Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 258 We must make the money we deserve, Comrade Tesla!

On Tuesday night, just as Logan and Anna bumped into each other, Larry took Matthew to Tesla's lab.

The spring night in New York was still chilly, but the rooftop laboratory on Fifth Avenue was warm and cozy, filled with the aroma of cigars, coffee, and ozone from electric arc experiments.

Nikola Tesla, the inventor who shocked the world with his alternating current system, was now as excited as a child, his eyes gleaming with an almost fanatical light under the gas lamp.

On the mahogany table in front of him was a seemingly inconspicuous object—a small, exquisitely crafted, gleaming silver motor, only the size of an adult man's fist, yet emitting a steady, deep hum when powered on, full of power.

“Mr. Livingston, look!” Tesla’s voice carried his distinctive, slightly hurried Slavic accent as he carefully adjusted the wires connecting the motor, changing its rotation speed. “It’s so small, yet so powerful! It will change everything! Homes, transportation, manufacturing… just as you expect, it will bring power to every corner!”

Larry held a Havana cigar between his fingers, but didn't smoke it, letting the smoke rise gently. His gaze was fixed on the spinning motor, calm and unmoved, as if he were looking at an ordinary antique rather than a masterpiece about to revolutionize the world.

If you call this an antique—and Larry could certainly say so, because later electric motors are smaller and more powerful than this one—Larry does look down on this "small electric motor" that Tesla himself improved.

However, logic cannot replace dialectics. For people at this time, this slightly bulky but more compact and adorable electric motor is already a revolutionary product.

Larry even knew perfectly well that no one else but Tesla could have invented this miniaturized motor and achieved such a balanced power and size.

Relatively speaking, this is the best small electric motor of our time. We shouldn't be too harsh on the "ancients".

“Brilliant, Mr. Nicholas.” Larry’s voice was deep and steady. “Its commercial potential is immeasurable. We can set up a company to mass-produce it, and it will bring us unimaginable wealth, just like your alternating current.”

“No! Mr. Livingston!” Tesla shook his head violently, his long hair whipping around. He stood up excitedly, walked to the window, and pointed to the myriad lights of New York City outside.
"Did you see that? Those lights! Power should be like light, benefiting all beings! We can't lock it in a safe and put an expensive price tag on it! It should belong to all mankind! I insist that we only charge the most symbolic patent fee, so that it can be spread to the whole world at the lowest cost and the fastest speed!"

The laboratory fell silent instantly, with only the motor still humming tirelessly.

Larry turned to look at Matthew, only to see a wry smile on his face. He knew in his heart that this was why Matthew hadn't wanted to tell him about Tesla's progress yesterday—it turned out Nikola Tesla's overly compassionate side had kicked in...

He completed a version of his brilliant idea of ​​"giving up the patent fees for alternating current" ahead of schedule.

Larry slowly took a puff of his cigar, then gently placed it on the edge of the ashtray. He looked at Tesla, a subtle, almost pitying smile on his face.

Tesla's idea was good. He was a pure science student who happened to be born in this great era of technological explosion, and was born to strive for the benefit of mankind.

Especially in this special era, scientists are often influenced by the lingering theological notion of "everything for the glory of God" and the social trend of utopian ideals, so it is quite natural for them to develop such lofty ideals as "seeking only to benefit mankind and being ashamed to satisfy themselves."

In this sense, Larry could even call him "Comrade Tesla"!
But my friend, you should earn the money you deserve. In fact, most of the time, earning money is what promotes technological progress and allows humanity to benefit from technological advancements more quickly.

Countless historical examples have shown that the speed and effectiveness of technological breakthroughs in benefiting humanity has nothing to do with whether the founder died abjectly poor, but rather a positive correlation with whether the founder could amass a fortune.

Creating a great product but not making money is more suffocating to followers than being a "shrewd" person who bets all their followers' paths on patents, eating the meat while others gnaw on the bones.

This can't be done. We need to properly advise Tesla that poverty is not social idealism; having money and keeping products inexpensive is.

Thinking of this, Larry fell silent for a few more seconds, but this brief silence felt as long as an eternity, filled with the tension of weighing options and making choices.

Then he spoke, his tone carrying a solemnity born of being persuaded:

“My dear Nikolai… your magnanimity puts me to shame.”

Tesla turned around with a look of surprise. Clearly, after the last negotiation with Larry, Tesla had assumed that Larry was a special, more visionary young capitalist who would not understand the great significance of popularizing technology for the general public.

Tesla even suspected that Larry would insist on selling the product at a high price...

But when he proposed a "symbolic patent fee," the other party actually praised his magnanimity.

That's settled!

Larry stood up, walked to the table, and gently ran his fingers over the slightly warm motor, as if caressing a lover's cheek.

“You’re right. We shouldn’t measure such an invention by monetary standards. It deserves a much greater destiny.”

“Yes, sir! Technology should be like this,” Tesla said eagerly.

“But have you heard a story?” Larry suddenly turned around and stared intently at Tesla.

Tesla frowned and asked, "What story?"

Even Matthew focused all his attention on Larry.

Larry continued, “Dear Nicholas, I admire your lofty ideals. It reminds me of a story that took place on the coast of New England, about a sailor named Old Henry.”

Then, Larry began to tell this "New England version of Zigon's Redemption" story.

On the storm-prone rocky coast of Maine, there lies a poor fishing village. The villagers have made their living by fishing for generations, but the treacherous sea conditions have caused many sailors to never return.

Old Henry was the richest and bravest sailor in the village. After a terrible storm, he used all his savings to build a sturdy lighthouse and a small shelter on the most dangerous cape. He declared that any sailor in distress could take refuge there, completely free of charge.

News of old Henry's good deeds spread throughout the coast. At first, people sang his praises. But gradually, problems arose.

When other villages wanted to set up shelters in dangerous locations, people would say, "Can you do it for free like old Henry? If not, you're not a real good person." And so, no new shelters were ever built. Old Henry's lighthouse became a unique and irreplaceable example.

An old pastor in the village said to Henry, “Henry, your kindness has illuminated the cape, but your ‘free’ approach has extinguished countless candles that could have been lit. If you had charged a reasonable fee to maintain the lighthouse and inspire others to follow suit, the entire coastline might be filled with light today.”

But now, your greatness has become a shadow hindering others from doing good.

After telling the story, Larry smoothly transitioned to the main topic and continued,
“Nikolai, you are today’s ‘Old Henry’. Your invention is the beacon that can save countless lives and illuminate the entire industrial civilization. If you give it away for free, how will those who come after you feel? Any attempt by them to obtain a reasonable return to sustain their research and development will seem despicable and utilitarian in comparison to your ‘selflessness’.”

"The result is that, apart from you, a genius, no one else will be willing or able to continue to improve and promote this technology. It will become a lonely, unreplicable monument, rather than a self-reproducing, ever-growing forest."

"Therefore, we charge appropriate fees not for profit, but to establish a 'model'—a model that all newcomers can easily join and are willing to participate in. We are not lowering our moral standards; we are paving a path for a great cause that everyone can take. This is true, sustainable generosity."

“Sustainable… generosity?” Tesla easily understood the subtle meaning in Larry’s story, but the ending was one he had never imagined.

"Believe me, simply 'suffering for yourself' is not the best way to benefit all mankind. This applies to electric motors and alternating current as well."

Tesla was taken aback and instinctively asked, "An AC patent? I... I do have that idea. As long as Westinghouse can ensure the large-scale application of AC... I'm willing to give up patent ownership." "Have you considered that for a great patent to be widely adopted, people don't care whether you make the money you deserve from this business, but they care a great deal about your leading role in creating wealth during the project's promotion?"

Larry continued with a thought-provoking question: "If you can't make a lot of money from this, how can your followers have the confidence to do the same? Your wealth is not dirty; it is a beacon for those who follow."

“But…we invent something not just to make money, do we?” Tesla argued.

Larry chuckled softly. "But do you intend for all the newcomers to generate electricity with love?"

Tesla was speechless for a moment, then lowered his head and weakly defended himself, "...But I think it's immoral for a scientist to make money from inventions. I can't judge what others do, but I have to be true to my conscience."

Larry looked up, his gaze sharp as he looked at Tesla, as if piercing through a wall to see into the distant future: "I propose that we not form a company. We should form a fund—the 'Tesla Momentum Fund'."

"Fund?" Tesla looked up and repeated in confusion.

“Yes, a non-profit foundation.” Larry strolled over to Tesla, standing beside him as they gazed out the window at the city, his voice full of persuasive power.

"We will license the production of this motor to the world—especially to small workshops, independent inventors, and underdeveloped regions—at near cost price, provided they pass the evaluation! We will establish a certification standard to ensure quality. We can even provide start-up capital for promising innovators."

Larry looked at Tesla to make sure he understood, and then continued,

“Even if we make some money from licensing, that money can be used to encourage more scientists and inventors like you who are dedicated to benefiting humanity. If you don’t make money from patents, how can you fund them?”

Tesla nodded, then shook his head. "Sponsorship sounds good, but it's also a form of control, and I've suffered greatly from it..."

Larry laughed, drew a circle with his finger, and continued, "But you also benefited greatly, didn't you? Without funding, how could you have invented things in top labs in New York?"

Tesla is speechless once again.

Larry continued, “Capital is neither evil nor noble; it is alienated by humanity only by how you use it. If you can use money for things that benefit humanity, Nikola is the current that drives the electric motor, not Edison’s electric chair.”

Larry's vision perfectly aligned with Tesla's idealism. In particular, Larry's introduction of the debate over electricity instantly stirred Tesla's emotions, even making him feel a little excited.

Larry, however, persisted.

"Let the seeds of motivation spread to every corner of the world, let them grow freely, and inspire boundless creativity! Nikolai, imagine that fifty years from now, when history writes about this era, people will remember not two wealthy men who made a fortune, but two pioneers who laid the foundation for the progress of human civilization!"

Tesla was deeply moved. He gripped Larry's hand tightly. "Mr. Livingston! I knew you were different from those profit-driven businessmen! You are a true kindred spirit!"
.
Over the next few days, surrounded by a top-notch legal team, the framework for the "Tesla General Dynamics Fund" was quickly established. Thick stacks of legal documents piled up on the desk.

Tesla was so engrossed in the technical details and rollout plans that he had no interest in the complicated legal terms and trusted Larry.

Meanwhile, Larry, in his study late at night, by the light of a desk lamp, meticulously reviewed the foundation charter and patent licensing agreement, which were poised to have a far-reaching impact.

“Here,” Larry pointed to a clause with his pen and said to the lead attorney, “add this clause—'The holder of any improved, supplementary, or applied patent derived from the core motor technology licensed by this Foundation grants this Foundation an irrevocable, lifetime, worldwide right of first refusal.'”

The lawyer adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, carefully considering the meaning behind the words, confirming the other party's true subtext, before cautiously asking, "Mr. Livingston, does this mean that anyone who wants to make any improvements to this motor in the future will have to ask us first?"

“That’s one way to understand it,” Larry said casually, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
“We want to encourage innovation, don’t we? To ensure that excellent improvements are not buried due to a lack of funding or access. The foundation will be their most reliable support. Of course, we will pay reasonable licensing fees.”

The lawyer understood immediately, asked no further questions, and focused on revising the clauses to make them more rigorous and subtle.

This passage is cleverly wrapped in a series of flowery phrases about "technical support," "innovation incentives," and "common development," like a colorless and odorless venomous snake lurking in the Gospels.

The signing ceremony took place on a sunny afternoon. Tesla didn't even glance at the specific terms before readily signing his flamboyant name on the last page of the document.

Larry took the pen, the tip gliding across the paper, leaving a clear and calm signature.

Just as the ink dried, the sound of a factory whistle drifted in from afar, long and powerful, like the clarion call of a new era.

Tesla excitedly embraced Larry, saying, "Mr. Livingston, history will prove us right today!"

Larry patted him gently on the back, a warm and humble smile on his face: "It was our mutual choice, Nikolai. By the way, you should just call me Larry from now on."

"Yes, Mr. Livingston!"

Larry watched Tesla leave with a copy of the agreement, as excited as a child receiving a new toy, to continue his next wild idea about global wireless power transmission.

When the study door closed, leaving only Larry and Matthew, the smile on Larry's face gradually faded, and he returned to his usual calm.

He walked to the window and watched Tesla's horse-drawn carriages merge into the bustling traffic of New York City below.

Matthew asked in a low voice, "My brother, this investment... I don't know how to put it! I feel that while we can certainly advance the development of electric motors, it seems disproportionate to the investment."

Larry didn't turn around, his voice as calm as stating a given fact, "Matthew, have you ever seen bird trapping? You can scatter a handful of rice and catch a flock of sparrowhawks. What we're scattering is a seed that will grow into a towering tree."

He paused, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps whispering to a future adversary:
"What they want is the current momentum, while I... want all the stronger hearts that may be born in the future. When they can no longer live without this heart, they will find that the sound of its beating is determined by me."

Matthew nodded slowly; even someone as intelligent as him couldn't truly understand Larry's thoughts.

But he only knew one thing: Larry Livingston and Nikola Tesla were the same kind of people—extremely intelligent, capable of creating a world from a tiny singularity…

But they are different. Larry has clearly grown rapidly in the past few months... In the past few months, rather than learning how to establish himself in New York, he has become more accustomed to his human body.

Larry gave Matthew the feeling that while others were growing, he was constantly evolving...

Otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a big splash in the stock market the day after he met Tesla, on the first day of General Electric's IPO, that Wednesday...

Matthew thought about what had happened in the past few days, and even now he couldn't help but look at Larry's back again and again.

Outside the window, the city's outline stood out sharply in the setting sun, and the smoke billowing from countless chimneys foreshadowed the unstoppable tide of the machine age. And at the source of this tide, an invisible rein had already been quietly grasped in the hands of the owner of this room.

Twenty years is but a blink of an eye. Enough time for a single seed to grow into a giant vine that dominates the entire world.

　I'll write about GE's IPO battle tomorrow! But I'll be on the train all day, so I'll try my best to write well... If it doesn't work out, there's nothing I can do; I'll write it when I'm back and settled in...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)