San Gabriel, as a noun, is also the common name of a valley area and city northeast of Los Angeles, namely the San Gabriel Valley and the city of San Gabriel.

San Gabriel Valley, for example, is a very extensive area, with 30 cities and unincorporated communities, covering an area of 400 square miles, including Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, and many more.

Unlike other areas of Los Angeles, this place has been unknowingly "occupied" by Chinese Americans and some Asians in the past ten years.

The Los Angeles Times recently published a special article saying that the development of the San Gabriel Chinese-American business district has overshadowed the style of Los Angeles' "China City" and has become a new and larger "China City", which covers several cities such as San Gabriel, Monterey Park, Alhambra, and Rou Honey, and has even extended its tentacles to Temple City, which is farther away.

Let's put it this way, we can simply understand San Gabriel as the "Flushing" of Los Angeles, but the difference is that there are more Chinese Americans in San Gabriel here, and the area covered is larger and wider.

However, Abel came here, not to find the most Chinese people here.

It's just that the people he is looking for happen to live here before the Fed meeting.

San Gabriel Valley, 560 Acadia Orange Grove Avenue West, in a Spanish-style villa on the outside.

Abel met the people he wanted to meet, four middle-aged and old white men from 40 to 70 years old.

Nice and cosy living room of the villa, the lights are very bright, everything is like day.

"Hey, Mr. Mather, Mr. Hannah, Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Eaton...... Good evening, everyone, and it's nice to see you again. Compared to the time of Washington, your demeanor looks better. ”

After taking people into the living room, after glancing at them, Abel smiled and took the initiative to greet them.

The middle-aged and elderly white men in the living room, their expressions were not as relaxed and relaxed as Abel.

The youngest of them, a white man about 40 years old, was the first to speak with a cold face:

"At this time, Mr. Smith, you came to us in person and said these things to us, is that a bit ironic? You know, in two days, you're going to want to take away from us what we're most valuable and value. ”

"None of this has happened. Isn't it? As long as it hasn't happened, it's nothing. Able shrugged at them, "If only you can think and not act." Then I still want to start a war and become the king of the world. ”

Faced with his response, the middle-aged white man muttered: "Texas maniac......"

At this time, Cooper Eaton of the Eton family, who seemed to be the oldest of the four white men, spoke softly:

"Mr. Smith, you know we should already know. After all, this kind of thing can't be hidden, and there are many people who are happy to reveal it to us. So now I'm curious as to why you're here with us in person. You know, we're angry, even though this part of Los Angeles might be one of your turf, but we're still angry. ”

"Mr. Eaton, you're right, but I think you'll listen to me before you decide what your attitude will be toward me?"

After Abel finished speaking, without waiting for these people to speak again, he read some of the company's financial report data to himself.

"Amco Iron and Steel Company, the world's 53rd largest steel company in 2002, produced 5.88 million tons in 2002, reported revenue of 15.55 billion US dollars that year, and net profit attributable to the parent company of 1.856 billion US dollars."

"Lex-Youngston Steel Plate and Steel Pipe Company, with an output of 6.35 million tons in 2002, a revenue of about 17.5 billion US dollars that year, and a net profit attributable to the parent company of 356 million US dollars. Ha, its investment in the Siberian region of the woolly bear fell so hard that it dragged down the net profit. ”

"Country. The People's Iron and Steel Company, the third largest steel company in the United States, had an annual output of only 10.11 million tons last year, an annual revenue of just $20 billion, and a net profit attributable to the parent of $1.95 billion. ”

"There is also a Republic Steel Company, its annual revenue last year was miserable, I won't say the specific data."

"The only thing you're doing is Goodyear Tyre. It is the world's largest tire company, with operating income of 23.3 billion US dollars in 2002 and net profit attributable to the parent company of "as high" as 2.5 billion US dollars. ”

When talking about "Gundam", Abel obviously accentuated his tone, as if he was afraid that these people would not understand that he was actually mocking.

"It's a pity that you only have partial control of the other good Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Goodyear Tire and Firestone. Even Amcosteel and the country. Mingang Iron and Steel Company, you are also sharing with others. ”

"My think tank has done the math for you, including all of the above companies. You people earned a total of about $9.869 billion last year! Tsk, it's really good, it is more than Microsoft's net profit attributable to the parent company last year by more than $2 billion! ”

Abel's long speech obviously made the faces of these Cleveland people in the living room very unsightly.

Yes, the data that Abel just read is the net profit and revenue of several important companies under the Cleveland consortium, one of the famous American conglomerates, last year.

These revenues and figures, because they are all public companies, must be disclosed to the public.

It's not very difficult to collate and collect this data.

But when these data are put out in front of the dialogue between the plutocratic lords and the chaebol lords, they inevitably make these people in the Cleveland consortium feel ashamed.

Making $9.8 billion a year does not seem like a small amount. Can...... This is the net profit of a consortium for a whole year!

What's even more outrageous is that Microsoft, a technology company, after experiencing the bursting of the Internet bubble, had a revenue of $28.5 billion last year and a profit of $7.837 billion......

$7.837 billion, which means that Microsoft's annual profit is only about $2 billion short of the annual net profit of the Cleveland consortium.

Of course, the two sides are still different in terms of influence. Microsoft is a software company, and the total number of employees in the company is currently about 48,000.

The Cleveland consortium is just one of the four steel companies under its name, and the smallest one has more employees than Microsoft.

Naturally, the two sides are not the same in terms of influence and control over the region.

However, the Cleveland consortium does make very little money, and it can be said that it is pitiful among the few consortia.

"What the hell are you trying to say, Mr. Smith. Or do you think we're weak and must hand over what we have to you? Is that what it means? At this moment, the other of the four, Boxy Hannah of the Hannah family, spoke.

"In our country, even on our planet. Being weak is a sin in itself. Like the Indian people who once lived in our land, they were weak, so their land was usurped by our ancestors. ”

Abel's tone was a little condescending, and he looked at the four people in front of him: "If you are really strong enough, that country. A 38% stake in the company would not have been owned by Mellon Bank. And Amco's steel company will not be jointly owned by Mellon, Rockefeller and you. Not to mention the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, which has been acquired by Bridgestone and you only have a 20% stake left, or Goodyear Tire Company. ”

"Enough!" Eaton, the eldest of the four, couldn't help but say loudly:

"Mr. Smith, you're here. If you imagine us saying that, then you can go. The Cleveland consortium may not make money, or it may be weaker. But we're not afraid of anyone! Whether you're Rockphil or Morgun, or Mellon, or you're Smith, we're not afraid of any kind of combat! ”

"Of course!" Abel also raised his voice and didn't give an inch, looking almost like he was arguing with Cooper Eaton, but the latter words surprised the Clevelands.

“…… Not anymore. I'm certainly not here to tell you this, I'm here to hand you an olive branch — well, that's not quite right. It should be said that I have come here to take refuge in Noah's ark just as Noah invited all living beings in the world to take refuge in Noah's ark, and invited you to board a powerful and invincible warship called the United Consortium! ”

"The difference is that Noah's Ark can only take refuge. The Smith can make you even more brilliant. The similarity between the two sides is that the number of places is limited, and the number of people who can get on the ship is not too large. ”

"Eh......" Cooper Eaton, who was originally imposing and looked like a warrior who was not afraid of battle, was stunned, looked at Abel and was stunned for a moment, and then said uncertainly: "Eh, what are you talking about?" Mr. Smith, what do you mean? ”

"I mean that very clearly." Able waved his hands to the other Clevelanders who were also shocked by what he had just said, "I want to invite you to join the Texas Consortium, just like Richardson and Brown. ”

After speaking, he continued to add, without waiting for the other people who opened their mouths to speak first:

"I'd like to give you another statistic, as of May this year. Smith Capital has earned about $39.4 billion in profits for the syndicate. Well...... That's exactly 4 times as much as you did last year, and there are 7 months left this year. I think that number will reach more than $80 billion by then. At that time, it was about nine times that of Cleveland last year. And I would say that the other companies of the consortium are just as profitable. ”

"How much? How much did you just say? ”

"39.4 billion in half a year? No, it's five months?! ”

"Faxet! I've said a long time ago that finance is the most profitable! Steel and rubber, no matter how good you play! ”

"Fack, Fack, Fake, Fake, you Wall Streeters!"

“……”

After hearing Smith Capital's profit data, it was obvious that people in Cleveland reacted greatly, but no one doubted Abel's data.

The reason is very simple, in recent years, Smith Capital's data in this area has always been proud of the same industry around the world.

Its financial reports and annual reports are clear and verifiable, and they have always been announced to the public.

Of course, Cleveland people can also see that, compared with the data of previous years, they naturally believe most of what Abel said.

Looking at them who reacted greatly, Abel shrugged his shoulders, looked at David and Allen next to him, and his eyes signaled.

Smith hummed the two generals, and they looked like elites stepped forward very competently, and took out a few documents from the document bags they carried, and Mather, Hannah, Humphrey, and Eaton each got one.

Abel whispered in the back: "Everyone, let's see what the conditions are?" I'm sure you won't be disappointed, because I'm a man who has always been generous in this regard. That's why I have so many friends, and that's why I can get so many people to like me in New York and California. I'm sure Ohio should be happy to be my friend after reading these things. ”

Mather, Hannah, Humphrey, and Eaton did not reply, they silently took the documents handed by David and Allen, and looked at them one by one.

Abel didn't bother, he found a place to sit in the living room, and looked at the layout around the living room.

The large and beautiful living room is filled with luxurious European furniture, and the exquisite fabric sofa is flanked by two bronze sculptures of biblical angels.

There are oil paintings hanging on the walls around it. As a professional art student, Abel, who is extremely talented, can see that these are some genuine works of great value.

In any case, the Cleveland consortium has a history of 100 years, and the heritage is still there.

The luxurious crystal chandelier is all golden in the style of the European court, but it does not look vulgar and tyrant, perhaps this is also a classic decoration that will not change because of the changes of the times.

When he was bored to read the decoration of any house in California by the Cleveland Consortium, those people also roughly finished reading the conditions that Abel gave them.

Compared with the angry appearance of Abel when he first arrived, now Mather, Hannah, Humphrey, and Eaton are obviously much more relaxed in their attitudes.

It had already passed a few minutes, and this time Abel didn't wait any longer.

He smiled and said, "How?" Ladies and gentlemen, believe me not to be a demanding person, right? In addition, I would like to tell you one more piece of news, and that is...... In addition to you, I gave DuPont the same conditions. Because I think in a way, Cleveland, like DuPont, is suffering from outsiders. I'm a person who can't see this, so I want to help you. ”

When Cooper Eaton heard him say this, he opened his mouth and couldn't help but want to retort, [You can't see others invading us, so why don't you just do it yourself? 】

But when the words came to his lips, he didn't say anything after all, but turned into something else, "We need to think about it, after all, it's not just the four of us that are at stake." Cleveland, it's made up of many, many people. ”

Abel understands this, just like other consortia. After so many years of development, the Cleveland consortium has long been intertwined, and the number of related families and stakeholders is unknown.

Mather, Hannah, Humphrey, and Eaton are just the four largest giants of the Cleveland consortium, and the four representatives of their consortium.

If it really comes to a life-and-death situation, or a particularly important moment and decision, it really needs to be discussed with most people.

After Cooper said this, the other three also nodded, all looking at Abel with complicated expressions.

Obviously, Abel's proposal and slightly more lenient conditions are indeed very attractive to the Cleveland consortium, which has been in a difficult situation for decades.

Since the 60s of the last century, the strength of the Cleveland consortium has been declining due to the geographical restrictions of the consortium.

Their financial capital is weak, and although they own five financial institutions, including the Cleveland Trust Company, their strength is limited, and they have always had to rely on the eastern consortium for fundraising, especially the financial institutions of the Logon and Rockefeller and Mellon consortia.

It is somewhat similar to the original Texas consortium, but the difference is only because the Texas consortium has too strong control over Texas, and Texas' own resources and talents far exceed those of other states outside California, which gives the Texas consortium a lot of confidence.

Coupled with the rebellious genes that the Lone Star State has always had, this has prevented the Texas consortium from being attacked by outsiders because of its poor financial strength, which has led to unpreventable weakness.

"Whew...... All right. It seems that the matter has been resolved for the time being. Abel shrugged with a smile and got up directly from the large American-style sofa he was sitting on, "In that case, it's not too early." Then I'll go first. ”

Mather, Hannah, Humphrey, Eaton and others did not stay, but they were different from the blackfaces of Abrahim.

The four giants of the Cleveland consortium all stood up in unison, and then silently sent Abel out, and then looked at his convoy away.

Then the four of them returned to the living room in a strange atmosphere.

After a long time, Yokesh of the Humphrey family spoke softly, and the old man's voice was slightly hoarse:

"What do you think, do you want to promise the Texans?"

The middle-aged man who was the first to speak to Abel just now, the new head of the Mather family, immediately replied: "If you agree!" We're likely to lose our autonomy very quickly, and that's no different from us losing Firestone, Goodyear, Amcosteel! ”

Mather's words silenced everyone a little.

At that moment, someone suddenly walked in quickly from outside and whispered a few words to Cooper Eaton's side.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Cooper, who had some surprised expressions on his face, spoke directly and said softly: "John Chris Morgun, and David Rockphil are here." ”

"Hah!"

Hearing the old man say this, Box-Hannah laughed angrily.

"It seems that they all treat us like fat, and everyone wants to take a bite of us! First Smith, then Morgun! ”

At this time, Humphrey said leisurely: "So in fact, what Smith said just now is not wrong. In this world, weakness is original sin. Our ancestors could snatch America from the India. Others, of course, can also snatch what belongs to us in our hands. This has been the case in the past, and it will be no different in the future. ”

His words silenced the remaining three.

Survival of the fittest, this rule of nature, is still in effect even between consortia.

Weak consortia are inherently more attractive to larger consortia than independent corporations.

Naturally, it is easy to attract the covetousness of those powerful consortia.

Not to mention the consortium.

Even if it rises to the state, survival of the fittest is also an iron law.

If you are backward, you will be beaten, and being weak is the original sin. On this planet, that's the rule.

This may even be the case outside the earth, in the myriad universes.

In the face of this situation, it is useless to avoid it.

(End of chapter)