He is Already a Tycoon at a Young Age! - Chapter 74



Only Krnovel

Episode 74 – Hitler Motors

“It is already impossible to capture Warsaw.”

“There is still a chance. How can a people’s commissar, of all people, say such a thing?”

Commander of the Western Front.

Tukhachevsky slammed the table and shouted.

Just a little more.

If we advanced just a little further, Warsaw could have been liberated.

For the past few months, Polish and Ukrainian forces have been staggering like sick chickens, poorly supplied and not even properly supplied.

But a few weeks ago, the tables turned. Now, it was the Red Army that was suffering from a shortage of supplies.

“According to intelligence, Allied supplies are already arriving at the port of Danzig. Germany has lifted the blockade.”

“The Germans changed their minds at the last minute. We should have advanced towards Warsaw sooner. Tanks. If only we had a hundred tanks…”

“Given our current economic situation, hoping for a tank seems like a bit too much to hope for.”

Trotsky tapped the map on the battle board without saying a word.

“Commander Tukhachevsky, this war wasn’t about liberating Poland anyway. It was a fight to protect the revolution. Don’t you think that just being connected to Hungary is enough of a success?”

“but…”

“And most of Ukraine was in our hands. If we had just marched towards Warsaw, we would have been counterattacked and driven back.”

Trotsky’s gaze turned to Germany on the map.

A raid targeting Hitler.

Was this a farce orchestrated by Hitler himself?

If it was him, it would have been entirely possible.

‘What on earth are you planning…’

The empty words of wishing for peace remained the same.

Didn’t Western politicians, even the Soviet Union, fall for Hitler’s words?

‘What happened after 1940?’

information.

More information was needed.

The commander, a member of the Russian Imperial Army, said with a red face,

“The moment the revolution stops, the Soviets and the party are dead. The opportunity to liberate all of Europe is gone…”

“We don’t have the resources or the economic power to continue the war. But the revolution will continue. It’s just not right now.”

The Polish people’s revolution that Lenin had promised never took place.

However, the passage to Ukraine and Hungary has been secured.

“There’s a time and a way for everything, Comrade Commander. I learned that the hard way.”

Capitalism repeats expansion and contraction.

The same cycle as a person breathing in and out.

We need to be properly prepared before that wave arrives.

There was a lot of work to be done.

“Now is the time to clean up the harbor and build a breakwater to withstand the waves. At the same time, we also need to clean up the trash on the coast.”

“If it’s trash…”

The commander flinched at Trotsky’s gaze.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

＊＊＊

“So, you’re saying that Mr. Chairman, you want to invest in my new car company?”

“You’re always so direct, Hitler. I like that about you.”

Jack Morgan said, pulling out his shotgun. Wide open forest.

It was the exclusive hunting ground of the Morgan family.

‘You’re really growing up so ignorantly.’

How many people would come if we made this place into a park?

“Our staff did a quick calculation a while ago. If you had invested $10,000 in a Ford Motor Company in 1903…”

He took out a bullet and loaded it into the gun.

“I calculated that I would have received over $4 million in dividends so far. If I had invested a little sooner, I could have easily received $6 million.”

“That’s only the dividend. If you include the stock price increase, the profit would be much larger. I didn’t know it would be that much.”

I pulled out my gun from the saddle, maintaining my balance.

I can never get used to riding a horse.

I learned from Chanel, Amelia, and Tracy.

The three were having tea time in front of the mansion.

Amelia and Chanel seem to have become close friends since their last meeting.

There seems to be a strange war of nerves though.

“My father didn’t think cars were a big deal. I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

“…”

Morgan House’s main investments were in infrastructure industries, most notably railroads.

Thanks to that, I also received help during the corn event.

‘But the era of the railroad is already coming to an end.’

The public’s attention has long since shifted to automobiles.

America is already an automobile empire.

As time goes by, the gap between automobiles and railways will widen.

It made perfect sense for Morgan to invest in me.

“But weren’t there other car companies before? Why would you invest in me? We haven’t even built a factory yet.”

“It’s simple. You’ve had a pretty high success rate so far.”

Jack Morgan said, aiming at the flock of birds. A loud gunshot followed.

A bird fell to the ground with a thud.

“And isn’t interdependence the quickest way to mutual cooperation?”

“From interdependence to mutual cooperation.”

Should I say that’s banker-like talk?

Surely, with Morgan’s help, the car business would be easier.

It wouldn’t have been out of the question for Morgan House to raise several million dollars.

‘But it’s not all about profit.’

If you have that much debt, it’s not mutual dependence, it’s a one-sided leash.

I have no intention of becoming the dog of Morgan House.

“But we don’t need that much money yet. We have other sponsors too.”

“Another sponsor? Are you saying there is someone who will invest money to build a factory?”

Morgan frowned and lowered the pistol.

A reaction that was unexpected.

“Who is that?”

“What about Henry Ford?”

“Henry Ford?”

There was an awkward silence for a moment,

Morgan burst into laughter.

“Henry Ford is helping you build a car factory. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Well, I don’t really like to tell unfunny jokes.”

“…”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Didn’t Ford have a huge fight with the shareholders and leave the company? Are you saying he joined hands with you?”

“That’s not it.”

Of course, it would be nice if that were the case.

Ford isn’t stupid enough to share his profits with me.

“Mr. Chairman, do you really think Ford is leaving Ford Motors?”

“If not, why would you have announced that you were going to create a new company? I heard you’re already looking into a factory site.”

“What if that’s some kind of bluff?”

“Blurring?”

“Ford is not going to throw away all the car plants and Model Ts it has already built. Even if it starts a new company, it will take several more years to get on track.”

“So, leaving Ford Motors…”

“It’s literally a bluff. It’s a strategy to scare other shareholders. Hasn’t Ford stock already crashed?”

It happened in the history of the original.

Ford’s father announces he will leave Ford Motors, causing stocks to crash and shareholders to panic.

‘At that time, Ford visited the shareholders separately.’

He buys up the stocks of terrified shareholders at a discount and turns Ford Motors into his own company.

I’m telling you, he’s a really smart guy.

“It’s not an impossible assumption, but it seems like a bit of a leap.”

Morgan said after hearing my explanation.

“How did you find that out? I doubt Ford told you about the plan.”

“I heard you found out through my network. If you don’t believe me, why don’t you make a bet with me?”

“…”

Morgan looked at me for a moment and then snickered. His eyes looked like those of a mischievous child.

“My daughter told me not to make a bet with you. Okay, let’s just say what you say is true.”

Morgan said, handing the pistol to the butler.

“What does Ford’s operation have to do with your support for the plant?”

“Here’s the funny part. Ford drove down the stock price and scared shareholders in order to secure control of the company. And in the process, he attacked me.”

I aimed my rifle at a flock of birds.

A loud gunshot is heard when the trigger is pulled.

There were no birds that fell after being deliberately shot off target.

“What if someone else buys all these stocks in the middle?”

“…”

The silence lasted longer than before. Finally, Morgan slowly opened his mouth.

“You are really up to something ridiculous.”

“My life has always been in the midst of such absurdities.”

Now it was my turn to laugh.

This is also something Hitler originally said.

“And Ford used me to create a scandal. So, shouldn’t he be paid the factory fee?”

It was as if German engineers were going to take over the American market.

He must have given money to several newspapers, including Hearst.

‘You dragged me into growing your own event.’

That can’t just be overlooked.

“I think I know what you’re trying to say. And why you came to see me.”

Morgan lowered the gun again.

“If you buy Ford stock yourself, it could be controversial. It would look like a German immigrant trying to take over an American company.”

“But if it goes through someone else in the middle, there’s no problem. Even if you track it down, it’ll only turn out to be a ghost company.”

It might have been impossible in the 21st century, but it is the early 20th century now.

This kind of thing happens every day.

“You’re really fearless, using my bank as a front. The fee is 5 percent. And I’ll pay 20 percent of the investment.”

“but…”

“I think it would be good for you to reduce your risk. If you don’t like it, why don’t you try going to another bank?”

Morgan said with a smirk.

“Or did you think I would just play to your beat?”

“How could that be?”

Did you underestimate Morgan too much?

You could think of that as a service fee.

“Isn’t interdependence the quickest way to cooperation?”

＊＊＊

“Mr. Leroy, we can give you as much time as you want to think about it, but the amount we are offering will not change.”

“Until a week ago, Ford was worth over 50 a share. And now you’re telling me to sell it for just 20. Who would accept an offer like that?”

“It could drop to $10 next week. Then the price I’m offering you now won’t be possible.”

Leroy looked at the man sitting across from him.

The man introduced himself as coming from an unfamiliar company called Afreeca Chemical.

A name that sounds fake or like a shell company.

However, Morgan House guaranteed his identity and payment.

“Okay, I guess I’ll have to find someone else. If you change your mind, please feel free to contact me.”

“Now, wait! I didn’t say I wouldn’t sell it. I just need to think about it…”

“Tomorrow. I’ll give you until tomorrow morning. After that, I can’t promise anything.”

“Okay, I’ll contact you before then.”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. Please keep the terms we have presented to Mr. Leroy a secret. If you think the terms have been leaked, we will not contact you again.”

Leroy stumbled out, and the man left in the office picked up the phone.

“Yes, Vice President. Leroy will probably be coming over tomorrow.”

“How’s the account, is it okay?”

“Morgan provided it. Even if someone tracks it, it won’t be connected to headquarters.”

“Good. First, let’s secure 8 percent somehow. It doesn’t matter how much money you put in.”

“Yes, Vice President.”

The man who hung up the phone became lost in thought.

He secretly approached Ford’s major shareholders for several days and bought their shares.

“8 percent…”

Article 12 of the Ford Motor Company’s Articles of Incorporation.

Once you own 8 percent of the company, you can appoint four directors to the board and put a five-month moratorium on any company decision.

What is his boss thinking?

‘If Ford Motors goes under like this…’

All the money you pour into buying stocks will go up in smoke.

The man shook his head.

“Anyway, it’s not me who makes the decisions.”

All he has to do is do his job.

The salary offered by the company is among the highest in the industry.

And the top boss was a man more extraordinary than anyone else.

“I can’t even imagine what you’re planning.”

===＊＊＊===

Author’s Note

Q: Did Henry Ford really use that strategy?

A: Yes, Ford announced that he and his son would be resigning from Ford Motors and forming a new car company. They also took the most skilled engineers and workers from Ford Motors, and there was even shocking news that they were planning a car that would cost less than the Model T, at $250.

Henry Ford made a big splash when he announced to the newspapers that he would build a massive steel plant and manufacturing facility in LA, and the Oakland Chamber of Commerce took official action to bring the plant to their area.

This caused a panic among Ford Motors shareholders, and most of them sold their shares to Henry Ford, who regained full control of Ford Motors.

(Source – https://www.discerningreaders.com/henry-ford-crushes-shareholder-first-and-foremost.html)