The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 544 The True Covenant Faction - the crucial minority!
San Francisco, Chinatown underground wine cellar.

Hong Renzheng's golden crown glowed dimly under the whale oil lamp, and the bald eagle pattern on the enamel tobacco box in his hand was lifelike. Lincoln's slender figure was cast on the oak barrel, and two dusty California Republicans stood beside him. The Whig Party in the United States split in 1854 over the issue of abolition. A part of the Whig Party in the North who advocated abolition formed the Republican Party, and Lincoln was one of them. The 1856 election was the key to whether the new Republican Party could establish its name in the American political arena! The key to the election was money and votes, especially votes that could play a key role at a critical moment.

The True Protestant sect on the West Coast has both of these things! Needless to say, the True Protestant sect, which monopolizes the supply of daily necessities and mining tools on the West Coast, has the most money. And the True Protestant sect also has a lot of crucial votes. Although it is currently difficult for Chinese to become naturalized citizens, there is naturally no way to get votes. But the True Protestant sect still has many white believers - whether they join the True Protestant sect to marry a Japanese girl, to eat free eggs, or to let Hong Xiuquan bless them to dig up gold, anyway, with an order from Hong Renzheng, the votes in their hands will become the key factor in the 1856 election!

In fact, the Mormon leader Brannan who was just assassinated also used a similar method to be elected as a federal senator.

Luo Yaoguo certainly knew about this method. Therefore, the True Covenant Diocese in Japan and North America has spent a lot of money in the past two years, paying out at least 5,000 to 6,000 Japanese girls, and taking on several thousand unfulfilled trans-Pacific marriages - considering the imbalanced ratio of men and women on the West Coast during the gold rush, the True Covenant Diocese's Japanese girls are really attractive.

With these trans-Pacific marriages that have already taken place and those that have not, plus the white men who joined the True Covenant faction because of eggs and "the blessing of God Hong," Hong Renzheng has at least 15,000 to 20,000 votes in his hands.

Compared with California's more than 1856 white population (of which at least have the right to vote), these to votes are a minority, almost % - the more than white people with the right to vote are busy panning for gold, and only a few hundred thousand will actually vote. The True Testamentists can organize all white male believers to vote - but for the Republicans, Whigs and Democrats who will fight each other to the death in the election year of , % of the votes in California are really a fatal attraction!
Hong Renzheng's disciple, Irish immigrant Jamie O'Connor, also changed into a tuxedo and put on a top hat at this time, and stood beside Hong Renzheng in a neat and tidy manner.

"This is Jamie O'Connor," Lincoln pointed at the red-bearded man, "He's the president of the Irish Immigrant Union. He also has the support of the True Covenant faction. He has 20,000 votes in California. That's the number so far. In next year's election, this number may become 30,000 votes!"

O'Connor tapped the floor with his boot heels. "As long as you Republicans support me in the by-election for the U.S. Senate and the 1856 U.S. Senate election, and support my friend Smith," he pointed to "Commissioner Smith" of the San Francisco Customs, who had secretly joined the True Covenant faction, "and run for mayor of San Francisco, then the or votes of our Irish Immigrant Union and the True Covenant faction will all go to the Republican Party!"

Lincoln turned his attention to the two Republican leaders in California: "John, William, what do you think? With these 1856 or votes, the Republican Party will sweep California in the election and may even win the governorship and all the federal senators, representatives, and electoral votes!"

A Republican took off his bowler hat, revealing his bald forehead. His name was William Sherman, a lawyer from Sacramento and a very active Republican in California. "Twenty to thirty thousand votes. Sounds good!" He looked at Jamie O'Connor. "Then will you propose to repeal the Alien Miner License Tax Act?" His sharp eyes swept over Hong Renzheng. "Bishop Hong, if I remember correctly, you, the Shinzo Apostles, have always opposed this legislation!"

"No!" Jamie O'Connor shook his head. "I will not propose to repeal the Alien Miner License Tax Act. Besides, this is California law, not federal law. It is useless for me to propose it as a federal senator."

Hong Renzheng knocked the barrel with his cigarette case: "In fact, we True Covenants are not really opposed to this legislation because gold mining is not a long-term industry. Our believers want to take root in California. And" he glimpsed the greed in Sherman's eyes, "I also know that you will find a very valuable gold mine on the territory of the British Hudson's Bay Company before the end of 1855!"

Sherman nodded to another Republican in the shadows. "John, I think this deal is doable! If you want to try for the 1856 presidential election, California's electoral votes are also important."

The Republican who always stood in the shadows was named John Fremont, who hoped to challenge the presidency on behalf of the Republican Party in 1856. Although the possibility of success was slim, it would be good to get a few more electoral votes, which would help him make further efforts and lay the foundation for the 1860 election.

Fremont tapped the ground with his cane. "I heard you True Yorkers have a gold mine in the Rocky Mountains through an Irish shell company."

"Five, to be exact." Hong Renzheng took out a deerskin bag from his sleeve and poured out a few pieces of unpolished gold ore. "As long as Mr. Fremont supports Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Smith in running for election as Republicans and dissuade the governor from attempting to mobilize state troops to deal with us True Yorkists, the proceeds from these gold mines can be used for your campaign."

"But you killed Brannan!" Fremont said sullenly, "He was a federal senator and the leader of the Mormon Church. Utah Territory Governor Brigham Young would not sit idly by!"

"No, no, Senator Brannan was not assassinated by us. In fact, he died of a heart attack. He was too excited when playing with a Japanese prostitute. We have evidence!" Hong Renzheng took out a cloth bag from his sleeve pocket and placed it on the wine barrel. "Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Fremont, Mr. Sherman, you all take a look!"

"This is..." Fremont's face darkened. Hong Renzheng smiled and said, "I heard that the Mormons in California have a 'Paradise Manor' near the beach outside San Francisco. There are many young girls in it. Many California politicians have been guests there. There are photos and girls as evidence. Mr. Fremont, although we are a minority, we are very, very important!"

Sacramento State Capitol, noon, the sun is glaring.

Governor John Bigler tore a golden map to pieces, but the scattered scraps of paper still seemed to mock his empty militia roster. Outside the window, on Fifth Avenue, twenty carriages loaded with pickaxes and tents were driving out of the city, and the flags with the words "Hong Tianwang Bless Us" on the front of the carriages were fluttering in the Pacific Ocean breeze.

"There is only one cook left in the Ninth Militia Company!" The adjutant held up the torn conscription order. "Everyone has gone to dig for gold, fearing they will fall behind. There is only one cook left in the Tenth Militia Company..."

Before he finished speaking, the oak door was pushed open. Lincoln's tall figure cast a blade-like shadow on the carpet, followed closely by William Sherman carrying an alligator briefcase, and the last to come in was Fremont, an evergreen in California politics. Bigler suddenly smelled a conspiracy.

"Maybe we can negotiate terms." Sherman pulled out a gilded photo frame from his bag. An unknown and joyful gathering was faithfully recorded by photography: Bigler was hugging two girls in white Mormon dresses, and Senator Brannan was holding a champagne glass in the background.

The Governor of California's face turned pale, and fire almost spurted out of his sunken eyes. "Where did you get this photo?"

William Sherman said coldly, "We not only got the photo, but also saw the two girls in the photo. They are both Brannan's 'spiritual wives'. They are both very young and left a deep impression on you."

The Governor of California waved his hand fiercely at his adjutant and sent him away, then looked at the three people in front of him fiercely: "What do you want to do?"

"We want a stable, united, and prosperous California under the leadership of the Republican Party!" Lincoln said solemnly, "My friends, join the Republican Party and fight against the evil of slavery with us!"

The governor of California glanced at the photo and said, "So what do the true Yoyos want? What do those damn Chinese want?"

Fremont smiled and said, "Friends! They just want to make friends." He pointed to the two girls in the photo, "They both miss Uncle John very much! I don't think you would refuse to save these two lovely girls, right?"

At the same time, Fort Victoria Pier.

Luo Dagang's military boots stepped on the slippery pier. Muravyov untied his scarlet cloak, revealing the sandy gold ribbon and the Order of St. George, and walked quickly down the "Grand Duchess Natalia". Grand Duchess Natalia herself and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's special envoy Wu Chongyao followed behind the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia of the Russian Empire.

The two generals who were supposed to fight to the death on the battlefield smiled at each other on the dock of Fort Victoria, stretched out their hands to each other, and clasped their hands tightly together. Natalia took the opportunity to come closer, with a relaxed expression in her eyes: "Great, it seems that we have finally reached a consensus!"

Wu Chongyao, who was standing by, said to Luo Dagang in Chinese: "My Lord, the secret peace agreement has been signed. From now on, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Russian Empire will fight a fake war in the Pacific Ocean and the west coast of North America!"

(End of this chapter)