1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 227 Colonel Robert

"General Perry, you show distrust of the Army."

When Perry made such an excessive request to Fillmore, it was clear that he did not trust the California Infantry and looked down on the Army, Liang Yao said unceremoniously to Perry.

"If you don't trust the Army and only trust your colleagues in the Navy, I think that's the end of our cooperation."

Liang Yao's attitude was very tough. In the Oval Office of the President in the White House, he not only represented himself, but also represented the American Army.

Faced with scorn from the admirals, he had to side with the army.

"Perry!"

Fillmore also felt that Perry's request was too much, and the arrogant attitude of these admirals made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Whether it is the Marine Corps or the California Infantry, they are the backbone of the American army. You should trust your army, believe in the California Infantry. The California Infantry is the elite of the army. With the California Infantry to cooperate with you, you still have to believe What's not to like?"

Fillmore categorically rejected Perry's request.

There were not many troops in the United States. The [-] infantry regiments of the army were scattered all over the country and fought against the unfriendly Indian tribes. They were deeply mired in the war and couldn't get away.

The two regiments of the Marine Corps are the few mobile forces of the federal government. It is unrealistic to assign half of the Marine Corps to Perry.

Seeing that Liang Yao's attitude was so tough, and President Fillmore's attitude was so firm, Perry had no choice but to give up and gave up the idea of ​​sending the Marine Corps into the Japanese Expeditionary Force.

"Colonel Liang, do you have any request?"

Perry looked at Liang Yao.

Of course, Liang Yao took the opportunity to make his request.

However, his request was not the request of the Japanese Expeditionary Force. With the strength and equipment he currently has, it is a bit of a fantasy to conquer Japan.

However, it is more than enough to beat the Japanese shogunate authorities, force Japan to found a country, or even support a puppet regime close to itself to complete the goal of this expedition.

What Liang Yao wanted was more establishments.

"After the California Infantry participated in the expeditionary military operations against Japan, the defense of California would inevitably be empty, and the California Infantry was not only responsible for the local defense of California, but also responsible for part of the defense in Arizona and New Mexico.

I would like your permission to formally establish an infantry regiment dedicated to the defense of the Arizona and New Mexico regions to relieve the defense pressure on the US-Mexico border.

Of course, I also know that the federal government is not financially rich at the moment, and the people of California understand the difficulties of the federal government. If the federal government does not have enough money to support a new infantry regiment, the California government is willing to bear part of the cost for the safety of the state. "Liang Yao said.

Fillmore couldn't wish for Liang Yao's request.

In the past, states, especially those states with a large number of Indians in the west and south, when faced with security issues, the first thing they thought of was to ask the federal government to recruit local troops, or at most ask the federal government for money to form militias by themselves.

It is the first time that California is willing to actively contribute part of its military expenses to support a regiment and ease the pressure on the border.

Furthermore, after the expedition of the California Infantry to Japan, the defense of the border area really needs to be strengthened.

For Mexico, the United States has always been very vigilant. Even if Mexico's current national strength and military strength are very weak, the United States has never taken it lightly.

"I will consider your request as appropriate. It is not a trivial matter to add a standing regiment to the army. I will submit your request to Congress." Fillmore said to Liang Yao.

"You will get an answer soon."

On the way from Washington to New York, Liang Yao was warmly welcomed by the American people.

The United States really felt the cruelty of the war in the Civil War 10 years later. Although the United States had some casualties in the previous war against Mexico, far more soldiers died of illness than on the battlefield.

Moreover, most of the soldiers and generals who participated in the US-Mexico War were from the south. The Americans in the north did not feel that the war was cruel, but they were full of enthusiasm for the war.

Minister Conrad and the senior officers of the army also had high hopes for Liang Yao, hosted a banquet in honor of Liang Yao, and wished Liang Yao a victory and return.

"I have read the letter from His Excellency Houston."

After the banquet was over, a gentle-looking colonel in his forties said to Liang Yao.

"As long as your students can meet the minimum requirements of West Point Military Academy and Virginia Military Academy, West Point Military Academy can admit them. I also have a little relationship with Virginia Military Academy, and I will say hello to the Virginia Military Academy."

The newly promoted colonel was Robert Edward Lee, who had just served as the principal of the West Point Military Academy.

The colonel of the American Army Infantry Regiment prefers to train officers of the same ethnicity from the same country. This is no secret in the American Army, and the federal government has turned a blind eye to this.

Liang Yao is a Chinese, and the Chinese colonel trains some Chinese officers so that he can control the army. This is also a very common thing in Robert's view.

During the U.S.-Mexico War, he also served as a staff assistant to Winfield Scott as a friend. It was the normal state of the American army during this period to rely on connections to go through the back door. Not only the army, but the navy was no better than the army.

It doesn't matter, there is no way to gain a foothold in the army.

"Then I'm here to thank Colonel Robert."

A slightly drunk Liang Yao said to Robert.

Robert's appearance was gentle and elegant. If he did not wear a colonel's uniform to attend the banquet, but wore ordinary clothes, it would be difficult for Liang Yao to associate Robert with an officer.

"We are all colleagues in the army. It is necessary to help each other. Thank you very much. Mr. President and Minister Conrad are very optimistic about you. This expedition to Japan, please do your best for our army!" Robert said.

"Serving the country is the bounden duty of a soldier. It's nothing but Japan." Liang Yao said.

"I heard that you bought a batch of Prussian Dreiser needle-fired guns. These guns fire very fast and can also be shot in a prone position."

Robert was very interested in the Dresser needle gun that Liang Yao bought. He had heard of this gun equipped by the Prussian army.

Robert is a pragmatist, and he has no prejudice against breech-loading guns in his mind. He believes that whether it is a front-loading gun or a breech-loading gun, as long as it is easy to use and reliable, it is a good gun.

If the firing pin gun of the Prussian army is as rumored, it has an amazing rate of fire of 6 to 12 rounds per minute, and can shoot in a prone position.

The existing combat tactics and theories will no longer be applicable. Robert is now the principal of the West Point Military Academy. He is full of energy, vitality and drive in his prime, and he is starting to improve some outdated courses.

Robert is very interested in this weapon that can change the rules of tactics.

It's a pity that Robert had never seen the Prussian Dreiser firing pin gun before.

"This gun is not as good as the rumors say, and there are many problems." Liang Yao said.

"The Dreiser firing pin gun has a very high rate of fire at the beginning, and a skilled shooter can shoot more than 10 rounds per minute. However, if the firing pin and the barrel are not cleaned in time, such a rate of fire cannot be achieved.

This gun has a complex structure and is troublesome to maintain.And in terms of long-distance design accuracy, it is not as good as the domestic rifled version of the Springfield M1842. "

The teaching company has been training with a Dreiser firing pin gun for a period of time, and has some experience in using it.

Although the Dreiser firing needle gun has many shortcomings, its high rate of fire in the rear covers up other shortcomings, and it still has a crushing advantage over contemporary active rifles.

"As long as it is a breech-loading gun with a fast rate of fire, these shortcomings are not unbearable."

Robert thought for a while and said that his thoughts coincided with Liang Yao's.

"There is another fatal flaw that I'm afraid you won't be able to bear, let alone the Ministry of War and the federal government." Liang Yao said with a smile.

"What shortcoming?" Robert asked curiously.

"The price is 50 US dollars." Liang Yao laughed.

The rifled version of the M14 purchased by the War Department for $1842 is a search. Ten years later, the Civil War broke out and the U.S. military failed to complete the refitting of the front-loading rifle, let alone the $50 Dresser firing needle gun. up.

The biggest enemy of the American army has never been the enemy of the outside world, but the members of Congress who hold the financial power of the federal government on Capitol Hill.

"This is indeed an unforgivable shortcoming." Robert's tone was full of regret.

If the price of the Dreiser firing needle gun is reasonable, he can also suggest that the Ministry of War purchase a batch of this type of firearm from Prussia to test its performance.

The high price of 50 dollars a piece is doomed to miss the American army.

Of course, the local tyrant Colonel Liang Yao with a net worth of tens of millions of dollars was excluded.

As long as Liang Yao was happy, it would not be surprising for his soldiers to wear gold-plated guns. Robert had heard that the salaries of ordinary soldiers in the California Infantry Regiment were higher than those of lieutenants in other infantry regiments.

"If you like this kind of gun, I will pick some Dresser firing pin guns in the best condition as gifts for you." Liang Yao said to Robert who was a little disappointed.

As soon as he arrived at the gate of Vanderbilt's manor, Liang Yao saw a thin young man holding a file bag in his arms waiting at the gate.

"Mr. Liang, I am John W. Garrett, Chairman of the Finance Subcommittee of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad."

This young man who just passed his thirties introduced himself to Liang Yao.

The Baltimore-Ohio Railroad was not immune to the technological revolution sweeping the railroad industry. The stock price of the Baltimore-Ohio Railroad, which was already poorly managed and financially troubled, inevitably went bankrupt.

After Liang Yao converted less than US$40 in bonds, he completed his holding of the railway company and inherited the 400 miles of track that the railway company had already laid, as well as the right to build the railway from Baltimore to Ohio.

Of course, Liang Yao also took over the mess of the Baltimore-Ohio Railroad Company, including hundreds of lawsuits left by the railroad company.

(End of this chapter)