Hero's high-priced purchase of all agricultural products has given freight companies and food companies throughout the Americas a respite from the economic crisis.
As of February 1, 1868, after a month of crazy price increases, the Texas Hero Company's purchase price of agricultural products had soared to 12 times what it was before the economic crisis.
Even if there is no economic crisis, this profit is enough to lure consortiums that were not previously engaged in agricultural products-related industries to enter. Europeans also began to export farm products to Hero Company despite the pressure of domestic famine.
For example, Ireland, which has not solved its domestic famine problem so far, has increased its exports of agricultural and sideline products.
While Hero Company purchases agricultural products in large quantities, it sells all Hero Company products at their original prices, which is equivalent to giving a "boost in the arm" to all the "middlemen" who sell agricultural products to Hero Company.
In the eyes of "middlemen", since Hero is still selling its own products normally, it means that "hero dollars" are still valuable, and you can still buy Hero's products no matter what.
"hero dollars" are "hard currency" guaranteed by hero company products.
Countless amounts of grain entered the Texas area through various transportation methods and were canned by Hero Company.
One ton, two tons...
One thousand tons, two thousand tons...
One million tons, two million tons...
Hero Company is producing more and more cans, and more and more frozen meats are stored in underground ice cellars...
No one thought about why Hero Company purchased such a large amount of agricultural products. People only saw the green "hero dollars".
February 14, 1868
Valentine's Day,
A cargo ship from New York slowly sailed into Houston's Smith Port. With the stimulation of Hero Company, there are no ships on the sea that are only engaged in passenger transportation.
In order to increase profits, most cargo ships will convert their spare rooms into "passenger cabins", take a few more people along the way, and sell more tickets to increase profits.
Several masked men hurriedly got off the cargo ship, and were escorted by the hero company's "security guards" to a carriage that had been waiting for several people.
The carriage sped straight towards Smith Tower.
When several men entered the conference room of Smith Tower, they saw a young man in his twenties sitting in the main seat of the conference room, using two sticks to poke the "iron cup" in his hand.
From time to time, he would pick out a piece of beef with two sticks and put it into his mouth.
After several masked men confirmed that the man sitting in the main seat was Tom Smith, they took off the veils they had worn for several days.
Among these mysterious men, the leader is William Henry Vanderbilt, the American railroad king and son of a captain. He is now 47 years old and in the prime of his career.
As the second-in-command of the Vanderbilt family, Henry personally came here to have a secret meeting with Tom Smith, the head of Hero Company, which shows that the two companies must make "big moves" this time.
When Tom saw that it was Henry who had taken off his mask, he felt a little unhappy. He put down the chopsticks he was eating from the canned beef in his hand, frowned slightly and looked at Henry sitting across the conference table, and said with great dissatisfaction:
"Why didn't your father come? Do you really have all the ideas? My secret letter made it very clear. This secret meeting must have someone who can make final decisions on all matters of both companies."
"Mr. Smith, don't worry. As the vice president of the company, I am also the only successor designated by my father. I believe that I can successfully negotiate with you on any matter."
"Humph~Really?"
"Mr. Smith, please don't do this. It's impossible to cooperate like this. Do you really have the intention to cooperate?"
Tom snorted and expressed his disdain for Henry, the "iron second generation", and Henry also felt that he had been greatly insulted.
The only reason why Henry didn't slap his ass and walk away was that Henry knew that Tom's actions might just be negotiation tactics.
More importantly, Henry knew that this cooperation with Hero Company had a guaranteed profit of tens of millions of dollars.
Henry would not give up his immediate profits just because of a few frivolous words.
"You mean, you can make decisions for your father on everything. Can you sign any contract?"
"Of course, I have the highest decision-making power in the company."
"So, if I want to fully acquire your railway company, you can make the decision."
"This...are you kidding..."
Henry was frightened by Tom's abrupt words about acquiring the railroad company entirely. Was the Vanderbilt railroad company fully acquired?
Let’s not talk about whether you have any intention to sell your home. If you really want to fully acquire it, how much will it cost?
At least 500 million U.S. dollars, probably in cash.
"If one billion is not enough, just 1.5 billion. If 1.5 billion is not enough, then 2 billion. You can always come up with a price that you can't decide. Moreover, what we are going to talk about today is more important than the full acquisition of your railway company. What do you think?"
Can you make up your mind?"
"I should have just said in the secret message to ask your father to come over. I made a mistake."
"You go home and tell your father that if you don't come here within half a month, we won't cooperate."
Henry didn't look at Tom as if he was joking. Does the head of one of the best companies in the Dixie region and even the world, the actual "president" of the Second Empire of Texas and Mexico, really need to make such a joke with himself?
?
Henry did not leave directly, but waved to an entourage beside him and whispered a few words to him. The entourage nodded repeatedly and led a few people out of the conference room.
John glanced at Tom, who nodded slightly. John understood and did not leave the conference room.
Tom took out the gold fake cigarette indifferently and continued to suck the filtered air. He was going to wait here for the man to appear.
The first richest man in American history with assets of over 100 million - Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Time passed minute by minute, maybe twenty minutes? Maybe half an hour.
An energetic old man entered the conference room, escorted by several followers.
With his straight waist and brisk steps, especially the vitality that emanates from the inside out, no one would have guessed that this old man was already seventy-two years old.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, holding a jeweled crutch, has entered the conference room, and his aura suppresses everyone around him into supporting roles.
Everyone present, even the top executives of the company, were all impressed by this tiger-like aura.
It's as if the earth should revolve around Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Only two people are exceptions.
One is John Mueller, who is full of blood and murderous intent.
One is Tom Smith, who is like a "reincarnated starving ghost", eating white flour steamed buns and canned beef.
Cornelius's son Henry also stood up quickly and gave up his father's seat. Cornelius calmly sat down directly opposite Tom, smiling and looking at the "legend" who had become famous in the past few years.