Chapter 104: The Tailor and the Executioner

"Is that investigator from the Ministry of War a person who was born into a noble and wealthy businessman's family and has seen big events?"

Before Ge Wen left, Liang Yao asked him one last question.

He will choose how to receive the War Department investigator based on his origins.

Previously, the reason why he chose to use the California Star, the 145-pound natural gold nugget to tie the line with former President Fillmore, was not because he knew the specific date of former President Taylor's death.

Neither Taylor nor Fillmore were famous presidents in American history, and Liang Yao did not know the dates of their births and deaths.

The most important reason why Liang Yao chose to connect with Fillmore was because of Fillmore's poor background.

Generally speaking, politicians who come from humble backgrounds are more likely to be corrupted than politicians who come from wealthy gentry and wealthy merchant families.

This is true in the Qing Dynasty, and so is the United States.

"You mean Higby? What kind of aristocratic family does he belong to? His father and grandfather, as well as himself, are both tailors. Because of their bad luck, they made a good-fitting uniform for the former Minister of War. Entered the War Department."

Ge Wen stood up and said rather disdainfully.

"He is an investigator with Griffin, but he is a commissioner with you. If I guess correctly, Colonel Griffin is probably going to bleed heavily this time."

Was he a tailor before joining the War Department? This is good news for Liang Yao. A tailor is much easier to serve than the son of a wealthy gentry and wealthy businessman.

A small official has a big air. This sentence is very appropriate for Higby.

"I have taken the trouble this time to travel from Washington to California, a place where nothing matters. In addition to sending you the military uniforms and letters of appointment prepared for you by the War Department, I also need to write a letter at the request of His Excellency Secretary Conrad. An evaluation report on you, after all, your appointment was very hasty. "

Regarding the important words Minister Conrad and evaluation report, Higby emphasized them with a straight face, for fear that Liang Yao might not hear them clearly.

"Send my regards to Mr. Secretary Conrad. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Higbee. As far as I know, many officials in the War Department like to sit in the office and talk nonsense. People like you who are willing to take the trouble to come to California for on-the-spot inspections There are not many officials.”

Liang Yao greeted him with a smile, and his words made Xigurmu Mu Chunfeng greatly change his impression of this young man.

Higbee no longer had a straight face: "I heard that you just wiped out a group of bandits, which is no small feat. If this is true, I think no one is more suitable to serve as California's Sheriff and Army Colonel than you. ”

This time, the word Higbee emphasized was if.

Liang Yao enthusiastically accepted Higbee's reputation. Although the bald tailor was an annoying little person, who knew that this little person was a close friend of Mr. Conrad, the Secretary of War?

He didn't want the position of Army Colonel he had obtained to go away just because of some trivial issues. What's more, he also hopes that Higbee can speak for him in front of the Secretary of War and bring some weapons and equipment to California.

After a hearty meal, Liang Yao took the fat bald man to the casino.

Stanford was very good at things, and he personally served Higbee at the gaming table with a smile on his face.

After losing gold worth eight thousand US dollars to Higbee, Stanford looked at Liang Yao, and Liang Yao nodded slightly to indicate that it was almost done.

Investing eight thousand dollars on a small character like Higbee was enough for him to value Higbee.

Eight thousand dollars in this era is enough to corrupt weak-willed ministerial-level officials in the United States.

Higbee was satisfied, and the eight thousand US dollars gained made him feel that his trip was worthwhile. What's more, he had won the eight thousand US dollars from the casino openly, and he was not afraid of the impeachment of his colleagues.

The largest casino in San Francisco is located next to the largest brothel in San Francisco.

This kind of industrial layout had been laid down during Brannan's time. Under Liang Yao's instruction, Stanford helped the drunk Higby to the brothel next door.

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"To introduce, this is the most suitable candidate for the governor of California that I have mentioned to you, Mr. Peter Hartman Burnett, who is also the governor of the California Territory."

At the New York syndicate's camp in Sacramento, John warmly introduced Burnett to his companions.

Many later Chinese historical materials regarded Peter Hartmann Burnett as the first governor of California, and openly marked Burnett's term as 1849~1851.

In fact, this is a mistake. California was officially established as a state in September 1850, so there is no such thing as a governor in 1849.

Burnett's position would more accurately be called Governor of the California Territory.

After the United States had overseas colonies, the more specific name for this position was territorial governor.

In another time and space, the statehood of California before the Civil War was only a statehood in name only. In fact, the core positions in California were controlled by the Eastern Consortium.

The first democratically elected governor of California who truly held real power was Leland Stanford, who took office when the Civil War broke out (1861).

"I heard that Mr. Burnett is also a Democrat and has political experience. From this point of view, Mr. Burnett is indeed the most suitable candidate for California governor."

Milners looked up and down at Burnett. Although Burnett was well-dressed, he looked very rough and fierce, with a pair of vulture-like blue eyes full of murderous intent.

This image did not please Milners, and Milners frowned and said.

"Mr. Burnett, since you are the governor of California Territory, where have you been before?

Not only did you fail to fulfill your responsibility to protect us American citizens, California is now in such chaos, and there are so many barbaric Chinese. You have an unshirkable responsibility."

"Gentlemen, please listen to me carefully."

Burnett sat down and wiped the mud off his leather boots. His leather boots were made of Indian scalps, one of which was from the leader of the Yurok tribe, which was very precious.

After wiping the mud off his boots, Burnett explained the reason to Milners: "Indians are rampant in northern California and Oregon. For more than a year, I have been committed to eliminating the Indian savages in both places."

As he spoke, Burnett ordered several shackled Indian captives to come in with a pile of scalps.

"These are the results of my more than a year, and they are a strong proof that I have maintained public security in California and even in Oregon. If I hadn't cleared out the Indians, the gold diggers in California would not be able to gain a foothold in California, let alone find gold here."

"Okay, okay, I know." Milner waved his hand in disgust, "Take these bloody things out quickly, I don't want to see these things."

Mildners asked Burnett to take out the Indian scalps quickly, he couldn't bear to see these things.

He didn't understand what kind of deep hatred Burnett had with the Indians, which made this guy spend more than a year in the deep mountains and old forests to slaughter Indians.

Even John felt that Burnett's move was too barbaric. Although John did not like Burnett's image, he still decided to nominate Burnett to run for governor of California.

"I learned from the miners around that they would vote for a doctor named Robinson for governor. This man is just a doctor and has no political experience at all. He is not suitable to be elected governor of California.

Burnett, we will spare no effort to support you. I hope you will not let us down."

"It is my honor that you are willing to support me. I promise you that as long as I am elected governor, I will scalp the Chinese just like I scalp the Indians. These nasty guys have the same nasty skin color as the Indians."

Burnett promised the representatives of the New York consortium.

"The Liang Yao you mentioned will also be the raw material for my new leather boots."

"Burnet, let's get elected governor first and then talk about these things. Our current situation is not optimistic. We must find a way to get enough votes." Milners said in a deep voice, "The Chinese in California are all naturalized. The methods used to deal with Indians do not apply to them."