The Hero of Chaotic Times
While the Buchanan administration was spiraling downward day by day, the momentum of the South was, conversely, soaring to the heavens.
It was the North that was wailing over the economy.
And while it was Buchanan’s administration that should have taken responsibility for it, the South’s cotton economy continued to cruise along without a single tremor.
By September, even those who had been skeptical had reached a clear conviction, as this year’s entire production sold out at prices no different from the previous year.
It was unfortunate for Buchanan, who couldn't even clean up the messes he made and was dropping turds left and right, but the Southern planters didn't actually have much affection for him.
The South, only the South.
The great planters armed with the cotton spirit were the only class capable of leading the United States in the future.
Those who had been laying low before the turn of the year began to run wild in 1858, convinced that their world had truly arrived.
Unlike last year, when they were anxious because the cash hadn't hit their hands even after the cotton was sold, massive payments had finally arrived from Europe.
With the addition of the Boston Advertiser’s grand declaration of defeat, the Natchez planters were already thoroughly intoxicated on "cotton-high."
Hmm, look at this. They really are out of their minds.
With the massive influx of money from Europe, the planters threw grand parties every week as if to show off, and I became the one called out to receive VVIP treatment every time.
Today, too, as soon as I finished giving instructions to Rockefeller and sent him off to the North, I was on my way to the party venue after being summoned by Senator Parer.
And Macrae, who had just secured another two years of reign as governor, welcomed me with his arms wide open.
When Quitman spotted me, he rushed over, thrusting his face forward as if to embrace me, and began to laugh like a madman.
Instead of a complex explanation, I pointed to my chest with my finger and answered in one word.
Not just Quitman, but everyone from the governor to Senator Parer kept nodding, smiles never leaving their lips.
It worked.
I tried it just to see if it would stick, but with a reaction like this, no matter what I do in the future, these people won't doubt the value of my name.
Achieved some results using slaves? Just stamp it with one line: "It's me, James Sett," and everyone will be convinced and stop nitpicking.
As fragrant liquor was delivered, we each held a glass and chatted.
The 20th century is when the U.S. could even pretend to scoff at the name of Britain, but before the Civil War, one could never be free from British pressure.
Britain was undeniably the world's strongest power, and it was no exaggeration to say that the U.S. financial market was running thanks to Britain.
It’s a maxim known to anyone who has experienced the 21st-century crypto bull market, but there’s a saying that when investing in crypto, you should buy so-called "major coins."
If you buy some unknown "trash coin," you might hit 100x or 200x returns, but it’s also common for your money to literally become zero.
U.S. railroad stocks before the panic hit were exactly like that.
Even though there were solid stocks like Pennsylvania or Illinois Central, they only go up by 30%, 40%, or at most 2x. For dopamine addicts who want to play "money for money," those figures are boring.
So, countless investors bought stocks of companies that hadn't even laid proper routes yet but had grand plans, and the result was, naturally, bankruptcy.
Hearing the story, it seems Lord Alderley lost quite a bit, but he was a man who had served as President of the Board of Trade in Britain, so his scale is different.
Of course, since he has so much wealth, he wouldn't be driven to a dangerous level even if he lost that much money, but no matter how rich you are, it’s not easy to keep your sanity when you lose in the tens of thousands of pounds.
Logically, would stocks that couldn't be disposed of in Britain be disposed of in the North?
However, if you consider that, one more possibility branches out.
Certainly, if Lord Alderley wants to dispose of the toxic railroad stocks he’s still holding, we are the only ones with the purchasing power to buy them.
But is that really all there is to it?
Even so, it looks too pathetic for a man who is a British Board of Trade minister to come all the way down to the South just to ask someone to buy his stocks.
As I sent a curious look, Governor Macrae toyed with his wine glass and shrugged, saying I was indeed quick-witted.
Wow. Now they’re even pulling out Bible verses.
It’s a logic that would make Moses and the Apostle Paul shed tears and step aside.
To have people already looking to cut ties within the party, going beyond a lame-duck status in just one year—is this for real?
At this point, I was starting to feel a bit sorry for Buchanan, but the self-proclaimed winners of the Union gathered there didn't care and continued to speak confidently.
No matter how much cash they have, there’s no way many people would waste money buying up railroad stocks that have already been smashed.
Sure enough, as soon as my question dropped, the gazes of the politicians in the room naturally focused on me.
Senator Parer was the first to laugh and pat my shoulder.
These shameless bastards, they set the schedule without even asking the opinion of the person who would actually be paying the money?
Of course, it wouldn't be bad to owe a debt to someone who has clout in British politics, but their actions now weren't simply ending there.
They weren't just sharing the delusion among themselves that the South was superior to the North; they were trying to invite key British figures to promote it.
Where the steering wheel of that speeding truck would head, it was too clear to me now.
I’m sorry, guys.
Cotton? You can just grow that in Egypt and India.
* * *
An economic panic is a disaster for some, but a field of opportunity for those who are prepared.
Rockefeller was devoting all his energy to finding promising young talent within the Union, as per his employer's orders.
The giants who had already made a name for themselves were as expensive as their achievements.
Or perhaps it was because James, his employer, was so young that it was hard to say he was even beyond the "young" level, so he might have preferred younger people on purpose.
Anyway, Rockefeller investigated various talents and reported them to James, and James gave him the mission to pick the ones he liked and attempt to recruit them.
Rockefeller didn't doubt James Sett’s eye for talent, if nothing else, so he followed his words without any disagreement.
It made sense, after all—wasn't he the one who recognized his true value before anyone else?
There was no way the eye for talent of such a person could be wrong this time either.
Rockefeller, who confidently knocked on the door of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was guided to the reception room for the promised meeting.
Today was not just a scout offer, but a plan to sign a large-scale contract with the Pittsburgh branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to maximize the imports of SM and SS.
And the person in charge who came in to finalize the negotiations reached out his hand happily upon seeing Rockefeller's face.
The supervisor of the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh branch was a young man who looked to be about the same age as Rockefeller.
He politely took out his business card, saying he also felt more comfortable meeting someone of a similar age.
One of the top priority recruitment targets identified by James Sett.
If recruitment wasn't possible, build a smooth cooperative relationship.
Rockefeller's eyes, having met a connection that would last a lifetime, shone sharply like those of a predator.
You’re that good at your job?
Follow me to our company.