The year is 1819. Georgia is now a very secure part of the new United States...and a slave state. Its neighbor, Alabama, is destined to become the 22nd state at the end of this year. Rumor has it that it'll be a slave state too...as Georgia's neighbors South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee also are.
(Florida won't become a state until 1845. Alas, it'll be a slave state too...)
Farther west, Mississippi and Louisiana are states too, as well as slave ones. But that's as far west as the South has expanded. But that won't likely last. They say this country is expanding faster than a wild hog epidemic...
At that, you'd expect Arthur Wellesley Hogg to sieze that opportunity, as greedy as he is, and hog up all of the frontier out west before it's all gone. Alas, it seems that if there's one thing he has in common with Hezron Duke, it's that he can't seem to sever his own roots, that somehow bind him to Hazzard County soil...
But for the now-incumbent Duke and Hogg, the slave states are hardly a bad thing. For the first time in the two families' history, Hazzard County is an established place. And no surprise, both men have built plantations for themselves here. And yes, both men have a generous number of slaves to their name.
By day, the slaves work in the fields, and sing blues songs. Their Duke and Hogg masters keep their windows open, so they can hear the music. Every now and then, they go outside and discipline the naughty slaves. It seems their influence doesn't do much to keep them in line...
Arthur's plantation is quite expansive. It produces much. He's got a lot of customers. They pay him well. For the most part, he's got a good name. And he stays on top of his slaves; all of them.
Hezron's plantation is rising, but has still got a ways to go before it can engage in a power struggle with Arthur's. Subtly, Hezron hopes that never happens. He hates the thought of tangling with his neighbor. But then, he's probably forgotten all the stories of how his ancestors used to partner up and fight with Hogg men...
By day, black women aid Hezron, their white master. They grow the flowers in his gardens. They make his meals. They make his beds. They prepare his baths. They dispose of his refuse...
Day by day, Hezron notices one of them. She's gorgeous. Day by day, he gazes upon her. He hardens...
In his bed, he works her over. She moans. He roars. Never in all of his life has he felt so hurt, and so pleased...
In the slaves' quarters, the slaves can hear the racket. It seems they are being tempted to lose faith in their once-failproof master...
Soon, Hezron's plantation is in ruins. Even the girl is gone. Day by day, he wanders in circles around the vast open fields that were once rich in crops and business. Slaves once cared for this land. Livestock lived in the stables, and wandered here and there whenever the slaves took them out. The green, green grass of home is still here...but that's all there is.
Outside, he attends to his now-abandoned garden. It's a work in progress, but it can't grow fast enough to put its new and now-demoted gardener at ease...
Next door, Arthur crosses his arms, smokes a big cigar, and watches. He grins. He enjoys seeing his neighbor and competitor suffer. It looks like the Hoggs have FINALLY attained the monopoly in Hazzard County.
Day by day, Arthur's she-slaves try to get inside his pants, hoping they'll have the same luck with their masters as their former neighbors did with Hezron the Lecher, as he's now called...as catchy as that isn't. But Arthur only whips them, and tells them to get back to work.
Arthur sighs, and watches Hezron tamper with his garden. He sighs. Whatever it takes, he's not losing his empire to Hezron, or anybody. Not as long as there's at least one Hogg man in Hazzard County to protect his patriline's name, and business...
"I'll never go hungry again," Hezron mutters, working the garden with his hoe. "I'LL NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN!"
Arthur's heard a rumor that Hazzard's sole county commissioner is retiring. He subtly ponders standing for election, to replace him...
