VDL Party

Although the number of people present could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be called a grand spectacle, a roaring multitude. However, the sheer, unyielding conviction that gathered there, a palpable force, far surpassed that of any mere grand spectacle. It was a silent, burning fire.

From beginning to end, with the singular exception of Miss Camille, the perpetually bewildered Bronte, and the perpetually terrified Mr. Martelli, everyone else present could be considered Mr. Van der Linde's direct, unquestioning subordinates, their loyalty absolute.

Therefore, even before Dutch, with his characteristic flair, began his speech, the atmosphere was already charged, a palpable tension, extremely solemn, almost reverent.

And amidst this highly anticipated moment, this hushed, expectant silence.

Finally, Dutch, a figure of magnetic power, strode purposefully up to the imposing electronic megaphone, its dark maw awaiting his words. He gripped its cold metal, his eyes sweeping over the faces before him.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" His voice, amplified to a booming roar, filled the air, reverberating through the very ground.

"I am Dutch Van der Linde!"

There was no applause, no showering of flowers, no sycophantic cheers; in front of his own party, his loyal flock, there was nothing flashy, nothing ostentatious, but those few short, powerful sentences had already galvanized everyone's spirits, a jolt of electricity through their very souls.

"I'm glad to be standing here today," Dutch continued, a wry, knowing smile playing on his lips, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces, "speaking to John, to Davey, to Lenny, to Jenny, to all of you. Instead of being strung up on a goddamn gallows in Saint Denis, shouting that we'll be family again in the next life, and then being hanged on the spot like common curs!" He chuckled, a dark, humorous sound.

"Hahaha..." Dutch's words, born of shared struggle and dark humor, resonated deeply with the Van der Linde Gang, and Davey and John both burst into loud, mirthful laughter, their faces creased with genuine amusement.

"However, I hope everyone realizes that our ability to reach this glorious point, to stand here today, is not solely due to our own hard work and initiative, our own cunning, but also the unwavering support of the people of New Hanover and Lemoyne!" Dutch's voice swelled with conviction, his hand sweeping in a grand, encompassing gesture.

"Our status and our very foundation are rooted deeply in the American people, not in fleeting money or so-called capital, that corrupting influence. Our future will also be led by the American people, moving relentlessly towards an era that everyone hopes for, a true paradise!" He pounded a fist lightly on the podium, his eyes blazing.

"So, we need to unite! Unite ourselves with the populace, become one with them! Unite our strength, and together fight against those damnable American capitalists who only know how to exploit the people, sucking them dry! And fight against those damnable American congressmen who disregard the very lives and deaths of the people, leaving them to starve!" His voice was a thunderous roar, a righteous fury.

"Therefore, starting today, I, Dutch Van der Linde, with 'the American people' as our unshakeable foundation, and with the sacred principle that 'we are the American people,' officially establish the Van der Linde Party!" He paused, allowing the momentous declaration to sink in, his chest swelling with pride.

"We will take 'we are the American people, and the American people are us' as our core, our guiding star, and with mutual assistance, harmony, and civilization as our sacred purpose, we will lead all American people to create a new society that belongs to us, to us, the American people, a truly harmonious and civilized society!" He raised both fists to the sky, his face contorted with fierce determination.

"From today onwards, any American citizen who recognizes and practices the fundamental principles of our VDL Party is, by definition, a member of our Van der Linde Party! They are one of us! They are family!" His voice boomed, echoing far beyond the immediate gathering.

"I hope that everyone can earnestly practice our fundamental principles and give all American citizens a happy and healthy life! Because I once said, and I will say it again, every person has the undeniable right to a happy life!"

Dutch's words were deafening, a cascade of powerful, inciting rhetoric, and through the electronic megaphone, they could even be heard far beyond the villa, spilling into the streets of Saint Denis.

Davey and the others in the manor remained relatively calm, their faces solemn, as Dutch had already informed them that the Van der Linde Party would be officially established today. It was expected.

However, the gunmen guarding outside, standing at rigid attention, and the passing pedestrians, caught unawares, were completely different. Two overwhelming emotions remained in their hearts: profound emotion and utter shock.

They never expected that by simply listening, by merely existing, they could also become members of the Van der Linde Party?

Oh, sh*t! a passing laborer thought, his jaw dropping. This is too cool! Too goddamn easy!

It must be said, Dutch is a genius, a master manipulator.

What did his words truly mean?

"Any American citizen who recognizes and practices the fundamental principles of our VDL Party is a member of the VDL Party."

This single, cunning sentence had already encompassed the entire populations of New Hanover and Lemoyne, drawing them into his web.

Everyone passively became members of the VDL Party; this was Mr. Van der Linde directly choosing their side for them, without their explicit consent. It was a brilliant, insidious move.

Facts have proven that small, tightly knit groups will have extremely high stability, as well as extremely high ideological identification and self-maintenance. One can look at the Little Mustache Man's actions, chillingly replicated in 'The Wave,' for an example of this mass psychological manipulation.

Originally, these people were merely residents of New Hanover and Lemoyne, anonymous citizens, but now they had a powerful, new identity attached to them: members of the Van der Linde Gang, subordinates of Mr. Van der Linde, a part of something larger.

They already held feelings of profound gratitude and admiration for Mr. Van der Linde, and now the relationship, which was originally one of strangers with little connection, directly transformed into a hierarchical, integrated one. This will completely transform their inner admiration and gratitude into a powerful sense of belonging and fierce loyalty, causing them to inwardly rejoice at being members of the Van der Linde Party.

They will spontaneously maintain and practice Mr. Van der Linde's will, his every decree, and as time goes on, they will become even more loyal due to sunk costs, their lives intertwined with his vision, even evolving into out-and-out fanatics, blind in their devotion.

Perhaps this change might not have much comparative significance in New Hanover and Lemoyne, as Mr. Van der Linde has already developed this area to the point where lost items are not picked up, where honesty reigns, and people have started to help each other, knowing honor when they have enough to eat and wear.

However, if a group of Van der Linde Party members were to emerge and go to the American East, or other places, they would naturally feel an immediate closeness to other Van der Linde Party members; the two sides would naturally form a unified force, presenting a united front against any opposition.

At this point, it begins to become truly terrifying.

As the saying goes, 'comparison reveals differences.' Once they truly understand how much benefit being a member of the Van der Linde Party brings, their sense of belonging and identification will become even stronger, an unbreakable bond.

Dutch will immediately generate a series of policies to show the people of New Hanover and Lemoyne this comparison, this stark difference between his world and the old one.

He will immediately have the 'VDL' Clothing Store sell exclusive Van der Linde Party clothing with a distinctive 'V' logo, a mark of belonging. This exclusive clothing can only be purchased by residents of New Hanover and Lemoyne, who are, by default, members of the Van der Linde Party. Then, he will distribute books to them containing the Van der Linde Party's manifesto, along with various rules of obedience, subtly shaping their behavior.

Once you spontaneously abide by the rules and obey Mr. Van der Linde, you are already immersed, deeply ingrained, because this is obedience training, a subtle, pervasive form of control.

Of course, you can choose not to abide by the rules, to defy the new order, but the cost is severe: expulsion from the Van der Linde Party, a social death.

Humans are social animals, and among the most important aspects is the group, the collective will of people, their shared identity.

Why is isolation in school called bullying? Why does returning home bring a profound sense of belonging?

Because everyone has their own circle, regardless of its size or number. When Mr. Dutch Van der Linde establishes a large, all-encompassing circle in New Hanover and Lemoyne, it means the entire world outside has been isolated by them!

In this situation, you live in New Hanover and Lemoyne, and everyone else is a member of the Van der Linde Party. Everyone shares a common manifesto, personally supervised by Mr. Van der Linde, so everyone is part of the same circle and trusts each other implicitly.

And at this point, if you are expelled from this circle for not following the rules, what will be your fate? Utter isolation, a pariah in your own home.

And now, New Hanover and Lemoyne have a common, highly charismatic leader, and a common imaginary enemy established by Mr. Van der Linde, a unifying force. This leader has also brought all of them under his command and issued their common manifesto, or rather, behavioral restrictions. In the future, a special Van der Linde Party salute gesture will also be developed for their obedience, a physical manifestation of their loyalty, so that when people meet and greet each other or when Mr. Van der Linde gives a speech, they won't have to jump around like madmen; they will all start using this unified, disciplined gesture.

So, what will happen then? A perfectly controlled society.

In addition, Mr. Van der Linde has also set up a contribution upgrade list specifically for personal contributions, a system of rewards and recognition.

Everyone spontaneously became members of the Van der Linde Party. In daily life, living under Mr. Van der Linde's benevolent rule, the difference might not be immediately apparent, but after you contribute more to New Hanover and Lemoyne, your label gets promoted, your status elevated, and everyone will know at a glance that you are a person of merit, worthy of respect. Others will respect and spontaneously adore you, showering you with praise.

When Mr. Van der Linde speaks, you can even stand behind him, sharing in the honor of the public's cheers, basking in his reflected glory.

Thus… how will the laws by which this society operates, or rather, the goals for which people strive, be elevated? To serve Dutch, to serve the Party.

Besides this, Mr. Van der Linde has various other methods; he is not afraid that you won't be immersed in it, not afraid that you won't be grateful! His grip is absolute.

The Van der Linde Party is officially established!

After Dutch announced this momentous news, the subsequent task deployment for each individual followed closely, a well-oiled machine.

"Arthur, John," Dutch's voice was firm, commanding, his gaze sweeping over his two most trusted lieutenants, "our arms order with Germany is about to begin. Grand Duke Meyer has sent a letter, and in a week, the first batch of tanks and firearms will officially depart via port routes and arrive in Germany. A crucial shipment."

He leaned in, his voice dropping slightly. "For this first escort, I hope you and John can represent our Van der Linde Party and cooperate! You are our ambassadors of power."

His eyes narrowed, a serious glint in them. "Remember, Arthur, in this transaction we are the stronger party! And we will always be the stronger party! So, show your strength appropriately, make them understand, so that no one dares to have any bad ideas about us, no one dares to challenge our might!"

"Alright, Dutch!" Arthur stood behind Dutch, nodding with a solemn expression, his jaw set.

Damn it, Arthur thought, a flicker of excitement in his eyes, this was his first overseas mission, and he felt a little bit of anticipation, a thrill of adventure.

Especially at sea, he mused, a mischievous grin touching his lips. Oh, right, can Marston's swimming skills ensure he can return if he falls into the water? Probably not, the damn fool.

John, standing below, completely oblivious to Arthur's morbid worries about his swimming abilities, was instead full of unbridled excitement, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

He had long heard that foreign gambling projects were outstanding, legendary even.

Damn it, Arthur thought, a knowing smirk, John is definitely not as honest as he appears on the surface, that conniving bastard. For one thing, the reason John escaped back at the end was because he killed someone, and the reason for the killing was simply because he didn't like the way that person looked at them. A petty, brutal act.

Would such a damned bandit be honest? He was even more unreasonable, more volatile, than Arthur himself.

Dutch, standing on the stage, a benevolent dictator, continued to give instructions for the subsequent plans, his voice ringing with authority.

"Davey, Mac," Dutch commanded, his voice sharp, "I want the two of you to be responsible for opening up the arms trade in Cuba, selling our weapons to that damned little island! I want all the armies and terrorists there to use our weapons! Every last one!"

His eyes hardened, a ruthless glint in them. "Remember, Davey, Mac, we are not doing charity. If these damned hillbillies can't afford our weapons, then let them exchange them for people and resources! For their very lives!"

He gestured expansively. "Children, this time you can be bolder; we no longer need to care about the East's gaze, their judgment is meaningless!"

"Yes, Dutch!" Davey and Mac stood below with their arms crossed, their eyes filled with the joyous anticipation of going on a mission, their faces alight with a shared, ruthless glee.

They loved this damned life the most! The thrill of conquest, the scent of profit.

"Very good! Next, Charles, Flying Eagle." Dutch's voice softened slightly, a paternal tone. "The two of you will command our team in Mexico, continue to expand into Mexico, absorb those impoverished people, help us open up land, plant grain and various crops. In addition, continue to sell our firearms there, still using the same method: if those damned warlords don't have money, they can exchange their subordinates, their very soldiers, and when they have no army left, plunder their resources!"

"Okay, Dutch!" Charles and Flying Eagle, two people with different skin colors, stood together, a symbol of Dutch's diverse, yet unified, empire. Now the Indian community has been established, and two tribes of surrounding Indians have also been gathered. The good life at Mr. Van der Linde's place made these Indians feel as if they were living in paradise, and they no longer had any lingering thoughts about their past lives, their old ways.

Just kidding, Dutch thought, a cynical smirk playing on his lips, how could a primitive hunting life be as good as an industrial life, with all its comforts?

These people, whom Dutch had won over with benefits, with promises of prosperity, might be loyal to him for a while, but after a few decades or a hundred years, the new generation of Indians who haven't experienced hardship will definitely cause all sorts of troubles, and may even eventually evolve into the current form of Black Grains, demanding more, forgetting their origins.

Learn from past mistakes, Dutch mused. He knew human nature well, its inherent flaws, its endless capacity for ingratitude.

However, if America ultimately becomes a one-party state, a monolithic entity, then any group that vents its dissatisfaction and animalistic desires for various reasons will face ultimate, brutal destruction. There would be no room for dissent.

"Very good, gentlemen, very good." Dutch nodded, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. "So Javier, Bill, Lenny, and Sean. I want the four of you to take our army to West Elizabeth and New Austin, and kill every last criminal and gang member there! Cleanse the land! Our development has reached another stage, gentlemen, we now need a large amount of resources to keep up with our industrialization progress, and also to provide more jobs for more people, so these two states have reached the time for harvesting, for plunder."

He pounded his fist, his voice ringing with ruthless determination. "Those damned Skinners Brothers Gang and Howling Wolf Gang will finally meet their doom! Their time is up!"

"Sure, Dutch!" Javier stood at the front of the four, his face full of unwavering loyalty, his eyes burning with zeal.

Damn it, Dutch thought, a flicker of amusement, this loyal Mexican still believed that Dutch was redeeming these damned gang members, saving their souls.

After all, if you get caught, you get a job; what else could that be but redemption, a path to salvation?

If the Black Grains had such good treatment back then, they would probably have rushed to be caught, instead of running around in the jungle like wild boars, fighting for scraps.

Dutch nodded in satisfaction, particularly pleased with Javier's unwavering attitude, then looked at Miss Camille, who stood nearby, her face a carefully blank mask.

"As for you, Miss Camille," Dutch said, his voice softening, becoming almost charming, "I hope our two sides can cooperate more closely, a true partnership. We are about to push forward with the recovery plan for West Elizabeth and New Austin, a massive undertaking, so next, I think we can continue to cooperate, develop the resources of these two great states, and at the same time build heavy industrial zones, bringing those poor people from the East and providing them with a satisfactory salary and life!"

He smiled, a subtle, manipulative twist of his lips. "As for you, you can obtain the identity of a Van der Linde Party member. If you can get promoted, if you prove your loyalty, then I think we can truly trust each other and grow together, a shared destiny!"

Miss Camille, whose name was called, gave Dutch a resentful, yet strangely yearning, look. Damn it, she thought, a frustrated sigh escaping her, she, Camille, already wished she could throw herself onto Dutch's bed, to surrender completely to him, yet this man still didn't trust her, still held her at arm's length!

Damn it, she fumed, the more he acted this way, the more Miss Camille felt like she wanted to give her all for him, to prove her worth, with a slight, nagging sense of regret over sunk costs, over the life she'd lost.

"Of course, Dutch. But as we said, the Morgan Group needs to see tangible returns, concrete profits, to be willing to invest more capital!" Miss Camille replied, her voice firm, masking her inner turmoil.

The Morgan Group has now embarked on a crooked path, an irreversible descent.

They continuously invest capital with Dutch, pouring their money into his ventures, and Dutch regularly gives them rebates, just enough to make them see the tantalizing hope of making money, of recouping their losses. To earn more money to compensate for their ever-growing losses, they need to invest more capital to get more rebates.

In this way, the rebates will never exceed the principal, a cunning trap, and the Morgan Group will be like falling into a mud pit, gradually sinking deeper and deeper until they cannot extricate themselves, utterly consumed.

This is a typical modern scam, a Ponzi scheme of grand proportions, of course, it had already appeared in this era, in various guises.

However, the main reason the Morgan Group is still being deceived now is because there is an insider, Miss Camille herself, who is wholeheartedly looking outwards, her loyalty shifted. With internal and external attacks, with such a conspirator within, there's no way to defend against it.

"Of course, you can coordinate that issue, Miss Camille," Dutch said indifferently, waving a dismissive hand.

Using the Morgan Group to exploit resources is a minor matter; at least for him, with the advanced production machinery available today, even if they don't rely on the Morgan Group's financial and human resources, they can still quickly discover resources, it just requires a little more effort, a little more time.

Compared to this, he was more concerned about what came next, the grand finale of his plan.

Dutch's gaze turned to Signor Bronte, who stood nearby, sweating profusely, his face a mask of anxious flattery.

"Signor Bronte." Dutch's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable weight.

"Ay, ay, ay, Mr. Van der Linde!" Signor Bronte, dressed in a meticulously tailored suit that seemed to chafe him, immediately squeezed out a face full of obsequious flattery, his smile wide and unnatural.

Heaven knows how much pressure he was under now, his nerves frayed.

For the past few months, he had originally thought that the latter half of his miserable life would, barring any unforeseen accidents, be spent toiling in the dark, suffocating mine. But who would have thought, after such a short time, Mr. Van der Linde had seemingly forgiven his crimes, allowing him to go out, to breathe the free air again!

He was even preparing to give him a job now! A true miracle!

Damn it, Bronte thought, a desperate hope surging through him, what did this mean? It meant that he, Signor Bronte, was a capable person, a man of value, and had received Mr. Van der Linde's ultimate affirmation! He was redeemed!

Dutch was completely indifferent to Signor Bronte's fawning, desperate smile. He merely observed him, his eyes cold and analytical.