1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 114 Los Angeles Massacre

More updates for the master of Yimengweima Hall!

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Not long after Colonel Mason set out, he met the envoy sent by Liang Yao.

The envoy brought Liang Yao's letter, the land deed personally signed by Colonel Mason, three bills of exchange for US$10,000, and 2,000 ounces of gold. He expressed his love for Mason and moved him with gold.

Problems that can be solved with money are not problems for Liang Yao. Problems that cannot be solved with money are more troublesome problems.

Liang Yao was polite before fighting. Although he was on guard against Mason, he had no enmity with Mason and did not want to meet Mason with swords.

Liang Yao made it very clear in his letter that Mason is an excellent commander of the American Army. His duty is to protect the territory and people of the United States, not to become a free thug and consumable for the plutocrats.

It was a pity that Colonel Mason still declined Liang Yao's kindness and declined Liang Yao's dollars and gold under the hungry eyes of the officers and soldiers.

This is not because Mason is not greedy for money. Mason also accepted gold from Sartre’s early immigrants.

It's just that this time Mason has a mission. He is a man of principles and pursuits, and he cannot accept Liang Yao's gold at this time to give others any clue.

The envoy was not disappointed when he saw this. He only had to take a look at the dollars and gold in front of Mason's officers and soldiers, and the purpose of his trip would be achieved.

Maybe Colonel Mason doesn't like money, but can he guarantee that the officers and soldiers under him will not be disturbed when facing the temptation of gold?

Obviously, no.

These guys with a monthly salary of only eight or more than ten dollars cannot resist such temptation.

The officers and soldiers watched reluctantly as the envoy took the gold back. Among them, there were many brave officers who plucked up the courage to persuade Colonel Mason.

"Your Excellency, Colonel, this is Colonel Liang's kindness. Besides, Congress has not approved us the military expenditure for this operation this time. Since we are going to the San Francisco and Sacramento areas to help them exterminate the Indians, I would like to accept Colonel Liang's request.

His good intentions are understandable.”

A second lieutenant watched eagerly as the envoy took away the gold and couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

What greeted the second lieutenant was Mason's cold gaze, and the second lieutenant immediately closed his mouth and lowered his head.

The other officers also looked hesitant to speak, and were very excited about the dollars and gold that came to their doorsteps.

After a brief stop, Colonel Mason ordered the march to continue.

When they were still twenty miles away from Los Angeles, half of Colonel Mason's regiment was already exhausted, and Colonel Mason himself was exhausted from the days of marching.

He felt it was time for these tired soldiers to stop and recuperate before setting off.

There was no dedicated logistics force to provide him with supplies during this operation. Except for a few major settlements, southern California was a sparsely populated area. Even the Indians who were easily encountered here four or five years ago were difficult to hide.

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According to the scheduled plan, Mason would purchase supplies in Los Angeles and at the same time commandeer local ships to sail to San Francisco.

In order to save time and not delay his schedule, Mason decided to send a young man who was capable and still physically strong to lead a group of elite soldiers to Los Angeles to carry out this task.

Captain William Tecnum Sherman volunteered and expressed his willingness to lead his 1st Company on this mission.

Colonel Mason smiled and nodded at Sherman with great approval.

Sherman was indeed his capable general. He graduated from West Point Military Academy with the sixth-highest grade in the same period, and also made great contributions in the U.S.-Mexican War and was promoted to captain.

Except for some impulsiveness and violent tendencies, this outstanding young man is almost perfect.

Among all the officers under his command, Mason believed that the young man named Sherman would be the most promising in the future, and he was very optimistic about this young man.

"Sherman, you take a company to Los Angeles first, and be sure to commandeer some local ships. This is very important."

Colonel Mason ordered the quartermaster to bring a small bag of gold coins and a large bag of Spanish and Mexican silver coins to Sherman.

"Sherman, you must control your bad temper and don't conflict with the local residents, do you understand?"

After handing the gold and silver coins to Sherman, Colonel Mason warned him again and again, hoping Sherman would take his words to heart.

"Yes, Colonel!"

Sherman saluted Colonel Mason and then led a company to break away from the exhausted team and march toward Los Angeles in the west.

Sherman's 1st company was the most elite of the ten companies under Colonel Mason's command. The physical fitness of the soldiers in the 1st company was generally better than that of the other companies.

More importantly, the First Company was also the only cavalry company under Colonel Mason.

This cavalry company was established by Mason at a huge expense after the war.

Sherman rode a military horse and quickly arrived in Los Angeles.

At this time, more than half of the residents of Los Angeles had left, and only more than 700 residents were unwilling to leave their hometown for San Francisco and remained in Los Angeles.

The bill passed by Congress was to acquire land grants from the Mexican government in California, which naturally included Los Angeles.

The residents of Los Angeles had learned about the news in the Daily Californian, and they were not friendly to the American soldiers entering the town.

Regarding Sherman's purchase of grain and grass, the residents of Los Angeles were even more unwilling to cooperate.

In addition to their unwillingness to sell grain to Sherman, another more important reason was that Sherman's purchase price was too low.

In the past, when the mayor of the town purchased grain from them on behalf of Colonel Liang, Colonel Liang's price was more than seven times that of Sherman. Moreover, Colonel Liang's people always paid directly in gold, and they spoke nicely and kindly.

Not like these rude people, not to mention their arrogant attitude, they even wanted to use silver coins to buy their food.

In California, where gold is abundant, no one wants to accept worthless silver coins.

"A bunch of guys who don't eat and drink fine wine! We are American soldiers! Is this how you treat American soldiers? The land under your feet was bought by us brave soldiers with our lives and blood!"

A furious Sherman fired a gun into the air in the Los Angeles town square and ordered a door-to-door requisition of grain and fodder.

After receiving Sherman's orders, Sherman's soldiers rushed into the homes of Los Angeles residents and forcibly confiscated their food and fodder.

"Captain, this is during peacetime. You have no right to forcibly confiscate our supplies, and the residents of this town have no obligation to cooperate with your actions."

After hearing the news, the mayor of Los Angeles Town, Deng Wenshun, rushed to the square in the center of Los Angeles Town with a dozen members of the Loyalty Association and fifty or sixty armed civilians with live ammunition.

"Look! What are you doing! You guys actually dare to wield knives and guns in front of us? Don't even look at who we are! We are American soldiers! Regular American troops! Put away those toys in your hands!

!Otherwise I won’t be polite!”

Sherman waved the six-gun revolver in his hand and threatened.

Sherman's face reminded Deng Wenshun of those officers and soldiers of the Qing Dynasty. After following Liang Yao for so long, Deng Wenshun knew that only a gun at his waist can be strong, so he naturally refused to put down the weapon in his hand.

The Los Angeles residents behind Deng Wenshun were unwilling to put down their weapons, and the two sides just faced off with guns.

At this moment, gunfire suddenly rang out in the town, followed by the screams of a woman with a Mexican accent.

"Oh! My God! They shot and killed people! Oh my God! They shot and killed people!"

Soon, men in Los Angeles picked up guns and drove the nasty soldiers out of their homes. Even women and children picked up brooms, rakes, stones and even cow and horse dung to attack these soldiers.

For a moment, gunshots rang out one after another in the town of Los Angeles.

Deng Wenshun and Sherman looked at each other, and in the flash of lightning, they instinctively pulled the trigger without having time to think.

Thank you for the 222 rewards from Hua Jie, the 1200 rewards from the fallen leaves, the 100 rewards from the wandering wind, and the 100 rewards from a moving song!

(End of chapter)