America 1881: Legend of the West

Two days later, Army Secretary Agee announced that he was resigning because of his mistakes in the Spanish-American War, which resulted in unnecessary casualties for the army.

This surprised President McKinley.

He originally thought that persuading the old man to retreat would cost him a lot of energy, but he didn't expect that he was self-aware and ran away first.

The generals' attitude was one of universal celebration.

The damn timber merchant finally got out. If it hadn't been for him, his victory in Cuba would never have looked so ugly.

"I have said before that it should never happen where laymen guide experts." Merited veteran Miles said to his subordinates, "I think the cabinet respects our opinions."

The feud between him and Ajie has long been made public.

If not for this reason, it would have been Miles, not Schefter, who should have led the attack on Cuba.

He only got one job to attack Puerto Rico.

Now this old man who knows nothing is finally gone!

But Miles soon discovered that he seemed to have spoken too early.

The new candidate for Secretary of the Army still looks like an amateur.

The man's name was Elihu Root, a former law partner who later served on the New York State Constitutional Committee.

After all, Ajie had joined the army during the Civil War, but Mr. Root didn't even know where the gate of the military camp was.

Root was provided to McKinley by Congressman Hanna after studying it with Chen Jianqiu for a long time.

This person has a very good relationship with Chen Jianqiu.

When he was a partner of a law firm, he was a guest at the "Finance and Legal Center" and did business with Chen Jianqiu.

But this choice happened to be the one McKinley needed!

McKinley was not blind.

Although the United States won a complete victory in this war with Spain.

But this is mainly due to the strength of the navy and the weakness of Spain itself.

The President was "deeply impressed" by the Army's poor performance in this war.

If the opponent is not Spain, the battlefield is not in Cuba, which is close to the United States, or there is no help from the local rebels.

The outcome of the war is really hard to say.

Therefore, he hopes to find someone with clear ideas to carry out the reform of the military system.

But McKinley himself said he was not sure how to change it.

Root, who was reforming the country's industry and commerce at the time, seemed quite suitable for the job.

Therefore, when Hanna offered this candidate to McKinley, the President agreed without saying a word.

As for the army commanders, although they were dissatisfied, there was not much they could do.

McKinley's point is also simple.

If you want someone from the cabinet to take the blame, fine, no problem. I found this scapegoat for you. Now that someone else has been replaced, and you are still not satisfied, that is a bit too much.

Apart from a few curse words in private, Schefter didn't do anything too outrageous.

Miles Sr. resigned in anger.

President McKinley expressed his wish and immediately approved the latter's resignation.

Anyway, the war is over. General, if you want to resign, just resign.

So, whether active or passive, willing or unwilling, General Miles retired honorably.

Aijie and his two old men went to retire one after another.

The difference is that Aijie is rich and lives his whole life in his manor in the west.

And he was much poorer.

The general has no children, and his previous investment failed, so he can only huddle in an apartment in New York.

At that time, there were no pensions in the United States.

Even prominent generals are like this.

When winter came, Miles couldn't even afford the heating bill.

The proud general could not tolerate being in such a miserable state.

He feels that he has dedicated his life to this country and does not deserve to be treated like this.

If this continues, he will have no choice but to sell those medals to pay for his living expenses.

The federal government cannot ignore him.

Just when Miles was about to put on his military uniform again and go to the government to ask for an explanation, there was a knock on his door.

"Boom, boom, boom."

The knocking sound is very particular and rhythmic, but not urgent.

Miles adjusted his military uniform and walked to his door.

He opened the small window on the door panel and looked out.

Miles saw a Chinese man wearing a fur coat.

The river leather hat on his head looked a little out of place in this neighborhood.

And the Chinese man was also looking at him.

Miles knew the man.

Chen Jianqiu.

The two men had met in New Mexico.

At that time, Myers replaced Crook, who was disgraced by Chen Jianqiu and Geronimo, as the commander of the Arizona and New Mexico Military Districts.

Miles remained neutral when Scott and Chen Jianqiu clashed and requested federal support.

Apart from that, the two people really can't talk about having any more friendship.

Miles opened the door and let Chen Jianqiu in.

"Excuse me, Mr. Chen, did you come to see me today for anything?" The general's voice was still strong and full of energy, and he didn't look old at all.

Chen Jianqiu walked into the room.

He took off his leather gloves and looked at the furnishings in the apartment while breathing hot air on his hands.

The furnishings are very simple, with only a table and a bed. The bedding on the bed is not thick, but it is neatly folded and very clean.

The floor creaked when stepped on due to its age and disrepair, and some dust would be raised from time to time.

The heating pipe didn't seem to have any heat at all, and had a cold sheen. It had obviously been wiped but hadn't been used for a long time.

In the fireplace beside the wall, several pieces of wood and charcoal have been burned out, and there are some scattered embers.

"General Miles, how come you live in a place like this?" Chen Jianqiu shook his head and sighed.

The general pinched his fingers subconsciously.

His back was straight.

"The house is a bit small, so it's not as cold as it looks." The general said harshly.

"The Federation should not treat a meritorious general like this. This will chill all the soldiers." Chen Jianqiu looked at Miles and said with regret, "You have done too many things for this country. This is not right for you." Fair."

"I don't need anyone's pity, Mr. Chen." Miles said expressionlessly.

Although Chen Jianqiu's words touched his inner thoughts, his pride as a general made him unwilling to accept sympathy from anyone.

"No, I don't pity you, I just feel that you are not worth it."

Chen Jianqiu walked to the table as he spoke.

There was a thick sheet of manuscript paper on the table, held down by a piece of angle iron.

Chen Jianqiu glanced at the papers, then turned his head and asked:

"Are you writing your autobiography, General?"

Miles said nothing;

Of course he would not tell Chen Jianqiu that no publisher was willing to publish his autobiography, and that he would even need to print it at his own expense.

"Mr. Chen, you came to see me today, didn't you just come to see my jokes?" Miles took a deep breath.

"No, General, I just heard about you from others, so I came here." Chen Jianqiu said, "My Roswell Arms Company is short of a highly respected consultant."

"So, I took the liberty of coming here to ask if you are interested in taking up this position." He stared at Miles and said.

When Miles heard this, his heart suddenly trembled.

However, his expression did not change at all: "I really don't know what useful suggestions I can give you in an arms company."

"There is a saying in my hometown that 'a family with an old man is like a treasure'. The advice of veterans is very precious, let alone a general like you?" Chen Jianqiu said to Miles with a smile.

"Do you think I'm in too much trouble, so you want to give me alms?" Miles' pride was still at work.

"It's not about charity, general." Chen Jianqiu pointed to the manuscripts on the table, "If you don't mind, you can give me this manuscript, and I will find a way to publish it for you."

When Miles heard this, he thought it was more like charity.

"Mr. Chen, I think"

"I will pay you an annual salary of one hundred thousand dollars, as well as royalties from your autobiography. What do you think?"

Chen Jianqiu sat on the edge of the bed and raised his head to look at Miles.

"Okay!" The general replied simply and resolutely.

One hundred thousand dollars! That can completely improve your life, and at least make you look more decent.

"Then it's settled, respected General Miles." Chen Jianqiu stood up.

But General Miles suddenly called Chen Jianqiu from behind.

He was still full of uneasiness, because no boss would provide a decent position to an old man, and he didn't know exactly what he should do.

"But I really don't know what I do! Or what effect it can have." Miles said.

"Don't worry, just take your time."

Chen Jianqiu replied and left here.