Diesel

In the field of internal combustion engines, Diesel was without question one of the greatest inventors. The diesel engine he invented had a tremendous impact on later society. Bringing Diesel under his banner early would ensure a significant lead over rivals in diesel engine technology in the future.

Diesel engines had a wide range of applications, but what Oscar valued most was their use in tanks, armored vehicles, heavy trucks, and submarines. These were all inseparable from the military domain.

Diesel's full name was Rudolf Diesel. He was born in March 1858 in Paris, France. His parents were German workers employed in France. After relations soured between France and Germany, the Diesel family was expelled back to Germany, and their life became difficult.

In 1879, at just 21 years old, Diesel graduated from university and became a refrigeration engineer. During his work, Diesel felt that the steam engines of the time were terribly inefficient, and he conceived the idea of designing a new type of engine. After saving up some funds, Diesel resigned from his position as a refrigeration engineer and opened his own engine laboratory.

After many failures, Diesel's experiments finally succeeded. In 1892, Diesel was able to showcase his achievement to the world—a practical diesel-powered compression-ignition engine. This engine had high power, low fuel consumption, and could use low-quality fuel, showing brilliant development prospects. Diesel then plunged into the commercial venture of producing diesel engines. Unfortunately, as an excellent engineer, Diesel lacked business acumen. He gradually fell into financial trouble. By 1913, Diesel was on the verge of bankruptcy. That summer, while crossing the English Channel on a ferry, Diesel suddenly disappeared, believed to have jumped overboard and committed suicide.

Oscar's trip to Augsburg this time was to save Diesel and change his fate. It was also about preserving a national treasure of a scientist for Germany.

As the third-largest city in Bavaria, Augsburg was fairly prosperous. Following an address he had previously learned, Oscar went directly to Diesel's office.

Diesel's office was located on the outskirts, where rent was a bit cheaper. Calling it an office was generous; it was actually an abandoned factory. It was here that Diesel had conducted countless experiments before finally inventing the diesel engine.

But although Diesel had succeeded, the commercial operation of his diesel engine was not going smoothly. Market acceptance was low, and he couldn't even find many buyers. This caused the investors who had been funding Diesel's research to stop supporting him, seeing no hope of profit. The result was that Diesel was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

"Excuse me, is Mr. Diesel in?" Oscar asked after finding the place, unable to help frowning. Still, he understood. Diesel's life had always been rather bumpy, and his current financial straits were hardly surprising.

Before long, the door opened. A middle-aged man in pitch-black work clothes appeared before Oscar.

"I'm Diesel. Who are you?" The middle-aged man frowned. He didn't recognize this young man.

"Mr. Diesel, hello. I've come because of your reputation. I heard you invented an engine with high power, low fuel consumption, and the ability to use low-quality fuel," Oscar asked.

Diesel nodded. That was no secret.

"Come in."

Once inside the yard, Oscar found it even more cluttered. Engine parts were piled everywhere, and the oil gave off a pungent smell. It was clear that the working conditions here were extremely crude.

"That's the diesel engine I developed. It's just that not many people on the market accept it." Diesel's eyes looked somewhat dim.

Oscar nodded. Diesel's current situation was truly dire. Although the diesel engine he designed was a groundbreaking creation, it faced criticism and exclusion from competitors. On top of that, Diesel lacked business sense and had lost a lot of money in stocks, plunging his life into hardship.

Oscar looked at the diesel engine, which could only be described as crude. But he knew that any invention, in its earliest form, wouldn't look very polished. As technology advanced, it would naturally improve in every aspect.

"Mr. Diesel, this is a fine invention. I have great faith in its application prospects," Oscar said.

"I believe that too. But unfortunately, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold out until that day." Diesel's eyes were full of despair.

"No, Mr. Diesel, I believe you will get through this." Oscar's face was resolute.

Diesel was taken aback, as if surprised by Oscar's confidence.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Oscar. I am the fifth son of Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire. The German Welfare Lottery Company and the German Shipyard are also my enterprises. Additionally, I've just registered a company called the German Engine Manufacturing Plant, and I hope you will join us." Oscar's expression was serious.

"What? Prince Oskar?" Diesel was stunned.

The German Welfare Lottery Company—of course Diesel knew it. It was known as the most profitable company. And while he didn't know about the German Shipyard, if it was truly under Prince Oskar, its scale would obviously be substantial.

"Your Highness, hello!" Diesel reached out to shake Oscar's hand, but then remembered his hands were covered in oil and quickly pulled them back.

"Hello, Mr. Diesel. Would you be willing to join my company? I can acquire your technical patents and provide you with sufficient research funding to continue your work! Let's set the initial price at five million Marks. Of course, if you're not satisfied, we can negotiate further." Oscar was quite generous about it. Even though he was already deeply in debt, with the German Welfare Lottery Company backing him, he wasn't under too much financial pressure.

"Five million Marks?" Diesel was shocked. That was an astronomical sum to him. At his wealthiest, his net worth had never exceeded one million Marks.

"If you agree, I can build a research center in Augsburg, and the future factory can also be located here. That way, you won't have to leave your hometown. However, I hope you will continue your research on diesel engines, developing ones with higher reliability, greater power, and smaller size. I believe the future of this engine will be very bright!"