Chapter 204 Open flames

John Wilson Bullock Jr. shook his head, trying to wake himself up from the hangover he had spent two days with his old comrades-in-arms, who gave him a big party when he was serving in Germany, but he There was no way to be happy, because along with the big party, they also told themselves some bad news.

  In Europe, the United States seems to be building two more large military bases, but it is not the US Army, but the Air Force, one in Italy and one in Spain.

This means that no matter how many troops are stationed in those two bases, it has nothing to do with him, a former lieutenant colonel who came out of the army to start a business, because he can only bid, but even if he uses a toilet instead of a brain to think, he can understand that his company won The probability of getting business is almost zero. After all, the Air Force has to give priority to taking care of its own family, and there are not a few contractors who are Air Force officers.

To make matters worse, the U.S. Army has added more troops to South Korea and Japan. Although his company claims to be responsible for all the mail delivery business of the U.S. Army’s overseas garrisons, in fact, the company is not owned by him alone. Everyone has his own territory. His home field is Germany, and most of his contacts are concentrated here. The business of the other party rises while his own business declines, which means that the right to speak in the company will also change with the performance changes.

   "Soviet Union, Comeon! Why can't you have another 81 military exercise?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help cursing.

For him, 1981 was a good year. A military exercise in the Soviet Union made all the heads of state in Europe pee their pants in fear. Thousands of Soviet soldiers yelled Ulla to themselves.

It was also at that time that he left the army to start a business. Relying on his contacts in the US Army and the background of his father-in-law’s family in Germany, he was able to co-found the Knight Express Company with several friends in the army who had the same idea, and it was a matter of course. Let the company become a contractor of the US Army and take over the express delivery business of the Army at overseas bases.

  At that time, Germany, with more than 100,000 American soldiers, was the company's most important market, just as indispensable as his position in the company.

   It's just who would have thought that the Soviet Union, which frightened the whole world, would decline so quickly.

  Germany now has only more than 70,000 American soldiers. If he doesn’t complete the transformation as soon as possible, it won’t be long before those big appetites in the Pentagon will be dissatisfied with him because of the shrinking income. By then, he will almost be kicked out.

   "Mr. Bullock, a Mr. Tommy Hawke is calling." Outside the bedroom door, the personal assistant knocked lightly on the door and said.

  Wilson-Brock thought for a while, he thought he should have heard the name, but he didn't have any impression: "Who is he?"

"The former president of SSD at Stanford University in California, he said that he just met a girl who claimed to be your daughter Sandra at a film industry party. She was almost taken advantage of by an unscrupulous director in Los Angeles and learned that you were Sandra's. Father, he was very surprised, so he called to confirm, if it was Ni's daughter, he would teach that director a lesson, if not..."

   "Don't you need to call Sandra to confirm this kind of thing?" Wilson frowned, walked over to open the door, and stared at his assistant with dissatisfaction.

  The assistant nodded slightly: "I asked Sandra, she is indeed in Los Angeles, and she is indeed auditioning for a movie."

"Why can't she follow her sister's lead and go to law school and become a lawyer? I knew that sooner or later she would get into trouble in the film industry, just like her mother when she was young." Wilson took the assistant and handed it phone, dialed back the past number, and waited for a man over there to say hello, then Wilson said with a half-smile:

   "Let me hear, which guy from SSD, did my daughter a little favor?"

"Sir, Tommy Hawke, Stanford 1987 SSD alumni are here to serve you at any time." Tommy introduced himself on the other side of the phone with a humble tone: "I just met a famous... "

Wilson said with some disapproval: "It's my daughter, Tommy, the assistant just told me, thank you, when I have time to go to California, I must thank you in person, speaking of it, Sandra was indeed spoiled by her mother , but that's not the reason for her to be provoked by bad guys."

Someone is always looking for opportunities to expand the social network of the fraternity. This young man who calls himself Tommy may also have this idea. Wilson does not reject this kind of behavior, because he will do the same, but the SSD member who graduated from Stanford, and West Point Military Academy Graduated SSD members seem to have little intersection.

   "Of course, I understand, I gave that guy a hard time, and he probably won't have to touch a woman again within a week." Tommy said from the computer.

  Wilson twitched the corners of his mouth and smiled: "Just a week?"

"I don't understand enough to dispel your anger, sir, but since he lent me 200 million and I know him well, not being able to touch women for a week is already very, very serious to him." Tommy said on the phone Bian explained seriously: "And I guarantee that he just had an idea, and he has no chance to put it into action."

"I think... I remember who you are, Tommy. After all, there are not many alumni in SSD who are as young as you and have so much money." Wilson heard Tommy's words, and tried to turn his head to understand why he would I feel like I've heard the name before.

  There are many words of this young man’s name appearing in the internal magazine, the charity activities of the Veterans Association, as well as some interviews with people, donations within the fraternity, etc. It seems that this guy appears in the internal magazine every now and then.

"I'm flattered by your words." Tommy said with a smile on the phone: "You are a well-known figure in SSD, and my best friend in SSD at West Point Military Academy said that he would personally wipe the leaves you left in the honor room every day during school. commemorative photo."

   "I'm past the age where I like to listen to people's flattery, Tommy." Although he knew that the other party was a rich young man, Wilson still had no interest in chatting with him, after all, they were in different industries.

Tommy paused on the phone for a moment, and then said: "I'm not going to continue to flatter you, Mr. Bullock, but for the sake of my fellow SSD brothers, I would like to remind you in time before ending this call. , your business may be in big trouble."

   "You may not know me well. I'm never afraid of trouble to come to my door." Wilson was slightly taken aback. He didn't expect Tommy to say such a sentence, but he responded calmly with a calm face.

   "Mr. Rear Admiral Joseph Smith is planning to leave the Department of the Navy and prepare to set up an overseas transportation company to provide convenient services for American soldiers overseas. As far as I know, some big bosses in the Pentagon are very interested in his ideas."

   "Stanford boys like talking nonsense like you? Your intelligence work at Stanford is better than what we do at West Point Military Academy?"

"It's not Stanford, it's the Naval Academy. Two young people from the SSD Naval Academy have previously helped Mr. Joseph Smith provide entrepreneurial ideas. One is Tony Leon, who is the former chairman of the SSD Naval Academy Branch and is now serving on a cruiser. , the other is Eric Smith, who is the former vice chairman of the SSD Naval Academy branch, and is currently serving on the USS Kennedy aircraft carrier, by the way, the second Eric is the youngest son of Mr. Smith."

   "Why do you know their plan so well?" Wilson frowned when he heard Tommy mentioning the detailed names, not as if he was joking.

  Tommy said in a flat voice: "Tony Leon, he should be called Tony Hawk, he is my brother."

"You know what? I love chatting with young people in SSD, it always reminds me of my younger self, I just finished my job in Germany and I'm about to fly back home, I mean, maybe I can thank you in person Saved my daughter." Wilson said while looking out the window.

Tommy said: "Can I bring a reporter, I mean, when I go to visit, can my reporter help you with an interview? I have two TV networks, and the reporters are greedily collecting all kinds of news. The news or interviews that can be found, you, an expert on the situation in Germany, attract them like honey."

   "Of course it's no problem. I also like to chat with people about German topics. After all, I have stayed here for twenty years."

   "Thank you very much. One last small question. Your daughter misunderstood me. She didn't think that I saved her. Instead, she thought that I had something for you and approached her deliberately."

   "I'll remember to explain it to you."

   Waiting for him to hang up the phone, he turned around and looked at his assistant: "Call to Washington and let people know. A major general named Joseph Smith of the Pentagon Navy Department is leaving the Navy Department to prepare to start a transportation company?"

  The assistant went to the living room to make a call. Half an hour later, he walked in and said to Wilson Bullock who was shaving in front of the mirror:

   "Sir, what I know shows that the other party does plan to start a transportation company, but the unconfirmed gossip is rumored that two assistant chiefs of operations of the Ministry of the Navy are likely to hold shares."

   "Shit! That kid didn't brag, he helped me book the fastest flight back home, I'm going to Washington... No, I'm going to Los Angeles, I have to figure out what kind of transportation business can steal our order."

   On the viewing balcony of Paradise Films in Los Angeles, when Tommy hung up the phone, Stephen was staring at Tommy with an uneasy expression and asked:

   "So, I am now the unscrupulous filmmaker who tried to **** his daughter in the eyes of Mr. Wilson Bullock? And you are going to teach me a lesson for him, so that I can't touch women for a week?"

   "Yes, I'm going to call Mr. Page and let him teach you a lesson." Tommy smiled at Stephen.

  Stephen folded his arms: "Very good, I want to see it."

"Mr. Page, call Mrs., and say to help Stephen prepare twenty girls to attend his little party tonight, and I will pay the bill. If the girls can make Stephen's clubs uninterested in women for a week, how much will I Pay 20%." Tommy said to Mr. Page who was standing not far away.

  After listening to Tommy’s words, Stephen hesitated, and said to Tommy: “Can I appoint a girl myself?”

"No, Mr. Page, pay attention to the other party's quotation. If the total price exceeds 60,000 yuan, I will help Stephen change the goods on the roadside. After all, an inflammation of the club will allow him to recuperate for a week." Mr Qi added.

Stephen cursed with a smile, and then said curiously to Tommy: "Can't you be more civilized? You can always speak out loudly about things like clubs? Also, in the room just now, you just spoke directly to Tommy. That chick named Sandra brags about hanging out with other women, and while Otilia and Diane are chatting, I'm sure she should be able to hear, you know what I mean? Otilia doesn't have tattoos, but She's also a big part of CS."

   "Don't worry, she knows that I'm just bragging on purpose, just talking nonsense. Last time I bragged to her that I had an affair with Sophia, she didn't believe it at all." Tommy patted Stephen on the shoulder: "But thank you for your thoughtful reminder."

"But she and Zoe in this room know you're not bragging, buddy, if... if the girl you hurt told Otilia you were really fooling around, how would you explain it to her?" Stephen saw Tommy disapproving expression, asked suspiciously.

It is true that Tommy has a **** expression in front of all the women, who speaks nonsense and likes to brag, but in fact, every **** this guy brags will slowly come true, if Otilia really gets it one day Knowing that Tommy's words are not just bragging, but facts...

"She won't believe it. My father-in-law told her and helped her arrange a bunch of private detectives to monitor me for her. If I betray my love, he will let his precious daughter leave me immediately, Ottie Even if Leah doesn't believe me, she will believe her father." Tommy hesitated for a while before looking at Stephen, and gave the answer:

   "But in fact, my father-in-law and I have made an oath that we will never hurt each other, and we will always stand up for each other in times of crisis, help each other clean up their grievances, and prove each other's innocence. I have helped him more than once."

   "..." Stephen looked at Tommy speechlessly.

  He asked himself that there are countless friends around him, but no one can match Tommy in terms of shamelessness. Before that, he had never heard of anyone who could establish an offensive and defensive alliance with his future father-in-law in the matter of cheating, and vowed to help each other prove their innocence.

   "By the way, you want to try dating this girl named Sandra, right?" Tommy seemed to have remembered something, and asked Stephen, "I can help you."

Stephen sighed: "You've helped me so **** caringly, Tommy, you managed to impress me absolutely deeply in the heart of that woman's father. In order to avoid being broken by him, I've taken the initiative to Extinguish the inner thoughts of her."

   "You're welcome." Tommy looked at Stephen: "I can continue to help you."

After the phone call, the two returned to the creative studio. Otilia was still communicating with Diane Lane about the New York Broadway musical that both of them were interested in. Matt Dillon had already said goodbye and left. He had no psychological pressure. Because Tommy’s approval is not required, he has already got Stephen’s promise.

Sandra Bullock has no interest in this movie because of what Tommy said before. She came to greet everyone politely and was about to leave, but just as she opened her mouth, she saw that disgusting **** smiling look at yourself:

   "Miss Bullock, I think you don't need to leave in a hurry, but wait for your father to arrive tomorrow, accept Zoe's interview, and leave with him."

"You've always been so sloppy in interviewing people? I haven't had time to prepare questions." Zooey was stunned when she heard Tommy's words. Although she hadn't formally resigned to help Tommy start work, there is no need to question Tommy's work now. Arrangement method, but obviously, Tommy's decision seems to be too hasty.

   "It's okay, it doesn't matter what questions you ask him, but the questions he asks me are important." Tommy glanced at Zoe: "Anyway, it's just used to fill up the time when the broadcast starts."

  Sandra thought Tommy was joking, but when she called her father, her father's assistant told her that they were indeed preparing to return to China, and they were not going back to Washington, but to Los Angeles.

  It cannot be that her father cared about her situation. Since she insisted on studying performing arts like her mother, her father completely ignored her, and instead cared about his younger sister who was willing to follow his father's advice and was admitted to law school.

   It can only be that this guy named Tommy Hawk has something that interests his father.

   This made Sandra feel that Tommy's nonsense before was not a joke, he was not interested in himself, and he didn't need to catch up with his father by himself.

It was already noon on the second day when Wilson Bullock met Tommy, and he didn't even want to delay the time until the evening to have dinner with Tommy, because he had received positive news that Joseph Smith was indeed preparing to start a freight company, And the other partners in my company are all as ignorant as I am.

  My own connections in the Pentagon are not as good as a young man who graduated from Stanford University? Nothing like this could happen in the Arabian Nights.

  As for Zoe’s interview and camera recording, it took place during the meal. While eating, Wilson smiled and answered Zoe’s temporary prepared questions.

  After the interview was over, Wilson offered to help Zoe introduce some comrades in Germany without even needing Tommy to speak, so that she would have the opportunity to interview them up close after she went to Germany.

  After the meal was over, Tommy asked Page to send Zoe and Sandra to go with Ottilia to enjoy a musical at the Broadway Theater in Los Angeles, while he and Wilson Bullock went back to the terrace of the company headquarters of BT TV station to drink coffee.

"It's not good to know that someone is about to rob you of business, even Joseph Smith is my close SSD brother." Wilson Bullock looked at the scenery of the San Fernando Valley and said in his mouth: "But it makes me feel even worse , but how did you know about this?"

   "I wrote that plan." Tommy looked at Wilson-Brock calmly: "My father will contribute 15% of the company's shares for my brother."

   "I thought of this, why tell me that I am more worthy of your respect than your father?" Wilson smiled.

"I just want to ask Mr. Bullock to help my news network in Germany. You have unmatched contacts in those military bases in Germany. You even do business with East Germany. I mean, my news network is in Germany. Both East Germany and West Germany want to gain a firm foothold and turn news coverage into a business, and you are the only one who can find the safest and most trustworthy person, after all, you mentioned in an internal magazine that you have some trade business in East Germany.” Tang Mi said frankly.

  Wilson was amused by Tommy: "So to steal my business is to trust me, and what kind of transportation business is it that you are sure to steal my order?"

   "It's nothing, I just provided an idea, and the details are conceived by my brother and Mr. Joseph Smith." Tommy said very calmly, as if the idea he provided was just a trivial matter:

"The idea is to do passenger and cargo air transport business on large military bases overseas in the United States. Each base will open a passenger flight and a cargo flight every week. 90% of U.S. military personnel waste their precious vacation time on trivial matters such as changing trains or rushing to the international airport, which can give them a few more hours to spend with their families, and a few hours of military vacations are already very precious."

   It wasn't necessary for Tommy to say more, just a short sentence made Wilson Bullock's forehead quietly ooze a layer of sweat.

He is a former military officer who came out of the army. He knows that those big bosses in the Pentagon cannot reject this idea. Not only those big bosses will not refuse, but those giants in the industry and those large defense contractors will even take the initiative to promote this business. make it happen.

According to the regulations of overseas garrisons, the infrastructure costs of US military overseas bases are paid by the country where they are located. There are 1,701 overseas bases in the United States, with more than 500 people stationed there. There are at least 600 or 700 large-scale ones. The airports in the United States must be expanded. As long as those large defense contractors contracting the US military infrastructure business learn about this idea, they can immediately start lobbying work. The passenger and cargo business may be dismissive in the eyes of those real giants, but six or seven hundred overseas The base's airport expansion project, they will definitely hold it in their hands, and together, it is an astronomical figure.

   Moreover, this idea brings together many contractors, and companies that have the opportunity to make money in the industry will help Joseph to promote it, instead of Joseph operating alone.

A large defense contractor with a deep background got the most lucrative infrastructure business. As the initiator, the people from the Ministry of the Navy got the passenger and cargo business of the military's overseas bases, and became the proposer of the whole idea. Let's put it this way, if Joseph- Smith has helped those bigwigs make a lot of money by running the company for a few years, and he may return to the Pentagon at any time. At that time, he may be regarded as an effective subordinate by the bigwigs and assigned a position of real power.

   Passengers and cargo need to purchase aircraft. Anyway, those countries pay the bills, and the bosses of the Ministry of Air Force and the factories behind them that manufacture aircraft can also make a fortune.

   Then there are the chief officers of the army base, who also have money in their pockets.

In short, everyone has money to make, and it is impossible for the U.S. federal government to refuse such a happy thing, because the U.S. does not need to pay the bill, and it only needs to increase the military expenditure of the country where the troops are stationed, and it can reap the benefits of the military bosses in the Pentagon. Friendship, the US federal government has absolutely no reason to object.

   "Those countries may...maybe not be willing to increase the military spending of the garrison, because the Soviet Union can't hold on anymore, and there is no need to pay high military spending." Wilson-Brock tried to give a reason for his opposition, but he felt a little weak.

   "Even the Soviet Union can't support it anymore, so who else do you think would dare to say No to the United States? Our soldiers have guarded those countries for so long, and it is only natural to charge some interest." Tommy said:

"You can think more boldly. Maybe you don't need a real freight business at all. After signing the contract and order, once the Soviet Union disintegrates midway, the order will continue to take effect, and those countries will also obediently pay according to the contract. They have no choice. , I just thought of an honest reason, to help everyone in the army earn some pocket money."

Wilson Bullock has nothing to say. The other party can generously tell him the general idea, which means that Joseph Smith has been preparing for long enough in private, and many links have been opened up. Powerless.

   "Thank you for your willingness to help my news network expand its business in Germany. I hope my news is still timely for you." Tommy took a sip of coffee and seemed ready to end the meeting.

   "I think we have different views on the word "timely." Wilson smiled wryly and said, "You are really enthusiastic. You help the officers think of a reason to extort military expenditures from various countries without asking for anything in return?"

   "It's not extortion, it's a win-win cooperation." Tommy corrected the word in Wilson's words:

  "Those routes are operated by the airlines of each country, and the air ticket revenue belongs to them. It's just for safety reasons, they need to buy aircraft whose safety is approved by the US military. After all, there are some differences between American soldiers and ordinary passengers."

Hearing Tommy's words, Wilson felt that he was really old. He simply relied on his military background to earn a little money, and he was always worried. Looking at the young people in front of him, it didn't matter whether the airport was repaired or not, and it didn't matter whether the airlines opened or not. Just ask those countries to provide a sum of military expenses in an upright manner, and the reasons are abundant, and the other party dare not refuse. After all, which country dares to refuse, the US military can definitely let the local US garrison explode a little, so that the other party can feel that it is for them The dissatisfaction of American soldiers who came from afar to guard the country.

Tommy continued: "As for whether it is timely, I have no choice. After all, I just met your daughter. Or, if my reporter is stationed in Asia, Europe can get your attention. I don't think you have the opportunity to join Get a piece of the pie, after all, the preparatory work for such a large-scale business cannot be completed in a day or two."

   "What kind of care?" Wilson asked after hesitating when he heard Tommy's words.

"If a war breaks out in the past two years, my reporters will always get more timely news than other reporters. In addition to the Associated Press, if there are other foreign reporters who are not open-minded to grab business, I need your friends in the army to be willing to help me. With the excuse of preventing leaks, ask them to find a room to sit and wait until we finish posting the news before releasing it." Tommy said with a smile.

  Wilson sighed: "Rely on military bases to grow your news network."

   "Yes." Tommy didn't deny it.

  Wilson sighed again: "How much can I get?"

  Tommy took out a business card that he had prepared a long time ago, and gently pushed it in front of Wilson with **** along the table:

   "This is a call from Mr. Joseph Smith's assistant. If you can contribute to persuading Germany to pay the protection fee, I think it should be a number that will satisfy you."

  (end of this chapter)