Chapter 928 America is the Loser (First Update, Please Subscribe)
New York is lit up because of Edison... This is of course impossible. After all, in this world, electric lights had been invented long ago, and even movies had become a big stick for Ming Dynasty culture export. As for inventions such as wax paper printing presses, carbon telephones, and phonographs, Edison had long lived in the shadows.
But Edison is Edison. Two years ago, after successfully persuading Morgan, Edison returned to New York and established the Edison Laboratory in Menlo Park. He recruited hundreds of young and outstanding college students and engineers, thus opening a new chapter in American scientific research.
But... that's it. Unlike two years ago when the New York press was promoting the "Edison Laboratory" and praising Mr. Edison for abandoning the rich income and luxurious house and car in the Ming Dynasty and returning to the United States without hesitation, not many people in New York remember this laboratory now.
"Could it be that all the inventions that mankind has made have been invented by the people of the Ming Dynasty?"
On the train to Washington, Edison sat in the carriage with a frown on his face. He closed his eyes and recalled the speech given by the president of the Association of Engineers at the end of the year.
"...Almost all scientists believe that human technological civilization has reached its peak. In the nearly one century since Watt improved the steam engine, human civilization has reached unprecedented heights. Humans have conquered the sea, the sky, and the night. In the past few years, we have sadly discovered that human technological progress seems to have stopped. At least to some extent, perhaps the world has reached the limit of human beings..."
Has the limit really been reached?
There was a big "?" in Edison's heart, but as an inventor, he had to admit that... there were too many applied inventions being invented, especially in the Ming Dynasty... it was simply an "invention factory", no, it should be said to be an "invention country", with a large number of inventions emerging every day.
And what about his laboratory?
Although various small inventions emerged one after another, none of them could cause a sensation. Many inventions were more like plagiarisms than inventions, and were simply modifications to the inventions of the Ming Dynasty.
Even if the companies in the Ming Dynasty raise objections and file a patent lawsuit, there is nothing to worry about. After all, this is a lawsuit in the United States. Not to mention that patent lawyers can turn white into black, even if they delay the case, they can drag it out until their patent expires.
But the problem is that the return on such modifications is too low. Besides, Edison has always been eager to prove his success to the world through a great invention.
"It's really difficult. Maybe I should have gone to the central laboratory first..."
Once again, Edison felt a little regretful. If he had been naturalized as a Ming citizen, perhaps he would have entered the "temple" of the inventor and seen its true appearance. But what about now?
The train continued to move forward as he sighed. As the train moved forward, Edison felt a little excited again as he thought about the reason for his trip to Washington.
"The President summoned me!"
Why did the president summon me?
Edison was also very curious, but besides curiosity, he was more excited. He even thought that a news would appear in New York newspapers in a few days - President Hayes met with America's most famous inventor, Mr. Thomas Edison, at the White House.
Those newspapers don’t publish this news?
Impossible, just give the reporters a red envelope. When it comes to commercial hype, Edison, as an inventor, is definitely a master, no less than any businessman, because he himself is a businessman.
A few hours later, the train pulled into the Washington train station.
As soon as he got off the train, Edison took a car directly to the White House.
The White House, Oval Office.
Sitting behind the sturdy desk presented by the Queen of England last year as a symbol of "Anglo-American friendship," President Hayes looked at Edison, the most famous "patriotic inventor" at the time, and said.
"Mr. Edison, based on your experience working at the Ming Empire Telephone and Telegraph Company, is it possible for the Ming Empire to have a telegraph that does not require cables? And can it be installed on warships and airships?"
A telegraph that doesn't require cables?
The president's question surprised Edison, but also enlightened him - a telegraph that did not require cables!
Is there such a telegraph in this world?
It can be used on warships, on airships, and on... One thing that is certain is that its market must be extremely broad, and once invented, it will surely shock the whole world!
But the question the president asked him now was that Ming Dynasty did not have such a machine.
Did the Ming Dynasty have a telegraph that did not require cables?
Edison had never heard of this, but in just a moment, he realized that this was an opportunity!
As a businessman, Edison saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
“Is it “wú xiàn diàn bào”?”
In a split second, Edison "invented" a Chinese word - wireless telegraph.
"What? What is "wú xiàn diàn bào"?"
Secretary of State Evarts asked rhetorically.
"It's a telegraph that doesn't need a cable!"
Edison replied slowly.
"It's like this, Mr. President. When I was working in the laboratory of the Ming Telephone and Telegraph Company, I came into contact with some Ming scientists. There, I heard them mention that there were scientists in the central laboratory who were developing a "telegraph without wires." At that time, their work had already come to an end..."
For businessmen, what are they best at?
Of course I seized the opportunity!
When faced with an opportunity, an outstanding businessman will never miss it, just like now, even though Edison had never heard of a "telegraph without wires", it did not prevent him from "inventing" a Chinese word to tell Americans that the Ming Dynasty had wireless telegraph.
This was of course a lie. In fact, Edison had no idea whether the Ming Dynasty had "wireless telegraph".
But the problem is that he needs to convince the US government that Ming Dynasty may have such a machine.
"Now, perhaps, they have completed this work, Mr. President. Although I personally am not sure whether they have this machine now, what is certain is that wireless telegraphy is the most important invention of this century. With wireless telegraphy, ships sailing on the sea can keep in touch with the land at all times. Whether in war or in navigation, it has very wide applications. No matter which country masters it, it will definitely master the microphone of the world!"
Frowning, Edison said in a helpless tone.
"Unfortunately, now with the official support of the Ming Empire, the Ming Empire's laboratories have left us far behind in every aspect."
Looking at the President of the United States, the Secretary of State and other officials in the Oval Office, Edison paused for a moment, then spoke with a stronger tone.
"And in the future, they will still leave us far behind. After all, we are competing with the best scientists in the entire Ming Empire as individuals. In this unfair competition, the United States is destined to lose!"
(End of this chapter)
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