Next to the Place de l'Arena in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, there is a newly built building. The area where it is located at the end of June, when the government army entered the city of Paris to clear the mob, although the attic was not directly damaged by the fighting, but the surrounding area is still dissatisfied with the bullet marks and smudges left by the previous ones. This is the last vestigial remnant of the June Revolution in people's memory.

One of the buildings was owned by a newspaper — it had been renamed The Observer after a recent change of ownership.

Today, on the top floor of this building, the re-launched newspaper is holding a new high-level collective meeting.

Charles sat in the main seat, looking at the media people under him rather coldly.

"Gentlemen, although I was a layman at first, after this period of observation, I think I have come to know a little bit about this trade...... It is precisely because I already have some understanding that I have to come to a regrettable conclusion......" His cold gaze swept over everyone in the room, making them a little uncomfortable, "we are not even newspapers, but mere relayers of information provided by others, or a hodgepodge of social news, crime, and third-rate novels!" What's the use of this for me? Am I running a newspaper to reprint these things? It's ridiculous! ”

His conclusion made others even more uncomfortable, but no one dared to interrupt their boss, so they could only let the boss continue.

"Why, did I say something wrong?" I saw that the atmosphere in the room was getting more and more solemn. Charles sneered, "Gentlemen, the most important job of a newspaper is to publish the news. Latest News! And what about us? Where did our sources come from? I bought it from someone else! Now, there is real news in Hawass, they are the newspapers, and we, we are not at all! ”

In 1825, the banker Charles-Havas (1783~1858) established a firm. We provide financial, economic, and political information collected by the company from major European financial cities such as London, Brussels, and Amst.

This business paid off in an unexpectedly high manner, and in 1835 the firm developed into the "Agence Havas", the first media organization in the modern sense of the word. They originally used carrier pigeons. The information was then transmitted via telegraph lines.

On the original historical plane, this news agency later became a French media giant, almost monopolizing the supply and dissemination of information in France, and all other newspapers received the information provided by him. And Havas himself has become the most well-informed person in the country.

After the end of the First World War. Havas has become the largest media monopoly in France with 80% of newspaper advertising in France. It was not until the German invasion of France in 1940 that the Hawass news agency was forced to disband. 】

In this era, the newspapers in Paris also joined the Havas news agency's feed system, because it was more economical for the cost-conscious newspaper to buy Havas news than to send people to compile foreign news. So, at that time, although people were in different newspapers to see foreign information. In fact, the sources are all the same. In a nutshell, so to speak. In terms of external information, there was only one newspaper in France in this era.

After hearing Charles's harsh rebuke, the others became even more on pins and needles. They looked at each other a few times, and eventually, the editor-in-chief, Marc Anderz, had to come out and say good things for his men.

"Sir, I admit that what you say is true......" he said with a flattering smile on his face and a very humble tone, "but you can also see our difficulties?" Having a journalist presence across the country and across Europe would be a huge expense...... Hawas, on the other hand, has built a delivery network, and it is difficult for us to compete with them. This is true not only of us, but of almost all newspapers in Paris, and this is no way around it......"

"That was the way it was in the past, and now it's completely different." Charles interrupted him directly, "I can't tolerate this situation going on. Yes, I mean...... We're going to build our communications network too! ”

After hearing his words, as Charles expected, the solemnity in the room suddenly turned into excitement.

"That's right, I'm going to invest more and build a reliable messaging network here, across the country, across Europe, and the Observer and our news agency will be at the center of that network, which will collect information by all means and then deliver it to every corner of the world faster than everybody!" Charles said what he was going to do. "Of course, this is just my initial idea, but I believe that if we keep working hard, this day will come."

"Great! That's great!! Marchiands couldn't help but cheer.

He and his men, of course, would have cheered - everyone knew what that meant.

"So, how are you going to set up this network?" After a few moments, he finally regained some composure, "If you invest more, we can recruit more journalists and open news sites abroad...... However, then we will have to compete with Mr. Hawass and others. ”

"If you want to grow your career, then what kind of competition are you afraid of, if you want to fight, then fight, who is afraid of whom!" Charles smiled, and continued to cheer them up with rhetoric, "Think about it, gentlemen, as long as we work together to get this done, how much better position we will be in the press in the future?" ”

Then, regardless of the others' reactions, he looked directly at Marcianz.

"Mr. Marchianz, you are a senior professional, so I think this idea needs to be implemented by you, so I will have to work hard for you during this time. You start by making a plan that lays out the steps we will take in the future. As well as the budget required, we will first find a way to roll out the network to the whole city of Paris. ”

"Okay, no problem. Mr! Marchianz agreed, a little excitedly, "I'll do my best!" ”

"Besides......" added Charles, "I would like you to find some capable people to fill our staff, and the better informed they are, as long as they can get the news, then whatever means they use." Remember. As long as I have talent, I am never afraid to pay highly. ”

"Understood!" Marcianz nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, sir. As long as you are willing to invest in this newspaper, I will do my best to help you achieve this goal. ”

"Good." Charles watched the other man's reaction and nodded in satisfaction. "That's what we want."

Then he looked at everyone again. "Now that you know my plan. and our prospects, then I am confident that you will make wise choices about your future. I've pointed out the direction for you, and it's up to you to do what you do, and I hope you're happy with your performance. ”

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

"Well, let's adjourn." Charles made a gesture.

……………………

After everyone else dispersed, Editor-in-Chief Marchiandz stayed.

"Monsieur de Treville, I will give you the plan you want in two days." He looked at Charles cautiously.

"Mr. Marchianz. Do you think my idea is likely to succeed? Charles sitting in a chair. Suddenly asked.

"Of course ......"

"Say what is in your heart, I don't blame you."

The smile on Macchianz's face slowly faded, replaced by that serious solemnity.

"Do you want to hear the truth?"

"Yes." Charles nodded.

"I ...... I ......" After a moment of hesitation, he finally made up his mind and decided to tell the truth, "I think it's very difficult. ”

"Oh? Can you elaborate on that? ”

After a moment of silence, Marchianz spoke.

"Sir, maybe you are rich, maybe you are ready to invest big, these are necessary conditions for success, but there is no guarantee of foolproof...... Yes, especially the journalism industry that you're going to do. "Newspapers and news are two different things, and you're quite right that most newspapers are just a hodgepodge of thriller news and third-rate novels...... The real information is in the hands of a very small number of organizations. Not only do they have money, but the key is that they have the power to build relationships with governments and have access to exclusive information. And in this day and age, this is even more so, whoever can control the operation of the telegraph line naturally holds the exclusive right to information. ”

He carefully looked at Charles again, and only after making sure that the other party was really not angry did he dare to continue. "Sir, maybe your idea is really grandiose, but ...... Mr. Hawass has been ahead of you for a long time, and he has built up a network deep enough to get really valuable information. In particular, I have heard that he is now ready to rent the telegraph line from Paris to Brussels, which will be unshakable once he has completed such a business......"

Charles knew that he was right.

To put it mildly, news, which has a high degree of monopoly and centralization, and involves important aspects of the national economy and people's livelihood, is not only a concept and investment, but also needs to be maintained by the government - as long as the government is willing to provide information to a certain media, then it naturally has an advantage; And if the government is willing to involve the media in the operation of the telegraph and communication network, it will be invincible.

However, he was a little wrong.

Charles Hawass has a relationship and power, doesn't Charles de Treville have it now?

He has!

And when Louis Bonaparte came to power, his connections and power only grew stronger!

So the Charles were not at all afraid of the dominance of the Hawass news agency - in this era, they had not yet obtained the monopoly that came later, only had a first-mover advantage.

He smiled.

"Thank you, Mr. Marchianz. I thank you for your honesty and dedication. ”

He did have the option not to say it - he could easily play around for a while with the budget and investment that Charles had given him, and make a fortune out of it. But he made his opinion clear to Charles: if you don't have enough power and connections, don't do it, lest you waste money.

With these few words, it is an extremely correct decision to make him the editor-in-chief.

"You recognize the situation, but you don't recognize our true position." Charles lowered his voice as if mysteriously, "Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who likes to spend money. Now that I've decided to go big, I definitely have the whole thing in mind...... You just need to do your job well. ”

"You mean ......?"

"That's right, the right to operate the telegraph line is really important to us." Charles nodded slightly, "So we have to rent the telegraph line from Paris to Brussels." ”

Marcianz looked at Charles in disbelief. His gaze slowly changed from disbelief to fiery eagerness.

"Can you really do that?"

"Absolutely." Charles nodded, "Not now, at least in a few months." ”

The middle-aged man's temples bulged with green tendons, and he was obviously extremely excited.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed Charles's hand.

"Rest assured, then, I will do my best to complete your vision!" (To be continued......)