evil capitalists only care about profits, not their workers. What kind of people are they? Every drop of blood in their bodies is dirty." The white man who spoke at the beginning nodded and said a theory he heard from somewhere.
The conversation between the two men and several black people who were building barricades around them were captured by a person lying on the ground not far away using a Kodak camera. If it were taken in another context, it might have become direct evidence of racial harmony in the United States. However, if it appeared in the same photo with the barricades, there could be another explanation.
"A small number of white people showed inappropriate sympathy and stood with the vast majority of black people to oppose the state government's decision. These white people are very stupid, but the black people who participated are even more unforgivable." Sheffield hummed an unknown little tune and made an accurate judgment lazily.
If a cylinder is placed in front of a person, at different angles, some people will see it as a circle, while others will see it as a square. The truth seen by each person from any angle is different. This is the charm of the truth hidden in the fog.
At the intersection of the old city and the central city, there is a barricade made of barbed wire and sandbags. There are such barricades on more than ten main roads leading to the central city. These were built by the unruly people who wanted to get land from the joint company.
And now, those who consider themselves defenders of civil rights are taking up defensive positions behind these barricades, preparing to resist the despicable capitalists and defend their homes.
In the Oak Manor outside the city, there were also many armed men gathered. These armed men belonged to major companies. Each of them was equipped with a gun and lined up in neat rows. Not far from them, Sheffield was enthusiastically discussing the country with a dozen rich young men of the same age.
"According to our current estimates, there are more than 300 diehards behind the barricades, and the number of black people is probably about the same, about 700 to 800 people." The young man with a bow tie on his collar said easily, "In terms of numbers, it's not a lot. After all, the urban area to be demolished has a population of 50,000 to 60,000 people."
"There are half a million citizens in New Orleans, but these few diehards will waste the precious time of tens or even hundreds of thousands of citizens. Is this reasonable?" Sheffield flicked out half a cigar from between his fingers and exhaled a puff of white mist to savor the taste. "So some citizens are unwilling to face such consequences and support the state government. This is very reasonable, right? What we need now is a normal civil conflict, where patriots are beaten by shameless hooligans, forcing the state government to take action to maintain the original order in New Orleans."
"What does William mean?" McHale's face showed a trace of thought, and he asked, "Shall we just watch the fun first?"
"You are not here to watch the fun, so stay aside and watch the shameless hooligans destroy the city! Justice is something that will become less precious if it is not delayed a little!" Sheffield said this, paused slightly, and ordered, "Take off the shoulder straps of all company employees. Don't let anyone catch you with any details."
These bastards think they are fulfilling their civic duty and protecting their homes against despicable capitalists. Sheffield also feels that this is a normal plan against hooligans, who have wasted the precious time of most citizens, so why can't these people just cooperate?
There is no question of who is right or wrong. Just as many people criticize American imperialism, if it were a country weaker than themselves, these people would also strike back hard, talking about genocide and nuclear bombs, and transferring the treatment they received from American imperialism to a weaker country.
This time, there was an armed force of 100 people deployed on the streets outside the barricades in the city to guard against the diehards in the slums. Other armed forces were in other parts of the city. After all, the old city of New Orleans is not small, and the number of diehards in the place is not large, so it takes manpower to catch these bastards. There are still many people in other parts of the old city. What if someone runs away? Isn't this a hidden danger?
The truth must be blocked, and at the same time, public opinion and the government must be on one's side. Sheffield feels that this is not an easy thing to do. At this time, someone needs to take the initiative to stand up and expose the ugliness of these gangsters to the sun.
Conley led the KKK members who were summoned to play the role of true patriotic citizens, denouncing these gangsters for ignoring the overall situation, wasting the precious time of many citizens, and even paralyzing New Orleans. The longer the confrontation lasts, the greater the price will be paid by more citizens.
For most of the citizens in the city, this is right. When there is no harm to their interests, they should just watch the fun without getting involved. But who should be held responsible for the time wasted? Does changing houses temporarily require connections? Does renting a house and waiting for the arrival of a new owner not require money?
Provoking disintegration has always been a necessary means of suppression. As a citizen affected by this incident, Conley hopes that these resisters will agree to the state government's plan and not waste more people's precious time.
However, when it comes to their own interests, most people will not be rational and will not be shaken by Conley's few polite words. It doesn't matter how the conflict started. What matters is that there is a real conflict.
Inside the barricade, hundreds of men and women were fighting each other, and this time the incident officially went from being a civil affair to a martial one. The two groups of people exchanged friendly greetings, accompanied by some kicks, but the severity of their attacks was still not too severe, at least no one hit anyone in a fatal spot.
But bloodshed is inevitable, although this time the conflict was not intense, at least Sheffield, who was restless, saw through a telescope from another block that it was indeed not intense, but as long as there is a conflict, it is fine.
Conley, as a true patriotic citizen, broke out from the siege of the gangsters with injuries and blood. This scene was known to many people. Several men who were bleeding profusely cursed fiercely, "How dare these niggers hit us!"
Although the sound was miserable, it was okay. Of course, this was also because these people were all middle-aged men, all of them were strong and healthy, so it was no big deal even if they were beaten a few times.
After true patriotic citizens like Conley were attacked and it was revealed that most of the people on the barricades were black, the matter inevitably developed in another direction.
Just after Conley and his men left, when the hooligans in the barricade celebrated, no one noticed that the perpetrators of the conflict were missing. Even dozens of people were missing from the black group. These people had completed their mission, and it was the right choice to leave quickly, because what happened next was not so simple, and bullets don't have eyes.
It took a day for other citizens to blame the gangsters for being selfish and the news spread throughout New Orleans. Most citizens of New Orleans also knew that the people on the barricades were mainly dirty black people and a small number of gangsters. These people were lazy and wanted compensation from the government, thus wasting most people's time.
Then it became a situation where immigrant gangsters and black people came together to attack unarmed citizens. These people are completely unreasonable.
The rumors have brought together two basic facts: the first is immigrants, and the second is black people. The two factors mixed together are enough for most people to make a judgment on the truth of the matter.
When the public was outraged, McHale announced that he would send people into the barricade to have a final negotiation with the people inside, hoping not to waste the precious time of most citizens.
In Oak Manor, Sheffield communicated with members of the state assembly, "Now things are very clear. Even if the state police are dispatched to arrest and sentence everyone, most New Orleans citizens will not sympathize with them. It's time to make a decision."
"But William, didn't McHale go to negotiate again?" The congressman smiled and said familiarly, "Maybe the matter will be resolved soon, and there is no need to send out the state police."
"It won't work!" Sheffield carefully trimmed his nails, looked up and smiled, "Because my conditions have not increased at all, but have become more demanding than before."
(End of this chapter)
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