Reborn in 1878: America's Number One Bandit

Chapter 116 Even the Mayor Has to Live in a Pigsty

Barkley's face flushed red and then turned pale, but he didn't care.

The howling of the pack of Irish mad dogs behind him grew closer, the noise sounding like they were banging on his coffin lid!
“Mai Ling, for God’s sake, for the sake of our past friendship, San Francisco is finished!”

"A mob is killing and setting fires, we need to go inside, please, let us go inside and hide!"

"Let's hide?"

Mai Ling covered her mouth and giggled: "Mr. Barkley, are you out of your mind? Chinatown is also part of San Francisco. You're trying to bring that pack of mad dogs into my territory. That's not a good business."

"no no!"

Mayor Samuel Black, disregarding all decorum, pushed his way to the front: "Madam, we only need to stay until tomorrow morning, just one night. National Guard Captain Barkley has already sent a telegram. As soon as they arrive, we'll leave immediately and won't disturb them!"

Mai Ling's eyes remained cold as she shook her head in disgust: "Mayor, Chinatown is too small to accommodate so many distinguished figures. If those rioters were to storm in, we small business owners couldn't afford to lose money."

"presumptuous!"

Next to Senator Crestwood, a state legislator named Davis finally found an opportunity to curry favor with his superior.

After receiving an encouraging look from Crestwood, he spurred his horse forward and pointed his whip at Mai Ling's nose: "Who the hell do you think you are? A Chink bitch, a yellow-skinned slut who sells her ass in bed, do you know whose territory this is? This is San Francisco, the United States of America!"

“You bunch of yellow-skinned monkeys are nothing but a bunch of damned tenants, parasites. We are the owners. Get out of my way right now and let us in, or when the National Guard arrives, I’ll be the first to hang you at the entrance of your brothel and drive you all into the sea!”

These words resonated with most of the white people present, who subconsciously agreed and even straightened their backs.

That's right, they are the owners. How dare these Chinese people be so rude to them!

Instead of being afraid, Mai Ling laughed out loud.

She raised her bright face, her eyes filled with disdain: "Congressman Davis, you're right, this is America."

"What does America value most? It's the law and contracts. The leases we signed between the six convention centers and the city government are in black and white and protected by California law. They clearly state our right to reside here. As long as the leases are valid, this is our territory!"

She pointed at Barkley, who was trembling with fear, and said, "As the police chief, you should know the law best. A large group of people threatening others with weapons and trying to forcibly enter legal private property—what is that called? That's armed intrusion, and we have every right to shoot you dead on the spot!"

"you you!"

Congressman Davis was speechless, his face turning bright red.

Mai Ling turned her gaze to Davis: "You're neither the mayor nor a police officer, and you're not on the lease. You don't even have the right to speak to us. So, get the hell out of here!"

"You dare insult me? You bastard..."

Davis flew into a rage and raised his whip to strike!
"stop!"

Barkley and the mayor both screamed in surprise!

They weren't afraid of Mai Ling getting hurt; they were afraid that if that whip fell, none of them would survive the night!
Before Mai Ling could say anything more, a hand reached out from behind her and pressed down on her shoulder.

Green Mountain emerged from the darkness.

As soon as he appeared, Mai Ling immediately shut her mouth and respectfully retreated behind him.

This subtle action shocked both the mayor and the senator.

These power-hungry elites immediately realized that this young Chinese man was the only one in power here.

Qingshan looked at the night sky behind them, where flames were blazing.

The mob's roars were almost upon us, and it felt like they would rush at us at any moment.

"Mr. Mayor."

Qingshan said coldly, "You've brought trouble to Chinatown."

Mayor Samuel Black's heart sank to the bottom.

Now, any threat, identity, or even the law has lost its meaning.

The only meaning is whether this man wants them to live.

"gentlemen!"

He took two quick steps forward and pleaded, "On behalf of San Francisco, if you let us in, you'll be a friend of San Francisco forever. We'll agree to any conditions, anything!"

"Yep!"

Barkley quickly chimed in, even pulling out his checkbook: "Money, gold, we have plenty. As long as we can live to see the dawn, we'll take 100,000, 200,000 dollars, or even more!"

Qingshan sized up the group of people and remained silent for a long time.

Everyone at the street corner is now like they're being fried in hot oil!
They could even hear the shouts and curses of the Irish mad dog leading the pack behind them, no more than two hundred yards away.

Finally, just as everyone was about to collapse, Aoyama spoke up leisurely: "For the sake of San Francisco and the mayor, I can let you in."

"Oh, thank God, thank the Virgin Mary!"

"Thank you, thank you sir, you are our savior!"

A group of people wept with joy, and several noblewomen collapsed to the ground on the spot.

"but."

Aoyama raised his hand, interrupting their cheers.

"You must abide by the rules of Chinatown."

"We'll abide by it! No matter what the rules are!"

The mayor hurriedly made his assurances.

"First, everyone hand over your weapons. I don't need a second armed force."

Hand over your weapons?

Crestwood and several wealthy businessmen instinctively gripped the revolvers at their waists.

That was their last sense of security, the final symbol of their identity and power!
"What? Don't want to?"

Aoyama's tone suddenly turned cold.

"No, no, no, we'll hand it over, we'll hand it over!"

Barkley was the first to throw away his sidearm.

He knew perfectly well that his little revolver was a joke in front of this group of Chinese people!
With someone taking the lead, others have no other choice.

They shakily unbuckled their belts and threw the revolvers and Deringer pistols inlaid with ivory and pearls on the ground.

"Second, once inside, you must stay in the area I designate and are not allowed to wander off."

"No problem, we'll stay there!"

"at last!"

Aoyama coldly swept his gaze over the crowd: "Shut your filthy mouths. Here, my word is law. Anyone who dares to make a sound or disobey will be thrown out!"

"Yes, yes, we understand!"

Qingshan nodded in satisfaction and turned to the side.

The group of men in black quickly parted to make way for a single person.

"Go in."

"Quick, get in!"

This group of the most powerful people in San Francisco, like a herd of pardoned livestock, pushed and shoved their way madly into the entrance to Chinatown.

Davis, who had been so arrogant just moments before, was now stuck in the crowd, trying to squeeze in.

"You, stop!"

Qingshan suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

Davis forced a smile: "Sir, I'm with you too."

“Chinatown does not welcome guests who insult us, so you cannot enter.”

"No!"

Davis's mind went blank, and he felt as if all the blood in his body was flowing backward!

He heard it—the sound of hooves. The mob's cavalry was right on the street corner; they were about to come and take his life!

"I apologize, I take back what I just said, I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

He grabbed Qingshan's arm tightly: "I'm a state legislator, you can't do this to me, this is murder, please!"

Qingshan remained unmoved and coldly released his grip.

"I'll give you money, ten thousand, no, fifty thousand silver dollars, let me in!"

Davis began frantically tearing at his pockets, scattering gold coins and checks all over the floor.

Qingshan didn't even glance at him, completely ignoring him.

"Fuck you, you yellow-skinned bastard, you'll regret this! I swear, I'll have the National Guard raze this place to the ground!"

The next moment, Davis's threat came to an abrupt halt! "Roar!"

A deafening roar echoed as Declan, mounted on his horse, resembled a true demon from hell.

He led hundreds of Irish thugs wielding torches and weapons as they charged forward!
Several ladies were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground.

"my Lord!"

Barkley immediately sped up: "No, I don't want to die, all of you get the hell out of my way!"

Declan reined in his horse ten yards from the entrance to Chinatown.

He glared angrily at Qingshan and roared, "Hand over those damned mayors and silk-clad bastards! They're our prey!"

Without wasting words, Aoyama lifted Winchester and aimed it at Declan's forehead.

"I don't care about what happens outside."

He said coldly, "But once you're on this line, you'll be under my protection."

"Huh, protection?"

A drunken Mexican thug laughed arrogantly: "We have thousands of men. We can just rush in and kill all these white pigs, then kill all these yellow monkeys. It'll be a piece of cake! San Francisco is ours tonight!"

"boom!"

A gunshot rang out, drowning out all the noise.

The Mexican thug glared, and a bloody hole appeared between his eyebrows!
Qingshan remained in the gun-raising posture, with wisps of smoke rising from the muzzle.

This silenced not only the rioters but also the wealthy residents of Chinatown, who held their breath in fear.

The shock of witnessing a living person being beaten to death at such close range was far more terrifying than a massacre happening in the distance!
Declan stared intently at Qingshan: "Are you sure you want to go to war with us for this bunch of trash?"

"Chinatown may not be a problem for you, but if you want to get into this street..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qingshan slowly waved his hand.

Hundreds of men in black suddenly appeared on the rooftops on both sides of Chinatown, behind the windows, and even in the alleyways deep in the street!

The muzzles of hundreds of rifles in their hands were all pointed at the rioters on the street.

"You'd better be prepared for a thousand deaths."

Qingshan finished speaking with a smile.

Declan pretended to weigh things over for a long time before finally squeezing out a few words: "Fuck, we're backing out!"

"However, let's catch the one who slipped through the net first!"

He suddenly pointed at Davis, who was already so terrified that he was soiling himself.

"No, save me! Mr. Aoyama, save me!"

Davis howled and tried to get up and squeeze into the crowd.

But the two thugs had already jumped off their horses and dragged him over.

Declan didn't go far.

Under the gas lamppost not far from the entrance to Chinatown, they put the rope around Davis's neck in front of everyone.

"No, no, no, don't!"

Davis kicked his legs wildly in the air, and his crotch was quickly soaked.

The mob roared with excitement, waving their arms and jeering.

After the Declan assassins hanged Davis, they lit a bonfire outside the block and waited there menacingly.

They told everyone in Chinatown in the most straightforward way that this street corner is the boundary between life and death!

"Uh!"

Senator Eleanor Crestwood was the first to break down!

She tried to scream, but could only convulse, grasping at the air in vain. Her eyes rolled back, and she fell straight down.

"lady!"

"Eleanor!"

Several wealthy businessmen rushed to help him up.

But when the group touched her, their hands found her completely wet!
This wealthy woman, known for her arrogance and fastidiousness in the San Francisco salon, was already so terrified she wet herself!
The still-bleeding corpse shattered their last shred of hope.

Davis was one of them. Just ten minutes ago, he was alive and well in front of them, but now he was a piece of meat hanging on a gas lamp post!

"Please come in, gentlemen and ladies."

Mai Ling spoke up at the opportune moment.

"Mr. Aoyama has prepared a place for you to rest."

This group of people no longer cared about any so-called dignity or self-respect; they just wanted to find a safe house to hide in as soon as possible!

If anyone falls behind, they might be the ones who die!
Samuel Black was the first to stand up, not even caring about his young wife, Penny.

Penny followed behind, her face expressionless, as she lifted her skirt.

"this way please."

Carrying a small lantern, Mai Ling turned and walked into the deeper darkness.

This group of San Francisco's elite could only follow behind Mai Ling, stumbling along the way.

They entered a narrow, dark alley.

The place is called Guang'anli, a name that sounds quite auspicious.

But this is also the oldest and most dilapidated corner of San Francisco, a festering sore beneath the veil of urban civilization.

This place is right next to the headquarters of the Chinese Youth Association, a heavily guarded two-story building that was converted from the former Longzhi Hall.

The original residents of this alley had already been sent to farms in Northern California in batches three days ago.

This place is now a completely deserted alley.

"arrive."

Mai Ling stopped and shone the dim light of the kerosene lamp around her: "Tonight, this place is yours."

This is a dilapidated dirt road, full of potholes, with rickety wooden houses on both sides.

A stench, a mixture of musty smells, urine, and rotting garbage, rushed out from under the door.

Qingshan stood at the alley entrance and did not follow them in.

"Remember my rules."

His words echoed through the narrow alley.

"Stay in this area, don't wander around, and get out of Chinatown when it gets light."

After saying that, he didn't even glance at the group again, turned around and disappeared behind the main hall door.

Mai Ling also bowed slightly, picked up the lantern, and followed her away.

The main hall's doors were slammed shut, and the fences at both ends of the alley were tightened, a brass lock clattering shut.

Seven or eight armed men in black stood guard outside the fence, their faces expressionless.

This group of upper-class people had become a group of captive prisoners.

“Oh, Good Lord…”

The mayor's wife, Penny, could no longer hold back and began to gag, covering her mouth.

This smell is a hundred times worse than the smell in her stables!
"They just left us here?"

A banker looked around incredulously: “Damn it, we’re not prisoners, we’re San Francisco taxpayers, how dare they stare at us like we’re monkeys?”

"Keep your voice down, Jeffrey!"

Another merchant tugged at him, stealing a glance at the black-clad guards.

Although the guards didn't move, their fingers were all on the triggers.

"Shh? Did I say something wrong?"

Jeffrey was furious, but he still changed to speaking in a low voice: "That damned Chinese guy, Davis's death is all his fault. If he had let Davis in earlier, Davis wouldn't have died. He killed Davis, that yellow-skinned bastard!"

“That’s right, he could have saved him, he just wanted to establish his authority…”

"These yellow-skinned monkeys are just like the thugs outside; they are all murderers, they are all devils!"

(End of this chapter)