Chapter 304: Our Own People

After leaving Sacramento and returning to San Francisco, Liang Yao originally wanted to take a ride on the newly launched dark steamer at the San Francisco Shipyard.

Unfortunately, he was told that the dark steamer had frequent engine failures and the research team was working on solving this problem, so Liang Yao had to give up.

Two years later, Liang Yao embarked on a journey to the East again.

Firstly, it was because President Fillmore urged him to go to Washington as soon as possible to accept a new appointment.

Secondly, he had to go to the East in person for matters related to the Pacific Railway.

During this boring trip, Liang Yao saw Connie holding a book and reading it with great interest, and couldn't help asking, "What banned book are you reading?"

"You are right, it is indeed a banned book, but it is a banned book in the South. You spent most of your time in Japan last year. You don't know how popular this book is in America. More than one million copies of this book were printed in one year. In the North and the UK, this book was sold out. Even the Queen of England likes to read it."

Connie showed Liang Yao the book in his hand.

This is a book called "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The main content is about a black slave named Tom who was sold by a farmer in Kentucky to pay off his debts.

Two years after Tom was sold to New Orleans, he was auctioned to Louisiana. Later, he encouraged black slaves to escape to the free North, and would rather die than tell the white master where the fugitives were going, and was finally beaten to death by the master.

The Compromise of 1850 was a temporary solution, but it did not address the root cause. After all, it failed to ease the conflict between the North and the South, and the confrontation between the North and the South has been heating up again.

"It seems that the relationship between the South and the North is not very harmonious." Liang Yao sighed.

"It's not just not very harmonious. The abolitionists and slaveholders in Kansas have conflicts every few days. If this behavior is not restrained, sooner or later, a bigger riot will break out." Fremont, who was bored on the side, interjected, frowning.

"How to restrain it?" Ge Wen said helplessly.

"The members of the North and South of the Congress are clearly divided. The last time I went to the Congress to attend a meeting, guess what I saw? Brooks, a congressman from South Carolina. This rude guy actually hid a sharp knife in his pocket and entered the Capitol. When he passed by me, he glared at me fiercely, which scared me a lot."

This is the case in Congress, let alone the people.

If one day the congressmen from the North and the South started fighting in the Capitol, Gwen would not be surprised. He just hoped that he would not be there when they fought.

After all, when it comes to fighting, the Yankees are always inferior to the Dixie people who are full of martial virtue. If a fight really breaks out, he will suffer.

Gwen is from Ohio in the north, and California is a free state. He is a senator from a free state. Even if he does not openly stand on the side, the Dixie people will treat him as a member of the abolitionists and beat him up.

"The Dixie people are so arrogant? Mr. Gwen, next time you go to the Capitol for a meeting, you must remember to bring a revolver for self-defense." Connie said.

"Get out! Don't add fuel to the fire here!" Fremont drove away Connie, the annoying guy.

"Okay, you guys chat. Anyway, I'm not interested in politics or fighting and killing. I'm only interested in making money." Connie closed the book, left the front deck angrily, and walked towards the cabin.

"Honestly, I'm really worried that one day the situation will be as bad as Connie said, and members of Congress will fight like the rough mobs in Kansas." Ge Wen said.

When it comes to this heavy topic, Fremont is also silent.

Liang Yao is not so concerned about these things. When it comes to issues involving his own vital interests, the way the congressman solves the problem will not be much more civilized than the mobs on the streets of Kansas.

After more than two months of sailing, Liang Yao arrived in Baltimore.

Although it has been nearly four months since Perry's triumphant return, the people of Baltimore are still enthusiastic about the war hero. A large number of people gathered at the dock to welcome Liang Yao.

"Point Guard Here"

The colleagues in the army even sent a large military band to play music on the dock to welcome Liang Yao. They have already regarded Liang Yao as their own.

Fillmore, the master of balancing water, did not favor one over the other. He gave Liang Yao the same treatment as Perry and personally went to Baltimore to welcome Liang Yao.

"You fought very well in the war against Japan." Robert, the president of West Point Military Academy, shook hands with Liang Yao.

The result of this war was within Robert's expectations, but the time when the war ended was beyond Robert's expectations.

You know, the war between Britain and the Qing Dynasty lasted for two years, and Liang Yao ended the battle cleanly in less than two months. It can be said that Liang Yao fought very beautifully in this battle and won a breath for the army.

After all, in Perry's expedition plan against Japan, all were carried out by the navy, and the army had nothing to do.

Now the army not only participated in this expedition, but also became the backbone of this expedition. The senior officers of the army all felt proud.

Liang Yao won the recognition and respect of the US Army with his strength and performance.

"It's just a war without technical content." Liang Yao responded calmly, and then Liang Yao asked Robert about the military academy students, "How did the students I gave you perform?"

This is not because he is modest. There is really nothing to brag about the expedition to Japan.

What is worth boasting about in this asymmetric war is his judgment of the Japanese situation, not the war itself.

If Robert were to command this war, his performance would not be worse than Liang Yao. But whether Robert can achieve the same results as Liang Yao at the negotiation table is uncertain.

"The students you gave me are very diligent and studious, and very smart. It's a pity that they have no military foundation and have not received relevant education and training before. They may have to delay graduation for one to two years." Robert said very seriously.

Such a result is also within Liang Yao's expectations. Liang Yao nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

"They are all our own people. What's the trouble? These people will also be the pillars of the army in the future. I also want to thank you for your support for West Point Military Academy in the past two years." Robert smiled.

"West Point Military Academy is an army school. It's only right for me to pay some money for the army school." Liang Yao said.

"General Perry was promoted to the Secretary of the Navy this time. Your colleagues in the Army are also standing up for you and think that you should be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. You may become the youngest general in American history." Robert congratulated.

"Thank you for your words, my brothers in the Army!" Liang Yao took off his hat and thanked Robert and the senior Army officers who came to greet him.

Liang Yao still hopes to get the rank of Brigadier General.

What he cares about most is not the honor of being a general, but that after being promoted to Brigadier General, he can legitimately expand a standing brigade.

Although it is not a big problem for him to secretly raise a brigade of weapons with his financial resources, why not do such a good thing as using the federal government's money to support his own army.

What's more, after being promoted to general, he can also recommend colonel candidates to the federal government, which is a power that he does not have with his current colonel rank. Just because he does not care about the honor that the rank can bring him does not mean that his officers do not care.

Liang Yao walked through the bustling crowds on the street, carrying the wreaths presented to him by the enthusiastic people, and finally arrived at the Baltimore train station.

President Fillmore invited Liang Yao to board his presidential train. In this regard, Liang Yao and Perry enjoyed the same treatment, with no difference.