1850 American Gold Tycoon

"Letting Japan be founded is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. Among all the senior military officers in the United States, you are the only one who was born in the East.

In terms of understanding of Eastern countries, I think no one knows Japan better than you. You are the most suitable candidate among the senior officers of the U.S. Army for the expedition to Japan. "

After thinking for a long time, Fillmore said slowly.

“The expedition to Japan does require the cooperation of the navy, but using the navy is a huge expense.

Is it possible to coerce the Japanese authorities into founding the country by relying solely on the threat of force without going to war? "

The federal government's finances are far worse than Liang Yao thought.

Fillmore wanted Japan to be founded, but he also wanted to avoid war to save military expenses.

It is certainly possible to force the Japanese shogunate to open the country without going to war.

Historically, Japan was founded in a relatively peaceful way, and no direct conflict broke out between the United States and Japan.

But the Treaty of Amity between the United States and Japan was signed on March 31, 1854, when Perry visited Japan for the second time.

Perry's first visit only shocked Japanese society, but did not open Japan's door.

The signing of the "U.S.-Japan Friendship Treaty" did not go very smoothly. In order to sign the "U.S.-Japan Friendship Treaty", Perry fought with the Japanese shogunate for six weeks.

Liang Yao didn't have the time or the heart to go to Japan again and again, wrangling with the Japanese shogunate authorities.

There is no need to solve something that can be solved in one go.

He also knows the nature of Japanese people, who are naturally mean-spirited and will not convince you unless they are given some physical lessons and deterrence.

To force Japan to found a country, one of Liang Yao's purposes was to win re-election for Fillmore. He did not want to make wedding clothes for the next president who had an unclear attitude towards him.

Of course, Liang Yao forced Japan to found a country so that he could rise to a higher level in the American military.

There is a threshold from colonel to colonel, and there is a higher threshold from colonel to brigadier general.

A top-level officer at the level of brigadier general can no longer be obtained by money and trickery.

If you want to become a general in the United States, you must have solid military exploits as a stepping stone.

At present, the most suitable stepping stone is undoubtedly Japan.

"There is a possibility, but with the cunning character of the Japanese, they are likely to delay time with various excuses and reasons.

I'm worried that by the time Japan is founded, your term of office will have expired. "Liang Yao said.

Liang Yao's words hit Fillmore's sore point: he did not have a full presidential term.

It is now August 1851, and in January 1853 he will participate in the presidential election and seek re-election.

It will take at least 8 months to organize the fleet, go to Japan, and finally arrive in Japan. It will take time to negotiate in the middle and it will take time to come back.

All in all, the time left for Fillmore to complete the founding of Japan during his term is very tight.

Fillmore certainly doesn’t want the credit for what he did during his term to fall on the next president.

"If the Japanese are stubborn, we must flex our muscles when necessary to demonstrate the national prestige of the United States."

Fillmore thought for a moment and said.

"Commodore Perry very much approves of your proposal to found Japan. Perry was born in a glorious naval family. He is knowledgeable, calm, and has excellent debating skills. I think you are a very suitable partner."

"Being able to partner with General Perry is what I dream of, but the Navy has a Marine Corps. I'm worried that if the Navy and Army cooperate in their actions, the opinions of the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Army will not be unified. This is a very fatal problem."

Liang Yao expressed his concerns. Although the relationship between the U.S. Army and Navy at this time had not deteriorated to the extent that the Japanese Navy and Army did during World War II, it was an indisputable fact that the U.S. Army and Navy were at odds.

"This is just a preliminary plan. After you go back, you can draw up a combat plan and give it to me. I will need a detailed combat plan and more detailed information for reference and evaluation before I can make a formal decision." Fillmore said.

"Brigadier General Perry is also on his way from Baltimore to New York. He wants to meet you in person and discuss the feasibility of Japan's founding.

You have to worry about the Qing Dynasty's mission to the United States. You must stabilize the Qing Dynasty's mission to the United States. The United States needs a strong friend in the international community. "

"As a citizen of the United States, I will do my best to promote friendship between China and the United States." Liang Yao stood up and said to Fillmore, "But Mr. President, since you want to be friends with others, it is important to treat them with sincerity. The most basic principle is that doing it too hastily will only be counterproductive."

After bidding farewell to Fillmore, Liang Yao returned to Vanderbilt's manor.

When Pan Zhengwei and others saw Liang Yao coming back, they hurriedly asked Liang Yao what President Fillmore said after leaving him behind and what they should do next.

Liang Yao asked them to conduct inspections around New York as usual and visit factories near New York. At the same time, they should not have contact with federal government officials. They should not talk about treaties and whet the appetite of the Americans first.

Secretly, Liang Yao will also add fuel to the flames, use the newspapers he controls to incite public sentiment, and use public opinion to put greater pressure on the federal government.

Vanderbilt's office is very simple, with a coffee cup, a box of sand, and a box of tobacco leaves for chewing on the walnut desk.

Vanderbilt grabbed a handful of tobacco leaves and chewed them.

"When the Pioneer's experimental track is laid and displayed to the outside world, it will completely subvert Americans' understanding of the railway transportation industry."

Vanderbilt said confidently.

"The recent surge in railroad stocks and securities on Wall Street is your fault."

Liang Yao said.

Liang Yao currently controls two railroad companies, the California Railroad Company in California and the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company in New York State.

Among them, the California Railroad Company was founded by him personally, and the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company was slowly completed by him.

Both railway companies are entirely controlled by him.

Because the California Railroad was created by sucking the blood of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad.

The current situation of the Delaware and Hudson Railway Company is not optimistic. The company's excellent team of engineers and managers have been poached by Liang Yao to the California Railway Company.

The California Railroad Company is responsible for the construction of railways in California, Oregon and Nevada, and will later participate in the construction of the Pacific Railway.

Liang Yao could not poach California Railroad.

But Liang Yao doesn't want to give up on the huge piece of cake in the Eastern United States railway market.

Although Liang Yao has opened up the relationship with Texas and has the priority to build railways in Texas.

However, when building a railway in the vast and sparsely populated Texas area, one must be prepared to operate at a loss for a long time in the early stage.

Obviously, the Delaware and Hudson Railroad does not have such strength at present.

If you want to quickly enhance the strength of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company in the short term, the most convenient and effective way is to directly acquire a railroad company with good strength and some basic foundations and merge it with the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company.

Only by forming a stronger railway company can it survive in the fiercely competitive eastern region of the railway industry.

During this period, the most valuable asset of American railroad companies was not the railroad company's technology, but the railroad lines that the railroad company had authorized.

Because the land along the railway line is part of the railway company's assets.

Most railway companies build railways for the land along the lines.

The first thing Vanderbilt looked at for a railroad company he wanted to annex was the railroad route authorization the railroad company had obtained.

Based on all the above factors, Liang Yao went through layers of screening and finally set his sights on the Baltimore-Ohio Railway Company.

As its name suggests, this railroad currently operates a line from Baltimore, Maryland to Ohio.

This railway route passes through Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and its future prospects are very promising.

According to the information collected by Liang Yao, the current situation of the railway company is very pessimistic. It is in a serious financial crisis and is about to face bankruptcy.

As for why it is in deep financial crisis, the reason is very simple, that is, the funds cannot keep up with the company's ambitions. The railway company is too optimistic about its own prospects, which leads to the break of the capital chain.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's initial starting capital was $3 million, which was insufficient to support their ambitions.

The rail line between Baltimore and Ohio is still unfinished.

"If you want them to fall, you must first make them rise," Vanderbilt said nonchalantly.

"The value of these railroad companies on the stock market is much higher than their own value, and the current price is not worth acquiring."

"The experimental track is not long, and it will be laid in three days. After the Pioneer is put on display, the stock prices of various railway companies are bound to plummet.

I hope you can remember to sell your railway company stocks and securities in time, and don't blame me if you lose money in the stock market. "

Liang Yao knew what Vanderbilt was planning. He just wanted to sell the railroad company's stocks and securities when their prices were at high levels and earn the price difference.

Wait until the railway company's stock price plummets to buy the bottom, and acquire the railway company you like at the lowest cost.

No less than other companies, the market value of the more than 100 railroad companies listed on Wall Street is generally relatively high.

A company with a market value of one million US dollars is already a large company and can be regarded as a leader in the industry.

But a railroad company worth a million dollars is just a relatively small railroad company.

Liang Yao also believes that the current railroad industry in the United States has grown barbarically for so many years and is very unhealthy. The market value of railroad companies is generally inflated.

"I'm a veteran on Wall Street, and I know how to exit." Vanderbilt said confidently.

"I am plotting a plan that will cause an earthquake in the entire American railroad industry. I will tear off the fig leaf of the railroad industry and let them reveal their prototypes!"