Professor Hutchinson's plan was, in simple terms, to generate massive buzz, visibility, and technological prestige worldwide for the ultra-high-speed vacuum tube train. Through various media campaigns, he aimed to solidify the perception of the ultra-high-speed vacuum tube train as a revolutionary product capable of changing the entire world, akin to the computer. This would then lead to fervent pursuit by global investors when such a company went public, making it remarkably easy to raise the targeted $2 trillion.
It had to be admitted that this strategy was highly effective. For example, a company named Tesla would employ a similar approach years later to achieve its success.
It was known that at its inception, Tesla had only a concept car for display. For this single concept car, the entire company was over $300 million in debt.
However, thanks to this dazzling and cool concept car, coupled with extensive global publicity, Tesla's stock soared after its IPO, enabling it to raise substantial funds for car manufacturing.
Frankly speaking, the technical difficulty of electric cars, compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, was not that high. The so-called super electronic control technology was, in essence, just a lot of software, and its development costs were not exorbitant.
Yet, after spending a staggering $30 billion on development, Tesla finally introduced its first mass-producible and salable model to the world. The production of this model in its first year was less than 5,000 units.
Can you believe that this was the outcome of $30 billion spent?
If that $30 billion had been invested in China, production would have surpassed 500,000 units annually. Therefore, it was anyone’s guess how much of the raised $30 billion went into actual production and development, and how much vanished into thin air, falling into the hands of some hidden players.
Later, another Chinese entrepreneur attempted to replicate this maneuver, creating a concept car even more flamboyant and futuristic than Tesla's. He then announced his intention to build cars and vowed to repay his debts immediately upon successful car manufacturing.
However, five years have passed, and not only has this businessman not returned to China, but his car has remained solely a display piece, with no actual electric vehicles available for sale.
According to informed sources, the striking concept car displayed at the time was actually based on a cool image designed by a professional artist found online, and then a professional team built a car shell.
Indeed, it was just a car shell. While it had various interior features and seats, everything unseen was virtually empty. For instance, the car's chassis was essentially a single piece of iron plate, with no external mechanical structures visible.
Of course, one could explain this by saying electric cars don't require extensive mechanical structures.
To make the car operational at the exhibition site, they temporarily purchased a golf cart, installed its motor into the vehicle, and added a simple switch.
Therefore, when spectators saw the car moving at an extremely slow pace on the exhibition floor, they simply assumed the electric car was operating at a controlled speed, unaware that this was actually the electric car's maximum speed.
After all, an electric motor salvaged from a golf cart would naturally lack the power to propel a car several times its weight.
However, credit must be given to the entrepreneur’s capability. In May 2017, realizing he could no longer sustain the company’s operations and facing a cash flow crisis, he simultaneously arranged his travel to the United States and assigned a team to establish an electric car company. Within a mere three months, they managed to assemble such a cool electric model car.
Using this electric model car, he effectively sold a dream for five years, attracting numerous investors who were either naive or extremely shrewd. Ultimately, he managed to dupe them out of billions of dollars in investment, sustaining his extravagant lifestyle in the U.S. This was truly the act of a genius who had completely grasped the rules of wealth.
Getting back to the point, numerous facts proved that Professor Parkinson's strategy was indeed feasible and highly effective. Thus, he had no doubts about its success. However, Dr. Cooper, standing beside him, maintained a detached expression, as if he could already foresee the moment of Professor Parkinson's downfall.
“Do you have anything else to say?” Professor Parkinson couldn’t help but ask.
“I’ve already said what I wanted to say, which is, what if it doesn't go smoothly!” Dr. Cooper replied with a smile.
“My strategy and plan are flawless; there can be no mistakes!”
“I see you are riddled with potential crises. Yes, you have indeed generated tremendous buzz and revolutionary product perception globally. But all of this is predicated on the absence of any competitors. What if a competitor suddenly emerges and simultaneously announces their intention to build ultra-high-speed vacuum tube trains as well? Wouldn't your buzz and revolutionary status be halved, shared with your opponent? Would you still be able to secure $2 trillion in investment?” Dr. Cooper countered calmly.
“Competitors? That’s impossible. Besides the United States, what other company could possibly possess such technology!” Professor Parkinson exclaimed incredulously.
“…” On the other side, Dr. Cooper also wore a look of utter astonishment. “Dear Professor Parkinson, you don’t even know where the ultra-high-speed vacuum tube magnetic levitation train technology we possess originates from, do you?”
“Isn’t this technology we developed ourselves?” Professor Parkinson instinctively asked the question, realizing that the situation was dire because he genuinely believed it was their own research and had never considered the possibility that the technology might have come from elsewhere.
“My God, anyone who paid even slight attention to railway technology a few years ago would know that this is technology we purchased for over a hundred billion dollars from Jiangnan Group. While we have subsequently conducted further research and refined some aspects, the core technology originates from Jiangnan Group. Therefore, they still hold the corresponding technology, and given China’s current manufacturing capabilities, they are certainly capable of building ultra-high-speed vacuum tube trains.”
“Professor Parkinson, you meticulously devised such a comprehensive plan, but did you not spare even a moment to investigate the origins of this technology?” Dr. Cooper's words struck Professor Parkinson like a sharp dagger.
As Dr. Cooper rightly pointed out, he had been negligent. After acquiring the technology, he was solely focused on how to profit from it and never considered its source. Who would have imagined that this technology wasn’t developed by Americans but by Chinese? It was utterly beyond comprehension.
“Wait, if this technology was purchased for over a hundred billion dollars from them, then the technology is still ours. If they dare to build it, we can demand huge compensation. Isn't that a good thing?” Professor Parkinson recovered from his nervousness, his face hardening into a cold sneer. “You’re just trying to scare me. I refuse to believe you only bought the technology license, not the entire technology. Otherwise, it would be entirely your mistake, and I would be blameless!”
“I did indeed purchase the entire technology, but this technology has the backing of the Chinese government. During the negotiations, they insisted on retaining the right to construct ultra-high-speed vacuum tube magnetic levitation trains within China. Therefore, they are perfectly entitled to build it in their own country, and we have no right to object!” Dr. Cooper stated.
“It’s only within their country, though. In all other regions, it remains our right! Because only we can build such railways in other parts of the world, our rights have not been significantly compromised,” Professor Parkinson insisted.
“Indeed, that is the logical argument, but who among the fools worldwide would think that deeply about such matters?”
“Think about it, if the Chinese were to announce today that they too are building their own ultra-high-speed vacuum tube magnetic levitation train technology, what would people think? They would believe that our technology and market are no longer unique, and that China, a manufacturing superpower, will be a future competitor. If they can build railways of the same distance at a fraction of the cost, our market share will drastically shrink, and our valuation will naturally plummet. How much of your $2 trillion would remain?” Dr. Cooper burst into laughter at this point. Professor Parkinson, though his expression was grim, still insisted, “Even so, the first-mover advantage is ours, the public opinion is ours, and the rights are in our hands. In time, everyone will understand.”
“Moreover, whether the Chinese have the capability to build it is still a question. How could such a backward and impoverished place as theirs possess the courage and ability to build such advanced railway technology?” Professor Parkinson said this, regaining some confidence, believing his words to be quite sound.
At that very moment, the head secretary who had left earlier returned, her expression troubled. She whispered a few words in Russian into Professor Parkinson's ear, causing his entire demeanor to change as if he had suffered a grave personal loss.
“What happened?” Dr. Cooper inquired curiously. The secretary dared not answer, and finally, Professor Parkinson responded with a bitter smile, “Doctor, it seems you were right. The Chinese have officially announced that they will be building a large-scale ultra-high-speed vacuum tube magnetic levitation train line, stretching from the northeastern provinces all the way to the southwestern regions!”