Mediterranean hegemon

Contini vividly described it as "cutting leeks", describing the grand scene of "cutting one crop after another" - this is not random cutting in the secondary market, this is from issuance, primary market, secondary market and even bonds. , trade, credit and other markets are harvested together, known as the combine harvester!

"Wait, I heard you use the word temporary just now, how long will it last?"

"Of course!" Contini said in Agnes's ear, "I will only sign the orders for these contracts and pay a 10-15% deposit. In the future, when the reduction of holdings is completed, I can declare the orders void due to major changes in the market. , the biggest loss is just the deposit! This is not illegal, anyway, I have sold the stock. Also, it is not mature to build a pipeline to transport natural gas. It is technically difficult and costly, so I will not do it, but I say it is necessary. It is said that only by giving the market room for imagination can we create room for stocks to rise. This is an unbreakable truth in the bull market stage!”

Agnes laughed: "Calais, you actually have such a way to lose money. No wonder you can make so much money. If your father understood this, he would probably not be able to sleep at night."

"The Wall Street tycoons actually understand, but instead of exposing me, they might as well make a fortune with me - this is called conspiracy without collusion! You really think they can't understand." Contini laughed, "They want to make a fortune too. ”

After Contini's explanation, Agnes understood a lot of inside information: the listing of shares requires intermediary services such as lawyers, accounting firms, auditors, investment banks, etc. After the issuance, securities companies and securities brokers have to get involved, and the bond issuance In addition to these, there are rating agencies that need to pluck their hair, industrial orders that need to create profits for commercial banks, the circulation of bills, letters of credit, international exchange, etc. that need to nourish all links, and the local government of New York can collect taxes, and then expand and unite. The group also has to pay the fees of advertisers and media, and even the fact that the wives’ groups go shopping is itself part of the publicity - the United Group itself is not profitable, so how can these expenses be paid? Of course, it is investors’ money that feeds this capitalist machine.

If someone dares to expose it, he is an enemy of the entire money-making system and is destroying everyone's jobs. Apart from other things, in the past few years, there have been some bold journalists who have published articles questioning the United Group's model. But what if they continue to question it? As long as this capital flow can be maintained, he is defaming, and the CEO can sue him until he loses everything - New York lawyers are most welcome to litigate.

"But the scale of your borrowings is getting bigger and bigger. I'm afraid that sooner or later, I won't be able to support this situation."

"When they can't hold on anymore, they can wash their hands. Anyway, they have made money. The responsibility is mine. They have nothing to do with it - are they just intermediaries that provide consulting services to investors? When promoting earnings, I have been 'reminded' over and over again in the smallest font size that investment is risky. If you insist on investing your money, then go ahead." Contini laughed, "It's just that they are more confident than me and think that the leek field in the United States can be maintained. For a long time, there has been a steady supply of topics, and even if the United Group is defeated, they can still find their next target and target, but I know that this grand situation can only last two years. "

"2 years?"

"To be exact, it may not even be 2 years. I don't know if you have noticed that there are many investment notices and slogans on the streets in the United States, and the newspapers are full of investment-related news. Even at the reception party to welcome us, I heard two The waiter was whispering next to him - go and listen to what these big shots say which stock is good. This craze is so fierce that it directly gave birth to a capital feast, but the bubble will eventually subside and the tide will eventually recede. Then you will know who it is. It’s not that everyone doesn’t understand this, they just think that the last one is definitely not him.” Contini sighed, “Your son is so big that he must leave in advance and in batches. Just walking is not enough. , we must speak to the market, we must say that the stock market will continue to rise sharply, we must say that the Dow Jones index of 300 points is a new starting point for the great bull market in the United States (it is still only over 280 points at present), we must say that the United States prospered under Coolidge and regretted its unprecedented development. Opportunity, and then slipped away quietly - otherwise, how could it slip away? "

"Your father would never have dreamed of this..."

Contini shrugged and joked: "He is an honest man and a good man! So don't expect too much. Just as long as your son can make money, you can't be the wife of a billionaire, but you can be the mother of a billionaire! This How much pocket money did your father give you when you came out?"

Agnes smiled and said: "10,000 US dollars! Consider him generous!"

10,000 US dollars is 200,000 lire - the prime minister can't earn so much money after working for a year, which shows that old Ciano still really loves his wife.

"This is 10 million U.S. dollars." Contini quickly handed the check that he had prepared long ago to Agnes. "You can spend whatever you want, buy whatever you want, don't save money, we won't go back to China until it's all spent! Since we have to cut Leeks, we must create an indomitable momentum! Especially buy more souvenirs from New York. This thing is very useful. No one who has received it said they are not used to it. Ada has a diamond card and asked her to bring it to the mall manager. Manager, as long as it is not a holiday, the famous shopping mall on Fifth Avenue will be closed and will only accept us! You just buy, don't worry about the things, Enzo will contact the truck team - General Motors said that he will send us 20 trucks, as long as he is willing to drive The words "United Group's special trucks" are fine, but I said no, the endorsement fee of "United Group" is not that cheap, at least 50 units, but they agreed!"

"Then I won't be polite tomorrow!" Agnes left with a smile on her face. She knew that the quotas of several daughters-in-law were all 2 million US dollars, but she gave her mother 10 million in one go. She was filial after all. Of course, her husband was also good - she could only do as much as she could!

She thought it through very carefully: her son would be engaged to Ada after returning, so gifts were indispensable; her son's engagement would cause the two anchor daughters-in-law to feel disappointed, so she had to buy more to comfort them; and Monica, the little girl's service, had to be prepared well, saying that it was a gift from her son - those who understand will understand, and those who don't understand can't be taught; as for old Ziano, she had to help him deal with it, because after all, his father was a billionaire, and she couldn't explain it if she didn't make some trouble.

In fact, Ada was not very good at shopping and was hesitant to spend money. She used to regard the US dollar as the lira and did not think that 2 million US dollars was so great. When she arrived in the United States and saw the prices, she knew that the US dollar was very valuable and an ounce of gold was less than 20 US dollars. At this time, she felt that 2 million US dollars could not be spent. If it were not for Monica's help, she would not even know how to go shopping. However, Agnes, the future mother-in-law, spent money much more efficiently. She helped a large group of people buy gifts and wrapped them for herself from beginning to end. She went to the bank to sweep the remaining money again - now it is convenient. After the United Bank opened its business, it has a vault, so you can choose gold of various years.

Although the age has nothing to do with the value, Agnes still swept away all the gold before 1910, and then asked the United Bank to find a way to buy another batch. She likes to collect this. As for the American antiques, oil paintings and other works of art that really sell for a lot of money, she also looked down on them - compared with Italy's history? The United States is not even worthy of carrying shoes.

While they were shopping, Contini was fulfilling his duties as a special envoy of the leader and discussing the Kellogg Pact with US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg. At this time, after the French cabinet was adjusted, the Prime Minister was replaced by Poincaré, but Briand remained as Foreign Minister. He proposed to conclude the Kellogg Pact with the United States last year. The United States agreed in principle, but it must be signed by all European powers before it can take effect. Mussolini did not want to sign the contract, but he had to sign it, so he made an additional request: he hoped that the signing ceremony would be held in Italy and he would be the chair country to preside over it - he thought it would help improve his status and national image.

Contini certainly did not agree with this: the Americans and the French had finally come up with such a thing to attract attention for themselves, so what was the point of Mussolini intervening? But he could not talk to Mussolini about this. He had to let Kellogg give Italy some other benefits and then get the matter done. So he spoke very honestly: "Regarding the Kellogg-Bell Treaty, Italy agrees in principle, of course, the war of self-defense is definitely not included. Now there is a problem. Italy is conducting military operations in Libya to suppress the rebels. The outside world wants to use this to restrain Italy's behavior. I think it is difficult to understand..."

"Well..." Kellogg certainly did not want to agree that Italy had the right to suppress the guerrillas, but he couldn't say it so clearly.

"In fact, the reason is very simple. If the US government approves this treaty and the South of the United States suddenly declares independence from the United States - I am using this analogy, can the US government use troops against the South?"

This is talking about the Civil War. Kellogg was speechless for a moment, and then nodded decisively: "Treason should certainly be punished!"

"Therefore, I think the United States should stand up and make a statement that all countries can use all means to maintain internal order in the country and oppose other major powers from making decisions." Contini blinked, "I think you must understand what I mean."

Understand! How can you not understand! Isn't this accusing the British of interfering in the Libyan issue? However, Kellogg thought this point could be extended to other countries - don't you British have colonies? If you can incite Italian colonies to make trouble today, others can incite other British colonies to make trouble tomorrow.

After more than ten days of negotiations, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding and sent it to Rome. Mussolini was helpless about this, but he also knew that this was the most diplomatic position that Contini could get, so he joked to the people around him: "Look, there is another "Non-War Pact". Is this the 124th or 125th treaty I signed? One more is not much, one less is not much..."

Then the people below laughed wildly...