Chapter 249 The Attacking Old Man
Compared to the blind optimism of Gail and McHale, Sheffield actually did not have much confidence. He had long felt that the so-called changing history was a very difficult thing, at least it was very difficult in this era.
This kind of change in history does not mean grabbing a few emerging industries to make yourself richer! It means changing the direction of history. The closer you are to modern life, the harder it is to change history. At the end of the 19th century, it was no longer an era when civilizations did not interfere with each other, and your own joint company could still show off in Haiti, Liberia, and Kuwait.
But when facing a country with a little self-respect, it is completely useless. The United Company can't even handle Colombia. Colombia in this era is not a loyal licker of the United States a hundred years later, obeying all orders from the United States and blocking Venezuela. Not to mention, the Panama Canal involves not only Colombia, but also the shadows of Britain and France.
Even if Sheffield was expanding, he would not dare to treat the two colonial empires of Britain and France as Haiti. As he said, this involved the confrontation between countries, and his own country, the United States of America, did not dare to forcefully face these two countries. It was just relying on the geographical advantage to hinder the French and prevent the Panama Canal from being completed on schedule.
"Did you two just plot in your study and then come here to make plans for me?" Sheffield asked with his head tilted. "No news from Panama? Tell me about public opinion? You are completely in the dark and you want to mobilize armed forces to plan Panama's independence?"
If this is the case, Sheffield has to admire the two men. They really have the style of Dixie people. They just pull out their guns and do it without thinking. However, this style of pulling out guns and doing it first led to the Civil War and then the resistance against Brazil. It seems that they have gained nothing.
"Of course we have our own news. The Panamanian people all know that once the canal is successfully dug, they will be the ones to benefit. The Colombian government's act of kidnapping local people for patriotic sentiment has aroused resentment." Gale said in detail, "Panama has a huge investment from our United States. It is completely different from other places in Colombia, and the people think differently."
"You didn't lie to me?" Sheffield looked at the two men, and they both nodded, indicating that they were definitely not looking for an excuse to plan independence, this was the real situation.
This did not surprise Sheffield. He found an example of this sentiment, which was actually the people of Ryukyu or Okinawa, Japan. The local people may not have deep feelings for the Republic, but their aversion to the US bases is real.
The reason is that Japan is actually disgusted by the current situation of the US military stationed there, but it has no ability to resist. So it tries its best to prevent its homeland from being harassed, and Okinawa is the sacrifice thrown by Japan. It is better for the Okinawans to sacrifice some of their own people than for the local people to sacrifice. Okinawans are treated as second-class people in Japan.
The Okinawans did not enjoy many benefits as the American soldiers could not control themselves, and they all felt it.
This is the case in Panama. Colombians know that heaven is too far away and the United States is too close. They do not want the canal project to fall into the hands of a powerful country that is too close. Considering that distance creates beauty, they have always placed their hopes on the French. However, the residents of Panama do not think so. They only know that they will be the beneficiaries of the opening of the canal. The problem is that the canal has not been started because the Colombian government has made money for them.
The construction of the railway and the canal project made Panamanian elites full of fantasies about the future. When the United States, France and Colombia were arguing over the canal concession rights, Panamanian elites were very worried. They realized that the overly irritated patriotic sentiment in Colombia would dim the prospects for the successful construction of the canal. When the French Canal Company ran into trouble due to poor management, Panamanians deeply felt the huge threat to their own interests.
"People are so selfish, but it's a good thing for our country." Sheffield was inspired. Seeing that the two people were waiting for him to nod expectantly, he was silent for a moment and then said, "Since we have this independent public opinion and foundation, it's not that we can't make a plan. The main problem now is whether the federal government can scare the Colombians. The problem is back to the problem at the beginning. We have to find a way to make the French loosen up, even if it's just a little bit. We can make the Colombians feel that they can't resist, and this will be easy."
"I thought you, William, had connections in Colombia that I could use. Didn't your family grow poppies in Colombia back then?" McHale felt a little disappointed when he heard that he still had to be considerate of the French.
"McHale!" Gail poked McHale and said, "Let's not talk about the past. It's been decades."
Now that United is a large company, it is necessary to avoid mentioning its dark history. When his friend got anxious, he directly touched the pain point of United. Sheffield was naturally uncomfortable, but he still said, "Don't mention this matter in the future. So, send someone to Panama in the name of the three of us to contact. I think Keane is very suitable. Find a local prestigious family. The matter is mainly divided into three directions: the federal government, Panama and France. The federal government is not a big problem. Panama's opinions can be ignored. It mainly depends on whether the old man can handle this problem."
Sheffield did not mention the Colombian government. He had ignored the country. The United Company had nothing to do with the country. It was just that the old man set fire to the forest to grow medicinal herbs and raise funds for the civil war. Now that so many years have passed, there is no incense and affection.
Since he had decided to intervene, Sheffield had no need to save money and used a few more sheets of telegram paper to send his greetings to the old man. Anyway, the cost of a few more sheets of paper was not very expensive for him.
"Dear father, as expected, United Company did not receive even a penny from the business of the Paris branch. Grandmother is not very satisfied with the branch's operation. She has already considered closing the branch, but I personally stopped it. Due to the de facto father-son relationship, I personally will not mention your application for the sales manager position at Kodak. Considering the comparison of the scale between United Company and Kodak, it is not something that will bring honor to the family."
"In order to show my father's value in Paris, as the heir of the United Company, I have a favor to ask of you. A small matter has caught my grandmother's attention, which is the Panama Canal issue. I heard that the French company that built the canal is not doing well, and the United Company intends to take over this unprofitable mess. I hope you can find out about the situation."
"The Panama Canal issue will determine whether the Paris branch will be closed. If my father is willing to be away for more than ten years and come back to be educated by my grandmother, he can ignore this matter."
Sheffield had no psychological burden at all, and used the name of the old man to let his old father who was carrying heavy loads in Paris do things for him. The old man should also do some serious work, and always carrying heavy loads is not good for his health.
"This is threatening me. Is the Panama Canal a small matter? Why not make money? William is in the country. He knows better than me that this is the federal government constantly obstructing the French."
Harry Sheffield looked gloomy, thinking that all his enthusiasm for his son had been wasted. Now this ungrateful person wanted to cut off his food supply. The weather in Paris was not warm at this time of year, but it made him angry. He was only wearing pajamas, and the elephant trunk underneath was the perfect proof of his anger.
"Harry, what's wrong?" A naked woman came in from outside, holding a bottle of red wine in her hand, ready to have a drink with the successful person she had just met.
"Nothing, dear!" Harry Sheffield directly hugged the woman into his arms, kissed her and said, "I'll drink the wine later. I'm quite angry right now, and I believe you are the same. The most important thing now is to calm down."
After finishing the work, Harry Sheffield took out his most precious thing, a phone book, and kept flipping through the contact information on it. He turned around and asked, "Alisa, do you know any friends in the engineering field, the kind of companies that undertake large projects. I want to find a friend in this field to meet, and of course it would be best if she is a woman."
"Do you want to harm other women?" Eliza rolled her eyes at the man and said lazily, "What kind of engineering company do you want?"
"It'd be better if it's about the canal!" Harry Sheffield reached his hand under the quilt and said meaningfully while groping, "I'll thank you very much."
Deep down, Harry Sheffield did not want to end his current life. Under the threat of his mother running out of food, he started up his efficiency, which was not common in his 40-year life. He went in and out of luxury apartments, inquired with various socialites and ladies, and showed his charm as a successful man.
Once this is accomplished, he can continue his playboy life and do whatever he wants.
In the end, Harry Sheffield successfully found the headquarters of the French Canal Company. During this process, he learned that this company was in trouble both internally and externally due to various reasons, most of which were caused by the United States. This made him feel that this matter was actually not difficult.
(End of this chapter)
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