Chapter 133 Britain and France are both leeks (third update, please subscribe)
The miracle did not happen at all. Although reflector galvanometers were installed at both ends of the cable, no signal from New York was detected, and of course, New York did not receive the signal from London.
In an instant, public opinion in Britain and the United States was in an uproar.
…
"Then what?"
Looking at Field and Buffett who looked worried, Zhu Xianhai asked calmly.
"Then?"
"Yeah, I mean what's the situation now?"
"Now, the stock of the Atlantic Telegraph Company has fallen to worthless paper, and no one believes that this telegram has any practical value anymore."
Buffett sighed.
"When we left London, we heard that the British government was ready to abandon that line..."
Field sighed deeply. He was the only one who knew how difficult it was to persuade the two governments to support the Atlantic Cable. However, the news of failure was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Facing the two dejected people, Zhu Xianhai smiled.
“This is great news!”
"What?"
The two looked at Zhu Xianhai in confusion. What was he talking about?
"Either way, this is good news."
Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"The British and American governments' abandonment of this route means we can sell it to others at a high price!"
"Sell it to someone else? Who is likely to buy this pile of scrap metal?"
At this moment, Buffett even felt that Zhu Xianhai was a little unreasonable. Did he know what he was talking about?
"Who said he was scrap metal?"
Looking at Buffett, Zhu Xinghai smiled.
"The reason why the outside world makes such a judgment now is simply because even if a reflector galvanometer is used to detect and amplify the signal passing through the cable, it is impossible to amplify a weak signal."
"Yes, sir, because its signal is too weak, probably because of the cable."
Field had lost many friends and investors over the years, but he had never lost his optimism. But this time, he had completely lost his confidence.
"The signal is too weak, but it does not mean there is no signal. It is because the performance of the reflector galvanometer is limited. What if we replace it with a reflector galvanometer with better performance?"
The mirror galvanometer is one of several instruments used to measure weak currents. It projects a beam of light onto a scale to act as the pointer in a conventional ammeter, amplifying the tiny changes in the current through the deflection of the beam of light in a mirror. However, the performance of the mirror galvanometer is still very primitive. After all, William Thomson had just improved it a few years ago.
"Do we?"
Buffett asked back.
"We use the most advanced mirror galvanometer in the world in London."
"That's London."
Zhu Xianhai smiled mysteriously.
"I have a mirror galvanometer here too!"
In fact, the failure was within Zhu Xianhai's expectation. The quality of the submarine cable that Field laid with great difficulty was actually very poor. For example, the purity of copper was not high enough, which directly hindered the transmission of current signals. In history, when this cable was salvaged during the construction of the second cable in Field, it encountered similar problems. How was it solved later?
It was nothing more than a further improvement of the "mirror galvanometer", and then what? That circuit has been used for decades.
"We have a mirror galvanometer here?"
Facing their surprise, Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"That's right. Otherwise, why do you think I would invest in the Atlantic Telegraph Company? Besides, the new galvanometer has better performance, and the speed of sending and receiving messages is at least 50 times higher."
In fact, even when the first Atlantic cable was usable, its performance was very mediocre. On August 16, 1858, Queen Victoria sent a message to the President of the United States using Morse code. His speed was extremely slow - the 99-word congratulatory message took 16 and a half hours to send - but this success made the whole city of New York celebrate.
However, the emergence of a new type of reflector galvanometer will change everything.
"Really?"
Field looked at Zhu Xianhai nervously. For him, whose reputation had been ruined, Zhu Xianhai's words were undoubtedly the last straw.
"certainly!"
Zhu Xianhai nodded and said.
"I have already manufactured two finished products. Compared with William Thomson's improved reflector galvanometer, its performance is more than five times better. It can perfectly solve the problem of the Atlantic cable. Believe me, the ridicule and sarcasm now will become a joke in a month!"
Looking at the confident Zhu Xianhai, Buffett suddenly said.
"My friend, have you anticipated all this?"
"You mean the failure of the message?"
Picking up the wine glass, Zhu Xianhai took a sip and then said.
"Of course, Cyrus, you should know that this telegraph line is invested by the US government and the British government. Now we only hold 50% of the shares. Although the US government is willing to sell their shares, the British government seems to have always been optimistic about the potential of the Atlantic Telegraph. They have no intention of selling their shares, right?"
Cyrus Field was of course well aware of this.
"Yes sir, four years ago the British government sent telegraphic orders to two regiments in Canada. The regiments were on their way to India, but when the British government learned that the Indian rebellion had been suppressed, they sent new orders via cable. By not sending the troops, the Treasury saved about £60,000, possibly more, and recouped about one-seventh of their investment in the cable with a single military order, so the British were optimistic about its potential."
Historically, it was the support of the British government that enabled Field to re-lay the second Atlantic cable a few years later.
"So the British are optimistic and they are not willing to sell their stocks, which is not good news for us."
"What?"
Field's face was full of questions.
“Isn’t the support of the British a good thing?”
Without the support of the British government, he would not have been able to lay the cable.
After taking a look at Field, Zhu Xianhai sighed.
"At least for businessmen, this is definitely not a good thing. What we are pursuing is to maximize profits. The British government... is definitely an obstacle, because the potential of this telegraph line is infinite. If we want to maximize its value, we must make it a rare commodity!"
"Rare goods are valuable? What does that mean?"
"That is, after the British sell their shares, when the test is successful again and the share price soars, Britain and the United States will be willing to pay a high price to acquire this route. Well, maybe France too! The Emperor III will definitely be very interested in this route if it is successful!"
Putting down the wine glass, Zhu Xianhai said proudly.
"If you want to reap the benefits, you must use some tricks. This time, I plan to use this cable to give the British, Americans, and French people a hard blow!"
Ignoring the two stunned people, Zhu Xianhai just quietly tasted the wine. At this moment, he was very proud in his heart. Everything was within his expectations and plans. Taking advantage of the technological gap to make a profit from Britain, the United States and France was Zhu Xianhai's original intention of investing in the Atlantic Cable.
"What do you think the Atlantic Telegraph will be worth when it starts receiving signals again, Field? Two million pounds? Five million pounds? Or more?"
"Sir, why can't we run it ourselves? It's very profitable! This cable has great potential. When it first started running, the price of sending telegrams was very expensive, $10 per word, and each telegram had at least 10 words. If the telegrams were expensive, it meant that its profit margin was very large."
Field looked at Zhu Xianhai in confusion.
"Then it must be worth more!"
Zhu Xianhai knew a little.
“This can be sold at a good price!”
Zhu Xianhai knew very well in his mind that this cable could not be defended. The best option was to use it to make some quick money before anyone else took action!
For example, selling it to the French!
I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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