Even if you feel overwhelmed at the moment, there are still people out there ready to shoot you in the back of the head.
Their blazing eyes proved it.
Max headed towards the base, calmly enduring the stares of the warm Jayhawks.
The steps were awkward and bitter.
The hardships that Asians face in America.
What was annoying was that I had to show my skills or value every time I met someone.
By the time we finally reached the base.
“Boss! Are you closed for business for a while?”
“Don’t you want to order a hammer?”
The young Jayhawks, or rather, those who have now left the organization and become Max’s employees, number 82.
And you can also see the blacksmith workers gathered on one side to take a break.
James Harris, Martin, Brett, and Hollen, who migrated from Leavenworth. Alfredo, who escaped from slavery.
And future presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Dred Scott, who sparked the current events.
‘I haven’t done anything in vain so far.’
Everything Max has done so far remains here in its entirety.
An asset and foundation for drawing the future together.
They were my colleagues.
“I’m going to test out the grill I made a while ago. Let’s catch some beef for dinner tonight.”
A brazier made for charcoal grilling. This was Max’s selfishly patented product.
*
It’s been two weeks since the Dred Scott decision.
The slave owners who were celebrating their victory did not just watch the Jayhawks flock to Lawrence.
The Border Ruffians were awakened from their hibernation and gathered together. The two sides soon created a tense atmosphere on the border between Kansas and Missouri.
And finally.
The Jayhawks, seething within Lawrence, attacked Leavenworth, where many pro-slavery supporters lived.
-Slavery advocates, get the hell out of here!
This incident, carried out by a small group with no clear focal point, resulted in the deaths of three civilians, which immediately provoked retaliation from the Border Rufians.
A situation where they were fighting each other. Guerrilla warfare that had never been seen before in history took place in many places.
Of note are Charles and James Henry Lane.
The two, who are the center of the Jayhawks, are not fond of massacring civilians, but they show their experience by actively jumping into battle against the Border Ruffians.
This was also an action based on Max’s advice, and was a departure from the original history.
– If you leave it alone, Jayhawks will fall into your hands. However, indiscriminate massacre of civilians will not only destroy the reputation you have built up so far, but also Lawrence’s symbolism. So I think it would be better to only engage in battles with a clear justification.
In an effort to split the growing Jayhawks, James Henry Lane converted some of them into militiamen and had them actively participate in training.
There are about 100 trainees.
Training took place in an empty lot within Max Base.
Among them was Charles Hart, a teacher.
“From now on, you will pass through the obstacles set up in the arena and be assigned to squads based on your best performance. Do you understand?”
“Old story!”
Instructor Nathan Lore replaced Max.
In addition, senior trainees such as Colin, Peach, Joe Jim Jr., and Patrick Downey were promoted to instructors.
They planned to each take charge of a squad and train them systematically.
‘Are those kinds of obstacles used by the military?’
Charles Hart’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. As he rolled his eyes and looked around, someone bravely raised his hand and asked.
“But… isn’t Instructor Max coming out?”
‘Good question, kid.’
Charles Hart was wondering that too.
A significant number of those gathered here are volunteers who wish to receive training directly from Max.
But the main character is nowhere to be seen, so the excitement has gone out the window.
Nathan Rohr dismissed the idea as absurd.
“How dare you, with your pitiful skills! You will receive training for a week, and only the top 1% will be given the honor of being trained by Captain Max. Do you understand?”
“Old story!”
“Listen to the voice. From the far right.”
“standard!”
“A collection of sobbing crossbars.”
“…….?”
“You ignorant bastards who don’t even know the length and width! How can you put Captain Max in your mouth with a head like that?!”
Nathan Lore, seemingly possessed by Max, drove the trainees away. The other instructors who were watching seemed to be stimulated by this and became competitive with each other.
Office within the base.
Holiday asked Max.
“You’ve given up on training? You seem completely uninterested in this matter.”
Max, who was scanning a map of Kansas on his desk, said without taking his eyes off it.
“Teaching is also an experience. I can’t do it all by myself forever.”
“That’s true. You must have a lot of work to do.”
Holiday, who was sipping coffee, changed the topic.
It was a story about ‘Max Investment’ and ‘Mineral Explorer’, which recently acquired business operators.
“If the business owner has already submitted the documents, shouldn’t it be time to meet with the governor?”
“If I told you I wanted to go mining under these circumstances, would you be happy?”
At Max’s words, Holiday smiled deeply. Max’s eyes narrowed at the sight of her face.
“What’s that smile?”
“It’s an expression you often make, what does it mean?”
“Hmm. Are you saying there is a way?”
Holiday nodded vigorously.
“If you give it the okay, don’t worry, Governor. I’ll take care of it.”
‘Is there a corner you can trust?’
Was there any connection between John Geary and Holiday?
I’ve been racking my brain, but nothing comes to mind.
Max turned his gaze back to the map.
West of Kansas, staring straight ahead at the gold mines that would become the future state of Colorado.
“By the way, if you go to buy land in advance, don’t you need a lot of people? It’s a dangerous place.”
“I’m expecting around seven people. I’ll have to pick out those with excellent fighting skills.”
“I’ll have to wait until the war is over before I can move. But will that day ever come?”
The war between the two camps has just begun. It is too early to ask when it will end, but Max is surprisingly short-sighted.
“The governor will not just sit back and watch as Buchanan intervenes with the military and causes chaos. That does not mean the war will end, but it will bring about a respite.”
The blazing firewood is easily extinguished. The same goes for Jayhawks and Border Ruffians.
A break is bound to come.
Not right away, though.
As the chaotic month of March comes to an end and April begins.
An unexpected event occurred.
What Max thought would change history has actually happened.
The death of Isaac Cody, who lived in Leavenworth but was dedicated to recruiting Jayhawkers.
This was a revenge killing for the Jayhawks’ killing of a slave advocate in Leavenworth.
Max found out about this when his son, Buffalo Bill Cody, came to see him in person.
And he was carrying the copper warhead that Max had given him.
“I thought you gave it to me so I could come when you called.”
“If you call me now… wouldn’t that be okay?”
The 8-year-old child is now 11 years old.
Still young.
‘What can I do with you?’
When Max shook his head.
“I brought a friend, please accept me. I’ll do anything!”
“friend?”
Suddenly Max’s heart starts pounding.
A character that comes with a 1+1 bonus when you get Buffalo Bill.
But rather than being a bonus, he is a character who surpasses the main character, Buffalo Bill.
Max asked his friend’s name in a trembling voice. Then Cody said,
“James Butler Hickok.”
Max let out a cry of joy inwardly.
A figure who is always present in the lineage of Western gunslingers and the person Max wanted to see the most.
‘Wild Bill Hickok’ finally came to find Max.
< Still young > End
< After resting for 10 minutes >
William Frederick Cody, with his slender face and bright eyes.
In contrast, James Butler Hickok had a square face, droopy eyes and a downward-pointing nose, seemingly unconcerned with the world.
What’s interesting is the age difference between the two.
Cody was 11 and Hickok was 20, a year younger than Max.
A whopping 9 year age difference!
He said that he was a college student who made friends with a 4th grader. For some reason, Hickok looked pitiful.
Of course, Joseon also said that they dated without considering the age of their friends. But wasn’t that when they were adults? Anyway, it was a very unfamiliar thing for Max, who had lived in the future.
Meanwhile, Hickok was neither surprised nor embarrassed to see Max, who was an Asian. Perhaps because he had already heard Cody’s story, he only showed a little curiosity.
‘I finally met the legendary gunslinger.’
Wild Bill Hickok, as seen in movies and books.
Although he appeared on the show with Buffalo Bill, Hickok made his name as a gunslinger.
Despite his futile end, Hickok, the greatest gunslinger of his time, was also a role model for younger generations, especially outlaws.
‘Well, that was when I wasn’t there.’
Max asked.
“How did you two meet?”
“I just helped you because it was dangerous.”
As Hickok spoke in a dry voice, Cody laughed and added,
“I was working on the stagecoach when someone attacked me. Hickok stepped in and knocked the guy down. He’s a very good fighter.”
Hickok nodded, chuckling.
Perhaps because the topic of fighting had come up, Hickok looked Max up and down like a beast eyeing its prey.
“Oriental, you fight too?”
“hmm?”
Max crossed his arms with a dumbfounded expression.
The legendary gunslinger, what are his actual skills?
One corner of Max’s mouth goes up as he becomes curious.
“Shall we give it a try?”
“It’s so refreshing. I like your personality.”
But the showdown didn’t happen right away.
John Brown, who was in the East all winter.
He was so angry that he came to Lawrence and immediately came to see Max.
“The two of you are going to the training grounds for a moment to take a look.”
*
“They tried to set Washington on fire, but they held back. This Supreme Court ruling will forever be a disgrace to American history. Chief Justice Roger’s children will probably never be able to raise their heads again.”
John Brown expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict.
Max listened to this calmly.
“By the way, I never dreamed that we would bring Dred Scott to Lawrence. Did you ever expect the outcome of the verdict?”
“No matter what the verdict, it was for the safety of Scott and his family. Thanks to the verdict, I was able to return to slavery, but no one has come to get me yet.”
“I don’t think I’ll have the courage to jump into the grave.”
John Brown nodded and continued.
“I came from St. Louis to meet Peter Blow’s sons. They offered to buy Scott from Emerson.”
Peter Blow was Dred Scott’s master at the time of his birth.
However, due to complicated circumstances, Dred Scott was transferred to a woman named Emerson, and Scott, who was almost made a free man, opposed this and filed a lawsuit.
And the enormous legal costs of 11 years of litigation were paid by Peter Blow and his sons.
It was rare for a former master to support his slave for more than a dozen years.
He even offered to buy Dred Scott, which he lost in the case.
“This is not the first time. I have proposed this before, but I have been rejected every time. Why did Emerson try so hard to win the lawsuit over her dead husband’s slave? Do you know why?”
Dred Scott’s second owner was already dead.
The third owner was a woman named Irene Emerson, who inherited her deceased husband’s estate.
The funny thing is that her second husband was an abolitionist and member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and his beliefs were being questioned and attacked as a hypocrite as a result of this lawsuit.
In any case, it was certainly questionable that Emerson took the case all the way to the Supreme Court while blocking her remarried husband’s path.
“At first, it was probably personal greed. But later, I think the slave owner may have been manipulating her.”
“I think so too. That’s why I decided that Scott was worthless to the slave owner who won the case. All that’s left is Emerson’s will…”
John Brown continued, bringing his face close to Max’s.
“It was a stroke of genius that you brought Scott to Lawrence. That greedy woman, Emerson, didn’t have the courage to come to Lawrence, so she agreed to the deal.”
When guerrilla warfare takes place.
Emerson, the mastermind behind it all, would never have dared dream of coming to Lawrence.
Eventually she decided to hand over the slave.
The price offered by Peter Blow’s sons was $750, which included Scott and his wife.
“The verdict was lost, and you bought your freedom with money.”
“That’s exactly why I’m angry. Also, I believe the president’s intervention was crucial in this ruling.”
Although the evidence has not yet been revealed, John Brown had a good guess.
In fact, it has been revealed that President Buchanan actually sent a letter to the Chief Justice.
“I learned something from this incident.”
John Brown stared at Max for a short while.
‘I’ve been pressing it well so far, but how will it come out?’
Thanks to Max’s efforts, the horrific massacre of civilians by John Brown, one of the most famous massacres in history, did not happen. But that does not mean we can guarantee the future.
What Max wants is for the attacks to target those in power, not civilians.
After all, what John Brown left behind for posterity was his radical actions to enforce his beliefs through violence. Marx’s attempt to stop this could have tarnished his reputation.
Breaking the silence, John Brown spoke.
“I realized that I could never move forward without uprooting this country. There were too many obstacles to leaving the emancipation of the slaves up to the choice.”
“So what are your plans for the future?”
“Total war between free and slave states!”
‘… I never thought those words would come out.’
Even in the history of the original, was John Brown thinking about the Civil War?
Max looked at John Brown’s bloodshot eyes with a strange gaze.
“It’s not easy to bring up the word war. But I intend to create it. Even if half of us die, that’s the only way this country can move forward!”
Establishment of a course based on firm beliefs.
It was unexpected that he had even mentioned war, but Max was secretly satisfied. His vision had broadened to the point where he no longer had to worry about civilians.
“Of course I know you will object. It’s unfortunate, but just as people think differently, so do their actions.”
John Brown, who had been solemn until just now, soon smiled bitterly. He thought that although he wanted to be together, their directions and inclinations were different, so John Brown assumed that Max would refuse. Of course, this was a hasty conclusion.
“I agree that this country needs war to move forward. If the conflict is not resolved, it will eventually explode. The rift has become too deep to prevent it.”
John Brown’s eyes wavered, perhaps because of the unexpected answer. But it was only for a moment. Soon, John Brown’s eyes filled with longing as if he had met a comrade.
“It doesn’t seem like you listened to me and responded. By any chance, were you considering the possibility of war all along?”
“Because that’s the way the flow is going.”
“So when do you think that time will be?”
“When the slave owner was cornered.”
John Brown chewed on Marx’s words.
‘The slave owner has the upper hand in many ways, so is there any reason to be driven into a corner?’
