1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 255 They Know, They Don't Change

"California is really a promising place. It is full of vitality. Being with these young people, I, an old antique from the last century, feel a lot younger."

After chatting with several young inventors, Blanchard couldn't help but sigh.

These young talents left a deep impression on Blanchard.

It seems that he has been working behind closed doors for too long. There are so many outstanding young inventors in the United States that he has never heard of before.

"I plan to set up a machinery company in California. According to my investigation in California, there is still a big shortage of machinery in California. If possible, I hope to get a loan from the Bank of America."

Blanchard, who is also an inventor and a businessman, also saw potential business opportunities in California.

Construction was going on everywhere, and the tacks from his tack-making machine would be popular here.

There is also his wood bending machine, whether it is used by Liang Yao to bend wood for boats, agricultural tools, or building materials, it has a very promising market.

Of course, California's three-year tax exemption policy for industrial and mining companies is also very attractive to Blanchard.

California is the only state in the United States that currently has a tax-free policy for industrial and mining companies. I heard that California also has a tax-free policy for agriculture, which has also attracted many farmers from the east to immigrate.

Many eastern farmers immigrated to Wisconsin and Missouri, but they changed their destination after hearing that California has a three-year tax exemption policy for agriculture, and provided farm tools, seeds, and even interest-free loans. Came to California.

"California welcomes all aspiring entrepreneurs to set up factories in California."

Blanchard wants to open a factory in California, and Liang Yao naturally welcomes it. Blanchard manufactures machine tools. Such a high-tech industry is rare in any state.

"For the issue of opening a factory, you can submit your plan to the Ministry of Industry and consult with the staff of the Ministry of Industry. The San Francisco Industrial Zone also has an office of the Ministry of Industry. In terms of loans, I can get you a lower loan. Interest."

"Thank you so much."

Blanchard thanked Liang Yao, and then asked Liang Yaodao.

"Have you made any new inventions lately? I heard you just applied for a patent on something called a hinge, may I have a look?"

Liang Yao nodded and asked Connie to bring the hinge.

Blanchard took the hinge from Coney and inspected it carefully, and exclaimed in admiration.

"It's an ingenious design. If you match it with the right gears, you can make a very good transmission. It's just that this thing is so delicate, so it's expensive, right?"

"It is indeed a bit expensive, and there is still a long way to go before commercial use." Liang Yao said.

The hinge was what he had planned for a chain-driven bicycle, but it wasn't as simple as he thought.

Hinges, a kind of mechanical parts that are very common in the eyes of later generations, were out-and-out high-tech products in the middle of the 19th century. With the current machining capabilities in California, it is definitely impossible to mass-produce hinges that can be put into commercial use.

The idea of ​​making a chain-driven bicycle can only be put aside for the time being, and it is more realistic to make some improvements to the details and materials of the bicycle.

The driving mode of the pedal-driven bicycle is to pedal the pedal-driven bicycle on the wheel, and the efficiency is definitely not as good as that of a chain-type bicycle.

That's why, before the chain was invented, bicycles grew out of shape and drive wheels got bigger and bigger.It's all about saving effort and increasing power output.

Pan Zhengwei and Wu Yuanhua, who came to see Liang Yao, were very surprised to hear the thick smoke billowing in Taoyuan and the roar of machines these days.

If it was in the Qing Dynasty, this must be a typical representative of playing with things and losing one's mind.

But both Pan Zhengwei and Wu Yuanhua knew that Liang Yao was not a person who lost his mind when playing with things. Not only did he not lose his mind, he could also make money.

Looking at the various roaring machines in Tingtao Garden, and thinking of the idyllic Qing Dynasty, the two of them felt as if they were separated from each other.

"I'm going back to Guangzhou in person this time. I'm afraid the people below can't explain clearly to De She (Pan Shicheng) about the Qing-US Free Immigration Treaty. It's better for me to go back and talk to De She in person. "

Pan Zhengwei said to Liang Yao.

Although the Pan family is now favored by the court, not everyone in the Pan family has the opportunity to meet the Manchu emperor in person.Only Pan Shicheng, who lives in the second rank and is highly valued by the imperial merchants, has the opportunity to meet the emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

"Then I'll trouble you to bear the hardship of traveling and traveling, and take a trip." Liang Yao said to Pan Zhengwei, "Go back to Guangzhou on the steamship of the global shipping company, the steamship is faster."

"But before I leave, I want to ask you for something as a gift for the Holy Majesty." Pan Zhengwei said.

"What do you want?"

As long as the Manchus can fool the past and let the "Qing-U.S. Free Immigration Treaty" be passed in a daze, Liang Yao doesn't mind giving some small gifts.

"I bought some guns in the east. There is no shortage of these things. I want to ask you for some machines." Pan Zhengwei said.

Over the past year in the United States, what he has seen and heard has opened his eyes.

He had seen the speed of foreign ships and the power of foreign guns and cannons in the Qing Dynasty, but it was the first time he had seen foreign machines.

The high efficiency of foreign machines made him speechless, and he hoped to bring some machines back to open the eyes of officials in the Qing Dynasty.

If things go on like this, given the current situation of the Qing Dynasty, sooner or later it will become a fish on the cutting board of foreigners.

Twelve years ago, the British invaded the sea area of ​​the Qing Dynasty, leaving the whole country helpless. After the British soldiers landed at the mouth of the Yangtze River, it was like entering a land without people, and they took Zhenjiang easily in one go.

Twelve years ago, the British were able to land in Zhenjiang, and the coastal defense of the Qing Dynasty, which was in vain, could land in Tianjin decades later. Pan Zhengwei dared not think about the consequences of the foreigners landing in Tianjin.

"It's useless." Liang Yao knew what Pan Zhengwei was thinking of writing.

"The disadvantage of the Qing Dynasty is not that the utensils are not as good as those of Western countries. The Manchu dignitaries in the capital would not be interested in these machines, and the Han officials would not dare to be interested in things that the Manchu dignitaries are not interested in.

You can wake up a person who is asleep, but you can never wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep. "

It's not that foreigners didn't send these things to the Qing emperor. The power of foreign guns and cannons and the speed of foreign ships were not unknown to the rich and powerful in the Qing Dynasty.

It is precisely because they know that they must ban these things.

The Manchus were not the main ethnic group in the Qing Dynasty, but only a few million people, and with a few million people, they ruled a large empire with a population of [-] million.

What they fear most is not the powerful foreigners, but the [-] million ruled.

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu aristocrats pursued the rule of defense against the Han rather than against the West.

When foreigners come, it is a big deal to sign a contract to cede land and pay compensation. This is all negotiable.As long as they please the foreign masters, they are still the rulers.

They can still ride on the heads of [-] million oxen and horses and continue to live a luxurious life of drunkenness and debauchery.

The Han people looked up, but what was shaken was the ruling foundation of the Qing Dynasty. This is something that cannot be discussed or discussed.

Only such a reactionary ruling class can say the bastard words of preferring to allies and not to domestic slaves.

The Qing court launched the Westernization Movement to save itself, and that was also when the Hunan Army rose.The ruling class of Manchu had no choice but to use Hanchen to continue to maintain their rule, and Hanchen began to gradually grasp the military and political power.

Liang Yao wasn't stupid enough to count on the Qing Dynasty. It would be better to count on Hong Xiuquan, that cult god.

Of course, Hong Xiuquan, the leader of the cult, can't count on it either.

Now he only hopes to continuously transport the young and strong labor force of the Qing Dynasty to California and attract businessmen from the Qing Dynasty to California to strengthen his foundation.

"I still want to give it a try. It's a good thing to wake up one."

Pan Zhengwei said after a moment of silence.

"I also want to ask you to help me find some people to pretend to be the tribute of the American mission. As long as the masters in the capital are happy, the "Qing-US Free Immigration Treaty" will be guaranteed."

"I'll ask someone to get you a steam engine later, and I'll ask Ward to make a model train for you at the California Railway Company, and send it to the capital as a gift for you."

Liang Yao agreed, and he said to Pan Zhengwei.

"The small dock of Global Shipping Company in Guangzhou, I want to expand into a ship repair yard. Last time, Sven and I reported that the James Day had a breakdown and was towed to Hong Kong for repairs. I would like to ask you two to tell the Guangzhou authorities, Give it a shot."

The global shipping company runs the route between Guangzhou and San Francisco for a long time, and it is common for ships to break down.

If there is no accident, he will go on an expedition to Japan this summer. If there is a problem with the ship, it will be a big trouble.

Civilian ships can still be towed to Hong Kong or Shanghai for repairs. If something goes wrong with a warship, it is not so easy to repair.

"It's a trivial matter, let us take care of it." Pan Zhengwei was very happy to see Liang Yao's agreement.

"Ye Mingchen, governor of Guangdong, Xu Guangjin, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and our two families have good friendships."

"When I go back this time, I also prepared some gifts for Governor Ye and Governor Xu. This time when Ting Yu goes back, I will trouble Ting Yu to pass on my gifts to the two adults, expressing my heart to the two adults." Liang Yao nodded and said.

The current governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Xu Guangjin, will step down in September this year. After Xu Guangjin leaves office, the former governor of Guangdong, Ye Mingchen, will succeed him as governor of Guangdong and Guangxi and Minister of Commerce.

From then on, Ye Mingchen will serve as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi and the minister of trade and commerce until the second Opium War broke out in 1858. After the outbreak of the Second Opium War, Guangzhou was captured and imprisoned in India until he died of a hunger strike.

As long as the relationship with these two people is properly handled, at least before 1858, Liang Yao will not have to worry about how to deal with the Guangdong authorities.

Seventy percent of the Chinese immigrants in California started from Guangzhou.

It is very important for Liang Yao to handle the relationship with Guangdong.

(End of this chapter)