Chapter 261: Expedition Team (4K)

This time there were several children of the Liang family who came with Deng Lan. Compared to the last time, the attitude of the Liang family was much lower this time.

Just in the name of taking refuge in Liang Yao, I hope to find a job in Hukou with Liang Yao.

This also made Liang Yao feel a lot more comfortable.

Liang Yao now indeed lacks reliable people, relatives, friends, old friends, and blood ties. In this era, to a certain extent, they also represent loyalty and trust.

Now that the Liang family has lowered its profile, as long as the Liang family's children are capable, Liang Yao doesn't mind arranging some errands for them, starting slowly from the grassroots level of the America Group.

"I heard that Liang Sheng is still working in the mines. Your grandfather hopes that you can look out for his fault, forgive this kid for being ignorant and bumping into you, and give him a chance to change his ways."

Deng Lan said to Liang Yao.

Looking at the son in front of him, Deng Lan had an inexplicable feeling of strangeness. He always felt that the current Liang Yao was completely different from the Liang Yao he used to be in Xiangshan.

"As long as Liang Sheng realizes his mistake, everything can be discussed. I'm not a petty person either."

Liang Yao also knew in his heart that Liang Sheng was just a person sent by the Liang family to ask questions and test his attitude and bottom line.

Now that the Liang family is aware of his attitude, they understand that Liang Yao's assets in California are beyond their reach. They recognize the reality and there is no need for him to let Liang Sheng continue to mine.

All in all, this guy has been digging from Sacramento to Nevada for more than a year.

"Why are there so many people on the dock?"

Deng Lan looked at the unfamiliar faces on the dock and said with some embarrassment.

"I'm all here to welcome you." Liang Yao said with a smile, "I am now a powerful person in California, and you are my mother. When you come to California, they will give me a little less favor."

"I understand, but there are so many foreigners, and I don't know how to speak foreigners' words. What should I do?"

Deng Lan has been the concubine of the Liang family for more than 20 years. When Liang Weiming, the old man of the Liang family, was still working as a servant in the capital, many people came to visit him during the holidays.

Although Deng Lan had little knowledge, she still understood this point.

"You don't need to speak, just nod in understanding." Liang Yao said.

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In early May 1852, Perry's East India Fleet arrived at the port of San Francisco.

There were four warships in Perry's expedition to Japan this time, namely:

Flagship USS Mississippi steam paddlewheel frigate (1,692 tons), crew of 380 people.

The Saskatchewan is a steam-powered paddlewheel wooden-hulled frigate (2,450 tons) with a crew of 300 people.

Plymouth sail-powered wooden hull frigate (989 tons), 220 people.

USS Saratoga, a sail-powered wooden-hulled frigate (882 tons) with a crew of 210 people.

This was also the lineup historically used by Perry when he visited Japan.

These four warships are already in relatively good condition in the U.S. Navy, but in terms of warship level, put aside the Plymouth and Saratoga, two antiques from the sailing era.

The two steam paddle-wheel frigates, the Mississippi and the Saskatchewan, cannot be said to be very advanced among the major powers.

At the same time, Britain and France had begun building propeller-driven warships and were considering phasing out paddle-wheel warships.

Even for the paddle-wheel warships in service, Britain and France both installed pig iron plates on both sides of their warships to improve the warship's protective capabilities.

The two thousand-ton frigates Yangwei and Chaoyong sold to him by France were a little smaller, but iron plates were installed on both sides to enhance the warship's protective capabilities.

This shows that the U.S. Navy in the mid-19th century was not even remotely close to that of Britain and France.

But this is also reasonable. After all, the United States’ military expenditures are not at the same level as those of Britain and France.

Despite this, the people of San Francisco, organized by Liang Yao, went to the port to warmly welcome Perry's fleet.

"Originally, I planned to use the Powhatan as my flagship, but unfortunately the Powhatan broke down not long after it set off and had to be towed back to Baltimore for repairs."

After landing, Perry said with regret.

The Powhatan was a steam-powered wooden-hulled cruiser with a displacement of 2,415 tons, which was larger than his flagship Mississippi.

If the Powhatan can participate in the expedition, the strength of the American East India Fleet will be greatly strengthened.

"The presence of the Mississippi and the Saskatchewan is enough to deter the Japanese shogunate authorities." Liang Yaoding said calmly.

Not to mention the Mississippi and the Saskatchewan, even the Plymouth and Saratoga, sailing battleships with a displacement of less than a thousand tons, were considered big ships in the eyes of little Japan.

Furthermore, the weaker the American East India Fleet is, the more opportunities Liang Yao will have to perform.

Liang Yao only had this chance to become one of the American generals before the American Civil War.

As long as the battle for the founding of Japan is fought successfully, even if some senior officials in the United States are unwilling to grant Liang Yao the rank of Army Brigadier General, public opinion will not agree.

"I hope so," Perry murmured.

At this time, Perry's mood was similar to when the British started the war with the Qing Dynasty. He also felt unsure and uneasy.

Although Japan is a small Japan in the eyes of the Chinese, its smallness depends on who it compares with.

The so-called size and length are all compared. Being a neighbor next to a giant like China, Japan will naturally look smaller.

But if you put Japan in Europe, with its land area and population, it can definitely be regarded as a big country with good reputation.

Even compared to the United States at the same time, Japan was not considered a small country.

During this period, Japan's population exceeded 30 million according to relatively conservative statistics. This population data was not only higher than that of the United States, but also higher than that of the United Kingdom at the same time.

If traditional hermit households are included, Japan's population figures will only be higher.

Liang Yao could also understand Perry's uneasy mood. At the beginning of the British war against the Qing Dynasty, he felt uncertain.

"We will definitely return victorious from this expedition!" Liang Yao said to Perry confidently.

"Are you so sure?" Perry was doubtful.

"Because I know Japan better than you." Liang Yao reached out and took a document bag from Kony's hand and handed it to Perry. "This is some information about Japan that I have collected and compiled. I hope it can be used for understanding Japan." You help."

This information was collected by spies sent to Japan by Liang Yao and Chinese businessmen doing business in Japan.

"Thank you very much." Perry took the document bag handed over by Liang Yao and said with emotion, "I didn't expect that you have done such thorough preparations. With a partner like you, I have more confidence to prepare the supply ship for the expedition." How's it going?"

"They are all on standby at the port and can set off at any time."

Liang Yao pointed to the ships anchored in the port for this expedition.

Perry looked in the direction pointed by Liang Yao. When he saw the James Belt and four other ships serving as supply ships and transport ships, Perry felt only a little happy in his heart, and had no other unnecessary feelings.

Although these ships are all large ships of more than 1,000 tons, especially the James Day, whose displacement has exceeded Perry's flagship at a rough glance, these ships are civilian ships and there is nothing surprising about them.

But when Perry's eyes fell on the Roland and the Yangwei and Chaoyong, Perry instantly became unsettled.

Damn it, this guy has three warships, and they're all covered in iron!

"This is a warship? It looks like an old French warship. How did you get it?" Perry said in shock.

"In exchange for gold and French ships, the American navy cannot provide protection for California on the west coast. California's coastline is very long, and old British ships often cruise along the California coastline. We Californians always have to find ways to save ourselves. Furthermore, "My Global Shipping Company also has routes that require armed protection," Liang Yao said.

The fact that he owned a warship could not be concealed for a while. What's more, Liang Yao didn't intend to hide it.

The United States is not the Qing Dynasty, and having a few warships is not a treasonous thing.

What's more, Liang Yao also had very good reasons to own warships. He spent his own money to protect California's coastline and the maritime routes of the American Group. It was too late for the Navy, War Department and the President to be happy.

For them, anything that can be done without spending federal money is a good thing.

"You also hired sailors from the French Navy?" Perry asked curiously.

"That's not true. We just hired some French instructors and gunners to train the crew. Most of the crew were recruited by themselves." Liang Yao shook his head and said.

After more than a year of training, the crew members on the Roland are all qualified sailors.

But Liang Yao had only taken over the Yangwei and Chaoyong not long ago. Part of the crew on board were crew members from Global Shipping Company, and the other part were retired naval personnel from various countries recruited from the private sector.

The source of California's population is complex, but complexity also has complex benefits.

That is, retired military personnel from various countries can be recruited. Liang Yao even recruited more than fifty retired sailors from the British Royal Navy.

"With these three warships of yours, I am full of confidence in this expedition!" Perry said confidently.

Previously, Perry regretted that the Powhatan, which he cherished so much, could not participate in this expedition. But now, a Roland can completely make up for the loss of combat power caused by the Powhatan's inability to participate in the battle.

"There is a barracks of the California Militia near the dock. If the navy officers want to disembark, they can rest in this barracks. There is plenty of food and water in the barracks." Liang Yao said to Perry as he walked, "Since you It’s already here, I’m going to send a telegram to Washington.”

"Can telegrams from here still be sent to Washington?" Perry was very surprised.

The Oregon Territory became a territory of the United States in 1846. There is still no telegraph line in this area, and California officially became a territory of the United States in 1848. I did not expect that telegraph lines would be established with Washington so soon.

"Yes, it wasn't long after the telegram was sent." Liang Yao replied.

"I will go to the telegraph room with you. I want to send a telegram to the Admiralty to report on the situation of the East India Fleet." Perry said.

After reporting the situation to Washington, Perry's more than 1,100 naval officers and soldiers took a short rest in San Francisco before boarding the ship and setting off.

Compared with the navy's expeditionary lineup, Liang Yao's army's lineup is more luxurious.

California militia regiments took over the defense of the Arizona and California infantry along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Regarding Mexico's weak military, Liang Yao really looked down on the Mexican army. A militia group was enough to cope with it.

The California Infantry Regiment and Elvis' Arizona Infantry Regiment participated in this expedition. The Arizona Infantry Regiment had just replaced its rifle with the Walter M1852 rifle, which was a good upgrade. Its firepower reached the same level as the California Infantry Regiment.

The soldiers of the Arizona Infantry Regiment loved the weapons they had just replaced.

Of course, what made them most happy was that they could participate in this expedition.

Since the sweetness of the Mexican-American War, the enthusiasm for war in the United States, from officials to civilians, from ordinary people to soldiers, was very high.

Especially the soldiers in the army, because the speed of promotion in wartime was much faster than in peacetime, and war was one of their few opportunities for advancement.

After more than 2,000 army officers and soldiers of the California Infantry Regiment and the Arizona Infantry Regiment boarded the ship, the fleet sailed westward in a mighty manner.

As Liang Yao's flagship, the Roland was protected by the two frigates Chaoyong and Yangwei on the left and right, and behind them were four merchant ships of Global Shipping Company.

These four merchant ships are now responsible for transporting soldiers and supplies along the way.

Having traveled the Pacific route countless times, Sven is already familiar with this route, and he even knows how many people need to consume how much supplies.

The first stop of the fleet is Hawaii, where the fleet will make the final supplies.

Since the French Navy's Pacific Fleet left Hawaii, Liang Yao and Britain and France have reached an agreement that the three parties will uphold the attitude of shelving disputes and jointly developing, and work together to develop and build Hawaii.

Together, we will make the Kingdom of Hawaii a shining pearl in the Pacific.

The islands of the Hawaiian Islands are all in the tropics, and the islands are not far apart, but the population distribution on each island is very different.

The largest island in the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, is not the most populous island in Hawaii.

Generally speaking, in the same area, the distribution of human population follows the eternal principle of "the larger the area, the more people".

But the Hawaiian Islands are not like this. The Hawaiian Island (Big Island) covers an area of ​​more than 10,000 square kilometers, accounting for about 60% of the area of ​​the Hawaiian Islands. Due to the active geological activities on the island, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur from time to time, so the population of the Hawaiian Island has never grown, and the development level is very limited.

Among the eight main islands of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu Island (also known as Oahu Island), which ranks third in area, is the core island of the entire Hawaiian Islands. It ranks first among the Hawaiian Islands in terms of population and development level.

Due to the relatively stable geology of Oahu Island, its long history of development, and the fertile volcanic ash that makes the island suitable for agricultural planting and can support more people, Oahu Island quickly became the core area of ​​the Hawaiian Islands. Two-thirds of the population of the Hawaiian Islands live on Oahu Island.

The focus of the competition between Britain, France and the United States for the Hawaiian Islands is mainly around Oahu Island.

Due to the influence of the coastal topography, Oahu Island also has a good deep-water port, which is Pearl Harbor. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor during World War II, and it was also the starting point of the Pacific War in World War II.

Honolulu, the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii (called Honolulu by the Chinese), is also located on Oahu.

Pearl Harbor on Oahu is also a Pacific transit point built by Liang Yao to provide supplies for the fleet crossing the Pacific.