The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 768 What’s yours is mine
"Which German company?" Chen Zhengwei asked with a wry smile.

Is there anyone who is so bold nowadays? Dare to steal his things?
"Siemens! A large German electrical company...it doesn't follow the same technical path as mine," said Edison.

In fact, Siemens demonstrated trams at the Berlin Industrial Fair in 1879, and in May last year, Siemens operated trams in a small town in Germany, two months later than in Los Angeles.

However, unlike Chen Zhengwei's tram, Siemens' tram is conceived as a small vehicle that can accommodate 6-8 people.

Chen Zhengwei's laboratory was built according to the requirements of future light rail and public transportation. It used parallel motors to increase power and an energy-saving carriage that could carry 80 people.

Therefore, the trams in Los Angeles are more complicated and have extremely high maintenance costs, and are simply operating at a loss.

There are a total of eight trams in Los Angeles. Each tram costs about $460 a month, which means eight trams cost $3700.

Not to mention the initial investment in building the tram.

However, Chen Zhengwei’s view on science and technology has always been that only with a sufficient application network can the advancement of technology be promoted. Therefore, his laboratory does have some new technologies based on Edison’s motor.

This is also what Edison wanted to know most.

Chen Zhengwei then asked Edison about the situation of Siemens.

From Edison's narration, Chen Zhengwei had a general impression of Siemens.

There are many people studying electricity in this era, from all over the world.

Siemens' market is mainly in Europe, and their direction is small-scale high-power output, mainly in industry.

Edison's direction was large-scale low-power output, mainly for lighting and household use.

Edison clearly did better in business.

Edison's motor was also improved based on other motors.

For the same reason that Chandler recommended him, Edison may not have been a great inventor, but he was great at commercializing technology.

After understanding the situation, Chen Zhengwei said, "I have a technical idea for synthesizing ammonia, but it is difficult to realize it. My people recommended you!"

"You should stay in San Francisco for some time recently, see if you can come up with a solution!"

"I can't guarantee it, Mr. Chen! I can only do my best! I hope Mr. Chen won't blame me if I fail to provide useful help!" Edison said.

"One thing is that you must keep your mouth shut!" Chen Zhengwei warned.

"Of course, I won't say anything nonsense! But before we go to San Francisco, can Mr. Chen let me see the car? I have been curious about it for a long time!"

"That's no problem. Besides, there is one other thing I want you to do!" Chen Zhengwei agreed immediately. After all, he still wanted Edison to help him study car batteries.

Chen Zhengwei then asked someone to take Edison to see the car and then take him for a ride.

I made a phone call to San Francisco...

The telephone line from San Francisco to Los Angeles was finally laid the day before yesterday.

This was the second longest long-distance telephone line in the world, the first being from Boston to Somerville, which was only 5 kilometers.

In fact, the telephone line from San Francisco to Los Angeles is the world's first real telephone line.

There is also a telephone line under construction from Boston to New York, which is expected to be completed in a month.

Soon, the call was transferred to Rong Jiacai.

Hearing that it was Chen Zhengwei's voice, Rong Jiacai laughed on the other end of the phone: "I always feel that it is Brother Wei hiding in the phone!"

Even though it wasn't the first time they called... and they had just talked on the phone two days ago after the phone line was connected, Rong Jiacai still felt it was amazing.

Rong Jiacai's voice was mixed with some noise, which was unavoidable for the time being.

"Next time I'll call you through the phone line!" Chen Zhengwei laughed and said, "Notify the people at the law firm to find a few lawyers who are familiar with international patents to come to me."

Although Siemens demonstrated the tram in 1879... Chen Zhengwei was researching the tram in 1878, and many people can confirm it.

He believed that Siemens had stolen his patent.

The law firm is still in San Francisco...after all, he hasn't needed legal help for a long time.

In the afternoon, Edison came back, still excited, obviously he liked cars very much.

This also brought a lot of new ideas to his tram concept.

Chen Zhengwei talked to Edison about batteries. The current crank-starting method was too inconvenient and required a battery with greater power and capacity.

He was then arranged to go to San Francisco.

……

"Boss, the patent laws of different countries are now different... Even if a German company steals your patent... you can't sue it."

"Only if an American company uses your patent can we use the law to sue it!"

The next day, Chen Zhengwei's lawyer Brett showed up at Chen Zhengwei's home with an entire team.

"In other words, there is no other way? Then what's the use of you?" Chen Zhengwei looked a little unfriendly.

"Boss, we are responsible for legal matters...but the problem now is that there is no law on this matter. But think about it the other way around, if you use their patent, they can't do anything to you!" Brett reminded.

"What do you mean?" Chen Zhengwei was furious. Is he that kind of person?

"Boss, I think we should fight back in this matter. We can't let you suffer any loss!"

Everyone in San Francisco knows that what Chen Zhengwei hates most is being taken advantage of. "You have to remember, you are a lawyer! How can I believe in the law if lawyers behave like this?" Chen Zhengwei said unhappily.

Brett said slowly, "Boss, I always thought that since you got a lawyer, you no longer believed in the law."

Chen Zhengwei was almost laughing because of him.

She held out her hand and motioned for him to get lost.

After Brett left with his legal team, Chen Zhengwei couldn't suppress the smile.

Since we can't resort to legal means, it's actually easier to deal with.

"Let Schultz pick a group of people. I'll arrange for them to go to Germany! And I'll pick two more people from the laboratory... to go with them!"

Since Siemens stole his technology, he could only send people to bring his technology back.

And according to Edison, Siemens' technology is better at generating large amounts of power in a small area and is more suitable for industrial applications.

The value of Chen Zhengwei is probably greater than the value of Edison's technology.

Therefore, two people who are familiar with the technology must be selected. Whether by threatening or kidnapping, or by paying money, they must deal with Siemens' research and technical personnel and bring back Chen Zhengwei's technology.

By the way, take a look at other companies' technologies to see if there is anything you can use.

……

Schultz was leaning against the bar in the bar, holding a glass of wine in his hand, sitting there watching his men play cards.

"Boss, do you want to play a few rounds?" The henchman looked up and saw his gaze, and immediately stood up to make room for him.

"You guys have fun, I'm not interested!" Schultz tilted his head back and poured the beer into his stomach, put the glass on the bar, and went out with a few of his men.

Looking at the familiar streets, Schultz felt a little proud.

He never thought he would be in this situation today.

At first, he was just leading a group of people to extort money and barely make a living.

Moreover, the situation in North Beach is complicated. There are Italian mafias of all sizes and various German gangs. Conflicts occur every few days and you might get beaten to death one day.

Now that Chen Zhengwei is not in San Francisco, he is the main force of the underground forces here.

Even the Italian Duccio had to give him some ground when facing him.

However, he always had a sense of crisis in his heart. He knew that he was not actually valued, and his status within Chen Zhengwei's group was even worse than that of the fat pig in Greater Poland.

Chen Zhengwei was very angry because he thought he was not smart enough and not capable enough, and he messed things up when he went to Houston before.

Then he was thrown back to San Francisco... and while it seemed like a good situation, he knew that anyone could replace him.

Chen Zhengwei hasn't told him anything important to do for a long time.
But he couldn't think of a way to change the current situation.

This is what bothers him most.

While he was wandering the street with his men and feeling annoyed, a carriage stopped by the roadside and two Chinese young men in gentlemen's suits got out.

"Mr. Schultz, Mr. Rong wants to see you!"

"I'll be there right away!" Schultz nodded.

After the other party left, he asked someone to prepare a carriage to go to Chinatown.

Half an hour later, Schultz was sitting in Xiucai's office.

"The boss has something for you to do! Pick a group of reliable people from your staff. Brother Wei is going to send them to Germany!"

"You were born and raised there, so you are very familiar with the situation there."

Hearing this, Schultz immediately perked up: "How many people are needed? What's the matter?"

"About 30 or 40 people, not too many! A German company stole Wei Ge's patent. Wei Ge was very angry, but there is no patent law recognized by all countries now, so there is no way to sue him legally."

"Since they stole our patents, we have to bring all their technology back."

"We will arrange for people from the laboratory to go with you when the time comes. They are more familiar with the technology."

"Which company is this? How dare they be so bold!"

"Siemens-Halske."

"I've heard of this company. It's a giant enterprise. Does the boss take this matter very seriously?"

"I attach great importance to it!" the scholar nodded.

"I can bring people there myself." After confirming that Chen Zhengwei took it very seriously, Schultz said immediately.

He was not afraid of leaving San Francisco because he knew that his power mainly came from Chen Zhengwei.

If Chen Zhengwei was not satisfied with him, he only needed to give an order and many people would come to take his life.

As long as Chen Zhengwei is satisfied, no one can take away his power and position.

"If you go in person... that's fine too. Select the people first, and then go to Los Angeles to meet Brother Wei. He may have something to tell you!" Xiucai actually knew Schultz's current situation very well, so he guessed why he was so proactive.

Schultz finally made the right choice, provided he did it well.

(End of this chapter)