Chapter 268: The Train

Chapter 268: The Train

"Ah, indeed. There's one more matter, Mr. Watt. After this Paris exposition, I'd like to invite you to give a lecture at the University of Paris," Joseph Fouché remarked.

This, too, was a grand proposal, and Mr. Watt had no reason to decline. He replied, "The University of Paris is one of the most renowned educational institutions in the world. Speaking there would be the culmination of my lifetime dreams—of course, I say this only half-seriously. Even if time is scarce, I will make sure to squeeze some out. After all, what could be more important than this?"

Joseph was delighted. "Mr. Watt, it's settled then. Oh, by the way, Mr. Watt, now that our official business is concluded, I have some personal matters to discuss with you."

Mr. Watt perked up. He knew that while their official dealings were crucial, these personal matters might be even more substantial. In a way, Joseph Bonaparte had become an idol in the British scientific community. Countless aspiring scientists looked up to him, not just because he was one of the most brilliant minds of his time but also because he was the most financially successful scientist of his era. Everyone knew that Joseph, as the head of the "military-industrial complex" in France, had amassed a considerable fortune.

Mr. Watt, too, was a scientist skilled at making money, but he believed that Joseph had outshone him in that aspect even more than in scientific research. Given Joseph Bonaparte's influence in the economic sphere, it was likely that he had played a significant role in the success of the "Paris Exposition." So, while official business was essential, these personal matters were probably more substantial.

Mr. Watt leaned forward, shifting his posture on the sofa. "Mr. Bonaparte, feel free to share your concerns."

"Ah, Mr. Watt, I understand that you and your partners operate a company that produces steam engines. Furthermore, your company has extensive collaborations with the Lorraine Steel Company. Well, Mr. Watt, our Lorraine Steel Company is currently facing a bottleneck in steel production."

"Mr. Watt, if you've visited the Lorraine Steel booth today, I'm sure you understand the immense demand for our steel. We hardly ever worry about sales. In fact, our steel orders are often booked months in advance, even with our factories operating at full tilt. So, why not build more steel plants to increase production capacity?" said young Boulton, who was accompanying them.

"Mr. Boulton, the problem isn't a lack of steel furnaces or mining capacity. The issue lies in our inability to transport enough ore to the steel plants," Joseph explained. "Whether it's iron ore or coal, we can't rely solely on water transport to deliver them directly to the factories. There's always some distance from the docks to the factories, and not all mines are situated near rivers. Transporting these resources from the mines to the docks involves a significant overland journey."

"Mr. Boulton, Mr. Watt, you know that the wagons used to transport ore are heavily loaded, requiring numerous draft animals and specialized tracks. The tracks aren't a problem, but the number of draft animals poses a significant challenge. Rearing a large number of draft animals also demands substantial resources and manpower, making it a costly affair."

So, for now, the fastest approach was to collaborate with Mr. Watt, using traditional reciprocating steam engines to develop a steam-powered locomotive with a distinct steam-punk, riveted steel, and multi-carriage appearance. Joseph even envisioned that one day, if the barbarians from Austria invaded the Roman border, Napoleon would command an armored steam-powered train, with multiple carriages and turrets, to plow through their ranks.

"I see," Mr. Watt pondered and asked, "So, how would our interests be distributed in this research?"

And now it was time for the most crucial part. Joseph immediately focused his attention, negotiating with Mr. Watt regarding the distribution of interests. Mr. Watt initially hoped to use his various patents to exchange for steelmaking or cement production techniques. Still, Joseph swiftly rejected this idea - it was a grossly unequal trade, and he wasn't about to be fooled.

Though the idea was rejected, Mr. Watt remained unfazed. Being turned down was normal, and if he wasn't turned down, that would be a win. He then proposed a new suggestion, requesting exclusive agency rights for fortress cement in the UK.

The intense discussions continued throughout the night until the sun rose in the east, and they finally reached a provisional agreement. Mr. Watt and his team obtained exclusive agency rights for fortress cement in the UK and priority purchasing rights for Lorraine Steel. Additionally, for every steam locomotive produced by the military-industrial complex and sold on the market, they would pay Mr. Watt's team a patent fee of three hundred pounds.

As Joseph left the villa where Mr. Watt's team had temporarily stayed, he couldn't help but mutter, "That Mr. Watt, he's not the most lovable character. Mr. Lavasie is so much better..."

However, even though Mr. Watt was craftier than Mr. Lavasie, Joseph hadn't come out on the losing end. He had successfully concealed his true goals and acquired a crucial patent at a relatively low cost: the patent for planetary gears.

The significance of planetary gears, as perceived by its owner, Mr. Watt, and the inventor, William Murdoch, was underestimated. They primarily viewed it as a means to bypass the crankshaft patent. However, Joseph knew that this invention was the key to numerous vital variable-speed systems in future machinery.

So, even though he was annoyed that he hadn't easily taken advantage of Mr. Lavasie, the fact remained that Joseph hadn't come out on the losing end.