John Sartre is the head snake of the land in a remote town in western North America, who does not care about any territorial disputes between the United States or Mexico, nor does he care about the international situation, and he can't even read the newspaper, but only cares about consolidating his power in this one-third of an acre.

How could he have imagined that he would be affected by the impending Mexican-American War?

According to this, about 300 meters away, on the old street of the new town, outside a Spanish-style mansion, there are several Mexican gunmen wearing large Mexican straw hats and bright Andean scarves around their necks, wandering back and forth vigilantly, their facial features are obvious.

From the Spanish invasion in 1519 to the founding of Mexico in 1821, the Spaniards ruled the North American colony for more than 300 years, leaving an indelible mark.

Mexicans tend to look more European and American, but they have strong Indian characteristics, with relatively brown complexion, black eyes, and mostly black hair.

A small number of native Mexican whites have blonde and tan hair and fairer skin, and these people tend to be descendants of Hispanics of purer blood and higher social status.

Mexico has a large population of Indians, and these Indians differ significantly from those of Native Americans.

The former had been under Spanish colonial rule for a long time, spoke Spanish, believed in Catholicism, and had social customs and daily interactions more inclined to the more civilized feudal farming system of Europe, living in towns and villages, forming a strict hierarchy.

The indigenous Indians chase the North American bison and migrate, mainly live in tribal settlements, are accustomed to hunting and nomadic life, believe in wolf totems, and speak the indigenous Indian language, and the language and customs vary greatly from place to place.

This Spanish-style mansion was the residence of Juan Carlos, and the surrounding area was a servant Mexican gunsmith raised by the Carlos family, similar to the famous Guanning Iron Cavalry in the late Ming Dynasty, and was raised by the generals of the border town.

As a result of the recent conflict in San Francisco, large-scale armed conflicts have occurred from time to time. Coupled with the fact that the United States and Mexico are gearing up for a big war, the internal and external situation has deteriorated rapidly.

The Mexican forces entrenched in the new towns also smelled the strong smell of gunpowder and took more cautious precautions.

You can see it

On the third-floor platform of the Spanish mansion, seven or eight Mexican gunners armed with flintlock muskets sit on it, wandering back and forth from time to time, always on guard, adding to the tension.

"I'm sorry, dear Mr. Russell, I support from the bottom of my heart the Federation's efforts to re-establish order in San Francisco, it's too chaotic here, and the Carlos family is willing to help in any way they can."

The tall Juan Carlos has blonde hair, tan eyes, a beautiful mustache on his lips, and a modest light white tuxedo, and a calm demeanor, speaking like an aria in an Italian opera, with a mellow and gentle voice.

He sent Odom-Russell to the four-wheeled carriage, bowed slightly apologetically, and continued with an elegant expression;

God testifies

As devout Catholics, the Carlos family will always have a humble and grateful heart, and they cannot forget the care and friendship that Mr. John Sartre has shown to the family over the past ten years.

The situation today

I felt hesitant and helpless, and the precious qualities of friendship, loyalty, and trust were put to the test.

I am personally very grateful for the goodwill conveyed by the Federation, and between the Federation and John Sartre, the Carlos family cannot make a two-choice decision and can only remain friendly.

I hope that Mr. Russell, on my behalf, would like to express my sincere respect to the honourable Captain William and Mr. Richard, and look forward to their visit and further discussions on future in-depth contacts in order to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation. ”

Speaking of which

Juan Carlos beckoned, and six maids in plaid skirts walked up to the carriage with various gifts in their hands, and naturally the escort gunner took them and put them in the carriage.

"A little gift is not a tribute." Juan Carlos has a warm smile on his face, like a spring breeze.

Odom Russell, the owner of the grocery store in charge of logistics of the Federation, politely lowered his head and raised his hand to pull the brim of his hat, and made a simplified hat salute, saying; "Thank you for your gift, distinguished Mr. Carlos, and I will convey your greetings truthfully. There is only one requirement on the part of the federation; Now that the position has been formally expressed, it is not easy to change it. ”

This sentence implies a threat;

You're a smart person, and it's needless to say that you're powerful. Since you are neutral, then you must restrain your subordinates, otherwise everyone will break up in two, and the time will come to see each other.

"Of course, I vouch for the credibility of the Carlos family, please understand."

"Very well, thank you for your hospitality, goodbye."

"We look forward to seeing you again."

Odom Russell gave a deep look at the gentlemanly Juan Carlos, then turned and got into the carriage and tapped the wall in front of him with his expensive cane, signaling that he could go.

The white cowboy guards in Yerba Buena then closed the carriage door, and a gunman climbed onto the carriage and sat next to the coachman with a flintlock musket in his arms.

The other two gunners climbed onto the shelves behind the carriage and sat down, a place where goods could be loaded and people could be seated, but they had to hold on to the wooden handles next to them, or they would be turned upside down in minutes.

The coachman raised his long whip and threw out a crisp whip, and the carriage went down the driveway in the courtyard of the mansion, and at the gate of the manor were four heavily armed white gunmen from Yerba Barrowie, who turned over and escorted the carriage away.

Today's new town is full of dangers, and Odom-Russell is constantly guarding against being shot at all times, so it makes sense to step up his armed defenses.

Looking at the back of the carriage leaving, Juan Carlos sighed slightly.

At this time

The butler standing beside him waved his hand, and asked the other maids and attendants to step back, and then stepped forward and said in a flattering tone; "Master Carlos, I heard that this newly rising Tang Dynasty will be particularly murderous, its leader Richard is a ruthless character who kills people without blinking, hundreds of people in the agreement hall will be destroyed if they say they will be killed, and four or five hundred people in Hewan Village will be slaughtered when they say they will be slaughtered, will there be any hidden dangers if they are rejected in this way?"

"Alas, this possibility does exist, after all, we don't know what kind of temper this Chinese power leader has? Is it easy to get along with? But the Carlos family had no choice. ”

"This ...... I don't really understand, please make it clear. ”

"You should know that the war between Mexico and the United States is inevitable, that is, in the past two or three months, the governor of Santos in Sacramento has sent a secret letter asking the Carlos family to cooperate with the Mexican government's military operations. Whether it's Yerba Buena or the John Sartre forces, they're all Americans, and if war breaks out, they're enemies. ”

"Oh...... I understand. Their cannibalism helped to weaken the forces and create favorable conditions for the Mexican army to regain San Francisco, so it was best not to help each other. ”

"That's right, alas...... Gone are the days of peace. Juan Carlos looked at the blue sky and white clouds in the distance with deep eyes, and he didn't know what he was thinking at the moment.

As a Carlos family that has experienced more than 300 years of Spanish rule, and after 25 years of Mexican independence, the president has changed 19 times, and the domestic corrupt beings, landlords and poor people have all kinds of deep contradictions and sharp confrontations, and naturally have a certain philosophy of survival.

It is impossible to be loyal to the country, and it is impossible to be loyal to the nation, only loyalty to the interests of the family is the real core, and it is also the philosophy of survival in troubled times of the Carlos family.

Why is this so?

It has deep roots in development and colonization, resulting in the phenomenon of native-born whites throughout North, Central and South America, which can be called the largest integration of human races in history.

Mexican society was originally a democratic state based on the traditional Spanish North American colonies based on the mixed 10 ethnic groups of white Spanish descendants, Indians, Incas, etc.

But this democracy is not so pure to put a big double quote.

This is because Mexico has the power of the traditional feudal aristocracy, the remnants of slavery and strict racial class divisions, and the so-called democratic system is nothing more than the centralization of large landlords and capitalism, and the scope of democracy is only among a small group of people at the top. and not democracy in the broad sense of the word.

The colonial rule of more than 300 Spaniards further complicated the ethnic question by forming a complex history of intermarriage between whites and local Indians and Inca races, as well as a small number of black mestizos.

In the Kingdom of Spain, the original suzerain, the blood of these native Mexican whites was never recognized, and they were regarded as lowly mixed-race natives, defiling the pure blood of the noble Andean eagle.

Therefore, during the period of Spanish colonial rule, these native-born white rebels were ruthlessly suppressed, causing many massacres and towns until Mexico's independence.

In Juan Carlos, white Spanish and Indian blood flows, a tradition that stems from the Spanish colonizers.

In the eyes of the early Spanish colonists;

Whatever the means, including the intermarriage of white men with Native American or Inca women, and the seeds of passion in North America, as long as these indigenous women can be converted to Catholics, and a bunch of little believers and little believers, it is sowing "the glorious grace of God......

It is precisely because of this complex state formation and racial mixing factors that the Carlos family is only loyal to the interests of the family, and will not pursue any illusory national and national interests, which is the unique way of survival of the family.

In Juan Carlos' heart;

What Governor Sanchez, what the Mexican-American War has nothing to do with him, as long as the interests of the Carlos family can be guaranteed, even if it is a dance with the devil, he will gladly go.