Rise of Empires: Spain.

Chapter 392 National Power Laboratory

Diesel quickly adapted to his new life in Spain. The day after meeting Carlo, Diesel went to the designated engine laboratory area on the outskirts of Madrid to design his own engine laboratory according to the size of the entire area.

Compared to before, the venue Carlo arranged for him was significantly larger. This alone pleased Diesel considerably, not to mention the check Carlo gave him for a whopping 100 million pesetas.

When Carlo handed the check to Diesel, he specifically instructed that Carlo would be responsible for all expenses related to the construction and experiments of the laboratory, regardless of the cost.

This alone demonstrates Carlo's trust in Diesel, which completely eliminates Diesel's dissatisfaction with Carlo.

At present, Diesel's only thought is to set up the laboratory as soon as possible and then continue to devote himself to his diesel engine research.

The Royal Security Intelligence Service agents acted swiftly. Within a few days, most of the equipment and data from Diesel's original engine laboratory were transported to Spain and installed in Diesel's engine laboratory.

Diesel also took some time to visit various universities in the University City of Madrid, selecting some mechanical engineering graduate students who seemed to have a decent theoretical knowledge to work in his engine laboratory.

In just over a week, Diesel's engine laboratory was rebuilt.

After that, Diesel threw himself into quite intense work. Carlo visited once after the laboratory was built, and after seeing that Diesel had already begun research on diesel engines, he never paid any more attention to news about the engine laboratory.

Carlo had considerable trust in Diesel's research capabilities.

According to Diesel, the relatively mature diesel engine he is developing is expected to be built within three months and undergo further testing.

Carlo was quite looking forward to it. Diesel engines were not only crucial to Spain's tank research, but also to the power source for submarines.

Currently, Spain still uses gasoline engines, similar to those used in cars, in its submarines, which are clearly not powerful enough.

Once Diesel develops a powerful diesel engine, Spanish submarines can also be equipped with even more powerful diesel engines.

This would allow Spanish submarines to improve their surface speed by at least one level.

And so, almost three months passed. Just when Carlo had almost forgotten about Diesel's engine laboratory, Diesel personally went to the Royal Palace in Madrid to report to Carlo that the first relatively complete diesel engine had been built and was ready for testing at any time.

Carlo was surprised that Diesel could actually produce a relatively complete diesel engine in three months. Naturally, Carlo was very interested in this so-called relatively complete engine.

When the group arrived at Diesel's engine laboratory, the staff were already preparing for related experiments.

To more clearly demonstrate the difference between gasoline and diesel engines, in addition to the manufactured diesel engine, two gasoline engines and one steam engine will also participate in the experiment.

Because of the high temperature problem that occurred during previous experiments, Diesel decided to add a water cooling method to the diesel engine to reduce the temperature.

As it turned out, this cooling method was indeed very effective. The moment Diesel started the engine, the entire machine immediately roared to life.

As the diesel engine ran, the researchers continuously recorded relevant data. About half an hour later, Diesel personally handed Carlo a data report, explaining with slight excitement:

Your Majesty, we have successfully developed a stable and reliable diesel engine. This engine has a power output of 14 watts, far exceeding that of current steam engines and gasoline engines.

With its high power output, this engine only needs to use low-quality fuel, resulting in a much lower fuel consumption rate than gasoline engines.

"I guarantee this will be a world-changing invention; the diesel engine will demonstrate far greater power than the gasoline engine." Diesel said excitedly, explaining the experimental data to Carlo one by one.

Carlo nodded and smiled at Diesel, saying, "Well done, Mr. Diesel. If you encounter any difficulties in your subsequent research, you can report to the Royal Palace. I look forward to your continued exploration in the field of diesel engines, developing one powerful engine after another for Spain."

Now that the diesel engine has been developed, I naturally won't go back on my word. Here is a plan regarding the merger of the Royal Mercedes-Benz engine laboratory with yours; you can take a look now.

Carlo smiled and gestured for Butler Lauren to hand over a plan for merging the two engine laboratories.

Diesel took the plan and looked at it with some curiosity.

After the merger of Diesel's engine laboratory and the Royal Mercedes-Benz engine laboratory, it will have a more formal name: the Spanish National Power Laboratory.

The National Power Laboratory will primarily research power systems based on internal combustion engines, providing power sources for automobiles, tanks, airplanes, submarines, tractors, and a range of other mechanical products.

This includes both civilian products, mainly agricultural machinery and vehicles, and military machinery such as tanks, airplanes, submarines, and warships.

This also shows the level of the National Power Laboratory. As a national-level laboratory, the power and status of this institution are naturally very high.

As Diesel looked at the plan, Carlo smiled and said, "After the merger of the two engine laboratories, Mr. Diesel, you will become the chief engineer of the Spanish National Power Laboratory, with an annual salary that is double that of before, 7 pesetas."

The National Power Laboratory will be divided into three main categories: steam engines, gasoline engines, and diesel engines. Depending on the type of machinery, the National Power Laboratory will also build different types of factories, collaborating with the military and other private enterprises.

At least 20 million pesetas of the revenue generated by these factories and the National Power Laboratory will continue to be invested in various research projects at the Power Laboratory.

The royal family will make up the difference in research and development funding until the revenue exceeds 20 million pesetas.

"Mr. Diesel, I have high hopes for this merged National Power Laboratory. Are you confident that you can become the chief engineer of the National Power Laboratory and lead a group of mechanical and dynamic experts in Spain to design one excellent engine after another for Spain?" At the end of the presentation, Carlo smiled and looked at Diesel, asking his question.

Diesel was amazed by the merged Spanish National Power Laboratory; he hadn't expected the combined organization to be so large.

Research and development funding of at least 20 million pesetas annually is no small sum. Although current diesel engines have already demonstrated tremendous potential, 20 million pesetas is enough to build at least ten engine laboratories of the same level.

The fact that Carlo spent such a huge sum of money to build such a national power laboratory is enough to show his optimism about diesel engines and other types of internal combustion engines.

Was he confident he could become the chief engineer of this massive organization? Diesel asked himself this question and then received a fairly affirmative answer.

"I am confident, Your Majesty. As long as you give me sufficient research and development funds, I am confident that I can explore the field of diesel engines and other internal combustion engines step by step and develop one powerful engine after another."

However, this national power laboratory involves three types of engines: steam, gasoline, and diesel. This means the laboratory needs more staff and may need to search for talent throughout Europe to meet its personnel requirements.

Establishing a large-scale, comprehensive laboratory requires only three conditions. First, there must be sufficient funding. This is because both the initial construction of the laboratory and subsequent research within it require substantial R&D funding.

The second condition is having sufficient equipment. However, this can be solved with enough funds. If you don't have equipment, you can simply buy it from all over Europe; it's possible to buy it even if you spend more money.

The third condition is having a sufficient number of research and development personnel. Diesel is confident in exploring the field of diesel engines more deeply, but his research on steam engines and gasoline engines is currently at a relatively unfamiliar level.

Diesel could serve as the chief engineer of the National Power Laboratory, but it was clearly impossible for him to oversee the development of all three types of power machinery simultaneously. For the National Power Laboratory to be established, it would have to recruit more talent in gasoline and steam engines, hiring top experts in both fields.

In fact, Spain has no shortage of mid-to-low-level talent. However, it is severely lacking in top-tier experts, and these are the people that European countries can only attract by spending heavily on recruitment.

Carlo was certainly aware of Spain's shortage of top talent. He agreed to Diesel's request almost without hesitation.

"The establishment of the Spanish National Power Laboratory will begin immediately, and as the chief engineer of the power laboratory, you naturally have a certain say in the establishment of the laboratory in all aspects."

"The 20 million pesetas R&D budget for the power lab this year will be in the account soon. If you have any suitable experts to recommend, you can submit a list, and I will have them invited to Spain," Carlo said with a smile.

Although there are still a few months left in the year, Carlo does not intend to cut back on the National Power Laboratory's research and development funds.

For Carlo, the 20 million pesetas in research and development funds were just a drop in the bucket.

This money is a drop in the ocean compared to the royal family's wealth. The investment in the National Power Laboratory will be recouped sooner or later, and may even be recouped a hundredfold, a thousandfold, or even ten thousandfold.

Under such circumstances, Carlo would naturally not be stingy with research and development funds for the National Power Laboratory. If 20 million pesetas were not enough, Carlo could provide 30 million pesetas, 50 million pesetas, or even 100 million pesetas.

To reiterate, as long as all of these R&D funds are used for the development of internal combustion engines, there is no upper limit to the related R&D funding.

Upon hearing what Carlo said, Diesel immediately thought of how Spain had invited him. However, since he had already chosen to stay in Spain, Diesel naturally had nothing to say about it.

Although this invitation method, which resembles kidnapping, is somewhat dishonorable, if it can attract more top talents to the national power laboratory, then so be it.

In any case, the National Power Laboratory is not short of research and development funds, and inviting these scientists related to engines to Spain will definitely not be a loss for them.

It must be said that Diesel did get to know many scientists related to internal combustion engines during his time working in France, Switzerland, and Germany.

If it were just the original engine lab, Diesel didn't plan to invite these people. After all, the engine lab at the time was too small, and other relevant experts wouldn't be of much use.

But things are different now. The newly established National Power Laboratory needs more talent, and many projects require a continuous stream of personnel to carry out.

Within a few days, Diesel submitted a list of about a dozen people. Carlo also compared the lists submitted by Diesel and Cadil and found that these people were mostly European experts related to internal combustion engines.

There's not much to say next; it's the usual tactic used by Royal Security Intelligence Service (RSIS) agents to recruit talent.

Those willing to come to Spain will naturally be offered very generous terms and conditions, and they will be treated well in every way.

For those unwilling to come to Spain, if their own reputation and abilities are not sufficient, the intelligence personnel will naturally not use harsh methods.

But if it's confirmed that these people who refuse are exceptionally capable, then it's always the right thing to do to bring them to Spain first, no matter what.

The good news is that most people are still willing to go to Spain to work after hearing about the conditions offered.

Europeans are generally more mobile than people in other countries; Diesel's parents were German, but he was born in Paris, France, which is a clear example.

Unless it's a hostile country, it's quite normal for most Europeans to work in other countries.

Spain does not have any obvious hostile relationship with other European countries, and people do not feel any psychological burden when they go to work in Spain.

Moreover, the conditions offered by Spain are indeed attractive. For scientists who are not well-known, Spain is already offering annual salaries starting at several thousand pesetas.

Not to mention scientists who already have a high profile, their annual salary is generally tens of thousands, plus various benefits and subsidies, and their total annual income can reach tens of thousands of peseta.

Soon, a large number of researchers specializing in internal combustion engines flocked to Spain. With their support, the establishment of Spain's National Power Laboratory proceeded rapidly.

When the research and development funding of 20 million pesetas was allocated to the National Power Laboratory, the scientists who had previously had concerns no longer had any.

Thanks to this funding, the National Power Laboratory was able to quickly begin research and development on steam engines, gasoline engines, diesel engines, and other internal combustion engines within just a few days of its establishment.

To facilitate differentiation and management, Diesel, as the chief engineer of the National Power Laboratory, divided all the research projects of the power laboratory into four categories: steam engines, gasoline engines, diesel engines, and other internal combustion engines.

Each of these major categories is further subdivided into several or even dozens of subcategories. Each major research category has a chief engineer. Diesel, in addition to serving as the chief engineer of the National Power Laboratory, also served as the chief engineer of the diesel engine category.

These four chief engineers, each responsible for a different category, manage dozens of different research and development projects across the four categories. This means that the position of chief engineer must be filled by someone with exceptional abilities who is recognized by all the other scientists.

To facilitate the financial management of the National Power Laboratory, Carlo also established a dedicated finance department within the laboratory, responsible for connecting with the various factories and managing the financial status of both the power laboratory and its factories.

The approval and disbursement of R&D funds, the management of income and expenditure of various factories, and the salaries and various subsidies of all experimental personnel in the power laboratory are all managed by this separately established finance department.

The reason for establishing this separate finance department is to prevent financial corruption in the power laboratory.

The Power Lab has an annual research and development budget of 20 million pesetas. Although this amount is not much to Carlo, he hopes that the money will be used for research and development, rather than being embezzled by people with ulterior motives.

Although Carlo trusted Diesel and the other scientists, this kind of thing still needed to be guarded against.

As long as these scientists' research projects are reasonable and not the kind of bottomless pit that requires a large amount of money but yields no results, the finance department will not restrict the research funding for each project.

However, if someone were to use the guise of research and development to swindle research funds from the power laboratory, Carlo would not be lenient with such a person.

The 20 million pesetas of research funding allocated to the power laboratory was quickly taken over by a separate finance department, which then distributed the research funding in installments to the scientists based on applications from the chief engineers of each major category and the scientists of each sub-category.

To boost the enthusiasm of these researchers, Carlo established a specific rule: the National Power Laboratory annually evaluates research projects across four major categories and dozens of subcategories, selecting the project with the most outstanding research results.

All researchers involved in the research and development project will receive an extremely generous reward, and the project's consultants or chief engineer will receive additional substantial bonuses on top of this reward.

Once this regulation was established, it immediately attracted the attention of many researchers at the National Power Laboratory. Not all researchers earn thousands or even tens of thousands of pesetas; many earn less than a thousand pesetas.

Once a project team wins the selection, not only will the higher-paid researchers receive the reward, but ordinary researchers will also receive a large sum of money, which is the most exciting part.

(End of this chapter)