Chapter 24: Lawlessness

"Since Brannan can openly establish a so-called security committee in San Francisco, why can't we?" Liang Yao decided to retaliate in kind. Google search reading

"That's a solution. Your idea is to set up a Sacramento Sheriff's Committee to fight against Brannan?"

Robinson admitted that it was a good idea, but he also became wary: He was worried about whether Liang Yao would become the next Brannan.

It's just that this issue is not the most important right now. The most urgent issue now is how to eliminate the threat from Brannan's Security Council to the Sacramento gold mining area.

Brannan is no longer just trying to steal gold, but is threatening their lives. Which of the two is more important is clear at a glance.

"Brannan's roots are in San Francisco. The population of San Francisco is much larger than that of Sacramento. It is also the largest commodity distribution center in California and gathers more wealth than Sacramento. Sacramento alone cannot shake Brannan. status.”

Liang Yao walked to the window, put his hands in his pockets, looked at the people coming and going on Sacramento Street, and said thoughtfully.

Sacramento is growing at a rapid pace, but it won't be able to surpass San Francisco in a short time. Moreover, due to location factors, the ceiling for future development of Sacramento will not be higher than that of San Francisco. San Francisco is an unavoidable battleground.

"Dr. Robinson, I know you have a good reputation in San Francisco."

The city of Sacramento was created by him with his own hands. Liang Yao had absolute authority and influence in Sacramento, but in San Francisco his influence was limited to the Chinese community in San Francisco, while the Chinese in San Francisco were in San Francisco. Francisco had no say.

"You want me to contact my friends in San Francisco?"

Robinson walked to the window with the difference in mind. There were no tall buildings in Sacramento. From Liang Yao's office on the third floor, he could have a panoramic view of the small city of Sacramento.

"Yes, only if we penetrate our influence into San Francisco can we gold diggers have any hope of defeating Brannan. Brannan is not an idle person. The gold diggers in California need to unite."

"I will do what I can, but I have to remind you that organizations such as security committees need authorization from the government."

Robinson is a good, law-abiding citizen, but he is not a bigot who sticks to the rules.

A strong state government is naturally the best way to solve the chaos in California. But now California statehood is still far away. Gold mining companies and organizations like them can only rely on themselves if they want to survive here.

"But California is still in a state of anarchy, isn't it?" Liang Yao said, "Even if the state government is established, the first choice for the sheriff will be a local squire with fame and wealth. The state government will give priority due to administrative cost considerations. Consider these people to maintain order in the local area.”

"That's true. I didn't expect you to know so much about these things just a few months after arriving in the United States." Robinson sighed.

"China's Qing government did the same thing. Many of the politicians' ideas are always the same and have no national boundaries."

In the 19th century, when the level of science and technology was still backward, the administrative cost of governing a large country was very high. Especially large countries like the Qing Dynasty and the United States with vast territories and relatively large populations had to face very complicated problems. The city-state democracy of a small country with few people will not work here.

The eastern region of the United States was developed earlier and was relatively developed, so the situation was relatively good. However, for the vast central and western regions that had just been developed, the United States basically appointed powerful immigrant leaders to implement more effective management of these newly developed areas.

"I am just a doctor and a gold digger. I have no interest in these things. If you want to set up a committee to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of gold diggers, I will support you unconditionally, but the existence of the committee is limited to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of gold diggers."

Robinson expressed his attitude. He was not opposed to the establishment of something similar to a security committee, but the security committee must serve the interests of the gold diggers.

Robinson's words made Liang Yao believe that this person might indeed be a relatively pure doctor and gold digger, at least for now he is such a person. Others would have to bargain with him about who would serve as chairman of the committee after its establishment and how to distribute the committee's powers, but Robinson said nothing about these things.

Flagg returned to San Francisco, and his mounted police reported to Flagg what had happened in San Francisco during the past two days.

The security committee became more and more aggressive, and the usually docile Chinese in San Francisco also took up arms to defend their shops and property, and sporadic exchanges of fire broke out with the security committee.

Fortunately, the current exchange of fire is still under control.

This situation is definitely not what Flagg wants to see. Perhaps it is time for Brannan and Liang Yao to sit down together and talk calmly.

But soon, Flagg's idea disappeared, because his men told him a very unfortunate news.

"People from the Public Security Committee broke into your home and smashed it. They also looted valuable things in your home."

After much hesitation, the troopers told Flagg the unfortunate news so that Flagg could be mentally prepared when he returned home.

This news was like a bolt from the blue for Flagg. It had already hit his bottom line, and he was furious.

"What are you doing? You actually let those bastards rob my house?! How is my wife? Where is she now?!"

"We are busy maintaining the law and order in San Francisco. No one could have imagined that the Sheriff's Security Committee would be so bold as to openly rob your home.

Fortunately, your wife is fine. We have protected her. She is safe now. She was just threatened and a little frightened."

"Is this also a blessing? What is the Security Committee?! Fuck the Security Committee! Take me to see Avrilda. My God, she has never experienced such a terrible thing before. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have gone to Sacramento. I should have stayed by Avrilda's side."

Flagg felt very guilty. He rushed back to his messy home without stopping. When his wife saw Flagg, she immediately rushed to him and cried like a tearful person.

"My God, dear, you are finally back. I thought I would never see you again."

Flagian hugged his wife tightly, patted Evelyda's back and comforted her: "No, Evelyda, we swore in the church that we would stay together for the rest of our lives."

"Those people with the armbands of the Security Committee robbed our gold, bank notes, gold coins, and everything valuable. We have nothing now."

Thinking of the looted wealth, Evelyda's heart was broken and she cried harder and harder.

Flag comforted Evelyda and sat down on the sofa: "No, how could we be left with nothing? Dear, you are everything to me. As long as you are here, we will not be left with nothing."

"Oh, no"

Elflyda buried her head in Flagg's solid and reliable arms.

"Tell me dear, what do those gangsters look like? I want to bring all these villains to justice!" Flagg gently patted Evelyda's shoulder.

"I don't know. They suddenly rushed into our house, all with hoods covering their heads, leaving only their eyes exposed. Then they tied me up and blindfolded me. I only heard the sound of them rummaging through boxes and cabinets. I don't know anything else."

Afrida tried to recall the details of the time. The gangsters did not show their faces, so she didn't see their facial features clearly, but she clearly remembered that one of the gangsters was wearing the armband of the Security Committee. The leading gangster also taught the gangster with the armband a lesson and told him to hide the armband quickly in an attempt to hide his identity. But all of this had long been recorded by the smart Afrida.

"A gangster came in wearing a security committee armband! He even tried to cover it up! Fortunately, I saw it!" Avrilda was very excited, "It must be Brannan! He robbed the sheriff's house. He is the only one in California who dares to do such an outrageous thing."

"Did they threaten you?"

"Yes, they asked me to tell you not to say anything you shouldn't say and to mind your own business. They also said that their behavior was not robbery, but just to take back the property that originally belonged to them. They also said that you are inconsistent in your words and deeds and other things that I don't quite understand."

Thinking of those properties, Avrilda couldn't help crying again. She pointed to the scar on her neck and said.

"They also violently ripped my necklace off my neck. This was a gift from my mother when we got married, and it was snatched away by these robbers."

"Okay, Avrilda, you need to take a good rest. I swear to you that I will bring those thugs to justice. I am the sheriff of San Francisco. If I can't protect my own wife, how can I protect the people of San Francisco?"

Flag had lost the ability to think calmly in his rage. He could turn a blind eye to anyone who was hurt in San Francisco, except his family. He wanted those villains who hurt his family to pay double the price.