America 1881: Legend of the West

"Mr. Chen, I didn't expect that you actually have an office in Washington."

Morgan looked up and down at the decorations and furnishings in the room.

Chen Jianqiu handed over a cigar.

Morgan took it, put it under his big nose and smelled it, and praised: "Pure Cuban cigars are of better quality than those smoked at Mr. Chen's place."

"If you like it, I'll ask them to send a box to your company later."

Chen Jianqiu picked up the cigar cutters from the table and stuffed them into Morgan's generous hands.

The study room suddenly became filled with mist.

"sit."

Chen Jianqiu pointed to the sofa by the window and greeted the tycoon.

"You came here from Boston, you shouldn't just come here to see me, right?"

The flesh on Morgan's cheek trembled.

How did the man named Chen know that he was from Boston?

However, Chen Jianqiu didn't notice his hesitation.

"I'm here to talk to you about something and help you solve some problems." Morgan went straight to the point.

"Solve the problem for me?" Chen Jianqiu had a cigar in his mouth, and the corners of his mouth were already curled up. "What's wrong with me now?"

"I heard that the railway from Louisiana to Texas has been interrupted recently. The war in the southwest should have affected the Western Railway Company's business there, right?"

Morgan said while observing Chen Jianqiu's expression.

Unexpectedly, Chen Jianqiu said calmly:

"Oh, you're talking about this? It's not a big deal. The Western Railway Company has hundreds of lines like this. The elimination of one or two will not affect the overall situation."

Morgan picked at his ear piercing with his index finger and then continued.

But his voice became a little softer:

"As far as I know, the federal government is preparing some lawsuits against you, especially regarding the Western Railway Company. It must be a bit tricky, right?"

Chen Jianqiu was silent for a while this time.

"There is a lawsuit, but the impact is not too big for the time being. You know, Mr. Morgan, my legal team is strong enough." He said after thinking for a while.

Hard mouth!

This was Morgan's first reaction.

Chen Jianqiu, Chen Jianqiu, do you really not know or are you just pretending to be stupid?

If you have the same skin tone as me, maybe you won't have such troubles.

But you are Chinese, and you are still unwilling to let go of those weaknesses that drag you down.

Businessmen are just talking about business, why do they have to stir up those muddy waters?

No matter how strong your legal team is, it will still cost you money!

"The Western Railway Company has operations in almost every western state. If one-third of these states collectively revolt, I'm afraid even you, Mr. Chen, won't be able to deal with it, right?"

Morgan leaned forward.

He didn't even wait for Chen Jianqiu to speak, and continued:

"In addition, because workers' treatment and service standards are too high, the cost remains high. I believe the Western Railway Company is not as profitable as imagined, right?"

There is some personal emotion in this sentence.

Because the employees of the Western Railway Company were better treated, Morgan's Eastern Union Railway Company union was in trouble all day long.

Experienced and capable skilled workers all headed west.

This was completely unimaginable before.

Abandoning the prosperous east and working in the barren west is something only those who can't survive in the east do.

In addition, American citizens generally believe that with the Mississippi River as the border, the service on the train is completely incomparable.

The journey to the west, which was previously full of thieves and train robbers, has become comfortable and safe; on the contrary, the journey to the Eastern Railway Company often suffers from lost luggage.

For this reason, Eastern Union Railway's operations have been criticized.

Chen Jianqiu raised his head and glanced at Morgan, and said in Chinese:

"You can't blame the earth for not having a poop."

Morgan was stunned for a moment, looking strange:

"Sorry, I didn't hear clearly. What did you just say?"

"I mean, Western Rail is in good operating shape, has plenty of cash flow, and is not at any risk of bankruptcy for the time being."

Chen Jianqiu said sternly.

"Is it so official?" Morgan frowned.

"What else?" Chen Jianqiu said calmly.

Since oil and salt are not allowed to enter, Morgan will no longer beat around the bush.

He stood up.

"Mr. Chen, I hope you can sell the shares of the Western Railway Company to the Morgan consortium."

Chen Jianqiu laughed.

"Do not sell!"

Morgan's expression became serious.

"Mr. Chen, many Western Railroad shareholders are already dissatisfied with you because of your behavior in turning a blind eye to the destruction of rail lines in Louisiana. Many of them are my customers."

Morgan's customers here refer to those bosses who are willing to hand over their funds to take care of themselves.

"You've let them down by putting politics above the interests of the company."

Chen Jianqiu dismissed it:

"Are those a few cowards? They don't even dare to do anything in the board of directors, so you are asked to help them stand up?"

"That's not true." Morgan said, "But doing business as a partnership is just like falling in love. It's not sweet if you force yourself to do it."

"So you want a third party involved?" Chen Jianqiu looked at Morgan, "Do you think it's possible?"

Morgan thinks it's possible.

He has always believed that everything in this world can be clearly priced.

If the other party says it is impossible, it must be that the price offered is not high enough.

"The current market value of the stock price is US$8.5 per share. We have calculated and are willing to acquire all your shares at a unit price of US$10." Morgan offered his own price.

Chen Jianqiu didn't even reply.

"What about $10.5?" Morgan added tentatively, "It's very conscientious."

Chen Jianqiu couldn't stop laughing:

"Mr. Morgan, you are very good at calculating."

"When the Eastern and Western Railroads merged, you had a monopoly on railroad operations throughout the United States."

"No one can interfere with your pricing power. You can set it as high as you want; you can compress your employees' benefits as much as you want, because they have no choice but to work for you, especially those with technical skills. Type of work.”

"By then, the money you and your boss will earn will probably not be an astronomical figure."

"Just give me this price. Doesn't it have much to do with conscience?"

Morgan's thoughts were seen through, and he simply said directly:

"Make a price."

Chen Jianqiu turned his palm over.

"Double, $17, cash, no exchange for shares."

Morgan almost choked on the puff of cigar smoke he had just inhaled.

He blew out the cigarette and leaned on the back of the sofa to think.

Chen Jianqiu on the side continued to blow:

"Your guests should be aware that Western Railway has a very good debt position and does not have many risky items."

"If the news of the merger of the two railway companies into one gets out, the stock price may double, let alone double, it may double or triple."

"To tell you the truth, I'm just trying to get some cash to support my 'property protection troops'. Otherwise, I won't agree even if the amount is doubled."

Morgan and Heaven fight.

He thought for a while and finally gave Chen Jianqiu an answer:

"I'm going to go back and let my team do the math and reevaluate at the same time before I can tell you if we can agree to that price."

Chen Jianqiu said with a smile:

"No rush, no rush."

Morgan shook hands with Chen Jianqiu and then prepared to leave.

"By the way, I'll have the cigars delivered to you later, remember to collect them!" Chen Jianqiu said to Morgan's back.

Morgan's team, after evaluating Chen Jianqiu's plan and all aspects of information, came to a conclusion:

feasible! The price is not expensive!

The value brought by monopoly cannot even be explained by price alone.

In the end, the business was closed for a total price of US$4.9 million.

Chen Jianqiu surpassed Rockefeller and became the richest man in the world.