"The United States has declared war on Mexico!"
"Good heavens… then what are we supposed to do?"
"What do you mean what do we do? This is the perfect chance to join the United States!"
"We are an independent nation. Are you suggesting we abandon our sovereignty and become part of their federation? Honestly, do you people have no pride whatsoever?"
Since gaining independence from Mexico, the Republic of Texas had spent years arguing over a single question:
Should it join the United States?
Or remain independent?
Now, suddenly, the republic found itself facing a crisis unlike any it had seen before.
The war had erupted so abruptly that few had been able to keep up with events.
But the dice had already been cast.
After the United States declared war, Mexico immediately responded with its own declaration.
Texas now found itself trapped between the two nations.
It needed to decide its position quickly.
Of course, anyone observing the situation could easily guess which side Texas would choose.
Most of the republic's population consisted of Anglo settlers from the United States.
There was almost no chance they would side with Mexico.
"If we simply allow the American army to pass through Texas," someone suggested, "we could avoid participating in the war altogether."
"That would be a terrible mistake," another replied.
"If Mexico loses—as it likely will—we would be completely surrounded by American territory."
"How could we maintain independence under those circumstances?"
"That would be no different from joining the Union outright."
"Then what do you propose we do?" someone snapped.
"It's already too late to tell both sides to calm down."
And even if someone tried—
Those hotheaded Americans would never listen.
After weighing the options, public opinion in Texas slowly began shifting toward supporting the United States rather than Mexico.
After all—
Wasn't Mexico responsible for provoking this entire crisis?
Just as it seemed Texas would naturally fall into America's camp—
A shocking truth suddenly surfaced.
One that would throw the entire United States into chaos.
Newspaper Headlines
"A War for Whom? The Ugly Truth Behind a War Without Cause"
"My son only served the United States. Now he has been branded a traitor who sold out to Mexico!"
"Evidence Was Fabricated: The Diary of the Hound Slave Hunters Discovered"
At first, many people dismissed the reports.
They assumed some reckless newspaper had gone too far.
After all, accusing the government of fabricating evidence during wartime would normally invite swift punishment.
Yet strangely—
Instead of fading away, the story only grew louder.
Because the man presenting the evidence was not a journalist.
He was a member of the House of Representatives.
And his accusation was explosive.
The war, he claimed, had been orchestrated to expand the influence of the Southern slaveholding faction.
The revelation plunged Washington into chaos once again.
Earlier, when the documents had been discovered, someone had asked:
"Your Royal Highness… should we really give these materials to them?"
"We could bury it for the sake of national interests."
Killian had shaken his head.
"Not Lincoln."
"He isn't simply a moral man."
"He will judge that this fabrication will permanently damage the reputation of the United States far more than any temporary benefit from the war."
The personal belongings of one of the Hound slave hunters, recovered in Canada, had passed through the Pinkerton Detective Agency, then through James's network.
Eventually—
They reached Abraham Lincoln.
Inside the belongings was a diary.
It recorded the entire operation.
Every movement.
Every order.
Every payment.
Lincoln was furious.
He immediately revealed the documents in Congress.
"Mr. President!"
"Acting Governor of Virginia!"
"Explain these documents!"
One government supporter scoffed.
"Explain what?"
"The matter is already settled. Why are you still clinging to it?"
"It is not settled," Lincoln replied sharply.
"It begins now."
He raised the diary.
"Look at this document. Not a single detail matches the evidence presented by the Virginia government."
"So what are you claiming?" someone asked coldly.
"That the government's evidence was fabricated?"
"It is not a claim," Lincoln said.
"It is an objective fact."
"If the evidence I present is false, explain it."
The White House remained silent.
It simply refused to engage.
At first, many congressmen had dismissed Lincoln as an opportunist trying to gain attention.
But as the documents circulated, doubts began to spread.
Lincoln's evidence looked far more convincing.
If his documents were genuine—
Then the government's evidence had to be fabricated.
And if one side was lying—
Who was it?
The answer became increasingly obvious.
"These items were recovered from the bodies of the Hound members killed in Canada," Lincoln said.
"The diary records everything."
"Who hired them."
"How they traveled."
"Why they crossed the Canadian border."
"All of it."
Someone attempted to object.
"But even if they were bribed by Mexico, why would they write it down?"
Lincoln slammed the desk.
"They crossed the border because they received information about escaped slaves who had fled to Ontario!"
"And the source of that information is recorded as well."
He paused.
"The Pinkerton National Detective Agency."
"I personally confirmed this with the agency."
"They admitted that the Hounds paid them to investigate and that they provided the information."
Murmurs spread across the chamber.
If the slave hunters had crossed into Canada based on information from an American detective agency—
Then the government's claim that Mexico ordered the attack made no sense.
Lincoln continued.
"The agency stated they never imagined the Hounds would attack a Canadian settlement."
"But the fact remains: the Ontario lead came from the United States."
"That alone proves Mexico could not have orchestrated the operation."
Cornered, the government changed tactics.
Instead of disputing the evidence—
They attacked Lincoln.
"Congressman Lincoln, where did you obtain this information?"
"Were you perhaps manipulated by anti-government forces?"
Lincoln's voice rose with anger.
"Manipulated?"
"From the moment this incident occurred, I have been working to repatriate the bodies of our citizens killed in Canada."
"Even criminals remain citizens of the United States."
"But the government branded them traitors bribed by Mexico and refused to retrieve their bodies."
"So I did it myself."
He raised the diary again.
"And after reading this, I understand exactly why the government was so reluctant to bring them home."
The scandal exploded.
Even Northern politicians who had supported the war began demanding an investigation.
At the same time—
A rumor spread in Texas.
The United States had fabricated the conspiracy in order to justify war against Mexico and annex Texas more easily.
Texas had always been a land of stubborn contrarians.
People who rebelled against authority wherever it appeared.
Mexico told them to stay obedient.
They declared independence.
The great powers told them not to join the United States.
Support for joining the Union grew stronger.
So when this scandal erupted—
Public opinion changed overnight.
Texas issued a statement:
"Until the United States thoroughly investigates this matter and provides a satisfactory explanation, the Republic of Texas will indefinitely suspend any consideration of joining the Union."
In other words:
We will not support your war.
The American commander Zachary Taylor, marching toward the Rio Grande, suddenly found himself trapped.
The war had begun—
But he could not move forward.
Canada
Reports soon arrived.
"Just as predicted," one message read.
"Lincoln has revealed the entire truth."
"The White House is paralyzed."
"Northern politicians demand an investigation, while Southern politicians insist that questioning the war during wartime is treason."
Another report followed.
"Slave escapes in the South are proceeding successfully."
"More than 2,300 slaves have fled in Virginia, South Carolina, and Mississippi."
"Some groups are preparing to launch revolts."
"If the situation escalates into a major slave uprising, the South will fall into chaos."
I nodded.
Everything was unfolding perfectly.
In the North, politicians were beating the Southern faction like a punching bag.
And in the South—
Their own homeland was beginning to burn.
Normally they would have deployed troops immediately.
But unfortunately for them—
Many of their militias were already deployed in Texas and New Mexico.
Even the fleet that had been preparing to attack Mexico's coast had hesitated.
Commanders in the field were miserable.
They had marched to war—
Only to discover their homeland collapsing behind them.
Mexico attempted to take advantage of the chaos.
Concentrating its forces near Arizona and New Mexico, it tried to strike the disorganized American army.
Unfortunately—
Mexico remained Mexico.
Even against a confused United States army, it struggled to gain the upper hand.
Still—
The Americans could not advance.
How could they march west when their homeland was erupting in slave revolts?
And with Northern opinion turning hostile, some officers were already asking whether they should withdraw.
But withdrawal was impossible.
The war had begun.
Mexico remained armed.
The United States was trapped.
Unable to advance.
Unable to retreat.
While the Americans descended into chaos—
I calmly began executing the next phase of my plan.
"Governor," I said,
"Given the current situation, the war may become prolonged."
"Should we not take preventative measures to protect our citizens?"
"Preventative measures?" the governor asked.
"Yes."
"There is a region where Mexico, the United States, and British Canada meet."
"Oregon."
"A considerable number of British settlers now live there."
"In the current atmosphere, they may become caught in the flames of war."
The governor nodded immediately.
"Your Royal Highness is absolutely correct."
"We should deploy regular troops and organize militia units."
"Securing Oregon will reassure our citizens."
"Precisely."
"Her Majesty is currently in Canada."
"If we appear unable to protect our citizens—even in a colony—it could damage the prestige of the British Empire."
The governor agreed at once.
"We will send forces immediately."
"Excellent."
"And I have already sent a letter to Parliament."
"We should receive a response soon."
"When it arrives, we may need to move our forces in earnest."
The governor looked puzzled.
"In earnest?"
"Well," I said casually,
"it seems increasingly likely that the United States fabricated this entire conspiracy in order to use Britain as part of their territorial expansion."
"If they dared to do such a thing, surely they must pay the price."
I had already summoned Ambassador Everett.
He was likely rushing toward Canada at this very moment.
If a full war erupted, Britain would certainly suffer costs.
But the United States was in no position to fight on two fronts.
Even the mere possibility of British intervention would terrify them.
The negotiations would begin with one simple condition.
All disputed territories in the West—
Would be handed over to Britain.
And if they refused?
I smiled faintly.
Then the Royal Navy would sail.
If the Americans didn't want their entire coastline reduced to rubble—
They would think very carefully before answering.