1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 718 Opening up territories

"One million Republic dollars will be paid in cash, and the remaining four million Republic dollars will be paid in the form of arms, munitions, medical supplies and other materials you need." Jones stated the specific payment method.

"If you are willing, 50 Republic dollars in cash and 50 dollars worth of arms and military supplies can be transferred to your account immediately."

Five million Republican dollars in one lump sum? Are you kidding?

The American Republic itself is in urgent need of a large amount of cash. The future large-scale development of border areas will cost a huge amount of money!

It was impossible to come up with so much cash to lend to the Confederacy.

"What are your conditions?" Davis asked about the additional conditions that he was most concerned about.

As a politician, Davis knew that the American Republic would not unconditionally provide them with such a large loan.

"It's simple! Take Washington!" Jones said concisely.

With the Potomac River blocking the way, it was not easy for the Confederate Army to capture Washington.

It all depends on how much the South is willing to pay.

Overall, the additional condition of taking Washington is not too harsh.

The Confederate Army and Washington's Union Army had been facing each other across the river for more than a week.

Washington has still not shown any intention to negotiate.

Robert Lee's idea of ​​using siege to promote talks had failed. The Northerners were not as soft-hearted as the Southerners had imagined.

Davis also wanted to attack Washington, but he didn't make up his mind not because he was timid, but because Richmond was financially empty.

The two Battles of Manassas had drained the Confederacy's coffers.

Robert Lee's army was able to confront the Northern Army on the Potomac River thanks to the rich spoils of war from the two battles of Manassas.

"I can't make the decision on such an important matter alone. I will give you a reply after the meeting is held and the proposal is passed by Congress." Davis said to Jones after hesitating for a moment.

The Union was bulky, and the Confederacy was even more bulky than the Union.

Of the three heads of government in the North, South and West, Davis had the least power.

Jones also understood the situation of the Confederacy, and he knew that Davis was not deceiving him or stalling for time.

Davis and his cabinet did not have such broad authority.

The purpose of this trip had been achieved, so Jones stood up and said goodbye, leaving the South White House at 1201 East Clay Street and getting on the carriage parked in front of the White House.

"What was the outcome of the negotiations?"

The president of the Atlantic Railroad, who was waiting for news in the carriage, closed the glass windows of the carriage, drew the curtains, and asked Jones.

"It was expected that Davis would call Congress to a meeting for a vote."

Richmond was a little hot in August, and Jones loosened his silk tie, which was a little tight.

"Given the current bellicosity of the Confederacy, it's just a formality in Congress." Garrett nodded and asked.

"The war bonds issued by the Northern Union have fallen by 24%. Are you interested in buying the dip with me?"

Since the war began, the Northern Union Army has been defeated all the time, and the prices of war bonds issued by the federal government have plummeted and have been sold off frantically on Wall Street.

Garrett thinks now is a good time to buy the dip.

"Buy at the bottom? Not yet." Jones shook his head and said, "The best time to buy at the bottom will be after the Southern Army takes Washington."

By the end of August 1861, the resistance of the Great Plains Native American tribes to the federal government had spread like wildfire.

After annihilating the Omaha Corps, the Western Army was unstoppable and the four armies received frequent victories.

After the destruction of the Army of Omaha, the Northern Union Army no longer had any military force in the Great Plains that could contain the Western Army.

The Union Army and Union militia in major cities and military strongholds on the Great Plains either surrendered or fled. They had no determination or ability to resist the Western Army at all.

The Union was powerless in the Great Plains.

Although the Western Army suffered sporadic attacks from local armed forces in some large cities, these sporadic resistances were quickly put down and failed to gain any momentum.

In less than a month, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota changed hands one after another.

With the Texas Brigade moving into Missouri, it was only a matter of time before Missouri changed sides.

The American Republic completed the miracle of expanding its territory by 74 square kilometers in just one month, incorporating most of the middle and upper reaches of the Mississippi River into its territory.

It sounds exaggerated to expand the territory by 74 square kilometers in one month, but in reality, the specific implementation meant controlling the main cities and transportation lines in Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

In the 1860s, these areas were vast and sparsely populated, and effective control over these areas was achieved as long as the Mississippi River waterway, the settlements along the Mississippi North River waterway, and the settlements along the Pacific Railway were controlled.

So far, the only area where the Western Army has not made very smooth progress is Minnesota in the north. Minnesota is west of Lake Superior, which is the westernmost state of the five Great Lakes.

Minnesota has a population of 20 and convenient transportation. Although the state does not have a train, Minnesota can achieve navigation with Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and other core areas of the Northern Federation through Lake Superior.

It is a state where the federal government's rule in border areas is relatively stable.

"What is the 103rd Brigade doing? Especially the 2nd Regiment? Why hasn't it reached the designated combat location yet? Are the officers of the 103nd Regiment of the 2rd Brigade all blind and directionally challenged?"

Inside the headquarters of Camp Omaha, Kruger was furious with a stern face.

"Tell the commander and deputy commander of the 103nd Regiment of the 2rd Brigade that they can't lead the team well. There are plenty of people who can!"

During the Battle of Omaha, most of the standing troops performed well.

Only the performance of the 103nd Regiment of the 2rd Brigade was hard to describe, it was like sleepwalking.

In the Battle of Northern Kansas, if the 103nd Regiment of the 2rd Brigade had not been slow to join the 3rd Regiment in the battle, it would have been impossible for the Maine Brigade and the st Mercenary Regiment to let go of the Yankee soldiers.

Kruger had long been dissatisfied with the performance of the 103nd Regiment of the 2rd Brigade.

“103旅第2团这两个月一直在长途行军，官兵疲惫”一名和103旅第2团军团私人交情比较好的参谋试图为103旅第2团辩解几句。

But before the lieutenant colonel could finish his words, Kruger scolded him: "Is it their regiment that is marching? They are also the 103rd Regiment of the 3rd Brigade. They have experienced a fierce battle in Manhattan Village! They lost two companies of veterans! Why can they capture three Union crossings and eliminate two Union strongholds in Minnesota?!"

"The 103nd Regiment of the 2rd Brigade is really not doing well. The officers of this regiment really need a replacement." Elvis frowned.

As they were talking, Liang Yao walked into the command center to understand the situation.

“Minneapolis hasn’t been taken yet?”

"Large areas of northern and southern Minnesota have been taken, with only two strong cities, Minneapolis and Duluth, still under the control of the Northern Union Army." It was Elvis who answered Liang Yao's question.

It is not entirely true to say that Minnesota was not taken. There is an Indian reservation designated by the federal government in northern Minnesota. The Native Americans of the reservation have responded to the call and completed control of northern Minnesota with the help of the Western Army.

The southern part of Minnesota was occupied by the Western Army alone.

"That means it hasn't been taken yet!" Liang Yao said unhappily.

Elvis had the British-style tactfulness and always liked to beat around the bush when speaking, which Liang Yao did not like very much.

He targeted Minnesota for occupation for two reasons.

One was to completely control the Mississippi River waterway and use the Mississippi River state border as a natural barrier to defend against the westward advance of the Northern Army in the future.

The terrain of the Great Plains is very flat and there are no geographical barriers, making it incredibly costly to hold an occupied area.

The second is that Minnesota is located at the westernmost end of the Great Lakes, and he wants to extend his tentacles into the Great Lakes region.

The Minneapolis micro-town circle centered on St. Paul and Duluth.

One is the most important river port settlement and industrial and agricultural center in this section of the Mississippi River; the other is Minnesota’s largest lake port on Lake Superior, integrating the essence of Minnesota.

If we fail to take down these two places, it means that we fail to take down Minnesota!

"Why haven't we been able to capture Minneapolis and Duluth? Do the local garrisons have a strong will to fight?" Liang Yao asked.

"The local garrison's combat effectiveness is not strong, at least not comparable to the federal army in Omaha?" Kruger explained, "Minnesota took advantage of our main force besieging Omaha to build 18 artillery batteries on both sides of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and block the waterway.

They concentrated almost all the residents of the state near Minneapolis, and almost all the men went into battle, establishing a deep defense system with St. Paul as the core.

If you want to completely take over Minneapolis, you have to take over St. Paul, and if you want to take over St. Paul, you have to remove the outlying strongholds. "

"Who is the governor and military chief of Minnesota? They are very capable." Liang Yao asked.

The federal military and political leaders of Minnesota are quite capable, as they were able to maintain the situation in Minnesota even when the building was already collapsing.

"Alexander Ramsey, this year happens to be his second term. It seems that he had foreseen today's war during his first term. Many fortresses in Minnesota were built in the past four years." Kruger spread out the map and pointed to the mark on the map.

"Minnesota alone cannot stop us. I believe the main reason for our army's slow progress in Minnesota is the support provided by Wisconsin.

We caught some soldiers from Wisconsin in Minnesota, both regular army soldiers and militia.

Moreover, Minneapolis and Duluth are both located at the junction of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and Wisconsin can continuously transport supplies and personnel to Minneapolis and Duluth.

In other words, our army in Minnesota, on the surface, is fighting against Minnesota, but in fact, it is fighting against the military forces of both Minnesota and Wisconsin at the same time! "

"The British are also providing military assistance to Minnesota across the border!" Elvis added, "We captured two prisoners who spoke authentic London English and were wearing Union Army uniforms!"

(End of this chapter)