Chapter 93: I Really Don’t Want to Be Governor

"Who's outside?"

John frowned, and a figure that he didn't like appeared at the door of the tent.

"It's me, James, sir."

The thin James explained his purpose: "Sir, I'm begging you on behalf of the workers, hoping to get more food rations and shorten our working hours.

Without enough food, there is no sufficient physical strength. High-intensity labor consumes too much physical strength of the workers. Today, three workers fell ill at work due to overwork and exhaustion."

"James, come in and see the food that Mr. Milners and I eat. We share the joys and sorrows with you. Isn't that enough?

Now is an extraordinary period. This is the best treatment I can offer you. You can't find a second employer as generous and kind as us." John showed James his simple food with his big belly.

"Mr. John, we are engaged in high-intensity labor, unlike you." James argued, and he didn't care about offending John at this time. If this continues, more workers will die.

Besides, these nobles have their own chefs and private kitchens. It is not their turn to starve for the time being.

As for sharing the joys and sorrows, that is even more of a lie to fool people. Sharing the joys and sorrows is true, because everyone is indeed living a hard life now. Sharing the joys and sorrows? Will you share the gold you panned from the river with us workers?

"We are all human beings. What's the difference? Go to work, James." John said coldly.

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"Mr. Fremont has written, and Mr. Gwen is on his way to California. Congress has passed the California statehood bill, and California will become the 31st state of the United States."

In Tingtao Garden, Liang Yao announced an exciting news to his comrades.

"Oh, great, thank God, this day has finally arrived." Robinson asked excitedly, "Will it become a free state or a slave state?"

"Free state." Liang Yao replied.

Robinson and the representatives of the gold mining companies from the north were very happy when they learned of the result.

In their view, this is a great victory, a victory of democracy and freedom.

Perhaps at this time, the people of northern states such as New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, etc. thousands of miles away have the same idea as them.

Liang Yao didn't feel anything. Slave states are paradise for plantation owners, and free states are paradise for factory owners and capitalists.

Whether California becomes a free state or a slave state, as long as it can make him rich, it is a good state.

After they celebrated happily, Liang Yao continued to say to them.

"We must hold elections as soon as possible. The governor, deputy governor, speaker of the state assembly, secretary of state, state attorney general, state treasurer, and state auditor must be our people, and we must occupy more seats in the state assembly.

The glory of California was created by us old miners. California can only develop better in our hands."

"I agree with you with both hands. As you said, California is California for Californians. Those damn New Yorkers should go back to their New York!" said Jim, the leader of the old miners' organization.

He is one of the earliest American immigrants in California, and he considers himself an old Californian.

Representatives of other mining companies did not comment and also regarded themselves as Californians.

Because they understood what the identity of Californians could bring to them.

In fact, there were no Californians. Everyone had just immigrated to California for gold. It was gold that brought them together.

Eastern newspapers even joked that miners came to California in 1949, prostitutes came to California in 1950, they slept together, and then there were Californians. This was used to mock the so-called Californians.

Little did they know that seventy or eighty years ago, the British on the other side of the Atlantic also laughed at Americans in this way, believing that the so-called Americans did not exist.

"Mr. Liang, you have made great contributions to the prosperity of California. I think no one is more suitable than you to be the first governor of California! The votes in the hands of us electors belong to you."

Stanford was the first to stand up and say.

"Yes, Mr. Liang is the first governor of California!"

"Who is more suitable to be the governor of California than Mr. Liang?"

"California will definitely become more prosperous under Mr. Liang's management!"

Everyone said that Liang Yao should be the first governor of California.

The attitude of the white representatives is still like this, not to mention the representatives of Chinese immigrants.

However, Liang Yao has other ideas. He does not plan to be the governor for the time being. This is not because he does not love power.

It is because the sudden appearance of a Chinese governor in California is bound to set off a storm in the American political arena.

At this time, Congress is still discussing whether to recognize the land grant from the Mexican government in California. To put it bluntly, this bill is aimed at him.

He is now at the forefront of Congress. I don't know how many eyes are staring at him. It is not a wise choice to be the governor of California at this time.

In comparison, Liang Yao prefers to serve as lieutenant governor. First of all, the lieutenant governor is the first successor to the governor (in the five states without a lieutenant governor, when the governor steps down before the term of office expires, the secretary of state or the president of the state senate takes over. , but many of these states have not yet been established. These five states are: Arizona, Oregon, Wyoming, Maine and New Hampshire).

Secondly, the lieutenant governor can also serve as the speaker of the state Senate.

Thirdly, the votes and public opinion of California voters are in his hands. If he wants to be governor, he only needs to use some means to get the current governor to step down, even skipping the election.

No matter who becomes this governor, he will be the one who actually controls California.

However, he definitely wants to be the lieutenant governor. No matter how busy he is, he must be the lieutenant governor. He must set an example for Chinese immigrants, lead by example, and encourage them to actively participate in California politics.

"Thank you for your support. I have little talent and no experience in politics. I cannot take on the position of governor." Liang Yao declined very humbly.

As soon as Liang Yao said this, the representatives exploded.

If Liang Yao is not the governor, who will be? Who dares to do it?

There is no other rich country gentleman in California who can rival Liang Yao in power.

As for the local celebrities and nobles, they don't even exist. They all come from humble backgrounds and are all nouveau riche. Don't look down on anyone.

If you don’t choose Liang Yao, why should you choose representatives of the old New York aristocratic consortium in Sacramento who want to take away their land and gold?

Choose yourself? It is also impossible that no one here except Liang Yao can get enough votes to serve as governor unless he has the support and funding of Liang Yao.

"Brother Lin, what kind of medicine do you think Mr. Liang is selling in his gourd?"

Chen Baoliang, a representative of the Chen clan in Quanzhou, asked Lin Taiwei, a representative of the Lin clan in Fuzhou, for help.

Lin Taiwei has read books, so he must be more knowledgeable than him and understand the mystery.

Representatives of several Guangdong clans also gathered around, wanting to hear Lin Taiwei's opinion.

"Do you know how to persuade me to come in?" Lin Taiwei said pretending to be mysterious.

"Encouraging people to come in?" The clan leaders asked in confusion.

"When the new emperor ascends the throne, the ministers have to come three times to persuade him to join the throne. The new emperor will refuse the first and second times to show his humility. Only the third time will he reluctantly agree to ascend the throne. It is just to go through the motions and look good. Some."

Lin Taiwei stroked his beard and said, "Master Liang is a man who wants to do great things. How can he be like those ordinary people who just accept what others say?"

"That's the theory, but it was in the Qing Dynasty. The United States also practiced this method? I heard that the United States does not have an emperor." Chen Baoliang was still puzzled.

"Then let's also persuade Young Master Liang to come in. Only Young Master Liang can make the decision for us in this world. If we don't choose Young Master Liang as our home in California, who else can we choose?"

Huang Yiming, a representative of the Huang ethnic group in Xiangshan, Guangdong, said.