The Dixie Must Die for the South to Live
The day of destiny, evening.
The corridor of the mansion where Albert Brown and his collaborators had gathered.
"We can no longer hesitate. If that bill is actually enacted, we are all dead men."
"Indeed. This is a blatant political maneuver by the Speaker and his cronies to bury us completely!"
The former Fire-Eaters, who had been scrambling to seize the power vacuum in the South, had finally had the fire lit under their own feet.
To reclaim the throne of the South, they needed someone else to blame, but the situation had turned into a farce where they were being bitten by the very hands they intended to crush.
"It is now common knowledge that Speaker Farrar and Seuret are one and the same. It is obvious that James Seuret’s influence is behind every move Speaker Farrar makes."
"Correct. As proof, didn't Speaker Farrar entrust all his farmland to Seuret? The traitor Quitman must be in on it, too."
"That man was a Fire-Eater himself—why is he so desperate to obstruct us?"
The fact that they were the ones who had first branded James Seuret and Farrar as pro-Black had long been erased from their minds.
Of course, that didn't matter.
The first principle of the Fire-Eaters was, after all, 'never admit fault.'
The war happened? The North's fault.
Lost the war? Davis and Breckinridge's fault.
Being criticized now? James Seuret's fault.
Politically cornered? The evil Speaker Farrar's fault.
Look. They had done nothing wrong in the first place, so what was there to admit?
"If a bill like that passes in Mississippi, other Southern states will inevitably be influenced."
"Agreed. We must take special measures."
Most groups would be wringing their hands in such a situation, but the Fire-Eaters were, for better or worse, highly proactive.
If things didn't go their way, they dueled; if they were in a bad mood, they beat up some Black people; if an annoying group existed, they committed acts of terror.
With dozens of such people gathered in one place, it would be strange if the discussion didn't turn extreme.
"There is only one way. Let us seize the legislature."
"An excellent method. It is the only way to reverse this disadvantageous situation at once."
There wasn't a single person gathered here who didn't carry a weapon, and if they gathered their like-minded comrades, their numbers would reach at least dozens, if not hundreds.
If they swarmed the state capitol building all at once, could those people possibly stop them?
"In any case, we only need a quorum for a legislative vote. After we occupy the building, we will block the others from entering and hold a session among ourselves to pass the bill."
"If we limit the scope of the investigation to Speaker Farrar and James Seuret’s group rather than us, it will be our victory."
"I think it would be better to divide the troops into two. The main force, centered around the assemblymen, will occupy the building, and the remaining force will detain Speaker Farrar and James Seuret in advance. That way, we can deal with them as soon as the bill passes."
"Oh! That’s a great idea."
"However, the 'darkies' at James Seuret’s plantation are a bit of a concern."
If this were before the war, they could have mobilized the slaves of everyone present to match the numbers, and that was the only thing weighing on their minds.
"Do not worry. Congressman Albert, surely you don't actually believe James Seuret’s bluff? That the 'darkies' will step up and fight for the white man?"
"Exactly. Even if there are a few of them, if we show up with guns and fire a few shots, they will all scatter."
James Seuret claimed that over a thousand slaves were absolutely loyal to him, but they didn't believe it.
Those ungrateful 'darkies' who ran away without looking back the moment slavery was abolished were offering loyalty to Seuret?
Impossible. Logically, it made no sense.
"The weapons are already prepared. If we want to stop the bill from passing, we must move today."
"Good. Then..."
BOOM!
Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat!
Just as they were about to declare a holy war to detain Seuret and Farrar.
Explosions and gunfire erupted from the distance.
"What is that? The militia shouldn't be training."
"I hear the 'darkies' have been doing a lot of banditry lately—could it be that?"
"Let's go out and see!"
Their guess was, surprisingly, half correct.
The group that appeared where the Fire-Eaters had gathered was indeed Black people.
They just weren't bandits.
Among the people who talked day and night about the pride of the South and the dignity of the planter, surprisingly few had actually been to the battlefield.
Planters with more than 20 slaves were exempt from conscription.
Those with political ambitions sometimes joined the military for their careers, but for most, that was the extent of it.
While there were cases like Nathan Bedford Forrest of the KKK, who joined the military and discovered immense talent, most of the Dixie men were, to put it coldly, pathetic.
Most of them believed without a doubt that if they acted tough, the stupid 'darkies' would be terrified and run away.
Because that was how they had been raised to believe.
But the reality before their eyes was nothing short of horrific.
"I come under the orders of Colonel James Seuret, interim commander of the Mississippi Militia. Rebels, drop your weapons and surrender immediately!"
"W-what? Rebels?"
They had come out because they heard gunfire, only to see hundreds of Black men—more than enough to count—marching in perfect formation, carrying military rifles.
At this completely surreal sight, the Fire-Eaters, including Albert Brown, were momentarily speechless.
"What on earth is this..."
"Did our plan get leaked already?"
"No, that's impossible..."
Where and through what path... no.
Even if the information had leaked, how could hundreds of 'darkies'—not just one or two—have gathered to surround them?
They had heard that James Seuret used to operate a slave unit in the past.
But the war was over, and they shouldn't be Seuret’s slaves anymore—yet they were following orders to come and capture them?
"Don't talk nonsense! How dare you 'darkies' try to capture us!"
"The Fire-Eaters are currently suspected of conspiring to assassinate the President. If you are innocent, drop your weapons and surrender for investigation."
"What? What did you say? Assassinate who?"
At such an absurd accusation, Albert Brown couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
These bastards were really just making up any excuse now.
Of course, they had no intention of surrendering and being investigated, as that would reveal their plan to occupy the legislature and bury Seuret and Farrar.
No, wait. This was actually an opportunity for them.
If they won, what they were currently plotting would be a revolution, not a coup, so what did it matter?
They could just claim that James Seuret was framing them with nonsensical lies and that they were exercising their right to self-defense.
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
"Now you're just making up any old bullshit!"
"Comrades! This is a coup staged by James Seuret and Speaker Farrar to seize the Mississippi legislature! We must stop them!"
"WAAAAAAH!"
Defeat the 'darkies' and detain Seuret and Speaker Farrar.
"Open fire! Drive the 'darkies' away as an example, then advance!"
Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat!
"A-aaargh!"
"The 'darkies' are firing back!"
"Don't be scared, return fire!"
"The building! Get into the building and take the high ground!"
Outnumbered and lacking any real combat experience—save for a few veterans—the Dixie men were systematically suppressed by the hail of bullets from Seuret’s guards.
"They don't have the guts to charge at the risk of their lives anyway. Avoid aiming above the chest to minimize fatalities."
"Yes, sir!"
The first clash between white and Black men in the South since emancipation.
The employees of Seuret Cotton, who had been training intensely for years, mercilessly beat the Fire-Eaters who were rolling on the ground with leg and abdominal wounds.
"You rebel bastards! Do you still think it's your era?"
"You acted like you were something special when you were nothing, so now you have to cough it all up, right?"
"How dare you frame the Master, you bastards!"
"M-Master? Seuret is still using you as slaves..."
"Chairman! It's Chairman, you bastard!"
Gunfire, screams, and curses filled the air.
Facing Seuret’s guards, who pushed forward like killing machines, Albert Brown and the Fire-Eaters were eventually suppressed with ease.
"How could the 'darkies'..."
"N-no! Not me! I stopped them! I said this coup was going too far!"
"Comrades! Do not yield! This is a conspiracy by Seuret and Farrar to frame us and seize the state legislature... Gaaah!"
"Albert Brown is here! Secured!"
Albert, who had been trying to incite the crowd while secretly attempting to flee on horseback, was struck in the back by Henry and collapsed to the ground.
"You... you bastard, how dare you, a 'darky'..."
"Yeah. Doesn't it feel refreshing to be beaten like a dog by that 'darky'?"
"Do you think you'll get away with this! Lawyer! Call a lawyer! I'll sue you and James Seuret for everything!"
"Be my guest. We are going to—oh, damn it—we are going to follow the Chairman’s orders, tie you up, and hand you over to the court."
They weren't going to silence him? They were really just going to tie him up and hand him to the court?
Why?
"W-wait! You were a slave in the past, weren't you? Submitting voluntarily to James Seuret, who once dominated you—do you have no pride? Don't do that, let's negotiate with us. We have plenty of money, too. If you help us, we'll give you more than double what Seuret promised..."
"Really? Then give me a salary of $5,000."
"W-what?"
"You said you'd give me more than double. Let's negotiate, starting at $5,000 a year."
The Black man called Henry smiled bitterly.
What ridiculous nonsense.
Did that mean Seuret was paying his 'darkies' over $2,000 a year?
Albert, judging that he was being mocked by the 'darkies,' tried to shout something, but Henry’s kick landed squarely on his jaw before he could.
Crack.
The self-proclaimed Southern independence activists, who had shouted for Southern independence and the overthrow of Black people, were crushed in the most trivial way.
By the time the night's shootout ended and the warm morning sun shone on Mississippi, the treasonous rebels who had dared to assassinate Lincoln had all been arrested and taken away by my volunteer army.
Well, there was a bit of a commotion last night.
Seeing not only them but also the countless Fire-Eaters who had actively discussed matters with Albert Brown being dragged away in a line like dried fish made me feel full even without eating.
Burp.
Farrar immediately convened an emergency session, and the Mississippi assemblymen, having just heard about the attempted presidential assassination, rushed to the legislature, pale with fear.
And I stepped onto the podium to explain the disturbance that had occurred in the middle of the night.
"J-James Seuret... what on earth is this?"
"I have received word from the capital. A madman named John Wilkes Booth was arrested on the spot while attempting to assassinate the President. It has been revealed that this was not merely an impulsive attempt, but a meticulous plan to assassinate the Secretary of State and the Vice President as well."
As with all crimes, the most important factors in murder or assassination are intent and premeditation.
If they had intended to assassinate not just the President but the cabinet members as well, it was a massive disaster that wouldn't be strange if it caused repercussions throughout the entire South.
"In these times, I received intelligence that the Fire-Eaters, including Congressman Albert Brown, were secretly gathering and arming themselves. Judging the situation to be extremely urgent, I immediately mobilized all available forces to strike them, and I have secured undeniable evidence on the scene."
If they had really just gathered to play around, I would have had to make up various excuses, but our Fire-Eater friends did not betray my expectations.
To think they had planned not only to occupy the legislature but also to arrest and bury me.
"If this situation had become known to the Federal government, even President Lincoln would not have been able to insist on a policy of appeasement any longer. Northern generals would have immediately pushed into our South, and we would have been in a situation where we had to share the responsibility for their stupid actions."
"Ha... what truly stupid bastards."
"How could they try to assassinate the President and occupy the legislature?"
"Therefore, we must move faster than anyone else. Before the public opinion of the Federal government and the North explodes, we must show our will to resolve this situation, centered around Speaker Farrar."
In simple terms, it meant we should identify the culprits responsible for this situation and cut them off cleanly before the other side could pick up the club.
"W-will that work? Logically, the other side seems like they’ve lost their minds."
"That is why we must not attempt a clumsy tail-cutting. We must root out everyone responsible for this situation and show that our will for self-purification is that strong. Our good Southerners! You and your families! We cannot let ourselves be harmed by such extremists!"
If we don't smash their heads in here, we could be suspected as accomplices, so there’s no other choice, right?
"I agree! I agree!"
"Damn it, I just wanted to live quietly!"
"Speaker Farrar! Please, save us!"
The Mississippi legislature, where a significant number of assemblymen were caught in flagrante delicto, unanimously cast their votes in favor of rooting out the rebels and establishing an emergency committee centered around Speaker Farrar and myself.
Since I have been given such a heavy responsibility, it is only natural that I should meet everyone's expectations.
I, James Seuret.
It is time for me to become the God of Normalization and save the South.