1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 166 Meeting an opponent in chess

The Mexican territory that the railroad from Los Angeles to Houston passed through was the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.

The Gadsden Purchase covers approximately 77,000 square kilometers of land located on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico.

Historically, the United States spent $10 million to purchase 77,000 square kilometers of land on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico to build a railroad from California to Texas.

After the U.S.-Mexican War, the United States only paid US$15 million in compensation to obtain 2.3 million square kilometers of land in Mexico. In comparison, spending US$10 million to purchase 77,000 square kilometers of land was indeed a huge expense.

In fact, when it came to the Gadsden land purchase, the United States had a very strong appetite at the beginning, intending to purchase a total of 861,300 square kilometers of territory in five northern Mexican states and the Baja California peninsula for US$50 million.

The area of ​​these territories accounted for approximately 42% of the total area of ​​Mexico at that time.

Although the then Mexican President Santa Anna was a strange dictator who came to power eleven times, with a longest term of one year and sixteen days and a shortest term of thirteen days, he also knew that he wanted to sell Mexican territory in this way and bear the reputation of being a traitor.

, your life will also be at risk.

Coupled with the poor diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico at the time, the complex political situation within Mexico, and the intervention of European forces, America's ambitious land purchase plan eventually went bankrupt.

But in the end, the United States purchased 77,000 square meters of land on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million.

The reason why Mexico is willing to sell land is also very simple: no money.

Mexican President Santa Anna needs American dollars to support the army to maintain order in Mexico and suppress opposition resistance.

Since I can’t sell all of it, I will sell a little bit, just 77,000 square kilometers.

For a military dictator like President Santa Anna whose rule has an unstable foundation, internal worries are the real scourge compared to America's foreign aggression.

It can be said that the destiny of Mexico as a great country was completely betrayed by the selfish dictators, bureaucratic politicians and big landowners of Mexico in the 19th century.

The 77,000 square kilometers of land purchased by Gadsden is mainly in the relatively flat area south of the Gila River, which is very suitable for building railways. It is the most convenient area for establishing transportation corridors in California and Texas.

Yuma, Tucson, El Paso and other well-known Arizona cities were located on the Gadsden Purchase.

If the Gadsden purchase can be facilitated, California and Texas will undoubtedly be the biggest beneficiaries.

It's a pity that although the United States has great state rights, it has no diplomatic rights. Even if Liang Yao expands his power, he still can't directly bypass the U.S. government and negotiate land purchases with Mexico.

The purchase of land from Mexico still needs to be handled by the federal government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Of course, the prerequisite for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come forward is to convince Congress and the President, at least to convince the President.

There was also the matter of the Pacific Railway, which also required permission from the federal government. This railway spanned the territories of several territories. Without the support and permission of the federal government, even if he had explored the route, he would not be able to build it.

Therefore, it is necessary for Liang Yao to take a trip to the east to lobby these eastern politicians.

The current president Fillmore's term is only until 1853. Liang Yao can support Fillmore's re-election, but he cannot guarantee whether Fillmore can be successfully re-elected.

With his energy, he can control the political arena in California at will, but it is undoubtedly a fantasy to control the political arena in the United States.

It would be safer to do what he wanted to do during Fillmore's term. He didn't want to pin his future on the vague next president.

"Has your company registered a patent for the Pioneer and this type of railway?"

Vanderbilt asked with feigned nonchalance.

"Of course I registered."

Liang Yaoyun said calmly that he knew Vanderbilt coveted his two patented technologies.

"I want to talk to you about patent licensing."

After thinking for a long time, Vanderbilt made a decision.

He thought about purchasing advanced technology directly from the British railway company, but he quickly gave up the idea after thinking about the previous unhappy cooperation experience between Stonington Railway Company and British Railways.

Compared to the cunning and inhumane British, Liang Yao is a more reliable partner.

"The situation is now smaller, so we should talk about formulating standards for the American railway industry."

Liang Yao took a sip of hot coffee.

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the carriage except Vanderbilt looked at Liang Yao as if he were a fool.

Isn't this guy's tone too loud when it comes to setting standards for the American railroad industry?

The richest man in California has drifted away after being a long time? Or has he forgotten how much he weighs?

Do you really think the eastern region is also California?

Only Vanderbilt knew that this boy was not just boasting.

It can only be said that this boy and he thought about it together.

Although the railroad industry in the United States seems large, there is no giant that can monopolize the entire industry and have absolute say.

It is not impossible to set standards for this industry. It is time for those garbage railway companies that treat human life as trivial and sweep them into the garbage heap.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, I think you understand what I mean."

Liang Yao and Vanderbilt looked at each other, their eyes touching.

"With your track patents and locomotive patents, as well as the strong capital you now hold, you can indeed do this."

Vanderbilt affirmed Liang Yao's strength.

He had carefully observed the railroad tracks laid by the California Railroad Company, which were currently only used by the Pioneer.

Unless Liang Yao designs a locomotive wheel suitable for the inferior tracks of other railway companies and specifically for export, other railway companies in the United States will have no chance of using such advanced locomotives.

However, judging from Liang Yao's attitude, it seems that he will not change this. In this case, the railway companies in the east can only stare at advanced locomotives like the Pioneer.

As for plagiarizing Liang Yao's technology, this is not a big problem. Liang Yao's California Railroad Company is not a small company that has just started and has limited funds. Liang Yao's financial resources are enough to support a legal team with top business capabilities.

Furthermore, since Liang Yao has the ability to launch an epoch-making advanced locomotive like the Pioneer in less than a year, he will naturally have the ability to develop more advanced locomotives in the future.

Plagiarizing Liang Yao's technology is not a long-term solution after all.

Vanderbilt mentally estimated Liang Yao's property, to be precise, it was the liquidity that Liang Yao could use.

20% of the shares of Xiangshan Gold Mining Company will receive a dividend of US$4.1 million in less than a year.

Liang Yao's shareholding in Xiangshan Gold Mining Company is 60%, which means that Xiangshan Gold Mining Company alone can bring tens of millions of dollars in income to Liang Yao.

Thinking of this, Vanderbilt felt terrible.

You must know that Xiangshan Gold Mining Company is not the only one that can make profits from Liang Yao's businesses. Vanderbilt heard that Liang Yao's mercury mine business is also doing well, and its profits are no less than those of gold mining.

Unlike gold mining, the mercury mines in California are controlled by Liang Yao alone. Controlling the mercury mines is equivalent to strangulating the lifeblood of all other gold mining companies, including his Staten Gold Mining Company.

Vanderbilt boldly speculated that the cash flow in Liang Yao's hands was probably not more than 10 million US dollars, but 20 to 30 million US dollars or even more.

According to the rankings of the richest Americans compiled by some boring Eastern newspapers, the mainstream view is that Backhouse is the richest man in the United States, followed by Vanderbilt and Liang Yao in third place.

It seems it’s time to update this ranking. Maybe the richest man in America has changed hands.

"But why do you think I will cooperate with you?"

Vanderbilt changed the topic and his tone became a little unfriendly.

"You and I have both entered the railway transportation industry, and we are rivals."

"Because you want to be the king of rail transportation."

Liang Yao said in a very determined tone that facing like-minded people, one cannot hide their ambitions.

"I am the only person in the United States who can happily spend more than ten million dollars on the railway industry!"

Only one company's patented technology and cash flow of tens of millions of dollars, this is where Liang Yao's confidence lies.

Vanderbilt was already a shipping king in the shipping industry, so how could he be willing to be just an ordinary railroad tycoon after switching to the railroad transportation industry?

Maybe Backhouse can also generate tens of millions of dollars in cash flow, but Backhouse follows his father Astor's legacy and only loves real estate and will not invest this money in other industries.

This is especially true for industries like the railway transportation industry, which require large initial investments, high risks, and long return cycles.

Tens of millions of dollars in cash flow.

Upon hearing this astronomical figure, the carriage instantly became silent, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the train moving.

Theodore, Jeremiah and others suddenly felt that the food in their hands no longer tasted good.

With a cash flow of tens of millions of dollars, this is no longer a game that small and medium-sized rich people like them with a net worth of only a few million dollars can afford to play.

"Are you so sure that the railway transportation industry can make money?"

Vanderbilt broke the silence in the carriage. Facing Liang Yao, he felt as if he had met his opponent.

This feeling was something he had never experienced when facing old Astor. Based on his understanding of this late old rival and old enemy, this old rival did not have the courage of Liang Yao.

Tens of millions of dollars were lost at the drop of a hat, and only the young and old in the carriage could do such a crazy thing.

Vanderbilt looked directly into Liang Yao's eyes: "This is tens of millions of dollars. If you want to spend it, you can spend it. Aren't you afraid of wasting it?"

"Aren't you also planning to invest tens of millions of dollars in the railway transportation industry?"

Liang Yao looked directly into Vanderbilt's eyes and asked.

"Hahaha! After living for half my life, I didn't expect that a young man like you would become the person who is most appetizing to me."

Vanderbilt threw his head back and laughed.

After speaking, Vanderbilt personally poured a full glass of red wine for Liang Yao, and then filled it for himself.

"Cheers to our cooperation!"

Gadsden will purchase the land with pictures and give out Easter egg stamps soon.

(End of chapter)