Chapter 241: Nikola Tesla
Besides reaching cooperation with France in terms of construction, Carlo also planned to introduce some high-education-level talent from France to fill the gap in Spain’s high-end talent shortage.
Of course, Spain’s search for talent would not be limited to France, but would extend throughout Europe.
In particular, the German region, where education is relatively advanced, received the highest attention from Spain. For these scientists with strong abilities, Spain’s talent introduction policy has always been quite lenient, and the rewards given to scientists are also quite generous.
If they are university students with talent but unable to afford tuition, and are willing to come to Spain and join Spanish nationality, the Spanish Government can provide some scholarships to these university students who cannot afford tuition, or even provide full scholarships and some living allowances to certain particularly talented geniuses.
This talent introduction policy has been implemented for several years, and Spain has therefore obtained a large amount of talent. Although fiscal expenditure is also very large, compared to these introduced talents, a little spending of funds is nothing.
Currently, Spain has cumulatively absorbed more than 2000 talents from Europe, of which nearly 500 are those who could not afford university and ultimately chose to join Spanish nationality.
These people are all excellent students whom Spain has investigated and confirmed to have certain talent in physics and chemistry. The reason they cannot attend university is that their family conditions are too poor, not that their learning ability is poor.
For these people, Carlo naturally helps whenever he can. Funding them to attend university does not cost much money, but the contributions they will make to Spain after joining Spanish nationality in the future cannot be exchanged for just this little scholarship.
Even if more than half of the students can only reach the level of ordinary university graduates in the end, Carlo’s investment will not lose.
After all, university students in this era are already a minority, and immigrants with university education levels are already within the scope of Spain’s immigrant absorption. Although there is a little more investment, these people’s sense of recognition for Spain will definitely be higher than that of ordinary immigrants.
In order to ensure that Spain can introduce those top talents to the greatest possible extent, Carlo even thought of all the famous scientists from the late 19th century and early 20th century, wrote down all the names he could think of on paper, and handed them to Director Cadillac of the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau.
Unfortunately, because the current era is still early, some world-renowned scientists of posterity have not yet been born, or are still too young.
For example, Einstein, whom most people are familiar with, was born in 1879, so he definitely cannot be found at present.
The good news is that some talents who were originally too young have finally grown up with the passage of time, and among them is one of the talents that Carlo values quite highly, the renowned genius scientist Nikola Tesla.
As early as when Spain’s talent attraction plan had just started, Nikola Tesla’s name was on the list that Carlo gave to Director Cadillac of the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau.
But unfortunately, Tesla at that time was only in his teens, and Carlo did not want his interference to disrupt Tesla’s growth process.
It is precisely because of this that Tesla was able to complete his high school studies as in history, and in 1875 entered the Graz University of Technology in Austria to study physics, mathematics, and mechanics.
In 1876, due to the abolition of the Austrian military border bureau, Tesla lost his scholarship and even almost dropped out of school because of it.
At such an important time point, intelligence officers from the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau found Tesla and proposed a plan to fund Tesla to continue his university studies.
Of course, such funding is not free.
The intelligence officer revealed his identity as a Spaniard and stated that this scholarship was provided by His Majesty King Carlo of Spain.
In return, Tesla would join Spanish nationality after graduating from university and work for Spain. Of course, Tesla would be valued in Spain; he could continue his studies at a university in Spain, or serve as an academician of the Royal Academy of Sciences, working in some important project research groups.
At this time, Nikola Tesla had just turned 20 years old, and he was shocked and incredulous by what the Spanish intelligence officer said.
Of course, he had no dissatisfaction with this, but was quite grateful. Without the scholarship provided by Carlo, he would be forced to drop out, and if he wanted to study again, he could only audit classes at the university.
Sitting in the classroom listening to lectures and auditing classes outside the classroom are naturally two different outcomes. Tesla needed this scholarship very much, so he agreed to the intelligence officer’s request without hesitation.
Tesla was born into a Serbian family in Austria; his family had been relatively poor since childhood and was discriminated against in Austria.
This made Tesla’s sense of recognition for Austria not high, and for the proposal to join Spanish nationality, Tesla not only had no opposition but even expressed anticipation for it.
Spain’s development over the past decade has been obvious to all, and through the dissemination by a large number of Spain’s newspaper offices, many Europeans have learned of Spain’s revival.
Tesla was naturally one of them; he was very interested in the Royal Academy of Sciences established by Spain and naturally looked forward to becoming one of its academicians.
In a case of mutual willingness, Tesla and the intelligence officer signed a scholarship agreement.
During the years Tesla studied at Graz University of Technology, Spain would provide sufficient scholarships each year to help Tesla with his studies, including funds for purchasing various information and conducting small-scale experiments.
In return, after completing his studies, Tesla needed to go to Spain immediately, join Spanish nationality, and then could work or continue his studies at the Royal Academy of Sciences and other universities.
If Tesla wanted to continue his studies at famous universities in other European regions, Spain could also arrange it. But the prerequisite for everything was that Tesla join Spanish nationality after completing his university studies, which the intelligence officer had explained in advance and obtained Tesla’s agreement.
As time came to 1878, Tesla’s university career was also about to end. He studied physics, mathematics, and mechanics at Graz University of Technology and achieved quite excellent results in all.
This also fully proved Tesla’s ability, after all, not everyone can study three majors in four years at university and achieve excellent grades in all.
The physics professor at Graz University of Technology even felt very regretful about this. He said that if Tesla had not studied three majors at the same time, Tesla might have completed his university studies ahead of schedule and then started graduate studies.
In May 1878, under the arrangement of intelligence officers from the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau, Tesla took a steamship to Spain.
Accompanying Tesla were his family members; because of Tesla, they could all obtain eligibility to join Spanish nationality.
Of course, the intelligence officer had investigated in advance. Only after confirming that Tesla’s family were all ordinary Serbian immigrant commoners with no particularly extreme nationalism or democratic freedom ideas did they extend an immigration invitation to them.
Tesla’s parents and several brothers would be arranged to work in suitable positions, and Tesla’s younger brother would also enter a university in Spain to study.
As for Tesla himself, as long as he was willing, he could choose any of the Royal Academy of Sciences and all universities in Spain.
Of course, he could also choose both. He could work at the Royal Academy of Sciences while also continuing his studies at a university in Spain.
Even through a combination of theory and practice, Tesla’s learning might be more effective. After all, this is a talent who could become a great scientist just by auditing university classes. Having now experienced complete university studies, Carlo believed that Tesla’s abilities would be even more excellent, just lacking time and experience.
On the day Tesla’s family arrived in Spain, they were arranged into a property in the Madrid urban area near the suburbs.
This property was a standalone villa, which was no problem for accommodating Tesla’s family. It was also relatively close to Spain’s university city, convenient for Tesla’s subsequent work or research at the university.
Of course, the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences was also around the university city, not far away.
On the second day after Tesla arrived in Spain, Carlo summoned him and invited him to have lunch together.
The name Nikola Tesla is world-renowned in posterity; even a famous car company is named after Tesla.
Carlo was also very much looking forward to meeting Tesla; perhaps with Carlo’s and Spain’s support, Tesla could make even more outstanding scientific contributions than in history, or even realize his crazy ideas.
Tesla’s scientific contributions are not limited to alternating current, but also include radio systems, wireless electric energy transmission, ball lightning, turbines, power transmitters, particle beam weapons, solar engines, X-ray equipment, electric energy meters, missile science, remote sensing technology, aircraft, cosmic rays, radar systems, and robotics.
From these fields he studied, it can be seen that Tesla is an all-rounder with his own unique understanding and ideas about scientific experiments.
Just Tesla’s talent and ability in alternating current alone were enough to make Carlo value him. Not to mention his research on radio and wireless electric energy transmission, which might allow Spain to enjoy the radio era ahead of time.
In the banquet hall of the royal palace, Carlo met this renowned crazy scientist for the first time.
At this time, Nikola Tesla was not as crazy as described in history; he looked more like a cultured and ambitious young man.
He had only a faint mustache on his lips, which also indicated that Tesla’s age was actually not very old.
The fact was indeed so. Nikola Tesla, born on July 10, 1856, was only 22 years old at this time.
22 years old is the age of university graduates in posterity, and Tesla had already completed his studies in physics, mathematics, and mechanics at Graz University of Technology, which already showed his exceptional talent.
“Welcome to Spain, Mr. Tesla.” Seeing that Nikola Tesla seemed a bit reserved, Carlo spoke first with a smile.
“It is my honor to receive Your invitation, Your Majesty. But I am just an ordinary person who could not afford university, and I am afraid I will fail your trust.” At this time, Tesla was far from the future crazy scientist; he was just a university graduate who almost had to drop out because he could not pay tuition.
He felt very honored by Carlo’s funding, but he was also afraid that he could not complete Carlo’s tasks and fail Carlo’s trust.
Hearing Tesla say this, Carlo smiled and said: “It’s okay, I believe in your ability, Mr. Tesla. Being able to complete three majors in the same amount of time has already shown your talent.
If your university studies had not been completed, I would have wanted to meet you long ago. Now that you have come to Spain, do you have any plans for the future?
Would you like to continue studying related majors at a technical university in Spain, or directly enter the Royal Academy of Sciences to work?”
Spain has also attached great importance to university construction in recent years, and a large number of technical universities have emerged.
The most representative one is the Royal Academy of Sciences established by Carlo based on the Royal Academy of Sciences. The Royal Academy of Sciences focuses on physics, chemistry, and mathematics majors; almost all professors in the academy are academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences, all possessing the level of excellent European scientists.
Under the efforts of these academicians, the Royal Academy of Sciences has grown into a famous science university in Spain and even the whole of Europe, with hundreds of students from other European regions coming to study at the Royal Academy of Sciences every year.
Although Tesla is a genius with rare talent, Carlo believed that Spain’s Royal Academy of Sciences also had sufficient ability to cultivate Tesla.
If these academicians of the Royal Academy of Sciences were not enough, Carlo could also spend a great deal to hire professors and experts in related majors from other European countries, as long as they could cultivate Tesla.
Under such strong support and cultivation, Carlo did not dare to imagine how outstanding Tesla’s future abilities would be.
It must be known that the historical Tesla only completed one year of university studies and subsequently could only learn knowledge through auditing.
He lived a two-point-one-line life between the library and the university; such a simple learning process still made him one of the most outstanding scientists of this era.
Carlo’s cultivation intensity for Tesla far exceeded the historical Tesla’s self-study level. As long as Tesla did not lose his motivation to learn, becoming one of the most outstanding scientists of this era would be effortless.
If Tesla could have more luck in scientific research, it might not be impossible to become the greatest scientist of this era.
Hearing Carlo’s question, Tesla did not rush to answer, but thought carefully for a long time before speaking: “Your Majesty, can I choose to work at the Royal Academy of Sciences while continuing to study my major at a science university in Spain?
Both can help me improve my professional abilities faster; I think I can handle both work and study at the same time.”
When making this proposal, Tesla was also observing Carlo’s expression, worried that such a bold proposal would make Carlo dissatisfied.
Working while studying is originally a quite difficult process. Moreover, Tesla’s workplace would be the Royal Academy of Sciences, which is a top scientific research institution in Spain and even the whole of Europe.
The research projects of the Royal Academy of Sciences are definitely fraught with difficulties. Tesla wanted to enter these research projects while also wanting to continue his major studies at a science university in Spain, which inevitably had some suspicion of wanting both.
To Tesla’s surprise, after hearing his proposal, Carlo not only showed no dissatisfaction but even smiled.
“That’s what I think too. I quite believe in your ability and think you can balance study and work. Of course, this also depends on your own effort; you have to put in 100% energy and effort.
If someone reports to me that you are half-hearted in work or study, then I will consider making you choose one between working at the Royal Academy of Sciences and studying at university.
I believe you understand what I mean, right, Mr. Tesla?” Carlo smiled and nodded to Tesla, who was gradually showing his confidence.
Tesla quickly nodded and said in a guaranteeing tone: “I will put all my energy and time into work and study, and I will absolutely not disappoint Your Majesty.”
Tesla quite loved studying and quite loved conducting scientific experiments and research.
When he was forced to drop out because he could not pay tuition, not only did he not give up studying, but he entered an even more diligent phase of auditing and self-study.
Auditing does not qualify one to ask university professors to resolve doubts. When encountering some problems he could not solve, Tesla could only go to the library to check relevant information or slowly figure out ways to deal with the problems himself.
After obtaining Carlo’s scholarship, Tesla not only showed no slack but became even more diligent.
He recorded all the problems he encountered while auditing, and after re-entering university, he pestered the university professors to teach him these problems.
During the four years at university, Tesla became the most diligent student at Graz University of Technology, and his talent and effort level also made many professors at the technical university greatly admire him.
In fact, even before Tesla graduated from Graz University of Technology, the technical university had already contacted Tesla, asking if he was willing to continue his studies at the university, and after completion, he could serve as a professor at the technical university.
At that time, because Tesla had already reached an agreement with Spain, he quickly rejected the proposal from Graz University of Technology, which also made many professors at the technical university feel very regretful.
Carlo naturally knew the extent of Tesla’s effort at Graz science university, which was also why he believed Tesla could balance work and study, and obtain training simultaneously in the Royal Academy of Sciences and university studies.
Although the historical Tesla did not win the Nobel Prize, this was actually the regret of the Nobel Prize. As early as 30 years before the establishment of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Tesla was selected nine times for his scientific contributions and twice together with Edison.
However, Tesla at that time chose to decline all of them and did not accept the Nobel Prize in Physics. The first nine times were genuine declines, and the reason for refusing the latter two selections together with Edison actually came from a sentence by Tesla’s good friend Mark Twain: “How can sharing a wife with two people work, especially sharing with a habitual thief; isn’t that extremely dangerous?”
Although Tesla did not win the Nobel Prize, the proportion of those who directly gained inspiration from Tesla’s research and won the Nobel Prize in Physics reached 27%, which is already quite exaggerated.
The proportion of those who indirectly gained inspiration exceeded 65%, which also included Röntgen who helped Tesla prove the harm of X-rays; he thereby won the first Nobel Prize in Physics in
Tesla’s greatness is beyond doubt. When such a great genius scientist is also willing to put in 100% effort to learn and work, who dares to imagine how crazy scientific contributions such a genius could create?
The scientific contributions Tesla will create in the future can only be known in the future, but Carlo believed that with Tesla’s help, Spain could obtain more scientific results in electricity and radio, as well as more fields, thereby accelerating the development pace of electricity and radio in Spain.
5400-word two-in-one chapter, seeking support!
