Wang Bo, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote such a poem: "However, China has our friendship, and heaven is still our neighbor". Because of the birth of the telegraph, 1837 realized the beautiful wish of "God never shuts one door but he opens another".
1854, new york young millionaire has been financially free, and nothing can interest him. At this time, the British engineer Gisborne suffered from lack of funds to continue laying his telegraph cable. By chance, these two characters met, and wealth and technology were perfectly reflected in them. Field promised to help Gisborne complete the cable laying from Europe across the Atlantic to the United States.
At the moment when Field made up his mind, the flame of the small universe was lit in his heart, and an explosive force was born. Since then, he has completed the mission of his life. He is no longer a rich man in new york lost in the long river of history, but an indelible monument in the history of human civilization.
1857 On August 5th, Field spent three years preparing the cable. At the port of Valencia, Ireland, 10,000 people saw him off, and the government representative made an impassioned speech. The priest prayed for God's blessing. "Please use your great strength to help us overcome all difficulties and obstacles in the process of completing this important cause." The boldest dream of mankind is being realized. But the realization of dreams is never an easy task. On the sixth day at sea, the cable on the winch fell off, which made the work prepared for three years fall short. The news of failure quickly spread throughout the country.
A failure did not shake Field's firm belief. He summed up the experience and lessons of failure and prepared to endure another year in doubt. 1858 June 10, two ships, full of brand-new courage, set out again with cables. But God played a trick on Field again, and the storm smashed the cable on the ship. The second failure, the news spread all over the country again.
In the19th century, there were too many unknowns in laying transatlantic computers. Unknown ocean depth, unknown seabed structure, whether the cable can withstand the huge pressure of the seabed, there is no ship to carry the 2000-nautical-mile cable, and there is no powerful generator to transmit electricity from Europe to America. Of course, field doesn't understand this either. He is not a scientist, he is a businessman. But in this journey to realize human dreams, he is no longer a businessman. He wanted to spread information from Europe to America, just as Prometheus spread fire to the world. Two failures brought him overwhelming doubts and divestment, but an important premise of any miracle or great cause is always indispensable: people who believe in this miracle. Field is the best interpretation of this truth.
On July 1858 and 17, the stubborn field set sail again. This time, there were no sailboats and boats around the fleet to send blessings, no farewell crowds, no grand farewell banquet, no speeches, and no priests praying for God's blessing. Like a group of pirates, the fleet quietly left the port. God seems to be moved this time. On the 19 day after leaving the port, the optical cable was connected, and the transcontinental call from America to Europe was realized for the first time. The Times published an editorial praising: "Nothing else has happened since Columbus discovered the New World, which has expanded the territory of human action in such an unparalleled way." Overnight, Field became a national hero like Franklin and Columbus. "It was his courage and determination that led to the marriage between the young America and the old European world." Queen Victoria's congratulatory message pushed the carnival of victory to a climax. The first touring carriage stopped in the field, and waves of cheers made this new Columbus the most glorious and admired person in America.
The carnival party continues, but the danger is waiting at the door. The next day, the signal between the two continents came to an abrupt end. Just like the bright sunshine just now, the sudden thunder caught the revelers off guard. People didn't forgive it generously, they were hurt, they were fooled, and their enthusiastic power immediately turned into fierce anger and rushed to the innocent sinner's field. Liar, Field cheated the whole world, and Field became a victim of anger. A day's hard work has achieved everything, and a day's hard work has also destroyed everything.
No one can understand Field's feelings, from heaven to hell. He was silent, just like the unknown cable lying quietly on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, which has been forgotten by people. This lie is six years.
But six years later, that awesome field appeared again, and it was him, the field full of firm belief and mission. Behind the miracle, there is always a person who believes in this miracle.
On July 23rd, 1865, Field set sail again and failed again.
1866 July 13, at this time, it seems that Field has been deaf and can't hear any other sounds, only one voice, the inner voice, "Connect the cable". Field set sail again, the optical cable was finally connected, and the European continent and the American continent were finally connected. The signal of the second day is as clear and powerful as the first day, and it is connected every day until now.
From this moment on, the whole earth is beating with one heart. Humans living on the earth can hear the sound at one end of the earth at the same time, and with their creativity, they become as ubiquitous as gods.
Field, a dazzling star in human history, will shine in the starry sky of history forever.