“Later, it was only after my mother married into the family that she learned those people had mentioned this matter when they returned. The person in charge said: If the young child of the family is so attached and reluctant to part, it shows this girl is virtuous. Because of this, my mother succeeded in turning her fate around.”

　　“Do you understand now?” Abraham Lincoln asked.

　　“Yes.” Charles Morgan replied softly, “That noble person to the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty…”

　　“Owed a debt of gratitude!” Abraham Lincoln finished the words he dared not say, “I, if I have a grudge, I will repay it; if I have a favor, I will repay it as well!”

　　So, among the ministers who stood against Abraham Lincoln in the great struggle between ruler and subjects, most did not end well… That saying about a gentleman waiting ten years to take revenge—when I take revenge, it’s from dawn till dusk!

　　An emperor’s words are as good as gold. If that imperial uncle is found, he could practically walk sideways in the capital for the rest of his life.

　　“Your subject is willing to share Your Majesty’s burdens!” Charles Morgan knelt down.

　　Abraham Lincoln stood up, “Before my mother passed, she never stopped thinking of her brother and asked me to find him. Later, I became busy with state affairs and forgot about it. Last night, my mother appeared in my dream, furious, saying I was unfilial, a… beast!”

　　Empress Dowager Jiang was fierce; even in private, if displeased with the emperor, she would scold him directly.

　　Words like these, a subject dares not hear… Charles Morgan’s cheeks trembled slightly.

　　“Last night, I promised my mother.” The devout Abraham Lincoln swore to the gods, “I swear, I will find my uncle and his family, and let them enjoy the utmost wealth and honor!”

　　Abraham Lincoln walked down with his hands behind his back, standing in front of Charles Morgan.

　　“For me, find him!”

　　……

Chapter 2: Ask for a Hammer, Get Hammered

　　“Which place is strongest for Chinese relics? If Central Plains claims second, no one dares claim first.” The tour guide waved a small flag as she explained.

　　Inside the Central Plains Museum, Robert Bennett trailed behind a group of tourists, absentmindedly looking at the artifacts.

　　Robert Bennett came from an ordinary background. After graduating from college, he followed his uncle to South America to run a small supermarket and make a living.

　　The uncle and nephew weren’t very lucky. Six months later, unrest broke out in the country, and their small supermarket was burned down by rioters. The uncle, after much pain and reflection, decided to return home, vowing never to leave his hometown again. Robert Bennett, however, rather rebelliously swore not to return unless he made something of himself.

　　Robert Bennett’s subsequent experiences were rather legendary. He first joined a gang, but unexpectedly, the gang was wiped out by anti-government forces. Robert Bennett was swept up and forced to join this group.

　　Perhaps he had a talent for it, as Robert Bennett’s status in the armed group rose rapidly. Before long, he took out the boss and became the leader.

　　Anti-Yankee!

　　After taking charge, Robert Bennett raised this banner.

　　In the following years, he led his team in a constant game of cat and mouse with the government army, Yankee intelligence agencies, and small factions, and actually made quite a name for himself in South America.

　　Not long ago, someone found him and said that the Yankee intelligence agencies had reached an agreement with the local authorities and were preparing to join forces to eliminate Robert Bennett.

　　You could say you’ve returned home in glory—go home!

　　The visitor smiled.

　　Always worried he wouldn’t be able to return because of his identity, Robert Bennett gathered up the money he’d saved over the years, handed his team over to his deputy—who was utterly confused but couldn’t hide his joy—and slipped back home.

　　After soaking in his hometown’s wine jars for over a month, Robert Bennett was driven crazy by the endless matchmaking attempts from relatives, so he simply set out to travel the country.

　　Robert Bennett didn’t like group tours, and liked guided explanations even less. First, it wasn’t free; second, if everything was explained, there was no sense of anticipation left.

　　“Everyone, look here.”

　　The tour guide stopped and pointed at a large cauldron ahead, saying, “This is the treasure of the Central Plains Museum.”

　　Everyone gathered around. The guide spoke passionately, “...Legend has it that Yu the Great collected the gold of the nine provinces to cast the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, symbolizing the nine regions... The great cauldron represents the nine provinces, the fate of the Central Plains... The cauldron before us is the treasure of the Central Plains Museum... The Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty personally wrote several large characters...”

　　The guide slowly took a bottle of mineral water from her bag, while the crowd peppered her with questions.

　　“What characters?”

　　The guide took a few sips of water and said unhurriedly, “The Fortune of the Nine Provinces!”

　　The fortune of the nine provinces... Everyone was lost in reverie.

　　Robert Bennett sneered to himself and said, “If a single cauldron can represent the fortune of the nine provinces, then why, except for Qin, Jin, and Sui, did the Ming have the shortest reign?”

　　The guide was stumped by this, unable to respond. An intern girl accompanying the group retorted indignantly, “The Ming lasted 276 years. If you’re so capable, why don’t you extend it by a few hundred years?”

　　Robert Bennett laughed, “If anyone can send me to the Ming Dynasty, what’s so hard about that?”

　　Before he finished speaking, Robert Bennett saw the cauldron suddenly flash, and then everything went black before his eyes...

　　“Where’s the person?!”

　　The guide and tourists were dumbfounded.

　　“The cauldron?” The girl’s eyes widened.

　　That cauldron had actually disappeared together with Robert Bennett...

　　The alarm sounded. A team of security guards rushed over and stared in shock at the empty display.

　　This is big trouble!

　　“I swear, I didn’t steal the cauldron—it ran off on its own!” The guide was on the verge of tears.

　　“And the person?”

　　“I swear... that person, he really disappeared on his own.”

　　……

　　The 27th year of Jiajing, Ming Dynasty.

　　Spring sunlight bathed the official road leading to Taizhou Prefecture, Zhejiang. More than a dozen soldiers were escorting fifty exiled convicts, moving slowly along.

　　Robert Bennett was in the middle of the group.