Philadelphia.

News after news these days has plunged the temporary capital of the American Commonwealth into turmoil.

The Chinese Empire directly captured the mouth of the Mississippi River, not only captured New Orleans, the largest port city of the Confederate States, but also defeated the Confederate troops in Vicksburg, capturing more than 18,000 infantry artillerymen, causing the Commonwealth of America to unite with the Confederate forces to flank the Chinese Imperial Army in the north and south.

Seeing that the Chinese Empire was about to occupy the middle and lower reaches of the Mississippi River, the War Department of the American Federation ordered McClellan in the Western Theater to organize the Battle of Fort Dyers together with the Western Theater troops of the Southern Confederate States, preparing to defeat the Chinese Imperial Army in one fell swoop.

Unexpectedly, a shocking news came:

Johnston, commander of the Western Theater of the Confederate states, secretly colluded with the Chinese Empire to stab the federal forces that he regarded as allies in the back, and together with the Chinese Imperial Army, they conquered Dyersburg. The 70,000 troops of the western theater of operations of the American Federation were destroyed in one fell swoop, and 40,000 soldiers were captured in Fort Dyers alone, and the commander of the theater of operations, McClellan, was killed in battle, except for Major General David Farragut, commander of the Ohio and Mississippi River Divisions fleets of the inland water division, who escaped, the rest of the senior generals Major General William Rosecrans, deputy commander of the theater of operations, Philip Sheridan, commander of the federal cavalry brigade, Brigadier General Sherman, commander of the Kentucky theater of operations, and others, all fell into the enemy's army.

This was the worst defeat ever since the founding of the American Union. Even the two wars of independence of the Union, the war with Mexico, and the several wars with the Confederate states, did not lose so many soldiers.

You must know that although the American Federation borrowed heavily to recruit a total of 500,000 militia and volunteers, due to financial constraints and time rush, it actually recruited less than 400,000, and less than half of the well-trained veterans who had fought several battles with the Confederate army were 200,000. But this time alone, 70,000 soldiers were lost, which is the elite soldiers of the entire Western Theater. The defeat of this war means that the entire American Federation will lose military control over the western region.

Moreover, the Chinese Empire not only increased reinforcements from the Mississippi River, but also landed in San Francisco, California, from the westernmost Pacific region, and attacked the weaker states of California and Oregon. However, when the American Federation learned of the news, the main towns of the two states had been almost captured by the Chinese Imperial Army. Moreover, now that the Mississippi River is occupied by the other side, if you want to send troops to support, you must first control the Mississippi River.

For a moment, the people of Philadelphia panicked, as if they had returned to the panic period after Washington was captured and Lincoln was assassinated.

Just when the whole of Philadelphia was boiling with discussions, two more news came in succession.

The Confederate states treacherously colluded with the Chinese Empire to send a large army to attack the Federally occupied states of Tennessee and Kentucky. The Chinese Empire, on the other hand, sent troops north into the upper Mississippi River and reoccupied the upper Mississippi River, which had been under federal control.

Hannibal Hamlin, President of the Federal Government of the United States of America, delivered a speech, strongly condemning the rebellion of the Southern Confederate States of America, and at the same time strongly protesting the invasion of the Chinese Empire, calling on the people of the American states to actively join the army, donate money and materials or buy government bonds to support the resistance against the Chinese invasion!

Hannibal Hamlin said that he would lead the American people to drive the shameful invaders out of the American continent.

Unexpectedly, on the night of Hannibal Hamlin's speech, on the way back to the presidential palace, he was shot.

By the time the American Union remembered to block the news, it was too late, and newspapers were running the latest news reports on the assassination of President Hannibal Hamlin.

The New York Times, The New York News, and The Philadelphia Times all reported on the assassination of the president in large numbers with headlines such as "Who is behind the assassination of the presidents of the United States of America one after another." Moreover, according to the analysis of the newspaper, the mastermind behind the assassination was either the Southern Union or the Chinese Empire.

The people of the Commonwealth of America were furious, they didn't know about Hannibal Hamlin, who succeeded the dead Lincoln as president, but because of his speech before his assassination, protesting against the Confederate States and the patriotic behavior of the Chinese Empire, these people liked him, and believed that his assassination was the mastermind of these two countries.

Just as the people of Philadelphia and New York were preparing to hold demonstrations in honor of the president, William Henry Seward, Secretary of State of the American Commonwealth, came forward and announced that the assassin of President Hannibal Hamlin was instigated by the Confederate powers. At the same time, William Henry Seward announced that he would temporarily lead the cabinet and temporarily preside over the federal government. But the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America, Samon Chase, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Interior, Caleb Smith, and the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton have all issued statements claiming that they are the legitimate successors of the president.

It may be that at this time, it is clearly stipulated that the vice president and president of the Senate is the first heir to the president, but Hannibal Hamlin himself is the vice president who succeeds Lincoln as president, because he has been in a state of war, and Hannibal Hamlin, as acting president, has been serving as vice president and president of the Senate, so his death has not yet had time to elect the vice president and president of the Senate, causing these cabinet members to be dissatisfied with anyone and want to take over as president. Only a small number of Attorney Ministers and Navy Ministers did not compete.

In this way, the entire federal government is in chaos. The already enthusiastic people of the Federation began to forget about the dead President Hannibal Hamlin, and watched with interest the succession of these cabinet members.

Recently, however, for some unknown reason, the wind of the entire cabinet has begun to change again, and House Speaker Stevens and Home Secretary Caleb Smith have issued statements announcing that they are withdrawing from the race to succeed the presidency and instead support Secretary of State William Henry Seward to take over the presidency.

As a result, the other two contenders, Treasury Secretary Samon Chase and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, could not hold on any longer. Thus, Seward became the first heir, the successor to the wartime state.

ps: I recommend a friend's funny book "Super Big Mom System", which is very interesting, has a big brain, and is worth collecting.