Chapter 35: Stanford's Ambition

Ding~

Dong~

The new adjustable alarm clock placed in the corner made a noisy noise. Google Search Reading

Liang Yao, who was hungover, reluctantly left the warm bed. He poured a glass of water, walked to the table, and checked the recent schedule.

According to the arrangement, he was going to San Francisco today to check the progress of the commercial street construction. Tomorrow was the birthday of Sheriff Flagg's wife, Avrilda, so he could bring some gifts to visit Flagg.

During the days of the business war with Brannan, Flagg provided him with a lot of help.

Without Flagg's help, the violent conflict between him and Brannan in San Francisco would not be just a sporadic exchange of fire, and the construction of San Francisco's commercial street would not be so smooth.

Although Brannan was arrogant and domineering, known as the King of California, Flagg was still the sheriff of San Francisco on the surface.

Strauss was a very hardworking person, or more precisely, a hardworking and smart person. His ability was much stronger than Jones.

Liang Yao had just finished washing up when Strauss was already waiting at the door.

Although his beard and hair were long, they were trimmed very neatly and looked pleasing to the eye, unlike Sven who also had long hair and a beard.

Strauss, dressed in a suit, stood upright at the door and said.

"Boss, Mr. Stanford wants to see you. He said he wants to talk to you alone about something."

Stanford did not attend their banquet yesterday and disappeared halfway. Liang Yao thought Stanford had returned to San Francisco.

Through the conversation with Ge Wen at the wine table yesterday, Liang Yao was sure that Leland Stanford was the founder of Stanford University, the first governor of California in the true sense of the future, the president of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and one of the ten great tycoons in the Gilded Age.

For ordinary people, as long as they achieved one of the above achievements, they would be outstanding, not to mention all of the above achievements.

The most outstanding work of the Central Pacific Railroad Company is the western section of the Pacific Railroad, which is the most difficult and worst section to construct. Because this section of the railway has to pass through the Nevada Mountains, which are steep and rugged.

The Pacific Railway is the first railway across the North American continent, known as the industrial miracle of the time.

And buried under this miracle are the bodies of Chinese workers who were lured to America to pan for gold.

They came to California with the dream of making a fortune in the gold rush, but were finally lured to Nevada to build railways, and the only reward they could get was that the Pacific Railway Company generously gave them a salary that was only about 3% of that of white workers.

For this 3% salary, more than 15,000 Chinese workers of the Pacific Central Railway Company had to work longer hours than white workers, and their work was more arduous and more dangerous.

"Didn't Stanford return to San Francisco yesterday?" Liang Yao took a sip of water to moisten his throat and sat down.

"Mr. Stanford was walking around Sacramento yesterday."

"I heard that Stanford runs two shops in San Francisco, one selling miners' supplies and the other selling daily necessities. You also opened a shop in San Francisco. How much do you know about him?"

"Mr. Stanford can be said to be the most successful shop owner in San Francisco. He can always buy goods from Mr. Brannan at a lower price, and the rent of the shop is also the lowest." Strauss hesitated to speak.

Miners' supplies and daily necessities are Brannan's core businesses. I didn't expect Stanford to be able to do these two businesses in San Francisco.

Ge Wen told him that Stanford was a very good young lawyer who helped him fight several troublesome lawsuits.

Now it seems that Stanford is not only an excellent lawyer, but also a businessman with special means.

"You don't seem to have finished your words."

Liang Yao put down the water cup and glanced at Strauss who was hesitant to speak.

"Based on my personal intuition about Mr. Stanford, Stanford is similar to Brannan in some aspects. His daily necessities store is less than 20 yards away from my store. The location and business of this store are both good. It was originally run by my fellow townsman."

"So, this Stanford is not a good person either."

No matter how capable Brannan is, he is at best a nouveau riche, while Stanford is a professional lawyer who is good at exploiting legal loopholes. Such a person is much more difficult to deal with than Brannan.

Strauss smiled bitterly: "If Mr. Stanford could have arrived in California earlier, this King of California might not be Mr. Brannan."

"I know, let him in." Liang Yao nodded, and he decided to meet Stanford.

Stanford walked into Liang Yao's office with a confident step under the guidance of Strauss.

After pouring a cup of tea for Stanford, Strauss stood behind Liang Yao so that he could be on call at any time.

"Sorry, Mr. Liang, I need to talk to you alone about this matter." Stanford looked at Strauss behind Liang Yao, turned to Liang Yao and said.

"Strauss, wait for me at the door."

"Yes, boss."

Strauss nodded in agreement, then walked out of the office and gently closed the door.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Stanford?"

Liang Yao stared at Stanford with interest. Thinking of what Stanford did later, it was difficult for him to have a good impression of Stanford.

"I know you want to bring down Brannan. I have a way to send him to jail without spending any money, even 1 cent."

"Go on, Mr. Stanford." Liang Yao looked at Stanford with interest.

"Mr. Liang, you don't know that in addition to running two small shops, I am also Brannan's legal advisor. You know, in California, a lawless place, there are not many people who are proficient in law."

Speaking, Stanford took out a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and continued.

"As we all know, Brannan's crimes in California are too numerous to list. These things are enough to send him to the gallows. The territories follow the federal laws of the United States. We can use the law to bring Brannan to justice.

By then, according to federal law, Brannan's illegal gains will be turned over to the federation, and his real estate will be auctioned directly on the spot. As you are the richest man in California, those prime shops in San Francisco will also belong to you."

Liang Yao was not interested in the evidence in Stanford's hand, but asked Stanford: "Mr. Stanford, as far as I know, Brannan treats you well, why do you do this?"

"Brannan has committed many evil deeds, and he should be brought to justice to serve as a warning to others. This is the responsibility of every conscious citizen."

"It seems that you are very conscious."

"Of course, I lurked around Brannan to obtain these evidences."

Liang Yao certainly didn't believe these lies of Stanford. Stanford came to him just because he saw that the situation was not good and he was just changing his mind.

Besides, he didn't have time to wait for the court to make a judgment on Brannan.

"Mr. Stanford, what do you want from me? Evidence of my crime?"

"Mr. Liang is joking. As far as I know, all of Mr. Liang's assets are legally acquired and protected by law." Stanford explained his purpose.

"I know that you now own a lot of land in San Francisco and Sacramento. I want to set up a railway company and build a railway from San Francisco to Sacramento. The railway needs to pass through your private territory and requires your permission. Of course, you can also invest in my railway company and become a major shareholder."

Stanford's vision is quite sharp. Liang Yao has already planned to lay railways in San Francisco and Sacramento.

But before that, he must defeat Brannan and completely control San Francisco.

Once San Francisco and Sacramento are laid, connecting the main gold-producing areas and commercial areas in California, the profits will be beyond imagination.

Not only laying railways, he also wants to lay telegraph lines in San Francisco and Sacramento to facilitate communication between the two places.

The biggest obstacle to building basic transportation and communication facilities is land, and all of this land is now in his hands. He has an advantage that no one else can match.

Liang Yao wants to hold this area, which is related to the economic lifeline of California, tightly in his own hands, and naturally he cannot share a piece of the pie with Stanford, an unknown junior.

Moreover, the conditions proposed by Stanford could not impress him.

"Stanford, you are too ambitious." Liang Yao rejected Stanford's proposal, "I am not interested in your proposal. Secondly, I also doubt whether you have enough financial resources to carry out this huge project."

Stanford's face became very ugly, almost distorted, and his eyes looking at Liang Yao became more sinister: "Mr. Liang, why don't you think about it again? I think Mr. Ge Wen will also be very interested in this proposal."

"Mr. Ge Wen has just invested in the United Mining Company. I think in the short term, Mr. Ge Wen will not be interested in this kind of project that requires long-term huge investment to pay off. If you think Mr. Ge Wen is interested, you can talk to Mr. Ge Wen first."

Liang Yao said coldly, if Stanford thinks that Ge Wen can suppress him, he is wrong. Ge Wen is just a frustrated politician. He and Ge Wen are in a cooperative relationship, each taking what they need.

"Mr. Liang"

"Brannan's casino and brothel need someone to take over, but for now, their scale is still too small and far from meeting the market demand."

"I understand, I am willing to take over and manage these two industries for you." Stanford suddenly perked up, "I know some human traffickers in Central America, I know what to do, the girls there are cheaper than American girls."

"Go." Liang Yao sent Stanford away and got up to go to the restaurant on the first floor for breakfast.