America: My Time

Chapter 295 Worry
Chapter 295 Worries

Of course, even this first plan was a good investment in the eyes of Morgan Stanley. Putting a few satellites in the sky and collecting tolls seemed like a good investment, and it was almost risk-free because it had two major corporations as its clients, which meant that the research did not have to bear much risk. The two major media groups were the best guarantee.

However, such frenzied research and development only suited John, this shrewd individual, because he had a need—a condition that other companies lacked. The more Morgan saw John's strategic moves, the more frustrated he became. He himself had proposed the sale of Pratt & Whitney, and now he was beginning to regret it.

At this point, Morgan sighed. This is the advantage of a diversified strategy: you simply can't see through the opponent's strategy, and even if you do, it's useless. It's impossible to intercept them; the opponent has sufficient needs.

At this moment, Jimmy's expression turned serious, and he said, "Boss, do you think John's second plan, satellite navigation and positioning, might be aimed at his own retail business? If he could accurately know the status of his company's transportation, many things would become much easier. Could that little fox John have such an idea?"

"You know what, it's really possible. This little fox's mind is different from others. If it weren't for everyone's discovery this time, who would have thought that this little fox's target for acquiring Hughes was not Hughes Helicopters at all, but aerospace and communications? Such a layout is really too unpredictable, but we have to prepare in advance."

"Boss, what are we supposed to do? Even if we wanted to do something, it's impossible. That little fox John isn't giving us a chance at all. If it weren't for the limitless potential of semiconductors, I'd suspect that this little fox's focus is actually on entertainment and media!"

"Diversified development and diversified layout have now connected everything together, making it really hard to judge his thoughts, because you have no idea what this little fox's next move will be. Before, I thought this little fox had some ideas in the aviation industry, but now I find that Pratt & Whitney's role is actually in providing rocket technology."

At this point, Morgan's thoughts suddenly shifted, and he added, "Jimmy, what do you think those old guys are thinking now? How will they react after hearing this news? Is it possible that they'll follow suit?"

Upon hearing his boss's words, Jimmy was startled and instantly understood his meaning. He shook his head and said, "Impossible. They won't follow suit in this area. They don't have such a need, and such an investment is risky. They can put their limited funds into the development of home appliances and semiconductors, rather than satellite communications. It would be a losing proposition!"

"That's true, I was too presumptuous. Those old guys wouldn't waste their precious funds on this unless they also take over the other two major television networks. Otherwise, there's no need for it at all. I just don't understand what John, that little fox, is thinking. He always sees things that others don't, and he always manages to give everyone a 'surprise' in unexpected ways. Are we really just getting old and unable to keep up with the times?"

"Boss, it's not that we're getting old, it's just that John, that little fox, is too cunning. He always sees things that others can't. Bentley's 4S stores, the peripheral layout of Legendary Entertainment, the network system of Game World and Dream World, Nvidia's VCDs, the Times Square advertising plan of Cultural Oriental, and now he's eyeing satellite communications. He can always see things that others can't, and that's what we need to be most wary of. As for Pan Am's changes, although many people are pessimistic about it, I think there's absolutely no problem. Pan Am's integration is definitely the most reasonable and the easiest to succeed. They abandoned the middle route and are taking two major routes: high-end and low-end. In the high-end, they compete with their competitors on service and quality, and in the low-end, they compete with their competitors on price. I don't think their integration will fail."

"Yes, I don't think there's anything wrong with this kid's plan either. But there's a problem now: can his consolidation of airlines really reduce costs? Will unifying the aircraft really be effective?"

"Boss, I've inquired with Boeing, and it's very advantageous in terms of maintenance. At least they only need one type of aircraft maintenance personnel, and the requirements for pilots will be significantly reduced because they don't need to be familiar with other aircraft. The maintenance costs will definitely be much lower than other airlines, but we haven't seen the results yet. However, Boeing is also complaining that with this little fox's actions, their orders have gone downhill, and it will be difficult for them to get orders from Pan Am in the short term. Moreover, if they need to replace their aircraft, they will have more bargaining power. Other airlines buy several at a time, while they are buying in bulk!"

“Jimmy, think about it again. Is there anything we’ve overlooked about John, this little fox? I feel like there’s something we’ve forgotten. This little fox’s changes are a bit too abnormal.” “Boss, I don’t think anything is wrong. Maybe you’re overthinking it. John, this little fox, suddenly got such a big order from the Middle Eastern tycoons. Several companies are working at full speed and don’t have time to do anything else. Even the Gulfstream business jet, which we didn’t have high hopes for, has dozens of orders. The Middle Eastern tycoons are just too rich, and it seems like they have a tacit agreement to give all the orders to John, this little fox.”

“It’s perfect understanding, that’s the kind of understanding we’re talking about. Those guys in the Middle East definitely coordinated beforehand, otherwise they couldn’t have completed such a large order in just over ten days! They had their eye on that little fox John long ago. Maybe they already had their minds set on him when Bentley approached them.” At this point, Morgan’s expression changed again, and he said in a deep voice, “Jimmy, have our friends among the Middle Eastern tycoons mentioned anything else about this little fox? Has he been eyeing those oil fields? I remember he asked Rockefeller for two oil refineries before!”

"Boss, are you worried that John, that little fox, is getting involved in the oil industry and getting involved with Middle Eastern tycoons? That's impossible. Rockefeller isn't stupid. The two refineries he provided aren't very capable, and they're both focused on aviation kerosene. It seems they've been on guard against John all along!"

“Nothing is impossible. Before his mining company succeeded, who could have imagined that this little fox could have such a harvest? I don’t think this little fox didn’t have any other ideas with the Middle Eastern tycoons. Diversification is a good option, and oil is one of them. And don’t forget that this little fox and Rockefeller don’t get along!”

Upon hearing this, Jimmy was taken aback. To be honest, what the boss said did make a bit of sense. But did this little fox have such funds? Could those guys in Japan really give this little fox enough support? This little fox has hundreds of billions of yen in debt in Japan.

Seeing Jimmy's disapproving look, Morgan shook his head and said, "Have someone keep a close eye on his airline and see if he has any other ideas. If this little fox is planning to open an oil refinery overseas, we need to be vigilant and prepare in advance."

“Boss, that’s impossible. If John, that little fox, really wanted to get involved in the oil industry, he wouldn’t have sold off all those 7-Eleven stores on the highways. Now, 7-Eleven stores have almost no locations outside the city; they’ve all moved into the city. This market share will soon be taken over by competitors, and many people are laughing at John for his flawed business philosophy!”

"Foolish! Those foolish guys only do such ignorant things. What right do they have to laugh at John, that little fox? 7-Eleven is probably not as simple as they think!"

"It's truly remarkable. Southern Company is expanding at an astounding pace, backed by the support of Japanese banks. They're aggressively establishing a presence in major cities, owning all the convenience stores—it's insane! 7-Eleven seems poised to single-handedly support a massive convenience store system, completely eliminating the need for franchisees. Especially in major cities, they've achieved near-total control. 7-Elevens are already ubiquitous in New York!"

"Spanning all over New York, are you sure?" Morgan's expression hardened upon hearing this.
"It's confirmed. The crazy speed at which 7-Eleven is expanding has shocked everyone. Not only in New York, but almost all of the top ten cities in the United States have been heavily occupied by 7-Eleven. They have opened stores on almost every street in these ten cities, and they have a plan that is hard to understand. All the convenience stores are different and vary in size. At least for now, people don't understand the purpose of their crazy expansion and can't figure out the reason behind this layout!"

"Without franchisees, it's entirely their own store. What's this little fox up to?"

"Boss, perhaps to seize the market, Southern Company is expanding recklessly, frantically recruiting and training staff in major cities. In terms of stores, it might not be long before Southern Company becomes the largest retailer in the United States, with an astonishing number of employees. I've heard they even have an internal employee blacklist; once you're on it, you can forget about ever working for them again!" Jimmy knows a lot about John's companies, even the situation at 7-Eleven. It seems he's put in a lot of effort and thought into understanding John!
(End of this chapter)