1850 American Gold Tycoon

The California State Legislature meeting on April 1, 1851 was the meeting that passed the most bills since California was established as a state. Google search reading

The bills passed at the meeting were not insignificant bills, but bills that actually related to the vital interests of many Californians.

After getting Liang Yao's permission and several reviews, the California Daily published a detailed explanation of the bill passed by the state assembly and its contents in the newspaper published on April 8.

The streets, taverns and teahouses of San Francisco and Sacramento are full of Californians holding newspapers and analyzing them carefully.

Even illiterate Californians entrusted literate intellectuals to read to them the contents of the newspapers.

In the hall of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Chinese businessmen were also analyzing the "California" daily issue of April 8, 1851.

It's just that the "California Daily" in their hands is a Chinese version of the newspaper.

As more and more Chinese people live in California, the newspaper considers that the number of Chinese subscribing to the "California Daily" has exceeded one person per day. In March, the newspaper specially hired a Chinese editor to be responsible for the editing work of the Chinese version of "California Daily" and launched Chinese daily newspaper.

Most of these Chinese businessmen can understand English, especially the Guangzhou merchants who have been doing business with the British all year round. They can not only listen and speak English, but also write beautiful cursive English. Reading English newspapers is even more important for them. Not a problem.

But since there is a Chinese version of the newspaper, they are still more willing to choose the Chinese version of the newspaper to read.

The Chinese version of "California Daily" is in vernacular, which makes it easier to read.

Fur traders from the Oregon area often come in and out of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The fur business in Oregon was originally run by Astor. These fur merchants were all former partners of the Astor family. Since the Astor family made its fortune and transformed, they no longer attach as much importance to the fur business as before.

With the influx of Russian fur traders, life became increasingly difficult for Oregon fur traders.

The furs obtained by Russian fur traders in Alaska were of better quality and at lower prices than their own furs, making the furs in Oregon uncompetitive.

Eastern fur traders and the British Hudson River Bend Company were more inclined to purchase furs from Russian fur traders.

The arrival of a large number of Chinese businessmen in California gave fur traders in the Oregon region hope.

In the Qing Dynasty, the main source of furs in the Qing Dynasty was outside the Pass, which was the land of Longxing in the Qing Dynasty. Han people could not set foot outside the Pass.

Purchasing Oregon furs and selling them back to the Qing Dynasty was considered profitable by Chinese businessmen.

Pan Zhengwei has now started a fur business. Furs are in hot demand in the Qing Dynasty. The Pan family also has connections. It is not difficult for the Pan family to get rid of these furs in the Qing Dynasty.

However, the fur business with the Oregon fur traders was still a small profit and could not become a big deal.

Pan Zhengwei, Wu Yuanhua and others are discussing joining the California Coal and Steel Alliance, an industry that is very unfamiliar to them.

The current business of Chinese businessmen in California is mainly re-export trade. Local goods shipped from the Qing Dynasty are sold in California to earn profits.

This is also their old business. The difference from the past is that in the past, they had to go through the hands of American businessmen to sell local products from the Qing Dynasty to the United States.

Now they can sell it themselves, and the profit is much higher without the middleman.

"Those ghost guys have made a lot of money following Mr. Liang. As far as I know, Mr. Liang has never suffered a loss in the business world in California. I think this California Steel Alliance has a lot of potential!"

Pan Zhengwei pointed at the newspaper and said.

"Those ghost guys and the Chinese group leaders can discuss this matter in the state assembly, but our chamber of commerce does not have a single state assemblyman. If I had known that I would not go back to Guangzhou and stay in California to naturalize, maybe now I am also a state representative. Congressman." Wu Yuanhua said regretfully with a look of regret on his face.

Those Chinese patriarchs were all low-ranking figures in the Qing Dynasty. Now that he, an imperial businessman, was being overshadowed by these people in California, Wu Yuanhua felt a little unacceptable.

"In the next state assembly election, no matter what the cost, our chamber of commerce will participate and try to win more seats." Zeng Jinsong glanced at the newspaper.

"No matter how detailed it is written in the newspaper, it is not as detailed as what was heard directly in the parliament. There are no people from us in the parliament, and there is no one who can even speak for us. It is such a disadvantage."

Zeng Jinsong donated an official position in the Qing Dynasty, but he did not expect that American congressmen had real power, unlike the official he donated in the Qing Dynasty, which was just an official position.

"You can't say that. Our president, Mr. Liang, is not the state speaker," Wu Yuanhua said. "Those ghost congressmen are now around Mr. Liang every day, trying to flatter Mr. Liang."

"It's not so early for the state legislators to re-elect. I heard that nine out of ten state legislators are members of the Civic Party. Why don't we go back and talk to Mr. Liang and join the party first? Anyway, the party fee is only 12 US dollars per year. It's okay to join the party first. Not a loss."

Pan Zhengwei, vice president of the China Chamber of Commerce, said.

"Brother Yu Ting is right in what he said. Join the party first. Those Guilao and Patriarch state legislators have all joined the party. We cannot fall behind." Zeng Jinsong said.

"The newspaper said that if you want to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance, you must first register a steel company, coal mining company or company in related industries with assets of more than 300,000 US dollars. We brothers first collected some money and joined the California Coal and Steel Alliance. Say it again."

"I was lucky enough to visit Young Master Liang's California Steel Company, and even took a train with Mr. Liang. Young Master Liang told me on the train that his steel plant can produce more than two million kilograms of iron per month, and four tons of steel. Thousands of catties.

Such a large output is still insufficient. I think Mr. Liang has greater ambitions. "

Pan Zhengwei said, stroking his gray beard.

"In this coal and steel alliance, we are willing to join anything. The steel plant is old and useless, and I am old and can't understand the machines of the foreigners.

But a few days ago, I spent US$150,000 to buy several coal mines and set up Tongfu Coal Mine Company to supply coal to Mr. Liang’s steel factory. If you are interested, you can raise another $150,000 with me to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance. "

Faced with Pan Zhengwei's proposal, some Chinese businessmen with limited financial resources decided to pool their money to invest in Tongfu Coal Mine and obtain admission tickets to the California Coal and Steel Alliance.

Chinese businessmen with relatively strong financial resources such as Wu Yuanhua could not rely on others. They decided to set up their own coal mining companies and even steel companies to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance.

After the Chinese businessmen decided to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance, Bank of America became busy.

US$300,000 is equivalent to about 190,000 taels of silver, which is a huge amount of money.

Although the families behind these Chinese businessmen are all very wealthy, it is still difficult for them to spend US$300,000 in cash to start a company at once.

The only option was to borrow from Bank of America.

Faced with so many sudden large-amount loan applications, Bank of America President Jones did not dare to make the decision without authorization. Instead of immediately approving these loan applications, he first came to Taoyuan to seek Liang Yao's opinion.

Liang Yao has personally investigated the family backgrounds of those Chinese businessmen. They all have strong financial resources and are able to repay the loans.

After carefully reading the application, I personally signed and approved their loan application.

“Is the $300,000 threshold too high?”

Robinson, holding a teacup in his hand, felt that the threshold of the California Coal and Steel Alliance was too high and would shut out some businessmen who wanted to join the California Coal and Steel Alliance.

"It's not high at all. This is heavy industry, such as steel, coal mining, railways, and machinery. The initial investment in these industries is very high, and they have to bear losses for a long time. Those small businessmen do not have the psychological endurance."

Liang Yao put down the pen in his hand and said.

“The industries I run myself, except for the steam engine manufacturing plant, are still operating at a loss.

Caltrain, for example, won't be able to complete the line between San Francisco and Sacramento until mid-June, and I won't be able to recoup the cost immediately after the line is put into operation.

Do you think those small businessmen have a better tolerance for risk than me? "

"There will never be anyone in California with a bigger heart than you."

Robinson was unable to refute this, he put down his tea cup and said.

"The Hope has been launched. This is the first steamship developed and manufactured in California. Today is the day when the Hope is launched. Everyone hopes that you will cut the ribbon for the Hope."

Liang Yao nodded: "You go ahead. I still have some things on hand, which I can handle soon."

"Didn't you just handle the Chinese businessman's loan?" Robinson asked with some confusion.

"It's something else."

Liang Yao said calmly.

Robinson nodded and left Tingtao Garden.

After Robinson left, Liang Yao said to Kony: "Please come in, Mr. Martin."

The ragged Oliver Martin followed Coney into Liang Yao's study, and several strong servants carried a heavy wooden box in.

Liang Yao motioned for everyone to go out and close the door. In the study, only Hu Jinchen, Kony and Martin, the special visitors, were left.

Kony pried open the wooden box, the black cloth now covering the gold.

"Sir, I personally weighed this piece of gold. It weighs 151 pounds!" Kony said excitedly, "This is the largest natural gold nugget I have ever seen in my life!"

Liang Yao looked at this 151-pound natural gold nugget, and his heart was completely unmoved.

This gold nugget was far less shocking than the California Star. After all, from the naked eye, the visual impact and psychological shock of a 145-pound natural gold nugget and a 151-pound natural gold nugget were almost the same. .

It's a pity that the California Star was given to President Fillmore as a gift last year, otherwise he could still compare the two natural gold nuggets.

Liang Yao glanced at Martin in disbelief. God knows how this kid managed to bring this piece of gold from the Nevada mountains to him alive.

"Mr. Liang, is there anything to eat?" Martin said, holding his hungry stomach.

"Jin Chen, tell the chef to prepare a sumptuous lunch for Mr. Martin." Liang Yao walked to Martin, patted Martin on the shoulder and said, "I want to have lunch with Mr. Martin."

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