Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: A Longed-For Yet Unfamiliar Homeland (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"The talks wrapped up more smoothly than expected."
"Of course they did."
JP Morgan puffed out a cloud of cigarette smoke with a grumpy expression at his secretary's remark.
"It was a deal that benefited both sides without any losses."
"But is there really value in investing so much in that radio thing? You've already taken a hit once because of Tesla, haven't you, Mr. Morgan?"
Tesla had carried out the Wardenclyffe Tower project with JP Morgan's backing, but it had produced almost no results.
That's why JP Morgan had coldly rejected Tesla's request for additional funding and planned to cut off his support.
Pouring more money into Tesla would have been like filling a sieve with water.
Of course, Tesla inwardly resented JP Morgan for pettily withholding funds and ruining his dream over mere money.
But the situation back then was different from now.
So JP Morgan replied with a nonchalant expression.
"Nikola Tesla is a genius. But he's also a dreamer who can't escape his fanciful visions. Right now, though, he's got my dear friend Baron Hans von Choi by his side."
"Baron Hans von Choi..."
"That's right. I don't know what he did, but Tesla's not veering off into weird paths anymore. He's fully demonstrating his abilities, like someone who's seen a clear path and vision ahead."
And a genius who knows his path can change the world.
In fact, reports from the informant he'd sent to Germany showed that radio development was progressing at a startling pace—unlike the Wardenclyffe Tower, which had yielded nothing.
The reason was clearly the synergy from the combination of Hans von Choi and Tesla.
Hans had the concept of radio from his future knowledge, and Tesla had the technical prowess to make it real.
Of course, even JP Morgan couldn't know that much.
At any rate, JP Morgan saw potential in their partnership.
The potential to make a fortune big enough to offset the Wardenclyffe failure.
That was why he'd boldly decided to pour a massive sum into radio, setting aside his bad history with Tesla and the shady truth of Wardenclyffe.
"The era is changing rapidly. Inventions from geniuses are creating new markets every day."
"New markets..."
"Think about it. Just a few decades ago, to communicate with someone far away, you had to send a letter. And it would take not days, but weeks to reach them. But now?"
You could have real-time conversations over the telephone.
And AT&T, which monopolized the U.S. telephone business, was raking in piles of money.
No one—not even trust-busting President Roosevelt—dared touch AT&T's iron fortress.
JP Morgan envied them so much it made his stomach ache.
"Is radio the same?"
"Until now, 'media' meant newspapers on paper. But if radio comes along, that landscape changes completely. Monopolizing it in America would bring enormous profits."
And those profits would fill his vaults with mountains of dollars.
"So that's why you're burying the Wardenclyffe incident."
"Watch your words. As I said, it was just a 'tragic' accident."
"Yes. A 'tragic' accident."
There was no evidence linking the German Empire or Hans von Choi to Wardenclyffe's 'tragic' accident anyway.
Instead of stirring up a hornet's nest, it was better to bury it as an eternal secret and earn the baron's trust.
The kid was running wild on the grand chessboard of international diplomacy despite his youth.
Maintaining a friendship with him would surely benefit JP Morgan himself.
"By the way, the baron mentioned something about needing vacuum tubes for radio development?"
"Triode vacuum tubes. I'm no engineer, so I don't know what they are."
"Same here. But if he needs them, we have to get them for him."
According to the baron, he'd originally planned to ask a scientist named De Forest for help?
"De Forest. I've heard the name. He works under some businessman named Abraham White."
"Can we recruit him to our side?"
"Yes. From what I've looked into, White's got some seriously shady dealings. We can use that."
"Good. And there's a Canadian named Fessenden doing radio research too."
Hans von Choi had originally tried to recruit him alongside Tesla but got turned down.
It might have been a casual choice for Fessenden then, but now that JP Morgan was involved, he'd pay for it.
"We remove obstacles in the way. Crush them."
"Yes, Mr. Morgan."
Others might call it ruthless, but it was everyday business in this era.
Marconi had invalidated Tesla's prior wireless telegraphy patent through lawsuits, despite Tesla filing first. And Edison, Tesla's rival, had so many such cases you couldn't count them on fingers.
In this era, the race for patents was war, and "cowardly" in war was a compliment.
JP Morgan understood that perfectly.
"But the biggest nuisance, as Baron Choi said, is probably Guglielmo Marconi."
Unlike pure scientist Tesla, Marconi excelled in business.
Plus, his Marconi Wireless company had already cornered the global wireless market.
When they announced radio, he'd surely claim patent infringement and throw lawsuits and every dirty trick to crush them.
"We need to prepare to fight Marconi in advance."
Marconi didn't yet know Tesla was developing radio.
If he did, things wouldn't be this quiet.
And in battle, the one who prepares first has the advantage.
A few days after meeting JP Morgan.
The Washington Protocol was signed in Washington D.C., resolving the Venezuela crisis.
Bowen, the Venezuelan envoy, acknowledged the validity of all claims by Germany, Britain, and Italy, and promised immediate resolution for some items.
Venezuela also agreed to allocate 30% of customs revenues from Puerto Cabello and La Guaira—its gateway—to repaying its debts.
In return, the German Empire secured promises for joint resource development with the U.S., while adjusting claims to a level America could accept.
Britain, whose own nose was out of joint, and Italy, having gotten everything they wanted, agreed without much complaint.
Though what those resources were remained undisclosed.
The great powers agreed to lift the naval blockade on Venezuela early next month.
Thus, the Venezuela crisis ended with everyone more or less satisfied.
Except the Venezuelan government and Cipriano Castro.
With everything wrapped up, I had no reason to stay in America. I exchanged final farewells with President Roosevelt and prepared to leave.
Personally, I'd wanted to meet Ford and other U.S. auto industry figures, or even the Wright brothers immersed in airplane research in North Carolina, but time was short.
'It's fine. Ford really makes his name with the Model T in 1908, and the Wright brothers' plane won't be recognized for a while anyway.'
I couldn't do everything at once with just one body.
Take it step by step. Step by step.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Baron."
"The same to you, Mr. President."
"If you come back to America, I'll introduce you to my family next time. Assuming I'm still in the White House, of course. Hahaha!"
President Roosevelt gripped my hand and laughed heartily.
Theodore Roosevelt would remain in the White House until early 1909, I think?
I wasn't sure if I'd return to America before then.
This year maybe, but next year I'd be busy in many ways.
After bidding Roosevelt farewell, another painful, grueling voyage brought me back to Germany. In Potsdam, I spent a relatively peaceful, quiet spring focusing on finishing Immortal Admiral Yi, which had become utterly exhausting in its own way.
[Immortal Admiral Yi, Final Chapter at Last!]
And by late May, as summer approached.
The finale of Immortal Admiral Yi was serialized in the Berliner Morgenpost.
"What a great ending..."
"Admiral Yi, he's a legend."
I'd worried readers might react as emotionally as last time to Yi Sun-sin's death, but fortunately, they seemed satisfied, savoring the lingering aftertaste of their hero's end.
Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief.
At least no one was demanding I revive Admiral Yi like Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes was fictional, but Admiral Yi was real.
No matter what, I couldn't turn General Yi Sun-sin into a zombie spewing lightning breaths.
"Hans, come to Korea with me!"
"Pardon?!"
But Prince Adalbert's sudden declaration, unannounced like last time, shattered my composure once more.
Along with my manners toward the prince.
"What do you mean, go to Korea?"
"It's not nonsense. We're really going to Korea. Your homeland!"
"Oh, come on. Prince Adalbert, you're not saying you're going all the way to the distant Far East just to pay respects to Admiral Yi, are you?"
"N-No, of course not."
Prince Adalbert shook his head vigorously, denying it.
His voice trembled suspiciously.
If I were a detective from a mystery novel, I'd point at him and shout, "The culprit is you!"
"Besides, it's not my arbitrary decision. I'm joining an East Asia voyage, and we have a chance to visit Korea—the Korean Empire."
"Ah, right, you're in the navy, Prince."
Whether fortunate or not, Prince Adalbert's trip to the Korean Empire seemed to be official duty.
"Of course, while visiting Korea, I could stop by Admiral Yi's hometown and pay respects at his shrine as a bonus!"
"..."
Though it was plenty laced with personal sentiment, excessively so.
"Anyway, if you're going, go alone. Why drag me along?"
"Because you're Korean, Hans."
"Well, yes..."
"You speak Korean too."
"That too..."
"So who else in the German Empire is as perfect as you for interpreter and guide?"
"Well..."
So he planned to use me as a translator and tour guide?
"It's not just for my benefit. You get to visit your homeland after so long. How great is that?"
"I barely remember my homeland."
"Aw, come on, let's go together!"
Prince Adalbert wheedled like a child, unbecoming his age.
My fault.
He hadn't been like this originally; my novel had warped Prince Adalbert.
Time to repent before God at next weekend's service.
'The Korean Empire, though.'
Given my past life, curiosity stirred.
Next year, the Russo-Japanese War would erupt.
The Korean Empire would fall to Japan immediately, then be forced into the Eulsa Treaty the following year, ushering in the dark era of Japanese colonial rule.
After that, I probably couldn't visit Korea until after liberation.
So going now wasn't a bad idea.
I wanted to see Korea's final form before it became a colony.
"Sigh... When do we leave?"
"Oh! You're in! We depart in two weeks!"
Prince Adalbert beamed as I decided to go to the Korean Empire.
Thus, I was heading to my longed-for yet familiar homeland.
Not that I welcomed another long voyage so soon after America.