[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rise-of-the-empire-spain":3,"chapter-rise-of-the-empire-spain-rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-389":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rise of the Empire: Spain",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2365317,4632,"Chapter 389: Rudolf Diesel","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-389",389,"\u003Cp>A few more days passed, and Gao Da finally met the world-renowned scientist known as the father of the diesel engine, Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel, at the Royal Palace in Madrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This father of the diesel engine had brown curly hair, a short mustache less than a centimeter long on his upper lip, and wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses, looking like an ordinary literary worker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it weren't for confirming that the person before him was the famous Rudolf Diesel, Gao Da would have even thought this person was some university professor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Diesel, welcome to Spain.\" Gao Da smiled, not minding in the slightest the somewhat depressed expression Diesel was showing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spain had interrupted Diesel's engine development plan, so Diesel, who had poured a great deal of effort into it, would naturally be depressed. But it did not matter; Spain would invest more funds in the future, and Diesel's engine research would only proceed more smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Respected Your Majesty the King, why exactly did you invite me to Spain?\" Diesel asked, feeling somewhat depressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also did not know why he had been targeted by the King of Spain so suddenly, when his research at the engine laboratory had been going perfectly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he had no room to resist; the King before him not only possessed immense power, but the automobile company he owned had business spanning the globe, and he possessed countless assets. No capitalist would be willing to offend such a greater capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is like this, Mr. Diesel.\" Regarding this world-renowned scientist, Gao Da was still willing to show more patience to win him over: \"One of our research projects has encountered problems regarding engines, and we are now in urgent need of a capable internal combustion engine expert to serve as the chief consultant for our engine laboratory and lead the engine laboratory's research on various internal combustion engines. I wonder if Mr. Diesel is interested?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diesel nodded silently to himself; he naturally understood that it was not without reason that this King had targeted him. The only thing about him worth mentioning was his slight ability in engine research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diesel knew that it was no longer a matter of his own choice. Since this King had forcibly brought him to Spain, wanting to go back was not something that could be achieved just by refusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty the King, is the engine laboratory you mentioned the one affiliated with the Royal Benz Automobile Company?\" Diesel asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to engine laboratories in Spain, the only one he could think of was the engine laboratory of the Royal Benz Automobile Company. This laboratory provided powerful engines for Benz automobiles and also allowed Benz automobiles to head toward the globe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is not, Mr. Diesel. I know that the engine you are researching is not the gasoline engine used for automobiles; our secret project requires exactly this kind of engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you are willing to stay in Spain to work, you will serve as the general person in charge of the engine laboratory related to this secret project. The setup of the engine laboratory will be entirely up to you. I will not ask how much research funding is needed, as long as there can be a breakthrough in engine research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wonder if Mr. Diesel is satisfied with such a job?\" Gao Da asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Diesel did not take it to heart, but when he heard Gao Da promise that the setup of this so-called engine laboratory would be entirely up to him, Diesel could not help but feel moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his previous engine laboratory was also set up by himself, because there were too many investors, he often had to consider the opinions of these investors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Diesel's engine experiments had already achieved certain results, this new type of internal combustion engine had also shown extremely powerful potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the investors prioritized their own interests. For Diesel to obtain unlimited research funding, it was basically impossible before the engines he developed earned enough profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, an opportunity to set up the laboratory he truly wanted and obtain unlimited research funding was placed right before Diesel's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Diesel was quite dissatisfied with the way this King had invited him to Spain, he had to admit that the conditions offered by the other party were indeed extremely attractive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty the King, is what you said true? Can the engine laboratory really be set up in the way I want, and can I also obtain sufficient research funding?\" Diesel asked, unable to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had known such generous conditions could be offered, Diesel would not have remained dissatisfied with Gao Da's barbaric invitation. This was not a barbaric invitation at all; it was simply giving away research funding for free, like a great philanthropist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Da nodded and said with a smile: \"Of course it is true, Mr. Diesel. As long as you agree to serve as the general person in charge of the engine laboratory, you can set up this engine laboratory however you wish. I am only responsible for providing the funds; everything else is up to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to the funds required for the laboratory setup itself, I will provide you with at least 2 million pesetas in research funding every year. Of course, this amount is not the limit. As long as all the funds are used for the research itself, I can promise you that your engine laboratory's research funding is unlimited; even if it is 10 million pesetas, I can provide it continuously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Gao Da, if he could attract one top scientist after another with money, then Gao Da did not care about the expenditure of funds at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, once these scientists had research results, the one to gain the greatest benefit was still the Spanish Royal Family. Whether it was the electricity developed by Gramme or the Benz automobiles developed by Benz, both made the Royal Family earn a fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the general persons in charge of these two research projects also became millionaires instantly by virtue of their respective projects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, Benz's net worth was the highest among all academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Spain, reaching a net worth of ten million just from the dividends of the Royal Benz Automobile Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not the later era; a net worth of ten million was still quite exaggerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>10 million pesetas was equivalent to 400,000 pounds, equal to 2.932 million grams of gold, which was 2.93 tons of gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the top scientists across Europe, it was not that there were none who could reach such a net worth, but it could be said to be countable on one's fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most top scientists were very capable in research, but when it came to managing their own property, their ability appeared somewhat unqualified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most obvious example was Diesel himself. Although the historical Rudolf Diesel achieved great success, he did not live a wealthy and luxurious life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason was that he became addicted to gambling after obtaining huge wealth, and eventually lost all his income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences, although they could only obtain very few dividends by cooperating with the Royal Family in research, this kind of income was continuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don't look at the fact that Benz only had a net worth of ten million now; in the future, the dividends of the Royal Benz Automobile Company would only increase, and a millionaire would sooner or later become a billionaire one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Gao Da's promise, Diesel was silent for a long time, and then he spoke: \"If what you said, Your Majesty, is true, then I am willing to stay in Spain and serve as the general person in charge of the engine laboratory. But I hope you can bring my family over, and it would be best to bring all my research results and data from the engine laboratory, which will also speed up the laboratory's setup and research progress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Da nodded and said with a smile: \"Your family has already been arranged for and can take the cruise ship to Spain today. As for your research results and related data from the previous engine laboratory, they are also already in the process of being transported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your previous laboratory has already been bought by us, and except for those that cannot be moved, everything else will be moved to Spain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing what Gao Da said, Diesel felt somewhat fortunate that he had agreed to Gao Da's request. His family and laboratory had already been arranged clearly; according to this posture, no matter what, he had to agree to stay in Spain to work today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the conditions Gao Da offered attracted Diesel, and before falling out, he successfully attracted Diesel to agree to stay in Spain himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Gao Da continued: \"Does Mr. Diesel have any requirements for the construction of the laboratory? If you are unwilling to place the laboratory in Madrid, Barcelona or other cities are also good choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, I suggest placing the laboratory around Madrid. If you need manpower, the Madrid University City can provide you, Mr. Diesel, with sufficient auxiliary manpower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gramme's electricity laboratory and the Royal Benz Automobile Company were both in Madrid, and the reason was precisely the university graduates from the Madrid University City who came in a continuous stream every year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Madrid University City was the first school district in Spain composed of multiple universities, possessing a total of eight universities of various sizes, covering almost all majors, and was also the first choice for Spanish high school graduates to apply for university.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most famous in the University City was the Royal Academy of Sciences, which was hailed as the cradle of academicians of the Academy of Sciences, having currently cultivated over a hundred academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences for Spain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don't look at the fact that the number was only a little over a hundred; one had to consider the time the Royal Academy of Sciences was established.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This university was established following the establishment of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and so far it had a history of less than 30 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the graduation of the first batch of university graduates from the Royal Academy of Sciences until now, only 25 years had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being able to cultivate over a hundred academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences in such a short time was enough to prove how excellent the education and cultivation system of the Royal Academy of Sciences was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, thinking about it, it was also normal. The relationship between the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Royal Academy of Sciences was already quite obvious, and many famous academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences held positions at the Royal Academy of Sciences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The university graduates cultivated by these excellent academicians, even if they were not enough to enter the Royal Academy of Sciences, were definitely qualified scientific research workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the master's graduate students carefully selected from these ordinary university graduates, who generally assisted their mentors in research at the Royal Academy of Sciences while studying, so the probability of joining the Royal Academy of Sciences was naturally greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diesel nodded, relatively approving of what Gao Da said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although in the research of the previous engine laboratory, most of the experiments were completed by Diesel alone. But this did not mean that the relevant experiments and tests of the engine only needed one person; such experiments were of course the more people the better, which could save a lot of time costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Researching engines was not that simple; it not only required experts in mechanical design, but also experts in chemistry and fuel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Da also mentioned that this engine laboratory was linked to a certain secret research in Spain, which also meant that after Diesel's engine laboratory was set up, it needed to frequently deal with the project team of this secret research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, the more manpower in the engine laboratory, the better. Some simple work could also be handed over to these people, and Diesel could have more time to conduct his own research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no special requirements for the site of the engine laboratory, but I hope the laboratory can be set up as soon as possible. Your Majesty, my diesel engine experiment was successful last year, and there is a high probability of perfecting this invention this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the engine laboratory can be built earlier, perhaps the first relatively perfect diesel engine could be born this year,\" Diesel said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he felt very depressed before was precisely because his research had reached a quite important juncture. If not for this accident, he was confident that he could manufacture a relatively perfect diesel engine within three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the progress was currently affected to a certain extent, it could still be saved. As long as the engine laboratory was completed earlier and all the data from that engine laboratory in France was transported to Spain, Diesel was confident that he could manufacture a relatively perfect diesel engine in his mind within this year, and then start experiments on the diesel engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Diesel say this, Gao Da nodded and immediately indicated: \"The laboratory currently has a ready-made site, right next to the engine laboratory of the Royal Benz Automobile Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That place was originally Gramme's electricity laboratory, and after the relevant research on electricity was successful, the electricity laboratory also moved to a larger place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is just right to use the entire experimental area as the engine research site. If your diesel engine research goes smoothly, I don't mind merging the two engine laboratories to establish a large-scale factory that integrates engine research and manufacturing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, you will be the general manager of this engine factory, and you will receive 2% of all profits generated by the engine factory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diesel was not interested in the 2% dividend, but he was very satisfied with the engine site Gao Da gave him. Being close to the engine laboratory of the Royal Benz Automobile Company also meant that when his own diesel engine experiment encountered difficulties, he could also refer to the gasoline engine experiments of the automobiles to find his own ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the merger of the two engine laboratories and the subsequent dividends mentioned by Gao Da, for a top scientist like Diesel, he did not value money that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: he held the position of general person in charge at the previous engine laboratory, and his annual salary had already reached 30,000 marks, which was 37,500 pesetas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a high salary, for Diesel, the dividends from the engine laboratory and the subsequent factory were not that important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current assets were enough for him to live a wealthy life. For Diesel, who was keen on engine experiments, his own experiments were the most important, which was also the reason he chose to join Spain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2534,"2026-06-25T09:27:14.599Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","185ca5a64ec9406b1cec65478e1fd21f8c869e9902166e6854f8990a5ba016b2","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-390","rise-of-the-empire-spain-chapter-388",493,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frise-of-the-empire-spain-cover.jpg"]