The journey starts from the Titanic

In the past two years, although he paid little attention to this bank, he knew the general situation.Due to the rise of manufacturing in California, this bank has also developed well, and its total assets have doubled from the original US$5 million to US$10 million, and the momentum is still growing.

After the loan of US$2 million to the San Diego Shipyard this time, Situ Nan estimated that California Union Bank may be unable to do well in other businesses.

But as expected, Situ Nan planned to integrate the bank after he went back.

Over the phone.San Francisco office.

Francis put down the microphone, feeling a little complicated, and he talked: "I hope I read it right! But I didn't have any losses, but made a profit."

His gaze fell on the wall clock on the wall, the minute hand on it had almost finished half a circle, suddenly thinking of something, Francis's face changed—"Fack! My phone bill! Damn Western United Telephone Company! That's it. I helped raise a bitch, so happy this time!".

Situ Nan couldn't see Francis' expression, otherwise he would be very happy.

The call went from San Francisco on the West Coast to Detroit in the Great Lakes region. If history is recorded, Situ Nan estimated that this was a historic interstate long-distance conference call with only two protagonists: Francis and Situ Nan.

But it was Francis who paid, he just made an outstanding contribution to the phone company's business.I wonder if the telephone company will give a discount to a generous customer like him?

There was a piece of news about telephone communication two years ago, and it caused a sensation across the United States at that time!It is said that on January 25, 1915, the first inter-district telephone line was opened between New York and San Francisco.

It uses 2500 tons of copper wire, 130,000 telephone poles and countless loading coils, and uses 3 vacuum tube amplifiers along the way to strengthen the signal.

One can imagine how expensive the phone bill was at that time.In recent years, not only has Situ Nan's industry been developing rapidly, but the speed of the consortia in the east is not bad at all. Take the American Telephone and Telegraph Company!This important member of the Morgan consortium, after communicating with the US East Coast to West Coast telephones, the installed capacity of telephones is increasing at a rate of two to three million units per year.

There is also the famous Bell Labs, Situ Nan can only look greedy, it seems that it can only be so.

Francis thinks his face is green now, right?Situ Nan thought with a smile.Well, he was so happy.

Situ Nan didn't expect a call from San Francisco with so many stories behind it.Although he didn't know it at the time, a few months later, when he returned to Los Angeles, he saw the changes in California and felt a lot.

Now he just feels that after coming to Detroit, he has been distracted by other things, and his planned car company has not yet been completed.

Life, that's it. Sometimes we are brought into another fork by some sudden small accidents. When we return to the origin, we realize that we have made a big circle.

I can see through the glass window that the Detroitian, who is still idle on the street, is passionately condemning the German. That guy has been screaming and killing in the street for several days.His noise made Situ Nan had to guess whether this guy would be a "Communist Party"?

It’s hard to say that in the past two years, Britain and France have hired people to discredit Germans in the United States. Some idlers or self-proclaimed freedom fighters don’t work hard and earn more money to support their families, but talk all day long. , To promote those slogans that are worthless to Situ Nan.

But in any case, unrestricted submarines are always a watershed in the First World War.Next is the Zimmerman leak incident, right?Situ Nan thought.

Now that they have offended the Americans, the granite-headed generals of the German Army’s General Staff are probably trying to make trouble for the Americans. They want the Americans to have no time to take care of them, so that they can buy some time for the Germans to concentrate on European affairs. At least the Russians must be killed. The polar bears once known as the European military police or European road rollers are almost out of blood.

The Germans only need to pull another knife gently on the wound, and the guy in the way can fall, so that the Germans can concentrate their forces to fight Britain and France to the death.

The German who hurriedly jumped over the wall finally plucked up the courage to pinch the American Uncle Sam's egg.They thought that Mexico could be messed up by the United States to buy time for their operations in Europe.

"Sure enough, it's a German guy who walked all the way to the dark. The Hans who seem to be Germanic have always been such a tendon, don't break the south wall and don't look back." Situ Nan murmured.

In fact, everyone knows that it's not that the Germans are not afraid of death, but that they will die sooner or later. It's just a matter of time.Even if he doesn't fight hard, the final result is not bad.To be honest, Situ Nan also sympathized with the hapless, bitter German child.

The historical context is printed in Situ Nan's mind. He is thinking how he can profit from it?

Do you want to send someone to Europe to join in the fun?Just go in the name of a volunteer, anyway, the volunteer has been used by the Americans.

Oh, by the way, I don’t know what happened to the levy of German merchant ships by Gudas?If you don't hurry up, all German merchant ships stranded in the United States will be confiscated by the White House.Even if it can be bought cheaply by then, it is estimated to cost a lot.

Hehe!Situ Nan thought triumphantly, picking up the phone.

Chapter 115-Opportunity-Maxwell Motors

Xu Zhouyang left, Leland and his son also left. They went to California to start a business, but Davis stayed.

These days, he waited on the back and forth. He also made great efforts in the formation of Cummins-Lincoln Aircraft Company, but failed to find a place in the new company. This is a loss for the arrogant Davis. thing.

Fortunately, he comforted himself that the big boss is still in Detroit and is still busy with the car company. It seems that he has no intention of giving up on himself.And looking at the big boss, there seems to be a big plan brewing, which should give him a chance to make a splash.

Thinking of this, Davis felt more at ease.This is the second time Davis has walked into Situ Nan's office. The same place, the same time, the same person, but the mood is different.

Davis still remembered that when he came to meet Situ Nan last time, he was still a little bit nervous before the interview.But two weeks later, when Davis stepped in confidently, the result was quite different.

These days, Davis also has a vague understanding of Situ Nan’s strength. He knows that this boss, who is a few years younger than himself, not only has a huge industry in California, but also has a close relationship with Wall Street, often receiving Wall Street. Phone, but also watching futures trading in Chicago.

"Boss, these are the investigation reports of the major local automobile companies in Detroit. I have prepared them." Davis put a thick document on Stuart's desk.

In order to complete this report, Davis has not rested for several days.If it weren't for his familiarity with Detroit's auto industry and a group of auto talents under his hand, it would not be easy to draw conclusions in a short time.Fortunately, Situ Nan just needs a general situation, there is no need to consolidate specific data, otherwise the workload will be heavy.

Even so, Davis tried his best to detail important data. Looking at some of the main data listed above, Situ Nan was very satisfied."Thanks. Good job! Davis." Situ Nan said, looking at Davis's haggard face.

"This is what I should do." Davis said, from this report, he is more certain of Situ Nan's ambitions in the auto industry.

"Leave the document with me first, and I will look at it in detail later. Now, what are the auto companies worth our investment?" Situ Nan asked.

"Yeah. Let me think about it." Davis said, this report was made by himself, so he knew the contents of it clearly, and saw him ponder for a while and said: "I think there are two It is very worthwhile for us to acquire, one is Faith Body Company and the other is Maxwell Motors."

"Oh?" Situ Nan became interested, flipping through the documents and checking the two companies mentioned by Davis.

"Face Body Company is the largest auto body company in the country. The steel body produced by it is of very good quality and is purchased for major automakers. And when I was at General Motors, I heard that General Motors The body company is included in it.

I think we have to get Faith Body Company before them. Even if it can’t completely merge Faith Body Company, we still have to get some shares. Otherwise, we won’t buy other cars after General Motors has completely annexed Faith Body Company. The manufacturer provides the car body."

Davis said affirmatively that this was not because he was putting eye drops on GM in front of Situ Nan.It's that he is too aware of GM's consistent approach.All the factories they merged will no longer provide parts for other companies, but will only circulate in their internal systems.Anyway, General Motors has a big business, and their internal system orders are enough for Faith Auto.

"This suggestion is very good." Situ Nan nodded, showing that Davis has done enough homework today."What about Maxwell Motor Company?" Situ Nan asked.

"On the contrary, the current situation of Maxwell Motor Company is very bad. Their cars have major quality problems. The weak rear axle often causes gear shedding failures on the highway.

Now all customers don’t buy their cars. In the last three months, Maxwell has sold a total of 5 cars. This is the result of a big price reduction."

Davis stretched out a slap and five fingers, emphatically, how could it be a little smirking.

"The founder of Maxwell Motor Company is Jonathan Dixon Maxwell. He was originally a mechanic in Indiana, USA. In 1893, he built his first car. Later he came to Detroit, and Co-founded many automobile companies with other investors.

Later, the current Maxwell Motor Company was formed on the basis of those automobile companies he founded.At that time, General Motors hadn't been formed, and Henry Ford was still working for others. The Maxwell Motor Company had been popular for a while in the first few years, but in recent years it has gradually fallen into a broken path.

Now there is a serious quality crisis again. The president of their company, W.L. Michel, is already overwhelmed, and it is difficult to do all the best.

There is a good opportunity ahead. Maxwell is old and powerless, and the shareholders of the company have been completely disappointed in WL Michel. Are they planning to find a new owner for Maxwell?"

Davis whispered, he looked at Situ Nan eagerly.Obviously, he encouraged Situ Nan to buy Maxwell Motor Company.

"I think I understand what you mean, Davis, will the acquisition of Maxwell do us any good?" Situ Nan asked.

"Boss. This is good news for us. Although we also have several auto parts factories under our control, they all supply parts for others, and we have never had our own brand. This time, after acquiring Maxwell , We can integrate our automobile industry chain, and then withdraw from our own brand. After all, now the Maxwell brand is already rotten, it is better to tear down and rebuild.

Maxwell Motors also has many places worthy of our investment. For example, their company has a large number of skilled workers, and their newly built factory on the banks of the Detroit River imitates Ford's assembly lines."