I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 98 The Invitation from the Berlin Academy of Sciences

Departing this May, arriving in North America next August!

This trip will take a full fifteen months!

Chen Wenbin looked at the Tower of London across the Thames and sighed deeply.

That's just how inefficient ocean shipping is these days!

Unless he can build clipper ships or even steamships, he can only transport immigrants little by little like this.

Moreover, the "Louisiana" ship under our feet can only transport two hundred adult immigrants at a time. Any more than that would mean sacrificing food and accommodation, treating people like livestock on a slave ship!

He certainly wouldn't do that, nor would he allow Eric Lovelat and Vincent Robinson to do it.

So the only options are to increase ship speed to reduce the loss rate of immigrants, or... buy more ships!

"...Alright! Let's use the old ship then!"

He turned around and agreed with their statement. They were both going to the East by ship. Since they weren't worried about the old ship going badly, he could use the money he saved to buy a few more old ships. That way, he could transport about a thousand people to North America at a time, which would meet his minimum requirements.

"Eric, Captain Vincent!"

He met their gazes and said seriously:

"I will have Mr. Scott and Mr. Morris assist you in continuing to purchase old ships. You should also keep in touch with the captains and sailors during this time... My goal is to have at least four ships depart from England in May, with a total budget of £16,000. If that's not enough, we can increase it to £20,000!"

Next August, I hope to see at least 800 immigrants at Fort George, at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Did I make myself clear?

"……Understood!"

"Yes, Sir!"

The two agreed at the same time, then looked at each other, both feeling the immense wealth and power of Lord Chen!

Sixteen thousand pounds!

If we were to be frugal, we could buy five old ships!

A year after the war ended, there are still some armed merchant ships in the port of Portsmouth that were requisitioned by the navy during the war and are waiting to be sold. Most of these armed merchant ships have been repaired and are able to sail normally, so they can be bought and used at a low price.

As for whether there are risks, what ocean voyage is without its risks? Besides, ships repaired by the navy are definitely more reliable than ordinary old merchant ships.

Seeing them rubbing their hands together, looking ready to make a big splash, Chen Wenbin nodded slightly. As long as the boss gives the employees enough benefits, they will be motivated and encourage themselves.

He thought for a moment and continued, "...Oh, right, don't forget to make it clear to the captains, first mates, bosuns, gunners, and every sailor and merchant employee."

I am not a stingy boss. As long as you pass my interview and accept the company's employment, everyone will receive a minimum of £150 in injury or death compensation. There will also be generous bonuses and profit sharing for completing tasks.

In addition, the wives and children of all company employees can choose to go with me to North America, where they can acquire land to develop farms and plantations, and the children can also receive a systematic education.

If you don't want to leave the UK, you can send your child to Robin School in South London for education. If they have excellent grades, they can go on to study at Robin Medical School or Robin Science School and get a decent job in the future.

I will not mistreat anyone who works for me, but I expect you to repay me and the company with dedication and commitment!

Upon hearing this, Vincent Robinson first removed his tricorn hat from his head and pressed it to his chest, bowing slightly to Chen Wenbin in respect. Then, he straightened his back and, with a grateful expression, loudly proclaimed:

"Sir! I believe you can keep your promise! Because my son, Joseph Jr., is already studying at Robin School with your godsons!"

I'm sure those bastards will see your demands as a mission they absolutely must complete when they hear your terms!

Because you gave them hope, a hope to change their destiny!

I swear, if their children have the opportunity to become enviable doctors and lawyers, or learned scholars and inventors, no one would want to miss it!

"...Knowledge is power!"

Eric Lovellard, who came from a wealthy family, naturally quoted Sir Francis Bacon, saying earnestly to Chen Wenbin: "Sir, before you, no one was willing to provide an education for the children of ordinary employees!"

Basic education in Britain is provided by church-affiliated Sunday schools and charity schools. I dare say that those schools teach nothing but the Bible and basic arithmetic, and more than half of Britain's poor cannot even write a proper letter home!

But in Prussia, Frederick the Great ordered free basic education last year!

All children aged 5 to 12 must attend school, funded by the state. The teachers are not clergy, but professional teachers who receive state salaries…

He shook his head, his face showing both pride that Germany had produced Frederick the Great and sympathy for Prussia's difficult situation. Prussia had lost one-tenth of its population in the last war, and perhaps only through this kind of compulsory education could it make up for the population shortage and its predicament in terms of geographical location.

"Yes! Knowledge is power!"

When Chen Wenbin heard about Prussia, he was filled with emotion, recalling a lecture invitation he had received a week earlier from the Berlin Academy of Sciences.

In his personal invitation letter, the Prussian chemist Andreas Sigismund Maggraf earnestly and urgently requested that he come to Berlin soon to introduce the oxidation theory and the law of conservation of elements to the professors and students of the Berlin Academy of Sciences. They were willing to pay for his travel expenses and the tuition fee of 50 ducats.

In addition, he mentioned in the letter that the Berlin Academy of Sciences had elected Chen Wenbin as a foreign academician, and if Chen Wenbin was willing to become a citizen, the Berlin Academy of Sciences could apply to King Frederick II of Prussia to award Chen Wenbin a Black Eagle Medal and a noble title... which would simply be adding "von" to his name.

At the very end, the chemist also mentioned that his friend Alexander of the von Stein family had a seventeen-year-old granddaughter named Anna, who greatly admired Chen Wenbin's scientific and medical achievements... He probably didn't know that Chen Wenbin was already engaged when he wrote the letter.

In short, the letter means: Dr. Robin Chen, Prussia welcomes you!

Compared to the somewhat reserved official invitation from the French Academy of Sciences, the invitation from the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin was much more frank and straightforward.

First, they offered travel expenses and a hefty tuition fee, then they lured him in with medals and noble titles, and finally, they said a noblewoman admired him… If the invitation hadn't been delivered personally by Count Bute, and if George III hadn't suggested he visit Prussia, Chen Wenbin would have thought it was a scam!