On the day the Government Investment Fund held its vote, Admiral Keavis, the First Lord of the Admiralty, personally attended to observe the proceedings. Before the vote, he even delivered a brief speech on the importance of Steam Engines to the Royal Navy.
Well, he most certainly had not accepted a bribe from the Bolton-Watt Company. He had come entirely on his own dime.
After all, if the 180 Horsepower Steam Engine could truly be developed, it could be used to power Third-rate Battleships.
Those were the core strength of naval warfare at present.
As long as they could equip twenty Third-rate Ships with steam power, along with the light Steam Warships currently under construction, forget the Franco-Spanish Joint Fleet—even if every navy in the world were tied together, they still would not be a match for the Royal Navy!
In truth, there had been no need for him to lend his support at all. Sir Malik had long since made the necessary arrangements.
Very quickly, the Management Committee approved the massive investment of 800,000 Pound Sterling by a vote of ten in favor and four against. Applause and cheers immediately erupted throughout the hall.
After this barrage of publicity, high-output High-Pressure Steam Engines had long become the focus of public opinion. Now that the vote had passed, it was simply what the people had hoped for.
The following day, Frank began a dazzling series of maneuvers in cooperation with Congressman Montes and the others.
First, Montes, two other congressmen, and Sir Malik had each bought shares in three obscure little companies half a month earlier—one manufactured metal insulation panels, another lifting equipment, and so on. None had a total share value exceeding 2,000 Pound Sterling.
Once the 800,000 investment had been approved, Seawest Shipbuilding Company, Chatterham Shipyard's largest second-tier