novelSusiti Chapter 125 The Rise of the Yellow Peril Theory
Chapter 125 The Rise of the Yellow Peril Theory
Chapter 125 The Rise of the Yellow Peril Theory
Chinatown.
Zeng Tai sat on the second floor of the teahouse, looking at the bustling street scene.
Several more ships have arrived in recent days, officially bringing the total number of Han Chinese in San Francisco to over 10,000.
Of course, if you include the Han Chinese assassins he summoned, the number has exceeded 50,000.
Outside the teahouse, a dozen or so tables were set up on the street, and a crowd gathered around them, listening to the people on stage shouting: "The Hop Wo Association is hiring five farmers, one dollar a day, room and board included!"
"Thirty workers are needed for railway construction. The pay is two dollars a day. Applicants must be strong and physically fit!"
"A textile factory in town is hiring female workers. The pay is one dollar a day. Any women with skillful hands can come and apply with me!"
"Laundry room hiring both male and female workers, wages negotiable!"
"Ten water carriers needed. Must be able to operate a horse-drawn carriage. Excellent compensation!"
Someone in the audience shouted, "How many taels of silver is one dollar?"
"Eight mace and nine fen! One dollar is eight mace and nine fen of silver! That can buy sixty catties of wheat or ten catties of rice in Chinatown!" someone from the Hop Wo Association shouted. "Anyone who wants to come, hurry up and leave your handprint here! We're only recruiting five!"
On the bustling street, the new immigrants were shocked by the price. They excitedly rushed to a table and pressed their fingerprints on it without much hesitation.
The immigrants behind them who hadn't had time to catch up looked at the recruiters who hurriedly stepped off the stage and slapped their thighs in regret.
But soon, new people stood on the empty platform and began shouting for new jobs.
People surged forward once again.
Su Song, sitting across the table, sipped his tea and said, "With more people coming in, our people can be freed from these tedious tasks and can engage in more important pioneering work."
Zeng Tai nodded: "However, the male-to-female ratio is still quite skewed, so we need to be careful."
"This is not something that can be solved by a few immigrant ships. To get the proportion close, it will take a long time to transport them."
Su Song slowly said, "Other methods include: first, opening brothels and placing more women of various ethnicities there to relieve their sexual desires; second, educating women of various ethnicities, especially Native American women, and encouraging them to marry Han Chinese men."
Zeng Tai picked up his teacup, blew on the tea inside, and said, "You can arrange it."
He suddenly remembered something and said, "Right, we also need to pay more attention to security. They're all immigrants; there's no guarantee that some of them won't take the risk if they see orphans and widows. Even if they're caught afterward, the damage has already been done."
Su Song nodded and said, "The police station and Xinghan Hall will both send people to be on duty 24 hours a day. In addition, I will also instruct the building managers to be more vigilant."
Zeng Tai nodded, then suddenly asked, "By the way, how's our ship? What stage is the construction of that armored cruiser at?"
Su Songdao said: "The current construction progress is about 50%. The hull has been completed and the armor plating is being laid. The power systems such as steam engines, boilers and propellers are also being installed at an accelerated pace."
He paused for a moment and said, "Anyway, according to the shipyard on Mare Island, it is expected to take about four more months, which means it can be officially launched for sea testing in early November."
"Early November? That should be enough time," Zeng Tai said.
Su Song asked in confusion, "My lord, what's wrong?"
"Washington has already received news of our capture of California," Zeng Tai said with a smile while contacting Arthur. "The East Coast is truly in complete chaos right now."
Washington, D.C., the White House.
US President Franklin Pierce once again summoned his cabinet members, his face clearly showing his utter disarray.
After the annihilation of the 9th Infantry Regiment in New Jersey, militias from various states searched throughout the state. Money was spent and manpower was sent, but they couldn't find the Asian army that had attacked the 9th Infantry Regiment.
It was as if they had vanished into thin air.
This is not over yet.
Just yesterday, New York newspapers published news that caught all of them completely off guard: California had fallen.
"Gentlemen, look at these newspaper headlines."
Franklin Pierce threw a dozen newspapers onto the long table in the conference room, angrily saying, "Look at what they're saying about the government, how they're stirring up panic!"
Horror! Horror! California has fallen! Chinese immigrants have taken over the Golden State, and the civilized world is teetering on the brink of collapse!
A fatal failure of government! California is practically a shell of its former self, and War Secretary Jefferson Davis must be held responsible!
"Border Open, Disaster Strikes! America is America's America, the Federal Government's Immigration Policy Must Change!"
The federal army is useless; the Southern states must establish their own armed forces!
Newspaper after newspaper described the Chinese occupation of California.
Pro-American newspapers attacked immigration policy, pro-Republican newspapers attacked the Pierce administration, pro-Northern newspapers vehemently criticized Jefferson Davis, the Southern representative, and pro-Southern newspapers promoted states' rights to defend the South.
"I'm not surprised. These editors and reporters always believe whatever they hear."
Interior Secretary Robert McClellan said, "Is this news really true? Or is it just a bunch of addicts lying about it?"
Secretary of State William L. Massey shook his head, his expression grave: "Diplomats from various countries stationed in San Francisco have arrived in Washington, and according to conversations, they were all expelled by the Chinese in San Francisco."
"Surely they've gone mad too, willing to ruin their political careers just to come to Washington and tell this lie?"
"God, if this is a nightmare, please let us wake up soon."
Treasury Secretary James Guthrie gave a wry smile and complained, "Why is there so much trouble in California? First it was the Native Americans, then the Chinese."
Jefferson Davis said slowly, "Gentlemen, let's stop with the nonsense and get back to the point."
He looked around at his colleagues and said, word by word, "The fall of California to the Chinese is a disgrace to us, a disgrace to America!"
"I propose that we dispatch a main naval fleet, along with two additional army regiments in addition to the 10th Infantry Regiment, to California to reclaim our territory!"
"I object!"
James Guthrie said, "Too much, Davis, too much!"
"A main naval fleet, just traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast, costs over $1.5 million. Add to that the additional deployment of two army regiments, and that's at least $3 million in military expenses!"
"Three million was spent in May, one million was spent in June to conscript militia from various states, and now another three million is going to be spent?"
"Davis, those members of Congress will drown us in their spittle!"
Davis raised his voice: "It's only three million more. Don't California's underground gold mines and its strategic location justify those three million?"
"Where will the money come from? Don't forget, our budget surplus last year was only seven million dollars!"
"Just issue war bonds."
Davis replied without hesitation, "Don't forget, we issued $49 million in bonds nine years ago during the war with Mexico. What's a few million more this time?"
After a heated debate, the other cabinet members and the president eventually agreed with Davis's idea.
Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill.
"Gentlemen, what we are discussing today is not just a matter of military spending, but the dignity of the United States of America!"
Representative Preston Brooks from North Carolina waved the documents in his hand, speaking loudly.
"California, the land we spent three years and tens of millions of dollars to take from Mexico, is now occupied by a bunch of barbarians from the East!"
"If we don't react, if we don't send troops to take them back, where will those barbarians attack tomorrow? Oregon? Washington? Or the entire Pacific coast?"
A round of applause and cheers erupted from the audience.
Brooks continued, "Therefore, I support the Secretary of War's proposal to allocate an additional three million dollars in military funding to send a main naval fleet and three regiments of regular troops to California to wipe out these invaders!"
"We want to let these Chinese people know that the territory of the United States of America is not something they can lay their hands on!"
Thunderous applause erupted, and his supporters cheered in a way that shook the building.
But there are also dissenting voices.
Representative Lewis Campbell from Ohio stood up and said calmly, "Mr. Brooks speaks very well, but I have a question: Are three regiments and a fleet enough?"
The hall fell silent.
Campbell said calmly, "According to testimonies from citizens who fled throughout California, there were at least several thousand, possibly even tens of thousands, of Chinese who occupied California. They were well-equipped and highly trained, capable of taking over the entire Bay Area within two weeks."
"And what about us? The 10th Infantry Regiment has only 800 men, and the other two army regiments together have less than 1,700 men. The three regiments together have 2,500 men, plus the marines from the naval fleet, at most 3,000 men."
"Three thousand against ten thousand, gentlemen, what do you think the odds are?"
Brooks retorted firmly, "Our soldiers are regular troops, highly trained professional soldiers. Those Chinese are nothing but farmers, miners, laundry workers—a rabble!"
"Nine years ago, we defeated a Mexican army of 20,000 with 8,000 men in San Patricio. This time, 3,000 men defeating a rabble of 10,000 is entirely feasible!"
Campbell shook his head: "Mr. Brooks, you've overlooked a crucial issue."
"The Mexican army's equipment is far inferior to ours, but these Chinese are better equipped. They have breech-loading rifles..."
There are rapid-fire firearms and powerful artillery!
"Yes, gentlemen, the Chinese have the same weapons that the Native Americans had!"
Brooks was momentarily speechless, but quickly retorted, "Mr. Campbell, are you saying we should do nothing? Just stand by and watch California fall? Just stand by and watch our fellow citizens be slaughtered and enslaved?"
"I didn't say that."
Campbell shook his head and said, "I just think we need more information and a more thorough plan, rather than rushing into action."
"But there's no time left in California!"
Brooks raised his voice, "Every day we delay, the Chinese gain a stronger foothold in California. Once they've built their fortifications and established a firm grip on power, it will be much harder for us to take it back!"
Both sides stuck to their own versions of events, and the debate lasted for an entire afternoon.
Ultimately, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 159 to 112.
They agreed to add four million dollars to the emergency authorization bill for military spending, authorizing the president to send the Navy and Army to California.
The day after the bill was passed, Congress passed another bill.
The Chinese Exclusion Act.
The bill's official title is "Act on Restricting Chinese Immigration to the United States," and its content is not complicated: it prohibits Chinese people from naturalizing as U.S. citizens, prohibits Chinese workers from entering the United States, and requires Chinese people already in the U.S. to be deported.
The bill was introduced by Representative John C. Birch of California, who delivered a lengthy speech in the House of Representatives listing various misdeeds committed by Chinese Americans.
"They don't believe in God, they don't obey our laws, they don't integrate into our society. They swarm in like locusts, stealing our jobs, driving down our wages, and then bringing their fellow citizens over wave after wave."
"Now, they've even started seizing our land!"
There were no dissenting voices from the audience.
The Chinese Exclusion Act passed by an overwhelming majority and was sent to the Senate, where it is expected to pass smoothly before being signed into law by the president.
After news of the bill's passage spread, American newspapers, as if instructed, began reporting on Chinese people.
The New York Tribune published a long article on its front page titled "The Yellow Peril Has Arrived."
The article begins: "History tells us that every wave from the East that sweeps across the West brings devastating disasters."
"In the fourth century AD, the Huns were defeated by the Han Dynasty in Chinese history and migrated westward, eventually leading to the fall of the Roman Empire and plunging Europe into the Dark Ages."
"In the 11th century, the Turks, who had been driven to Central Asia by the Chinese, rose to power. They first established the Ottoman Empire, then destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire, and ruled the Balkan Peninsula for hundreds of years, becoming a nightmare for all Christians."
"In the 13th century, the Mongols, who had conquered China, launched a westward expedition. Relying on engineers and artillerymen composed of Chinese, the Mongols marched from Asia all the way to Europe, destroying countless cities and countries and killing tens of millions of people."
"And now, the fourth Yellow Peril has arrived."
"The Chinese have already taken California, where will they go next? Oregon? Washington? Or the entire American continent?"
"We must be vigilant, we must take action. Otherwise, we will face the same fate as the Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, and Kievan Rus'."
This article was reprinted by numerous newspapers, sparking panic and discussion across the United States.
In New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago, people gathered in bars and cafes to discuss the Yellow Peril theory.
"Think about it, how powerful was the Roman Empire? It was destroyed by the Huns. The Eastern Roman Empire lasted for over a thousand years, but was destroyed by the Turks. Not to mention the Mongols, they slaughtered wherever they went."
"Now it's the Chinese's turn."
"It's different, isn't it? Those things happened thousands or hundreds of years ago; it's the 19th century now."
"What happened in the 19th century? The guns in the hands of the Chinese were no worse than ours."
"And they have a huge population, reportedly 400 million. If every single one of them were a warrior, who could stop them?"
"My God, it's terrifying to think about."
Panic spread like wildfire.