Chapter 537: Absurd Things

"The contracts of many soldiers in the California Infantry Regiment and the Oregon Infantry Regiment are about to expire, and a new batch of blood needs to be replaced. In addition, the Cavalry Regiment and the Artillery Regiment will expand a cavalry regiment and an artillery regiment respectively based on the existing personnel."

Liang Yao summoned Colonel Elvis, the commander of the Oregon Infantry Regiment, at Weixiuju, his new residence in Sacramento.

The contract for ordinary infantrymen of the Western Brigade is generally three years. Many of the infantrymen of the Western Brigade Infantry Regiment currently in service were signed in 1854.

Liang Yao wanted to take advantage of the expiration of many Western Brigade infantry contracts to launch his army expansion plan.

The War Department assigned five regiments to the standing force of the Western Brigade: the California Infantry, the Oregon Infantry, the Arizona Infantry, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and the 5th Artillery Regiment.

Soldiers in these five regiments receive a monthly allowance of US$7 from the federal government, but a salary of US$7 cannot attract young adults to join the army on the West Coast, especially in California, even if it includes food and accommodation.

Therefore, the current salary of Western Brigade soldiers consists of three parts. The first part is a monthly allowance of $7 provided by the federal government, and the second part is a $7 monthly allowance provided by the California state government.

The amount of the allowance for these two parts is the same for infantry regiments, cavalry, and artillery, which is $7.

The third part of the allowance varies according to the different arms. They are US$3 for infantry (technical sergeants in the engineering and signal corps are a separate matter), cavalry US$5, and artillery US$7 (technical sergeants in the artillery are a separate matter). . This part of the allowance was paid by Liang Yao out of his own pocket.

The Western Brigade is also the only brigade-level unit in the United States with complete arms and composed entirely of standing regiments.

In the United States during peacetime before World War II, the federal government maintained a very limited standing force in order to reduce financial pressure.

At this time, the United States' standing infantry regiments, including Liang Yao's Western Brigade, only had 15 infantry regiments, 3 cavalry regiments, and 5 artillery regiments.

"How many veterans need to retire this time? How will the retired veterans be accommodated?"

Elvis asked Liang Yao how he would place these retired soldiers.

Liang Yao has rich experience in how to place veterans whose contracts have expired.

Veterans of the Western Brigade with service experience are very popular in California and will not worry about being unemployed after retirement.

Umbrella will directly sign mercenary contracts with outstanding retired veterans. The militia groups in the three West Coast states also welcome these veterans to serve as grassroots officers in the militia groups. Other companies with security needs will also compete to hire these retired veterans.

The so-called militia is not a regular military force and will not directly participate in high-intensity military operations. Instead, it exists as a reserve force. Each state in the United States maintains militia state soldiers of varying sizes.

Militia members of the militia are called up and trained within a specified time every year. After completing the training, they return to civilian life and are not professional soldiers.

Since many of these militiamen and volunteers come from rural areas, the training time is usually chosen during the slack period.

The treatment of militia and volunteer troops varies greatly from state to state. For example, for the militia in the three West Coast states, the state government will provide standard weapons and ammunition, accommodation, meal subsidies, training clothing and equipment, etc.

In most states, militiamen and volunteers need to provide everything from weapons to equipment.

There are quite a few militia groups that Liang Yao can directly control. There are 3 militia groups in California, 1 militia group in Oregon, 1 militia group in Liangzhou, and a newly established Utah militia group, totaling 6 militia groups.

The main sources of non-commissioned officers for these six militia regiments are retired veterans of the three standing infantry regiments of the Western Brigade.

"Some of the veterans will directly join the mercenary force of Umbrella Company. I plan to establish a non-commissioned officer school for the remaining part and send them to the non-commissioned officer school for further education," Liang Yao said.

"I want to establish a comprehensive non-commissioned officer school, which will consist of infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineering and communications departments to train the non-commissioned officers needed by the army."

But this time, Liang Yao had other plans. He wanted to establish a non-commissioned officer school to train junior officers in preparation for the subsequent large-scale military expansion.

"Setting up a military academy requires a license from the federal government," Elvis reminded.

The establishment of a military academy is not a trivial matter and requires the approval of the federal government's Department of War and the president's instructions.

"You don't have to worry about the license, you just need to go and do it." Liang Yao said.

As for the federal government, he would submit an application and go through the motions. As for the license, whether the federal government approved it or not, he would run the military academy.

At present, there is a lot of shit going on within the federal government and it has too much time to take care of itself. Even if Buchanan has any objections to his establishment of a military academy, he can only hold his nose and admit it.

The Mormons in the Utah Territory didn't even have time to deal with it, and they let Brigham Young, a magician, take advantage of them. It is reasonable and legal for Liang Yao to run a military academy. The federal government does not have sufficient reasons, let alone the ability to interfere with his running of a military academy.

"Yes! Your Excellency!"

Elvis retreated.

After Elvis left, Liang Yao looked at the roster of Umbrella's mercenary unit again.

The Umbrella Company's mercenary force is also an armed force directly affiliated with him. If the Western Brigade is called a federal government force, it is actually Liang Yao's own private army.

So Umbrella Company's mercenary troops are Liang Yao's private soldiers in name only.

Except for the lack of large-scale organized artillery and cavalry units, Liang Yao gave him all the mercenary units that Umbrella Company should have.

The light weapons used by Umbrella Company mercenaries are no different from the three main regiments of the Western Brigade.

After five or six years of expansion, the number of mercenaries of Umbrella Company has expanded from 500 at the beginning of its establishment to more than 3,000.

These mercenary troops safeguard Liang Yao's interests overseas.

They are stationed in: 360 people in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 240 people in Hokkaido, Japan, 360 people in Xiangshan, Guangdong, 120 people in Xiamen, 120 people in Fuzhou, 120 people in Ningbo, 120 people in Shanghai, 18 people in Nauru, and more than 1,500 people in Borneo (headquarters).

After all his calculations, he actually had as many as a brigade of mercenaries. No wonder his military expenditures have increased year by year over the years.

In addition, half of the regiment stationed in Nagasaki by Deng Yan, commander of the American Army in the United States, was theoretically a force that Liang Yao could mobilize.

In addition to these mercenary troops on land, Liang Yao also has an Umbrella fleet. This fleet has 1 Pioneer-class ironclad ship, 28 Bold-class battleships, and several loach ships, and employs more than 5,000 sailors. people. The cost of raising a fleet is much more expensive than raising an army.

Liang Yao thought that each Pioneer-class ironclad ship required 450 sailors. When the ironclad ships were launched one after another, the fleet's expenses would definitely rise accordingly.

"Sir, telegram from Utah Territory."

Zeiss knocked on the door and walked into his office.

"read."

Liang Yao was looking through the roster of Umbrella's mercenary force and asked Zeiss to read out the contents of the telegram.

"Yes, sir."

Zeiss opened the telegram and read the contents directly.

It turned out that it was Pan Baolin who was suing Stanford again, saying that Stanford had not done anything serious since he arrived in the Utah Territory. He spent all day hanging out with the Mormons at the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. Donate money and goods.

Pan Baolin didn't know what kind of medicine Stanford was selling, so she called Liang Yao for instructions.

"Call him back and tell him that I understand." Liang Yao said calmly, not taking what Stanford had done these days seriously.

"That's all?" Zeiss asked in surprise.

"That's all." Liang Yao affirmed.

"Sir, aren't you worried that Mr. Stanford really converted to Mormonism?" Zeiss was worried.

"Mormons are extremist religious elements. If they receive financial support from Mr. Stanford, the consequences will be disastrous."

"Can he join the Mormon Church?" Liang Yao seemed to have heard a big joke and couldn't help laughing.

"Stanford smokes and drinks all the time, and he can't live as austere a life as a Mormon. Zeiss, let me ask you, in the western region, which one has more influence is me? Or is it the Mormons?"

"Of course it's you, you are the president of the west." Zeiss said without hesitation.

"You can all think about the problem, but a pragmatic person like Stanford can't figure it out? Don't trust the people who trust you, but don't trust the people you employ. Since I have entrusted the affairs of the Utah Territory to Stanford, I should give him full trust." Liang Yao said.

There must be a reason for Stanford, an old cunning man, to get close to the Mormons. Liang Yao asked Stanford to be responsible for eliminating the Mormons in the Utah Territory. As for how to eliminate it, and how much time and financial resources it would take to eliminate it, it all depends on Stanford's own abilities.

"Understood, sir."

Zeiss suddenly realized that he was too preoccupied to think about the problems that he could think of, and how could this old cunning guy like Stanford not think of them. "

Zeiss pulled out another telegram.

"This is a call from Colonel Kruger."

"read"

"Colonel Kruger called to inquire. Stanford asked Colonel Kruger to release the 120 Mormons arrested by the Arizona Infantry Regiment. The matter was serious and Colonel Kruger did not dare to make decisions without authorization, so he called to ask for instructions." Zeiss read.

"Tell Kruger that as long as anything Stanford asks for is related to the Mormon Church, the Arizona regiment will fully cooperate and there is no need to ask for instructions." Liang Yao instructed.

"Last call from Utah, Mr. Stanford called to request your approval of 10 Thunder M60 machine guns and 50,000 rounds of ammunition." Zeiss read Wan's last telegram, waiting for Liang Yao's reply.

"Approval of 5 Thunder M60 machine guns and 25,000 rounds of ammunition for him." Liang Yao gave Stanford a half discount.

This is not because he is stingy, but because the output of the Thunder M60 machine gun and its supporting ammunition is not high.

The Volcano Repeating Arms Company, which is responsible for producing the gun, produced only 7 machine guns throughout April in addition to the 6 prototype machine guns completed before late March.

On top of this, he had to rush to complete the order from Yue Yong. It was impossible for Liang Yao to award 10 machine guns to Stanford at once.

————————

In May 1857, there was an atmosphere of tension inside and outside Guangzhou.

"Shilang Liang, you are back. Go and persuade Governor Ye quickly. Governor Ye wants to execute the foreign crew to establish his authority!"

In Xiangshan, Guangdong, Admiral Hong Mingxiang of the Guangdong Navy was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

Liang Shaoqiong and Shen Baozhen were riding a Bold-class steam battleship. They were going to replenish fuel at Xiangshan Port and head north. Unexpectedly, as soon as the ship docked, Hong Mingxiang found him in a hurry.

"Governor Ye wants to execute foreigners? Foreigners from which country? I heard that your Guangdong Navy intercepted a smuggling ship flying the British flag last year, but who are the foreigners on this ship?" Liang Shaoqiong frowned upon hearing this.

He left the Qing Dynasty at the end of last year and went to the United States to visit Liang Yao and discuss shipping matters.

When Liang Shaoqiong left, he heard that the Guangdong Navy had seized a British ship, causing the situation between the Qing Dynasty and the British Hong Kong authorities to become very tense.

However, this matter was between the Guangdong authorities and the British consul, and he, as the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War, did not need to get involved, so as not to cause trouble. Therefore, he did not pay much attention to this matter at the time.

"No, although the private ship named Arrow was flying the Union Jack, the captured crew members were all Chinese, not foreigners." Hong Mingxiang said.

"If that's the case, why did Governor Ye want to execute foreigners?" Liang Shaoqiong became more and more puzzled.

"This matter has to start with the smuggling ship called Arrow that Hong captured. The Chinese that Hong captured on this ship were either pirates or smugglers. Therefore, Hong did not dare to make a decision on his own at that time, so he handed over the captured suspects to Governor Ye, and let Governor Ye decide how to deal with them.

A few days later, British Consul Parkes came to ask for people. You also know Governor Ye's character. Governor Ye always hates dealing with foreigners. In order to have peace of mind, he sent the 12 suspects to Parkes." Hong Mingxiang carefully explained the ins and outs of the matter.

"Pares? This guy is just an interpreter. What kind of British consul is he? What happened later?" Liang Shaoqiong corrected, and he was also very disappointed with the ignorance of these local officials.

Hong Mingxiang and Ye Mingchen have been serving in Guangdong for more than one or two years, and they actually regarded a translator as a consul.

At that time, the British Consul in China was concurrently served by Governor Bonham of Hong Kong. However, Bonham held multiple positions and was usually busy with official duties, so he liked to hand over the consular affairs to Parkes, who was an expert on China.

Therefore, local officials in Guangdong, from the Governor to the prefect of Guangzhou and the magistrates of surrounding counties, all regarded Parkes as the British Consul.

Unexpectedly, after so many years, the two local officials, Admiral Hong Mingxiang of the Guangdong Navy and Ye Mingchen, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and Minister of Commerce, did not even understand this most basic issue. It can be seen how ignorant they were about foreigners.

"Parkes refused to accept these suspects."

"Why?"

"Parkes wanted to meet Governor Ye and discuss this matter with Governor Ye face to face."

"Then talk to them face to face. We are right in this matter."

"Governor Ye felt that meeting foreigners was unlucky and unbecoming of a great official of a superior country, so he kept asking Hong to hold Parkes back. Governor Ye said that if he kept wasting time with the foreigners, they would naturally retreat when they lost their patience."

"Stupid! Governor Ye is also the Minister of Commerce. If he doesn't come forward to negotiate with the foreigners, who will?!" Hearing this, Liang Shaoqiong's blood pressure rose a little.

The Liang family has properties in the Cantonese area, and other officials of the Qing Dynasty know nothing about the strength of the British, and don't even know where Britain is.

But Liang Shaoqiong at least has a relatively superficial understanding of Britain, and he has just returned from America and has personally seen the customs and customs of America, a second-rate Western power.

Liang Shaoqiong was deeply impressed by the American trains, new foreign guns and cannons, factory machines everywhere, steel production of tens of thousands of tons, ironclad ships, the tough folk customs in various places, and the wealth of merchants.

Western countries are by no means the barbaric countries that the court officials said they were, and they should not be underestimated.

A second-rate Western power has such a style, what will England, a first-rate Western power, be like? How strong will its national strength be? Liang Shaoqiong dared not even think about it.

At present, the internal troubles of the Hongyang Rebellion have not been resolved, and it is an extremely unwise choice to provoke the powerful enemy of Britain again.

"Hong also persuaded Governor Ye to reluctantly commit to meeting the British, but you, Minister Liang, also know Governor Ye's temper. Governor Ye is usually easy to talk to about other things, but when it comes to foreigners, no one can persuade him." Hong Mingxiang was also helpless.

Hong Mingxiang thought that it would be great if Liang Shaoqiong was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. Liang Shaoqiong knew more about foreign affairs and was not opposed to dealing with foreigners. If Liang Shaoqiong was in this position, his job as admiral of the navy would be much easier.

Ye Mingchen had been dragging the foreigners, and the foreigners exerted pressure on the Qing Dynasty, and basically all of it was given to his Guangdong navy.

It was their brothers from the Guangdong navy who directly confronted the British warships and cannons at the mouth of the Pearl River. Not the group of civil servants sitting in the government office in Guangzhou.

Hong Mingxiang once wondered if he had done something wrong in his previous life, so he had such a boss in this life.

"What about those foreigners that Governor Ye wanted to kill?" Liang Shaoqiong asked.