1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 140 Shipyard

After getting the two Frenchmen drunk, Liang Yao washed his face, mounted a horse and prepared to go to the shipyard to take a closer look at his warship.

"You drank a lot. If you want to see the boat, you should take a carriage."

Sven reminded with some worry.

Liang Yao turned his head to look at Sven: "I didn't drink much, and I'm very sober."

"I didn't expect you to be so cunning at the wine table."

Sven immediately understood that the emotional guy was cheating at the wine table, so he excitedly mounted his horse and followed Liang Yao.

"What we got this time is a warship! A warship with a displacement of more than [-] tons! It's exciting to think about it!
Although this is only a frigate in the battle order of the French Navy, it is more than enough to be a frigate, cruiser, or even the flagship of a small fleet in the American Navy! "

At this time, the US Navy could not be said to be strong. A warship with a displacement of more than [-] tons, even if it could not be the flagship of a fleet, was still the main battleship in the fleet.

Commodore Perry of the United States knocked twice, and when he opened the door to Japan, Perry's American East India Company fleet did not have many warships with a displacement of more than [-] tons.

Moreover, the degree of vaporization of the American Navy is not high, and there are still many sailing warships with a displacement of less than a thousand tons.

This is the US Navy two years later, and things are only going to get worse now.

"When the Roland is repaired, you can drive it to Hawaii to convey our goodwill to the King of Hawaii. Hawaii is an excellent transit point in the Pacific Ocean." Liang Yao said, "The British can go to Hawaii, the French can go, so naturally we go."

It is unrealistic to annex Hawaii at present, but it is still feasible to build a transit port on Hawaii under the guise of helping Hawaii rebuild.

Before the end of the US-Mexico War, the United States had already shifted the focus of its strategic expansion to the Pacific Ocean.

One of the greatest achievements of President Fillmore's tenure was the dispatch of Perry's East India Company fleet to open the door to Japan.

At this time, the United States is very eager to expand to the Pacific Ocean and get involved in Hawaii. Not only does Liang Yao not have any resistance in the United States, but he will also receive their strong support.

"What about the route from San Francisco to Guangzhou? Who will operate it?" Sven asked.

"This route can't be interrupted. Could it be that other than you, other captains of Universal Shipping can't be qualified for this route?" Liang Yao said, "Besides, the immigration work in California can't just rely on our Global Shipping Company, I'm the Chinese businessman. Also say hello, they will also participate in immigration work."

After the outbreak of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Uprising, the Manchu Qing's ability to control the region was not as good as before, especially the southern region, which was also conducive to Liang Yao's immigration work.

At present, the Chinese population in California has exceeded [-], accounting for more than one-fifth of the total population, making them the second largest ethnic group after native Americans.

But this is far from achieving Liang Yao's expected goal.

When Liang Yao came to the shipyard, Fremont was there.

Fremont looked at the Roland under repair in the dock with his hands behind his back.

"The French warship is really good." Fremont exclaimed with a click of his tongue.

"It's our warship now!"

Liang Yao suddenly appeared from behind Fremont, startling Fremont.

"our?"

Fremont's eyes widened with an incredulous expression on his face.

"It's ours, Mr. Senator. Just now, Mr. Lieutenant Governor bought their warship from the French at the wine table." Sven laughed.

"Both are bought?"

Fremont pointed to two warships of the French Navy and asked, his tone of voice was somewhat excited.

"I only bought the Roland, which is the bigger one."

Liang Yao said regretfully, why didn't he want to buy all the two warships?To blame can only be blamed for the lack of accuracy of the British Royal Army Navy, and the other French ship docked for maintenance was only slightly injured.

"I just asked the old workers at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The Roland has a full-load displacement of 2300 tons. It is a cruiser-class warship in the US Navy's battle order, but the French use it as a frigate."

Speaking of this, Fremont can't help being overshadowed. Not to mention the huge difference between the US Navy and the British Royal Navy, there is also a huge gap compared with the French Navy.

"The 10-inch and 8-inch naval guns on the ship are also better than the naval guns of the American Navy. It is a pity that the French did not leave the shells on the ship, otherwise you can look at the French shells."

"The French didn't leave any shells?" Liang Yao frowned. "When the French woke up, I asked them for it. I bought the Roland for 200 million francs. I bought a warship, so I don't give me shells." , what is the use of this warship?"

"The Hope will be launched next month. Once the launch is successful, it will prove that California's shipyards have the ability to independently produce steamships."

As Fremont walked, he pointed to the Hope that was about to be completed in the dock and said.

It has been three months since the Nozomi Hope started construction in November last year.

Although the Nozomi is only a small civilian steamship with a full load displacement of only 500 tons, and the technology used is not advanced, it is a leap from scratch in the California steamship manufacturing industry, which is of extraordinary significance.

"This is just the beginning. In the future, California's shipyards will build giant ships of the thousand-ton, two-thousand-ton, three-thousand-ton, and even ten-thousand-ton class." Liang Yao said ambitiously.

"Ten thousand tons, your appetite is really big." Fremont said, "The United States really needs a naval base in the Pacific Ocean. For now, San Francisco is the best choice."

"A Pacific Fleet is more needed!"

Liang Yao thought of the fact that when California and the federal government in Congress were at a standoff some time ago, the fleet of the British Hudson Company was cruising the coast of California all day long.

"The Hudson Company of the United Kingdom also has a fleet in the north of us. Although it is not large, I always feel that it is on my back. We in the United States do not even have a warship in the Pacific coast."

"Isn't there the Roland now?"

Fremont smiled in relief.

"I am a close friend of Admiral Robert Stockton of the Navy, and this Mamluk navy accessory of mine was a gift from General Stockton."

Speaking of which, Fremont proudly showed Liang Yao the saber at his waist.

"Do you know about the Bear Banner Uprising?"

"How could you not know, this is one of the high points of your life, and every Californian knows that."

Liang Yao looked at the naval Mamluk sword in Fremont's hand, and had to say that this naval officer's saber was more beautiful and exquisite than his army officer's saber.

It turned out that the sword in Fremont was given by the commander of the navy, which also solved Liang Yao's original doubts: why an officer from the army in Fremont wore a navy saber.

It turns out that this guy has a good friendship with the general of the navy.

(End of this chapter)