America 1982-Chapter 386 - 42: Blazing Arms_4
Dinner concluded, and Tommy had Page take Zoey and Sandra to join Ottelia at the Los Angeles Broadway theater to enjoy a musical, while he and Wilson Block returned to the BT Television corporate headquarters’ terrace for coffee.
"Knowing that someone is about to steal your business doesn’t feel good, even if Joseph Smith is a close SSD brother of mine," Wilson Block said, surveying the scenery of the San Fernando Valley. "But what makes me even more uncomfortable is how you found out about it?"
"That business plan was written by me." Tommy looked calmly at Wilson Block. "My father will finance my brother to hold a 15% stake in that company." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
"I thought of that, why tell me? Is it because you respect me more than your father?" Wilson smiled.
"I simply want to ask Mr. Brock to help my news network break ground in Germany. Your connections at those military bases there are unrivalled, and you even conduct material trade with East Germany. What I mean is, my news network wants to establish a foothold in both East and West Germany, to turn news reporting into a business. The most secure and trustworthy person I can find is only you, especially since you mentioned some trade operations in East Germany in the internal magazine," Tommy said candidly.
Wilson was amused by Tommy. "So, stealing my business is a sign of trust in me, and what kind of transport business are you so sure will take away my orders?"
"Nothing much, I merely offered a concept, and all the details were worked out by my brother and Mr. Joseph Smith," Tommy said very calmly, as if the concept he provided was just a trivial matter:
"The concept is to conduct passenger and cargo air transport at the large overseas military bases of the United States. There would be one passenger flight and one cargo flight from each base every week, such as from the United States Military base in Stuttgart, Germany, flying directly to New York or Philadelphia. This prevents the American soldiers who protect the world from wasting their precious leave on transfers or rushing to international airports, allowing them a few extra hours with their families. For military personnel on leave, every few hours are incredibly precious."
Without needing Tommy to say more, a short speech had already caused a layer of sweat to form quietly on Wilson Block’s forehead.
As a former military officer, he knew that the Pentagon bigwigs would surely not reject this concept. Not just those bigwigs, but the giants within the industry, those major defense contractors would likely take the initiative to promote this business and make it happen.
According to the regulations for overseas troops, the host countries pay for the construction costs of the United States Military’s overseas bases. With over 1701 overseas bases, those with stationed personnel exceeding five hundred are considered large, making up at least six or seven hundred. If large passenger planes are to be accommodated, then the bases’ airports will certainly need to be expanded. Upon hearing this concept, the major defense contractors in charge of the military base construction would immediately start lobbying. To the real titans, the passenger and cargo business might seem trivial, but the airport expansion projects of six or seven hundred overseas bases are something they would want to keep in their grasp, totaling an astronomical sum.
Moreover, this concept brings many contractors together. Companies within the industry that see an opportunity for profit would help Joseph to push it, rather than Joseph working it out on his own.
With their profound background, the major defense contractors secure the most lucrative infrastructure projects, and the Department of the Navy, as initiators, obtains the passenger and cargo transport business of the military’s overseas bases and even become the proposers of the entire concept. To put it bluntly, if Joseph Smith runs the company for a few years helping those bigwigs make a fortune, it is quite possible that he could return to the Pentagon at any time. By then, the bigwigs might regard him as a capable right-hand man and place him in a substantial position.
In addition, the passenger and cargo transport will require the purchase of airplanes, anyhow, with those countries footing the bill, the bigwigs of the Air Force Department and the factories behind them that manufacture airplanes will also make a fortune.
Then there are the various base commanders of the Army, who stand to make money as well.
In conclusion, everyone has the chance to make money, and the United States Federal Government would have no reason to reject such a win-win proposition, as they wouldn’t need to pay the bill themselves. All they need to do is urge the host nations to increase their military contributions, which would earn the friendship of the Pentagon bigwigs, giving the Federal Government no grounds for objection.
"Maybe those countries... perhaps wouldn’t want to raise the stationed troops’ expenses, because the Soviet Union can’t hold on much longer, there’s no need to keep paying such high military costs," Wilson Block tried to come up with a reason to oppose, but even to himself, it sounded weak.
"Even the Soviet Union couldn’t hold on, so who else do you think dares to say no to America? Our soldiers have been guarding those countries for so long, it’s only natural to collect some interest," Tommy began:
"You can think even bigger. Maybe there’s no need for a real freight business. Just get the contract orders signed. Once the Soviet Union collapses halfway through, the orders must still be valid, and those countries will have to pay the fees according to the contract. They don’t have a choice. All I’m doing is finding a legitimate reason to help the military guys make some extra cash," he said.
Wilson Block was speechless. The fact that the other party could openly discuss the general idea with him indicated that Joseph Smith had been preparing privately for quite some time, and many aspects were already settled. Even if he now rushed back to Washington to try to remedy the situation, it was likely too late.
"Thank you for willing to help expand my news network in Germany; I hope my information is still timely for you," Tommy said as he took a sip of coffee, looking ready to end the meeting.
"I think we have different views on the word ’timely,’" Wilson responded with a wry smile. "You’re such a warm-hearted person, coming up with a reason to extort military fees from other countries without asking for anything in return?"
"It’s not extortion, it’s a win-win cooperation," Tommy corrected the word in Wilson’s statement:
"Those routes are operated by the airlines of each country, and the ticket revenue belongs to them. It’s just for the sake of safety, they need to purchase planes that are approved by the United States Military. After all, there’s a difference between American soldiers and ordinary passengers."
Hearing Tommy’s words, Wilson felt he really was getting old. Merely relying on his military background to make a little money and always worrying. Look at the young man in front of him. Whether the airport is repaired or not, whether the airlines operate or not, he’s openly making those countries pay a military fee with ample justification that they dare not refuse. After all, any country that dares refuse could face a minor outburst from the local United States forces, letting them feel the discontent of the American soldiers who’ve come a long way to protect their soil.
Tommy continued, "As for the timeliness, I can’t help it, after all, I’ve only just met your daughter. Or perhaps, if my press stations in Asia and Europe could be under your care, I don’t think you would miss the opportunity to join in and get a share. After all, this kind of large-scale business doesn’t get prepared overnight."
"What sort of care?" Wilson asked with a hint of hesitation after hearing Tommy’s words.
"If a war breaks out in the next couple of years, my reporters must always receive news quicker than others, apart from the Associated Press. If any other foreign reporters who are blind to this start to compete for business, I would need your friends in the military to help by using the excuse of preventing leaks. They could ask them to sit in a room and wait until we’ve published the news before letting them go," Tommy proposed with a smile.
Wilson sighed, "Relying on military bases to grow your news network."
"That’s right," Tommy did not deny.
Wilson sighed again, "How much of a share can I get?"
Tommy took out a business card he had prepared earlier and gently pushed it across the table towards Wilson using two fingers:
"This is the number for Mr. Joseph Smith’s assistant. If you can assist with persuading Germany to pay the protection fee, I think it should be a figure that satisfies you."
