Late May 1921.

Just two months after Harding took office, one of the worst incidents of violence in U.S. history took place in the Tulsa region.

Why do you say one of them, because at the beginning of the 21st century, the United States was hit by a very serious violent attack!

Harding did not apologize for the incident, let alone comfort him with official words, but chose to forget, cover up, and conceal ......

From this incident, we can understand that there is no absolute fairness in the United States, liberal democracy? It's a joke.

Especially in the immediate aftermath of World War I, blacks suffered discrimination. If it weren't for the unanimous reporting of Chinatowns in various districts, their fate can be imagined......

On this day, Russell was playing games with his three children.

Ruth stood at the door and beckoned, "Mr. Astor's phone!" Very anxious. ”

Russell got up and walked over and asked, "What did he say?" ”

"You didn't tell me, just asked you to answer the phone, it seems to be a very anxious thing."

Russell nodded, walked over to the table and picked up the phone.

"Mr. Astor."

Astor said bluntly: "Franklin was on vacation with his family on Campobello Island when he encountered a forest fire. He now has chiropolia ......"

"When?"

"August!"

It's already September.

"How's the recovery?"

Astor said in a deep voice: "There is a high probability that he will be left with a lifelong disability...... Walker, that's what I just knew. If he had been disabled, he would not have been able to run for election. ”

Since Franklin and Cox failed in their presidential and vice presidential campaigns, he has served as vice chairman of the Maryland Credit & Savings Corporation... The focus shifted from Masaji to business.

Russell said: "Don't worry, Franklin will be fine, he has strong beliefs and ideals. ”

"Walker... I'm 57 years old, I almost died of the flu last time I was in Washington, D.C., and if Franklin can't run for the next president, the Astor family will be completely lonely. ”

Astor's greatest concern lies in the fact that his youngest son has no business acumen at all, but has inherited his heart for good deeds.

Astor and Franklin are in-laws, and the two belong to the relationship of brother-in-law and brother-in-law.

That's why Astor fully supported Franklin.

"Don't worry, Mr. Astor, you won't have any problems with me."

Astor said: "I don't care about life and death, if it weren't for you, I would have sunk in the Atlantic with the Titanic." At that time, the Astor family had already gone into loneliness, but I didn't die...... I live to pass on the Astor family. ”

"I'll help Franklin recover."

Astor was silent for a moment and asked, "If I die, can you help me manage the family business?" ”

"If you need it, just ask, and I'll help."

"Good! Your name will be written on my will, and I believe you Walker! ”

"Thank you for your trust."

Hang up.

Russell sat on the couch and lit a cigarette.

In recent years, almost all of his old friends have passed away, and after Yinsido's death, his wife Ida followed suit the following year.

Last June, Guggenheim died of cerebral congestion in New Jersey. Russell and Astor, Mrs. Brown, and others rushed to attend the funeral.

The Guggenheim family business is now run by six of his brothers, who have also joined the 'New York Foundation'.

The only ones who had a good relationship with Russell were Astor and Mrs. Brown.

That night, Russell and Franklin spoke on the phone.

Franklin's chiropolio, also known as polio, is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus that is harmful to children's health.

After Franklin put out the fire, he jumped into the icy water, probably the virus he was infected with at the time.

Russell suggested that he find a place with a hot spring for rehabilitation, which contained minerals that might improve his atrophied motor nerve cells......

Franklin asked the doctor, who said that he had never had such a treatment, but that he could try it, and that a dead horse would be a live horse doctor.

Now his symptoms are mild, but he is in the early stage of paralysis, just past the prodromal period, that is, high fever, diarrhea, nausea and headache.

He was very faithful, and he was doing rehabilitation training in the Zozhia hot springs in the resort, and at the same time reading a lot of books and biographies... At the same time, it is combined with drug treatment.

In the same year, Russell ran for the House of Representatives, and was easily elected in the Brooklyn constituency with little effort at all.

Harding died of a stroke in '23, and his running mate John ascended to power.

At first, John was so busy wiping Harding's ass that he forgot about his old friend Russell, but in December, John suddenly thought of him and called Russell.

"Walker, long time no see."

"Mr. President, it's been a long time."

John smiled and said, "Aren't you surprised why I called you?" ”

"Not surprised, because your style of holding is serious, not as lazy as Harding."

"I would like to invite you to be the assistant to the Minister of Finance, are you interested?"

The current Secretary of the Treasury is Mellon, and Russell will definitely not be able to agree, because it does not make sense.

"Mr. President, you know I'm not going to be interested."

"Yes... I know. Listen Walker, I'm not the same as Harding, so you don't get me in trouble. ”

"Of course."

After a brief conversation, John hung up.

Russell, on the other hand, was lost in thought.

It was very presumptuous and unusual for John to call him personally, and he actually wanted to invite Russell to Washington as an assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury...... That's even more interesting.

John is a very serious person, he doesn't play with children's tempers, and he doesn't offend people because of his impulsiveness.

"Mellon?"

Soon, Russell thought of why.

John called him, the purpose was to deliver a message to him, which meant that Mellon might make a move to attack you or the New York consortium, this matter has nothing to do with me, you can fight as much as you want, don't even affect me, I've only been in office for two days......

The next day, Russell contacted Astor, Garner, John Jr., Cox and others, and more than two dozen people came to the large estate in the suburbs of Queens, New York.

It is an asset of Aster, and the estate is home to a horse farm, vineyard, golf course and baseball field...... Wait a minute.

Two castle-like buildings stand halfway up the hill, and from the courtyard you can see the waterfall in the distance behind the left, but you can't hear the sound of the water.

Since Russell told Astor that the Mellon consortium was likely to attack them, Astor summoned the members of the New York consortium overnight and asked them to come to the manor to meet and discuss.

The maid served the food and drinks, and everyone sat around the table, chatting freely.

After a few moments, Astor talked about Mellon.

Andrew Mellon was born in 1855, his father Thomas was a business-minded entrepreneur, and Mellon made his first real estate business at the age of fifteen.

Mellon is a little-known family, its reputation in the United States is not as good as that of Rockefeller, DuPont, Ford and other super-rich families, but his wealth is far more than the above family consortium!

Why?

Because Mellon had made a lot of profits in World War I, he had financial institutions such as the National Mellon Bank and General Reinsurance Company, which he used to control the banking capital and industrial capital of the Pittsburgh area.

At the same time, it also has a monopoly on lead production in the United States, as well as the Gulf Oil Company...... It also controls the four largest steel production companies, electrical companies, and rubber tire companies in the United States, with family conglomerates such as Rockefeller and Cleveland......

After Mellon became Minister of Finance, the family grew even more rapidly, and he took advantage of the loopholes in the tax law to seek benefits for the family.

Such a seemingly small family, but secretly controls such a huge power, which makes many people daunted.

When Astor finished speaking, everyone in the audience fell silent, looking at each other without saying a word.

Russell shook his head slightly: "The other party has already set its sights on us, if we don't make a move, then the other party will go down the mountain like a tiger and swallow us in one fell swoop!" ”

Garner nodded slowly: "Yes, we have to be on guard. ”

"The point is, we don't know where Mellon is going to start. Walker only got the news from John, and I don't rule out the idea that John deliberately spread the news out to lure us into taking the bait. ”

Astor nodded: "Of course it can't be ruled out...... The result of the Mellon's confrontation with us is definitely a lose-lose situation, and if they want to move us, they will inevitably unite with Rockefeller and DuPont, Ford and other family consortia. ”

The people in the New York consortium headed by Astor are basically doing business in various industries, some are engaged in oil, some are engaged in pipelines, and some are engaged in electrical......

But with the exception of the Guggenheims, who are the nation's pipeline tycoons, everyone else's business accounts for a small part of the industry, unlike the Mellon family, which has a monopoly on tin mining, and even less a monopoly on 90% of the country's oil like Rockefeller.

Russell looked at these people and was a little disappointed, originally Mellon was coming for him, but Russell alone definitely couldn't compete with Mellon alone, so he had to pull these people together to fight.

Everyone gathers firewood and the flame is high...... But none of these people have an idea.

Astor looked at Russell's poor face and said, "We can't be sure where Mellon is going to attack us, but we can be sure that Mellon will definitely attack us, so we have to come up with an idea." ”

Everyone still looked at each other, and no one took the initiative to pick up the stubble.

Russell waved his hand and said, "I will talk to the people of the Mellon family, but during this period, you have to take care of your own schedule and take care of your own business." ”

"Okay."

"I knew Walker would have a way."

"Walker is a young man, and young people are motivated."

“……”

Russell narrowed his eyes, looked at them and smiled: "Once the tiger in the dark has its prey, it will not give up easily, you must be on guard." ”

"Don't worry, Walker, I'm sure nothing will go wrong."

Russell smiled.

Astor turned his head to look at him with a straight face, and nodded slightly.

The two belong tacitly.

The product of the consortium is almost vulnerable in the face of powerful enemies, and only when facing the weak will it open its bloody mouth and gnaw the weak people with no bones left.

At night, Astor and Russell sat in their study and chatted.

Astor also saw the reluctant thoughts of these people, so he bluntly stated that if Russell did what he wanted, he would support it unconditionally.

In the early 20s of the 20th century, when doing business in the United States, no one wanted to fight a business war, which was not only a waste of energy, but also made a lot of less money.

The rats on the street are in swarms, and if they raise two at will to ensure that their family lives without worry, they will give up their lives, so the free America will give birth to the gray industry.

Russell also didn't want to fight a business war with Mellon, firstly because of insufficient financial resources, and secondly, because the members of the consortium were not united enough, how could they fight?

So there is only one way left.

A few days later.

The Mellon family home, under the bed in Mellon's living room.

While cleaning the room, the maid found a wooden box containing five kilograms of explosives.

When Mellon learned the news, he quickly rushed back from the White House, and the moment he saw the explosives, he shrunk into holes.

He first contacted the Minister of War and sent a company of engineers to search the house.

Thirty kilograms of explosives were eventually found in the house and fifty kilograms around the courtyard......

The explosives were all packed in wooden boxes, and they were neatly arranged, and it was obvious that the person who placed the explosives was a bit clean.

At the same time, four members of the New York consortium were intimidated and attacked, one of whom was wounded by a stray bullet and is being hospitalized at the Manhattan Medical Center in New York.

Russell and Astor went to see the injured and happened to meet with several members of the New York consortium at the hospital.

"Mr. Aster, this must have been done by Mellon! He doesn't want to beat us down by commercial means, so he attacks and intimidates us with such despicable means! ”

Astor spread his hands and said, "It must be a misunderstanding, there is no reason for Mellon to do this...... Besides, I'm fine with Walker, Garner and the others, why are only a few of you attacked? Have you offended other people? ”

After speaking, the four people who were attacked were also a little confused, looking at each other and doubting their judgment.

"I heard that Mellon's family was also intimidated yesterday, could it be a wave of people?"

Hearing Russell's words, the four of them hurriedly waved their hands to deny it.

"Impossible! We are in the shipping and furniture business, how can it be ......"

Halfway through his words, he stopped.

Astor said with a dark face: "In that case, this matter will end here, I don't want a next time." ”

Russell smiled at the four of them, "Your life is really big, this time the god of death turned you away, and you can't say for sure in the future." ”

Suddenly, the hairs on the four people's bodies exploded, and cold sweat flowed.

They were not wronged when they were attacked.

Since the end of the party that day, Russell has observed that the four of them have made small moves, and they are actually privately contacting the Mellon family in an attempt to fish in troubled waters.

How could Russell let them go?

If this continues, the New York consortium will inevitably split, and then the Mellon family will be able to swallow these miscellaneous fish without much effort......

Eventually, Russell will also be targeted by the Mellon family.

Astor glanced at the four of them and said, "If you break away from the New York consortium, your business will also be affected, so you can do it yourself." ”

He and Russell have long been tacitly acknowledged, and they also know Russell's methods.

Astor was just a little worried, if Mellon knew that it was Russell's ghost, then how would Mellon retaliate?

Downstairs in the medical center, Russell gave Astor an answer.

"Mellon will not retaliate, he is just threatened by evil forces, and has nothing to do with us, and things without evidence can't be nonsense."

Astor suddenly realized, "So, if Mellon takes the opportunity to retaliate, you will expand the matter and turn it into a fight between the two factions?" ”

"That's right!"