Under Jero Bonaparte’s persuasion, Field decided to rena the original Atlantic Telegraph Company to Global Telegraph Company.
Simultaneously, under Jero Bonaparte’s witness, Field announced the change of the company’s chief engineer from Whitehouse to William Thomson, in his capacity as the owner of the Global Telegraph Company.
Faced with Field’s appointnt, William Thomson did not show much excitent. Instead, he calmly asked, "Mr. Field, what about Mr. Whitehouse?"
"Before we left Britain, Whitehouse was already under investigation, and there’s nothing we can do!" Field shrugged helplessly in response to William Thomson.
...
Indeed, across the La Manche Strait, the forr chief engineer of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, Whitehouse, was being examined by the "investigation committee." At the mont, he did not know that he was about to be abandoned by Field.
Faced with continuous accountability from the "investigation committee," Whitehouse persisted in the argunt that "there are inherent problems with the Atlantic Telegraph." He refused to accept the "diation" of the "investigation committee."
Whitehouse knew that the purpose of the "investigation committee" was to force him to take responsibility for the failure of the "Atlantic Telegraph," thereby convincing the British public that the failures were due to human factors and not directly related to the technology itself.
If Whitehouse chose "diation," it would be tantamount to denying his own technology, which for an engineer who relied on technology for livelihood, was like a death sentence.
Therefore, Whitehouse could only stubbornly argue that "the Atlantic Telegraph itself has technical issues," while hoping that the owner of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, Field, would "voluntarily" co forward to acknowledge the "mistake."
After all, the current Atlantic Telegraph Company has already beco a veritable deceitful company. No matter how much Field denied it, he could not wash away the impression of the Atlantic Telegraph Company in the minds of the British public.
Rather than sinking along with the Atlantic Telegraph Company, it would be better for the Atlantic Telegraph Company to actively take on the responsibility.
Thus, Whitehouse would remain a respected engineer, while Field could also beco an idealistic owner with only the reputation of the Atlantic Telegraph Company taking damage.
However, for a company that’s nearly bankrupt, reputation no longer holds any value.
If Field really couldn’t let go, Whitehouse was willing to offer Field certain compensation.
As for the amount of compensation, Whitehouse had long since delivered it to Field through a written letter, and he believed Field would agree to this transaction.
Of course, everything Whitehouse did was based on the premise that the "Atlantic Telegraph Company" was beyond saving.
Now, the Atlantic Telegraph Company, with the support of the Financial Backer Jero Bonaparte, had turned around once more and independently claid a significant share, spanning from France to Senegal, a "cake" coveted by most telegraph companies.
Field’s perspective thus underwent a complete transformation!
...
"Investigation committee’s review?"
William Thomson paused for a mont and then imdiately realized that Whitehouse might have to bear the bla for last year’s Atlantic telegraph failure.
Because the "investigation committee" was only responsible for investigating the cause of the incident and did not possess any rights to summon or hold accountable; those powers could only belong to the Cabinet (Royal Family) that ford the investigation committee.
Thinking of this, William Thomson couldn’t help but silently lant for Whitehouse.
Whitehouse was initially a promising chief engineer, yet now he was forced into turmoil due to a single failure and had beco the scapegoat for the grievances of the British public.
This is truly a sorrowful affair!
"Hm!" Field nodded to William Thomson and said, "Actually, Mr. Whitehouse had long anticipated that he might be made into a scapegoat, so before he was held accountable by the ’investigation committee,’ he wrote to , hoping that I would use the ’Atlantic Telegraph Company’ to acknowledge that the incident was due to shortcomings in technical capacity!
This would allow him to escape from danger and restore his status as a respected engineer!"
"Did you agree?" William Thomson pursued the question.
Field was silent for a mont, then replied to William Thomson with a heavy tone, "Before arriving in France, I had also hesitated on whether to agree with Whitehouse’s suggestion!
After all, the failure of this incident was indeed the ’Atlantic Telegraph Company’s’ issue. Whitehouse rely set up a proposal, and the final decision was not his but mine.
Besides, the company was already on the verge of bankruptcy at the ti; there was truly no need to drag another person into it!"
Speaking to this point, Field shifted his tone and said to William Thomson, "However, now I have a different view!
Mr. Thomson, what do you think the ’investigation committee’s’ aim is, apart from investigating the cause of the failure?"
William Thomson did not pause and promptly replied, "To find a fall guy for this event, hence appeasing the British public’s emotions!"
"Hmm!" Field shrugged his shoulders and replied to William Thomson, "What could be more fitting as a scapegoat for this failure than the chief engineer!
Therefore, Mr. Whitehouse probably won’t get through this failure smoothly!
However, you don’t need to worry about Whitehouse facing imprisonnt either. I think the purpose of the investigative committee is just to make him admit that his mistake caused the failure of an event that should have succeeded!"
After listening to Field’s remarks, William Thomson’s mood also beca heavy.
At the sa ti, William Thomson thought about his own proposal.
If I were the one who failed this ti, would I face the sa fate as Whitehouse?
Sitting beside him, Jero Bonaparte noticed the thoughts lurking in William Thomson’s mind, and imdiately smiled and said to him, "Mr. Thomson, please rest assured!
France would not easily pin the bla on soone like Britain.
Even if this telegraph installation is unsuccessful, the person who should bear the primary responsibility should be , as you all were simply executing my orders!
Constructing a telegraph line across the ocean to connect two continents is the first of its kind in thousands of years. Success in one go would certainly be delightful, but failure is also expected.
So you don’t have to put too much pressure on yourself; no one will push the bla onto you!"
"Your Majesty, I..." William Thomson looked at Jero Bonaparte with emotion, not knowing what to say for a mont.
Afterward, Jero Bonaparte chatted with William Thomson and Field for a little longer.
It wasn’t until Bulbaski excused himself to pour tea for everyone that William Thomson and Field took their leave from Jero Bonaparte.
As William Thomson and Field left the room, Jero Bonaparte then turned to ask General Louis Feldbu his thoughts on the plan to establish a trans-oceanic telegraph.
General Louis Feldbu hesitated for a mont before speaking to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I don’t understand why you chose the Atlantic Telegraph Company to help establish a trans-oceanic telegraph!
There are many companies within France that are qualified to undertake this project, so with more experience than the Atlantic Telegraph Company!"
"Indeed, there are many companies within France capable of this; so even have more solid financial backing than the Atlantic Telegraph Company, with more abundant funds," Jero Bonaparte said to Louis Feldbu noncommittally, then suddenly changed his tone and said, "But none of them have ever truly undertaken a trans-oceanic telegraph!
They haven’t even considered the grandeur of constructing a line across the ocean to connect two continents!
These telegraph companies are solely focused on connecting land to land, without the slightest inclination to venture beyond!
Relying on these companies that dare not dream or want to dream, France would take 10 years and still not truly achieve a connection between France and French Guiana!
Not even a connection between France and Senegal!"
Following this, Jero Bonaparte inford Louis Feldbu.
Initially, he also sought recruitnt within France for a telegraph company to connect France to Senegal.
The result was without exception; all companies proposed plans that connected through Algeria’s inland to Senegal, with none daring to attempt placing the cable in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thus, Jero Bonaparte considered Field’s Atlantic Company.
"The Atlantic Company dares to think, even more so to act! This is sothing that many French enterprises cannot do, rely adhering to norms, only serving as the era’s companion, unable to beco transformative figures of the era!
Only those brave enough to break the mold can truly succeed!" Jero Bonaparte passionately said to Louis Feldbu, "Throughout history, none of the successful figures were rule-followers!
So I admire Field’s drive, trusting he won’t let down!
A single failure ans nothing; consider it experience accumulation for success next ti!
Furthermore, there is William Thomson; don’t underestimate that young man (Louis Feldbu is 42 years old, Jero Bonaparte 39, William Thomson 35), he is not only a professor at Gracian University but also a mber of the Royal Society of London; whether the cable can receive signals also depends on him!"
Louis Feldbu heard the admiration Jero Bonaparte had for William Thomson, and imdiately remained silent, only asking Jero Bonaparte how he should cooperate with their actions.
"General Feldbu, you just need to satisfy their needs as much as possible within your jurisdiction!
Once the cable is built, we won’t have to travel back and forth like this for communication!
You can report the progress of military reform to at any ti, and I can also have the General Staff make adjustnts at any ti, saving more ti this way!"
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