Chapter 65 Laboratory
"Where do the native soldiers come from?" George I couldn't understand what Constantine said.
"Do you think those ignorant African savages can become qualified soldiers?" George I retorted fiercely in disbelief.
In the eyes of Europeans in the 19th century, those chimpanzees in Africa were not their own kind at all.
For example, in various European countries, due to the increasing frequency of overseas activities, they came into contact with many human races that were very different from Europeans.
Some greedy people, in order to make money, inhumanely treated these people as rare animals and imprisoned them in the garden for visitors to enjoy!
Wherever they went, curious European people rushed to see these "weird" humans.
In 19th century Europe, racial discrimination was taken for granted!
Only by understanding this point can we clearly understand the degree of shock in George I's heart when he heard that Constantine wanted to recruit black people as soldiers.
"Well, these soldiers will first be used to maintain order in Congo, rather than serving directly in the Greek army." Constantine did not want to argue with King George about whether blacks could become qualified soldiers.
For his already formed concept, this was too incredible.
"Huh, that's good. I thought you were whimsical and wanted to pull blacks into the Greek army to serve. If you really do that, the Greek soldiers will be in a state of turmoil and will have to mutiny," George I breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, that's what I thought, Constantine thought to himself, but he said, "It's good for native soldiers to maintain order in Africa."
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Ten days later, Constantine and the butler took a carriage to the port of Piraeus to welcome Tesla who came from New York.
This is a scientific and technological worker that Constantine values very much. The hope for the future development of electricity in Greece, and even the key to whether Greek industry can develop, all lies in this great god.
Constantine cannot help but pay attention to it.
Stopping in front of the port, among the bustling crowd of people disembarking, Constantine, who was sitting in the carriage, saw Tesla from a distance through the window - a tall man, even among Europeans, he was considered tall.
Seeing the real owner appear, Constantine hurriedly got off the carriage and walked towards Mr. Tesla.
"Welcome to Greece, Mr. Tesla," Constantine walked up cordially and saluted the distinguished guest.
The two found a cafe in Athens and found a quiet position near the window to observe the scenery on the street.
"Mr. Tesla, I should have known the purpose of inviting you to Greece. Can you tell me your thoughts?" Constantine took a sip of coffee and looked at Tesla and said.
"Well, Your Excellency the Duke, I want to know your real thoughts. Are you just funding a scholar to study AC technology out of personal interest, or do you really want to promote AC in Greece?" Tesla asked cautiously.
In Europe, some wealthy people or nobles with a lot of money will fund some scholars to study out of curiosity, just out of personal sense of achievement.
"Mr. Tesla, the coal mines in Greece are all low-quality lignite, which has seriously affected the industrial development of Greece. As we all know, machines cannot work without energy," Constantine said sincerely.
"Whether it is direct current or alternating current, this energy will not have grade differences like coal mines."
According to different qualities, people divide coal into anthracite, bituminous coal, and lignite, and their quality ranges from high to low, among which lignite has the lowest quality.
In the first industrial revolution, lignite was of no use at all.
"As long as lignite is burned to generate electricity, you can get rid of the trouble caused by the low quality of lignite. This is why I traveled thousands of miles to find you, an electricity expert, and come to Greece." Constantine faced Tesla and told him all his thoughts.
Hearing that Greece urgently needs electric energy for its development, Tesla felt relieved.
"Researching the AC system also requires a certain foundation. If Greece has no supporting facilities and technicians are scarce, Your Excellency the Duke, you can't expect me to complete all the technical details of the AC system alone with bare hands," Tesla said.
Modern scientific research has passed the era when scholars could produce results by working alone.
"Don't worry, the University of Athens can cooperate with your work. I think there will be many scholars who are willing to work with you on the research and development of alternating current. If you don't object, your laboratory will also be placed at the University of Athens."
There is still a better atmosphere in the university for scientific research.
"Okay, I agree to your invitation. The conditions you conveyed through Mr. Sanford cannot be changed." Tesla stood up and shook hands with Constantine.
"Mr. Tesla, this is Butler Capet. If you have any questions next, you can find him directly and let him help you solve them." Constantine pointed to Butler Capet beside him and introduced Tesla.
"Whether it is purchasing experimental equipment, setting up laboratories, or negotiating with the University of Athens, you can ask him to help you solve them."
After that, Constantine personally used a carriage to send Tesla to the Acropolis of Athens, where the University of Athens is located.
Arriving at the university campus of the Acropolis, Principal Ichios heard that the Duke of Sparta would come to visit, and stood in front of the school gate to greet him.
Principal Ichios was in his forties, with a Mediterranean hairstyle, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and looked like an intellectual.
"Your Excellency the Duke, welcome to the University of Athens," Ichios said with a smile to Constantine who got off the carriage.
The four of them exchanged greetings while walking towards the campus.
Walking between the buildings of the University of Athens, Ichios kept introducing the various buildings of the school to the guests.
"President Ichios, you probably know why I came. This Mr. Tesla is the researcher I invited from the United States," Constantine said, pointing at Tesla.
"I hope your school can fully cooperate. This AC system research subject is of great significance to the industrial development of Greece. You must keep it in mind," Constantine said solemnly.
"Don't worry, Your Excellency the Duke, I will definitely invite the most capable scientific researchers in the school to cooperate with Mr. Tesla."
With so much funding every year, only a fool would not support it, Ikios thought.
The University of Athens is the only university in Greece, with good faculty and the ability to cooperate with Tesla.
"Butler Cape, in the past few days, you can help Tesla take care of it and build Mr. Tesla's laboratory. If there are equipment that must be imported, you can help contact the Greek embassy abroad and ask them to help purchase it," Constantine said to Butler Cape.
The power system is the key to Greece's industrialization, and Constantine dare not neglect it at all.