Chapter 16: America? Rogue State!

  "What is the American Civil War?" Zhao Xi curiously asked back.

  Wang Hengyue roughly said: "The commander-in-chief of the Southern Army in the United States, General Li, killed the Northern Army several times, and even almost captured President Lincoln. Later, when the North won, Master Zhao, how did the North treat General Li?"

  "Even if we spare his life, he will still be exiled." Zhao Xi said without hesitation.

  "No, no!" Pete waved his hand on the side: "Wrong, wrong, General Lee is the greatest general in American history. After General Lee's surrender, General Lee and his officers could still keep their personal weapons. No hanging, no victory parade with prisoners of war. And when General Lee left, all the Northern generals, including General Grant, who was General Lee's old opponent, stood up and saluted."

  As he spoke, Pickett's eyes filled with tears: "In the last year of General Lee's life, he took his daughter Annie on a two-month vacation to the South. Everywhere they went, they were greeted with flowers, cheers and respect. In Columbia, old Confederate soldiers braved the pouring rain to line up at the station to welcome him; in Augusta, thousands paid their respects; in Portsmouth, people fired salutes... The Southern people gave this former defeated general a reception that only a triumphant victor could have received. To this day, General Lee's statue in his Confederate uniform still stands on the campus of Washington College.

  "Inconceivable, inconceivable." Zhao Xi said repeatedly: "A defeated general and an enemy, actually received such courtesy, it's really beyond comprehension."

  "That's all." Wang Hengyue also fell into deep thought: "In the American Civil War, 620,000 people died. About one in every sixty Americans died in battle. Normally, someone should be held responsible for this cruel war. But when President Johnson asked Grant when he could try Lee and Jefferson Davis, the president of the Southern Confederacy, Grant believed that they should not be tried unless they had violated their oaths. He said he would rather resign as commander than execute an order to arrest Lee. From then on, the federal grand jury's indictment of Lee for treason was dropped."

  After the war, Stephens was elected to the U.S. Senate by Georgia, and his tombstone reads "Principled always". He died unrepentant, with no one to desecrate his grave or scatter his ashes, despite having believed until his death that slavery was more humane than wage slavery. Even after Lincoln's assassination by a sympathizer of the South, America did not go mad and launch a thorough and clean campaign to eradicate the remnants of the South, in this regard my country is inferior.

  Zhao Xi nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

  "But after all, the United States is just a rogue state that only cares about its own interests." Wang Hengyue suddenly changed his tone and said.

  "No, protest, protest!" Pete suddenly became agitated: "You can't talk about my country like that! My country is not a rogue state!"

  "Isn't this a rogue state?" Wang Hengyue smiled calmly: "Massacring Native Americans, splitting Mexico, cheating to buy Alaska, and so on, all of which are the deeds of rogues."

  Pete was tongue-tied and tried his best to refute, but didn't know where to start.

  Zhao Xi became very interested and listened to Wang Hengyue telling one thing after another. After listening, he let out a long sigh: "It turns out that America still has so many things that can't be seen."

  "So this country is both simple and complex. It has inclusiveness, but also many bloody, shameful, and unmentionable things. Yet, it's precisely this emerging country with almost no history that has far surpassed ours. I think in a few years, England and France will also be left far behind. If our country doesn't reflect on its mistakes and catch up quickly, the gap will only grow wider, and by then, it'll be too late."

  "Since Master Wang has said this, I suppose he already has grand ambitions?" Zhao Xi asked, gazing at Wang Hengyue.

  "What's a big deal? It's just a small team of officials." Wang Hengyue self-deprecatingly said: "But if you want to talk about ambition, I still have some. Training the new army, although it's not all of national prosperity, but there are also many benefits to be gained. I don't have the qualifications to manage national affairs, but for now, training the first team is something I want to do well."

  Zhao Xi snorted disdainfully: "Those scattered soldiers and brave warriors? Can't even beat the bandits."

  "So I don't want any of those people." Wang Hengyu lifted his spirits: "Hengyu wants to re-recruit, work hard with all his might, and strive to make some achievements within half a year. But in Rong County, everyone looks up to Xiang Gongma, wanting to do something without the help of Xiang Gong is impossible, this is also Hengyu's purpose for coming this time!"

  Zhao Xi saw that he spoke candidly and had some good feelings. After a moment of hesitation, "How much military pay did Lord Wang bring this time?"

  "Not a single cent, I have to pay out of my own pocket." Wang Hengyue shook his head.

  "How many military weapons?"

  "Not one, not even a single bullet."

  Zhao Xi burst out laughing: "Haha, this is really interesting! Without military pay and without military equipment, how can you talk about building a new army? I think the second battalion's first team is just for show. In the end, it's all about embezzling funds from the top. I advise Wang to move around more and leave this place as soon as possible, that would be the best strategy."

  "I've come and I won't think of leaving." Wang Hengyue's stubborn temper also came up: "I, Wang Hengyue, will not leave Rong County half a step until this first team is done well!"

  "What's on your mind, Lord Wang?" Zhao Xi asked indifferently.

  "Silver, I'll think of a way, military equipment, I'll also think of a way." Wang Hengyue straightforwardly laid out the purpose of his visit: "But people are a big problem. Xiang Gong has a great reputation here, and I'm being presumptuous, thinking to ask Xiang Gong to make an announcement from a high place, join the new army, and then I'll select the best from among them."

  "Haha, Lord Wang has made a good calculation." Zhao Xi smiled and said: "Borrowing my name to recruit people, when the new army is trained, it will be your credit, Lord Wang. If something goes wrong, I, Zhao Xi, will have to take responsibility. It's better for you to find someone else."

  Wang Hengyue saw that he had wasted half a day's saliva, and Zhao Xi was still unscathed. He was furious in his heart, thinking to himself: "Could it be that without you, Zhao Xi, I wouldn't be able to do anything?" Just as he was about to get up and leave, he suddenly heard Liu Sihai say from beside him:

  "Xiang Gong, do you still recognize me, Liu Si Hai?"

  Zhao Xi was taken aback for a moment, sizing up Liu Si Hai for half a while before slowly shaking his head and saying: "Too unfamiliar, too unfamiliar, really can't recognize!"