1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 344 Big Customer

Neutrality is California’s attitude towards the issue of slavery and abolition for a long time to come.

There is no doubt that democratic system is the general trend of the future.

This was also the consensus of the first batch of California immigrants when California was established as a state.

However, for the sake of formal and moral democratic freedom, it is not in California’s current interests to accept escaped black slaves and therefore vent its anger on the southern slave states.

After the telegram was sent, Liang Yao ordered a censorship of newspapers and periodicals in California, and issued a ban to newspapers of all sizes in California prohibiting the publication of any articles about slavery and abolition, and at the same time instructed the state government to strengthen censorship of news.

Although this is not so free in the so-called free speech America.

But the so-called freedom is just a cover. In fact, both the North and the South now have their own public opinion positions and methods.

Each free state and slave state controlled public opinion in their own state. For example, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a popular novel in the United States, was very popular in free states, but in slave states, it was banned.

Newspapers in free states rarely read articles supporting slavery, and newspapers in slave states rarely read articles supporting the abolition of slavery.

Even if a few alternative articles occasionally appear, even if they are relatively neutral in attitude and tactful in wording, the newspaper that published the article will be smashed to pieces by the local fanatical people on the same day.

The author of the article will also face the risk of being killed in the wilderness.

This is the current climate of public opinion in the United States. It is necessary to abolish slavery or to maintain slavery. You must choose to support one of them and stand in line. Otherwise, you will be a traitor from the south (north) and end up as a human being.

Liang Yao doesn’t want California to become like this.

During those few months in New York, Liang Yao also read hundreds of newspapers in California, all of which were about abolitionists.

Since free states and slave states had their own positions, California should also have its own positions.

The most important thing for California at the moment is to develop the state's economy, rather than engage in meaningless debates around slavery and abolition issues that have nothing to do with it.

Today's abolitionists in the United States who support the abolition of slavery and condemn the inhumanity of the slave-holding states in the South from the moral high ground are no different from those who chanted the slogan "Black Lives Matter" in later generations.

They are doing it for their own interests and do not really care about the survival and discrimination of black people.

If these abolitionists were really as noble as they claim to be, the problem of racial discrimination would not still be a cancer that is difficult to eradicate in American society more than 170 years later.

There are roughly three types of people in later generations who shout Black Lives Matter. One is politicians, Black Lives Matter can bring them votes and support, and the other is businessmen. Black Lives Matter can not only win the favor of black people and white leftists, but also win the favor of black people and white leftists.

Bringing tangible economic benefits to oneself, or taking a stand to protect one's industry from the riots.

The last type is ordinary people who follow the crowd and watch the excitement. After all, shouting a few slogans to support black people will not cause them any losses and can also demonstrate their own justice.

If these politicians are asked to introduce substantive policies to slowly eliminate racial discrimination against black people, if wealthy businessmen pay to improve the living conditions of black people, or if black people become neighbors of ordinary white middle-class people, they will probably not accept it.

Because deep-seated discrimination against black people cannot be eliminated by shouting a few slogans of support.

Actions are often more honest than words.

After Liang Yao's telegram was sent, it did not cause much response, because at this time, the attention of both free states and slave states was invariably focused on Kansas, where the struggle between abolitionists and slaveholders was the most intense.

Neither side has the time to deal with California. This is exactly what Liang Yao wants. He just needs to express California's attitude.

If California's statement triggers a relatively large response and pushes California to the forefront, such a reaction would be extremely detrimental to California.

Liang Yao couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he discovered this problem in time and did not let the issue of slavery and abolition continue to ferment in California.

After finishing all these things, Liang Yao met with Hong Mingxiang.

"Brother Liang, it's so hard for me to wait for you." Hong Mingxiang said to Liang Yao, cupping his fists and bowing.

"I didn't know that Hong Junmen was here. I missed the welcome and was negligent. I hope you can forgive me." Liang Yao said politely.

His fifth uncle Liang Shaoqiong had already revealed to him the purpose of Hong Mingxiang's visit. Hong Mingxiang made a special trip to California to purchase arms.

"The foreign ship that brother Liang gave me before was very good and sailed very fast. Although the cannons on the ship were a little small, they fired accurately and quickly. Now this ship has become Mr. Hong's ship.

"Hong Mingxiang was full of praise for the Loach-class battleship given to him by Liang Yao.

Although the Loach-class gunboat with a displacement of only 500 tons is a small boat in the West, in the combat sequence of the Guangdong Navy, a warship of this size is definitely not a small boat.

What's more, the Loach class is a steam-powered ship. The eight 3-inch front-mounted rifled guns mounted on the side of the ship are a bit small, but they can fire both solid bullets, shotgun shells and explosive shells, and their performance is not out of date.

If there is any shortcoming of the Mud class, it is that the Loach class does not have the ability to sail alone on the ocean. After all, the tonnage is there.

However, as a coastal patrol gunboat, the Loach class is definitely qualified.

Anyway, the Navy of the Qing Dynasty did not have ocean combat missions, and its function was only responsible for offshore defense.

The Loach-class patrol boats are cheap, relatively easy to maintain, small and flexible, and are a very cost-effective choice for the navy of the Qing Dynasty.

"Since it's easy to use, you might as well buy a few more." Liang Yao said with a smile.

"I came here this time just to buy ships. The merchants in Guangzhou donated some money this time. Together with the silver allocated by Governor Xu, I can just buy a few new ships for the Guangdong Navy." Hong Mingxiang laughed.

said.

"It's just that this ship travels on the ocean, relying solely on the steam engine to drive the paddle wheel. Once this machine goes wrong, the ship will not be able to move.

Brother Liang is a kind man. He not only gave me a ship, but also sent sailors to teach my brothers how to sail the ship.

However, the big-headed soldiers under my command are stupid and can only sail ships but cannot repair them. Once something goes wrong with the steam engine and the ship anchors at the Pearl River Estuary, it will be repaired at Brother Liang's shipyard in the end."

"Something went wrong? What problem?" Liang Yao asked with a frown.

The Loach-class patrol gunboat is not only used by Hong Mingxiang, but also by the anti-smuggling team of the California Department of Revenue. The civilian ship model of the ship, the Hope, is spread throughout various routes in Jinshan Bay, becoming the mainstay of California's offshore shipping and inland shipping.

Liang Yao has never heard anyone complain about the high failure rate of the Loach class, which shows that this ship type is qualified, and the steam engines and boilers on the ship are also qualified.

"The workers at Xiangshan Ship Repair Yard said that this was caused by the lack of maintenance of the boiler on weekdays." Hong Mingxiang said a little embarrassed.

It turned out to be this reason. Liang Yao suddenly realized that the Guangdong Navy had no steamships before. This Loach class was the first steamship of the Guangdong Navy. The officers and soldiers of the Guangdong Navy had no experience in maintaining steam ships.

As for the Loach-class patrol gunboats used in California, each ship is equipped with a dedicated mechanic responsible for the daily maintenance of steam engines and boilers.

Even if they are civilian ships of the same type, each ship is equipped with specialized mechanics.

Obviously, Hong Mingxiang does not have relevant talents at his disposal.

The high degree of specialization and high technical threshold are what distinguish the modern navy from the traditional navy.

The days when a group of fishermen and a group of pirates could organize a powerful maritime force and dominate the sea, have gradually faded away with the emergence of advanced warships.

Having modern warships does not mean having a modern navy.

The navy is a system, not a few warships.

"That's it." Liang Yaoru nodded with understanding.

"I am also here on the orders of Governor Xu. Governor Xu ordered me to acquire a piece of land in Huangpu to build a dock for repairing Guangdong Navy ships.

What Governor Xu means is that if Mr. Liang is willing to send instructors to teach the sailors of the Guangdong Navy how to maintain and repair this steamboat, the Guangdong Navy can consider purchasing more loach boats as appropriate," Hong Mingxiang said.

Xu Guangjin wanted to buy logistics services together. There were some knowledgeable people among the officials of the Qing Dynasty.

Without the ability to maintain and maintain the ships, no matter how good the performance of the warships are, they are nothing more than decorations.

"Then it depends on how many warships the Guangdong Navy needs to acquire." Liang Yao said with a smile, "If there are only one or two ships, if there is a problem in the future, they can be directly sent to Xiangshan for repair. Guangzhou and Xiangshan are not far apart."

"Five ships." Hong Mingxiang stretched out her palm and made a five sign and said with a smile.

"It's easy to say, easy to say, Hong Junmen has made a fortune." Liang Yaozhan said.

"We are both compatriots, and I will not raise the price. I will sell it to you at the cost, and then select some capable Chinese pilots to go to Huangpu to teach the brothers of the Guangdong Navy how to maintain this steamship.

A steamship needs to be maintained not only for its steam engine and boiler, but also for its cannons and ammunition. Otherwise, it will soon become useless like the old cannons on Xiangshan Fort and Humen Fort.

It worked.”

Five Loach-class patrol gunboats are a big deal for the San Francisco Shipyard, and it should also provide some supporting services.

Daqing is a potential big customer.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty was in a state of flux, but due to its huge size, the GDP was still the largest in the world. Although the people were very poor, before the Sino-Japanese War of 1884-1894, the Qing government's treasury still had some money.

As for the gentry class, they are even more fat.

"I was about to talk to Brother Liang about the cannon and the foreign guns." Hong Mingxiang said while rubbing her hands.

"I heard that Brother Liang has an arsenal in Sacramento that can produce foreign guns and cannons. Can you give me a tour?

During these days of waiting for you in California, I was so busy that I wanted to visit Brother Liang's arsenal, but I was kicked out and said that no one can enter the arsenal without your order."

"The people under my command are not sensible, and their words and deeds are neither serious nor serious. Please Hong Junmen Haihan, don't take it to heart. Liang is here to apologize to Hong Junmen." Liang Yao bowed slightly to Hong Mingxiang and said

Apologize.

"Anywhere, it's an important military area and shouldn't allow outsiders to enter easily. I should learn from you on this." Hong Mingxiang behaved very generously.

"If Hong Junmen wants to visit the arsenal, I will take Hong Junmen to Sacramento to visit it." Liang Yao asked, "May I ask whether Governor Xu's Supervisory Base Camp wants to replace foreign guns and cannons?"

(End of chapter)