Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 415 Green mountains and clear waters are invaluable assets!
The anomaly occurred when the "miniature Paris" regained its dreamlike brilliance after Tesla pressed the black button.

At first, it was just a wisp of black smoke rising from the most bustling Champs-Élysées area of ​​the model, like an ominous black ribbon, tainting that dazzling sea of ​​light.

Keen-eyed viewers let out a soft gasp, drawing more attention to that spot.

People then noticed that among the intricate and densely packed house models, an inconspicuous black building model had quietly appeared at some point, and the wisp of black smoke was coming from its tiny chimney.

This is just the beginning; it's as if Pandora's box has been opened—

Immediately afterwards, a second wisp of black smoke rose from the Marais district, and a third from the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district…

A low, persistent buzzing vibration began to emanate from the model's base, disrupting the previously tranquil and beautiful atmosphere.

Within seconds, dozens of black plumes of smoke surged from every corner of the "miniature Paris"—

Whether it's the area around Île de la Cité, a symbol of the wealthy, or Belleville and Menemontane, representing the gathering of ordinary people.

— It gushed out.

Thick coal smoke quickly spread and enveloped the entire miniature city.

The spire of Notre Dame Cathedral, the dome of the Pantheon, and the bridges over the Seine, which were previously clearly visible, are now blurred in the "smoke and dust," as if covered with a thick layer of grime.

Even more unpleasant was the pungent smell of coal smoke that instantly filled the air and quickly entered people's nasal cavities.

Caught off guard, the audience members began to cough violently. The women covered their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs, while the men frowned, their faces filled with astonishment and disgust.

This sudden "pollution" forms a breathtaking contrast to the previously dazzling and dreamlike scene.

The face of Thomas Edison was blacker than the coal smoke.

He stared intently at the "miniature Paris" engulfed in "black smoke," his fist clenching silently.

He certainly understood what this dramatic scene implied—those small black buildings constantly belching black smoke were power plants for the DC power system, scattered throughout the city's neighborhoods!
The fatal flaw of direct current is that the voltage drops sharply with distance, limiting the effective transmission distance to about two kilometers. This forces power plants to be located close to users and dispersed in densely populated urban areas.

In this era when coal was the primary source of energy, every power plant meant that coal burned continuously day and night, billowing smoke would blanket the sky, and the roar of machinery would shake the earth.

In order to showcase the power of his "Tower of Light" at this exposition without being distracted by these negative factors, he invested heavily in lavish modifications to the giant DC generator:
Complex noise reduction and sound insulation devices were installed, a shock absorption system was carefully designed, and even the exhaust pipes were directed to the rear of the industrial palace building to keep them away from the audience.

This is precisely the main reason why his exhibits are so large and bulky.

If you were to actually build a power plant in a real city, it would be impossible to do so without considering the cost.

Now, this "miniature Paris" has laid bare the environmental disasters caused by DC power supply to all Parisians in an exaggerated way!

Finally, an audience member couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "Enough! Stop it! Stop it! This damn smoke is suffocating me!"

The shout garnered more support, and the scene descended into chaos, filled with coughing and complaints.

Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Lionel nodded to Tesla.

Tesla operated the controller again, switching off the "DC mode" and restarting the "AC mode," and the "miniature Paris" regained its previous luster and brilliance.

Soon after, the black smoke dissipated, leaving only the tiny, pearl-like LED lights quietly emitting their glow.

After a while, the pungent smell in the exhibition hall gradually dissipated, but the shocking impression had been deeply etched in everyone's mind.

At that moment, Lionel stepped forward and stood in the center of the stage, his voice echoing throughout the exhibition hall: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the difference."

He pointed to the model that had been restored to light: "Using the 'alternating current' system, we only need to build a few large power plants in the suburbs far from the city center."

Then, through a 'transformer,' efficient, long-distance transmission can lead the entire city of Paris, and even more distant regions, towards a bright future.

Then his arm traced an arc, pointing towards the void where the black smoke had just filled the air: "And using the 'direct current' system, as you all just saw—"

In theory, we would need to build a small power plant in almost every neighborhood to meet the electricity demand.

Yes, Paris's future will also be illuminated by electric lights, but at the same time, our skies will be shrouded in black smoke from countless chimneys!

Our streets will be filled with the noise of machines, and our air will be filled with coal dust.

The same bright future, but the ways to achieve it are drastically different.

Now, please think about it, which one would you prefer? The exhibition hall fell silent.

Looking at the beautiful and magnificent "miniature Paris," and recalling the terrifying scene of it being swallowed by "black smoke," people's faces showed deep thought, worry, and even lingering fear.

This is not simply a technological choice; it is a decision concerning their future quality of life, and even more so, the image and soul of the city of Paris.

Just then, several influential figures in Parisian cultural circles took a step forward in unison at the front of the crowd.

Émile Zola spoke first: "We cannot, and should never, turn our Paris into another London!"
We have all seen London’s buildings blackened by coal smoke and its gray skies; that is by no means progress of civilization!
That's the brutal industrial strangulation of the city, suffocating it to death!

Impressionist painter Claude Monet then excitedly added: "That's right! Light! Air! These are the soul of our painting, and the soul of Paris!"
If the skies over Paris turn gray and black, and the light and shadow along the Seine lose their color, then Paris will no longer be the capital of art, but... but a giant, filthy factory workshop, a lifeless prison!

Guy de Maupassant also sarcastically remarked: "Just think, gentlemen, when we invite foreign friends to Paris in the future, are we going to say to them, 'Welcome to the Foggy City'?"

"Ha, that has its advantages—it means French writers will be able to write 'Oliver Twist' in the future!"

A look of despair crossed Auguste Renoir's face: "The rosy sunset, the clear air... if these disappear, what can I paint?"

The successive pronouncements from these cultural figures struck the hearts of the audience like hammer blows.

They represented the heart and soul of Paris, and their anxieties instantly touched many of the citizens present.

Whispers of agreement began to rise from the crowd.

"Mr. Zola is right!"

"We cannot lose the skies over Paris!"

"It's too foolish to pay such a price for a few light bulbs!"

Thomas Edison was pale and his jaw was clenched; he had heard and seen everything clearly.

He knew that in this contest, he was standing on the edge of defeat.

Because Lionel had no intention of competing with him in terms of lighting technology and industrial manufacturing; rather, he was focusing on public sentiment and urban vision.

Parisians may yearn for light, but at the cost of sacrificing the beauty and livability of their city? Parisians will certainly become exceptionally cautious.

After all, the Seine River already stinks enough!
He turned around abruptly, no longer looking at the dazzlingly bright model, nor paying attention to the crowd behind him, and left the exhibition hall without a word, disappearing into the crowd.

In a relatively quiet corner on the second floor of the exhibition hall, Charles Lafargue, the general manager of "Paris Gas and Lighting Company," who had previously had a pleasant conversation with Edison, and Henri de Villefort, the president of the city council, also changed their expressions.

They witnessed the whole thing, their faces showing both solemnity and bewilderment.

Charles Lafargue said in a low voice, "It seems we need to reconsider our direction of cooperation, Mr. Speaker."

He looked at Lionel and Tesla, who were surrounded by the crowd on the stage: "Public sentiment, and the potential of this alternating current technology, seems to be much more promising than Edison's direct current technology."

The speaker nodded slightly, not answering immediately, but his eyes already indicated that the scales of power were quietly tipping.

Finally, Lionel gave a brief summary: "The natural environment of Paris, its clear skies, its magnificent architecture, and its unique atmosphere are the most precious treasures of France."

This is a major reason why people all over the world yearn for Paris, making it the 'capital of Europe'.

He looked around at the crowd, his gaze earnest and resolute: "We must be soberly aware that if one day, Paris, like London, is shrouded in industrial smog and breathes polluted air all day long..."

So, Parisians may get a few brighter electric lights, but they will lose their health, their comfort, their wealth, and ultimately, the very charm that makes Paris Paris!
We should choose a smarter path towards the future.

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience burst into enthusiastic applause!
Lionel breathed a sigh of relief. The "grand show," which had been in preparation for nearly four months and cost more than 20,000 francs, had finally achieved the expected success.

Next, "Mini Paris" became the new superstar of the "International Power Expo"!
Visitors lined up in long queues on the second floor of the exhibition hall, the queue stretching up the stairs all the way to Edison's "Tower of Light".

People eagerly witnessed how their city was condensed into a 50-square-meter model.

Thomas Edison had already climbed into his carriage, leaving Samuel Insall outside:
"Go and figure out all of Sorel and Tesla's tricks—generators, LEDs, transformers…everything. You must give me the answers by tomorrow night!"

Samuel Insall's back was immediately soaked with cold sweat.

(End of two updates)
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