Chapter 493: The Great Depression? It doesn’t exist
Chapter 493: The Great Depression? It doesn’t exist
"Waldersee is in power? I know this guy. He's the commander-in-chief of the Eight-Nation Alliance."
Shao Quanzhong took the latest information sent by Liu Niang and muttered something under his breath.
"What Eight-Nation Alliance?"
"Uh, I dreamed about it. Siwen, don't worry about it. Let's continue."
Hailing, Qiao Garden, two-part bamboo house.
It was winter at the end of January and the Chinese New Year was approaching. Shao Quanzhong was wearing a thin double-breasted silk shirt, looking like a real local rich man.
The sound of burning turpentine in the fireplace was crackling. Taizhou was not cold in winter, and now the study was even warmer. Shao Quanzhong was dressed casually and was having a long conversation with Zhang Siwen.
Germany’s affairs had nothing to do with Shao Quanzhong. No matter who was in power, Shao Quanzhong would support Germany because of their previous friendship.
As for Germany's future - Shao Quanzhong really doesn't know, he can no longer predict it with his fingers.
Domestic affairs are still more important.
"Second brother, your personal contribution to our Daxia is unparalleled. You invested precisely in gasoline and diesel engines and opened up the oil age."
“The atmosphere invested in electromagnetism, and the telephone, ushering in a new era of communications.”
"As the pioneers of these two new eras, we are destined to make a lot of money. Even my two think tanks are full of praise for your vision, second brother."
"We have registered 20-year patents for our telephones, gasoline and diesel engines, and wireless telegraphs. With these key products, plus petrochemicals from Arabia and Babylon, we should be able to maintain our basic national income."
"Immigration to Europe, northern Japan, the Heilongjiang General Region, the Jilin General Region, and the two provinces of North America will prevent our transportation industry from withering within two years."
"Promoting the industrialization of satellite countries and vassal states will expand domestic demand and sustain our economy for five to six years without negative growth."
"This is a remarkable achievement in the midst of a global depression. Maybe in five or six years, the depression will be over."
Shao Quanzhong sighed, "It won't last for five or six years, and it probably won't last for nine years anyway."
Ahem, Liu Niang behind me didn’t know much about economics, and she didn’t ask Shao Quanzhong why he said the Great Depression wouldn’t end within nine years, and why he didn’t just round it up to ten years…
Zhang Siwen has been with Shao Quanzhong the longest, and has long been accustomed to Shao Quanzhong's charlatan-like estimation method. "If five or six years don't pass, my think tanks will give me two ideas for me to choose from."
"One is to learn from Lucia's Potowski and take action against the nobles and landlords, killing the rich and helping the poor, and ensuring the living standards of the common people."
Shao Quanzhong shook his head like a rattle, "No, that won't work. The rich ones now are my brothers, and they are fighting me with their heads on the line. I can't be like Zhu Yuanzhang, who forgot his old brothers after gaining the world. I can't do that no matter what."
Zhang Siwen smiled, "Another idea is to issue bonds. After obtaining a large amount of funds, we will vigorously carry out public construction. We will use work instead of relief, so that the people can make money."
"The idea is to overdraw the country's potential and let the economy last for a few more years, then fill the hole when the economy picks up and you can make a lot of money."
Shao Quanzhong nodded, "That's fine. We can just make do with it for a few years. What a pity. If there was another industry that could make a lot of money, we might not have to do this. Anyway, it can only last for a few years now, and we can think about it later--"
"boom!"
The door of the study was kicked open.
Who is so bold? Are all the guards dead?!
Shao Quanzhong's eyebrows stood up... and then they calmed down again, with a smile on his face, "Hui Er, what's the matter that makes you so anxious?"
Rong Hui grabbed Shao Quanzhong's hand and dragged him out, "Come on, follow me to Xiaoxiang Cliff, there is some great news."
"Um - Hui'er, wait for me to put on my coat."
Liu Niang hurriedly helped Shao Quanzhong put on the marshal's uniform. Rong Hui stroked her temples and suddenly saw Zhang Siwen there. She smiled apologetically and said, "Siwen, you should go too. This is a world-changing event."
Half an hour later, Xiaoxiang Cliff.
"That's it—"
Seeing a row of light bulbs light up as the steam engine turned, Shao Quanzhong shook his head, "Isn't it just a generator? Hasn't it been around for a long time?"
"Brother Shao, the previous one was called a DC generator, and this one is called an AC generator now. They are completely different things."
"What's the difference? Aren't they both about making light bulbs light up?"
Rong Hui was anxious, "It's completely different. The DC generator can only carry nearby equipment and charge the battery. The power can't be transmitted far."
"With AC generators, electricity can be transmitted hundreds or thousands of miles away with little loss. One power plant can provide electricity to the people of a large area. It's not like now, when only scientific research bases with large investments can afford it."
"and--"
Tesla's standard Hailing accent came from behind him - this is called genius and omnipotence, "The steam-powered spindle in the processing workshop can be retired, and most of the mechanical equipment can be converted to electric."
"Air conditioners and washing machines that were once only affordable to the rich and powerful and in big shopping malls can now be owned by every household, and elevators can be installed in every building. All households can turn on the lights, and human life will be greatly changed..." Zhang Siwen's steady voice came from behind, "Brother, we have found our investment direction. This will be a trillion-dollar business, an industrial revolution, and the world will enter the era of electrification."
"We are standing at the forefront of this industrial revolution. Daxia will continue to lead the world and we no longer have to worry about the Great Depression."
Shao Quanzhong was stunned and stood there for a long time.
This is the disadvantage of being uneducated. He knew all these things that everyone was talking about, but he just didn't know where they came from. He never understood why Hailing still used gas lamps on the streets when electricity was already available.
It turns out that the root cause lies in this alternating current!
Shao Quanzhong grabbed Tesla by the collar and said, "You are the one who invented this alternating current?"
Tesla's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly, "I am a genius, and I have always believed that I can benefit all mankind."
This is such a boastful tone, but they did it.
Shao Quanzhong stood there for a while, then suddenly slapped himself a few times.
Rong Hui was stunned. "Brother Shao, are you so happy that you are crazy?"
Shao Quanzhong bowed to Tesla and said, "You are a genius, a god, and you have brought blessings to the people of Daxia. I have slandered you in my heart, and I apologize to you here. This gift is given to you on behalf of the people."
He turned around and said, "Sixth Lady, give Tesla a bonus of two million taels of silver, immediately. His salary will be raised to ten thousand taels per year. From now on, he will just eat and wait for death, and Daxia will continue to support him."
"Hold a celebration meeting immediately, dress Tesla in red and ribbons, and publicly confer the title of earl on him."
"Tell all institutes to start researching the electrification of all equipment immediately, and register patents for the AC generators around the world. It will take 20 years."
Liu Niang took notes seriously, while Tesla said calmly, "Your Majesty, I want the money and salary, and the title of Earl, but I don't want the celebration party. I'm very busy and have many projects to research."
After saying that, he turned and left without giving Shao Quanzhong any face at all.
If Tesla relied on himself, he would be a fool who didn't know the world. Now Shao Quanzhong is supported by a high salary, and he can do whatever he wants. Xiaoxiangya is actually the most suitable place for him.
He only had this weird temper because he met Shao Quanzhong, otherwise he would have definitely suffered a bloody nose.
Shao Quanzhong did not take it as an offense at all. If he could help Daxia solve its economic development problems, which would affect the jobs of nearly 40 million people, Shao Quanzhong was willing to kowtow to him.
Tesla suddenly came back and said, "I suggest you send an exploration team to build a large number of hydroelectric power stations in suitable places. At the same time, you should develop coal-fired thermal power generation equipment, apply for patents, and build power stations all over the world. This should make you more money."
"Ordinary researchers can do this kind of low-end research. I'm not needed."
He left after saying this. This is a true genius, and he knows his genius clearly. He is arrogant, but he has the right to be arrogant.
Shao Quanzhong waved his hand and said, "Record it and execute it immediately. Establish Daxia Electric Power Company and put it under Huier's name. Hehe, within 20 years, all the electricity used by the country must be paid to me--"
"By the way, tell Xiao Kong to issue bonds immediately to expand the fleet and air force and increase armaments. If anyone dares to use my electricity without paying, I will beat him up, no matter who he is!"
Historically, Tesla invented alternating current, but was not only suppressed by Edison, but was also forced to make it available to the world for free.
Doesn't he want to collect money? He has to be able to collect it. As a single person, do you dare to ask Queen Victoria for money, or ask the French government for money?
Coincidentally, this thing fell into the hands of Shao Quanzhong, and he could collect the patent fees.
Behind this patent is the powerful Great Xia Empire, which has the most advanced weapons and equipment and an almost endless supply of soldiers...
A month later, more than 400 electrification patents for various equipment that were urgently developed were registered globally simultaneously with the alternating current patents.
Daxia Electric Power Company announced that it will undertake hydropower station and thermal power station projects around the world.
At the same time, Wang Yongxian finalized the first phase of a huge project to build 200 hydroelectric power stations on the rivers of Daxia, and immediately began exploration and design. Among them, the Three Gorges Hydropower Project alone was planned to invest 10 billion taels of silver.
The Great Depression? For Daxia, which ushered in the era of electrification, it did not exist.
"Reporting to the Marshal, a huge oil field has been discovered in Tyumen, with direct reserves of 40 billion tons, and the total reserves in the surrounding area are estimated to be more than 400 billion tons."
"Report to the Marshal, a huge oil field has been discovered on Sakhalin Island."
"Report to the commander-in-chief, the Kazakh Khanate, Kanjuti, Laos, and Northern Japan request to be incorporated into the country and establish provinces, and enjoy the same treatment as the inland provinces."
"Report to the Marshal, Türkiye requests to become our vassal state."
"Reporting to the Marshal, the United States and Britain have jointly invited Daxia to intervene in the French occupation of the Ruhr area."
"Reporting to the commander-in-chief, the UK is hosting the Wimbledon Tennis Open, and Dongmei requests to lead the Hailing Middle School team to participate."
Hmm? Something strange seems to have sneaked into the national affairs.
(End of this chapter)