Chapter 180: The Indestructible Alliance
He didn't have any special ideas. Anyway, the contract was time-limited. It was not certain who would beg whom at that time. The news of the discovery of the large oil field could make the cooperation between the two parties closer. After all, they had the same interests and could face many problems together.
Sheffield was not bragging. His grasp of the historical context was definitely better than these natives, much better. As long as he did not offend the public and followed certain rules, he would surely grow stronger. However, whether he could transcend and become a presence above the major financial groups was no longer a matter of one person carrying the burden forward, but depended on whether others were willing or not.
If you only want to eat for yourself and kill others, you may be attacked by everyone if you don't do it well. According to the fantasy novels, it is a violation of the plane law. So now Sheffield is consolidating the results and restraining the idea of reaching out further, and instead began to support the partners in the south.
But he couldn't just focus on people from Dixie, he had to find a few friends among the Yankee community, so he would definitely strictly abide by the contract with the Rockefeller family.
This led to the idea of evaluating the family business and choosing which part should be listed and which part should be hidden. The part that seems harmless should be listed, while the more important part should continue to make a fortune in silence.
With this idea in mind, Sheffield knew he should go out for a trip, so he told Annabelle and planned to go see the land where the oil field was discovered, and also told her his thoughts.
"Rockefeller is lucky!" Annabelle's reaction was exactly the same as Sheffield's. After thinking for a while, she said, "The family has a bad relationship with the DuPont family. Rockefeller had a bad relationship with Carnegie in his early years. The key is in the financial field. From what I know about Rockefeller, he and Morgan will definitely not stand together. These two people are too powerful and will never bow to each other. But Morgan is still very attractive to others."
After briefly reviewing the current relationships with the major companies, Annabell continued, "They are all companies in the north, and only our base is in the south. This has both advantages and disadvantages. It depends on whether they compete more or are more connected. If their connections account for the majority, we will be in danger. If the competition is greater, we will be very comfortable. Therefore, we cannot deal with all companies at the same time. We must always have one or two friends."
"That's what I think, Grandma! If it's a large oil field, it will definitely not be fully exploited within the contract period. We use the oil interests to tie Standard Oil down, so there shouldn't be a situation where our family is uprooted." Sheffield said, "Besides, the Democratic Party is currently in opposition, and our family has a strong Democratic color. William McClay is supported by almost all major companies to ascend to the presidency, except for our United Company."
"If we have a harmonious relationship with Standard Oil, we can also contact William McClay through Standard Oil. Repair the misunderstanding caused by the election timing." Sheffield said all his thoughts in one breath, and then said, "Of course I have to go and take a look now and evaluate the specific situation."
"You are free to go wherever you want." Annabelle stretched out her hand and waved in the direction of the door. The meaning was too simple: Go!
Now the United Company needs to repair its relationship with the White House, because this year, as far as Sheffield can remember, the United States officially began to turn to overseas interests, but it happened that the Republican Party was in power. If it does not repair its relationship with the White House and cannot catch a free ride, it may lose many opportunities to share the cake.
In his heart, Sheffield was ready to fight against the White House and fight for his share. Even his partners were ready for this, but wouldn't it be better if he could achieve this goal with the tacit approval of the White House? It was unwise to fight against the federal government.
Without mentioning Sheffield's whereabouts, when Rockefeller Jr. heard the news at Standard Oil, he almost jumped up and instantly decided to go to Texas to take a look. This might be a new oil-producing area, and if it could be compared with Pennsylvania's oil production, it would represent a significant expansion of the Standard Oil empire.
The unbearable young Rockefeller almost wished he could grow wings and fly to Texas. Of course, he still came to Chicago, the transportation hub of the United States, to visit his sister.
"Just say I'm not here. I went to Paris and just left a few days ago!" Edith Rockefeller's face changed drastically when she heard her brother was coming. She held her bulging belly and ordered, "Send him back and tell him I'll be back in half a year."
This made the young Rockefeller, who had been turned away, full of doubts, but he was soon attracted by the news of the exploration team's victory. In terms of family affection and family business, family business is more important. Anyway, Edith Rockefeller is already an adult and should have her own life.
When Rockefeller Jr. arrived at the site where the oil was discovered, he saw a forest of derricks. The oil workers were busy and everything was in order. There was no chaos at all. There were well-dressed people patrolling everywhere, which was a little different from what he had imagined.
"I thought there would be a lot of oil merchants coming here!" After seeing Sheffield, Rockefeller Jr. said with a sigh, "It turns out that oil wells in other states are like this. Once there is news of oil, it is crowded, as if people from all over the country have come!"
Sheffield twisted his hands together, and after hearing what Rockefeller said, he took a slight tactical step back and said slowly, "This is my private land. What are you thinking? Do you really think I dare not kill anyone by barging in?"
"Then we must immediately acquire nearby land to maximize profits. I believe that since you are a local, you must have done it, right?" Rockefeller Jr. asked expectantly. The more land Sheffield acquired, the larger share they would occupy.
"No!" Sheffield shook his head bluntly, which disappointed Rockefeller Jr. He was about to contact people to buy the local land, but was stopped by his partner. "The land from thirty miles north to south and twenty miles east to west belongs to the United Company. You said that the oil traders who flocked here from all over the world are drilling wells outside this range."
"Your land? All of it? How big is it?" Rockefeller Jr. asked dryly, seeming to think that Standard Oil's partner was a little unfathomable.
"Land is the most important property of the United Company. The area of this land is 240,000 acres." Sheffield said with a mouthful of white teeth, "All residents in this area are rented by employees of the United Company. No inch of land belongs to them. They are just staying here temporarily. Of course, I won't drive them away. If they want, they can also drill oil wells on the private land within their own yard. I can't just not give them a place to live. That's their private land."
After expressing his generosity, Sheffield led Rockefeller Jr. to an oil drilling site. Sheffield didn't have the ability to tell the quality of the oil at a glance, but Rockefeller Jr. was different. Standard Oil Company was a giant built on this. How could he not judge the quality of the oil?
"I just want to kill you!" Rockefeller Jr. remained silent for a long time after seeing this, and finally said this with a greedy look.
"I'll take that as a joke, otherwise there will be no successor to Standard Oil. This is Texas!" Sheffield stressed nonchalantly, glancing at the side and sighing softly, "Put the gun away... John is our partner, he was just joking."
It is not good for the leader of such a large enterprise to speak without any seriousness. Sheffield felt that he had to say something to Rockefeller Jr., but considering that he still needed his help, he swallowed his words.
"Edith went to Paris. I didn't see her when I passed by Chicago this time." Rockefeller Jr. sighed suspiciously.
"Ah? She went to Paris! Something might have happened. Has she been abroad before?" Upon hearing the news, Sheffield also expressed his concern. He didn't know what happened to Edith Rockefeller recently.
The two of them just talked about it for a while and immediately entered the next stage, because the exploitation has just begun, the size of the oil field and the estimated reserves are unknown. However, one thing is certain, the discovery of this large oil field will make the cooperation between the two companies unprecedentedly close. Nothing can bind people's hearts more than interests.
In the small town of Kilgore, two young men with the smell of asphalt settled down here temporarily. There was no better way to grasp the exact context than to be there in person. Sheffield repeatedly assured that he was an absolute law-abiding citizen and would fulfill the contract as it said, which made Rockefeller Jr. feel relieved.
"The contract is protected by law, unless I can trick you into transferring your shares, but you obviously won't be fooled." Sheffield frowned and thought for a long time. "Because of Standard Oil, I can't use some tricks on you that I use on ordinary people, so don't worry, the reserves will not hinder our cooperation."
"We are all honest businessmen, so naturally everything will be done according to the contract." Rockefeller Jr. nodded with satisfaction, "This will make our cooperation indestructible, and no one can stand against us."
Rockefeller Jr. has already expressed an important attitude, because with the emergence of this oil producing area, he is willing to stand by his partners under any circumstances.
"Don't forget what you said!" Sheffield said solemnly, "Don't swear by God. There are too many people who swear by God. He is very busy and may not be able to hear it."
(End of this chapter)
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