1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 205 Perry and the Early Fourths (4K)

Perry was very interested in Vanderbilt's Polaris.

Perry worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York in his early years, serving as the director of the shipbuilding institute and the director of the factory. He designed and built the US Navy's first steamship, the Fulton.

In shipbuilding, especially in building warships, Perry is also a front-line expert and technician.

Perry accompanied some naval officers.

Before and after arriving on the Polaris, Perry assigned tasks to these naval officers and carried out a division of labor.

Some people were responsible for drawing the outline of the Polaris, and some people were responsible for visiting the ship, while Perry himself carefully checked the beam engine and asked the ship's engineer to start the engine so that he could observe it.

"The speed of Polaris?" Perry asked Vanderbilt.

"11 knots (21km) per hour, maybe faster, but not more than 11.5 knots." Vanderbilt replied.

"There's even more potential for this engine."

Perry fixed his eyes on the needle on the tachometer, then reduced the throttle, controlled the engine speed at 14.5 revolutions per minute, and listened carefully to the sound of the engine.

"Using this speed, the Polaris can not only increase its speed to about 12.5 knots, but also save more fuel."

"Looks like I have to thank you for saving me a lot of coal money." Vanderbilt wrote down the speed casually,
"It's unnecessary to thank you. The navy wants to purchase your steam engine. I hope you can offer a more favorable purchase price."

Perry clapped his hands, trying to shake the soot off his hands.

"Who can refuse an order from the Navy?" Vanderbilt said.

"It's just that my shipyard is being transferred to Mr. Liang. I'm afraid you have to talk to Mr. Liang about these issues."

"Colonel Liang, I was going to visit you in New York, but I didn't expect you to come to Baltimore."

Upon hearing this, Perry turned around and shook hands with Liang Yao, then stepped off the Polaris.

The technology of the Polaris is very advanced, especially the beam engine used on the Polaris, which has better performance than the beam engine used by the Navy's active warships.

"Nice to meet you, but I'm curious. This is the first time you have come into contact with the Polaris. How did you determine the optimal speed of the engine?" Liang Yao asked curiously.

"If you have been dealing with steamships for more than ten years like me, you will also master this skill." Perry said.

"When I was on a warship, I listened to the sound of the engine every day. Now I can judge the status of the engine from the sound of the engine."

"I think you should know that paddle steamers with beam engines are a bit outdated, while dark steamers with horizontal engines are the general trend of the future," Liang Yao said.

He has no objection to selling some beam engines to the navy, but in the future his focus of shipbuilding will be on dark ships, and he is more inclined to work hard on horizontal reciprocating engines and invest more resources.

"As long as your shipyard can manufacture a dark ship that satisfies the navy, I can persuade the Admiralty to directly purchase the entire warship from your shipyard," Perry said.

"As a qualified admiral, you should not only consider whether the technology is advanced. The maturity and cost of the technology are also very important indicators."

While speaking, Perry led Liang Yao to his office.

On the way, Liang Yao saw two companies training on the playground.

These soldiers wear field uniforms with criss-cross shoulders and belts, and carry marching knapsacks and blankets on their backs.

In addition, each soldier has a saber and a water bottle around his waist, and the equipment is very complete.

The uniforms of these soldiers are quite different from the navy sailors just now, and they seem to be the Marine Corps of the United States.

"Is this the Navy's Marine Corps?"

Liang Yao pointed to the group of soldiers who were practicing and asked Perry.

"They are indeed members of the Marine Corps. They are responsible for defending the military facilities of the Navy's base in Baltimore." Perry said, glancing at the Marine Corps soldiers who were training.

"These Marines are well equipped."

Liang Yao exclaimed.

At this time, the Marine Corps is not yet the fourth class, and the equipment and equipment of the Marine Corps soldiers are even better than Colonel Mason's infantry regiment.

The infantry regiment of Colonel Mason is already the infantry regiment with better equipment and more abundant budget in the army.

"Equipment is nice, but it's also expensive. It costs as much to raise one Marine as two Army infantrymen."

Facing Liang Yao, an army officer, Perry said proudly.

The relationship between the Army and the Navy of the United States is not harmonious. The Navy considers itself superior to the Army, even a far-sighted admiral like Perry is not immune.

"It's cheap."

Liang Yao sighed from the bottom of his heart, the monthly salary of an ordinary army soldier is 8 US dollars, and the cost of supporting a marine soldier will never exceed 20 US dollars including the wear and tear of equipment.

Compared with the expensive salary of the California infantry regiment, the cost of supporting the marines was already very cheap in Liang Yao's opinion.

Such high-quality and cheap elites, he dared to raise a brigade.

"Not everyone is as rich as you."

Perry lowered his face and muttered, Liang Yao's reaction left him speechless.

Coming to Perry's office, Perry asked the accompanying adjutant to exit the office and closed the door behind him.

Afterwards, Perry showed Liang Yao his map.

Although Liang Yao's plan for the Japanese expedition has not yet been completed and has not yet been submitted to Fillmore, he knows that the Japanese expedition is a certainty.

Perry had the same thoughts as Liang Yao, and also believed that the expedition to Japan was imperative, whether it was for the purpose of promoting the prestige of the United States in the Far East, or for Japan to obtain real benefits, it was very necessary.

The reason why Perry's attitude is so firm is because of his understanding of President Fillmore.

After the meeting with President Fillmore on the Mississippi in the past, Perry was sure that President Fillmore would definitely agree to an expedition to Japan.

For the expedition to Japan, Perry had already begun to make quasi-books early, assembled the East India Fleet, and asked Washington's Marine Corps Colonel Commander Fox for a regiment of Marine Corps soldiers to conduct special training in Baltimore.

You know, the American Marine Corps at this time has only two regiments in total, with less than 2000 people.

A few days before, Fillmore had tipped him off that the Californian Infantry would be on the expedition.

This made Perry very complicated.

The addition of the California Infantry would alleviate the manpower shortage, but the Admiralty wanted the Navy to complete the expedition alone and did not want the Army to steal the show.

Liang Yao knew what Perry was thinking, but Liang Yao didn't care about Perry's attitude.

He is an officer in the army, and he is under the control of the Ministry of the Army, and people from the Ministry of the Navy have no control over him.

For Fillmore, the expedition to Japan is only allowed to succeed, not to fail.Even if Fillmore only considered his own future, he would choose the more secure plan of a joint expedition between the navy and the army.

Liang Yao stared at the map displayed by Perry.

Perry plans to set off from the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia, cross the North Atlantic to the Canary Islands, and then go all the way south to St. Helena, and then sail into South Africa to resupply at the port of Cape Town.

After that, Perry's fleet circled the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and began sailing all the way north to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

After leaving Ceylon, the fleet headed eastward through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore into the South China Sea, then continued northward to Hong Kong, and continued northward along China's coastline to Shanghai after resting in Hong Kong.

Finally, depart from Shanghai to Edo via Ryukyu.

This route is relatively safe, but the more troublesome place is the supply point of the route. Whether it is Cape Town, Ceylon, Singapore in Malacca, or Hong Kong, these ports are all under the control of the British.

If you want to replenish at these ports, you need to negotiate with the British. The empire on which the sun never sets in the 19th century is not just a title. Most of the ports on the throats and seaways around the world are almost controlled by the British.

If Perry knew that Liang Yao had already built a transfer station in Hawaii, he would definitely overturn his current plan.

If the expeditionary fleet goes around South America to resupply in California, and finally conducts the final resupply in Hawaii, even the fleet that has been completely steamed will not have to worry about fuel issues, and can directly arrive in Edo, Japan.

"Your plan is very safe, but whether you can reach Japan smoothly depends on the attitude of the British." Liang Yao said directly.

How could Perry not know this?
He also felt very helpless in the face of the British maritime hegemony.

This is already the most reasonable and safest plan that Perry can formulate.

"Do you have a better plan?" Perry asked.

"Yes, the port facilities in San Francisco are very complete. Our fleet can be repaired and replenished in San Francisco, and then cross the Pacific Ocean to Edo, Japan." Liang Yaoju said loudly.

"Crossing the Pacific Ocean?" Perry shook his head, thinking that Liang Yao was still an amateur and didn't know much about the navy.

"The carrying capacity of warships is inherently limited. Supplies and ammunition have taken up a large part of the space. In the end, the space that can be used to store coal is very limited. The coal is not enough to allow our fleet to cross the Pacific Ocean."

"What if we replenish the coal in Hawaii?" Liang Yao said while staring at Perry.

Perry's eyes lit up, and he measured the distance from Hawaii to Edo, and came to a conclusion after a simple calculation.

"If you can replenish coal in Hawaii, it will be more than enough to reach Edo! Have you built a supply station in Hawaii?"

"Yes, the port of Hawaii can now be used by the U.S. Navy, and the global shipping company will also send cargo ships to serve as supply ships for the naval fleet, providing specialized logistical support for the naval fleet.

On this route across the Pacific Ocean to the Far East, the fleet of the global shipping company also frequently travels, which can provide navigation assistance for the navy's expeditionary fleet. "

The ports and warehouses that Liang Yao worked so hard to repair in Hawaii are now finally in use.

The reason why he can enter Hawaii is also thanks to the French Navy's aggression against Hawaii last year.

If it weren't for the high-level French officials rushing to send the navy to invade Hawaii rashly, causing the British to be dissatisfied, it would be difficult for him to have a chance to get involved in Hawaii.

"Great!" Perry applauded, "If there is a transit station in Hawaii to provide supplies, our expedition will not need to look at the faces of the British at all, and the voyage will be shorter.

Just how do we get back?After all, in the Far East, the United States does not have ports and supply points to supplement coal. "

"As long as the Japanese are forced to sign a treaty, there will naturally be a supply port. As for coal, I will let people buy enough coal from Hong Kong in advance and transport it to Japan."

Liang Yao said.

Liang Yao was not worried about the problem of burning coal on the return journey. The ships used by the global shipping company were also steam ships, which also burned coal.

He has a special coal warehouse in Guangzhou Port, which stores the coal purchased from Hong Kong for use by global shipping companies.

Even if the British don't sell him coal, he doesn't panic, because there are ready-made coal mines in the Baiyun area of ​​Guangzhou.

"Now I finally know why Mr. President said you would be the best partner for my expedition to Japan. You think about things more thoughtfully than I do." Perry said with emotion.

Now he has completely changed his original attitude, thinking that Liang Yao is an indispensable member of the military expedition to Japan.

"It will take some time for the fleet to go around South America and arrive in California. I hope your fleet can leave for California in advance to save more time. The port of San Francisco is large enough and there are enough docks for the Navy's warships to berth." Liang Yao said to Perry.

"I will get the instructions from the Admiralty as soon as possible." Perry nodded.

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In the New York Telegraph Office, amidst the noisy noise of the telegraph room, Charlie was concentrating on sending and receiving telegrams.

Charlie treats his work seriously and meticulously, and behaves conscientiously, no different from ordinary telegraphers in the telegraph room.

No one would have guessed that this small clerk in the telegraph office was the "Wall Street Bandit" that the entire New Yorker was looking for.

It is rumored that Wall Street robbers harvested nearly two million dollars on Wall Street within a year.

Just a year ago, Charlie had another name: Brannan Jr.

The younger brother of Sam Brannan, the first millionaire in the West.

After coming to New York, due to the crimes committed by his elder brother in California, Brannan Jr. had to take his nephew to hide his identity, changed his name to Charlie, and settled down in New York.

Charlie did not choose to squander the property left to him by his brother, but looked for a chance to make a comeback in New York.

Charlie's business sense is no worse than that of his brother Brannan. Soon, Charlie found new business opportunities in New York.

telegraph!

Before the advent of the telegraph, the exchanges in New York used very traditional methods to convey market information to the outside world.

The fastest way for Wall Street traders to convey transaction information to Philadelphia is for traders to use semaphore to convey transaction information across the Hudson River.

The staff responsible for receiving information on the other side quickly added the information conveyed by the traders, and rode non-stop to Philadelphia, 100 miles away.

And Philadelphia was the fastest to receive transaction information from Wall Street, and it was the next day at the earliest.

But in the financial market, the market price of stocks changes rapidly, not to mention one day, even one hour, or even one minute, and one second, the price difference caused is enough to cause huge losses to investors.

Therefore, before the telegraph, riders with many fast horses were very popular on Wall Street. These riders shuttled between New York and the surrounding cities, racing against time and wealth.

Until the advent of the telegraph, these riders responsible for transmitting transaction information were finally out of work, and the telegraph operators in the telegraph room replaced these riders.

(End of this chapter)