America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 327 Peace Talk

A villa perched on a steep hill in northern San Francisco, like a proud king, offers panoramic views of the entire city.

On the road outside the villa area, luxury cars, like docile yet imposing giants, were parked closely together on the roadside, forming a spectacular long line of luxury cars.

Inside the villa, the spacious lawn was already packed with guests, creating a lively atmosphere.

The men present were all dressed in well-tailored suits, the fabric of which looked expensive, and the crisp cut made them look smart and debonair.

Their distinctive patterned ties and the watches from well-known brands on their wrists—every detail showcased their status and taste.

The ladies were all dressed in gorgeous gowns, the pearls and diamonds adorning them sparkling dazzlingly under the lights, their jewel-encrusted appearance a feast for the eyes.

These people gathered in twos and threes, forming small groups, and talked in hushed tones.

Around the lawn, there were long tables that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see, their tablecloths forming a giant white dragon coiled around the edge of the lawn.

The long table was piled high with all sorts of delicious dishes, so many that it was dazzling. With the number of guests on the lawn, even if they ate to their hearts' content for a week straight, it would be difficult to finish all the food.

Inside the venue, a group of waiters in uniform were busy moving around, constantly adding various food and drinks, ensuring that no plate was empty even though there was still plenty of food on it.

At the edge of the lawn, a dozen bodyguards dressed in black suits and wearing headsets were patrolling back and forth.

These bodyguards were all tall and muscular, their bodies as imposing as small mountains. Their muscles stretched their suits so much that they seemed ready to unleash tremendous power at any moment.

Their eyes were as sharp as eagles, scanning every corner around them; no movement could escape their notice.

Such a luxurious, grand, and heavily guarded scene is usually only seen in Hollywood movies, and most commonly in the White House as seen in the news.

This shows the high level of this banquet, and the guests were all people of noble status who held important positions in their respective fields.

Just as everyone was immersed in the lively atmosphere of the banquet, enjoying the food and wine and chatting casually.

Suddenly, everyone's attention was drawn to the host of the banquet, Van Buren.

Accompanied by his assistant, he strode briskly toward the villa entrance, his expression and demeanor clearly indicating that he was going to greet some extremely important guest.

People at the scene stopped what they were doing and stopped talking, all turning their gazes toward Van Buren, wondering inwardly who this person was that Van Buren would personally come out to greet so solemnly.

Van Buren is no ordinary man; the power he represents is the true core of American power. Even some moderately famous entrepreneurs and officials would find it incredibly difficult to meet him, let alone have him personally come out to greet them.

When Andy Grove, the legendary CEO of Intel who is about to step down, arrived, he did not come out to greet him, but simply waved from a distance on the lawn to indicate his welcome.

Could it be that the governor of California has come to greet Van Buren so personally at the door?

Immediately, various speculations arose at the scene, and everyone was filled with curiosity about the upcoming distinguished guest.

Everyone unconsciously moved slowly towards the door, wanting to see as soon as possible who had such great influence that Van Buren would make such an exception for them.

The atmosphere at the banquet instantly became tense yet expectant, with everyone's attention focused on the villa entrance.

Finally, amidst everyone's anxious waiting, Van Buren led a group of people through the main gate.

When the mysterious guest finally revealed himself, everyone suddenly realized why Van Buren had personally come out to greet him – it was him!

Ernst Garfield was a name that everyone present recognized.

Tech tycoon, media mogul, internet tycoon—these titles are old news for Ernst now, and are hardly enough to reflect his current achievements and status.

When people mention Ernst Garfield now, they refer to him more as the founder of Google, the company that will become the world's most valuable company in the future; the future richest man in the world; a symbol of wealth; a leader of the global younger generation; and the soul of Silicon Valley.

Each title carries significant weight, representing his remarkable achievements in different fields.

In less than two years, he amassed a fortune that most people could only dream of in a lifetime.

His illogical, rocket-like rise to power has left everyone who mentions him in awe, with some even finding it hard to believe that it is real.

Many people have studied the secrets to his success and tried to replicate his path to success, but in the end they found that Ernst's success could not be replicated at all. His vision, his courage, and his abilities were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The mere arrival of Ernst Garfield was enough to warrant Van Buren personally coming out to greet him, let alone the fact that he brought his entire entourage, which undoubtedly pushed the atmosphere to another climax.

Following closely behind Ernst were Google CEO James Hamilton and several other Google executives. This giant, seen by outsiders as a potential successor to Microsoft, has a bright future under his leadership.

Ryan Ruiz, CEO of Leap Games, said that Leap Games is set to go public in May, and is considered the most anticipated IPO in the capital market this year. Many people are optimistic about the company's performance after the IPO, believing that it is likely to create a new wealth legend.

Tim Cook, the CEO of Aikron Technology, has recently gained considerable fame. Aikron's MP3 production can no longer be described as "selling like hotcakes." Its shipment volume is so high that it makes people envious, making it one of the important players in the electronics technology field.

Robert Iger, the head of MGM, is hailed as potentially MGM's greatest CEO, thanks to his outstanding management skills and unique strategic vision.

Under his leadership, MGM has consistently produced outstanding works in the film and television industry, its influence has grown day by day, and it has completely restored its status as a giant.

There's also Peter Thiel, the leader of PayPay, who's known as the godfather of online payments.

It can be said that each of these people is a figure who can stir up a storm in their respective industries. It is usually very difficult to see them all at the same time, but today they have all gathered together, like loyal soldiers following their wolf king, forming the most dazzling and eye-catching group at tonight's banquet.

Seeing such a powerful combination appear, most people at the scene had all sorts of thoughts running through their minds, planning to find a suitable opportunity to go up and chat with them, laying the foundation for future cooperation or exchanges.

However, Van Buren did not give them any such opportunity. He led Ernst and his group directly into the villa, without stopping to let others come forward to make friends.

This shattered the hopes that had just been ignited in many people, and their faces showed disappointment, but then their brows furrowed slightly.

What is the purpose of tonight's dinner? It's to raise funds for the donkey.

The midterm elections are just around the corner, and things aren't going well for the Donalds right now.

The purpose of hosting such a high-profile banquet and inviting so many people of status, position, and wealth is to raise enough funds from them to prepare for the midterm elections.

Van Buren's current actions have made everyone present start to wonder: What exactly is Van Buren doing this for? There must be something else going on, otherwise why would he be so secretive?

Immediately, all sorts of speculations arose in people's minds, and everyone was filled with curiosity about what was about to happen inside the villa.

The study in the villa is decorated in an elegant and grand style, with antique bookshelves neatly arranged with various books, exuding a faint fragrance of books.

Several valuable oil paintings hang on the wall, depicting lifelike scenes and adding a rich artistic atmosphere to the study.

Ernst and his entourage, along with Van Buren, took their seats and sat around a large mahogany table.

Van Buren was very enthusiastic; he personally stood up and poured everyone a glass of fine red wine.

The red wine swirled gently in the clear glass, releasing its alluring aroma. The group chatted casually, discussing everything from entertainment news and sports events to global economic trends and local cultural characteristics, just like a regular gathering of friends.

Just as everyone was having a good time, Van Buren suddenly seized the opportunity and said, "Chuck contacted me a couple of days ago. He hopes Google can be lenient."

"We're all part of the same system, and he doesn't see the need to fight to the death and end up hurting each other. There are many opportunities to make money in America, and the internet sector is a huge pie. What you're currently dividing up is just the tip of the iceberg."

The others in the study were stunned when they heard these words, and their faces showed surprise.

Even Ernst, who had been keeping a calm demeanor, hadn't expected Van Buren to bring up this topic.

He considered that someone from Microsoft might step in to negotiate, since if things continued like this, Microsoft's losses would only increase.

But he never expected that it would be Van Buren who brought it up on this day.

There are currently five factions within the Donkeys. Although Chuck and Van Buren both belong to the Donkeys and hold important positions within the party, they are not in the same faction at all and are competitors within the party.

Ernst picked up his wine glass, gently swirled the red wine inside, and then smiled as he said, "You know, Google has always been on the defensive."

In the adult world, there are no eternal grudges, only eternal interests.

Although there is fierce competition and some conflicts between Google and Microsoft, all problems can be resolved as long as the two sides can reach a consensus on their interests.

Moreover, he couldn't afford to offend Chuck. Although the Senate was now in the hands of the Democratic Party, Chuck was, after all, the leader of the minority party in the Senate and had extremely high prestige and strong influence within the Donald Party. He could play a key role in many things, and there was no need to offend this bigwig within the Donald Party because of the conflict with Microsoft.

There are many positions within the Donkey Party, mainly divided into three branches.

First, there is the National Committee, which includes key positions such as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and National Treasurer.

Van Buren is the national treasurer, primarily responsible for coordinating and guiding the Donkey's internal financial work, ensuring sufficient funds to support the Donkey's various activities and elections; in short, he is in charge of fundraising.

The other two branches are the power structures of the two houses, with positions such as party leader, party whip, and caucus chairman.

In the Senate, Chuck represents the Donkeys, leading the Senate Democratic caucus, setting and pushing the legislative agenda, and negotiating and consulting with the Elephant leaders.

If the National Committee is like a local tyrant, then the two houses are like regional governors. In name, we are under your leadership and share common interests.

However, in reality, when goals align, one's own faction will always be the first to reap the benefits.

For example, the development of the Internet and the joint promotion of the rapid development of Internet companies are one of the key priorities within the Donkey organization. However, which company can benefit more from this is the result of a compromise between the Donkey and the Elephant within the two organizations.

For example, tax exemptions or subsidies—what kind of internet companies can get more tax exemptions, what kind of internet companies can get more subsidies—these are all decided by others.

However, mistakes must be acknowledged and corrected. Reconciliation is possible, but Microsoft will have to pay a price.

Van Buren understood this principle and directly stated his terms.

"Microsoft hopes to reach an out-of-court settlement with Google for $200 million, with the personal email business as compensation from Microsoft."

Ernst snorted, completely unfazed by the joy of Google Mail unifying the email market. "Is Microsoft planning to focus on enterprise email development? Is this some kind of compensation?"

I'm giving you face, but you can't treat me like an idiot just because I'm giving you face.

The email business is already in Google's hands; it's just a matter of time. Are you using this to test your cadres?

What a load of bull!

Van Buren showed no embarrassment whatsoever, as if the matter had nothing to do with him and he was merely a mouthpiece: "You can make any requests you have, or if all else fails, we can sit down and talk."

Ernst thought about it for a moment and didn't dare to ask for too much. It was their first time working together, and they couldn't afford to break off the relationship, could they?

Compared to other giant companies, networking has always been Google's weakness. This is partly due to its rapid growth and partly due to the reality that family connections cannot provide assistance.

"Microsoft needs to shut down its Hotmail personal email service and IcQ service, and promise not to enter the instant messaging field again."

.

"Okay." Van Buren was willing to help Chuck agree to this.

"There's also the Internet Tax Exemption Act, which must include an email tax."

This is the key point, and it's the compensation Ernst wanted most.

As early as last year, members of both houses of Congress introduced HR1054, the Internet Tax Exemption Act.

The main point is to prohibit state and local governments from directly taxing the internet or online activities, such as internet access taxes.

Bandwidth tax, etc.

The states in the United States have a high degree of autonomy and their laws vary greatly. Some states regard the Internet as a public utility similar to cable television and want to tax and regulate it, resulting in a wide variety of tax laws.

For example, many states are now taxing internet access, which has prevented many telecom operators from expanding internet coverage due to cost issues, seriously affecting the development of the internet.

Email tax is also within the scope of this discussion on the Internet Tax Exemption Act.

Some have suggested that electronic messages should be taxed based on their volume, for example, by levying a tax of 1 cent for every 100 electronic messages larger than 1 characters sent.

The reason is simple: electronic communication has become an indispensable part of business operations. Since businesses profit from electronic communication, they should pay taxes.

Moreover, the tax revenue is not low. Given the current scale of the Internet, if Google Mail unifies the email market, and with Google Messenger, a major player in information exchange, it will have to pay at least tens of billions of US dollars in taxes every year.

This tax isn't collected from the businesses and users who use email and Google Messenger, but from the businesses that operate these services. How you coordinate between them is your business.

Ernst recalls that the Internet Tax Exemption Act eventually included an email tax, but given that Microsoft was historically the dominant email provider and now it's Google Mail, things are a bit uncertain.

Google doesn't have that much of a relationship with either Congress; do you think these lawmakers will just open their mouths for free?

Even if it were implemented for a year, Google couldn't afford it.