1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 446 The Madman
Vanderbilt's words are not rough.

Those old aristocrats who took off at the forefront of the times at the beginning of the founding of the country could not find a reason to refute Vanderbilt.

"Can the two of you take a step to speak?"

After issuing the edict to Liang Yao, James had already picked up the goblet in his hand.

"Of course, Sir James please."

In a good mood, Vanderbilt enthusiastically invited James to a quieter place aside.

"I came to New York this time to attend Sir Liang's wedding, and bring His Majesty's blessings to you two from Paris to New York." James said, shaking the wine in his goblet.

"Secondly, His Majesty wants me to bring something back to Paris from New York, but the things I want to take away from New York are more difficult, and I hope you two can help."

Having said this, Liang Yao and Vanderbilt have already guessed what James wants to take away: US dollars.

After the fall of the First Empire, France experienced a trough for a long time.

The Rothschild family also gained both fame and wealth and became heroes of the United Kingdom.

Liang Yao now even wonders if James is here to fool him.

Capital has no borders, and Jewish capital has a lower downline than ordinary capital.

When Napoleon III came to the throne, France had not yet completed the industrial revolution, and the national economy was still dominated by agriculture.

However, it was not James who made this wise decision in the family at that time, but James' brother Lionel in London.

But there is one thing to say, compared to those stupid rulers of the Bourbon dynasty who were so extravagant that they said why the common people couldn't afford bread and why they didn't eat cream cakes, Napoleon III is indeed a model of benevolent government and love for the people in France.

In 1875, it was the Rothschild family that provided the British government with a huge loan of 400 million pounds, and bought 17.7 shares of the Suez Canal from the Egyptian king, and the British government then controlled this important shipping route. .

As soon as Napoleon III came to power, he used troops abroad. His finances were exhausted and insufficient military expenditure was inevitable. However, if he wanted to win the Crimean War and consolidate his political position in the country, Napoleon III could only choose to increase his bargaining chips on the war table. May reduce military spending.

It is not surprising that the children of the Rothschild family have such crazy ideas.

"With your words, I can rest assured." James said with great satisfaction.

As a country that has not yet completed industrialization, the financial situation of the French government cannot be said to be sufficient.

Similarly, Liang Yao also expressed his understanding of James' shocking idea.

James seems to have found a bosom friend. The Global Shipping Company under Liang Yao is one of the best shipping companies in the United States, and its predecessor is Vanderbilt's shipping empire.

The annual interest rate of 6% can only be said to be quite satisfactory, but buying French war bonds is more about selling Napoleon III as a favor, and making money is second, as long as you don’t lose money.

With that said, James found a place to sit down, and then he wanted to talk to Liang Yao about their personal business cooperation.

It is true that Liang Yao is rich in the United States, but many of his properties are fixed assets, shares and liabilities. It takes time for these assets to be realized, and the cash flow he can use is not sufficient.

Vanderbilt is a representative of the New York consortium and has a high reputation in the New York business community.

In later generations, this canal across the isthmus of Panama almost fed a country.

Although Liang Yao and Vanderbilt have dredged and widened the Nicaragua Canal, expanded the ports on the route, and even built railways on some sections of the road, they have tried their best to increase the potential of the Nicaragua route in order to earn more profits from this route.

The biggest intersection between Vanderbilt and the military in his life was sending his favorite youngest son, Edward, to the front line. This was also the most regrettable decision in his life, not one of them.

However, there is a mountain on the Nicaragua route that cannot be penetrated by the current technological strength, and the potential of the Nicaragua route is also tightly locked by this mountain.It may be difficult to increase the capacity of the Nicaragua route in the future.

In history, the Suez Canal was dug by France, which invested in technology, and Egyptians came out of the country. After the canal was opened, France held 52% of the shares in the Suez Canal.

"Sea transportation?" Liang Yao said with a smile, "It's impossible for me to dig a canal in Panama, right?"

As the route with the highest shipping sales between the east and west of the United States, Nicaragua has been overwhelmed with the economic rise of California.

"How much does Sir Liang want to subscribe? Can you pay a low price first?" James asked.

James waved his hand and said: "But it can't be fundamentally improved. The transportation efficiency of railways is very high, but in this world where the ocean area is much larger than the land area, in terms of transportation capacity and transportation costs, sea transportation still has incomparable advantages over railways." .”

Liang Yao nodded to Vanderbilt, and then asked James, "Since it's an investment, everything is easy to talk about. I have to thank you for sending me such a good financial product. I wish for it. How many wars does your Majesty plan to issue in New York?" Bonds? How many years of war bonds? What's the interest rate?"

"Human civilization is built on piles of corpses. If this canal can be built, it will be worth the death of these people." James' tone gradually became agitated.

The ongoing Pacific Railway project costs $80 million every month. If it weren't for the huge profits of the petrochemical industry in Los Angeles, kerosene and Vaseline would not worry about selling. If the stall is so big like him, the capital chain It's already broken.

James was not surprised that Liang Yao made the arrogant statement of digging a canal in Panama.

Both of these consortiums are financially strong in the United States. If Vanderbilt and Liang Yao take the lead in subscribing for French war bonds, James believes that the remaining US$850 million in war bonds will be sold out soon.

As for buying French war bonds is a good financial investment, James really didn't fool Liang Yao.

The British Empire is now in its heyday in the Victorian era. Assuming this canal is repaired, Liang Yao will not be able to grasp it. The final outcome will be similar to the Suez Canal in history.

Liang Yao also had an encounter with Lionel before, and the prototype gun and drawings of the Sacramento gun were brought out by Lionel from England.

"A total of 1000 million US dollars in five-year war bonds, with a fixed annual interest rate of 6%, and a lump-sum repayment of principal and interest at maturity."

However, technology and capital are not the biggest problems in building the Panama Canal, politics is.

In the Victorian era, the British would never be ambiguous about any matters involving sea power.

But in the end it was eaten by the British.

"Are you trying to sell war bonds in New York?" Liang Yao and James clinked glasses, and immediately took a sip of red wine.

Vanderbilt glanced at Liang Yao, he wanted to hear Liang Yao's opinion.

"This situation, I think, will improve after the Pacific Railway is completed and opened to traffic," Liang Yao said.

Of course Liang Yao knew what the opening of the Panama Canal meant.

"Sir Liang really has a bright eye. My emperor is benevolent and can't bear to raise taxes on the people, so this time he asked me to come to New York to issue war bonds to raise military expenses." James nodded with a smile.

"I hope that you two will be able to subscribe for some of our war bonds. If you take the lead in subscribing, I think my task will not be difficult to complete.

He worked in business, but in military matters he was not even clumsy, but knew nothing.He himself was not interested in the military either.

Unlike the Suez Canal, the water level of Panama in later generations is 26 meters higher than the two oceans. It relies on six locks to operate, and it belongs to the lock-type canal.

In this age when the Suez Canal has not even been opened and mankind has not yet entered the electrical age, it is undoubtedly a fantasy to complete this engineering miracle, and the capital required is incalculable.

In order to take the three prototype guns and technical drawings out of the UK without anyone noticing, Lionel actually burned Armstrong's factory building.

But Liang Yao also knows how difficult it is to dig an 19-kilometer-long canal on the Isthmus of Panama with the level of technology in the mid-82th century.

"But now there are only 850 million US dollars, and our Rothschild family has subscribed for 150 million US dollars."

Liang Yao is a representative of the California Consortium, and his reputation in the California Consortium is even more prosperous.

Especially now that he is still considering building the Garde Railway, once this project starts, it will consume a large part of his cash flow.

After Napoleon III abdicated, he could have a good death, which is the best affirmation of the French people for him.

"California's kerosene and petroleum jelly sell well in Europe. I have sent people to investigate. My inspection team is very optimistic about the future oil production in Los Angeles, but they are not optimistic about the shipping capacity of the Nicaragua route. I personally think that the Nicaragua route Shipping capacity will become a trade bottleneck between California and continental Europe."

I think Sir Liang is still clear about the war situation in the Near East. From a commercial point of view, buying our war bonds is a good investment. "

"No less than 85 US dollars. I need to go back and consider how much I can subscribe. You know that the war in Borneo has just ended, and my life is not easy." Liang Yao said.

"The current technical conditions are not yet mature. Although your proposal is very attractive, it is not feasible now." Liang Yao politely rejected James' proposal.

"The Isthmus of Panama is too sensitive, involving the interests of too many countries, and it is a place of smoke and smoke. Have you considered how many people will die if a canal is dug in this place?"

They can become British heroes for the greater good, and they can also become British traitors for the greater good.

Judging from the attitudes shown by the two, James felt that this matter was a sure thing, and he did not forget to add a sentence at the end to strengthen the two's confidence in the French war bond.

Furthermore, from an economic point of view, it is not cost-effective to do so.

"That's exactly what I mean!" James clapped excitedly, "If a canal can be dug in Panama, the distance between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans can be shortened by a full 8000 nautical miles! Sir Liang, I think you know what this means to California and the world. What are you wearing?"

"I have no reason to miss such a good investment." Liang Yao quickly expressed his willingness to take the lead in buying French war bonds.

What James said was true and false. Napoleon III didn't want to raise taxes on the people, but he didn't dare.The French people who have been baptized by the Great Revolution are much less tolerant of their rulers than the people of the Qing Dynasty.

"At least they are worth more than dying on the battlefield. I heard that the Qing Dynasty is engaged in a civil war, where hundreds of people die in the war every day. With your relationship, it is not difficult to recruit cheap labor from the Qing Dynasty. Then Then you and I will contribute, and our family will open up the relationship between European countries, and this project can start."

Damn, this is a lunatic.

Liang Yao looked at the well-dressed gentleman in front of him, quietly listened to his crazy plan, and finally shook his head decisively and said.

"Sir James, your plan seems good, but the time is not yet ripe."

(End of this chapter)