Time Smuggling Starting from the Year 2000 - Chapter 91

Chapter 91

The wealth of Armand Hammer, the chairman of Occidental Petroleum Co . , was second only to Rockefeller . In 1931 though, he had not yet entered the oil business and was just a western capitalist with less than ten million dollars .

However, in China and Russia, he was a well-know "Red Capitalist" . He was the first western entrepreneur to work with the Soviet Union after the October Revolution and Lenin addressed him as "Comrade Hammer" . He was also the first western entrepreneur to visit China by private plane, for which Deng Xiaoping had complimented as "Brave" . But the main reason that attracted Huang Xuan was Mr . Hammer's entrepreneural spirit .

Many Chinese thought it was after the East Europe shakeup and the disintegration of the Soviet Union that Russia was leading the world in import and export profits . They are wrong though, as they were making the most profits the year the Soviet Union was formed, and the first to figure that out was Hammer .

In early August of 1921, Hammer joined a delegation going to the Ural region to do an inspection . The situation that he saw when they arrived confused him . On one hand, the region was endowed with treasures and resources such as platinum, diamonds and fur . On the other hand, there was severe famine, people starving to death everywhere and the basic necessities were in severe short supply . So, Hammer asked the Soviet delegation leader: "Why don't you export these things for food?"

"Impossible, Europe just removed their sanctions again us . It will take too long to export these things and then import food . In addition to that, it would take at least one million bushels of grain to free the Ural region from the famine . "

That year America had had a good harvest and the price of grains had dropped to one dollar a bushel . So Hammer suggested: "I have one million dollars of capital, I can quickly buy one million bushels of wheat with that . After the wheat is shipped to Saint Petersburg, one million dollars worth of fur and other goods can be shipped back to America . " Hammer's idea traveled quickly to Moscow, Lenin personally telegraphed to approve the deal and invited Hammer to come to Moscow soon . In the office, Lenin welcomed Hammer and kindly conversed with him in English . When Lenin represented the Soviet government to express their thanks, the great Comrade Lenin was so excited that he shed tears . Afterward, Lenin encouraged Hammer to invest and build factories . He also allowed Hammer to build asbestos mines in Siberia, which would make him the first foreigner to have mining rights in the Soviet Union . This marked the beginnings of trade between America and the Soviet Union . Hammer formed the American United Company, approached more than 30 companies and seemed to have become the agent for Soviet trade in America .

Of course, Sloan knew about Hammer, in 1931 Hammer was quite well known in New York . This was due to the fact that Hammer was organizing a Soviet art auction in New York and almost all of the magnates had been invited . He wrinkled his brow and asked: "Mr . Huang, are you interested in investing in art too?" Huang Xuan was already used to telling these foreigners that his surname was Huang, and not Xuan .

"A little . " Huang Xuan smiled and leaned back on the sofa, "At the present, it seems that art has more potential than industrial investment . "

Sloan laughed and nodded his head . "It does indeed, let's go tomorrow then . I'm sure Mr . Hammer will be more than willing to meet a generous investor . "

"OK . " Huang Xuan gestured and turned around to Steve . "Are you interested in looking at another design?"

"Sure . " Steve couldn't wait . Huang Xuan smiled and stood up . Hans had divided the designs into two piles, the smaller one had the designs for the Ford V8 . Compared with the Citroen TA, the V8 could only be considered as mediocre . Although the V8 was designed later, it was much cheaper than the TA . This was because the V8 was like the other Ford vehicles and focused on production efficiency rather than new technology . But no matter what, this was an advanced car, it didn't matter that it cost over $300,000 USD, Ford was please with it .

Huang Xuan didn't intend to help Ford or GM grow their business . Although he only had 6 days left here, he still wanted more assurances, so he needed to pay close attention to the people and events close to him .

This time the inspection was much faster .

This time the technicians paid more attention to the completeness rather than the authenticity of the designs . Three hours later, GM finished the work first, then Ford .

The three parties happily got up and shook hands . "Shall we go to the bank?" Sloan said .

Huang Xuan told Hans to take care of the designs and then led the way .

They came to Chase Bank, which was often called the family bank of Rockefeller, because Rockefeller owned or at least controlled this bank . It was the biggest and best "wholesale" bank . It gave loans to big companies and banks across America . Being the bank of banks, it offered funds for foreign trades of the country . It wasn't interested in retail or international business, which was one the reasons Huang Xuan had chosen it .

In the lobby, the three of them drew a lot of attention . Joseph, the manager, quickly walked towards them and took them to the VIP room .

"Joseph, please open an account for Mr . Huang," Sloan said .

Seeing that the president of GM himself personally introduce this young man, Joseph held back the arrogance that most Caucasians have . He carefully took Huang Xuan's ID card and quickly completed the formalities . When he came back, it was with John Rockefeller Jr . leading the way .

The young Rockefeller was handsome and charming . His eyes were sparkling . His chin wasn't as fat as it would be in 50 years . He looked healthy, ambitious and energetic . When Huang Xuan shook hands with him, the enthusiasm that Rockefeller showed reminded him of the modern age, where the Americans treated the Chinese with much more sincerity .

Rockefeller spoke a few words with each of them, but neither of the two companies would tell him why they decided to pay this Asian $100,000 USD .

Of course, Rockefeller wouldn't directly ask this question, he gave Huang Xuan his business card and left, leaving the rest of the matters to Joseph . This was just a plain business card, unlike the modern age where the people who thought they were famous used precious materials to print a simple name . The card in Huang Xuan's hand was simple a card, with a simple name, using simple materials . Neither the card nor the contents seemed to fit with Rockefeller's status .

"Mr . Huang Xuan, I hope we still have opportunities to cooperate in the future . " Sloan said . Whenever Sloan was around, Steve appeared to be much more reserved .

"Of course there will be . " Huang Xuan smiled like a happy mouse that had drank some juice, and took the deposit receipt from Joseph's hands .