"Since Brannan can openly set up a so-called security committee in San Francisco, why can't we do the same?" Liang Yao decided to give him a taste of his own medicine.
"That's an idea. Do you want to set up a Sacramento Public Security Commission to fight against Brannan?"
Robinson admitted that this was a good idea, but he also became alert: He was worried that Liang Yao might become the next Brannan.
But this issue is not the most important at the moment. The most pressing issue now is how to eliminate the threat posed by Brannan's Vigilante Committee to the Sacramento gold mining area.
Brannan was not just trying to steal the gold, he was threatening their lives. It was clear which of the two was more important.
"Brannan's roots are in San Francisco. San Francisco has a much larger population than Sacramento. It is also the largest commodity distribution center in California, with more wealth than Sacramento. Sacramento alone cannot shake Brannan's position."
Liang Yao walked to the window, put his hands in his pockets, looked at the crowd coming and going on Sacramento Street, and said thoughtfully.
Sacramento is developing rapidly, but it will not surpass San Francisco in a short period of time. And due to its location, Sacramento's future development ceiling will not be higher than San Francisco. San Francisco is an inevitable battleground.
"Dr. Robinson, I know you have an excellent reputation in San Francisco."
The city of Sacramento was created by him personally. Liang Yao has absolute authority and influence in Sacramento, but his influence in San Francisco is limited to the Chinese circle in San Francisco, and the Chinese in San Francisco have no say in San Francisco.
"You want me to contact my friend in San Francisco?"
Robinson walked to the window with the difference in his hand. There were no tall buildings in Sacramento. From Liang Yao's office on the third floor, he could have a panoramic view of the small city of Sacramento.
"Yes, only if we infiltrate San Francisco, we gold diggers will have a hope of defeating Brannan. Brannan is no ordinary man. The gold diggers in California need to unite."
"I will do what I can, but I have to remind you that organizations such as the Vigilante Committee require government authorization."
Robinson was a law-abiding citizen, but he was not a stickler for convention.
A strong state government is the best way to solve the chaos in California. But the establishment of California is still a long way off, and these gold mining companies and organizations can only rely on themselves if they want to survive here.
"But California is still in a state of anarchy, isn't it?" Liang Yao said, "Even if a state government is established, the first choice for sheriffs is the local gentry with fame and wealth. The state government will give priority to these people to maintain local order for administrative costs."
"That's true. I didn't expect that you know so much about these things even though you have only been in the United States for a few months." Robinson exclaimed.
"China's Qing Dynasty did the same thing. Many of the ideas of politicians are always the same, regardless of national boundaries."
In the 19th century, when science and technology were still backward, the administrative cost of governing a large country was very high, especially for large countries with vast territories and large populations such as the Qing Dynasty and the United States. The problems faced were very complicated. The city-state democracy of a small country with few people was not feasible here.
The eastern region of the United States was developed earlier and is more developed, so the situation is still good. However, for the vast Midwestern region that has just been developed, the United States basically appoints powerful immigrant leaders to implement more effective management of these newly developed areas.
"I am just a doctor and a gold digger. I have no interest in these things. If you want to set up a committee to protect the legitimate rights and interests of gold diggers, I will support you unconditionally, but the existence of the committee is limited to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of gold diggers."
Robinson made his attitude clear. He did not oppose the establishment of something like a security committee, but the security committee must serve the interests of the gold diggers.
Robinson's words made Liang Yao believe that this man might indeed be just a pure doctor and gold digger, at least for now. If it were someone else, they would have to bargain with him about who would be the chairman after the committee was established and how to distribute the power of the committee, but Robinson did not mention these things.
Flagg returned to San Francisco, and his mounted police reported to Flagg what had happened in San Francisco over the past two days.
As the Vigilante Committee became more and more rampant, the usually docile Chinese in San Francisco took up arms to defend their shops and property, and sporadic exchanges of fire occurred with the Vigilante Committee.
Fortunately, the current exchange of fire is still under control.
This situation is definitely not what Flagg wants to see. Perhaps it is time for Brannan and Liang Yao to sit down and talk calmly.
But soon, Flagg's idea vanished, because his men told him a very unfortunate news. "The people of the Public Security Committee broke into your home and smashed it, and the valuables in your home were also looted by them."
After much hesitation, the mounted police told Flagg the unfortunate news so that Flagg could be mentally prepared when he returned home.
This news was like a bolt from the blue to Flagg. It had hit his bottom line and he was furious.
"What the hell are you doing?! You let those bastards ransack my house?! What about my wife? Where is she now?!"
"We are busy maintaining law and order in San Francisco, and no one could have imagined that the Sheriff's Committee would be so bold as to openly rob your home.
Fortunately, your wife is fine. We have protected her and she is safe now. She was just threatened and frightened."
"Is this a blessing? What is the Sheriff's Committee?! Fuck the Sheriff's Committee! Take me to see Evelyda. My God, she has never experienced such a horrible thing before. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have gone to Sacramento. I should have stayed by Evelyda's side."
Flagg felt very guilty and rushed back to his messy home. As soon as his wife saw Flagg, she rushed to him and burst into tears.
"Oh my God, you are finally back, my dear. I thought I would never have the chance to see you again."
Flegian hugged his wife tightly, patted Evelyda's back and comforted her, "No, Evelyda, we swore in the church that we will stay together for the rest of our lives."
"The men with the Vigilante Committee armbands have taken our gold, bank notes, gold dollars, and everything of value. We have nothing left now."
Thinking of the looted wealth, Evelyda felt heartbroken and cried harder and harder.
Flag comforted Avri and sat down on the sofa: "No, how can we be left with nothing? Honey, you are everything to me. As long as you are here, we will not be left with nothing."
"Oh, no."
Elfrida buried her head in Flagg's strong, reliable arms.
"Tell me, dear, what do those criminals look like? I will bring all these thugs to justice!" Flag patted Evelyda's shoulder gently.
"I don't know. They suddenly rushed into our home, all with hoods covering their heads, leaving only their eyes exposed. Then they tied me up and blindfolded me. I only heard the sound of them rummaging through boxes and cabinets. I don't know anything else."
Evelyda tried hard to recall the details of the incident. The gangsters did not show their faces, so she could not see their facial features clearly, but she clearly remembered that one of the gangsters was wearing the armband of the Security Committee. The leading gangster even taught the gangster with the armband a lesson and told him to hide the armband quickly in an attempt to hide his identity. But all of this had already been remembered by the smart Evelyda.
"A gangster came in wearing a Security Committee armband! He even tried to cover it up! Luckily I saw him!" Evelyda was very excited. "It must be Brannan! He robbed the sheriff's house. He's the only one in California who would dare to do such an outrageous thing."
"Did they threaten you?"
"Yes, they asked me to tell you not to say things you shouldn't say and to mind your own business. They also said that their actions were not robbery, but just to recover the property that originally belonged to them. They also said that your words were inconsistent with your actions and other things that I didn't quite understand."
Thinking of those properties, Evelyda couldn't help crying again, and she pointed to the scar on her neck and said.
"They also violently pulled my necklace off my neck. This was a gift from my mother when we got married, and it was just snatched away by these robbers."
"Okay, Avrilda, you need to take a good rest. I swear to you, I will bring those thugs to justice. I am the sheriff of San Francisco. If I can't protect my own wife, how can I protect the people of San Francisco?"
In a rage, Flagg has lost the ability to think calmly. He can turn a blind eye to anyone who is hurt in San Francisco, except his family. He will make those villains who hurt his family pay double the price.