1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 459 Necessary Communication

Monterrey is the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon in northwestern Mexico. It is also the largest Mexican city captured by the Southern Army in the first month of the war.

Compared with small villages and towns, the Confederate army's behavior became much more restrained after capturing big cities.

Although in big cities, the Southern Army would still plunder Mexican civilians.

However, considering the large number of people in big cities and the presence of domestic and foreign reporters, the officers of the Confederate Army would restrain their subordinates' behavior to some extent.

More importantly, big cities have warehouses with abundant supplies. Even if they rob less, as long as they can get the supplies in the warehouses, the Confederate soldiers can accept them.

Liang Yao rode through the streets full of Confederate soldiers and went straight to the Governor's Mansion.

The Governor's Palace of Monterey was built in the Spanish colonial period and is a Gothic-style building.

After the capture of Monterey, the Governor's Mansion became the headquarters of Confederate Commander Jackson and a mess hall for senior officers.

When Liang Yao arrived at the Governor's Mansion, Jackson was dining with senior officers of the Confederate Army in the restaurant.

Longstreet even opened a bottle of champagne and invited Liang Yao to drink with him.

"Mr. Bell is a capable general of the Confederate Army, but the current performance of the Confederate Army always gives me an ominous premonition," Liang Yao said.

At this time, the Texas Regiment should be attacking Sarti, but the telegraph line between Sarti and Monterey had not yet been completed, and Liang Yao did not know the progress of the Texas Regiment.

Jackson drank a little wine and was a little tipsy, but at this time his mind was still clear and he was not drunk.

Compared to the north, the southern army was organized more like a medieval army. If Jackson wanted to win this war, he had to engage in some unnecessary social activities in Liang Yao's opinion.

"The Southern Army is not the Western Brigade. You can keep your word in the Western Brigade, but I can't in the Southern Army."

Now the Southern Army has only achieved some preliminary results. They captured the city of Monterrey, not Mexico City. It is too early to celebrate now.

The meals of senior officers are always rich, with local specialties such as tamago (a local dish made from dried chicken and eggs), roasted suckling lamb, hummus and other dishes placed on the table.

Liang Yao left Monterey and headed to Sarti, more than 70 kilometers away, with his bodyguard Lian Chima.

It seems that if he wants to win this war, even if he has an intelligence advantage over Mexico and unilaterally opens up part of the fog of war, judging from the current performance of the Southern Army, it will not be as easy as expected.

"Mr. Bell has just led the Texas regiment to capture Salty City."

When the generals of the Southern Army who were dining saw Liang Yao coming in, they warmly invited the deputy commander-in-chief to dine with him.

"Your ideas coincide with mine." Jackson smiled.

The last U.S.-Mexican War was a war fought by the United States with all the strength of the country. Many of the troops participating in the war were regular troops from the north, and the logistics were more secure.

"I heard that Colonel Bell's Texas regiment has set off to attack Sarti. This is a very good idea. As long as the communication line between our Southern Army and the Western Brigade is opened, our army will have more battlefield initiative.

.

On the way, Liang Yao met Fremont who was leading the communications company to lay telegraph lines.

Opening champagne at half-time was not a good sign. This behavior reminded Liang Yao of a football match that would later upset him.

The South behaves more freely in this regard. The soldiers are from the same hometown, and the commanders are from local families.

"So fast?" Liang Yao was surprised by the rapid progress of the Texas Regiment.

"According to the intelligence sent back by my informant, the main Mexican troops have set off from Mexico City and headed north, and they have now arrived in San Luis Potosi, the capital of San Luis Potosi state.

"We should immediately set out to capture Victoria City in Tamaurispa and push the front southward to gain wider strategic depth instead of celebrating here!"

Jackson picked up the napkin and wiped his hands, then followed Liang Yao to the corridor outside the door.

This time the U.S.-Mexican War was fought with the strength of the South, and not only was it inferior to the previous one in terms of logistical support.

Since the food habits of the southern region, especially Texas and other places, are similar to the tastes of Mexicans, these officers are very fond of local Mexican food.

Instead, Liang Yao spent a lot of money to temporarily set up a communication force from the telegraph company. Their main responsibility was to lay and maintain telegraph lines.

"Then why are you still wasting time here?" Liang Yao asked with some dissatisfaction.

By moving the front to the south, it can be said that Jackson and Liang Yao want to be together.

Unlike the north, northern soldiers have a relatively sound modern military system from recruitment, service to retirement. The appointment and removal of officers are also more reasonable.

"Mr. Bell just took over Salty with his Texas regiment."

"General Liang, do you have any advice?"

The equipment of the Texas regiment was not very good, and they did not even have a decent cannon. Liang Yao was somewhat surprised and surprised that they could capture Sarti so quickly.

Capturing Victoria City and moving the battle line south will also ensure the security of our transportation line and the rear."

Liang Yao attaches great importance to communications. This communications company is not the communications unit of the Western Brigade.

"Wasting time? No, General Liang, this is not wasting time, this is necessary communication." Jackson said helplessly.

"General Jackson, come here." Liang Yao waved to Jackson who was having a meal.

"Monterey was lost. Salty was a small city with not many defenders. I heard that a large southern army was going to attack Salty, and Salty's Mexican defenders fled south that night." Fremont

smiled.

He pushed away the champagne offered by Longstreet and declined Longstreet's hospitality.

Moreover, the number of regular soldiers participating in the war was very small, and the main force participating in this war were mostly militias from southern states.

This Mexican main force has more than 20,000 people, and is personally led by their president Santa Ana. The straight-line distance from Monterey is now only 400 kilometers." Liang Yao said to Jackson.

"I hope you can go south as soon as possible." Liang Yao sighed.

Liang Yao glanced at the Southern Army officers who were feasting and toasting to celebrate the victory.

Jackson had his own difficulties. Compared with the last U.S.-Mexican War, the troops participating in this U.S.-Mexico War were far less outstanding than the last time.

As soon as he met Fremont, Fremont put down his work and told Liang Yao some good news.

The degree of industrialization in Mexico is very low, and telegraph lines are also very sparse. Even if the Mexican army does not consider the destruction of telegraph lines, there are not many ready-made telegraph lines that Liang Yao can directly use.

"Hopefully this is just a hunch."

"What are your plans next?" Fremont handed Liang Yao a cigarette.

"If the Southern Army's current advance speed is followed, it may be difficult to end the war before April."

Fremont, who was born and grew up in the south, knows more about things in the south than Liang Yao.

(End of chapter)