I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 352

With the fall of the American Union, a new government was established, but a country formed in just a few days could hardly function effectively.

Most of the key figures from the original government had been removed, necessitating the assembly of new personnel to lead the nation.

Engels wanted to fill key positions with executives from the International [a global socialist organization], but he knew that would worsen public opinion.

Although they spearheaded the revolution, they were essentially outsiders who had arrived from other countries.

Even Engels serving as the interim Secretary-General representing the council drew complaints, so what would happen if he promoted his comrades?

It was obvious that there would be criticism that outsiders were taking over, which would immediately lead to internal strife.

Engels considered it a matter of utmost urgency for this nation, born from revolution, to solidify its foundation.

Still, according to his theory, a proletarian dictatorship [a government controlled by the working class] was essential for this country to transition into a true communist society.

He expected the newly formed council to play this role.

“Thomas More’s book features an island called Utopia [an ideal society]. This Utopia is said to be a society with the best possible conditions that humans can imagine—an even more advanced paradise on Earth. Overwhelming support for the council is essential for building this communist paradise!”

“But Comrade Engels, some people still doubt that the council can play such a role.”

“That’s right. Naturally, many people will feel alienated by this unfamiliar system. So, we must first do our best to ensure that everyone in this land can accept the council without suspicion.”

Engels gradually removed the forces that opposed the council’s rise to power.

He actively met with intellectuals and representatives of labor groups, appealing for their support every day.

“To define the long history of mankind in a single word, it ultimately boils down to domination and coercion. The powerful oppress the powerless, and those in power annex those who are not! Has your life improved by conforming to such a distorted society? We only gain comfort from seeing slaves more wretched than ourselves, thinking we are fortunate not to be like them, but have we truly lived better lives in a genuine sense!”

“Engels! Engels! Engels!”

“That’s right, everyone! We have merely been deceived by their cunning words. But isn’t it strange? We are the ones who produce the food that is the foundation of society! We are the ones who run the factories! And we are the ones who risk our lives to fight when war breaks out. But why do we have to worry about what we will eat tomorrow and live without even enjoying basic human freedom!”

Engels thoroughly directed the anger of farmers and workers towards capitalists and the powerful.

Slavery should never exist in a communist society, but he cleverly avoided approaching slavery as a human rights issue.

He knew that inciting hatred towards capitalists and naturally demonstrating the meaninglessness of slavery would be more effective.

“Those slaves were ultimately a trick by capitalists to blind you. Who benefited from maintaining slavery? Was it you? No, it was the bourgeois [the capitalist class] who handled the slaves. They packaged slavery as tradition and waged wars to win independence, but who enjoyed the fruits of that? Was it you? No! It was the bourgeois who exploited you like slaves!”

“Death to the bourgeois!”

“Kill! Kill!”

“Dear comrades, we stand here to eliminate all this irrationality and discrimination and create a true paradise. It may take several more years to rebuild this country that those capitalists have ruined.

But I promise you this: you will live a better life than before. The capitalists who monopolized food and wealth are gone! We are different from the corrupt capitalists. We will only look to the people and do our best to make this country a paradise!”

Engels raised his hand and roared.

“All power to the council!”

“Waaaaaaah! Engels! Engels!”

“Long live the council!”

“All power to the council!”

“Engels! Lead us!”

Overwhelming support. Fanatical enthusiasm.

Engels and the council, having succeeded in creating conditions that stifled opposition, embarked on the communization of society.

First, under the motto that the economy, directly related to the lives of citizens, was paramount, they created the ‘People’s Economic Organization’ and seized the land owned by landlords.

Naturally, in this process, slavery was invalidated, and the people of the South were united under the banner of ‘the people.’

Next, they prioritized the supply of food to the workers and provided them with the large houses owned by the bourgeois and landlords.

Of course, several families moved in together, but this alone was appreciated, and they continued to take unconventional steps such as improving working conditions and enacting insurance.

In this atmosphere of enthusiastic support, Engels’ council adopted the , eliciting further enthusiasm from the southern workers.

They succeeded in instilling fear in the northern and European countries.

The main points of the Declaration of Rights were summarized as follows:

1. The new American Union is a free socialist union of all people, including workers and farmers.

2. The American Council will realize the aspirations of free people.

3. The basic task of the council is the complete abolition of all social inequalities that exploit the people.

Voices criticizing Engels’ council for seizing power were raised several times, but they were simply ignored by the council’s supporters.

Some disappeared from society without a trace and could no longer voice their opinions.

In the end, contrary to the belief of the surrounding countries that the power arising from the riot would only be temporary,

Engels’ council monopolized all the powers of the state and stood tall as the de facto supreme power organization.

The threat of the American Socialist Union was becoming an increasingly undeniable reality.

* * *

The people most shocked by the fall of the American Union were, of course, those in the North, which bordered it.

“How could the South suddenly collapse like this? What happened?”

“Communism? What is that?”

“What, the South was sending spies to start a conspiracy to eat us up? But why did they collapse first?”

“Then what about the spies?”

Discussions about this issue arose from all directions, with no clear leader.

Some were curious about communism, and some were worried about the North collapsing in the same way.

Others questioned what had happened to the southern spies that the government had warned about.

Still, the government’s response was unusually swift.

As if they had anticipated this, the Lincoln administration took decisive action that surprised even its supporters.

“The riot in the South was led by an insidious socialist force called the International. It has been confirmed that their goal is to collapse the government and manipulate the country according to their wishes. They have created a bizarre organization called the council, privatized the state, monopolized all power, and wield power like a king.”

What do Americans hate the most?

It is the monarchy, which they have been taught to despise since independence.

On the other hand, the United States, democratically run by the votes of citizens, has a more advanced political system than those uncivilized countries.

“The word communism is an illusion! Joint production and joint distribution? Imagine! If I have to share what I worked for with others anyway, who would work hard with motivation? The word communism is a base theory that does not even understand basic human desires!”

In fact, this criticism showed a complete lack of understanding of communist economics, but those who voiced it knew exactly what they were doing.

They knew it was effective to frame the issue in the easiest and most intuitive way for the majority of citizens, so they made this criticism.

“Believing in communism is something that only fools do! Or there is another purpose in reality.”

And that other purpose was easily inferred.

“As a result of our investigation, the traitors in the South have been confirmed to be communists acting under pre-arranged orders! They have been hiding in society and working secretly for a long time to destroy our federation like the South!”

-Andrew Johnson, Vice President and Interim Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Declares that he will do his best to ferret out and eradicate communists!

Andrew, who had received Lincoln’s hint, miraculously revived from a situation where he was almost branded a fraud and devoted himself to hunting down communists.

Mobilizing all the authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he quickly rounded up intellectuals who talked about communism and put them on trial.

The traitors in the South had no real substance, but it was not difficult to find people already sympathetic to communists in society.

Of course, they were not spies secretly working to overturn the North under the orders of the South, but who cared about that?

Since they were communists who posed a danger to society, no one complained even if they were branded as accomplices of the South.

Of course, except for the person involved.

“A spy from the South! I am not!”

“As a result of the investigation, the suspect attended a meeting to study communism more than twice a week and was confirmed to have participated in a demonstration calling for a workers’ strike.”

“That’s just a social movement…”

“As you can see, subversive elements trying to communize the country are everywhere! But don’t worry. Our Federal Bureau of Investigation will ferret out all those who are trying to destroy the country and ensure they receive a strict legal judgment!”

Surprisingly, red spies trying to plunge society into anxiety actually existed.

Whether it was real or fabricated, it was now undeniable that the South had been overthrown by communist influence.

The hunt for southern traitors, which was nearing its end, gained new life in the form of rooting out communists.

Moreover, Lincoln had already made a promise to Killian, so he could not afford to show a more lenient attitude here.

To prevent these communists from crossing over to Canada.

No matter what, communism had to be demonized and completely expelled from the North.

Fortunately, the president’s firm stance received tremendous support from the capitalists who were growing in power in the North.

“I was honestly a little worried, but it looks okay these days, right?”

“The president’s response was very quick and bold. Thanks to that, I’m relieved.”

“As expected, the Republican Party does great things. Looking at the Democratic Party this time, they are useless. Being cautious is good, but they are too slow.”

“That’s what I’m saying. The country is about to be turned upside down, but why are they so relaxed? Could it be that reds have infiltrated the Democratic Party?”

“…The possibility doesn’t seem high, but suspecting them like that would be a very good way to apply pressure.”

If you don’t want to be suspected of being a red, fight more actively to protect this country’s capitalism.

All the tycoons of the financial world, including newspaper companies, capitalists, and landlords, supported Lincoln with one mind.

And the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by Andrew Johnson, was madly beating down communists like a vengeful ghost chasing after his parents’ enemies.

Faster than anyone else.

More violently than anyone else.

Thanks to his actions of rooting out communists as if he had been waiting for it, Lincoln gained a nickname at this time.

With a little fear and a little praise, they began to call the president this.

A hunter who beats down the Communist Party.

Red Hunter Lincoln.