1850 American Gold Tycoon

This damn "freedom" and "democracy" smells so damn sweet.

In the Qing Dynasty, only in special periods, such as the Taiping Rebellion not long after, did the local government allow local gentry to organize and train regiments for self-protection under the supervision of central officials.

It was unimaginable for the Qing Dynasty to allow local gentry to prepare a regular army on their own during peacetime. If the local gentry privately trained a large-scale armed force and the court found out, not only would they be stabbed in the neck, but the court would also thoughtfully provide a set of tools to punish the Nine Tribes. of packages.

The size of the regular American Army in the mid-19th century was not large.

During the Mexican-American War, the U.S. Army once expanded to 25 regiments. This was the largest number of U.S. Army regiments in recent years. These regiment-level units included the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1 Rifle Regiment, and 4 Dragoon Regiments (including the 16th Infantry Regiment). 3. The 4th Dragoon Regiment is a dragoon regiment temporarily formed during wartime) and 4 artillery regiments.

Of course, not all of these infantry regiments are standing regiments, more than half are infantry regiments and volunteer regiments.

Since the service period of American volunteer units was only one year, many volunteer regiments had disbanded and returned home early before the war was over.

Anyway, the war was fought in Mexico and could not reach their hometown.

As for making contributions, it has nothing to do with ordinary soldiers and low-level officers like them. Only a few mid-level and senior officers are eligible to receive medals and receive so-called honorary promotions.

If junior officers want to be promoted, it is more realistic to have a good relationship with the colonel. After all, the promotion of junior officers is often just a matter of a word from the colonel.

After the war, the United States, whose economy was in depression, was unable to afford huge military expenditures and eliminated several unnecessary regiments. According to the information collected by Liang Yao, the number of regiment-level military units owned by the American Army at this time was fifteen.

Although the size of the U.S. Army is pitiful compared to the size of the United States, due to the simple folk customs of the United States, the combat effectiveness of the militia and civilian armed forces is very impressive.

When war approaches, the United States will mobilize civilian armed forces to form militia groups and volunteer groups to mix with the regular army.

The combat effectiveness of the mixed troops is quite impressive, at least it is more than enough to defeat weak neighbors like Mexico, and the Indians are even more capable of killing chickens with a sledgehammer.

The United States did not have overseas colonies at this time, and the domestic defense pressure was not great. Naturally, there was no need to maintain a large army.

The regiment was the main permanent establishment of the United States during this period. Not only the United States, but also the main permanent combat unit of the European powers at this time.

The American Army's conscription system is similar to that of the United Kingdom, which also allows local gentry with power and financial resources to organize infantry regiments on their own.

The difference is that Britain has a vast number of colonies to rule. In addition to maintaining the most powerful navy in the world, Britain also has to maintain a relatively large army. It not only meets the needs of colonial garrison troops, but also needs to maintain control over the European powers. of deterrence.

American colonels and officers above the colonel need to be appointed by the government. As for the appointment of officers below the colonel, the appointment is quite arbitrary and is left to the colonel's discretion.

Under normal circumstances, in addition to appointing his cronies as lieutenant colonels and majors to assist him, a colonel will also recruit some young talents from military academies to join his infantry regiment to serve as grassroots officers or even school-level officers.

This can keep the army loyal to itself while also ensuring that its troops have a certain combat effectiveness. For example, Colonel Mason's right-hand man, Sherman, was an outstanding graduate of West Point Military Academy.

Of course, there are also some relatively unconventional troops who directly mark the prices of officers at all levels and sell them publicly.

Isaac, a former British Army instructor hired by Liang Yao, had his military rank purchased directly with British pounds.

This is why even though there is only one level difference between a colonel and a lieutenant colonel, their statuses are worlds apart.

With the appointment of the gentlemen from the Ministry of War, Liang Yao can now legitimately expand his armed forces without having to hide them.

Under normal circumstances, an American regiment is composed of ten infantry companies, and the number of soldiers fluctuates around a thousand, which will not differ too much.

It is only an extremely rare phenomenon that an infantry regiment deserted like Griffin and only four or five infantry companies were left.

Liang Yao's escort team only has a total of 250 people, including the 100 new recruits they have just recruited, and there is still a lot of room for expansion.

Liang Yao asked Hu Jinchen to put down the work at hand for the time being and notify Sartre and the leaders of the gold mining companies who were close to him to come to Tingtao Garden to hold an emergency meeting.

He did not intend to wait until Grain and War Department appointees arrived in California to expand the army.

From Fremont's letter, he already knew that there was a high probability that Congress would not recognize the Mexican government's land grant.

Colonel Mason, who is stationed on the US-Mexico border, heard that his troops have good combat effectiveness.

This troop was like a sword hanging over his head, making him feel uncomfortable all over, fearing that the sword would fall down at any time and pierce his head.

He planned to use Colonel Mason's troops as the imaginary enemy and quickly form an infantry regiment with acceptable combat effectiveness to ensure that his interests in California would not be damaged.

Liang Yao was thinking about military expansion. Kony, who had just taken a shower and put on clean clothes, walked into his study with wet hair.

"Kony, your hair and beard need to be trimmed. I don't want my assistant to look like a beggar."

Liang Yao raised his eyes and looked at Kony. He disliked Kony's current image.

"I want to, but I have no money. Can you take pity on me and advance my salary for the next month?"

Kony found a random sofa to sit down on, and without any politeness asked the maid to prepare a snack for him to fill his stomach.

"Next month's salary? Your internship period is two months. There is no salary during the internship period. You can only get salary after the third month of working for me."

"Two months of internship? So black-hearted?" Kony stood up excitedly.

"Black heart? As far as I know, the probationary period for employees of your father's company starts with one quarter, which is three months. During the probationary period, they have to provide for their own food and accommodation. Compared with your father, I have a conscience that I can no longer I have a clear conscience." Liang Yao thought for a while and said, "I have a private barber. I will ask him to cut your hair and trim your beard tomorrow. The related expenses will be directly deducted from your salary."

"Black-hearted capitalists!" Kony said angrily.

"You are the son of America's largest capitalist."

This sentence coming from the mouth of a big capitalist's son made Liang Yao dumbfounded.

"I would like to apply to be transferred to the Sacramento branch of Bank of America, even if I am asked to be a teller." Coney said with reason.

"You are too capable. A waste like me is not qualified to be your assistant. Only a top personal assistant like Nigel is qualified to be your assistant. I have studied various banking businesses in business school. I want the bank to be your assistant." The job is more suitable for me.”

"Koni, don't think that I don't know what you are thinking, no way!" Liang Yao interrupted Kony rudely.

"I also know that your cousin doesn't like my type. He likes mature and reliable men like Dr. Robinson, but I am ready to change my mind. I think there is still a chance between us." Kony continued to talk. .

"Changing one's mind is not just about words, it must be put into action."

"In exchange, how about I match you up with Elizabeth? I grew up with Elizabeth, I know her very well, and she has a crush on you.

You also seem to be a trustworthy person, unlike Clark. I know very well that Clark did not marry Louise because of love, but because he was greedy for the money of our Vanderbilt family. "

As Coney thought about Clark, he also thought about his annoying brothers-in-law.

Coney hopes that Elizabeth will not follow in the footsteps of her sisters, marry the person she likes, and live happily, instead of being like his other sisters who finally followed their parents' arrangements and married someone they don't really like. people.

He even felt that his sisters should not just hide in the corner with their mother and wipe their tears, but should bravely stand up to resist his father's tyrannical rule of the family like him.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll hand you over to Stanford!" Liang Yao glared at the talkative Kony viciously, feeling that he deserved a beating.