1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 239 Only white ones, not black ones (4K)

"What a gun! What a gun! What a gun!"

After test-firing more than a dozen rounds, Liang Yao praised his shoulder, which was numb from the huge recoil of the gun.

"Unfortunately, from your perspective, this gun will soon be outdated." Walter said with regret.

Liang Yao asked Walter to develop a needle-fired gun that can use medium-fire metal bullets. However, there are still several technical problems that have not been overcome in medium-fire metal bullets and needle guns.

Walter then had a sudden idea and used existing mature technology to develop a new gun. The biggest features of this gun are that it is rear-loaded, hammer-fired, and uses large-caliber rim pin bullets.

Compared with the Dresser needle gun, the biggest advantage of this gun is that it has a simple structure, uses existing reliable technology, is relatively easy to produce, and has lower production costs.

In terms of specific use, it is simpler to use than the Dresser striker gun and has lower maintenance requirements.

The shortcomings are also obvious. Since all existing mature technologies are used, the gun has almost no potential for subsequent improvement. It can only be loaded with a single shot all the way to the black, which is equivalent to the peak of its debut.

As for the obsolescence issue mentioned by Walter, from Liang Yao's perspective, the future development prospects of this kind of gun are not very good. In the middle of the 19th century when rear-loading guns were not yet popular, this gun would not be available for at least twenty or thirty years.

Be eliminated.

The general structure of this gun is similar to the Sharps rifle known to later generations Liang Yao, except that it directly uses copper bullets with edge needle bullets, while the early Sharps rifles used paper bullets.

Although the potential for subsequent improvement of this gun is not as good as the Dresser needle gun, it is not even a bit better than the Springfield M1842 currently in service in the US military.

"How much does this gun cost?" Liang Yao asked Walter.

"It's very expensive. The cost is about 20 US dollars." Walter thought for a while and said, "If you consider the use of metal bullets, the cost will only be higher. Compared with the rifles currently in service in the United States, this gun only has an advantage in performance.

There is no cost advantage.”

At $20 apiece, it’s not outrageously expensive. Besides, although this gun doesn’t have much room for improvement, there is room for castration.

Liang Yao's eyes turned, and his thoughts became more alive.

If we reduce the cost and use custom-loaded paper shell bullets, we can control the selling price to about US$25 apiece, and it may not be impossible to sell them.

"If we use inferior materials and use custom-loaded paper shell bullets, can the cost be lower?" Liang Yao put down the gun and asked.

"Yes, you can, but if you use paper shells, you may have to use an external flash cap, and the accuracy and rate of fire will also drop a lot. Don't you like advanced guns? Why do you want me to move the gun backwards now?

Change of direction? That’s not your style.”

Walter was very puzzled by Liang Yao's behavior of reversing the car.

Of course, the more advanced the better for your own use. As for the gun you sell to make money, it just needs to be functional and able to impress buyers.

Ten years later, the United States will fight a civil war. It is impossible for the United States to sell the best firearms to the other side and let the other side use the guns it sells to shoot itself.

"Control costs to make this gun more competitive in the market." Liang Yao casually found an excuse to excuse it.

——————————————————————————————

Liang Yao was astonished by Lincoln's level of professionalism. Liang Yao gave Lincoln six cases. Lincoln united six landowners and merged the six cases into one case, with the Atlantic Railroad Company as the plaintiff and the New York State government as the defendant.

Went to court.

The reason is that the state government deceived the railway company and knowingly promised the railway company land along the railway line, which was suspected of encroaching on private property.

Embezzlement of private property is a very sensitive crime in the United States. As soon as this statement was made, it was criticized by the New York Evening Post, and the New York State government quickly became unable to sit still.

The New York State government immediately accused Lincoln of defamation, and Lincoln was well prepared to prove that what he said was true through evidence obtained from friends in the New York State Railroad Administration whom he had met during his political career.

It is true that the New York State government violated the rights of the original owners of the land and promised the land to the then Delaware-Hudson River Railroad Company even though it knew that the land was already owned.

In just one month, Lincoln won the lawsuit and settled six cases at once.

The deadline given by Liang Yao to Lincoln was within two months.

"After all, the top lawyer in Illinois has two skills."

Liang Yao happily paid Lincoln the agency fee of US$1,000.

"We previously agreed on an agency fee of US$100 per case. I have only represented six cases this time, and you only need to pay US$600." Lincoln said, staring at the number on the check.

"The time limit we agreed on was to resolve more than 4 cases within two months, but you solved 6 cases in one month and won all of them. The extra 400 US dollars will be regarded as a reward." Liang Yao laughed.

said.

If the Atlantic Railway Company's land disputes can be resolved so quickly, the rail tracks can be laid as soon as possible, and the railway can be put into operation sooner, which means that funds can be withdrawn sooner.

The tip to Lincoln was nothing. He also knew about Lincoln's current situation. Lincoln's life was very difficult recently. His law firm didn't even have a dedicated office. Instead, he and Herndon rented a rental house on 20th Street.

inside.

The rental house on 20th Street was both Lincoln and Herndon's residence and their office.

"Thank you." Lincoln accepted Liang Yao's check and asked, "What about the contract?"

"I have already drafted the contract." Liang Yao handed the prepared contract to Lincoln.

After reading the contract carefully, Lincoln did not sign it. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Can the term of the contract be changed from 10 years to 5 years?"

"Okay." Liang Yao thought for a while and agreed to Lincoln's request. "It seems that you still plan to return to politics in the near future."

Lincoln did not deny this, saying: "Politics is the ultimate outlet for aspiring lawyers."

After establishing his life goals at the age of 30, Lincoln's goal has always been clear, which is to make a name for himself in politics.

I became a lawyer just to train myself, continue to accumulate contacts, and prepare for my future return to politics.

After changing the contract period from 10 years to 5 years, Lincoln signed the contract with Liang Yao happily.

After signing the contract, Lincoln stretched out his rough, calloused hands, shook hands with Liang Yao and said.

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Liang. I heard that you have developed California very well. After I finish settling the Atlantic Railway Company's lawsuits, I must go to California to see it with my own eyes."

"I'm in California, waiting at any time." Liang Yao said with a smile.

After sending Lincoln off, Coney sent Liang Yao a telegram from Perry. In the telegram, Perry told Liang Yao that the last batch of ships of the American East India Fleet had been painted and set off, and he was also aboard.

The flagship Mississippi, which had been with him for many years, was preparing to circumnavigate Cape Horn in South America and head to San Francisco, and urged Liang Yao to return to San Francisco as soon as possible to join him and go to Japan.

Liang Yaoshou is also very busy in the east. Construction is going on in the business district of Manhattan, and the Atlantic Railway Company is also building new tracks.

The terrain in the eastern United States is relatively flat, and these new railway lines will be put into operation next year.

The Arizona Infantry Regiment recruited in the south has also completed its assembly in Houston, and the engineer company is directly on standby in New York Harbor, waiting for Liang Yao to give the order before heading to San Francisco.

After Liang Yao explained to the employees who stayed in the east, he said goodbye to Vanderbilt and set off back to California.

"Why did you buy so many cannons?"

At the dock of New York Harbor, Liang Yao couldn't help but ask when he saw Pan Zhengwei, who was still wearing the official robes, directing his entourage to hoist a cannon onto the ship.

"Do you need cannons to look after homes and homes?"

"My clan brother in Guangzhou entrusted me to buy some foreign guns and cannons on my behalf. A few days ago, you evened out some foreign guns and gave them to me. You refused to give me the foreign cannons, so I had to negotiate with the foreigners myself and purchased 30 cannons." Pan Zhengwei.

said.

"30?" Liang Yao felt a little unbalanced, "I only bought 20 cannons."

"I am the envoy of the Qing Dynasty and the Minister of Rites." Pan Zhengwei said with a smile, "These cannons are used to present to the Holy Emperor. If you don't give a big gift, I would like to express some Americans' intention to surrender to our heaven. Our "

How could His Majesty nod to the Treaty of Free Immigration between China and the United States?"

"But Pan Deshe (she) asked you to buy it?"

Speaking of Pan Zhengwei's clan brother, Liang Yao first thought of Pan Zhengwei and his clan brother Pan Shicheng (also known as De She).

As a very popular red-top businessman, the Pan family not only won the favor of the saints, but also lived well in the circle of scholar-bureaucrats.

Unlike ordinary second-generation rich people, Pan Shicheng did not indulge in a wealthy life of living in luxury and living until death. Instead, he chose the path of becoming famous through the imperial examination, serving as both an official and a businessman, and relying on his power to make money.

Pan Shicheng went to Beijing to take the examination at the age of 28, and was a deputy tribute in the Shuntian Township Examination. Soon, he donated a huge sum of money to help the famine-stricken people in the Beijing area, and was awarded the title of Juren, and was specially awarded the title of Doctor of the Ministry of Punishment.

Although it was said to be a huge sum of money, it was actually only over 200,000 taels of silver. To the Pan family of Tongfu Bank, it was not a big sum of money. However, not every trader was willing to pay for this money.

When the Yao people in Lianshan, Guangdong were in trouble, Pan Shicheng provided money and salary to help Guangdong local officials suppress the Yao rebellion. Therefore, Pan Shicheng was not only popular among the scholar-bureaucrats in the capital, but also respected by the feudal officials in Guangdong.

There were 111 dignitaries who had correspondence with Pan Shicheng before and after the Opium War, including local dignitaries such as Lin Zexu, Guo Shangxian, Zhang Yuesong, Tang Yifen, and Deng Tingzhen.

Pan Shicheng was also very clever. After the Opium War, even the large Yihe Xingwu family among the thirteen industries declined rapidly. However, Pan Shicheng found another way, purchasing arms for the Guangdong authorities and undertaking coastal defense, and made a lot of money. money.

"Exactly, De She heard that the American guns, cannons and battleships were very useful, and he entrusted me to purchase some and send them back to those who chose the best to offer to the saints. The rest were left for the soldiers to use. He said that this time the Changmao rebellion was no better than The Yao Rebellion in the twelfth year of Daoguang's reign may not be quelled quickly. Guangdong is close to Guangxi, so it is better to take more precautions." Pan Zhengwei said.

"You also got a foreign ship?"

Liang Yao was a little surprised. These days, he was busy dealing with the Atlantic Railway Company and the Manhattan Shopping Center. Pan Zhengwei and others did not pay much attention to what they were doing.

"Here." Pan Zhengwei pointed at three sailing warships of about eight to nine hundred tons anchored not far from New York Harbor, "These four ships were bought from the Navy's Brooklyn Shipyard. They are all second-hand scraps eliminated by the U.S. Navy. goods."

Although these sailing warships with a displacement of eight to nine hundred tons are small ships to the navies of European and American countries, in East Asian countries, they are definitely large ships with considerable combat capabilities.

"The sailors above are also hired from the American Navy?" Liang Yao opened the monocular and looked at the sailors on the ship and said.

These sailors were able to handle the sails and steer the ship with ease, and were obviously very familiar with the ship. This was a warship, not an ordinary armed merchant ship, and presumably these sailors were not ordinary sailors either.

"It's not the Navy of the United States, it's the retired sailors of the U.S. Navy. I heard from people at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Philadelphia Navy Yard that Perry hasn't been improving the steamization rate of the Navy in recent years. Many naval sailors from the sail era have been It was abolished, so I hired them conveniently." Pan Zhengwei replied.

"You are quite good at business. What do you want a warship for? If you give me foreign guns and cannons, the court will accept them. If you give me foreign ships and a boatload of foreign Japanese sailors, the court will not accept them." Liang Yao put down his telescope and asked.

Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has been in uprising for nearly a year, it is still scurrying around in the mountainous areas of eastern Guangxi and northern Guangdong. Except for a few local knowledgeable people like Pan Shicheng who are on the front line of the uprising, the Manchu and Qing officials generally have not paid much attention to Hong Xiuquan and others. If people take it seriously, the situation is not so embarrassing that we need to hire foreign mercenaries to suppress the uprising.

"Tongfu also has some small businesses in Nanyang. There are many pirates in Nanyang. They have their own armed fleets, so they feel safe doing business. Although these second-hand sailboats may be outdated in your eyes, they are much better than those broken ships of Nanyang pirates. The guns on the ship are also usable, and besides, these foreign sailors are not expensive, so it’s cost-effective to hire them.”

Pan Zhengwei said that these three ships and the retired sailors on them were hired by him for Tongfu Bank's use, not for the imperial court.

"My brother wants me to buy some foreign girls to serve as maids. Do you have a way?"

"He wants it white?" Liang Yao said in surprise.

Pan Zhengwei, the younger brother of the clan, has quite a lot of fun.

"As long as it's white, not black." Pan Zhengwei said very decisively.

Pan Zhengwei's decisive attitude once made Liang Yao doubt whether the clan brother he was talking about was himself.

"It would be easier to deal with black slaves. In the South of the United States, even in Washington, black slaves can still be traded legally. It is indeed difficult to deal with white slaves, but it is not impossible." Liang Yao thought for a while and said.

"When you go back to Nicaragua, you can look for some on your own. There are white ones there. If not, when you get to California, you can find Stanford, which does these businesses in Central America."

"This is a very clever plan. My brother only said he wanted white food, but he didn't say whether he wanted it from the United States or Mexico or Nicaragua. Anyway, as long as it is white, it will be fine." Pan Zhengwei said cheerfully.

"After all, you are the older one among your peers in the Pan family. Why are you willing to be ordered around by a younger brother like you? Could it be that your younger brother is the one who talks things over in the Pan family?" Liang Yao asked curiously.

The helmsman of the Yihe Xingwu Family is Wu Shangrong, and the helmsman of the Tongfu Xing Pan Family is still unclear to him. The situation of the Pan family, which integrates politics and business, is much more complicated than that of the Wu family.

"They are most of the talkers in the Pan family," Pan Zhengwei said with a smile.

"Although my younger brother is young, he is indeed the most capable one among the Pan family members. Deshe has an insight into the world and is able to handle himself well both in the official circles of the capital and in Guangzhou. My grandfather loved him very much when he was still there. I think he is a member of the Pan family who can take charge of his own business."

"As a second-grade envoy, not to mention in your Pan family, even in the imperial court, you are a person who can stand alone." Liang Yao said.

The height that Pan Shicheng can reach is already the ceiling among Guangzhou merchants.

"This chief envoy is not that chief envoy. It is just a false title for self-comfort. How can the imperial court entrust real power to a businessman wearing a red hat." Pan Zhengwei showed a bitter smile.

After the luggage and materials were loaded and all the entourage boarded the ship, Liang Yao ordered the ship to set sail.

Thirteen steamships in New York Harbor sounded their piercing whistles, slowly sailed out of New York Harbor and sailed south along the coastline.

(End of chapter)