Chapter 136: A Good Brother I Just Met (750 Subscriptions Plus Extra!)

"His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, eh, Your Excellency the Governor is here too, that's great. I heard that His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor's shipyard has the ability to repair large steamships?"

Hu Jinchen led Le Goff into Liang Yao's study and saw Liang Yao and Robinson in the study.

"It does have the ability to repair large steamships, but warships are not ordinary steamships. My shipyard has not repaired warships yet."

After listening to Legoff's words, Liang Yao had already guessed Legoff's intention.

Liang Yao calculated the time silently in his mind. According to the information provided to him by Sven, the British fleet had already arrived in Hawaii, and it was time for the French navy's fleet to leave.

After the introduction of shipbuilders and machines from the Eastern Shipyard, the maintenance and shipbuilding capabilities of the San Francisco plant have been greatly improved. Now it is not only able to repair large steam ships, but is now trying to independently build small civilian steam ships.

As for repairing warships, it is not impossible. Liang Yao remembered that the shipyard also accepted many flexible employment workers from the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York.

"You are really well-informed." Legoff was a little surprised.

"The abominable British have damaged two of our warships. Your shipyard is the only one nearby that is capable of repairing steam ships. I hope you can help.

General Tromelan wants the damaged ships to be repaired at your shipyard before returning to mainland France. "

"Isn't it a warning shot?" Liang Yao teased.

"A total of five shots were fired, two hits! This is not a warning shot, this is a naked provocation!" Le Goff said angrily, "One of the shots just hit the steam turbine of our Roland!"

"It's worth taking two shots in exchange for the gold and silver treasures of the Kingdom of Hawaii. I heard that General Tromolan stole a lot of good things in Hawaii."

Liang Yao crossed his legs and said.

The Kingdom of Hawaii was completely looted by the French army. Even the private yacht of King Kamehameha III of the Kingdom of Hawaii was robbed by the French to transport supplies.

This wave of French people have made a profit no matter what. They must have grabbed a lot of good things, otherwise they would not be in a hurry to return to their homeland.

"It's not robbery! We are here to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Catholics in the Kingdom of Hawaii and help them establish a democratic system. It's a pity that the damn British disrupted our plan!" Legoff said righteously.

"I'm not a Catholic, and I'm not interested in the democratic system you established in Hawaii. We can try to repair the damaged warships, but my price for repairing the ships is very high." Liang Yao touched his chin, already having a new idea in his mind. .

"The price is good, and the French Republic will remember your help to the French Navy." Le Goff then continued, "General Tromolan hopes that he and his soldiers can go ashore to rest."

"impossible."

Liang Yao directly rejected this unreasonable request without giving it a second thought.

Not to mention letting French navy soldiers go ashore to rest, even French warships, Liang Yao did not intend to let them dock.

"LeGoff, I must solemnly warn you that this is the territory of the United States. We will never allow any foreign fleets and their soldiers to dock, including France! The United States of America is not the Kingdom of Hawaii."

Liang Yao advised Le Goff to give up this idea as soon as possible.

Seeing Liang Yao's resolute attitude, Le Goff knew that there was no room for negotiation on this matter. After thinking for a while, he asked in a pleading tone: "Can General Tromolan and the officers of the fleet be accommodating?"

"The United States does not welcome the French fleet to enter San Francisco, but I personally welcome General Tromolan to be a guest in my manor." Liang Yao's face softened slightly. "I will send a ship to pick up General Tromolan ashore, and the damaged ship will be towed to the shipyard by my tugboat."

Legoff was not very satisfied with this result, but he could only accept it.

General Tromolan's fleet was loaded with gold and silver treasures plundered from the Kingdom of Hawaii. In order to avoid long nights, both Le Goff and Tromolan hoped that the fleet could return to the French mainland as soon as possible.

And with a ship with damaged power, the speed of the entire fleet will be slowed down.

It is taboo to have one's own ships repaired in a foreign country, but now Tromoland does not have many choices. France is not as good as Britain, which has very good ports all over the world.

The only good thing was that the two damaged warships were not cutting-edge and advanced warships, and the fleet's losses were still within the range he could accept.

Gibson also found Liang Yao at this time, hoping that Liang Yao would refuse to provide maintenance services for the French fleet.

Liang Yao's promise to the French to help them repair the damaged ships was just a drunkard's fault. Besides, it was not the British's turn to tell him what to do in California.

Liang Yao righteously rejected Gibson's unreasonable request in front of Le Goff.

Claiming that the French fleet is in trouble, the United States, as a friendly country, should naturally help.

Legoff was greatly moved by this.

Liang Yao asked the port company to dispatch the largest tugboat to tow the damaged French ship into the shipyard.

At the same time, he did not dare to relax and ordered the guards on the dock and the soldiers on the coastal defense artillery turret to strengthen their vigilance to prevent the French fleet from entering the port.

After the two damaged French ships were towed into the shipyard by tugboats, Tromolan also stepped off the damaged Roland.

Liang Yao carefully observed the Roland, a steam-powered wooden frigate with iron sheets wrapped on both sides of the ship to strengthen its defense. The tonnage is estimated to be around 2,000 tons.

Major General Tromelan was born in a French coastal noble family. He is a meticulous person who pays great attention to his image.

His hair is very neatly combed, and his French Navy Rear Admiral uniform looks like it has just been ironed, very smooth, and even his military boots are polished to a shine.

However, it was such a person who ordered the looting of Hawaii. His bright and beautiful appearance could not cover up his robber nature.

"Mr. Deputy Governor, I heard that you are willing to provide assistance to the French fleet. I thank you on behalf of the French Navy."

Tromelan said to Liang Yao with a straight posture.

Liang Yao did not speak French and could not understand what Tromelan was saying. Tromelan did not speak English. Obviously, the two of them could not communicate directly through language.

Although Le Goff's English level was good enough for translation, Liang Yao still hoped to communicate with General Tromelan through his own translation. Liang Yao's subordinates were not short of people who knew French, and the Loyalty Society also had a small number of French members.

Liang Yao found a member who was proficient in English from the Loyalty Society to act as a translator.

After the translator relayed Tromelan's words, Liang Yao, who was wearing the uniform of a colonel of the American Army, smiled and said to Tromelan.

"General, I prefer you to call me Colonel rather than Deputy Governor. I think this will bring us closer."

Tromelan laughed heartily when he heard this, and Liang Yao welcomed Tromelan into Tingtao Garden.

Liang Yao was already familiar with such social events. Tromelan and Le Goff were half drunk by Liang Yao during the drinking.

Liang Yao's alcohol tolerance was not very good, and the reason why he could get Tromelan and Le Goff drunk was also very simple.

He drank different wine from Le Goff and Tromelan. When the two were a little drunk, he simply changed it to water.

At this time, Sven, who came from the shipyard, pretended to tell Liang Yao that with the current maintenance capacity of the San Francisco Shipyard, only one of the slightly damaged French naval warships could be repaired. As for the Roland with damaged power compartment, it would take at least two or three months to repair it.

"General Tromelan, I'm very sorry, I have to tell you a very regrettable news." Liang Yao looked very helpless.

"I heard it all, Colonel Liang, you are willing to help, I really don't know how to thank you." Tromelan said drunkenly.

"I think there must be other ways. We are good friends who just met, brothers. I must do my best to help you." Liang Yao looked very self-blaming.

"It's not your fault, it's all the damned English!" Tromelan took a sip of wine and added, "The haunting English!"

"Yes! It's all the fault of the damned English!" Liang Yao and Tromelan clinked their glasses and then drank the water in the glass.

"Colonel Liang has a good alcohol tolerance!" Tromelan couldn't help but admire.

He was very confident in his alcohol tolerance, but he didn't expect that the young American colonel in front of him could drink so well.

"General, I'd like to ask, how much does the Roland cost?" Liang Yao asked casually.

Among the ships of the French Navy, the Roland is not a particularly advanced warship, and its cost is no secret.

"2.14 million francs." Tromelin asked without hesitation, "Why are you asking this? You are an army colonel, not a navy colonel."

"It's just 2.14 million francs, General. Our friendship is worth more than 2.14 million francs." Liang Yao filled his glass again and said, "General, I have a way to solve your troubles."

The metal coins of pounds, francs and dollars are all made of gold. The exchange rate between them is simply determined by the ratio of their gold content.

Each pound contains 32,227 grams of pure gold, francs are 29,032 grams, and dollars are 504,603 grams.

This exchange rate has been maintained for more than a hundred years, almost throughout the 19th century.

Of course, this refers to metal coins. The value of early paper credit currency is very metaphysical.

The exchange rate between the dollar and the franc is about 1826, which means that the cost of the Roland is about 410,000 US dollars.

"What is the solution?" Tromelin asked expectantly while drunk.

"Isn't it better if I just buy the Roland, this burden?" Liang Yao said very happily.

"Buy the Roland? Colonel Liang, are you kidding me? This is a warship worth 2.14 million francs!" Tromelan looked incredible.

He knew very little about California. Liang Yao could afford to buy ten Rolands.

Le Goff believed Liang Yao's words, and he knew that Liang Yao was not joking.

"It's not worth 2.14 million after depreciation, and now the engine room is damaged, it will cost a lot of money to repair the engine room." Liang Yao said, "We are friends, I will suffer a little loss, and I will use 2 million francs worth of gold to solve your troubles."

"2 million francs worth of gold?" Tromelan's eyes lit up when he heard the gold.

As for how to explain to the Navy Department after returning, although his head is a little unclear now, he still thought of the excuse.

His family was relatively wealthy, but that didn't mean he could resist the temptation of 2 million francs, let alone gold.

This is gold worth 2 million francs, and the profits must be very rich.

Thinking of this, Tromelin and Le Goff couldn't help but feel excited.