1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 263 Kerosene (4K)

"Is this kerosene?"

Liang Yao looked at the research results that Nobel showed him.

The light yellow liquid contained in the glass container can smell the pungent smell of the liquid after getting close.

"I haven't decided on a name yet. After all, this is a newly discovered liquid, but the name you gave is very appropriate. It's called kerosene, right?" Nobel said excitedly.

At this time, Nobel has not realized that these liquids will change the life of the entire human civilization in the future. This kind of thing called kerosene will light up the nights of human cities and make people's nightlife richer.

Although there is whale oil, limited by production and cost, not all cities can afford it, and use whale oil as a fuel for street lamps.

Rao is as rich as San Francisco, and only the commercial streets and civic squares in the center of San Francisco can be kept brightly lit all night.

The cities that use whale oil as street lamp fuel on a large scale can be counted on the fingers of the whole world, except for a few wealthy big cities such as London, Paris and New York.

Moreover, with the large-scale hunting of whales by humans, the number of whales has plummeted. Now fewer and fewer whales are caught by humans every year, and the price of whale products has also been rising.

The soul comes from Liang Yao in the 21st century. Kerosene is not a common commodity in life. The kerosene Liang Yao is most often exposed to is the kerosene in the lighters of later generations.

"This color doesn't look pure enough, and there's no purer kerosene?" Liang Yao asked Nobel.

The color of relatively pure kerosene should be colorless, and the light yellow color indicates that the kerosene extracted by Nobel distillation is not pure enough.

"Yes, the light yellow kerosene is refined on a large scale, and I still have refined kerosene here."

As he said that, Nobel brought another tube of colorless kerosene. The refined kerosene was not much different from the kerosene Liang Yao saw later.

Liang Yao was very satisfied with Nobel's achievements, so he brought two kerosene lamps improved from whale oil lamps, poured kerosene into the lamps and lit them.

This kind of lamp is also called horse lantern, lantern, qi dead wind lantern and boat lantern in China. It is widely praised for its practicality and good wind resistance.

In the late 20s and early 80s when electric lights were not popular, this kind of lamp was still widely used in rural areas of China.

Everyone looked curiously at the flickering flame inside the kerosene lamp.

Since it was daytime, Liang Yao asked Hu Jinchen to close the curtains so that he could better observe the lighting effect of kerosene.

The lighting effects of kerosene lamps lived up to expectations, and two kerosene lamps illuminated the spacious living room.

In fact, one kerosene lamp is enough. The reason why Liang Yao lit two kerosene lamps was to observe the difference between the kerosene purified by large-scale distillation and the kerosene purified by multiple distillations.

The result is obvious, in terms of lighting effects, there is no difference between the two.

The only slight difference is that the light yellow kerosene has a faint pungent smell when it burns, and the colorless kerosene has almost no peculiar smell.

"You did a good job." Liang Yao patted Nobel's shoulder very seriously, "Human civilization will now enter a new era, an era full of light in the dark."

The significance of kerosene is self-evident. There were many ways to make money in the United States in the 19th century, but the most profitable thing, the answer is undoubtedly oil.

Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie spent his whole life catching up with the wealth of oil magnate Rockefeller and chasing the crown of the richest man in the United States.

It is a pity that even though Carnegie was riding the wind of America's great infrastructure, the steel he produced at the Pittsburgh Steel Works was in short supply.

Steel rails are used to upgrade rails, steel is needed for steel bridges across rivers like the Mississippi, steel is needed for new skyscrapers in cities, and steel is needed for shipbuilding.

But until the output of Andrew Carnegie's steel mills surpassed that of Britain, his wealth still did not exceed that of Rockefeller's oil empire.

Even when Andrew Carnegie was at his peak, his wealth was only about 5 million US dollars, not even half of Rockefeller's.

At the same time, Andrew Carnegie was already the richest person in the United States except Rockefeller.

And Rockefeller's oil empire, with a wealth of 14 billion US dollars, has become the richest person in the history of the United States, and is the undisputed richest man in the United States in the Gilded Age.

When Rockefeller passed away in 1933, he left behind a huge fortune of US$14 billion, which accounted for 15% of the GNP of the United States that year.

Before the advent of the electrical age and the popularization of electric lights, there was no cheapest lighting fuel for this era, not one of them.

Kerosene was as important to humans in the 19th century as electricity was to humans in the 20th and 21st centuries.

This thing is just needed, and every family can use it.In other words, kerosene can make everyone's money.

As for the gradual popularization of electricity in developed countries at the end of this century, and the gradual replacement of kerosene lamps by electric lights, Liang Yao is not worried about this problem.

Developed countries have popularized electric lights, but developing countries have not. There is still a market for kerosene lamps in developing countries. Before the 20s in China, kerosene was still widely used in vast rural areas.

Furthermore, before electricity was popularized in developed countries, the internal combustion engine was also invented. By the end of this century, the most important function of oil was not lighting fuel, but engine fuel.

As long as you control oil, you control the future of mankind for at least the next two centuries.

Liang Yao sent a telegram to Deng Wenshun in Los Angeles, asking Deng Wenshun to come to see him quickly.

At this time, the California Railway (San Francisco-Los Angeles) was opened to traffic. After the railway was opened to traffic, it was completely operated at a loss. The personnel and material exchanges between San Francisco and Los Angeles were infrequent, and there was almost no demand for the railway.

After all, Los Angeles has been a small town with a population of less than [-] until now.

The California railway is very controversial in California. Many Californian rich people think that this is the most failed investment of Liang Yao, a business genius. It is wrong to spend tens of millions of dollars to build a railway in a small town with a population of less than [-] and no development potential. Very stupid behavior.

Of course, there are some people who believe that Liang Yao's political purpose in building the California railway is greater than the economic purpose. After the construction of the California railway, once something happens at the border.

The troops in California can drive directly to the US-Mexico border in just two or three days.

But they all guessed wrong. Liang Yao's purpose of building this railway was to make money. This railway would become the most profitable railway in the west coast region, bar none.

How can ordinary people like you see the potential of Los Angeles?

Less than nine hours after the telegram was sent, Deng Wenshun appeared in front of Liang Yao.

"Third brother, you came to me all of a sudden, but what's the hurry?" Deng Wenshun asked.

"Have you bought all the land in Los Angeles?" Liang Yao asked Deng Wenshun very seriously.

"Owned land has been bought, and unowned land has also been occupied. Except for a small number of self-cultivated land of Los Angeles residents, almost the entire land in Los Angeles belongs to the American Group." Deng Wenshun said after careful consideration.

"Very good." Liang Yao nodded with great satisfaction, "A few more wells will be opened, and more crude oil will be collected for storage, and I will send people to Los Angeles to set up a company and set up a factory. The company in Los Angeles will be yours for the time being." to take charge."

"To set up a factory in Los Angeles?" Deng Wenshun's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and his whole body became energetic, "Really?"

"Am I still going to lie to you?" Liang Yao said angrily, "You always said that San Francisco in Los Angeles was raised by his own mother, Sacramento was raised by his younger mother, and Los Angeles was raised by his stepmother. It's as if I didn't give Los Angeles The investment is the same, just moved a steel factory to Los Angeles not long ago?"

"It moved to a steel factory, but the steel factory didn't make much money, so it didn't attract many people." Deng Wenshun said with a smile.

"This time is different. The factory we opened in Los Angeles this time is more profitable than gold. I haven't announced it to the outside world. We will do it ourselves first. As long as we start the oil company in Los Angeles, Los Angeles will not worry about anyone. "Liang Yao said.

Just now when Nobel showed him kerosene, Liang Yao didn't inform other people to come to Taoyuan to observe.

There are other ways to make money that Liang Yao can selflessly share with everyone to make a fortune, but oil is not the only way.

According to the current situation of easy mining of shallow layers in California, according to the current digging method, the excavation can be completed in less than [-] years.

However, the oil in Los Angeles, with the mining technology of this era, is more than enough to mine for a hundred years. In the future, Liang Yao will expand his private army, not only the army, but also the navy.He also counted on the oil in Los Angeles to support the army.

He must account for the bulk of the oil in Los Angeles.

Liang Yao called Deng Wenshun into the study, and explained to Deng Wenshun some specific matters concerning oil extraction and kerosene refining.

On April 1852, 4, Liang Yao came to St. Francis Port.

Accompanying him were Deng Yan, prominent figures from the Huaxia Chamber of Commerce, and dignitaries from California.

People who don't know the inside story of this scene thought it was the American East India Fleet welcoming Perry, but it was not the case. What Liang Yao was going to greet was just an ordinary Chinese woman, but this woman's identity was a bit special. Deng Lan.

Soon, the chimney of the James Day, the most luxurious liner of the World Shipping Company, appeared on the distant sea level, followed by the entire hull of the James Day.

Sven, the president of Global Shipping Company, personally steered the James Day into the port of San Francisco, and docked the James Day on the pier steadily.

"Ma'am, this is San Francisco."

After stopping the boat, Sven said to Deng Lan who was standing on the deck and looking at the pier.

"There is Captain Rausven along the way." Deng Lan thanked Sven.

"Don't dare, dare not, it is my honor to serve Madam, is Madam satisfied with this voyage?"

Due to the fact that he has only traveled to China for more than two years and has often dealt with Chinese people, Siwen has become very proficient in Chinese. Now Siwen can even speak fluent Cantonese, but his accent is a bit strange.

"The foreign boat is very stable, there is nothing wrong with it." Deng Lan said with a smile.

Although the Pacific Ocean was turbulent, the James Day was a large ship of more than [-] tons, which was much more stable than the small sampan Deng Lan used to go fishing in his early years.

Along the way, Deng Lan didn't even get seasick.

Following the memory of the original owner, Liang Yao quickly saw Deng Lan who had stepped off the boat, and stepped forward to shout.

"mother!"

Bringing his biological mother to California to enjoy the blessings and leaving the suffocating traditional family in Xiangshan is the only thing Liang Yao can do for the original owner now.

"Yaoer."

Seeing Liang Yao, Deng Lan couldn't help but burst into tears.

Deng Lan was taken as a concubine by Liang Yao's father, Liang Shaochen. The reason Liang Shaochen took Deng Lan as his concubine was nothing more than because of Deng Lan's appearance, so there was almost no affection between the husband and wife. Lan also doesn't have much emotion.

In the entire Liang family, the only people Deng Lan really cared about were his two sons, Liang Yao and Liang Hui.

"Counting it all together, it has been more than three years since you left Guangdong in the 1849th year of Daoguang ([-]). When you first left, you didn't know how you were doing in America. Then you sent a letter back saying You have made a fortune in California, Citigroup, so I am relieved."

Deng Lan looked at Liang Yao, who was half a head taller than her, and smiled gratifiedly.

"It's a lot taller than when I left Guangdong, and I've grown stronger, but it's also a lot darker."

Deng Yan couldn't help but said: "Sister, you are a promising child now. You are a military and political official in the frontiers of the United States, my immediate boss, and you are in charge of thousands of soldiers."

"Really?" Deng Lan just smiled lightly, "Mother doesn't understand things about America, but as long as you live well, mother will feel relieved."

"Auntie, my cousin is also my boss now, and I am now managing a big bank for my cousin." Deng Ying leaned forward and said, holding Deng Lan's hand.

"Ying'er is getting more and more beautiful, and you are not too young. You are old enough to talk about marriage. Do you have a crush in California?" Deng Lan asked Deng Ying with a smile.

"Auntie!" Deng Ying said, stomping her feet.

"Since she came to California, this little girl has become more and more mature. Even I can't control him. Let her go. Whether she can get married or not is her own business." Deng Yan glared at Deng Ying.

"Is there any trouble for the mother in the Liang family?" Liang Yao asked with concern.

"Since you made a fortune, the whole Liang family has treated me very politely and never made things difficult for me. Your grandfather is ill. He originally wanted to take a boat to California to see you, but he was worried that he would not be able to withstand the wind and waves at sea because of his old age. He asked me to send a message, I hope you can go back and visit his old man in your spare time." Deng Lan said to Liang Yao.

"When I have time, I will go back and visit his old man." Liang Yao said lightly.

"elder brother."

Liang Hui, who was hiding behind Deng Lan, looked up at Liang Yao and shouted.

Liang Yao stepped forward and touched Liang Hui's head: "Liang Hui has grown so tall."

Liang Yao was his own younger brother. If Liang Yao remembered correctly, Liang Hui was fourteen years old. When he left home, Liang Hui was only eleven years old.

"When you first left, kid, you kept clamoring to find you in the United States every day. When you actually arrived in the United States and saw you, you were speechless." Deng Lan said, holding Liang Hui's hand.

"It's okay, let him get used to the new environment slowly," Liang Yao said.

(End of this chapter)