The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 750 People, You Must Rely On Yourself

The next day, on a vacant lot in the suburbs.

A laboratory worker was driving the convertible in circles on the open space, while a tour guide was explaining the car's data.

“时速最高能达到46公里，有着一个35L的油箱，一升汽油能行驶5公里……装满油可以行驶175到225公里。”

"As long as the roads allow, and there is a place to refuel and repair, you can drive from San Francisco to New York... in just five days! Sir, it only takes five days!"

"Although I know this is impossible, I have to say it is a real surprise." John Rockefeller was also moved when he heard this number.

Although this is just ideal data, it is actually impossible.

"Why not?" Chen Zhengwei asked, smoking a cigar and smiling:

"We can push the US government to build a road from San Francisco to New York. Building roads is always easier than building railways. Not just from San Francisco to New York, but between every city!"

“Then the oil companies can build gas stations every few miles for vehicles to buy gas!”

“It will take a little while, but not too long!”

"Just like the emergence of trains changed the situation of using horse-drawn carriages to transport goods, the emergence of cars also changed the way people travel."

"We are changing the world!" Chen Zhengwei said with his arms spread out.

"What an inspiring speech! The progress of science and technology is from nothing to development, and history has proven this!" John Rockefeller nodded in agreement.

What Chen Zhengwei said will come true.

When he saw the moving car, he was sure that it would replace the horse-drawn carriage. This was the future.

The advantages of cars are countless. There is no need for horses, there will be no horse manure left all over the ground, and there is no need to rest. All you need is refueling and someone to drive. The speed is also far faster than horses.

"So what about the reliability and cost of this... four-wheeled vehicle?" asked John Rockefeller.

"It doesn't matter! Just like you said, any new thing will continue to improve after it is invented, from unreliable to reliable."

"As for the cost, if it is mass-produced, the cost can be reduced to about $1500! I can sell this thing to the rich in every city first, and then the cost will gradually decrease until the middle class and even the workers can afford it."

"This is such an exciting future!" John Rockefeller had a smile on his face. He could already imagine the scene of these four-wheeled cars running in the city.

The carriage will be swept into the dust of history.

Just like the weaver and her loom.

"Do you want to go for a ride?" Chen Zhengwei asked.

"It's a great honor!" John Rockefeller said excitedly.

"Let me take you for a ride!" Chen Zhengwei laughed. He was in a good mood and even wanted to play the role of driver.

He just checked and found that the steering wheel of this car was lowered and the brakes were more sensitive than before, so the problem from last time should not occur again.

"It's an honor!" John Rockefeller said the word honor again.

The driver of the test car wanted to teach Chen Zhengwei how to drive, but was pushed aside by Chen Zhengwei.

When it comes to driving, Chen Zhengwei is very stubborn.

As an experienced driver, does he still need others to teach him?
Fortunately, nothing went wrong this time. Chen Zhengwei stepped on the accelerator, turned the steering wheel, turned a corner, drove the car onto the dirt road in the suburbs, and then stepped on the accelerator to the bottom.

Although the speed was only 46 kilometers per hour, it was still too exciting for John Rockefeller.

And this dirt road is really bumpy.

Twenty minutes later, Chen Zhengwei drove the car back to the open space. As soon as John Rockefeller got out of the car, he held onto the car door and vomited all over the floor.

After recovering for a long time, John Rockefeller said apologetically, "I am old, and my body needs some time to adapt."

"I know you are old, but people who don't know would think I did something to you!" Chen Zhengwei said unhappily.

"Never mind, show him the tractor."

"I plan to use this thing on a large scale on my own farm. I also think big farmers will like it. Although this thing is a bit more expensive, it is much more useful than black slaves!" Chen Zhengwei asked someone to demonstrate the tractor again.

"As long as the sales of cars and tractors are launched and these things become available everywhere, Standard Oil's annual sales can increase dozens of times!"

"I plan to have cars on every city street in America by next year.

“Within five years, the factory price of cars will drop to less than $1000, and the number of cars in the U.S. will reach 100 million.

"Then the factory price of the car was gradually reduced to $500. Ten years later, the number of cars in the United States reached 500 million!"

John Rockefeller listened carefully to Chen Zhengwei's words and felt that the number was a bit exaggerated.

Although as technology advances, output will increase and costs will decrease.

But to produce 500 million cars, at least tens to one million cars must be produced each year. How many workers are needed?
But it's not impossible.

After all, it was Chen Zhengwei who said this.

"So what can I do?" asked John Rockefeller.

He realized the enormous value of the advent of cars and tractors to the oil industry.

"Lobby the federal and state governments to build roads! This thing needs to run on the road, not in the mud!" Chen Zhengwei pointed to the road outside, and John Rockefeller nodded immediately.

On this point, his interests are completely consistent with Chen Zhengwei's.

"In addition, our company must improve the process to make gasoline contain fewer impurities and standardize the quality. We need to set standards for gasoline and diesel!"

Today's gasoline is mainly used as lighting fuel, cleaning agent, solvent and industrial purposes, and there are no standards at all.

If it weren't for Chen Zhengwei's request, the laboratory staff would never have thought of using gasoline as fuel.

"I will start making arrangements when I get back! In addition, Mr. Chen, you also need to send someone to participate in the drafting of this standard!" John Rockefeller agreed immediately.

After all, the gasoline standard is designed to suit Chen Zhengwei's car.

"No problem. Also, I think you should donate some money to my laboratory! Conduct research on gasoline and diesel engines!" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile again.

John Rockefeller was a little surprised, but soon nodded and smiled, "How about $100 million?"

"That's it!" Chen Zhengwei laughed and put his arm around John Rockefeller's shoulder as he walked towards the carriage.

I was thinking that when the time came to promote cars on a large scale, for example, to the middle class, I would ask Rockefeller to subsidize the cars and lower the selling price.

John Rockefeller's assistant team and bodyguards could only follow behind helplessly.

Although Chen Zhengwei's behavior was rude, no one would point it out.

The next day, Chen Zhengwei and John Rockefeller went to the shipyard again, and then came to a fishing boat about 20 meters long at the shipyard.

"Boss, this is a fishing boat we modified... Using a diesel engine instead of a steam engine has obvious advantages." The three Donahue brothers introduced it.

"It can be started at any time. Unlike steam ships, it does not need to start burning coal three or four hours in advance. It does not need a boiler, does not need a full-time boilerman, and does not need to leave a lot of space in the cabin to load coal... It is very suitable for fishing boats and passenger ships that start and stop frequently in coastal areas."

"What are the shortcomings?" Chen Zhengwei asked.

"It has low horsepower, is not reliable enough, often breaks down, and it's almost impossible to find someone who can repair it...and it's a bit expensive," said Peter Donahue.

"All of these can be solved! It sounds like this thing is suitable for offshore fishing boats, passenger ships, and ships sailing in the river." Chen Zhengwei waved his hand. "Develop a plan to transform existing passenger ships!"

Chen Zhengwei prepared to send someone to persuade shipping companies between San Francisco and Oatland to gradually convert steam ships into diesel ships.

First of all, there must be an application network to allow technology to continue to develop.

Some people have to pay for the advancement of technology.

Of course, let others pay!
Otherwise, why would you let him pay?
John Rockefeller was very satisfied with what he saw and heard in the past two days. Although the cars, tractors and diesel boats that Chen Zhengwei showed him still had various problems and limitations, they were enough to make him see the prospects.

Especially the prospects of the oil industry.

So after staying in San Francisco for a few days, he said goodbye and returned to Cleveland to do two things.

One is to establish standards for oil.

The other thing is to lobby the federal government, states, and cities to build roads.

Chen Zhengwei also took the same action and sent people to lobby.

Both men focus on these densely populated cities in the East.

And the most important one...the road from New York to San Francisco!
Chen Zhengwei has never liked taking the train, but there are not many options for travel in this era.

It is much more convenient with a car.

Back home, Lin Changning was busy packing up and preparing to move to Los Angeles.

"How's the cleanup going at the martial arts gym?" Chen Zhengwei asked casually.

"It has been packed long ago! But my father is a little reluctant to leave!" Lin Changning said.

"Because your father is old, and people don't want to move when they get older!" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

A martial arts school was also arranged for Lin Mingsheng in Los Angeles. It was located on the roadside of the Chinese community and was connected to a three-story building.

As they were talking, Xiucai walked in and was surprised to see Lin Changning packing up her things: "What are you busy with, sister-in-law?"

"Moving! She doesn't need any of the other people, but she insists on cleaning up by herself! I've told her several times, but she doesn't listen. She's just wandering around, and it makes me upset just looking at her." Chen Zhengwei complained to Xiucai.

Lin Changning was also a stubborn person, and most of the time Chen Zhengwei was unable to persuade her, and was too lazy to do so.

If she wants to clean up, let her do it.

Anyway, Li Xiwen and Datouzi are there to help.

"I'm always afraid of forgetting something." Lin Changning said without turning his head. "You think you can buy it again, but I think it's irreplaceable!"

After all, she has used these things for a long time and has feelings for them.

"Brother Wei, this is Nathaniel's telegram." Xiucai handed the telegram to Chen Zhengwei, and then ran to ask Lin Changning if he needed any help, but was sent back by Lin Changning.

Nathaniel watched as the Panthers fell apart.

The Louisiana and Mississippi Panthers were also separated by the National Guard.

A large number of peace advocates and neutral factions chose to lay down their arms.

In just ten days, the Black Panther Army was almost at the end of its rope.

In pain, Nathaniel could only send a telegram to Chen Zhengwei, hoping that the other party could tell him what to do.

For Nathaniel, Chen Zhengwei was the pioneer who ignited the fire and the mentor who guided him on this path.

He felt that Chen Zhengwei would definitely have a solution.

The telegram was full of pain, humility, expectation and desire.

Chen Zhengwei took a glance and threw the telegram into the trash can.

"Brother Wei, do you want to go back?"

"Tell him that people have to rely on themselves!" Chen Zhengwei said slowly.

"Just reply with this sentence."

"They are not motivated. They have been fighting for a year and are still spinning in circles. If it were me, I would have fought to the moon!"

"And the signs of division have long been apparent. He had so many opportunities to purge those MPs and elites, but he just didn't do it."

"In the end, I allowed those people to split the Black Panther Army... and then came to me like a primary school student and asked me, Teacher, what should I do?"

Chen Zhengwei imitated the child's emphasis and sneered after he finished speaking.

"It's like this, you can't even help a piece of rotten wood!"

If Nathaniel had cleared out those peace advocates before and controlled the Black Panther Army to prevent internal division, he would still look up to them and might even help them again.

However, when he returned to San Francisco, the Black Panther Army was only one step away from complete disintegration.

Even Green knew the Panthers were finished.

Only Nathaniel himself didn't know yet.

So Chen Zhengwei directly gave up Nathaniel and let Green help the US government, accelerating the split of the Black Panther Army.

At this time, Li Xiwen, who had been helping Lin Changning pack up, suddenly paused.

He thought of what Chen Zhengwei said to him when he first met Nathaniel.

"Brother, you guessed this result the first time you saw Nathaniel!" Li Xiwen put down what he was holding and was a little surprised.

"What do you mean?" Big Head asked curiously.

The scholar also looked over.

"My senior brother said that the first people to betray Nathaniel were the black elites, the congressmen, intellectuals, small businessmen, and craftsmen...

"Senior brother said that these people are inherently indecisive..." Li Xiwen said after careful recollection.

He was deeply impressed by these words.

Because when he heard these words, he thought of Chinatown.

"Now they have indeed betrayed Nathaniel!" said the scholar, and then he bowed to Chen Zhengwei with admiration:
"Brother Wei really has a keen eye!"

The first time Chen Zhengwei met Nathaniel, Nathaniel was just an ordinary black man who hitchhiked on a train to San Francisco.

At that time, Chen Zhengwei had already foreseen what would happen next and the consequences, which were simply terrifying.

This only represents one thing, Chen Zhengwei saw through the nature of this matter and these people.

After Datouzi questioned Li Xiwen and found out the whole story, he was shocked and thought to himself that he must write down the incident when he returned.

I have to ask Li Xiwen for some more details.

(End of this chapter)