Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 424 Small Tips to Improve Efficiency!

At the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, cheers from the crowd surged like a tide, lasting for a long time.

Lionel stood beside the podium, looking at the group of warriors who had successfully completed five days of arduous racing and returned from the Greater Paris region.

There were fewer than a hundred of them, all covered in dust and grime, but their eyes burned with a fierce light.

Although Pierre de Coubertin did not finish in the top ranks, he persevered and completed the entire course, achieving a mid-range finish.

As he pushed his mud-covered Sorel 1 across the finish line, he was greeted with applause of admiration.

Lionel walked steadily onto the stage, and the audience fell silent instantly, all eyes focused on him.

He took the gold medal, specially made for the champion and engraved with the outline of a wheel and Paris, from the tray in the waiter's hand and solemnly hung it around the neck of the first-place driver.

Then, he handed the champion a Sorel 1 bicycle with a gold frame and a heavy envelope containing 1000 francs in cash.

The driver's lips trembled with excitement as he gripped Lionel's hand tightly.

Lionel patted him on the shoulder, then turned to all the finishers and the sea of ​​spectators around him:
"Gentlemen! Today, we are here not only to crown the victors, but also to pay tribute to all those who dare to challenge themselves and conquer the long road ahead!"

You have measured this land with your wheels, proving that human will can transcend the limits of the physical body!

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the excited and expectant faces, before announcing an even grander plan: "This is just the beginning! From now on, the 'Sorel-Peugeot' Cup cycling race will be held annually!"
Moreover, I promise that as the French highway is built, we will gradually expand the ring road to traverse more provinces and connect more towns.

Our ultimate goal is to create a truly great cycling race that belongs to all the people of France, circling the entire country—the 'Tour de France'!

"The Tour de France!" This imaginative name thrilled all the cyclists and spectators.

They waved their arms, tossed their hats into the air, and cheered deafeningly.

Reporters wrote and drew in their notebooks, recording this historic moment.

--------

This bicycle race triggered a series of chain reactions.

First and foremost, the "Sorel-Peugeot Mechanical Manufacturing Plant" achieved unprecedented success.

The bicycles that ultimately completed this 550-kilometer extreme challenge were all Sorel 1 models!
Other brands all succumbed to the grueling long-distance test.

This was like the most rigorous product test, proving the absolute superiority of the "Sorel Type 1" with indisputable results.

"Sorel-Peugeot Motor Works" took the opportunity to launch a bicycle designed specifically for women, with smaller wheels, a lower frame, and no crossbar, so that even wearing a skirt can make it easy to get on and off the bike;

At the same time, children's bicycles were also launched, divided into three models according to age and height.

The bicycles produced by Sorel Peugeot are not just a convenient means of transportation, but also a symbol of lifestyle.

Orders poured in from all over France and even neighboring European countries, putting immense pressure on the already fully operational suburban factory in Saint-Antoine.

Armand Peugeot made a decisive decision to invest heavily again to expand the production line, recruit more workers, and prepare to implement two-shift production.

The biggest problem is that newly recruited workers need a certain amount of training to master the bicycle assembly process, making it difficult to increase production in the short term.

Lionel offered him a small suggestion: to improve efficiency, the entire production and assembly process could be broken down into the simplest steps, with each worker only responsible for one step.

For example, the process of fixing the front fork to the frame with screws only requires mastering one skill, and even workers with no experience can do it after a short training.

The workshop can be equipped with conveyor belts similar to those in a mine, which will "pass" the bicycles to the next assembler like a flowing stream.

Finally, several experienced mechanics will test the assembled bicycles. Once they pass the tests, they can be shipped out for sale.

Armand Peugeot was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then jumped up from his chair, hugged Lionel, and shouted excitedly, "Léon, you're a genius!"

--------

In terms of public opinion, this competition unexpectedly served to expose the reality.

To provide full coverage of this grand event, several media outlets, including Le Parisien and Le Figaro, dispatched teams of reporters to follow the motorcade and record the conditions along the way in detail.

Thus, many Parisians learned for the first time through newspapers that once they left the city center, the roads outside presented a completely different scene.

The reporter's coverage was filled with scathing descriptions and satire of the road conditions:
"Leaving Paris is like leaving the civilized world!"

"The road to Lambouillet is so bumpy it could shake a driver's bones off!"

"Near Murren, a light rain turned the roads into a mud pit, and the drivers became like boatmen!"

……

These reports ruthlessly exposed the lag in the development of local roads in France; and pointedly noted that if the government continues to be inactive in road construction, the "Tour de France" cycling race will not be held for another hundred years.

These reports resonated widely with readers, especially Parisians, and sparked much discussion.

People began to complain about the inconvenience of travel and questioned the government's decision to invest large sums of money in overseas colonial expansion while neglecting the most basic infrastructure development at home.

Opposition newspapers seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack on Jules Ferry's unbalanced policies, further exacerbating the already precarious state of the cabinet. Lionel, however, ignored the uproar and focused intently on completing his novel, *The Sun Also Rises*, and finalizing his trip to the United States.

Since radio technology had not yet been developed at that time, once they boarded the ship and left port, they would not receive any outside messages throughout the entire voyage.

To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, all itineraries must be finalized before departure.

The media, which had been suffocating under the weight of the Panama Canal scandal, found a bright and glamorous outlet for its venting.

Le Figaro was the first to announce this momentous event with a front-page headline: "The Glorious Expedition of French Literature!"

The article emphasizes the cultural significance of the visit, portraying it as a "spiritual export" showcasing French civilization, attempting to dispel the gloom brought about by the canal project.

The newspaper La Repubblica described it as "a joint performance of republican spirit and liberal art," which will write a new chapter in Franco-American friendship.

Popular newspapers such as Le Parisien were keen to describe the sensation the writers might cause in America.

Driven by the cycling race and the tour of the United States, the topics of conversation in Parisian salons and cafes quickly shifted from "the six-meter drop" and "yellow fever" to "how the Americans would receive our writers" and "whose work would resonate more with readers in the New World."

Even the ailing stock market has begun to recover, and France's future seems full of hope again, giving people great confidence.

Media outlets such as Le Figaro, Le Republic, and Les Petit Parisien announced that they would send reporters to follow the delegation throughout the trip and document this "historic journey."

Meanwhile, the New York Herald, the New York Tribune, and the Boston Globe also acted quickly, each sending a team of reporters to Paris ahead of time.

They will not only report on the writers' final preparations in France, but will also board the ship together for transoceanic follow-up reporting.

For a time, Lionel, Zola, and others were always followed by a group of reporters who spoke both English and French and were eager to ask questions during their public events in Paris, making them veritable international stars.

----------

On October 15, 1881, the autumn winds of Normandy swept through the port of Le Havre.

The grey sea was covered with white foam, and the air was filled with the smells of seawater, bituminous coal, and cargo.

The port and docks were bustling with people and extremely noisy.

The 5500-ton giant cruise ship "Perel" stands majestically beside its berth, like a floating steel city.

Its hull is long and straight, with two tall funnels pointing to the sky, proclaiming its powerful propulsion.

The Perel is the pride of the French mail ship company. On its maiden voyage in 1875, it set a record of arriving in New York in 7 days and 23 hours, a record that remains unbroken to this day.

It can be said that it is the pride of the French shipbuilding industry!
Lionel, Zola, Maupassant, Daudet, Goncourt, Huysmann, and others arrived at the Le Havre docks by train.

Besides writers and journalists, the boarding procession was also packed with all sorts of French businessmen, factory owners, and speculators, carrying bulging briefcases and their eyes gleaming with longing.

Some carried silk samples, some carried brochures from wineries, and some talked about railway bonds.

One Chicago pig breeder even brought eight precious French breeding pigs into the cargo hold—he was preparing to promote authentic "French bacon" in the United States.

These people were all eager to use this large-scale event to expand their reach into the American market.

Looking at the chaotic scene, Alphonse Daudet whispered to Goncourt beside him, "Edmund, I feel like we're not missionaries on a missionary journey, but rather the foremen of a circus."

Edmund Goncourt shrugged: "At least the box office looks set to be good."

Guided by dock workers, Lionel and his entourage boarded the Perel via the gangway.

This large ship had a spacious deck, complete facilities, and decorations that reflected the Second Empire's pursuit of luxury and comfort.

Lionel and his party were led to the first class cabin, which was not only luxuriously decorated, but also had soft beds, a private washroom, and a small writing desk.

Yusman surveyed his surroundings and expressed his satisfaction: "It seems we don't need to cross the ocean like ascetics anymore."

Lionel was not surprised. The US side, both officially and privately, attached great importance to this trip and received the highest level of hospitality throughout.

This rising nation would rather be called a sucker than lose face.

Shortly afterward, a deep and loud whistle suddenly sounded, drowning out all the noise.

The massive ship "Perel" moved slowly, creating an ever-widening gap in the water between itself and the dock.

The mooring lines were pulled up, and the propeller churned the murky seawater, propelling the giant ship, carrying countless hopes, towards the vast ocean.

The crowds and buildings on the shore gradually shrank, eventually becoming blurry outlines.

Soon, the port of Le Havre disappeared below the horizon, leaving only the boundless gray-blue ocean and the low rumble of the waves.

On the separate deck of first class, Lionel faced his companions: "Well, gentlemen, France is no longer in sight."

Now, let's prepare to welcome the new continent!

Reporters then swarmed over and began the first round of "exclusive interviews"!
(End of second update)
(End of this chapter)