Chapter 236: Only White, Not Black (4K)

"What a gun! What a gun! What a gun!"

After test-firing more than a dozen rounds, Liang Yao praised his shoulder, which was numb from the huge recoil of the gun. Google search reading

"Unfortunately, from your perspective, this gun will soon be outdated." Walter said with regret.

Liang Yao asked Walter to develop a needle gun that can use medium-fire metal bullets. However, there are still several technical problems that have not been overcome in medium-fire metal bullets and needle guns.

Walter then had a sudden idea and developed a new gun using existing mature technology. The biggest features of this gun are: rear loading, hammer firing, and the use of large-caliber rim needle bullets.

Compared with the Dresser needle gun, the biggest advantage of this gun is that it has a simple structure, uses existing reliable technology, is relatively easy to produce, and has lower production costs.

In terms of specific use, it is also simpler to use than the Dresser striker gun and has lower maintenance requirements.

The shortcomings are also obvious. Since it uses existing mature technologies, the gun has almost no potential for subsequent improvement. It can only be loaded with a single shot all the way to the black, which is equivalent to the peak of its debut.

As for the obsolescence problem mentioned by Walter, from Liang Yao's perspective, the future development prospects of this kind of gun are not very good. In the middle of the 19th century when rear-loading guns were not yet popular, this gun would not be available for at least 20 to 30 years. Be eliminated.

The general structure of this gun is similar to the Sharps rifle that Liang Yao later knew. It just uses copper bullets with edge needle bullets, while the early Sharps rifles used paper bullets.

Although the potential for subsequent improvement of this gun is not as good as the Dresser needle gun, it is not a bit better than the Springfield M1842 currently in service in the US military.

"How much does this gun cost?" Liang Yao asked Walter.

"It's very expensive. The cost is about 20 US dollars." Walter thought for a while and said, "If you consider the use of metal bullets, the cost will only be higher. Compared with the rifles currently in service in the United States, this gun only has an advantage in performance. There is no cost advantage.”

At $20 apiece, it’s not outrageously expensive. Besides, although this gun doesn’t have much room for improvement, there is room for castration.

Liang Yao's eyes turned, and his thoughts became more alive.

If we reduce the cost and use custom-loaded paper shell bullets, we can control the price to about US$25 apiece, and it may not be impossible to sell them.

"If we use inferior materials and use custom-loaded paper shells, can the cost be lower?" Liang Yao put down his gun and asked.

"Yes, yes, but if you use paper shells, you may have to use an external flash cap, and the accuracy and rate of fire will also drop a lot. Don't you like advanced guns? Why do you want me to move the gun backwards now? Change the direction? This doesn’t suit your style.”

Walter was very puzzled by Liang Yao's behavior of reversing the car.

Of course, the more advanced the better for your own use. As for the gun you sell to make money, it just needs to be functional and able to impress buyers.

Ten years later, the United States will fight a civil war. It is impossible for him to sell the best firearms to the other side and let the other side use the guns he sold to shoot himself.

"Control costs and make this gun more competitive in the market." Liang Yao casually found an excuse to excuse it.

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Liang Yao was astonished by Lincoln's level of professionalism. Liang Yao gave Lincoln six lawsuits. Lincoln united six landowners and merged the six lawsuits into one lawsuit. Together with the Atlantic Railroad Company, he served as the plaintiff and brought the New York State to the United States. The government went to court as a defendant.

The reason is that the state government deceived the railway company and knowingly promised the railway company land along the railway line, which was suspected of encroaching on private property.

Misappropriation of private property is a very sensitive crime in the United States. As soon as this statement was made, the New York Evening Post made a fuss about it, and the New York State government quickly became unable to sit still.

The New York State government immediately accused Lincoln of defamation. Lincoln was well prepared to prove that what he said was true through evidence obtained from friends of the New York State Railroad Administration whom he had met during his political career.

It is true that the New York State government violated the rights of the original owners of the land and promised the land to the then Delaware-Hudson River Railroad Company even though it knew that the land was already owned.

In just one month, Lincoln won the lawsuit and settled six cases at once.

The deadline given by Liang Yao to Lincoln was within two months.

"After all, he is the top lawyer in Yinlinuo, and he has two skills."

Liang Yao happily paid Lincoln the agency fee of US$1,000.

"We previously negotiated an agency fee of US$100 for each case. I only represented 6 items this time. You only need to pay US$600." Lincoln said, staring at the number on the check.

"The time limit we agreed on was to resolve more than 4 cases within two months, but you solved 6 cases within a month and won all of them. The extra 400 US dollars will be regarded as a reward." Liang Yao He said with a smile.

If the Atlantic Railway Company's land disputes can be resolved so quickly, the rail tracks can be laid as soon as possible. The earlier the railway is put into operation, it means that the funds can be withdrawn as soon as possible.

The tip to Lincoln was nothing. He also knew about Lincoln's current situation. Lincoln's life was very difficult recently. His law firm didn't even have a dedicated office. Instead, he and Herndon lived in a rental house on 20th Street. inside.

The rental house on 20th Street was both Lincoln and Herndon's home and their office.

"Thank you." Lincoln accepted Liang Yao's check and asked, "What about the contract?"

"I have already drafted the contract." Liang Yao handed the prepared contract to Lincoln.

After reading the contract carefully, Lincoln did not sign it. After thinking about it for a while, he asked, "Can the term of the contract be changed from 10 years to 5 years?"

"Okay." Liang Yao thought for a while and agreed to Lincoln's request. "It seems that you still plan to return to politics in the near future."

Lincoln did not deny this, saying, "Politics is the ultimate outlet for aspiring lawyers."

After establishing his life goals at the age of 30, Lincoln's goal has always been clear, which is to make a name for himself in politics.

I became a lawyer just to train myself, continue to accumulate contacts, and prepare for my future return to politics.

After changing the contract period from 10 years to 5 years, Lincoln happily signed the contract with Liang Yao.

After signing the contract, Lincoln stretched out his rough, calloused hands, shook hands with Liang Yao and said.

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Liang. I heard that you have developed California very well. After I finish settling the Atlantic Railway Company's lawsuits, I must go to California to see it with my own eyes."

"I'm in California, waiting at any time." Liang Yao smiled.

After sending Lincoln away, Coney sent Liang Yao a telegram from Perry. In the telegram, Perry told Liang Yao that the last batch of ships of the American East India Fleet had been painted and set off, and he was also aboard. The flagship Mississippi, which had been with him for many years, was preparing to circumnavigate Cape Horn in South America and go to San Francisco, and urged Liang Yao to return to San Francisco as soon as possible to join him and go to Japan.

Liang Yaoshou was pretty much busy in the east. Construction was going on in the business district of Manhattan, and the Atlantic Railway Company was also building new tracks.

The eastern United States has a relatively flat terrain, and these new railway lines will be put into operation next year.

The Arizona Infantry Regiment recruited in the south has also completed its assembly in Houston, and the engineer company is directly on standby in New York Harbor, waiting for Liang Yao to give the order before heading to San Francisco.

After Liang Yao explained to the employees who stayed in the east, he said goodbye to Vanderbilt and set off back to California.

"Why did you buy so many cannons?"

At the dock of New York Harbor, Liang Yao couldn't help but ask when he saw Pan Zhengwei, who was still wearing the official robes, directing his entourage to hoist a cannon onto the ship.

"Do you need cannons to look after homes and homes?"

"The clan brother in Guangzhou entrusted me to buy some foreign guns and cannons on my behalf. A few days ago, you evened out some foreign guns and gave them to me. You refused to give me the foreign cannons, so I had to negotiate with the foreigners myself and purchased 30 cannons." Pan Zhengwei said.

"30?" Liang Yao felt a little unbalanced, "I only bought 20 cannons."

"I am the envoy of the Qing Dynasty and the Minister of Rites." Pan Zhengwei said with a smile, "These cannons are used to present to the Holy Emperor. If you don't give a big gift, I would like to express some Americans' intention to surrender to our heaven. Our " How could His Majesty nod to the Treaty of Free Immigration between China and the United States?”

"But Pan Deshe (she) asked you to buy it?"

Speaking of Pan Zhengwei's clan brother, the first thing Liang Yao thought of was Pan Zhengwei and his clan brother Pan Shicheng (also known as De She).

As a very popular red-top businessman, the Pan family not only won the Holy Scroll, but also lived well in the circle of scholar-bureaucrats.

Unlike ordinary second-generation rich people, Pan Shicheng did not indulge in a life of wealth and wealth, eating and drinking until death. Instead, he chose the path of becoming famous in the imperial examination, serving as an official and a businessman, and relying on his power to make money.

Pan Shicheng went to Beijing to take the examination at the age of 28, and passed the Shuntian Township Examination as a deputy tribute. Soon, he donated a huge sum of money to help the famine-stricken people in Beijing, and was awarded the title of Doctor of the Ministry of Punishment.

It was said to be a huge sum of money, but in fact it was only over two hundred thousand taels of silver, which was not a big sum of money to the Pan family of the same family. But not every businessman is willing to pay this money.

When the Yao people in Lianshan, Guangdong were in trouble, Pan Shicheng provided money to help local officials in Guangdong suppress the Yao rebellion. Therefore, Pan Shicheng was not only popular among the scholar-bureaucrats in the capital, but also respected by the feudal officials in Guangdong.

There were 111 dignitaries who had correspondence with Pan Shicheng before and after the Opium War, including local dignitaries such as Lin Zexu, Guo Shangxian, Zhang Yuesong, Tang Yifen, and Deng Tingzhen.

Pan Shicheng also had a good brain. After the Opium War, even the Yihe Xingwu family, a large family among the thirteen industries, quickly declined. However, Pan Shicheng found another way to purchase arms for the Guangdong authorities and undertake coastal defense, making a lot of money. money.

"Exactly, Deshe heard that the American guns, cannons and battleships were very useful. He entrusted me to purchase some and send them back to the best ones to offer to the Holy Spirit. The rest were left for the soldiers to use. He said that this time the Changmao rebellion was no better than The Yao Rebellion in Daoguang's twelfth year may not be quelled quickly. Guangdong is close to Guangxi, so it is better to take more precautions," Pan Zhengwei said.

"You also got a foreign ship?"

Liang Yao was a little surprised. These days, he was busy dealing with the Atlantic Railway Company and the Manhattan Shopping Center. Pan Zhengwei and others didn't pay much attention to what Pan Zhengwei and others were doing.

"Here." Pan Zhengwei pointed at three sail warships of about eight to nine hundred tons anchored not far from New York Harbor, "These four ships were bought from the Navy's Brooklyn Shipyard. They are all second-hand scraps that have been eliminated by the U.S. Navy. goods."

Although these sailing warships with a displacement of 800 to 900 tons are small ships for the navies of European and American countries, they are definitely large ships with good combat power in East Asian countries.

"Are the sailors on it also hired from the American Navy?" Liang Yao pulled out the monocular telescope and looked at the sailors on the ship and said.

These sailors are very good at sailing and steering, and they are obviously very familiar with ships. This is a warship, not an ordinary armed merchant ship, and I think these sailors are not ordinary sailors.

"Not the American Navy, but retired naval crew members of the American Navy. I heard from the people of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Philadelphia Navy Yard that Perry has been increasing the steam rate of the navy in recent years. Many naval crew members in the sail era have been laid off, and I hired them." Pan Zhengwei replied.

"You are a good trader. What do you want warships for? The court will accept foreign guns and cannons, but it will not accept foreign ships and a ship of foreign devil sailors." Liang Yao put down the telescope and asked.

Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has been in rebellion for nearly a year, it is still running rampant in the mountainous areas of eastern Guangxi and northern Guangdong. Except for a few local knowledgeable people like Pan Shicheng who are on the front line of the uprising, the Qing Dynasty leaders generally do not take Hong Xiuquan and others seriously, and the situation is not so embarrassing that they need to hire foreign mercenaries to suppress the uprising.

"Tongfuhang also has some small businesses in Nanyang. There are many pirates in Nanyang. With its own armed fleet, it is reassuring to do business. Although these second-hand sailing ships are outdated in your eyes, they are much better than the broken ships of the Nanyang pirates. The guns on the ships are also usable. Moreover, these foreign sailors are not expensive, so it is worthwhile to hire them." Pan Zhengwei said.

"My cousin also wants me to buy some foreign girls to take back as maids. Do you have any connections?"

"He wants white ones?" Liang Yao said in surprise.

Pan Zhengwei's cousin is quite playful.

"Only white ones, not black ones." Pan Zhengwei said very decisively.

Pan Zhengwei's decisive attitude once made Liang Yao doubt whether the cousin he was talking about was himself.

"If you want black slaves, it's easy. In the southern United States, even in Washington, black slaves can still be traded legally. White slaves are indeed not easy to deal with, but it is not impossible." Liang Yao thought for a while and said.

"When you go back to Nicaragua, you can look for some by yourself. There are white slaves there. If not, you can find Stanford after you get to California. Stanford does these businesses in Central America."

"This is a great plan. My cousin only said he wanted white slaves, but he didn't say whether he wanted American, Mexican or Nicaraguan slaves. Anyway, as long as they are white, it's fine." Pan Zhengwei said happily.

"You are at least the oldest among the Pan family peers. Why are you willing to be ordered around by your cousin? Is it possible that your cousin is the one who makes the decisions in the Pan family?" Liang Yao asked curiously.

The helmsman of the Wu family of Yihexing is Wu Shangrong, and he is not very clear about the helmsman of the Pan family of Tongfuxing. The situation of the Pan family, which integrates politics and business, is much more complicated than that of the Wu family.

"He is considered to be the majority of the boss of the Pan family." Pan Zhengwei said with a smile.

"Although my cousin is young, he is indeed the most capable one among the children of the Pan family in this life. Deshe is insightful about the ways of the world, and can handle things with ease in the officialdom of the capital or in Guangzhou. My grandfather liked him very much when he was alive and thought that he was a child of the Pan family who could stand on his own."

"From the second-rank governor, not to mention in your Pan family, even in the court, he is a person who can stand on his own." Liang Yao said.

The height that Pan Shicheng can reach is already the ceiling of Guangzhou merchants.

"This governor is not that governor, it is just a self-consoling title. How can the court give real power to a businessman wearing a red hat." Pan Zhengwei showed a bitter smile.

After the luggage and supplies were loaded and all the accompanying personnel boarded the ship, Liang Yao ordered Mingdi to set sail.

Thirteen steamships at the port of New York sounded shrill whistles, slowly sailed out of New York Port, and sailed south along the coastline.