1850 American Gold Tycoon

In the mid-19th century, the comprehensive national power of Britain and France was far stronger than that of the United States.

The British Empire, known as the sun never sets, has the most extensive colonies and the most powerful navy in the world.

France is the most powerful country in Europe and has the most powerful army in Europe and even in the world.

After all, Fremont was still a young politician without much political experience. When he contacted the ambassadors of Britain and France, he just wanted to make a superficial statement to show to Congress, and had no intention of substantive cooperation with Britain and France.

These two countries are both unprofitable masters, and the ambassadors of the two countries are even more shrewd than the other. How can they be willing to serve as a dispensable tool?

What they want is real benefits, which is why Liang Yao doesn't want to have premature contact with the British and French senior officials.

Liang Yao met two guests at Tingtao Garden. One of them was Gibson, a banker from the British Bank of Barings, and the other was Le Goff, a banker from the Bank of France.

It seems that Britain and France are relatively restrained in the United States and have not sent anyone from the embassy to have direct contact with him.

After briefly introducing himself, Liang Yao started negotiating with the two British and French bankers.

Liang Yao is no stranger to Barings and Banque de France.

Four years ago was the golden age for American Democrats. Their president, Polk, was an ambitious president.

Polk was keenly aware at that time that if the United States wanted to become an influential power, it could not stay in a corner of the Atlantic coast and must achieve effective control over the Pacific coast.

To achieve this, it was necessary to realize postal services between the Oregon Territory (California had not yet been annexed by the United States at the time) and the eastern states.

The best mail route is the Panama route now operated by the Pacific Mail Company of Aspinwall.

At that time, the Congress and State Department, dominated by Democrats, had completed contacts with the government of the Republic of New Granada (roughly equivalent to today's Colombia) and decided to dig a canal in the Panama Province of the Republic of New Granada.

At that time, the Mexican-American War coincided with the territorial dispute between Canada and the United States.

President Polk, who has always had a tough attitude toward foreign affairs, even shouted directly: Fifty-four forty or fight (divided by 54 degrees 40 degrees north latitude, otherwise there will be a fight) when faced with territorial disputes over the northwest border and the British Canadian Colony. .) radical slogan.

The British authorities believed that if the Oregon Territory and the eastern part of the United States were to be connected by mail, it would harm the interests of their Canadian colonies, so they entangled France and disrupted the cooperation between the United States and New Granada.

The main participants in this matter were Barings Bank and the Bank of France. They valued the canal at more than 10 million US dollars, forcing Americans who were interested in digging the Panama Canal to stay away.

At the same time, they told the New Granada government that the United States could not provide more than ten million US dollars, but they, Britain and France could, and the New Granada Republic was more inclined to cooperate with Britain and France, which had stronger financial resources.

At that time, the United States was at war with Mexico, so naturally it could not afford more than ten million U.S. dollars, and the wealthy people in the United States could not afford ten million U.S. dollars, so the matter had to be abandoned in the end.

After the United States gave up digging the Panama Canal, when the government of the Republic of New Granada again urged Britain and France to dig the canal, Britain and France expressed their attitude that the project was difficult and that the project was not feasible. The Republic of New Granada was very angry and felt that it had been fooled.

"I would like to say hello to you on behalf of the Ambassador, Mr. Liang."

Although Robinson is the governor, Gypsy, who has been paying attention to California for a long time, has long known that Liang Yao is the one who really controls California.

“The Ambassador has interviewed Senator Fremont earlier. The Ambassador and I deeply sympathize with what is happening to the Republic of California, and I deeply admire the spirit of the people of California in fighting for freedom.

I am willing to do whatever I can to support the people of California in resisting tyranny and striving for independence. "

As he passed by the square, Gibson noticed that there was no Stars and Stripes, only the Bear Flag, symbolizing the Republic of California.

Gibson mistakenly thought this was California's War of Independence and was ecstatic.

California is a territory that the United States just annexed from Mexico two years ago. It is legal and reasonable for Californians to seek independence.

War requires money, lots of money.

During the U.S.-Mexican War, Barings Bank provided loans to the U.S. government, while cleaning up inventory for the British Empire and selling outdated weapons at high prices to Mexico, which lacked weapons. It can be said that it made a lot of money.

The Bank of France also made a lot of money in the Mexican-American War, but the French mainly supported the United States and did not make as much as the British.

The British supported both countries and even sent British officers to help the Mexicans train their troops because they hoped the war would last longer.

Consuming the national power of the United States by shedding Mexican blood is something the British are very happy to see.

France, on the other hand, wanted to let the stronger United States create obstacles for the British, because Britain supported Prussia in Europe to create obstacles for France.

Both sides know what the other is thinking, but things that are easy to break up cannot be brought to the table.

Although Britain and France secretly disliked each other, on the surface they still maintained harmony.

"Mr. Gibson, since you admit that Mr. Fremont is a senator in the United States Senate, how can you talk about the Republic of California? This is just a war for Californians to defend their rights, not a war of independence."

Liang Yao had already seen through Gibson's conspiracy, and he made it clear to Gibson the nature of the war.

It's not that he doesn't have independent ideas, it's just that the time for independence hasn't come yet.

California did not have a complete industrial system to support a long-term modern war.

The cohesion of Californians at present is limited to the defense of California and the defense of their property. Wanting them to follow him to expand his territory is purely because of Liang Yao's passion.

He also needs more time to increase the cohesion of Californians and their sense of identity.

Liang Yao can flirt with Britain and France, making Congress and senior officials in Washington feel nervous and pressured.

But he would never fight to the last Californian for England and France.

Gibson and Legoff looked at each other, and Liang Yao's reply was beyond their expectations.

The young man seemed sober enough to resist the temptation of a president of the republic.

Is he really just willing to be a lieutenant governor who controls everything behind the scenes?

"Ahem, don't get me wrong, we just sympathize with the Californians." LeGoff coughed twice to ease the somewhat awkward situation.

"We are bankers and we came to California to look for business opportunities. But if you need weapons, we are happy to provide them. We also have our own channels."

Legoff did not know that half of Colonel Mason's infantry regiment had been wiped out by Liang Yao.

He feels that the current situation in California is not very clear, and Paris has not given clear instructions on this matter. Legoff decided to wait and see.

"As long as you abide by the laws of this state, we welcome businessmen and entrepreneurs from any country to invest in California." Liang Yao said, "As for weapons, as long as the weapons you provide are advanced enough, I can purchase some weapons to arm the California Infantry Regiment."

"Great, can I do some research in California?" Legoff asked.

Gibson's purpose in coming to California was clear: to instigate the American Civil War.

At the beginning of the year, when the North and South of the United States were at loggerheads, the British authorities secretly rejoiced, believing that a large-scale civil war was about to break out in the United States.

Bankers in London even prepared war bonds for the United States. However, in July, the new President Fillmore quickly mediated the conflicts between the North and the South after taking office and eased the tense relations between the North and the South.

Fillmore succeeded in passing the Compromise Act in September, which saved the United States from civil war.

This disappointed the authorities in London across the ocean.

The disagreement between California and the U.S. Congress gave them hope of reigniting the fuse of the American Civil War. This was the purpose of Simpson's trip to California.

Le Goff's purpose in coming to California is not as clear as Simpson's. Although Paris has not made clear statements or instructions on this matter, Le Goff also knows that a stronger America is in France's interests.

Every second has the ambition to be first.

France covets Britain's world hegemony, but there is a huge gap between France's overall national strength, especially its navy, and Britain's. France needed a partner with the strength to contain Britain.

If California is worth investing in, it will be a big gain for Le Goff if French capital represented by the Bank of France can enter California and participate in local development.

"Of course, I will let my assistant serve as your guide later to take you on an inspection tour in California." Liang Yao said.