Chapter 429: Friends of the French People

"Has there been an outbreak of cholera or other diseases in your barracks?" Tromeran asked.

The barracks of the Western Brigade are so clean that they don't look like barracks.

Compared with the Western Brigade's neat and tidy barracks, the French barracks can be described as pig sty.

What's even worse is the French barracks on the front line, which are not even as good as pig sty, such as the French barracks in the Crimea Peninsula.

"Do you want cholera to break out in my barracks?" Liang Yao asked with a smile.

The Western Brigade has strict requirements for housekeeping, so the hygiene of the officers and soldiers of the Western Brigade is much better than that of other armies.

Of course, sufficient supply of materials is also an important reason why the Western Brigade can ensure basic hygiene.

They have enough building materials to build barracks, enough blankets and military uniforms for washing, and enough soap for cleaning.

In tropical areas, not paying attention to cleanliness is a very fatal thing.

This is the concept that Liang Yao instilled in all officers and soldiers before the expedition, so the Western Brigade attaches great importance to housekeeping.

As for cholera, Liang Yao had already had successful experience in preventing and controlling cholera four or five years ago. As long as soldiers were provided with clean drinking water and food, cholera could be prevented from spreading in the barracks.

These requirements seem very simple, but it is not easy to do them.

For example, providing clean drinking water and food to frontline soldiers during wartime was difficult for even the British and French armies at that time, not to mention the armies of other countries.

"The coalition's barracks on the Crimean Peninsula suffered from very serious cholera. Our army almost lost its combat effectiveness in an organized manner, regiment by regiment. This large-scale non-combat casualties is very fatal to us.

You know, the cost of deploying troops to the Near East is much higher than that of Tsarist Russia." Tromeran said worriedly.

"Many soldiers of the coalition did not die on the battlefield, but died of cholera and related epidemics."

In the mid-19th century when cholera was rampant, the number of people who died from cholera was far greater than the number of people who died directly in the war.

According to statistics from both Britain and France, the number of people who died of cholera in the Crimean War was higher than the number of people who died in battle.

"The coalition army camp had serious cholera, and the Russian army must be no better than the coalition army." Liang Yao smiled, "I am very optimistic about the coalition's war prospects. I believe that French men can avenge the shame of the expedition to Russia and win this war."

"But those Tsar's gray animals are cheaper than our soldiers. They have millions of gray animals!" Tromeran emphasized, "Your Majesty pities his soldiers! I hope to reduce the casualties of the soldiers as much as possible."

Napoleon III did not pity the lives of French soldiers, but his political future.

This was the biggest war gamble France had made since the Vienna Conference, and the military field was not Napoleon III's forte.

Napoleon III did not know how many casualties the current French army could bear, nor did he know how much war-weariness the casualties on the front line could bring to the homeland.

He hoped to minimize the casualties of the French army on the Crimean front so that the French army could maintain high morale and finally win the war.

"According to the intelligence I have seen, the coalition's current progress is relatively smooth." Liang Yao said.

"Yes, it is relatively smooth, but the price we paid is also very high." Tromeran cut to the point.

"I heard that you have successful experience in preventing and treating cholera. There are many experts in preventing cholera in California. If you are willing to help, it would be great. Of course, we are also willing to pay generous rewards for the medical services provided by California."

California is the first place in the world to successfully prevent and treat cholera, and most of California's high-quality medical resources have been integrated by Liang Yao in large cities headed by San Francisco.

This made Tromeran see the possibility of California providing medical assistance to the coalition.

"Do you think I look like a person who is short of money?" Liang Yao smiled.

"Then you want it?" Tromeran asked a little nervously.

"I heard that your Pacific Fleet has added several new ships in the past two years?" Liang Yao said casually.

"You want a warship? If you want a warship, you can place an order with our shipyard. They welcome big customers like you." Tromeran said with great embarrassment.

The reason why the Roland was sold to Liang Yao four years ago was because the Roland was damaged at that time, and Tromeran did a favor and sold the Roland to Liang Yao.

Of course, the most important reason was that the price Liang Yao offered was too tempting, and Tromeran really couldn't find a reason to refuse.

California is no longer the California of four years ago. Tromeran had just been to California not long ago. California now has a fairly developed shipbuilding industry, which can not only manufacture civilian ships, but also advanced steam warships. Liang Yao has no need to buy warships from him.

Tromeran couldn't figure out what Liang Yao was up to.

Could it be that Liang Yao wanted to [prostitute] his warship for free?

Thinking of this, Tromeran couldn't help but become alert.

The last time he sold the Roland, he had already caused controversy in the Navy Department. If he sold Liang Yao an active warship this time, he might not be able to explain to the Navy Department.

"I need an active warship for emergency use. If you are willing to help me, I guarantee that your trip will be worthwhile and you will be able to give a good explanation to His Majesty Napoleon III." Liang Yao said with a smile.

The shipyards in California are capable of producing world-leading steam warships, but their production capacity is limited, and Liang Yao has not yet been able to produce warships like dumplings.

During this expedition to Borneo, Liang Yao suffered extremely limited losses on land, and more losses were at sea.

Liang Yao needed ready-made warships to consolidate the results he had achieved, so that the Dutch authorities and other powers who wanted to get involved in the Borneo Road would give up.

Of course, Liang Yao also wanted to deepen his understanding of French warships.

In the 19th century, an era when shipbuilding technology was changing rapidly, the French still had a lot of unique shipbuilding experience, and there was a lot worth learning from Liang Yao.

"this"

Tromoran was obviously shaken, but he was still hesitant and could not make up his mind.

Liang Yao turned to Deng Wenkang and said, "Wenkang, get the map."

Soon, Deng Wenkang brought a map of Borneo Island.

Liang Yao drew a small circle in the Sarawak area on the map, and Tromulan said with a smile on his back: "Your Excellency, although your fleet is the Pacific Fleet, France lacks a good port with potential in the Pacific region. "

Tromolan was shocked when he heard this.

He stared at Liang Yao in great surprise, then moved closer to the map and took a magnifying glass to carefully examine the small circle Liang Yao drew in Sarawak.

Although this little circle on the coast is small, it is enough to make Tromeland, and even the whole of France, feel excited.

The first stop for France's colonization of Southeast Asia was Cambodia, and the signing of the Franco-Cambodian Treaty was in 1864. As for France's colonization of Vietnam, it was all after the Sino-French War.

France has not yet colonized Southeast Asia, and Vietnam is still one of the important vassal states of the Qing Dynasty.

France had not yet acquired a colony capable of establishing a foothold in Southeast Asia.

Unlike the British Empire, which had colonies all over the world, France was the second colonial power.

But the difference between the two is not as simple as a ranking.

What kind of colony does Britain occupy?

South Africa, Egypt, India, Australia, Canada, even in the Far East where the degree of colonization is low, there is Hong Kong.

These places are either densely populated and relatively economically developed, or they are rich in mineral resources and can provide large blood transfusions to the British mainland.

What land does France occupy?

North Africa, West Africa, Syria, Madagascar, French Guyana, and several small islands in the Pacific.

The quality of these colonies was obviously not comparable to that of the British colonies.

As far as Liang Yao knew, although Tromoran's Pacific Fleet had several small naval ports on small islands in the Pacific, these small military ports were at best supply points for the French Pacific Fleet.

If the ship encounters any problems, it will be towed to Guyana for repairs.

Take the Roland four or five years ago as an example. As long as the French navy's military port on a small island in the Pacific has certain maintenance capabilities, Tromo will not have to sell the Roland to Liang Yao.

When they invaded Hawaii, their ultimate goal was to obtain a good military port. Unfortunately, this matter was disrupted by the British in the end.

Tromo couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. He looked at Liang Yao in disbelief: "Seriously?"

"When have I ever joked with you?" Liang Yao asked.

Freemont on the side couldn't hold back anymore when he saw this. He bowed silently to apologize to Trot with fiery eyes, then pulled Liang Yao aside and spoke to Liang Yao in a low voice.

"The island of Borneo was bought with the blood of our soldiers. France has not made any contribution in this matter. Now you actually want to give them a piece of land?"

Liang Yao wanted to give a piece of land in Sarawak to the Frenchman, which made Fremont feel a little psychologically unbalanced.

Fremont objected.

"I am being generous to others." Liang Yao said with a smile, "The border between us and the British in Sarawak is still a very vague concept."

"If we do this, I'm afraid we will be angry with the British." Fremont said with some worry, "The British are not the Dutch, and they are not so easy to offend."

"That's better than angering the British and the French at the same time." Liang Yao said with a sigh.

"The alliance between Britain and France is too much for even Tsarist Russia, let alone us. Furthermore, the war in the Near East will eventually end. If the British want to compete with us for the North Borneo region, or even the entire island of Borneo, then we will What to do? Have you thought about it?”

"Are you trying to use the French to contain the British?" Fremont still frowned.

The problem that Liang Yao is worried about is also the problem that worries him the most.

With the ambition of the British, they would definitely not be willing to occupy only a corner of Sarawak.

After the Dutch forces were expelled from the island of Borneo, they and the British were the only forces on the island.

"It's not about containment. I just don't want the British and the French to wear the same pants on the Borneo issue." Liang Yao patted Fremont's arm and said to Fremont in a comforting tone.

"Don't worry, I'm a businessman and I won't do business at a loss. This land is only temporarily lent to us by the French, and it will be taken back sooner or later."

"Take it back? How to take it back?" Fremont shook his head helplessly.

"It depends on how California and the United States develop in the future." Liang Yao said seriously.

Although California has achieved some results in its development in recent years, compared with these old colonial powers, their power is still too weak.

These colonial countries are like a gang, and Britain and France are the talkers of this gang. Whether Liang Yao can occupy Borneo Island for a long time still depends on the faces of these two talkers.

"You make the decision. No matter what decision you make, I will support you. I believe the choice you make is the one that is most beneficial to us." Fremont finally gave Liang Yao enough trust, but Again oppose the decision made by Liang Yao.

Liang Yao nodded, walked up to Tromoran again, and said to Tromoran: "I'm sorry, Sir, but Mr. Freemont and I have some differences about this matter?"

"Have you taken back your decision?" Trot regretted it silently.

Liang Yao shrugged helplessly. He paced back and forth for a long time, seemingly caught in a dilemma.

Finally, when Tromoran walked up to Tromoran with disappointed and expectant eyes, he gritted his teeth and said to Tromoran very firmly: "General, you know that as an American, I always attach great importance to peace and harmony. French friendship. Although I have differences with Mr. Fremont, this matter is my decision! No one can affect our rock-solid friendship.

As long as you are willing to provide us with three active warships of over 1,000 tons, put pressure on the Dutch and let them sign the contract as soon as possible. The land within this circle belongs to you, to France! "

Fremont watched Liang Yao's self-directed and self-acted drama and was stunned for a moment. It was a great loss to the American drama industry that this kid didn't do a speaking drama.

"Your Excellency is really a good friend of our French people." Trot silently held Liang Yao's hand with tears of gratitude.

He glanced at the rank of Major General on his shoulder and felt extremely excited.

If they can reach this agreement, Tromo will have exceeded the task assigned to him by Napoleon III, and he will be able to add another star to his military rank!

Of course, Tromo also knew that this matter was far from as simple as it seemed, and Liang Yao would not give him a piece of land for no reason.

But only cheese is tempting enough. Even if the hungry mouse knows that this is the piece of cheese on the mouse trap, the hungry mouse will not hesitate to pounce on this delicious piece of cheese.

France's Pacific Fleet is this hungry rat. They are really eager to get a good port in the Pacific.

"Of course, we are friends." Liang Yao picked up two glasses of poured wine, handed one to Tromoran, and kept the other for himself.

He raised his glass and clinked it with Tromoran, his old friend.

"May the friendship between America and France always be long-lasting and indestructible, cheers!"

"And for the friendship between you and me, cheers." Trot showed a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum and drank the wine in one gulp.

After drinking the glass of friendship wine, Tromo immediately put down the glass, rubbed his hands excitedly, and said impatiently: "Your Excellency, let's sign the contract now."