Confronting the government for ideals, although he could become a civilian hero,... he also lost the opportunity to gain international influence. Collusion with the British Empire government may be more in line with Downing's ideals. Idealism also requires realistic support. So, Downing finally decided to sell his soul and sell the telegraph company at a good price.

He has been thinking about how much it will cost. Or, let’s compare the London sewer project, which has not yet begun. After years of quarrels, Congress was willing to pay 3 million pounds. During this period, London was so smelly that it was too bad and cholera became popular several times.

I'm here, No. 10 Downing Street.

Lord Russell is a treacherous and arrogant old man. Downing, who had long heard the string songs, guessed what he was going to say. So after a greeting, he deliberately sighed, saying that the American invention at the expo really surprised him. A photographer named Matthew Brady said that the United States population exceeded 21 million, and the annual growth rate exceeded 30%, while the whole of England was only 15 million, with a slow growth. The United States has shown signs of surpassing England to become the world's largest economic power. I am considering whether to "return" to the United States to develop.

Russell was shocked. He was still calling the British Telegraph Company. When this guy came, he said unhappy and disdainfully: "There are many people? Are you wrong? My British Empire is rich in all over the world, including India, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Will the population be smaller than that of the United States? The economy is even more incomparable. You have never worked in government departments. Maybe you don't know that the industrial output value of the United Kingdom accounts for 60% of the world's total industrial output value! Humph, Americans are doing well, but they are still far behind us."

Tangning said in surprise: "There are 60% so many?...Okay, but colonies and independent countries are incomparable. I saw many places in India starving, and the economy was very poor. It was caused by the priority export of a large number of raw materials to the British mainland. What's even more terrifying is... Although the Governor of India is my good friend, I still want to say that 'no heirs and loses power' is too evil, which touched the interests of the British partner-the local aristocracy of India. The number of Indian soldiers has exceeded that of the British. I am afraid... If this continues, there will be chaos. And Australia, Canada... I may not be sure to become the second, the third, the United States, the sky is high and the queen is far away, and everything may happen. The United States has just won the US-Mexico War, and another California has become a superpower with the Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Pacific in the west, with a great future..."

Russell was very upset: "What does it mean to be so generous to the United States? Do you not recognize the glory of being a British citizen?"

At least 10% of the Prime Minister's arrogance, Tang Ning laughed apologetically and said, "It's not interesting. Actually, I'm quite confused. Look, my name is Tang Ning? Windsor. It's because my father was in Boston but he was in love with his hometown."

Russell falsely asked about Downing's life in Boston, ignoring his unfounded alma mater, MIT, and probably an unknown small and broken school. What good school can rude Americans have?

Finally, Russell got back to the topic: "I discussed with the officers for a while and felt that the radio telegraph of the British Telegraph Company had revolutionized the command intelligence system of the Royal Army. Similarly, it will take not long before the military of all countries will notice this. Therefore, Cabinet ministers all believe that it is necessary to legislate the impact of this invention on national defense. It is initially recommended to nationalize the British Telegraph Company. What do you think?"

Tang Ning took it calmly: "Iron ships and cannons are the key to war. Is it so exaggerated to nationalize the small radio telegraph? I also want to make business into France, the Netherlands, Prussia, Austria, Spain, Russia..."

Russell: "...Generals, ministers, all think that radio telegraphs are great things. You don't have to pretend. Just give a price. Isn't it the glory of every British citizen to help the Royal Army?"

Downing: "This... seems yes, you are right. This is the glory of British citizens. Then I'll sell it cheaply, 12 million pounds."

Russell was still secretly proud when he heard the front, but when he heard the ten million... he couldn't help but get angry again, suppressing his anger, saying: "This is a bit of a mess. The entire empire's military expenditure last year was only 15 million pounds. Please show some sincerity, Mr. Windsor."

Tangning revealed his plan: "Do you remember what I said about the speed of light of 300,000 kilometers per second that I said that day? Wireless telegraph actually has a super application scenario - global navigation. The principle is to send telegraphs to three known signals at the same time, and calculate the location of the telegrapher through the time difference when they receive the radio waves. I don't know if you have any understanding of navigation. Navigation is now a very difficult task, and with our navigation telegraph, the captains can rest assured. The annual fee for such telegraphs is 120 pounds. I have thought that if 100,000 merchant ships use our company's services, we can collect 12 million pounds a year. Of course, this will take several years to reach. I am very confident. You said, in this case, how much should I bid to be considered a qualified English citizen?"

Russell sneered: "100,000 merchant ships rent your telegraph machine? You think so wonderfully, right?" No matter how much money you can make, the Prime Minister and First Chancellor of the Finance Department only know that this ten million plan is absolutely impossible to pass in Congress.

Tangning shrugged: "Or, I ask the United States, which is actively expanding its territory, Prussia, Austria, which is seeking to unify the German-speaking regions, Russia, and Russia, which are finding the seaports. Of course, I am not trying to treason, I just ask, and I have no idea!"

Russell: "...It is impossible to lose to you... it is impossible to exceed 10 million, and no country can offer this price. You should know."

At this time, it was time to make concessions. Tang Ning said: "I really want to ask you to talk to me about this business in a year or two. However, since you seem to be more urgent now, I also have a workaround - I will make the government the largest shareholder and have the veto power, and I will still retain part of the equity, so that I will not miss the benefits brought by the company's great development, and the government can actually control the general direction of the company and prevent key technologies from flowing into other countries. In this way, the price will drop greatly, you see..."

"Oh..." Russell felt that this would be more reliable. "So, let's do it like this, what is the current share composition of your company?"

Downing told the truth: "I hold 50% of my technology, and four other investors invested a total of £100,000. They are Mr. Lionel Rothschild, accounting for 25%, Mr. Rollinson, the shareholder of the East India Company, accounting for 10%, Mr. Samuel of the Smith family, accounting for 10%, and the Marquis of Dalhousie, accounting for 5%, all of which are here."

They are all famous guys in the City of London, and they are not easy to control each one. Lord Russell's arrogance was extinguished a little.

After pondering for a moment, the Prime Minister said: "So, if you buy 30%, you can occupy the position of the major shareholder? 4 million pounds is still a little more, you see..."

Tang Ning looked bitter and said, "I'll think of another way. Who told me to be so patriotic?"

After "thought hard", Downing offered a conspiracy: "You can buy 25% of the shares, which is the same as the shares of Mr. Rothschild and I. This is certainly not enough to give the government the gold veto power. In this way, a communications management committee is established in the cabinet, and the British Telegraph Company recommends members of the committee. Of course, the government still has the power to veto the list of members. This organization is necessary because the frequency of radio waves must be managed by the government, otherwise the interference of signals will happen, which is also a disaster for the British Telegraph Company. In this way, it will be £3 million. What should I do?"

Sure enough, the price of 3 million gave the Prime Minister a little bit of confidence. The Imperial Army will cost 15 million a year. Now, if you spend 3 million, you can have an intelligence system that is far more than the armies of other countries. No matter how you calculate, you may impress the Congress, right? At that time, you will find a few famous generals to explain, and you will have a better chance. At this time, Lord Russell smiled narrowly: "This is barely feasible, and I will discuss it with the ministers."

After making such a happy decision, Tangning looked at the British political center named after him with interest and asked the Prime Minister to find someone to take him around to visit.

The Prime Minister took him to visit himself, not because he valued the upcoming nouveau riche, but because he was afraid that he would have any missing clauses, so he took him around by the way. However, to others, the Prime Minister of the world's most powerful empire personally took a rich man to visit No. 10 Downing Street. This was reported to scare many people.

No. 10 Downing Street is the prime minister’s office and residence, but the prime minister dislikes the place too narrow, and the residential area is empty here for many years. It’s really a waste of resources.

When they exchanged views on the idea of ​​the Communications Management Committee, the Prime Minister felt that he had no major problems, so he took the guest to the door. Tangning saw a large open space opposite No. 10 and said: "It seems that there can be a large office space here. Why not leave it to me to build a building. I will pay and leave a few offices for the Communications Committee after the task is completed. How about it?"
Chapter completed!