Chapter 8: Morgan's Thoughts

  Morgan, in the US, has already reached a level where everyone knows him, especially after he personally intervened to resolve the financial crisis on Wall Street a few years ago. After saving Wall Street, Morgan is now seen as a weathervane for the US economy and has even become a symbol of the American financial industry in the eyes of Americans.

  After the Boer War, Britain's war expenses led to financial strain. The German Emperor, who had always been at odds with Britain, was now planning to build a large fleet, and the British Empire, which had long been the dominant power at sea, could not tolerate being replaced by others. It was necessary to counter Germany, and while expanding military preparations, Britain's finances suddenly fell into extreme difficulty.

  At this time, the British government first thought of Morgan when Britain sought help from Morgan. Morgan agreed to it in one mouthful. Starting with the subscription of Boer War bonds, and later repeatedly adding subscriptions. Having done so many war debts and government bond transactions, for Morgan, the benefits were endless, and at this point, it can be said without exaggeration that Morgan had become the creditor of the world.

  At this moment, John Pierpont Morgan, known as the "master of the world", stood up from a large table, walked through the room, and went to the stained glass window on the south wall, gazing at the crawling people and vehicles on Wall Street below, with a triumphant smile on his face.

  If Wall Street is the body of America's financial empire, then J.P. Morgan is its heart. To those dull-looking men in black top hats and dark gray suits rushing to and fro on Wall Street, it may just be a place to find employment. But for Morgan, he knows what Wall Street really is: a vast ocean of finance, and he himself is a pirate sailing that ocean.

  Pirates...

  "Ask him in!"

  As a pirate, Morgan knew he had to keep an eye on things at all times, and now... his gaze fell upon the massive loan contract on the office desk.

  Perhaps it was the reputation that Morgan had established in the financial crisis a few years ago, so many university graduates considered joining JP Morgan as an honor. When Alpert Casaspe joined JP Morgan six years ago, he was even excited for several days in a row.

  As a young Jew, he also had his own dreams. He hoped to become a partner of JP Morgan in his lifetime. In the past six years, he has been working hard for this dream. The cleverness of Jews has also made him get promoted several times in just six years. However, now he is still just an ordinary customer manager.

  Independent office, company partner... The dream has been lingering in Alport Kasapes' mind, ambition, and in Alport's view, it is his own ambition that supports himself to move step by step towards success.

  But apart from ambition and strength, what else is needed?

  It's an opportunity!

  An opportunity for him to prove himself to the higher-ups, and now...

  "Mr. Morgan, please come in!"

  Albert Casas' train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a voice, and as he listened to it, he stood up abruptly, and as he walked towards the room, he could even feel his breathing becoming more urgent.

  What an opportunity!

  To be able to meet with Mr. Morgan, yesterday this was still impossible, and now... really have to thank Mr. Li Zicheng who holds a huge bond, it was him...

  "Please sit down, Mr. Casares!"

  Albert Kesselring entered the house with extreme caution, he merely raised his head to glance at Morgan and then turned away.

  "I noticed that three days ago, you applied for a $20 million bond loan, didn't you?"

  Morgan smiled at the young man in front of him.

  "Yes...yes sir!"

  When answering Morgan's question, Alpert Kasapses' mood became tense. Didn't Mr. Morgan think well of this loan?

  "I've already read the contract!"

  The young man looked up at him with a somewhat tense expression, and Morgan was pleased with the respect he showed.

  "Is he an Oriental?"

  "Yes sir, I personally suspect he might be a private representative of the Chinese Emperor!"

  Albert Casas then slowly calmed down and gave his reasons for making the inference.

  "That Mr. Li first appeared at the bank with British bonds, this time with French, Dutch and Belgian bonds, not a large number from each country, but the total amount is considerable, and he never explains his identity or the source of the bonds, he believes in one fact, so I think he may be the representative of that deposed Chinese emperor, and he is in America to help the emperor cash out the bonds."

  Morgan nodded and glanced out of the window, perhaps that was the only explanation for the young man's holding bonds.

  "Sir, those bonds have been authenticated and from the contract it looks very favorable for us..."

  "Indeed, thank you for your performance at the bank! You will get what you deserve!"

  Morgan abruptly interrupted the young man in front of him and continued to speak.

  "When a nation is on the rise and another is in decline, it's the best time for individuals to seek wealth, I think..."

  Looking at the young man in front of him, Morgan continued to speak.

  "We still need a manager in China, are you interested?"

  Going to China? Alpert Kasapes was stunned by this news, but before he could speak, Morgan waved his hand.

  "Go for it."

  After leaving Mr. Morgan's office, he went downstairs to his own office, and all the way, Alport Casapes couldn't believe what he had just heard, was Mr. Morgan sending him to China?

  Go to China! As Mr. Morgan said, when one country is on the road to prosperity and another is on the road to decline, it's the best time to seek wealth, there are too many opportunities in these two completely different processes, I actually ignored this point, if not... damn it, no wonder I almost suffocated here for the past year!

  "Sly guy."

  Although he had already acknowledged that going to China was an opportunity, Alpbert Kasape still couldn't help but mutter to himself as he went downstairs.

  "Sly guy!"

  The same sentence, the same from Morgan's mouth. What an emperor's spokesperson, it's just nonsense, China's emperor doesn't have that much money, of course, if he is willing to sell the treasures in the palace, it would be a different story. The reason I think this person is cunning is the way he handled this loan, if he was the real holder of this huge bond, he should have gone directly to the manager instead of doing it in the lobby.

  "The most we can offer is 75%... 65% of the loan!"

  After Morgan approved the loan for another employee, there were a few knocks on the door outside the office, and Morgan looked up.

  "Mr. Schwab has arrived, Mr. Morgan."

  Miss Xu's voice.

  "Please come in, Miss Sherry."

  Charlie Schwab, who had just arrived in New York and rested for a few hours at the hotel, walked to the door of Morgan's office, took a deep breath. Although he was the president of the United States Steel Corporation, every time he saw Morgan, he needed to give himself some courage, especially when thinking of his eyes.

  As Charlie Schwab entered the office, Morgan was already smiling and advancing from behind his desk to greet him. There were not many people who could bring Morgan to his feet, probably not more than ten in all the world.

  "Ah, come in, Charlie, come on."

  "Mr. Morgan!"

  After Charley Schwab had gone into the room Miss Sherry closed the door behind him and returned to her desk.

  With a seemingly pleasant smile, Morgan made a gesture to Charlie Schwab, asking him to sit in an armchair far from the spacious office where the meeting was held. Charlie Schwab sat down on that chair, while Morgan walked towards the wall, opened two doors and revealed a wine cabinet.

  "What's to drink, Charlie?"

  "Thank you, sir... Ah, a little Scotch whisky?"

  "Charlie, I also love drinking this wine. I'll drink with you."

  Charlie Schwab glanced at his watch, now 10:15, which meant he had fifteen minutes to himself if Mr. Morgan didn't ask for him specially, and only fifteen minutes.

  At this time, Morgan poured 30-year-old Balantine's into a delicate crystal glass, of course without using an ice bucket.

  "Want some water? With some soda?"

  Morgan asked, standing in front of the wine cabinet.

  "No, thank you, no water added."

  Morgan nodded in agreement, took the glass over. They toasted each other, savoring the whiskey, while Charlie Schwab was still waiting for the conversation to begin. If nothing unexpected happened, he should have received his written report on the overnight train two hours ago, so... Morgan noticed this and gave him a stern look, as if blaming him for wasting time.

  Under the gaze of those eyes, Charlie Schwab's heart tightened and he hastily spoke up.

  The company is preparing to introduce a new type of blast furnace, which is expected to increase production capacity by about 30% and reduce production costs by about 10% through technical transformation of existing furnaces.

  Every figure was watered down, but this was for "safety's sake", and Morgan listened intently, though he had already read the report and knew why Charlie Schwab had come from Pittsburgh, because that Oriental man's opening price was too high, and another Oriental!

  What's wrong with you today?

  Morgan muttered to himself and then spoke up.

  "I've already read that report earlier, I have to say that person is indeed very greedy, but..."

  As he said "however", Morgan put down his wine glass in the luxurious office.

  "Can we arrange to meet up..."

  Just as Morgan was about to speak, he swallowed his words and waved his hand instead.

  "Charlie, you stay in New York for now, as for this matter... wait a bit!"