Chapter 394: There Is Oil in Borneo

"The Dutch-Indonesian authorities did carry out an inhumane massacre of the Chinese on Borneo Island, and many Chinese Americans were also killed, but I think we can take a more gentle way to support the Chinese on Borneo Island, such as providing them with material assistance."

Robinson does not agree to send troops directly to Borneo Island, especially to mobilize California's civilian armed forces to send troops directly to Borneo Island.

"Borneo Island can grow rubber trees, which is a tropical cash crop that we cannot grow in California at present. Rubber is also an indispensable raw material for our California industrialization. If we want to break the Brazilian monopoly on rubber, we can only grow it ourselves! And planting rubber requires plantations in tropical areas!

We send troops not only to save our compatriots on Borneo Island, but also for the industrialization of our California!"

As a Chinese, Wu Yuanhua firmly supports sending troops to Borneo Island. He has personally contributed two Baltimore clippers, also known as clipper ships.

These clippers have been sent to the San Francisco Shipyard to install Sacramento guns. The armed clippers will be used as maritime support forces for this military operation.

The entire Huaxia Chamber of Commerce directly contributed 8 clippers for modification.

The clipper originated from the American War of Independence. It was designed and manufactured by the United States during the war based on the Bermuda sailboat to break through the blockade of British naval forces.

This ship sacrificed cargo space to pursue extreme speed, and was used to break through the blockade of British ships for material transportation and limited commercial trade.

This ship was mainly active in the near sea in the early days, so the tonnage was also small, generally not exceeding 200 tons, with a narrow hull, a high mast, and a large sail.

Because of its extreme speed, it can easily run at a speed of 11 knots or even higher in low wind conditions. This clipper can easily shake off the pursuit of conventional sailing warships or even privateers.

Moreover, its hull is small and low, and the naval guns on British ships often find it difficult to hit such high-speed moving small targets.

During the War of Independence, the Baltimore Shipyard manufactured a large number of such small and flexible clippers, so this ship is also called the Baltimore Clipper.

After the war, countries also saw the commercial value of this clipper, which was used to carry high-value goods, such as Chinese tea and the British East India Company's cream.

In order to meet commercial needs, merchants from various countries modified and upgraded the clipper, and its tonnage soon exceeded 200 tons. The displacement of the Lynx in the early 19th century reached 223 tons.

At present, the main force of merchant ships traveling between San Francisco and New York is the clipper, a fast sailing ship.

However, its ship type is an improved ship type in the 1830s and 1940s, and its representative is the Rainbow clipper with a displacement of 757 tons.

Although the speed of the Rainbow is not as good as the early Baltimore clippers under 200 tons, it can still easily run at a speed of more than 10 knots in moderate wind conditions.

This speed is already amazing for a sailing ship of this tonnage.

The ship once set a record of 88 days from Guangzhou to New York, and its speed can be seen.

It is worth mentioning that the first real clipper ship, Haoguan, was named after Wu Bingjian, the general merchant of Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs. Many designs of the Rainbow were improved on the basis of Haoguan.

The reason why Liang Yao chose to recruit clippers in good condition is also very simple. One is that clippers have fast speed and flexible steering. Coupled with the extremely fast-firing Sacramento guns, they can give full play to their advantages as clippers.

As for another reason, clippers are cheap and it is not painful to lose a few.

Although San Francisco also has many sailing merchant ships and even steam paddle steamers with a displacement of one or two thousand tons, or even three or four thousand tons.

For example, Liang Yao's own Global Shipping has many steam paddle steamers with a displacement of two or three thousand tons.

But these ships are too heavy, not flexible enough, and not specialized warships. The level of protection is also limited. Using these merchant ships to participate in naval battles after modification is tantamount to being a target for the warships of the Dutch East India Company.

Moreover, these ships are more expensive than clippers, especially large steam and paddle steamers, which are expensive. Liang Yao also needs to use these ships to transport immigrants from Guangdong and Fujian, and he cannot afford to lose steam and paddle steamers.

"Whether the transplantation of rubber from Brazil to Borneo can be successful or not, even if it can be successful, as far as I know, it takes at least 8 years for rubber trees to mature!" Robinson retorted.

"Before the rubber trees mature, we can plant safflower, which can generate income in a short period of time, and safflower also has a market in European countries!" Pan Zhengwei said.

"Safflower can also be planted in Mexico and Central American countries that are closer! Moreover, the British East India Company can also plant safflower itself, and their experience in planting and selling is richer than ours! It can be completely self-produced and self-sold. Our safflower planted on Borneo Island has no advantage over the safflower planted by the British East India Company!" Robinson said.

"Then we can sell it to Japan that is closer. Although Japan is poor, if we want to make money, we can still make some money." Wu Yuanhua said.

The debate between the two sides was deadlocked, and each had its own reasons.

Liang Yao smiled slightly and said lightly: "There is oil in Borneo Island."

There is oil in Borneo Island?

This sentence was like a heavy bomb, and the California upper class who were debating in the reception room instantly exploded, and everyone gasped.

After seeing the oil boom in Los Angeles, they knew what oil meant.

Oil is flowing liquid gold!

As long as the by-products of oil are produced, there will be no worries about not having a market!

"Really?"

Robinson looked at Liang Yao in disbelief.

"When have I ever deceived you? The oil on Borneo is in Brunei. As long as we deal with the Dutch East India Company and Brunei, the oil on Borneo will be ours!" Liang Yao said with a smile.

"The Dutch not only massacred the Chinese, but also massacred my American compatriots. They are extremely evil. We must deal with them! We must deal with them! California must teach them a lesson! Let them remember it!"

After confirming that there was oil on Borneo, Robinson's attitude instantly turned 180 degrees, and he no longer opposed Liang Yao's organization of California civilian armed forces to intervene in the Dutch-Chinese War on Borneo.

Robinson looked at Liang Yao with a bit of resentment. If he hadn't told me about the oil earlier, I wouldn't have to argue with the Chinese businessmen over this issue.

Oil made the California upper class reach a consensus and no longer debate whether to send troops or mobilize civilian armed forces.

"To save our compatriots, cheers!" Liang Yao raised his wine glass and said to everyone.

"For compatriots! Cheers!" The California upper class in the reception room raised their wine glasses and tea cups and clinked them.

After the California upper class reached a consensus and shared common interests, Liang Yao made the final preparations.

Before the troops moved, the food and grass came first. For expeditionary warfare, the most important thing is the logistical supply capability.

The combat effectiveness of Liang Yao's army was very dependent on the logistical ammunition supply. Whether the logistics could keep up could even determine the success or failure of the war.

After the order was issued, a large amount of war materials were transported to Xiangshan, Guangdong by merchant ships.

Before the port on Borneo was acquired, Xiangshan Port was Liang Yao's closest and most important logistics supply base.

Xiangshan was the territory of the Qing Dynasty. No matter how bold the Dutch were, they did not dare to go to war with the Qing Dynasty and attack Xiangshan Port. Therefore, Xiangshan was still a safe logistics base.

At the same time, Liang Yao wrote to Hong Mingxiang with a try-it attitude. If Hong Mingxiang was willing to help, it would be the best. If not, he could help transport some supplies to the local Chinese resistance company on Borneo Island.

More than half a month later in Guangzhou, Wu Yuanhua, after delivering a batch of canned food and sugar cubes, as well as some cotton cloth and gauze to Xiangshan, came to the governor's mansion with Liang Yao's letter to visit Hong Mingxiang.

Hong Mingxiang's standard battalion had been equipped with Walter M1851E rifles, and the personal soldiers had a Sacramento version of Colt revolver on their waists.

Hong Mingxiang is now also engaged in the gold mining business in Australia, and his personal soldiers also benefit from it and are fat and strong.

"Liang Yi, a rare guest, I heard that you are doing well in America."

Hearing that Wu Yuanhua was visiting, Hong Mingxiang came out to greet Wu Yuanhua in person.

"Thanks to Mr. Liang, without Mr. Liang, our Wu family's business would not be able to reach America and Europe." Wu Yuanhua smiled.

"Mr. Liang is really a strange man, and the Liang family is really full of talents." Hong Mingxiang sighed.

"In addition to Mr. Liang, is there another capable person in the Liang family?" Wu Yuanhua asked curiously.

"Mr. Liang's fifth uncle, Liang Shaoqiong led a battalion of Guangdong warriors to defeat the attack of tens of thousands of Taiping rebels in the first battle outside Yangzhou City, and took advantage of the siege of Yangzhou City. Although the newspaper said that the Eight Banners soldiers of the Jiangbei Camp and the Guangdong Warriors worked together to severely defeat the Taiping rebels, everyone with a discerning eye knew that the Eight Banners dared not attack the Taiping rebels." Hong Mingxiang said in a low voice.

"Defeating ten thousand people with a thousand men is indeed a great victory since the Taiping rebels started." Wu Yuanhua nodded and said.

Wu Yuanhua knew how many people there were in a battalion of Guangdong warriors. When the Guangdong warriors were formed, the Jardine Matheson Bank also donated a lot of money to purchase arms and recruit local warriors.

"This is just the beginning. More than two months ago, the Guangdong Warriors went on another journey and went out of the city to fight the Taiping rebels. This time, they also captured the Taiping rebel leader Wei Jun alive. The emperor was very pleased and overturned the case for the Liang family, granting Liang Shaoqiong the same status as a Jinshi." Hong Mingxiang sighed as he led Wu Yuanhua to the main hall.

"Liang Shaoqiong's future is limitless."

"So, the Liang family has indeed produced many talented people." Wu Yuanhua said with emotion.

After entering the main hall, Hong Mingxiang and Wu Yuanhua sat down and took the tea brought by the maid.

After taking a sip of tea, Wu Yuanhua explained his purpose and took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Hong Mingxiang.

"Mr. Liang wants to save the Chinese on Borneo Island. I hope that the Hong army can help from behind."

Hong Mingxiang opened the letter and read it.

After reading it, he put down the letter in his hand and said very straightforwardly: "Mr. Liang's affairs are Mr. Hong's affairs. I have no reason to stand by and watch."

Hong Mingxiang's straightforward attitude surprised Wu Yuanhua. Even if Liang Yao agreed to give Hong Mingxiang 100,000 US dollars as a reward for sending troops to help, Hong Mingxiang's agreement was too straightforward.

The smoothness of the matter made Wu Yuanhua feel a little unbelievable.