Ficool

Chapter 25 - Chemist

"Haha! Compared to those who study chemistry in America, I believe I can indeed be called a chemist." Kiel nodded slightly, very confidently.

At this time, in the eyes of Europeans, America, besides having some cotton and tobacco, was full of the smell of dirt on everyone.

However, whether it was literature and art or science and technology, America at this time was indeed completely incomparable to Europe.

Chemistry, as an emerging discipline, was even more completely stuck in the classroom stage.

Meanwhile, European chemistry had already fully entered the stage of scientific experimentation and standardized nomenclature, so a chemistry factory owner could, of course, be a chemistry teacher to those American students.

"Then what kind of things can you make?" Charles asked with interest.

Although he felt that this Kiel might be exaggerating, upon closer thought, the owner of a legitimate chemical plant in Britain might indeed be comparable to the chemists in America at that time.

Furthermore, they should have several chemical formulas that could be mass-produced, and their role for him might even be greater than that of an ordinary chemist.

"Me? Uh… I used to make cold medicine, and the factory mainly produced chemical acids." Kiel paused before answering.

"Excellent!" Charles clapped his hands, "You are the chemist I'm looking for! How about it, would you like to join our family and help me research chemistry, medicine, and other chemical substances?"

He didn't know much about chemistry at that time; medicine was indeed often mixed with chemistry, but the medicines made by chemists were basically not for consumption. This 'cold medicine' was probably a self-named cold medicine by Kiel.

As for chemical acids, that should be true; at that time, chemical factories mainly produced various acids and bases, and many modern chemical preparations had not yet appeared.

"Join your family? sir, you're not joking, are you? I was originally planning to invite your servant, an outstanding student from Philadelphia College, to join my laboratory and work for me!" Kiel pointed to James, who was next to Charles.

This talented student from Philadelphia College was his real objective. Good heavens, it turned out he wanted to poach him instead.

Charles was also stunned when he heard this.

After all that talk, it turned out he wasn't there to sell anything, but to poach someone.

Shaking his head vigorously, he would not give up his financial secretary; James' current role was definitely greater than being a chemist.

"That's impossible, Mr. Kiel! James is my financial secretary and cannot participate in your laboratory. However, I am very interested in your laboratory.

I just happen to have a few experimental projects that I'd like someone to help me with. Are you interested?"

Although he couldn't poach a chemist, finding a suitable chemistry laboratory was also good, and it saved him the time and money of building one from scratch.

The only issues would be confidentiality and profit distribution, but these could be resolved gradually.

Anyway, America did not yet have its own patent law and patent office; even American patents had to be protected by British patent law.

Before the war of Independence was won, there certainly couldn't be any patent disputes.

Moreover, this aspect wasn't a big problem while he had the status of a Continental Congress Representative; it just needed to be handled well before America's own patent law came out.

"Do experiments for you?" Kiel lost interest after Charles rejected his request. "Tell me about them first. If I'm interested, I'll take them on."

Charles didn't mind Kiel's attitude and immediately asked the manager at the counter for paper and pen.

He then began to write down chemical terms like nitroglycerin and descriptions of their properties, of course, also including some possible synthesis processes.

This Kiel really had the air of a chemist.

Initially, he just glanced at the names Charles wrote and paid no further attention, but after Charles explained the general properties and uses of the items based on their names, he immediately became interested.

Unfortunately, Charles, a pure liberal arts student, only had a basic understanding; his knowledge of deeper things was about as profound as his understanding of how to build an atomic bomb.

At least for the latter, he had been interested enough to memorize the principles several times during university military courses.

As for these chemical items, what he learned in middle school wasn't detailed, and he had basically forgotten it all now.

However, even just a few words were enough to attract the attention of Kiel, a true chemist.

He immediately wanted to drag Charles to his laboratory to conduct some experiments.

Charles did take James to see it, but he wasn't interested in doing experiments himself and didn't get his hands dirty.

He merely inspected the basic equipment and felt that the facilities were quite good; at least there were more items than what was displayed in the general store outside, and many things showed signs of use, indicating that he wasn't just a theoretician.

Charles confidently left dozens of gold coins, entrusting him with several experimental projects.

At this stage, the main focus was on the extraction and synthesis of medicines, while also considering chemical products.

While Kiel was busy conducting experiments based on Charles' somewhat vague descriptions, Charles had already left the laboratory with James.

Since the organized purchase of land was necessary, the matter of building the canal could not be immediately publicized.

After Jekill returned to Pittsburgh with the group of hired technical workers and those wealthy Philadelphia merchants, Charles spent the next few days immersed in the Pennsylvania Assembly and the State Government Hall.

Of course, after obtaining a 50,000-pound short-term loan guaranteed by the Biddle family from the bank, Charles went to the colonial Land Sales Committee, paid the full amount in pounds, and purchased nearly 100,000 acres of land.

At this time, land in Pittsburgh had appreciated compared to when the old lord bought land, but because of Charles' status as a representative, and because both the Continental Congress and Pennsylvania now needed substantial financial support, these 100,000 acres of land were still purchased for only 50,000 pounds.

Perhaps it was the effect of Charles' large-scale land purchase; not only did the people of the Pennsylvania Assembly become more friendly towards him, but even the Continental Congress Representatives and ordinary Philadelphia civilians showed greater respect for Charles.

Within a few days, he witnessed the benefits of being an official in power.

Philadelphia was not just home to the few wealthy merchants who partnered with Charles; there were many other merchants, who also had considerable wealth and were numerous.

Many of their families now maintained business dealings with the colonial government and military, or sought to establish such connections.

With the colonial government and the British Government at war, many procurements previously handled by the colonial governor were transferred to the Assembly or the Continental Congress.

Especially with the new Continental army fighting the British army, military expenditures were enormous.

Aside from the most expensive firearms, horses, and food, even small components like uniforms, blankets, tents, and canteens, each item was enough to support several large factories.

These merchants were initially unaware, but later slowly found out that Charles would sooner or later become a member of the Military Committee of the Continental Congress, responsible for military supplies.

They immediately flocked to the hotel where Charles was staying.

They were all very good at adapting to circumstances.

Although they believed that Britain would ultimately win, they didn't mind making money from the colonial government.

And following the habits passed down by previous colonial governors, they were very adept at using glittering objects to curry favor with officials in charge of procurement.

When Charles, this new powerful figure, appeared in Philadelphia, they naturally wanted to win him over.

So, for the past few days, Charles was nominally at the Assembly and the Government Hall, but more often, he was meeting these enthusiastic merchants and accepting their gifts.

And those Pennsylvania Assembly representatives did not mind such official customs.

Even someone with an excellent reputation like Franklin, unaware of any hidden dealings, believed that this would make Charles' interests and interactions with the people of Philadelphia closer, and had no opinion on the matter.

After a few days, Charles' small purse was bulging to its absolute limit.

According to Charles' original intention, as the saying goes, 'money makes one go bad,' he should have found a few white girls to release the mental pressure accumulated these days.

However, considering that his career had not yet taken off, for the sake of his future, he suppressed this longing and prepared to rush to Boston to participate in the work of comforting the Continental army.

Just as he was discussing travel arrangements with Franklin, he was suddenly informed by the other party that the "Pennsylvania Daily" was preparing to conduct an exclusive interview with him.

Since it was a newspaper that relatively supported the Continental Congress, they hoped he would be well-prepared.

In fact, Charles had already received a hint about this.

Robert Morris, one of his allies among the wealthy Philadelphians, had vaguely mentioned that he had a capable assistant who was still serving as an editor for the "Pennsylvania Daily" and might conduct an interview with Charles.

Charles understood this as Robert Morris' political repayment to him.

Soon, he met the reporter who was preparing to conduct the exclusive interview at the State Government Hall.

"Hello, Your Excellency, respected Continental Congress Representative! I am Thomas Paine, editor of the "Pennsylvania Daily"." The reporter extended his hand to Charles in a friendly manner.

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