The Rise Of A Billionaire 1943-Chapter 57 - 62 – Laying Out a Media Strategy

If you want a slice of the postwar pie—if you want to feast while the world reshapes itself—then you have to be prepared. And preparation doesn’t just mean financial resources. It requires readiness on many fronts.

This kind of preparation isn’t limited to building networks in Washington or cozying up to Truman. There’s something even more crucial—steering the American public. And influencing Americans, in truth, is quite straightforward: control public opinion. Once you control the media narrative, you shape their thoughts.

"Boss, are you thinking of acquiring a television station?"

After the company’s executive meeting ended, Lin Ande approached Pierre and asked,

"Television stations hardly have any audience. I heard there are only about ten thousand TV sets in all of New York. Isn’t buying a TV station a bit risky?"

Lin Ande, Pierre’s secretary, was a law graduate. He had finished school four years ago, but the war had kept him stranded in the U.S. Originally working for a small company, he immediately quit and joined Carl Corporation when he learned they were hiring, and was later transferred to Zhenhua Company.

During the earlier meeting, when the boss instructed Manager Zhu to investigate television broadcasting companies, Lin had already sensed what was coming.

Seeing the slight nervousness in Lin’s eyes, Pierre chuckled.

"Ten thousand sets might not sound like much, but tell me—what kind of households do you think own these TV sets?"

Lin thought for a moment. "What kind of households? Hmm... they must be wealthy. I mean, a TV costs several hundred dollars. Ordinary families couldn’t afford one."

"Exactly. Wealthy households. These people are middle class and above—lawyers, doctors—the elite of American society. Don’t underestimate them. These are the very people who influence what most others think. Their opinions even shape those of politicians, because politicians are often their friends. They dine together, discuss policy together. That’s exactly why I want to acquire a broadcasting company."

He looked directly at Lin and continued.

"In this society, most people appear to have independent judgment, but in reality, they’re easily swayed. Public opinion can crush truth, and smear reputations. In the future, the TV station will become our mouthpiece. For instance, when it comes to news about Chinese, we’ll ensure the reporting takes our side. As for journalistic integrity? That’s not the point. The point is: we decide what gets reported."

The idea of starting a TV station was inspired by the Jewish experience. Why is it that, despite being nearly voiceless before the war, the Jewish community had by the 1960s become a significant force in American politics? Back then, they couldn’t even persuade the U.S. to accept Jewish refugees. America flat-out closed the door to Jewish immigration.

What changed? The Jews recognized the power of media. Before the Nazis enacted anti-Semitic policies, they first launched a propaganda campaign—demonizing Jews in the public eye. To avoid history repeating itself, Jewish communities decided to take control of the media.

Faced with the dominance of traditional American newspapers and radio networks, they capitalized on the rise of television. They invested early and established TV stations. By the 1960s, Jews controlled 60% of American TV stations. By the 1970s, their capital controlled 70%.

What does this control mean?

It means more than steering public opinion—they shaped American thought. And what are U.S. politicians really catering to? Not just Jewish money, but the media Jewish money controls.

At the same time, they used television’s blow to the film industry to their advantage. As cinemas declined, Jewish capital bought up theater chains at low prices. By the 1980s, virtually all U.S. theaters were under Jewish control. This gave rise to a "Jewish Hollywood," because film studios need those theaters to release their movies.

In short, they seized control of the most powerful instrument of influence—and used it for their benefit. The rise of Jewish influence is inextricably linked to the rise of television.

"Sure, newspapers can do the job too," Pierre continued, "but print isn’t the future. Television is. Not everyone reads a newspaper, but everyone watches TV at home. After the war, TV sets will become household staples. Families will gather in their living rooms to watch the news, see movies. When that time comes, with the right guidance, the TV station will be our most effective tool to sway public opinion."

So how do you build a successful TV station?

Pierre wasn’t entirely sure. But at the very least, he’d read articles about the rise of CNN and other networks. He had some understanding—and he knew how critical advertising revenue would be.

In this early stage of TV programming, simply borrowing a few established formats would be a trump card. Early TV users might be few, but they’re elite. Their influence is outsized. And just a few years later, one-third of American households would own a television. It would become essential. If you secured the first-mover advantage, it would be hard not to grow into a media empire.

Why start laying out a media plan now?

Simple: to pave the way for the next move. The future of North Borneo lay ahead, and it had to be seized. But how could one emerge unscathed from the tide of anti-colonialism? Ties to the President wouldn’t be enough—public support was also vital. Only with both could he firmly establish himself as the local strongman in North Borneo.

Still, to maintain that status, military power was key. Without force, how could one hope to hold ground amidst the waves of independence?

Arms were essential.

And firepower, indispensable.

Fortunately, the company’s security force was starting to take shape. Over the past two months, Ding En had been recruiting guards all over. Per Pierre’s instructions, they had to be clean-background with no gang affiliations. But that kind of person was hard to find. Many youths had already enlisted or gone back to support the war effort.

Recruiting even a hundred was a feat. After all, nearly two out of ten Chinese/French in the U.S. had joined the army.

Looking out the window at the security team training in the company courtyard, Pierre muttered to himself:

"We still need to tighten our grip on the guns..."

-----

Chapter 63 – Mercenaries

In truth, the firepower was already within reach.

Not immediately—but what about after the war?

Postwar Europe and Asia would be steeped in poverty and hunger. Never mind the soldiers with no skills besides fighting—even scientists would be struggling to eat.

With money, you could raise a mercenary force anywhere across Eurasia. It wouldn’t even need to be large. A few thousand troops would be enough to maintain control over North Borneo for the company.

"One step at a time. First raise a mercenary army, then build a private military force of our own."

Although he had long since integrated into Chinese business circles, Pierre was unmistakably French—his accent, his habits, and his passport all said so. A Frenchman by birth, yet here he was, charting the course of his ambitions in the heart of the Chinese diaspora.

On his way home, Pierre was once again mentally sketching out his plans for North Borneo.

What matters most in a colony?

People, of course.

Just like New York once was—a place the Dutch had traded from the natives for a few glass beads. But once the waves of immigration began, the Indigenous population was pushed to reservations.

And the white settlers? They became the masters of that land.

So, the future of North Borneo depends on immigration.

Once he understood that core truth, the rest became about preparing for it.

"We can use our defense supply networks to build connections back home. After the war, we could bring in immigrants from France..."

He nodded slightly, then turned his thoughts to transportation logistics.

"If we want to move settlers to North Borneo, we’ll need ships. Landing ships would be ideal—capable of loading and unloading even without a proper port. Hmm... we’ll need to strengthen ties with the Marines."

The deeper he calculated, the more Pierre realized how crucial intelligence would be—for business and for the development of North Borneo alike, accurate intel from every angle was indispensable.

"A private investigation company... that’ll be a good starting point."

He nodded again. For now, with limited options, this was the best bet.

The car rumbled smoothly along the paved road. Sitting in the Mercedes driven by his chauffeur, Pierre mused about getting home and soaking in a hot bath. The only thing missing was a decent form of entertainment.

Should he hit up a bar?

Reclining in his seat, he lit a cigarette and was just debating whether to visit a nightclub when the car rolled to a stop along the roadside. From the passenger seat, Ding En got out and bought a copy of the Evening News.

Unfolding the paper, a headline in the breaking news column immediately caught Pierre’s eye—it was front-page news.

He read it once. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

Then again.

And again.

Then his gaze shifted to the pedestrians outside the window. For them, the news might draw a few muttered complaints, maybe a sarcastic remark or two. After all, this victory didn’t belong to them. And soon enough, they’d forget it. Italy had already announced its unconditional surrender. Even if things stirred slightly, the overall outcome wouldn’t change.

But for Pierre, a new thought surfaced.

His finger tapped lightly on the newspaper’s bold headline:

"Mussolini Rescued by German Paratroopers!"

The event had happened far off in Italy, but it wasn’t the location that caught his mind—it was the German airborne troops behind the operation. Weren’t they the perfect candidate for future mercenary recruitment?

And then, another idea emerged—German spies, or rather, former German intelligence officers.

"It’s already September ’43. By next year, once the Normandy landings happen and Germany begins its collapse, there are bound to be intel officers looking for a way out. Maybe we can draw on them to bolster our company’s intelligence services."

Sometimes a stray thought opens a new path. One could never predict the consequences, but one thing was certain: compared to intelligence personnel from other countries, those discarded Nazi operatives—now stateless and hunted—would be far less likely to act as moles. Their homeland was destroyed. Their government? Still chasing them down.

"Hmm... these Dreideutsche commandos might be just what we need."

Indeed, they were an excellent option. Battle-hardened veterans, capable and cheap. After all, in postwar Europe, everything would be cheap—including people.

Smiling, Pierre folded the newspaper and looked out over the streets of New York. His face brimmed with confidence—the confidence of a man who believed in the future.

The postwar world... was teeming with opportunity.

If one could seize it in time, not only could he become a warlord in Southeast Asia—he could go even further.

In the days that followed, everything progressed steadily.

In early October, KTJ Chemical Industries delivered its first batch of Agent Orange to the military. Only 50 tons, but this was just a trial run.

When it came to weapons testing, the American military had a certain extravagant flair. To gather data on a new incendiary bomb, they had built two fake towns—one modeled after a German brick-and-stone city, the other a Japanese wooden town. To ensure authenticity, they’d hired Japanese-American architects and used matching materials. Lacking Japanese pine, they’d even acquired similar timber from the USSR through the Lend-Lease program. They scoured every warehouse in the country for authentic tatami, even entering the homes of Japanese immigrants to find the right flooring. Eventually, they completed the Japanese town in the western U.S. and began multiple rounds of bombing tests. Once they confirmed the bomb was equally destructive against both types of structures, it was approved for combat use.

And now, Agent Orange was following a similar path.

The moment the first batch was delivered, the military shipped it to Panama, where the lush tropical jungles near the canal provided a perfect testing ground.

Unlike the year-long process with the incendiary bombs, the test results for Agent Orange came swiftly. Within just half a month, KTJ Chemical Industries received a massive order: 5,000 tons of Agent Orange from the Pentagon.

Clearly, the military had been won over by the defoliant’s effectiveness. After all, it could turn a thick tropical jungle into a barren wasteland. For Allied forces fighting in the Pacific, this stuff might prove more useful than bombs or bullets.

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