Chapter 34: Duel
The United Mining Company was established through the exchange of ideas between Liang Yao, Fremont and Gervin.
The three of them talked about themselves and the future of California over the wine table.
"Politics, be damned politics, I was on the side of the upright General Stockton in the Stockton vs. Carney fight, but what did I get? A man who shed his blood for the United States during the war.
, the injured soldiers were brought to court!”
After three rounds of drinking, the drunk Fremont could no longer suppress his anger.
Fremont and Gavin are two people with completely different personalities. Although Fremont has been expelled from the army, he still maintains the straightforwardness of a pure soldier, with a generous and upright personality.
And Ge Wen appeared cunning and cautious even at the wine table. He never discussed any politically sensitive matters at the wine table, and even when he drank, he only pretended to take a small sip. This allowed him to maintain his integrity.
You will be more sober and avoid accidental drunken gaffes.
"I did not die on the battlefield fighting the Mexicans, but I died in the court of my own people."
"Mr. Fremont, you are not dead, you are still alive and well, and you have gained a new life." Liang Yao still remained awake and comforted the drunk Fremont.
"My heart is dead, which is more tormenting than physical death."
Freemont howled heartbreakingly, saying that he was expelled from the army and would never be able to serve the country in the army again. This was an irreparable regret.
Liang Yao didn't know much about the grudges between the two Army and Navy Commodores, Stockton and Carney.
He also didn't know why an Army officer from Fremont would side with a Navy future in a political struggle between Army and Navy generals.
However, California was able to successfully secede from Mexico and join the United States of America, and Fremont was indispensable. It is indeed inappropriate to send Fremont to a military court and hastily remove him without careful investigation.
The Mexican-American War also led to the growth of a group of American officers and generals, who became the mainstay of both the North and the South in the Civil War ten years later. Fremont was one of them.
Fremont is resentful about this, and he understands it.
Liang Yao's private banquet was soon interrupted by an uninvited guest, and Brannan led a dozen people to Sacramento aggressively.
Unlike Brannan, younger Brannan is very low-key. It is said that he manages Brannan's business behind the scenes and rarely appears in public.
Regarding the arrival of little Brannan, Liang Yao could be said to be confused and had no idea what little Brannan's intention was.
Are you here to cause trouble? Or are you here to reconcile?
"Mr. Brannan, you didn't hesitate to travel all the way to Sacramento, what's the point of doing it for you?"
Liang Yao patted his dazed head and tried his best to stay awake.
His guards gathered around him, warily guarding against Brannan and the others.
"Mr. Liang, if we continue to fight like this, we will both lose." Brannan got straight to the point and went straight to the point.
"It's you who stir up trouble, not me."
"Maybe we should live in peace."
"Can you represent Brannan?"
"I'll try to convince him."
"This is not the answer I want. Please answer it."
Liang Yao issued an expulsion order to young Brannan.
In this struggle with Brannan, he was at a disadvantage and never thought of negotiating peace with Brannan.
Not to mention that it has now changed hands, and Brannan's failure has been obvious. Furthermore, Brannan Jr. does not have full authority to negotiate with him on behalf of his family.
Brannan Jr.'s trip is only his own wish, not Brannan's. Such negotiations are unnecessary and will not lead to results.
For a person like Brannan who is extremely vengeful and narrow-minded, he must eradicate the root cause to avoid future troubles. Otherwise, he will not be able to enjoy his stay in California.
"How much gold and dollars will it take to buy your land?!"
Brannan Jr. raised his voice.
"That's not for sale."
Liang Yao flatly rejected Brannan's request to buy land. Brannan's idea was too naive.
That little Brannan can have such naive and unrealistic ideas just shows that the situation on Brannan's side is not optimistic, and he has the upper hand in this business war.
Liang Yao now not only has the China Bank to attract gold for him, but can also mine gold in the riverbeds of the American rivers. He can deal with this price war with ease and does not have to worry about the risk of the capital chain breaking.
And Brannan's two main incomes now mainly come from casinos and brothels. Brannan's good days are coming to an end.
"Liang Yao, do you dare to duel with me like a man! The outcome will be determined by a duel! If you are a man, you will accept this duel. If you admit that you are a coward, you can refuse this.
A duel between men!"
Xiao Brannan sent an invitation to Liang Yao for a duel.
Liang Yao just thought it was funny. I can obviously defeat your Brannan family in a more reliable way, so why would I take risks and fight you?
Liang Yao smiled coldly and ordered that little Brannan be driven away to prevent little Brannan from causing trouble in his territory.
"I'll fight you!"
Fremont staggered up to young Brannan, ready for a duel.
"An old senior of mine once warned me that dueling is an abominable custom brought about by the depravity of mankind. But I like this vulgar custom."
The drunk Freemont was serious about facing the duel, and his blue eyes lit up.
He has a unique understanding of dueling. He believes that the true meaning of dueling does not lie in how to put the opponent to death in the most efficient and safe way. Killing the enemy is only secondary.
The true meaning of duel is to let you learn how to stay calm when facing the enemy's guns, defeat the opponent, and prove to the world the value and dignity of your existence.
Liang Yao didn't understand Fremont's brain circuit, and he planned to end this meaningless farce.
But Fremont had loaded his pistol and was ready for the duel, and the crowd of onlookers was growing, ready to see the duel.
There is no way this farce can end even if it wants to.
The good guys have opened the market one after another, and the gamblers have enthusiastically placed their bets on this life and death battle.
Duels in gold mining areas are not uncommon, and conflicts often break out among gold prospectors over a piece of gold mining territory that is a few feet or even smaller.
The simplest and most effective way to resolve conflicts is to fight in a duel, blocking it with your own life, just to gain a chance of wealth.
But this duel is different. The duellists are two very distinguished people, and they are very special.
Fremont and Brannan Jr. stood facing each other with loaded pistols in their hands, glaring at each other.
The air around them was deathly silent, and in the eyes of the two of them, the people around them were like air, as if they didn't exist.
At this moment, they only have eyes for the opponent standing opposite.
The drunken Fremont acted unusually calm and calm, not at all like an alcoholic who had just drank half a barrel of gin.
Little Brannan was the first to break the silence. He roared to embolden himself.
But in terms of momentum, Little Bran has already lost. Little Bran just raised his hand, and before he had time to pull the trigger, he felt as if his right shoulder was being hammered hard by a heavy object, and even the gun in his hand was
Got rid of it.
Little Brannan was not dead, but the pain still made him collapse to the ground, roaring helplessly.
Fremont, who had just experienced a life-and-death duel, was mostly sober. He put away his gun, shrugged and said with regret, "I originally wanted to hit him in the heart, but unfortunately I drank too much and couldn't hold the gun securely."
Little Brannan was supported by a group of hired gunmen and walked toward San Francisco in embarrassment amid boos.
After this incident, Liang Yao and the others lost interest in continuing the banquet. He asked people to help Fremont and Ge Wen to the guest room to rest.
He himself returned to the office and stared at the date on the calendar. If nothing unexpected happened, the Sven fleet, which had recently purchased supplies in Mexico and Central American countries, would return to San Francisco.
It was also time for him to deal the final blow to Brannan, his old rival.
It’s time for the absurd era of Brannan’s rule in California to come to an end.
Liang Yao called over his cultural hawk, Henry, the editor-in-chief of the California Daily News.
"Publish an article exposing the Brannan Casino scam."
"Newspapers are still distributed for free?"
This time, Henry did not hesitate. Like most people in Sacramento and San Francisco, he had full confidence in Liang Yao.
"It is distributed for free, and I will subsidize the newspaper company's losses."
"Understood, I will write the article beautifully and expose Brannan's ugly criminal behavior."
As for the losses of the newspaper, Henry is not very concerned about it now. Although it is operating at a loss, the "California Daily" has not gained nothing. The newspaper has gained a reputation and has become one of the most impressive news media in the local area.
Recently, some dignitaries in the East even sent people to the San Francisco Daily Californian just to get the latest information about California.
Henry had never imagined that his newspaper would have such influence as it does today.
------Digression-----
The signed new book list is now at the twelfth place. Although it failed to meet expectations, I am still very grateful for everyone's support. I came back late from the party today. I am very sorry. There is only one update left and I will update it together tomorrow. I guarantee that there will be an update of three chapters totaling more than 10,000 words tomorrow.
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Chapter completed!