1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 387 Borneo Has Oil
"It is true that the Dutch and Indian authorities have carried out inhuman massacres on the Chinese on Borneo Island, and many Chinese Americans have been brutally murdered, but I think we can adopt a more gentle way to support the Chinese on Borneo Island, such as Said to provide them with material assistance."

Robinson was not in favor of directly sending troops to Borneo Island, especially mobilizing California's civilian armed forces to directly send troops to Borneo Island.

"Borneo Island can grow rubber trees, which are tropical cash crops that cannot be grown in California at present. Rubber is also an indispensable raw material for the industrialization of California. If we want to break the Brazilian monopoly on rubber, we can only grow it ourselves! And planting rubber requires A plantation in the tropics!
We sent troops not only to save our compatriots on the island of Borneo, but also for the industrialization of our California! "

As a Chinese, Wu Yuanhua firmly supports sending troops to Borneo Island. He has personally contributed two Baltimore Clippers, which are commonly known as Clippers.

These clipper ships have been sent to the San Francisco Shipyard to install the Sacramento guns. The armed clipper ships will be used as a sea support force for this military operation.

The entire Huaxia Chamber of Commerce directly contributed 8 clipper ships for refitting.

The clipper ship originated from the American Revolutionary War. It was a top-sail schooner designed and manufactured by the United States based on the Bermuda sailing ship in order to break through the blockade of British sea power during the war.

This kind of ship sacrifices the cargo space to pursue the ultimate speed, and is used to break through the blockade of British ships for material delivery and limited commercial trade.

This kind of ship mainly operated in the coastal waters in the early days, so the tonnage was also small, generally no more than 200 tons. The hull was long and narrow, the mast was high, and the sail was large.

Due to its extreme speed, it can easily run at a speed of 11 knots or even higher under low wind conditions. This fast boat can easily throw off the pursuit of conventional sailing warships and even privateers.

Moreover, its hull is small and low, and it is often difficult for the naval guns on British ships to hit such small targets that move at high speed.

During the Revolutionary War, the Baltimore Shipyard produced a large number of this small and nimble clipper, so this ship is also called the Baltimore Clipper.

After the war, countries also took a fancy to the commercial value of this fast ship, which was used to carry high-value goods, such as Chinese tea and drugs from the British East India Company.

In order to meet commercial needs, merchants from various countries refitted and upgraded the flying shear ship, and its tonnage soon exceeded 200 tons. In the early 19th century, the displacement of the Lynx reached 223 tons.

At present, the main force of San Francisco's merchant ships traveling to and from New York is the clipper ship.

However, its ship type is from the 19s to the 30s. The improved ship type is represented by the Rainbow Clipper with a displacement of 40 tons.

Although the Rainbow is not as fast as the early Baltimore Clippers of less than 200 tons, it can still easily run at a speed of more than 10 knots in moderate wind conditions.

This speed is already amazing for a sailboat of this tonnage.

The ship once set a sailing record of 88 days from Guangzhou to New York, its speed is evident.

It is worth mentioning that the first real flying shear ship, Haoguan, was named after Wu Bingjian, the general merchant of Guangzhou Shisanhang.Many designs of the Rainbow are improved on the basis of the Haoguan.

The reason why Liang Yao chose to enlist the clipper ship with better ship condition is also very simple. One is that the clipper ship is fast and flexible in steering. Coupled with the extremely fast-firing Sacramento cannon, it can fully exert its advantages as a clipper ship. .

As for another reason, clipper ships are cheap, and it doesn't hurt to lose a few ships.

Although San Francisco also has many sailing merchant ships and even steam paddle ships with a displacement of one or two thousand tons, or even three or four thousand tons.

For example, Liang Yao's own global shipping has many steam paddle steamers with a displacement of two to three thousand tons.

But these ships are too heavy, not flexible enough, not specialized warships, and the level of protection is limited. Using these merchant ships to participate in naval battles is tantamount to targeting the warships of the Dutch East India Company.

Moreover, the cost of these ships is higher than that of clipper ships, especially the large steam paddle steamers, which are very expensive. Liang Yao still needs to use these ships to transport immigrants from Guangdong and Fujian, and he cannot afford to lose the steam paddle steamer.

"It doesn't matter whether the transplanting of rubber from Brazil to Borneo is successful or not. Even if it is successful, as far as I know, it takes at least 8 years for a rubber tree to mature!" Robinson retorted.

"Before the rubber tree matures, we can plant the drug. The planting of the drug can make a profit in a short period of time. The drug is also very popular in European countries!" Pan Zhengwei said.

"Fushou gum can also be grown in Mexico and Central American countries! Moreover, the British East India Company can also grow drugs. Their experience in planting and selling is more abundant than ours! It can be self-produced and sold. Ours in Borneo Compared with the drugs of the British East India Company, the drugs grown on the island have no advantages!" Robinson said.

"That can be sold to Japan, which is closer. Japan is poor, but if you want to scrape, you can still scrape off some oil and water." Wu Yuanhua said.

The debate between the two sides has been deadlocked, and each has its own reasons.

Liang Yao smiled slightly, but said lightly: "Borneo Island has oil."

Does the island of Borneo have oil?
This sentence was like a blockbuster, and the debating upper class in California exploded instantly in the living room, and everyone gasped.

After seeing the oil boom in Los Angeles, they knew what oil meant.

Oil is liquid gold!
As long as the by-products of petroleum are produced, there will be no market for them!
"Really?"

Robinson looked at Liang Yao in disbelief.

"When have I lied to you, the oil on Borneo is in Brunei. As long as we take care of the Dutch East India Company and then Brunei, the oil on Borneo will be ours!" Liang Yao smiled broadly. said.

"The Dutch not only massacred the Chinese, but also my fellow Americans. The crime is heinous. They must be dealt with! They must be dealt with! California must show them something! Let them have a long memory!"

After confirming that there was oil on Borneo Island, Robinson's attitude turned [-] degrees in an instant, and he no longer opposed Liang Yao's organization of California civilian armed forces to intervene in the Holland War on Borneo Island.

Robinson looked at Liang Yao with a bit of resentment. If there is oil, don't say it sooner or later. I don't have to argue with the Chinese businessmen over this issue.

Oil has allowed the upper echelons of California to reach a consensus, no longer arguing about whether to send troops, or whether to mobilize civilian armed forces.

"To save our compatriots, cheers!" Liang Yao raised the wine glass in his hand and said to everyone.

"For the compatriots! Cheers!" The upper-class Californians in the living room raised their wine glasses and teacups to clink.

After the top management in California reached an agreement and shared common interests, Liang Yao made the final preparations.

The soldiers and horses have not moved, the food and grass go first, and the most important thing in expeditionary operations is the ability to supply logistics.

The combat effectiveness of Liang Yao's army is very dependent on logistics and ammunition supplies. Whether the logistics can keep up can even determine the success or failure of this war.

After the order was issued, a large amount of war materials arrived in Xiangshan, Guangdong by merchant ships.

Before obtaining the port on Borneo Island, Xiangshan Port was Liang Yao's nearest and most important logistics supply base.

Xiangshan is the territory of the Qing Dynasty. No matter how courageous the Dutch are, they dare not go to war against the Qing Dynasty and attack Xiangshan Port. Therefore, the logistics base of Xiangshan is still safe.

At the same time, Liang Yao wrote to Hong Mingxiang with the attitude of giving it a try. It would be best if Hong Mingxiang was willing to help out. If not, let him help deliver some supplies to the local Chinese resistance company on Borneo Island.

Half a month later in Guangzhou, after Wu Yuanhua delivered a batch of canned food and sugar cubes, as well as some cotton cloth and gauze to Xiangshan, he took Liang Yao's letter to the admiral's mansion to visit Hong Mingxiang.

Hong Mingxiang's bidding battalion has been replaced with a Walter M1851E rifle, and a Sacramento version of the Colt revolver is pinned to the waist of the soldiers.

Hong Mingxiang himself is also engaged in the gold mining business in Australia now, and his soldiers have followed suit, eating fat and strong.

"Liangyi, rare guest, I heard that you are doing very well in America."

Hearing that it was Wu Yuanhua's visit, Hong Mingxiang came out to meet Wu Yuanhua in person.

"Thanks to Mr. Liang, without Mr. Liang, our Wu family's business would not be able to go to America and Europe." Wu Yuanhua laughed.

"Mr. Liang is really a strange person, and the Liang family is really full of talents." Hong Mingxiang said with emotion.

"Besides Mr. Liang, is there any talented person in the Liang family?" Wu Yuanhua asked curiously.

"Mr. Liang's fifth uncle, Liang Shaoqiong led a battalion of Yueyongs to defeat the attack of tens of thousands of long hairs in the first battle outside Yangzhou City, and borrowed the siege of Yangzhou City. We worked together to defeat Chang Mao, but anyone with a discerning eye knows where the Eight Banners dare to attack Chang Mao." Hong Mingxiang said in a low voice.

"It is indeed an unprecedented victory since Changmao's uprising." Wu Yuanhua nodded and said.

Wu Yuanhua still knew how many people there were in a battalion of Yueyong. The Yueyong formed an army, and Jardine House also donated a lot of money to buy arms and recruit local bravery.

"This is just the beginning. More than two months ago, Yueyong made another trip out of the city to fight with Changmao. This time he captured the leader of the Changmao bandit Wei Jun alive. The Holy Dragon was so happy that he overturned the case for the Liang family and gave him a gift." Liang Shaoqiong came from Jinshi." Hong Mingxiang sighed while leading Wu Yuanhua to the main room.

"Liang Shaoqiong's future is limitless."

"In this way, the Liang family really has a lot of capable people." Wu Yuanhua said with emotion.

Entering the main room, after Hong Mingxiang and Wu Yuanhua sat down, they picked up the tea brought by the maid.

After taking a sip of tea, Wu Yuanhua explained his purpose, took out the letter from his sleeve and handed it to Hong Mingxiang.

"Young Master Liang wants to save the Chinese on Borneo Island, and I hope that Hong Junmen can come out and help."

Hong Mingxiang opened the letter and read it.

After reading, he put down the letter in his hand, and said very straightforwardly: "Mr. Liang's matter is Hong's matter, and Hong has no reason to watch."

Wu Yuanhua was very surprised by Hong Mingxiang's straightforward attitude. Even if Liang Yao agreed to give Hong Mingxiang 10 US dollars as a reward for sending troops to help, Hong Mingxiang's promise was too straightforward.

Wu Yuanhua felt a little unbelievable that things went smoothly.

(End of this chapter)