1850 American Gold Tycoon

The year 1857 was an eventful one.

Inside the new home in Sacramento.

Liang Yao was flipping through the newspaper, and he saw an inconspicuous piece of news in the newspaper.

It is said to be news, but in fact it is just hot and cold food.

The content of the news is that Zhang Mingfeng, the magistrate of Xilin County, Guangxi during the Qing Dynasty, arrested a total of 26 outlaws led by French Catholic priest Marais based on complaints from local villagers, and sentenced 2 outlaws led by Marais to death in accordance with the laws of the Qing Dynasty. The rest of the people judged the crimes and punished them separately.

This incident happened last year, and the French media is now exaggerating it. The intention is very obvious, which is to build public opinion for sending troops to the Qing Dynasty.

This incident is the famous Father Ma incident in history, and it was the excuse for France to send troops in the Second Drug War.

If the local officials of Guangzhou in the Qing Dynasty did not allow British consuls and merchants to enter the city, according to a series of treaties signed after the First Drug War, the Qing Dynasty was indeed at a loss.

As for the Father Ma incident, the Qing Dynasty was not at fault, and the French side was more responsible.

According to the Treaty of Whampoa between China and France, the French only had the right to preach in five trading ports, and the Qing government clearly stipulated in the treaty that foreigners were not allowed to preach in the interior.

Malai and others ignored the treaty and went deep into the hinterland to preach, and even went to such a sensitive place as Guangxi to preach. This had already touched the sensitive nerves of the Qing court.

If they really only preached, that would be it. The key point is that these French priests took advantage of their consular jurisdiction to run rampant in the countryside, rob and commit adultery. They were not simply seeking death.

What's more, most of the local officials of the Qing Dynasty at this time did not know the specific contents of the unequal treaties signed by the Qing Dynasty and various powers after the Fushou War.

It has been almost 20 years since the Qing Dynasty's drug war, but not a single official in the country has a sense of modern diplomacy.

The evidence of the priest incident is conclusive. As long as the Qing Dynasty notifies the French Consul General and handles the matter in accordance with international practice, international public opinion will be favorable to the Qing Dynasty.

Britain and France are not Tsarist Russia. Tsarist Russia often sends troops just because it wants your land, without even bothering to find high-sounding reasons. The purpose of launching wars is to gain more territory.

The primary purpose of Britain and France in launching the war was for trade, and to gain real commercial benefits by dumping their own goods into other markets.

Britain and France were the architects of the international order in the 19th century. They were somewhat concerned about their own image and concerned about international public opinion. Moreover, given the huge size and remaining showmanship of the Qing Dynasty at this time, the probability of France directly sending troops is very small.

However, this was only theoretically feasible, and not practical in practice, because at this time, the Qing Dynasty was avoiding foreigners and did not allow foreigners to enter Beijing.

It was difficult for the French Consul General in Shanghai to meet local officials, let alone Beijing officials, or even meet with saints.

It was already a certainty that the British Empire would declare war on the Qing Dynasty, and even the top leaders of the United States on the other side of the Atlantic had more or less heard about it.

According to the latest news, a meeting has been held in the Parliament Buildings of the Palace of Westminster in London to discuss the formation of the Far East Expeditionary Force and the selection of the commander of the expeditionary force.

It seems that the final suspense of the British army's dispatch of troops to the Qing Dynasty is only time.

The funny thing is that the whole world knows that Britain and France are going to declare war on the Qing Dynasty and will directly send troops. Only the Qing Dynasty in the country involved is still ignorant of what is happening in the outside world.

With the Pacific Railway, a major transportation artery connecting the east and west, travel between the east and west has become very convenient.

Of course, the premise is that you can afford a ticket worth more than $200. In this era, long-distance travel is still a luxury enjoyed by a few people.

Only those easterners who are determined to immigrate to the west will be determined to buy a ticket worth more than 200 US dollars.

The high fares between New York and the West Coast are caused by the insufficient transportation capacity of the Pacific Railway. In addition to passenger transportation, the Pacific Railway must also allocate part of its transportation capacity to undertake freight orders.

It is impossible to increase the transportation capacity of the Pacific Railway in a short period of time, and Liang Yao has no such plan.

However, the West Coast region has introduced some preferential policies in order to attract high-quality immigrants from the East.

Taking California as an example, California’s latest immigration mechanism for immigrants from the east mainly includes the following three aspects.

First, investment immigration: Anyone who can prove to Bank of America, Bank of Boston, Jardine Matheson Bank, Tongfu Bank and other Canadian banks that the value of their property exceeds US$1,000 can get a free ticket to the West Coast for himself and his immediate family members.

Canadian banks will also provide low-interest loans of different amounts to eastern investment immigrants based on the amount of collateral they provide.

Second, skilled immigrants: Those who can prove to California immigration officers stationed in the eastern states that they have skills will receive a free ticket to the West Coast.

Third, entrepreneurial immigrants: Those who can provide a detailed entrepreneurial plan to the California immigration officer can enjoy a 40% discount on ticket purchases.

Buchanan came to California on his presidential train.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Buchanan wouldn't have believed that the place he was visiting was a border state that had only been established less than 10 years ago.

In the mid-19th century, during the westward expansion movement led by the American federal government, the most successfully developed area was Illinois on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. It was at this time that the metropolis of Chicago emerged.

The achievements made by Illinois in recent years are nothing compared to California. Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, and California's twin cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles) are not cities of the same magnitude at all.

Chicago, whose population has not yet reached the 100,000 mark, cannot be compared with California's capital city, not to mention California's twin stars.

As for the economy, the eastern region, including the areas along the Great Lakes, was suffering from a severe economic crisis and all industries were depressed. Chicago and Sacramento are doing themselves a disservice by having worse economies.

"This is Sacramento. It's much more prosperous than Chicago, which I just visited before."

Liang Yao was quite surprised that Buchanan visited California in person. Liang Yao welcomed Buchanan at Weixiu Residence in Sacramento, the capital.

"Your Excellency, the President, came to California without giving any advance notice so that I could welcome you. Your Excellency, please." Liang Yao smiled and welcomed Buchanan into the Weixiu Residence.

The relationship between Liang Yao and Buchanan was not that close and friendly. At least Liang Yao's relationship with former President Fillmore was better than Buchanan's. However, Buchanan came to California in person as the president, so he still had to show the proper etiquette.

"Does General Liang know about the Three Wise Men of the West?" After sitting down, Buchanan did not get straight to the point.

"I've heard that people who do good things are just bragging. They can't be taken seriously." Liang Yao replied.

"There are three wise men in the west, and there are six gentlemen in the south. Whether they are the three wise men in the west or the six gentlemen in the south, they are all members of the American family."

If this question is discussed with ordinary people, Liang Yaoda can answer it casually. Buchanan is not an ordinary person, he is the president. The fact that he can ask this question shows that Buchanan has been vaguely aware that something is wrong in the west, but he cannot express it clearly.

After the opening of the Pacific Railway, personnel exchanges between the East and the West became more frequent and closer.

Since the three states on the west coast are mainly Chinese and their cultural customs are very different from those in the east, such a name was born from the mutual exchanges.

Six hard-core slave states in the South: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama. There is also a saying among the people that they are the Six Gentlemen of the South.

On a smaller scale, it is just a common name among the people. On a deeper level, these individuals have a higher sense of identification with each other than with the federal government.

For a country, especially a federal country with an incomplete constitution, this is a very dangerous signal, and it is impossible for Buchanan, a veteran in the political arena, not to see it.

"Well said, everyone is a member of the big family of the American federal government." Buchanan took a slow sip of tea and then revealed his disappointment and dissatisfaction with the current situation of the Utah Territory.

"When I passed through the Utah Territory, I stayed in the Utah Territory for a while. At the station, I could see Mormons preaching to passengers. The new territorial governor you recommended did not seem to do his job well."

“Mormons have been immigrating into the Utah Territory on a large scale since 1845 under the leadership of Brigham Young. Brigham Young and others have been deeply cultivating the Utah Territory for 12 years.

Governor Stanford has just taken office less than two months ago, so it would be too impatient to ask others to produce results now. Your Excellency, Mr. President, you may not be able to eat Scruppa (a traditional breakfast food in Buchanan's hometown in Pennsylvania, namely Scrapple: fried pork pudding and corn patties). "Liang Yao replied.

As a president, Buchanan was too impatient.

"The situation in the Utah Territory is complicated, and I understand that Governor Stanford's job is not easy to do. Otherwise, I would not have appointed Stanford as the governor of the Utah Territory under huge pressure." Buchanan said with some embarrassment.

"If Governor Stanford can't achieve anything, what can I do to silence the opposition parties in Washington that oppose me? How can I continue to support the work of Governor Stanford? When passing by Utah Territory, I also heard I went to the Mormons to discuss Stanford's intention to donate his property to join the religion. I wonder if you know about this."

Rather than saying that Buchanan was dissatisfied with Stanford, it was better to say that he was dissatisfied with Liang Yao.

Stanford was recommended by Liang Yao, and Liang Yao was able to influence Stanford's work. This was an open secret tacitly understood by California's top officials and Washington.

On the matter of eradicating the Mormon Church, California's top officials and Washington have the same attitude.

Stanford had been in office as governor of the Utah Territory for more than a month. Not only did he fail to produce decent results, he also wanted to join the Mormon Church.

Such an unusual behavior forced Buchanan to be more cautious.

Buchanan and politicians in Washington were very worried about Stanford joining the Mormon Church. They did not want another Brigham Young to appear in the Utah Territory.

"Teaching at Stanford is part of his job," Liang Yao said.

"I don't care what method Stanford uses to solve Mormonism, what I want is results." Buchanan said eagerly.

"I want to know when Stanford will produce results."

"During your term of office, results will definitely be produced." Liang Yao replied.

"No, it's too long. I can't afford to wait." Buchanan is not satisfied with this answer. Buchanan's current position as president is not stable. What he needs most now is political achievements.

"Then I can only answer you. You will see the results soon. Since I recommended Stanford to be the governor, I will also be responsible for my recommendation. If the opposition party in Washington is urgent, you can Put all the responsibility on me." Liang Yao withstood the pressure for Stanford.

"I guess you came all the way to California not just to talk to me about the Mormons in Utah."

Liang Yao did not believe that Buchanan had deigned to travel all the way from Washington to Sacramento just to discuss Stanford's negligence with him.

If only the issue of Stanford's negligence was discussed, Buchanan could use telegraph to communicate with him.

Although the federal government's finances were very tight, it was not so poor that it could not even send telegrams.

"I'm mainly here to consult you about some issues in the Far East, specifically the Qing Dynasty. Our ministers in London and Paris have sent back reliable news. Britain and France have decided to declare war on the Qing Dynasty. The two countries will soon We may even form an expeditionary force for coordinated operations," Buchanan asked.

"Who do you think we in the United States should support to maximize the interests of the Far East?"

Liang Yao is the most senior Chinese politician in the United States. During the Fillmore period, Liang Yao assisted the Fillmore government in successfully handling the Japanese issue at that time, making the United States the most profitable power since the founding of Japan.

In view of this, top American officials have always regarded Liang Yao as an expert on issues related to the Qing Dynasty and the Far East.

"Do you still need to ask? Let's form a coalition army with Britain and France." Liang Yao took a sip of tea.

"We formed a coalition with Britain and France to intervene in the Far East. I also communicated with the British and French ministers in the United States. However, the demands made by the ministers of the two countries were too harsh and required us, the United States, to share the concession of Nagasaki, Japan with them." Buchanan said.

It was not that Buchanan had no idea of ​​forming a coalition with Britain and France, but the price of cooperation proposed by Britain and France was too high for him to accept.

The United Kingdom did not share Hong Kong Island with the United States, so why should the United States share the Nagasaki Concession with the United Kingdom?

Liang Yao also knew the deep-seated unwillingness of Britain and France to send troops together with their little brother America.

Britain and France are the two most powerful powers in Europe. One has the most powerful navy in the world, and the other has the most powerful army in the world.

When Britain and France formed a coalition, it was a powerful alliance. What do you, the United States, have? We need an army but not an army, we need a navy but not a navy. Is a stinking bumpkin from the American continent worthy of forming a coalition with the British Empire and the French Empire?

Britain and France must also be aware of the current financial situation of the United States and know that the United States cannot mobilize a large number of troops to form an expeditionary force with them. Not only would bringing the United States not be of great help to Britain and France, but it would require one more country to share the cake after the war, which was not cost-effective for Britain and France.

"Since Britain and France won't let us play with the United States, there is no need for us to be warm and cold." Liang Yao said calmly.

The great powers have never been of the same mind, and Liang Yao expected that they would not urinate into a chamber pot when it comes to core interests.

This played right into Liang Yao's wish. Out of personal emotions and the interests of the West Coast region in China, he colluded with Britain and France to treat him. It's not the best choice either.

Rather than colluding with Britain and France, Liang Yao was more inclined to take the opportunity to weaken the power of the two major powers in the Far East.

After all, the Qing Dynasty at this time was not exactly the same as the Qing Dynasty in history.

At least now the Qing Dynasty still has a quasi-modern force like Yue Yong who can barely handle it.

As long as sufficient supplies are provided to Yue Yong and Liang Shaoqiong is commanded properly, facing the Anglo-French allied forces coming all the way across half the world and waiting for work, it may not be impossible to win this battle.

Britain and France had just experienced the Crimean War, and the casualties suffered by the coalition forces on the Crimean battlefield were not small. As long as they were consumed by Britain and France, the cost of the war was so high that neither Britain nor France could bear it.

"The concession in Nagasaki was earned by American soldiers with their blood and lives. We must not give it away easily. Otherwise, we will not be able to account for the soldiers of the expeditionary force who buried their bodies in a foreign land, and we will not be able to account for the people." Liang Yao said.

"In addition, our country's joint shipping administration with the Qing Dynasty is still on the agenda. If we start a war with Britain, France and the Qing Dynasty at this time, this big project will probably fail."

"This is also what I am worried about. If we rashly send troops to attack the Qing Dynasty together with Britain and France, it will not be justified. It will appear that we in the United States are taking advantage of others' danger." Buchanan comforted himself.

Britain and France had barely justified reasons for sending troops to the Qing Dynasty, but the United States did not.

Thanks to the large number of Chinese on the West Coast, many of these Chinese are good at taking advantage of their skin color, appearance, language and culture to act as middlemen for American businessmen of other races, traveling between the Qing government and local governments and non-Chinese American businessmen. Even the inland cities of the Qing Dynasty had these Chinese middlemen.

The kerosene in Los Angeles was sold to the inland areas of the Qing court by these Chinese businessmen who were naturalized in the United States and used their resources and connections within the Qing court.

Therefore, the resistance of the United States to doing business in the Qing Dynasty was much smaller than that of Britain and France, and the trade friction between the two sides was not sharp.

Take Guangzhou, where the conflict between Chinese and foreigners is most acute. The Guangzhou authorities prohibit foreigners from entering the city, but American businessmen of other ethnic groups can entrust Chinese businessmen to enter the city.

After all, among the thirteen people, there are quite a few who have naturalized and immigrated to the United States, and invested in and started a family business in the United States.

Local officials in the Qing Dynasty rejected dealing with foreigners, but they did not reject dealing with Chinese-American businessmen. As long as these Chinese-Americans did not take the initiative to reveal that they had been naturalized in the United States, these Chinese businessmen doing business in the Qing Dynasty were no different from Chinese businessmen.

If Britain and France win the so-called trade war against the Qing Dynasty, extending their tentacles to the inland that was originally out of reach will objectively erode the interests of the United States.

"As for the problems in the Far East, if they can be solved through diplomatic means, we should try our best to solve them through diplomatic means. The United States is not as strong as Britain and France. When General Perry and I went on an expedition to Japan, we won the battle quickly and without any defeat. There were almost no casualties. Despite the circumstances, it still cost millions of dollars," Liang Yao said.

This is Buchanan finding another way to step down. The above reasons are indeed the reasons why the United States did not need to send troops to the Qing Dynasty.

The deepest reason is that the federal government is currently struggling to cope with internal worries and is in extremely financial distress, unable to organize a decent expeditionary force.

This is also the reason why Britain and France are unwilling to bring the United States to play with them. At this time, the United States wanted to form an expeditionary force with Britain and France, but it was indeed not qualified.