The three major professional leagues in North America in the 21st century are well known, generating hundreds of billions of dollars worth each year.

Unlike table tennis, badminton, and other games that the Chinese are good at without physical contact, most of the games that Americans like advocate physical confrontation and pay attention to the hot scene, whether it is ice hockey, rugby or basketball, there is no shortage of fist swinging scenes when the game is most intense, and even the fight itself is part of the game.

The most interesting thing is ice hockey, if there is a conflict between players on the field, whether it is between opponents or teammates, the referee will not only not stop it, but will also help pick up clothes to maintain order or something, which is a spectacle on the arena.

It's only 1875 now, there are no shadows in the three major leagues, ice hockey has just held the world's first game, rugby has just established the world's first association, and basketball has not yet been invented.

Grant values the entertainment function of the game itself, during the National Automobile Rally Washington Station, everyone's eyes are focused on the car rally, no one pays attention to these things of the Republican Party, and no one pays attention to whether Grant's cabinet members have any selfish rules, Grant hopes that Washington will have such a race every month, so that Grant's life will be much better.

Being anxious and thinking about what people think, this is the only way to gain favor, since Grant has this need, of course Li Mu has to do it as much as possible, and it won't cost much anyway.

When the National Auto Rally was first held, Li Mu was ready to pay $500,000 for every sub-race.

Facts have proved that Li Mu underestimated the spending power of the American people at this time, although the cost of each sub-station was similar to the budget, but the income greatly exceeded Li Mu's estimate, the sales of tickets and souvenirs accounted for only a small part of the income of the organizing committee, and the sponsor's sponsorship costs were rising step by step, and the income of the organizing committee was balanced from the third sub-station.

More of the revenue came from behind-the-scenes operations outside of the race, and the Rockefeller team won its third race, for which John D. Rockefeller paid $500,000.

The $500,000 will not appear on the organising committee's books, it belongs to all eight participating teams, and after the third race, the money was divided equally among the eight participating teams.

This result also made all the team owners happy, they don't care how much money they can make from the race itself, the team is just a big toy for them, they care about the publicity effect of the race itself.

As the first large-scale organized professional competition in the United States and even in the world, the National American Automobile Rally has received widespread attention, not only American media, but also European media have sent reporting teams to the United States to cover the National Automobile Rally.

Champions are always the most visible, and it only takes $500,000 to get a championship, which makes all the team owners feel like they are getting their money's worth.

Of course, the final championship must belong to the Junma Group, a total of eight teams, the Junma Group accounted for four, so the final championship will definitely not be left behind.

Having tasted the sweetness of the National Automobile Rally, Li Mu and Rockefeller have already intended to launch more sports competitions, which is conducive to expanding the social influence of enterprises and creating more consumption growth points, which has many benefits for enterprises.

"When an enterprise develops to a certain extent, it must assume a certain social responsibility, wealth is obtained from the society, and we should learn to repay the society, and we should all have a grateful heart." Grant obviously wants Li Mu to do more, which also reflects that Grant's pressure is really high.

"Of course, we have always had a plan for this..."Li Mu followed Grant's meaning, and his mind spun quickly.

Sitting in Grant's office, you can just see the unfinished Washington Monument, two years ago when Li Mu came to Washington for the first time, he paid attention to this unfinished project, but I didn't expect that two years have passed, although the Washington Monument has resumed work, but the progress of the project is outrageously slow, it doesn't seem to have much progress, and Li Mu came to Washington two years ago to see the same, the completion is far away.

Li Muma immediately took it into account: "Our Horse Group has been giving back to the society, from the very beginning of the establishment of the Horse Weapons Factory, although our strength was still very weak at that time, but at that time began to repair the water conservancy facilities of the Connecticut River, and it was the same in New York, Horse Plaza is a gift from the Horse Group to all New Yorkers, since we have a specialty in architecture, so if Mr. President is willing, you can hand over the Washington Monument to the Horse Construction Group, I can guarantee, before Christmas, There will be a brand new Washington Monument. ”

Doing good deeds without leaving a name This kind of thing must not be promoted, Comrade Lei Feng has done good deeds and wrote them in his diary, Li Mu is to seize every opportunity to package Junma Group into a first-class enterprise with a sense of social responsibility.

"If you're willing to take over, that's great, I'll let Corbyn follow up..."Grant said, his expression suddenly confused.

Abel Corbyn, whose full name is Abel Corbyn, is no longer in the presidential palace, and under pressure from the Democratic Party, Abel had to resign as chief of staff and leave the White House a few months ago.

Grant probably hasn't gotten used to life without Abel yet, so when something happens, he's still used to letting Abel come out.

In this matter, Li Mu is also helpless, as Grant's henchman, Abel is unclean, and he has given the Democratic Party such a big handle, and it is no wonder that others have fallen into this fate.

Probably remembering the sad thing, Grant had no interest in chatting, Li Mu chatted casually a few more words, and then left.

Leaving the presidential palace and looking back at the white vault, Li Mu couldn't help but sigh a little in his heart.

I don't know when the next time I will come to the Presidential Palace, and I don't know if Grant will be the owner of the Presidential Palace at that time, the only thing Li Mu can be sure of is that he will definitely come here again in the future.

Unlike the slightly deserted Presidential Palace, the War Department is always full of people.

Although automobiles had appeared and showed good performance, the main means of transportation at this time were horses.

The square in front of the war department is a large stable, and although there is a special person in charge of hygiene, the smell of hundreds of horses gathered together is still very unpleasant.

Most of the people who came in and out of the War Department were soldiers, and don't expect any gentlemanly manners from these people, although they did not disagree with each other, but loud voices and vulgar slang could be heard everywhere.

Li Mu still has a militia identity, he is half a soldier, of course he is accustomed to this scene, and even because of Will, Li Mu prefers this atmosphere.

At least you don't need to use too many brains to deal with these soldiers, strength is the best proof of identity, and a big fist naturally has the right to speak.

Sherman's expression was still gloomy, after the defeat of Montana, Sherman's hairline seemed to shrink a little back, with a gloomy look, it seemed that becoming the Minister of War did not make Sherman much happy.

"Hello William, it looks like you don't welcome me much." In front of Sherman, Li Mu didn't have to be careful.

This is a matter of seniority, when Li Mu first met Sherman, Sherman was just an ordinary general, and he was worried about the Indians of Montana.

If Sherman successfully pacified Montana, then Li Mu may give Sherman more respect, but unfortunately this is obviously not the case, if there is no Will and George Dewey, it is estimated that Sherman's reputation will be ruined, so even if Sherman becomes the Minister of War, Li Mu does not take Sherman very seriously.

Speaking of Li Mu's status, with Li Mu's net worth, there are really few people worthy of Li Mu's attention.

This is America, and the rich have never been fat pigs, but real threats.

"Damn arms dealers, where you appear, there is no peace, do you expect others to welcome you?" Sherman was also not very polite to Li Mu.

Soldiers and businessmen can't fight each other, politicians need the votes in the hands of entrepreneurs, but soldiers don't need it, for example, in Sherman's appointment as Secretary of War, Li Mu can't help anything, Sherman just needs Grant's trust.

"You're still so unlikable, I can't even imagine how Mr. President can put up with you." Li Mu teased in the tone of an old friend, and although the words he said were not very good, they were not offensive.

"I don't need to be liked, I just need to be feared." Sherman smiled a somewhat cruel grin.

Sherman was notoriously tough-hearted, his heart was as cold as a rock, and he was one of the few strong-willed men, or he would not have ordered the North to burn Atlanta during the Civil War before the civilians had been evacuated.

"Seeing someone like you become the Minister of War, I don't know if it's good or bad." Li Mu shook his head and sighed, sitting in the chair with a relaxed posture, just like sitting in his own living room.

"Why are you coming to me? If you have something to say, please come back if you have nothing to do. Sherman knew that Li Mu must have something to do when he came to him, and the relationship between a soldier and an arms dealer was the same as that between a wolf and an embarrassment.

"Of course, as the best partner of the Ministry of War, the Horse Weapons Company has a big gift for you, as a congratulatory on your appointment as Minister of War." Li Mu smiled and took out a document from the briefcase he was carrying and handed it to Sherman.

"What is it?" Sherman didn't answer, and the taste of vigilance in his eyes was very strong.

Sherman's predecessor, Bernapu, fell on corruption, and Sherman had just taken office and didn't want to fall so soon.

"75mm infantry rapid-fire gun..."Li Mu stepped forward, spread out the document on the table in front of Sherman, pointed to the photo of the 75mm infantry rapid-fire gun and began to introduce: "Look at it, this is specially developed for the US Army, its weight is very light, only two horses or six artillerymen are needed to drag it around, and at the same time, the power of the artillery, the ability shown in the test, is not inferior to any artillery of the same caliber, the key is its rate of fire, can you imagine, on the battlefield, a 75mm infantry rapid-fire gun, enough to suppress one of the opposing artillery squadrons, think about it, if our army is armed with such artillery, we can defeat any enemy ...

As an arms dealer, Li Mu must be loyal to his profession and impress Sherman with real products.

If Li Mu tells Sherman about the Far East as soon as he enters the door, then it is estimated that Sherman will send off the guest immediately.

"Ream, I think I see what you mean, you want to get an order from me, don't you? No problem, how much do you want? Sherman would not refuse Li Mu's pitch, and he could not refuse, and in the United States, Sherman had no choice.

This is the benefit of monopoly, as long as Sherman doesn't want to cooperate with those small workshops and let the American GIs go to the battlefield with a tattered back, then even if Sherman doesn't like Li Mu anymore, he has to pinch his nose and cooperate with the Horse Weapons Company.

"Of course, the more the merrier, you know, it's not easy to develop a new weapon, we couldn't produce artillery in the country before, but after our efforts, now it's a reality, so I think the military should support our efforts." Li Mu did not exaggerate the facts, the New Haven factory did fill the gap in the United States in the production of artillery.

"As much as possible? Hehe, I'm sorry, how many artillery do you think an army of 20,000 people needs to be equipped to be appropriate? Sherman didn't smile, the mockery on his face was obvious.

In the sad year of 1875, the whole army of the newly born United States Army was only 20,000 people, and these 20,000 people must not all be artillery, in fact, even if all these 20,000 people were artillerymen, they could not satisfy Li Mu's appetite.

"What does it matter if the number of people is small, the key is the actual need, you have to understand the fact William, if you can't get enough gains, then as a weapons manufacturer, I will lose the motivation to develop new weapons, so that once the time comes to really need it, you can't buy it with the money you want." Li Mu was not alarmist, in fact, if he could not get enough orders from the Ministry of War, then Li Mu would not have developed larger caliber artillery, and he would not be able to do business at a loss.

Of course, if other countries are willing to pay for the research and development of weapons, then Li Mu does not mind continuing to develop, war is the theme of mankind, so Li Mu is not worried that weapons cannot be bought, there will always be people who need them.

"Hmph, don't think I don't know what you're thinking, if I give you enough orders, then in order to meet the congressional questioning, the size of the army will have to be expanded, once it gets to this point, I'm afraid the next step is war." Although Sherman is a little ugly, he is not stupid.

"You're right, don't you think we need a war now?" Li Mu does not hide his true thoughts, how good it is to fight, if there is no war, will tens of thousands of employees of the Horse Weapons Company be hungry... [.]