Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 571 The Man Who Understands Widows Best (Bonus Chapter 3)

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England.

This is a magnificent Baroque palace, the residence of the Duke of Marlborough. At this moment, in the study, the fire in the fireplace is burning brightly.

John Winston Spencer-Churchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, stands hunched over before the fireplace.

He held a telegram in his hand, looked at it for a long time, and then threw it into the flames. The telegram quickly curled up, turned black, and turned to ashes.

The study door opened. The Duke's son, George Charles Spencer-Churchill, walked in; he was not yet 40 and had a tall, straight figure.

“Father,” George said, walking to the fireplace, “what does the telegram say?”

"It is said that Lionel Sorel has safely left Britain. The deportation order is in effect, and he arrived in Paris yesterday."

"That's good." George Churchill breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried that the cabinet would change its mind and insist on prosecuting him."

“The Marquess of Salisbury isn’t that stupid.” The Duke of Marlborough walked to his desk and sat down. “To prosecute a foreign writer, especially after he was attacked?”
That would make Britain a laughingstock throughout Europe. Deportation is the best option—it saves face and solves the problem.

He then sighed, "It's really hard to get Sorel to owe us a favor! If only that assassination hadn't happened."

That way he'll be taken to court, and then we'll have a chance..."

George Churchill asked curiously, "What can I do if I have the chance?"

The Duke of Marlborough shook his head: "According to our agreement before he came to London, there may be a chance for him to escape trial, or there may be a chance for him to be pardoned."

There might even be a chance to rescue him from prison or exile... These are all things we can do.

George Churchill was puzzled: "But Her Majesty the Queen, isn't she furious about 1984?"

The Duke of Marlborough interrupted his son: "What Her Majesty the Queen cares about most is her own power. She is not swayed by emotions; she has her own judgment."

Moreover, I will give the Queen a sufficiently compelling and respectable reason that she will find difficult to refuse.

George asked curiously, "What reason? You said the same thing before, so what exactly is the reason?"

The Duke of Marlborough glanced at his son, seemingly hesitant to speak. Finally, he sighed.

"What does the Queen care about most?" he countered.

"The dignity of the royal family? The stability of the empire? Is her power being respected?"

Duke Marlborough shook his head: "No, neither. It's Prince Albert."

George paused for a moment. Prince Albert, the Queen's husband, died of typhoid fever in 1861. Since then, the Queen had lived a long period of seclusion, rarely concerning herself with politics.

"What is your relationship with the Prince?"

"Prince Albert dedicated his life to promoting social reform and was deeply concerned about the lives of workers and the poor."

If the prince were still alive, he certainly wouldn't approve of prosecuting commoners who were simply speaking the truth.

"So, you would suggest to His Majesty..."

The Duke of Marlborough calmly said, “If we let Lionel Sorel go, all of Europe will know that she did not betray Prince Albert’s ideals.”

She would become a monarch who would sacrifice her own dignity to uphold her husband's will. For a woman, this is the highest praise.

George gasped. "This...this is too risky. The Queen might be furious."

Duke Marlborough shook his head: "How could that be? She knows I'm telling the truth. Prince Albert does indeed care about social reform and truly sympathizes with the underprivileged."

If the prince were still alive, he would not have approved of prosecuting commoners; he would have prevented the royal family and the government from doing so.

"So the Queen will drop the pursuit of Lionel for this reason?"

"Of course. This allowed her to tell herself, 'I'm not doing this out of fear of public opinion, nor out of weakness, but out of respect for Albert's wishes.'"

For a woman who has been widowed for twenty years, this reason carries more weight than any political consideration and will win her the sympathy of all the British people.

Her image will also be reshaped; she will become a moral icon, the mother of the empire. The cabinet and parliament must once again respect her will.

"It can only be said that Sorel understands the Queen and the Widow far too well!"

George Churchill fell silent. He suddenly realized that politics was not just about debates in parliament and articles in newspapers, but about a precise understanding of people's hearts and minds.

The Duke of Marlborough glanced at his son and added, "Sorel is in London and has not only contacted us, but also has other collaborators."

If my words don't work, Her Majesty will find other ways to back down. As long as Her Majesty hasn't lost her mind, she won't keep harping on Sorel.

“Then,” George Churchill asked again, “did Lionel Sorel know all this?”

Duke Marlborough sighed: "He orchestrated all of this. To be honest, I never thought I could persuade His Majesty from Prince Albert's perspective."

What methods did he give to the others? I don't know. But even if they're not needed this time, they might be needed someday, though not necessarily for Sorel.

George, politics is about people's hearts. You need to know what the other side values ​​most and what they fear most, and then give them a gentle push, and things will go in the direction you want.

Lionel Sorel is not just a writer, nor just a businessman; you should read his books carefully and see how he uses people's hearts to gradually rise to the top.

George Churchill's mind was still a blur, struggling to process what his father had said. He nodded and said, "Yes, Father!"

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23 Wall Street, New York, USA, the headquarters of the Morgan Group.

In John Pierpont Morgan's office, the fireplace was also burning. Morgan, too, held a telegram in his hand, looked at it for a long time, and then threw it into the fireplace.

His son, John Pierpont Morgan Jr., stood at the desk, waiting.

"Lionel Sorel has returned to Paris. His leg injury is healing well, and he can walk on his own now."

Morgan nodded: "That's good. This way we don't have to waste our connections in London trying to save him. Getting Mr. Brown to persuade the Queen would be very expensive."

"Tsk, please ask Mr. Brown... Sorel really knows a thing or two. How does he know so much about widows?"

Old Morgan did not respond immediately. He returned to his desk, sat down, crossed his arms, and looked at his son.

He then asked a question: "Have you ever thought about what would have happened if Lionel Sorel had actually died in England?"

Morgan paused for a moment: "Sorel died in England?"

Old Morgan nodded: "Yes, tell me, what if this happens?"

Morgan thought for a moment, then his voice rang with excitement: "If he dies in England, then Sorel-Tesla Electric will be thrown into chaos."

Nikola Tesla was a genius, but not a businessman. Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré were scientists, not businessmen.

And then there's Sophie Deneuve… She's capable, but she's too young, still a woman. Then, we can…”

"So what?"

"Then we could take the opportunity to lower the price and acquire his shares. Then there would be no 'American Morgan-Sorel Electric Company' and 'French Sorel-Morgan Electric Company'."

Only "Morgan Electric of America" ​​and "Morgan Electric of France" hold complete control over the patents for alternating current, simultaneously dominating the two major markets of the United States and Europe!

Old Morgan looked at his son for a long time. Finally, he shook his head: "You're wrong."

Morgan's excitement froze: "Wrong? Why? If Sorel is dead, we do have a chance..."

Old Morgan interrupted him: "That's not an opportunity, that's shortsightedness! Listen, son. Business is not just about making money, it's about building relationships, building credibility, and building a brand."

Who is Lionel Sorel? He is more than just a writer or a businessman. He is a symbol!

"Symbolism?"

"Yes. He is France's most popular writer, a well-known public figure in Europe, and someone who challenged the British royal family and escaped unscathed."

His name itself has value. When people see a company with the name 'Sorel', they think of more than just electric lights and generators.

They also thought of all the legendary stories about Lionel Sorel. These stories would give every company associated with him a halo effect.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling crowds on Wall Street: "If we take advantage of his death to buy up his shares, then the halo will be gone."

"Morgan Electric"? That's just an ordinary company name. But "Sorel-Morgan Electric"? It transcends money; it's a legend in itself.

Consumers love legends, and so do investors. A legend makes people remember you and trust you. Leverage that trust to attract more money!

Morgan Jr. fell into thought. He had to admit that his father was right. In the business world, emotional value is sometimes more important than practical value.

Morgan asked, "So, we can't take advantage of his death to buy up the shares?"

Morgan walked back to his desk and sat down: "On the contrary, if he really dies, we should retain the Sorel family's shares in the electrical company forever."

The Sorel surname will become the company's most important reputational asset.

"Like a royal charter granted to a company?"

"It's better than that. A license is given by someone else and can be taken back. But the name Sorel is the company's inherent trademark."

It represents conscience, courage, and a challenge to the old order. In the emerging electrical industry, these qualities are more precious than gold.

Young Morgan finally understood completely. He looked at his father and asked, "So, what should we do now?"

“Send a telegram to Lionel. Congratulate him on his safe return to Paris, inquire about his health, and reiterate our commitment to cooperation.”

Then, prepare a gift and send it to Paris. Choose it carefully so he can feel our sincerity.

"Yes, Father!"

Young Morgan turned to leave, but Old Morgan called him back: "There's one more thing. I heard that Lionel's new novel has started serialization in France."

Go find me a copy; I want to read it and see what he's writing.

Morgan was a little confused: "A novel? What does that have to do with our business?"

Old Morgan shook his head, seemingly very dissatisfied with his son's performance: "Remember, understanding your partners is a fundamental skill in doing business!"
Since Sorel is a writer, what better medium to understand him than his works?

Morgan Jr. then realized: "Yes, Father!"

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Amidst all this turmoil, in Paris, at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Lionel Sorel finally returned home.

As soon as he entered, Patty rushed over, tears and snot streaming down her face: "Young Master..."

(Third update, thank you everyone, please vote with monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)