Empire Rising: Spain

Once Tesla was determined to work and study in rotation between the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Royal Science Academy, Carlo did not hesitate to arrange for Tesla’s job position and study subjects.

Although Tesla is virtually omnipotent in scientific research, he is most renowned for his abilities in alternating currents and radio waves.

For this reason, Carlo decided to let Tesla join Graham’s Electricity Laboratory to engage in research related to electricity and engines.

Currently, Graham’s Electricity Laboratory is studying long-distance transmission and energy storage of electricity. It is believed that Tesla’s joining will inspire Graham and possibly accelerate the advancement of electricity usage in Spain.

Besides working in Graham’s Electricity Laboratory, Tesla must continue studying for his master’s degree in physics, mathematics, and mechanical engineering at the Royal Spanish Science Academy.

Carlo personally promised Tesla that as long as he successfully completes the master’s degrees in three subjects within three years with excellent grades, Carlo would allow Tesla to set up his own laboratory for his research.

Upon hearing that he might establish his own laboratory, Tesla agreed instantly. Though Tesla is currently just a university student, freshly graduated, establishing his own laboratory is an irresistible temptation for any scientist passionate about scientific research.

To prevent Tesla from being at a loss upon entering Graham’s Electricity Laboratory, Carlo specifically instructed Graham to personally guide Tesla through some electrical experiments to familiarize him with the Electricity Laboratory.

Due to Carlo’s instructions, Graham paid significant attention to Tesla, who joined the Electricity Laboratory mid-way.

Although Tesla is a 22-year-old university graduate, Graham quickly recognized Tesla’s potential during their brief encounters.

Graham had complained to Carlo long ago about the lack of high-end talent in the Electricity Laboratory. Despite Tesla being young, his capabilities in electricity are indeed trustworthy.

For this reason, Graham felt no discontent about squeezing time out of his busy schedule to help Tesla master the data and materials of the Electricity Laboratory. Instead, he hoped Tesla would quickly adjust to the Laboratory’s pace under his guidance, contributing more inspiration and ideas to the experiments.

Scientific research is not only dependent on the scientist’s abilities and talents but also heavily tests their imagination. Sometimes the success or failure of an experiment hinges on a single thought, a seemingly inconspicuous idea, which might decide the experiment’s outcome.

As a renowned mad scientist of later generations, Tesla’s talent in scientific research needs no more mentioning. Despite just joining the Electricity Laboratory, he often raises questions in experiments that others find hard to consider, effectively accelerating the Laboratory’s experimental progress.

After more than ten days, Graham personally reported to Carlo about Tesla’s performance and praised Tesla as a once-in-a-century genius in the electricity industry.

Upon learning that Tesla was pursuing a degree in physics, mathematics, and mechanical engineering at the Royal Science Academy, Graham personally requested Carlo to take the role of Tesla’s graduate advisor in physics and mechanical engineering.

It’s certainly a good thing to have academicians from the Royal Academy willing to be Tesla’s graduate advisor.

Moreover, the person willing to take on the mentorship is Graham, a pioneer in the electricity industry, eminently known in this era.

Without the contributions of Graham and other pioneers in the electricity field, there wouldn’t be the current between Edison and Tesla.

Without the current rivalry, naturally, there wouldn’t be commercial electricity. Though saying this might be an exaggeration, the contributions of pioneers like Graham to the electricity industry are definitely praiseworthy and commendable.

At present, Graham’s Electricity Laboratory has already produced several research achievements, the most prominent being electric motors, generators, and light bulbs.

Madrid’s most bustling street has been fully equipped with street lamps, providing free lighting from 6:30 to 10:30 every evening.

As for the deep night after 10:30, street lamps naturally are unnecessary for illumination. After all, this era is quite different from later generations; anyone out at midnight is either government and official personnel or some danger-prone individuals.

Judging by the response of Madrid citizens currently, people are quite fond of street lamps that provide illumination at night.

Of course, to provide four hours of lighting on Madrid’s most bustling street, Graham’s Electricity Laboratory built two large fire power plants on the outskirts of Madrid, barely meeting the lighting demand for that street.

Some large government conference rooms and Carlo’s Palace also have light bulbs for illumination, with the electricity consumed being provided by other fire power plants.

Even though electricity now is mostly used for lighting, the mere act of lighting can fully embody the role of electricity.

Before the birth of the light bulb, people’s ways of lighting mainly relied on fire sources. Whether kerosene lamps or torches, the flames produced were dim and constantly flickering.