Chapter 163: Meeting a Match

The Mexican territory that the railroad from Los Angeles to Houston passed through was the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Google search reading

The Gadsden Purchase covers approximately 70,000 square kilometers of land located on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico.

Historically, the United States spent $10 million to purchase 70,000 square kilometers of land on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico to build a railroad from California to Texas.

After the Mexican-American War, the United States only paid US$15 million in compensation to obtain 2.3 million square kilometers of land in Mexico. In comparison, spending US$10 million to purchase 70,000 square kilometers of land was indeed a huge expense.

In fact, when it came to the Gadsden land purchase, the United States initially had a huge appetite and intended to purchase a total of 130,000 square kilometers of territory in five northern Mexican states and the Baja California peninsula for US$50 million.

The area of ​​these territories accounted for approximately 42% of the total area of ​​Mexico at that time.

Although Santa Ana, the then President of Mexico, was a strange dictator who came to power eleven times, with a longest term of one year and sixteen days and a shortest term of thirteen days, he also knew that he wanted to sell Mexican territory in this way and bear the reputation of being a traitor. , your life will be at risk.

Coupled with the poor diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico at the time, the complex political situation within Mexico and the intervention of European forces, the ambitious land purchase plan of the United States eventually went bankrupt.

But in the end, the United States purchased 70,000 square meters of land on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million.

The reason why Mexico is willing to sell land is also very simple: no money.

Mexican President Santa Anna needs American dollars to support the army to maintain order in Mexico and suppress opposition resistance.

Since I can’t sell all of it, I will sell a little bit, just 70,000 square kilometers.

For a military dictator like President Santa Anna whose rule has an unstable foundation, internal worries are the real scourge compared to America's foreign aggression.

It can be said that Mexico’s destiny as a great country was completely betrayed by the selfish dictators, bureaucratic politicians and big landowners of Mexico in the 19th century.

The 70,000 square kilometers of land purchased by Gadsden is mainly in the relatively flat area south of the Gila River, which is very suitable for building railways. It is the most convenient area for establishing transportation corridors in California and Texas.

Yuma, Tucson, and El Paso, well-known cities in later Arizona, were located on the Gadsden Purchase.

If the Gadsden purchase can be facilitated, California and Texas will undoubtedly be the biggest beneficiaries.

It's a pity that although the United States has great state rights, it has no diplomatic rights. No matter how much Liang Yao expands, he can't directly bypass the U.S. government and negotiate land purchases with Mexico.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the federal government still needs to come forward to purchase land from Mexico.

Of course, the prerequisite for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come forward is to convince Congress and the President, at least to convince the President.

There is also the matter of the Pacific Railway, which also requires permission from the federal government. This railway spans the territories of several territories. Without the support and permission of the federal government, even if he has explored the route, he cannot build it.

Therefore, it is necessary for Liang Yao to take a trip to the east to lobby these eastern politicians.

The current president Fillmore's term is only until 1853. Liang Yao can support Fillmore's re-election, but he cannot guarantee whether Fillmore can be successfully re-elected.

With his energy, he can control the political arena in California at will, but it is undoubtedly a fantasy to control the political arena in the United States.

It would be safer to do what he wants to do during Fillmore's term. He doesn't want to pin his future on the vague next president.

"Has your company registered a patent for the Pioneer and this type of railway?"

Vanderbilt asked with feigned nonchalance.

"Of course I registered."

Liang Yaoyun said calmly that he knew Vanderbilt was coveting his two patented technologies.

"I want to talk to you about patent licensing."

After much thought, Vanderbilt made his decision.

He had thought about purchasing advanced technology directly from the British railway company, but he quickly gave up the idea after thinking about the previous unhappy cooperation experience between Stonington Railway Company and British Railways.

Compared to the insidious and cunning British, Liang Yao is a more reliable partner.

"The situation is now smaller, so we should talk about formulating standards for the American railway industry."

Liang Yao took a sip of hot coffee.

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the carriage except Vanderbilt looked at Liang Yao as if he were a fool.

Isn't this guy's tone too loud when it comes to setting standards for the American railroad industry?

The richest man in California has been drifting for a long time? Or have you forgotten how much you weigh?

Do you really think the eastern region is also California?

Only Vanderbilt knew that this boy was not just boasting.

It can only be said that this boy and he thought about it together.

Although the railroad industry in the United States seems large, there is no giant that can monopolize the entire industry and have absolute say.

It is not impossible to set standards for this industry. It is time for those garbage railway companies that treat human life as trivial and sweep them into the garbage heap.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, I think you understand what I mean."

Liang Yao and Vanderbilt looked at each other, their eyes touching.

"With your track patents and locomotive patents, as well as the strong capital you now hold, you can indeed do this."

Vanderbilt affirmed Liang Yao's strength.

He carefully observed the railway tracks laid by the California Railway Company, which is currently only available for the Pioneer.

Unless Liang Yao designs a locomotive wheel suitable for the inferior tracks of other railway companies, specifically for export, other railway companies in the United States will not be able to use this advanced locomotive.

However, judging from Liang Yao's attitude, he does not seem to change for this. In this case, the railway companies in the east can only stare at the advanced locomotives such as the Pioneer.

As for plagiarizing Liang Yao's technology, this is not a big problem. Liang Yao's California Railway Company is not a small company that has just started and has limited funds. With Liang Yao's financial resources, it is enough to support a legal team with top business capabilities.

In addition, since Liang Yao has the ability to launch an epoch-making advanced locomotive such as the Pioneer in less than a year, he will naturally be able to develop more advanced locomotives in the future.

Plagiarizing Liang Yao's technology is not a long-term solution after all.

Vanderbilt estimated Liang Yao's property in his mind, or more precisely, the working capital that Liang Yao could mobilize.

A 20% stake in Xiangshan Gold Mining Company can earn a dividend of 4.1 million US dollars in less than a year.

Liang Yao holds 60% of Xiangshan Gold Mining Company, which means that Xiangshan Gold Mining Company alone can bring Liang Yao tens of millions of dollars in income.

Thinking of this, Vanderbilt felt that the young were formidable.

You know, Liang Yao's industries that can make profits are not only Xiangshan Gold Mining Company. Vanderbilt heard that Liang Yao's mercury mine business is also booming, and the profit is no less than that of gold mining.

Unlike gold mining, the mercury mines in California are controlled by Liang Yao alone. Controlling the mercury mines is equivalent to strangling the lifeline of all other gold mining companies, including his Staten Gold Mining Company.

Vanderbilt boldly speculated that Liang Yao's cash flow is likely to be more than more than 10 million US dollars, but 20 to 30 million US dollars or even more.

According to the ranking of the richest people in the United States made by some boring newspapers in the East, the mainstream view is that Buckhouse is the richest man in the United States, followed by Vanderbilt, and Liang Yao ranked third.

It seems that this ranking is also time to update it. Perhaps the richest man in the United States has changed hands.

"But why do you think I will cooperate with you?"

Vanderbilt changed his tone and became a little unfriendly.

"You and I have both entered the railway transportation industry, and we are opponents."

"Because you want to be the king of the railway transportation industry."

Liang Yao said in a very determined tone. Facing like-minded people, the ambitions between each other cannot be hidden.

"I am the only one in the United States who can happily take out more than 10 million US dollars to throw in the railway industry!"

The only patented technology and the cash flow of tens of millions of dollars, this is Liang Yao's confidence.

Vanderbilt is already the king of shipping in the shipping industry. How can he be willing to be just an ordinary railway tycoon after switching to the railway transportation industry?

Perhaps Buckhouse can also come up with tens of millions of dollars in cash flow, but Buckhouse follows the teachings of his father, Astor, and is only interested in real estate and will not invest the money in other industries.

Especially the railway transportation industry, which has large initial investment, high risks, and a long payback period.

Tens of millions of dollars in cash flow

Hearing this astronomical figure, the carriage suddenly became silent, and only the sound of the train could be heard.

Theodore, Jeremiah and others instantly felt that the food in their hands was not fragrant.

Tens of millions of dollars in cash flow, this is no longer a game that small and medium-sized rich people like them with only a few million dollars can afford to play.

"Are you so sure that the railway transportation industry can make money?"

Vanderbilt broke the silence in the carriage. Facing Liang Yao, he felt that he had met a match.

This feeling was not what he had ever felt when facing Astor. Based on his understanding of this late old rival and old enemy, this old rival did not have the courage of Liang Yao.

Tens of millions of dollars can be smashed at will. Such a crazy thing can only be done by this old and young in the carriage.

Vanderbilt looked Liang Yao in the eye: "This is tens of millions of dollars. You can just throw it away. Aren't you afraid of losing it?"

"Aren't you also planning to throw tens of millions of dollars into the railway transportation industry?"

Liang Yao looked Vanderbilt in the eye and asked back.

"Hahaha! I've lived half my life, and I didn't expect that a young man like you would become the one who suits my taste the most."

Vanderbilt laughed with his head raised.

After speaking, Vanderbilt personally poured a full glass of red wine for Liang Yao, and then filled it for himself.

"Cheers to our cooperation!"

－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－

Gadsden land purchase pictures will be posted later.

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