Chapter 252: They Know, They Won’t Change

"California is really a promising place. It's full of energy. Being with these young people makes me, an old man from the last century, feel a lot younger."

After chatting with several young inventors for a while, Blanchard couldn't help but sigh.

Blanchard was deeply impressed by these young talents.

It seems that he has been working behind closed doors for too long. There are so many outstanding young inventors in the United States that he has never heard of before.

"I plan to set up a machinery company in California. According to my inspection in California, there is still a big gap in machinery in California. If possible, I hope to obtain a loan from Bank of America."

Blanchard, who is also an inventor and businessman, also sees potential business opportunities in California.

There was a lot of building work going on everywhere, and the tacks produced by his tack-making machine would be very popular here.

There is also his wood bending machine. Liang Yao has great market prospects whether it is used to bend wood for ships, farm tools, or building materials.

Of course, California's three-year tax exemption policy for industrial and mining companies is also very attractive to Blanchard.

Currently, the only state in the United States that has a tax-free policy for industrial and mining enterprises is California. I heard that California also has a tax-free policy for agriculture, which has also attracted many farmers from the east to immigrate.

The original destinations of many eastern immigrant farmers were Wisconsin and Missouri, but they changed their destination after hearing that California had a three-year tax exemption policy for agriculture and provided agricultural tools, seeds, and even interest-free loans. Came to California.

“California welcomes all aspiring entrepreneurs to open factories in California.”

Blanchard wants to open a factory in California, and Liang Yao naturally welcomes it. Blanchard manufactures machine tools. Such high-precision industries are rare in any state.

"For questions about opening a factory, you can submit your plan to the Ministry of Industry and consult with the staff of the Ministry of Industry. There is also an office of the Ministry of Industry in the San Francisco Industrial Zone. As for the loan, I can get a lower loan for you. Interest."

"Thank you very much."

Blanchard thanked Liang Yao and then asked Liang Yaodao.

"Do you have any new inventions recently? I heard that you just applied for a patent called a hinge. Can I take a look?"

Liang Yao nodded and asked Kony to bring the hinge.

Blanchard took the hinge from Coney, looked at it carefully, and praised it.

"It's really an ingenious design. If paired with the right gears, it can make a very good transmission device. But this thing is so sophisticated, isn't it expensive?"

"It is indeed a bit expensive, and there is still a long way to go before commercial use." Liang Yao said.

This hinge was his preparation for building a chain-driven bicycle, but things were not as simple as he thought.

Hinge, a mechanical component that seems very common in later generations, was an out-and-out high-tech product in the mid-19th century. With the current mechanical processing capabilities in California, there is definitely no way to mass-produce hinges that can be put into commercial use.

The idea of ​​making a chain-driven bicycle can only be put aside for the time being. It is more realistic to just work on the existing pedal-type pedal-driven bicycle and make some improvements to the details and materials of this bicycle.

The driving method of a pedal-driven bicycle is a pedal-driven bicycle on the pedal wheel. The efficiency is definitely not as good as that of a chain-type bicycle.

That's why before the invention of the chain, bicycles grew in weird shapes, with drive wheels getting bigger and bigger. All to save effort and increase power output.

Pan Zhengwei and Wu Yuanhua, who came to see Liang Yao, were very surprised to see the smoke billowing and the machines roaring in Tingtaoyuan these days.

If it were in the Qing Dynasty, this would definitely be a typical example of losing one's spirit while playing with things.

But both Pan Zhengwei and Wu Yuanhua knew that Liang Yao was not someone who lost his ambition by playing with things. Not only did he not lose his ambition by playing with things, he could also make money.

Looking at the various roaring machines in Tingtao Garden, and thinking of the pastoral scenery of the Qing Dynasty, the two of them felt as if they were in another world.

"I am going back to Guangzhou in person this time. Regarding the "Qingming-US Free Immigration Treaty", the people below may not be able to explain it clearly to De She (Pan Shicheng). It is best for me to go back in person to talk to De She about the matter. "

Pan Zhengwei said to Liang Yao.

Although the Pan family is now favored by the court, not everyone in the Pan family has the opportunity to meet the Manchu Emperor in person. Only Pan Shicheng, a second-rank official and highly regarded imperial businessman, had the opportunity to meet the Manchu emperor.

"Then please bear with the fatigue of traveling and traveling and take a trip." Liang Yao said to Pan Zhengwei, "Take the steam ship of the Global Shipping Company back to Guangzhou. The steam ship is faster."

"But before I leave, I want to ask you for something to give as a gift to the Holy One." Pan Zhengwei said.

"What do you want?"

As long as the Manchus and Qing Dynasties could get over it and let the "Qing-U.S. Free Immigration Treaty" pass without a trace, Liang Yao wouldn't mind giving some small gifts.

"I bought some guns and cannons in the east. There is no shortage of these things. I want to ask you for some machines." Pan Zhengwei said.

During the year he came to the United States, what he saw and heard opened his eyes.

He had witnessed the speed of foreign ships and the power of foreign guns and cannons in the Qing Dynasty, but this was the first time he had seen foreign machines.

He was astonished by the high efficiency of foreign machines. He hoped to bring some machines back to open the eyes of Qing officials.

If this continues, the Qing Dynasty will sooner or later become a fish on the chopping board of foreigners in its current situation.

Twelve years ago, Britain invaded the Qing Dynasty's sea borders, which made the whole country helpless. After the British soldiers landed at the mouth of the Yangtze River, they were like entering a no-man's land and easily captured Zhenjiang.

Twelve years ago, the British were able to land in Zhenjiang. With the Qing Dynasty's ineffective coastal defense, it is possible that they will be able to land in Tianjin in a few decades. Pan Zhengwei did not dare to think about the consequences of the foreigners landing in Tianjin.

"It's useless." Liang Yao knew what Pan Zhengwei was thinking about.

"The disadvantage of the Qing Dynasty is not that its instruments are inferior to those of Western countries. These machines will not be of interest to the Manchu nobles in the capital. The things that the Manchu nobles are not interested in, the Han officials dare not be interested in.

You can wake up a sleeping person, but you can never wake up a person pretending to sleep."

It's not like the foreigners haven't sent these things to the Qing emperor. The advantages of foreign guns and cannons and the speed of foreign ships are not unknown to the Manchu nobles.

It is precisely because they know that they want to ban these things.

The Manchus are not the main ethnic group of the Qing Dynasty. There are only a few million people. With a population of only a few million, they rule a large empire with a population of 400 million.

What they fear most is not the foreigners with strong ships and powerful guns, but the 400 million people being ruled.

Throughout the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu nobles have pursued a way of ruling that is more about defending against the Han than against the foreigners.

If the foreigners come, the worst thing is to sign a contract to cede land and pay compensation, which are all negotiable. As long as they please the foreign uncles, they are still the rulers.

They can still ride on the heads of 400 million cattle and horses and continue to live a life of drunkenness and debauchery.

If the Han people raise their heads, it will shake the foundation of the Qing Dynasty's rule. This is something that cannot be negotiated and there is no room for discussion.

Only such a reactionary ruling class can say the nonsense of preferring to be friendly with foreign countries rather than domestic slaves.

The Qing court launched the Westernization Movement to save itself, and that was when the Hunan Army rose. The Manchu ruling class had to use Han officials to continue to maintain their rule, and Han officials began to gradually gain control of military and political power.

Liang Yao was not stupid enough to count on the Qing Dynasty. It would be better to count on Hong Xiuquan, the cult leader.

Of course, Hong Xiuquan, the cult leader, could not be counted on.

He now only hoped to continuously transport the young and strong labor force of the Qing Dynasty to California, attracting Qing merchants to California to strengthen his foundation.

"I still want to give it a try, and wake up one if I can."

Pan Zhengwei said after a moment of silence.

"I also want to ask you to help me find some people to pretend to be the American delegation to pay tribute. As long as the masters in the capital are happy, the Qing-US Free Immigration Treaty will be a sure thing."

"I will ask someone to get you a steam engine later, and I will also ask Ward to make a train model for the California Railway Company and send it to you as a gift in the capital."

Liang Yao agreed and said to Pan Zhengwei.

"I want to expand the small dock of Global Shipping Company in Guangzhou into a shipyard. Last time, Sven reported to me that the James Day had a problem and was towed to Hong Kong for repair. I would like to ask both of you to give a heads-up to the Guangzhou authorities and arrange for them."

Global Shipping Company has been running the route between Guangzhou and San Francisco for a long time, and it is common for ships to break down.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will go on an expedition to Japan this summer. If there is a problem with the ship, it will be a big trouble.

Civilian ships can be towed to Hong Kong or Shanghai for repair, but if there is a problem with a warship, it is not so easy to repair.

"It's just a small matter, leave it to us." Pan Zhengwei was very happy to see Liang Yao agreed.

"Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong, and Xu Guangjin, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, have good relationships with our two families."

"This time when I go back, I also prepared some gifts for Governor Ye and Governor Xu. This time when Tingyu goes back, I would like to ask Tingyu to hand over my gifts to the two adults and express my feelings to the two adults." Liang Yao nodded and said.

The current Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Xu Guangjin, will step down in September this year. After Xu Guangjin steps down, the former Guangdong Governor Ye Mingchen will succeed him as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and Minister of Commerce.

After that, Ye Mingchen will continue to serve as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and Minister of Commerce until the outbreak of the Second Opium War in 1858, when Guangzhou was captured and detained in India until he died of hunger strike.

As long as the relationship with these two people is handled well, Liang Yao will not have to worry about how to deal with the Guangdong authorities at least before 1858.

Seventy percent of Chinese immigrants in California started from Guangzhou.

It is very important for Liang Yao to handle the relationship with Guangdong well.