1850 American Gold Tycoon

"There was no outbreak of cholera or other epidemics in your military camp?" Tromo asked.

The military camp of the Western Brigade is so clean that it doesn't look like a military camp.

Compared with the strong and tidy military camp of the Western Brigade, the French military camp can be described as a pig pen.

What's even more terrible are the military camps on the French front line. These military camps are even worse than pigsties, such as the French military camps on the Crimean Peninsula.

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

The Western Brigade has stricter internal affairs requirements, so the health conditions of the officers and soldiers of the Western Brigade are much better than those of other armies.

Of course, sufficient supplies of supplies are also an important reason why the Western Brigade can ensure basic hygiene.

They had enough building materials to build a military camp, enough blankets and uniforms for a change of clothes, and enough soap for cleaning.

In the tropics, not paying attention to cleanliness is a very serious matter.

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

As for cholera, Liang Yao already had experience in successfully preventing and controlling cholera four or five years ago. As long as the soldiers are provided with clean drinking water and food, the spread of cholera in the military camp can be prevented.

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

For example, providing clean drinking water and food to frontline soldiers during wartime was difficult for even the British and French armies to do, let alone the armies of other countries.

"A very serious cholera outbreak occurred in the coalition military camps on the Crimean Peninsula. Our army was almost organized into regiments and lost combat effectiveness. This large-scale non-combat attrition is very fatal to us.

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

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

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

During the Crimean War, according to statistics from both Britain and France, the number of people who died from cholera was higher than the number who died from war.

"Cholera is serious in the coalition military camps. I guess the situation of the Russian army is not much better than that of the coalition forces." Liang Yao said with a smile, "I am very optimistic about the war prospects of the coalition forces. I believe that French men can conquer Russia's shame with one blood and win This war.”

"But those gray livestock of the Tsar are cheaper than our soldiers. They have millions of gray livestock!" Tromulan emphasized, "Your Majesty pities his soldiers! He hopes to reduce the casualties of the soldiers as much as possible."

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

This was France's biggest war bet since the Congress of Vienna, and the military field was not Napoleon III's strength.

Napoleon III did not know how much casualties the current French army could bear, nor how much war-weariness the frontline casualties 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 quite smooth." Liang Yao said.

"It was relatively smooth, but the price we paid was also high." Trot suddenly got to the point.

"I heard that you have experience in successfully preventing cholera. California has many experts in preventing cholera. It would be great if you are willing to help. Of course, we are also willing to pay generous remuneration for the medical services provided by California. "

California was the first place in the world to successfully prevent and control cholera, and most of California's high-quality medical resources were integrated by Liang Yao in big cities including San Francisco.

This allowed Tromoran to see the possibility of California providing medical assistance to the coalition forces.

"Do you think I am short of money?" Liang Yao said with a smile.

"Then what do you want?" Troo asked with some anxiety.

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

"Do you want a warship? If you want a warship, you can place an order with our shipyard. They welcome a big customer like you." Tromoran spread his hands in embarrassment and said.

The Roland was sold to Liang Yao four years ago. It was because the Roland was damaged at the time, and Tromo made a favor and sold the Roland to Liang Yao.

Of course, the most important reason was that the price offered by Liang Yao was so attractive that Tromoran could not find a reason to refuse.

Today's California is no longer the California it was four years ago. Tromoran just visited 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 find He bought warships.

Tromo couldn't figure out what kind of medicine Liang Yao was selling in this gourd.

Could it be that Liang Yao wanted to use his warship for free?

Thinking of this, Tromo couldn't help but become vigilant.

The last time he sold the Roland, he himself had already caused criticism in the Navy Department. If he sold it to Liang Yao's current warship this time, he might not be able to explain it to the Navy Department.

"What I need is 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 account 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 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 many unique shipbuilding experiences, and there was much 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, and even Hong Kong in the far east where the degree of colonization is low.

These places are either densely populated and relatively economically developed, or they are rich in mineral resources and can provide large blood transfusions for 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 swallowed 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 and apologized 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 should we 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, walking 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 have always attached 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! "

Freemont watched Liang Yao's self-directed and self-acted drama and was stunned for a moment. This kid didn't do a speech drama, which is really a great loss to the American drama industry.

"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 it 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." Troo silently showed a bright smile like 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."

()

1 second remember network: