1850 American Gold Tycoon

"Your Majesty the Governor, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Liang Yao met with Hong Kong Governor Bonham in Pontianak City.

Bonham was born into a prominent family in Kent, England. His family made a fortune in the slave trade in their early years.

But Wen Xian's decent manners, meticulous attire, and air of a British aristocrat make it difficult to associate him with the image of a hardworking businessman.

This is also a true portrayal of many British nobles, who look glamorous and polite on the surface.

But their ancestors, including themselves, all made their fortunes by operating shady businesses, and few of the sources of the first pot of gold were clean.

In his early years, Bonham served as a scribe for the British East India Company in Sumatra. He soon served in Singapore and briefly served as the Governor of the Straits, in charge of colonial affairs in Malacca and Singapore.

Bonham's rich work experience in Southeast Asia made him familiar with Southeast Asian countries, and even knew the specific conditions of his competitor, the Dutch East India Company.

"Since ancient times, heroes have been born in youth. Wen is lucky to meet America's youngest general." Wen Xian said with a bright smile.

Liang Yao wouldn't be too surprised if Wenxian talked to him in Chinese.

After all, there are many China experts in the UK, and there are also many senior executives of the British East India Company who can speak Chinese.

But Wen Xian spoke fluent Cantonese, and it didn't sound awkward, which surprised Liang Yao.

Wen Xian's smile was very kind, giving people a friendly feeling.

Liang Yao knew that this was just an illusion. During his tenure as the governor of Hong Kong, Bonham also served as the minister plenipotentiary to China and the commercial director in China. And he did these jobs better than his predecessors.

Such a person is by no means an easy character to get along with.

"Your Excellency, Governor, please sit down. I believe that Your Excellency, the Governor has come all the way to Pontianak and is not here to talk to me about this."

Without reaching out to hit the smiling man, Liang Yao also smiled and invited Wen Xian to sit down and ordered someone to serve Wen Xian tea.

"I am deeply surprised that the American authorities suddenly sent troops to Borneo. I wonder why you provoked a dispute with the Netherlands for no reason?" Bonham said intentionally or unintentionally.

After speaking, Wenxian paid attention to Liang Yao's reaction.

"Why did the British Empire declare war on the Qing Dynasty without any reason or warning?" Liang Yao asked calmly.

"Of course it is to protect the safety of the people of the British Empire in China and to defend the British Empire's right to free trade." Wen Xian replied without thinking.

“In this case, our purpose is the same as that of the British Empire. The purpose of sending troops to Borneo is to protect the safety of American citizens doing business in Borneo and the right to free trade.

The Dutch and Indian authorities have massacred our American expatriates not once or twice. We have warned them several times, but they still turned a deaf ear. I think if your government encountered this situation, it would not stand idly by. "

Liang Yao took a sip of tea and said.

"As far as I know, there are no American immigrants in West Borneo," Bonham said with a frown.

The reason given by Liang Yao seemed a bit weak to Wenxian.

Liang Yao didn't panic. He looked directly into Wen Xian's eyes and asked Wen Xian.

"Your Majesty the Governor, do you think I look more like an immigrant from the Qing Dynasty or an immigrant from the United States?"

Wenxian was speechless for a moment.

On the surface, Liang Yao naturally looks more like an expatriate from the Qing Dynasty, but that's only on the surface.

Bonham suddenly realized that there were not only Yankees and Dixies in America now, but also Chinese immigrants on the West Coast, who were already a force that could not be underestimated.

"Of course the American generals are Americans, hahaha." Wen Xian laughed to resolve the awkward atmosphere.

"Your Majesty the Governor, I think the reason for our sending troops to Borneo is not your biggest concern."

After playing Tai Chi with Wen Xian for a while and saying a few polite words, Liang Yao got to the topic of the conversation.

"Compared with these unimportant issues, I think you are more concerned about the Brooke Dynasty in Sarawak."

The Brooke Dynasty in Sarawak, a "dynasty" established by the British, was a protectorate of the British Empire. It was also the starting point of British colonization of North Borneo and was the core interest of the British Empire in Borneo.

The Brooke Dynasty is not so much a dynasty as a colonial stronghold of the British Empire in North Borneo.

"What do you think of the Brooke Dynasty?" Wenxian was somewhat looking forward to Liang Yao's attitude towards the Brooke Dynasty.

“As long as your country safeguards the rights and interests of expatriates and free trade, we also support your country’s legal rule over Sarawak, trade, and joint development of these barren lands.”

As he spoke, Liang Yao asked Deng Wenkang to get the map, took out the pen in his breast pocket, and after some thought, he drew a circle in the Sarawak area on the map that was slightly larger than the actual control area of ​​the Brooke Dynasty.

Wenxian was not very opposed to the division drawn by Liang Yao, nor was he very satisfied.

Wen Xian shook his head, then pointed to the Sultanate of Brunei on the map and said: "West Borneo belongs to you, North Borneo belongs to the Brooke Dynasty, and we will no longer care about the ownership of South Borneo and East Borneo. "

Bonham hoped to bring the entire North Borneo region under the rule of the British Empire.

The issue of North Borneo's ownership has touched upon Liang Yao's core interests.

This time, California's top officials are willing to organize armed forces to follow Liang Yao in the expedition to Borneo. The most important reason is for the oil in North Borneo.

If Borneo was taken over by the British, Liang Yao would not be able to explain to California's top management.

On the issue of whose sphere of influence North Borneo belongs to, Liang Yao will never give in.

"Your country has acquired tens of thousands of square kilometers of land without sending a single soldier. I think you can also explain it to Her Majesty the Queen.

If you are negotiating with representatives of the Dutch and Indian authorities now, I think Batavia will never offer such generous terms. What they want is the entire island of Borneo. "Liang Yao said very seriously.

"Furthermore, the Sultanate of Brunei is still there, and its strength surpasses all the chiefdoms. I heard that the Brooke Dynasty did not gain much advantage in fighting the Sultanate of Brunei. It is too early to talk about the ownership of North Borneo. .”

Britain is now mired in the Crimean War, and issues in the Far East and Southeast Asia are not the focus of Britain's attention.

The reason why Liang Yao chose to send troops to Borneo at this time was because Britain and France were deeply involved in the Crimean War and could not free their hands to interfere too much in the affairs of East Asia and Southeast Asia.

"What do you mean?" Wen Xian asked, staring at the map.

The sphere of influence defined by Liang Yao could indeed give Wenxian a satisfactory explanation for London, but he and London wanted more territory.

No country would consider its territory and colonies too small.

“First come first served.”

Liang Yao also stared at the North Borneo area on the map and said.

Wenxian didn't know what medicine Liang Yao was selling in his gourd, but he was very satisfied with the answer.

Liang Yao now wants to fight the Dutch and Indian authorities. Bonham does not believe that Liang Yao can divide his troops to conquer the Brunei Sultanate when his troops are stretched thin.

Liang Yao's ideas coincided with Bonham's. Liang Yao also believed that Britain was unable to send troops to conquer North Borneo at this time.

Britain has countless colonies around the world, which can be an advantage, but at some times, it is also a disadvantage.

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