A month ago, Milwaukee. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

"Henry. Adams? "Henry. Ford slowly chewed on the unfamiliar name and thought carefully for a moment, "What does this guy do, Steve?" ”

Steve. Davis Qin Lang's appointment in the name of the board of directors of the general manager of the Ford Motor Company, an insurance policy to limit Ford's actions, but he obviously could not effectively carry out his mission, and could not prevent Ford from using the company's resources to satisfy his personal interests; But fortunately, he is still a qualified business manager - with a cover letter on his desk.

"According to the cover letter, he was just an Iowa farmer, but he had studied accounting in school and worked in Des Moines for a few years, and of course he was very fond of machinery, so he ......"

"Steve, what we need is a professional mechanical engineer or technician, not a farmer, accountant or amateur mechanic." Ford felt like his time was being wasted again, and it shouldn't be, "You know I have a lot of things to deal with. ”

"I know, Henry. But I think you should meet him. Davis said slowly, which was his usual style, never changed, even in the most urgent situations, "After all, Mr. Adams has been the only candidate since we started hiring. ”

That's not a particularly hard reason...... No, that's not even a reason, there's no rule that requires the first or only candidate to be admitted...... But after careful consideration, Ford agreed.

"But only for ten minutes." He stressed, and then asked, "Where is he?" ”

"Just wait in the hallway." Davis said, "I think he was already there when you came in." ”

"Are you kidding?" Ford was astonished: yes, there was indeed a middle-aged cowboy in his forties, perhaps even in his fifties, sitting outside, who he saw when he came in, and wondered why there was such a man in the company...... And yet he was Henry. Adams? "It must be said that Mr. Adams is neither an accountant nor an engineer."

"He's a farmer." Davis shrugged.

A farmer...... Ford sighed and went to open the door.

In the hallway outside the office, Henry Brown, a farmer from Iowa. Adams was still apprehensive and awaiting the results - and, in fact, he had little confidence, for one thing was clear: no company would hire a forty-year-old farmer who had only studied and worked as an accountant as a mechanical engineer - and it had been proven time and again over the past few weeks.

No one cares if he understands mechanics or not, it doesn't matter, it's just that he's a farmer and then it's over. In many cases, no one even intends to meet him, and most company and factory owners, factory directors or recruiters will reply directly after receiving a cover letter, first praising his love of machinery and his efforts in the field of mechanical design, and then telling him in a slightly regretful tone that their company only needs professional engineers and technicians, so they cannot provide him with a job position, and finally, they will very sincerely advise him to go home and continue to run the farm or apply for a job at the next company.

Only a handful of factory directors were willing to see him, and all of them were very small factories that could go bankrupt at any time -- unlike Ford Motor Company, which showed no signs of bankruptcy no matter how one looked at it, and yet it was a new company that had not been established for a long time -- but even then the end result was to have them dictate what they had written in reply. After all, you save money on paper, ink, and stamps......

This is always the case.

"Farmer" is the source of the error, followed by "accounting". Adams was indignant. It was not his fault that he did not study mechanical engineering and pursue this profession in the first place, but his father's fault. The stubborn and stubborn old man loved nothing but corn, cotton, and wheat, and hated all machines that smoked and screamed, and demanded that his sons, grandsons, and all future generations do the same—he wanted to confine the family members to the farm, and did—with his Spencer repeating guns.

Of course, thank God, the old man can no longer use his rifle, so he can leave the farm to find a new life, but the reality is tragic, and a farmer who has worked as an accountant can never become a mechanic expert.

Almost.

Adams was tired of the difficult situation he was in. If it weren't for the fact that he still loved designing machinery, and was more tired of the boring life on the farm, he would have returned to Iowa; But if the result of this application is still the same as before, he will immediately go to the train station to buy a ticket, even if he will be ridiculed by the old man unscrupulously when he returns.

However, train tickets ......

How lucky. Adams reached into his pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God, and the money to be able to buy a ticket, two loaves of bread and a can of Spam luncheon meat.

Thank God.

However, after only a moment of relaxation, he began to worry about the outcome of his application again. In his trepidation, the Iowa farmer cast anxious eyes on the office door, and at that moment, the door opened, and Ford walked out.

"Henry. Adams? ”

"Yes, sir."

"Follow me."

Ford's office, next door to Davis's, was a room of the exact same size and décor, but it was cramped and cramped by comparison—the chief engineer's office was filled with drawings, models, and materials, as well as tools for drawing and making models, and almost all of the space was occupied, from his desk to the four corners—but thankfully, there was plenty of room for a few chairs.

"You may be seated, Mr. Adams." Then the polite time is over, and Ford gets straight to the point. "We can make a long story short. My company needs professional technicians, and you're just an amateur mechanic, so in fact, I'm not even going to meet you, let alone hire you. ”

"I'm sorry about that." Adams admits that he wished he was somewhere else, preferably at home.

"But Steve decided to give you a chance." Ford continued, and, as he just said, long story short. "Do you know cars?"

"No, sir."

An amateur mechanic who applied for a job at a car company but didn't know what a car was? For a moment, Ford thought the conversation was over, but finally he asked, "So, do you know the steam harvester?" ”

"I have one on the farm next door." Adams cursed his stubborn father every time he mentioned the steam harvester in his neighbor's house, because it emitted smoke and made loud noises as it drove and the old man tried to shoot at the neighbor several times, which was always quickly stopped, but it made the relationship between the two families very bad - so unfortunately, his wish to get up close and personal with the steam harvester was never fulfilled.

Adams considered it the biggest regret of his life, but Ford was even more adamant that he was wasting his time.

I don't know what a car is, I've only seen a steam harvester from my neighbors...... Well, while there are many kinds of machinery, and hobbyists can sometimes make some good ones, at the very least, Mr. Adams can't meet the needs of the Ford Motor Company.

Of course, he couldn't meet Qin Lang's needs.

Ford felt that he could ask Mr. Adams to leave. But, out of mere curiosity, he finally asked, "Let me take the liberty of asking, Mr. Adams, what kind of mechanical device have you ever designed, or that can be applied to a machine?" ”

Adams blurted out, "Tracked mobile device." ”

It wasn't his favorite design, and he thought so quickly that it was all because Ford mentioned the steam harvester — he would have thought of a tracked mobile device because he often saw the steam harvester from the farm next door sinking into the dirt. However, since there was never a close encounter, let alone a closer understanding of the steam harvester, this design was a bit ...... Lack of feasibility.

But now, as a straw to save itself, it is being thrown.

Ford was both surprised and laughed at his answer: he thought Adams had only designed and built simple mechanical devices—if he had done them—but tracked mobility devices were a problem even for professionals. Many people have spent time and energy on such devices, but they have either failed or developed something that lacks practical value.

Only amateur level farmers will not do better than others.

Ford trusted his judgment, but when he saw Adams pull out a stack of drawings that were almost ninety pages long from his large travel bag, he felt that his judgment might not be so correct.

"I've always carried these drawings with me...... In order to find a job. Adams explained as he unfolded the drawings, "Actually, I made a complete model of a tracked mobile device. ”

But Ford didn't listen to his explanation at all, and his attention was focused on the drawings. As a man who worked with drawings on a regular basis, Ford was certainly able to see that the farmer's drawings were the result of careful drawing, with few errors; As for whether the tracked mobile device he designed can actually be made, that is another question.

"Mr. Adams, can you finish a model in just one month?"

Now, San Diego.

"Qin, what did you say in the telegram?"

"Two pieces of good news." Qin Lang's lips curled up and he squeezed out a smile.

Henry. Ford found an amateur mechanic who designed tracks and mobile devices, a historically obscure farmer – what could be more interesting? What's even more interesting is that the gentleman, Adams, actually completed a mock-up of a tracked mobility device in the space of a month, although according to Ford's telegraph description it was not only extremely rudimentary—the wheels were rigidly fixed to the body, and no suspension system was used; And there are many problems - the most prominent is the detachment of the tracks; But for a farmer who is only amateur, this is still a commendable achievement.

At least I can't make something like that. Qin Lang thought happily and shrugged his shoulders secretly.

However, Ford's news was not all good news, and there was an important caveat: even if Adams was able to complete his design and build a track-action unit with practical value, Ford Motor Company would not have the technical strength to produce it, not only did it not have the experience to produce such a machine, but the small gasoline engine used in the car would not be able to power a heavy machine with track-type action.

"You need a big gasoline engine, or a diesel engine, or a steam engine." Ford suggested that Qin Lang had better start looking for technical support for the power plant now, which he thought would be complicated and difficult.

Enterprises that produce heavy machinery and power units are at least not inferior in size compared to the Big Viper companies, and working with them is not an easy thing to negotiate.

But Qin Lang has his own plans. He did not intend to cooperate with anyone, but was preparing to annex an enterprise as a tractor division of the Ford Motor Company.

And, as a more extreme embodiment of his usual style, and a de facto reasonable choice, Qin Lang's target was not another company, but the original owner of the "Caterpillar" trademark, the manufacturer of steam harvesters, the Holt Manufacturing Company.

It was in Stockton, California – and he was almost pleasantly surprised when he heard the news. And Benjamin. Holt's family-owned company is already technically qualified to build tractors: the Holt manufacturing company, which currently produces steam harvesters, yachts and small fishing boats, has considerable experience in both heavy machinery and "large" power units; There is only one small problem worth noting, due to technical and cost reasons, the power plant it chooses is mainly a steam engine.

That's the only thing that needs to change. Steam tractors or bulldozers were by no means the products Qin Lang wanted, although in fact, there were indeed many people in this world who loved steam engines, some were keen to create steampunk-style literature and games, and even some were fanatics of multi-turret tanks with steam engines, riveted armor and rigid suspensions, but Qin Lang only wanted an ordinary commodity that could be mass-produced and sold.

But steam tractors and steam bulldozers are not.

"We also need to invest more money and effort in the power plant." Qin Lang said.

"For Mr. Adams' new machine with a 'tracked action device'?" While he was pondering his question, Rachel and O'Connor had read the telegram, but they had not seen any good information.

Rachel, in particular, had only seen one message from the telegram: investment, and the kind of investment that might not have paid off, and it could be huge in the end. What Ford describes is the use of metal chains...... A vehicle with tracks instead of wheels, a caterpillar-like mechanism that crawls slowly on the ground, but unfortunately is not at all reliable.

This is by no means good news – or, more bluntly, bad news.

"Can you explain what you want to do, Qin?" "Cars, sports cars, and that Mr. Adams mechanical caterpillar," she said, "you've completely confused me by what you're doing." ”

In fact, this is the effect that Qin Lang wants. If Rachel or others don't have an accurate grasp of his plans and purposes, he can go ahead with them very smoothly - but if they don't know any clues, or if they get confused, he still can't accomplish his plans. Qin Lang had to patiently give a simple explanation to Rachel and O'Connor.

It's as simple as a phrase: "Make money." ”

"How to make money?"

Almost simultaneously, O'Connor asked an anachronistic question: "What is its value in the military sphere?" And mercenaries ......"

Qin Lang sighed secretly. That's the problem, Rachel is smart, but he still doesn't have enough vision to foresee the huge changes that the rapid development of science and technology will bring to human life; O'Connor was slightly better by comparison, but he always associated mechanical devices with military use and mercenaries, which was not the attitude of a qualified businessman.

He made a gesture to Rachel and O'Connor, and led them to the corner to the side—after all, what he was about to mention was known only to a very few, not even Elizabeth; As for Mr. Daubers, anything that he knew would definitely turn into a disaster - Qin Lang took a moment to explain in detail the purpose of tracked construction machinery, the size of its potential market, and finally revealed a little bit of his plan.

Section on the acquisition of Holt Manufacturing Company.

"You're preparing to do something more difficult than Ford's warning, Qin." Rachel thought for a moment, "We don't have that much money to spend on buying Holt Manufacturing. ”

Benjamin. Holt's business is not the kind of small factory or handicraft workshop that can be seen everywhere, in fact, the size of the Holt manufacturing company is not much different from the big Viper Weapons Company, and the sales are higher, if Qin Lang intends to buy it, the company needs to come up with at least a million dollars, maybe even more, because Holt may not be willing to sell his company - however, although they certainly have enough funds to buy five Holt manufacturing companies, this is the entire capital of the company, even if they take out one-fifth to do one thing, It also seems a bit adventurous.

But Qin Lang was still smiling. "Didn't you pay attention to the last part of the telegram?"

"What is it?" Rachel and O'Connor looked at each other for a moment, then took the telegram back out; They really didn't pay attention to the last part of it.

"Rumors are circulating in the New York stock market about the imminent decline in the stocks of chemical, gunpowder and nitrate companies, and there are people who are selling them in large quantities."

"You should know that this is an opportunity." Qin Lang finally burst out laughing. (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) (To be continued.) )