America 1982

John Wilson Bullock Jr. shook his head hard, trying to wake up from the hangover from the two days of gathering with his old comrades. His comrades who served in Germany gave him a grand party, but he There was no way to be happy, because along with the grand party, they also told themselves some bad news.

In Europe, the United States seems to be building two large military bases, but they are 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 army lieutenant colonel who came out to start a business in the army, because he can only bid, but even if he uses the toilet instead of thinking in his brain, he can understand that his company will get The chance of getting business is almost zero. After all, the Air Force has to take care of its own family first, and there are also many 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 express business of the U.S. Army's overseas garrison, in fact, the company is not his alone. Several founders cooperate, each Everyone has his own territory. His home ground is Germany, and most of his contacts are concentrated here. The other party's business is rising while his own business is declining, which means that the right to speak within the company will also change with the performance changes.

"Soviet Union, Come on! Why can't you do another 81 military exercise?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curse.

In 1981, it was a good year for him. A Soviet military exercise made all European heads of state wet their pants. They wanted to kneel down and ask the Americans to station troops at home to avoid waking up and hundreds of people standing outside the door. Thousands of Soviet soldiers shouted hurrah to themselves about the situation.

It was also at that time that he left the army and started doing business. Relying on his connections in the U.S. Army and his father-in-law's family's background in Germany, he was able to co-found the Knight Express Company with several military friends who had the same idea. The company became a contractor for the U.S. Army and took over the Army's express delivery business 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.

But who could have imagined that the Soviet Union, which frightened the whole world, would decline so quickly.

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

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

Wilson Bullock thought for a moment. He felt that he should have heard this name, but he had no impression: "Who is he?"

"The former president of the SSD at Stanford University in California, he said that he happened to meet a girl who called herself 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 your daughter, he would teach the director a lesson. If not..."

"Don't you need to call Sandra to confirm this?" Wilson frowned, walked over and opened the door, staring at his assistant with dissatisfied eyes and asked.

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

"Why can't she learn from her sister and go to law school and become a lawyer? I knew that sooner or later she would run into trouble in the film industry, just like her mother did when she was young." Wilson took the assistant and handed it to her. After calling the number, Wilson waited for a man over there to say hello, then Wilson said with a smile:

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

"Sir, Tommy Hawke, a 1987 Stanford SSD alumnus is at your service at any time." Tommy introduced himself on the phone in a humble tone: "I happened to meet a famous person at a party in Hollywood... …”

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 which, Sandra was indeed spoiled by her mother." , but that’s not the reason why she was provoked by bad people.”

There are always people looking for opportunities to expand the fraternity's social network. This young man who calls himself Tommy may also have this idea. Wilson is not opposed to this behavior, because he will do the same, but the SSD member who graduated from Stanford and the West Point Military Academy Graduated SSD members don't seem to have much in common with each other.

"Of course, I understand. I gave that guy a good lesson and he probably won't have to touch a woman again for a week." Tommy said on the other side of the computer.

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

"I understand that it is not enough to eliminate your anger, sir, but considering that he lent me 200 million and how well I know him, not being able to touch women for a week is already very, very serious for him." Tommy said on the phone Bian explained seriously: "And I guarantee that he just had the idea and had no chance to take 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. You will feel like you have heard this name before.

This young man's name has appeared in many internal magazines, including charitable activities of the Veterans Association, some exclusive interviews, internal donations from 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. My SSD best friend at West Point Military Academy said that he would personally wipe you in the honor room every day while he was in school. commemorative photo.”

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

Tommy paused for a moment on the phone, and then said: "I'm not going to continue to praise you, Mr. Block. For the sake of fellow SSD brothers, I want to give you a timely reminder before ending this call. , I’m afraid your business will be in big trouble.”

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

"Rear Admiral Joseph Smith is planning to leave the Navy Department and prepare to establish an overseas transportation company to provide convenient services to American military personnel overseas. As far as I know, some big shots in the Pentagon are very interested in his ideas."

"Do all the boys at Stanford like to talk nonsense like you? Your intelligence work at Stanford is better than ours at West Point?"

"It's not Stanford, it's the Naval Academy. Two young people from the SSD Naval Academy helped Mr. Joseph Smith with entrepreneurial ideas. One is named Tony Leon, who is the former chairman of the SSD Naval Academy Chapter and is now serving on a cruiser. The other one is called Eric Smith, who is the former vice president of the SSD Naval Academy Chapter and is currently serving on the USS Kennedy. By the way, the second one named Eric is Mr. Smith’s youngest son.”

"Why do you know their plan so well?" Wilson frowned and asked in confusion when Tommy said the detailed names, not as if they were joking.

Tommy spoke in a calm voice: "Tony Leon, he should have been called Tony Hawk. He is my brother."

"You know what? I like chatting with young people in SSD. It always reminds me of my younger self. I just finished my work in Germany and was about to fly back. 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 you, can my reporter do an interview for you? I have two TV networks, and the reporters are greedily collecting all kinds of information. Any news or interviews they can find, you, an expert on the situation in Germany, attract them like honey."

"Of course, no problem. I also like to talk about Germany with people. After all, I have stayed here for twenty years."

"Thank you very much. One last little question. Your daughter has some misunderstandings about me. She doesn't think I saved her. Instead, she thinks I have some intention towards you and deliberately approaches her."

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

After he hung up the phone, he turned around and looked at his assistant: "Call Washington and let people know that a Rear Admiral named Joseph Smith of the Navy Department in the Pentagon 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 open a transportation company, and unconfirmed rumors say that two assistant chiefs of operations in the Navy Department are likely to hold shares."

"Shit! That kid is not bragging. Help me book the fastest flight back to China. I want to go to Washington first... no, to Los Angeles. I want to find out first what kind of transportation business can steal our orders."

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

"So, I am now the unscrupulous filmmaker who tried to rape his daughter in the eyes of Mr. Wilson-Brock? And you are going to teach me a lesson for him and make me unable to touch a woman for a week?"

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

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

"Mr. Page, call Mrs. Page and tell her to help Stephen prepare twenty girls to attend his little party tonight. I will pay the bill. If the girls can make Stephen's club have no interest in women for a week, I will do more." 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 designate the girl myself?"

"No, Mr. Page, pay attention to the other party's quotation. If the total price exceeds 60,000 yuan, help Stephen change the goods on the roadside. After all, the inflammation of the club will allow him to rest for a week." Tommy reacted immediately and said to Peppa who was dialing the number. Mr. Qi added.

Stephen smiled and cursed, and then said to Tommy curiously: "Can't you be more civilized? Can you always say things like clubs out loud and confidently? Also, in the room just now, you were so direct to That girl named Sandra was bragging about hanging out with other women, and even though Otilia and Diane were chatting, I'm sure she could hear it, you know what I mean? Otilia doesn't have a tattoo, but She is also an important part of CS."

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

"But everyone in the room except her and Zoe knows you're not bragging, buddy, if...if the girl you hurt told Otilia that you were really fooling around, how would you explain to her?" Stephen saw Tommy He asked in confusion with a disapproving expression.

It is true that Tommy looks like a bastard who talks nonsense and likes to brag in front of all women, but in fact, every boast this guy brags will slowly come true. If Ottilia really gets it one day, I know what Tommy said is not just a boast, but a fact...

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

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

"..." Stephen looked at Tommy speechlessly.

He asked himself that he had countless friends around him, but no one could compare to 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 on 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 have helped me so fucking considerately, Tommy. You have successfully left an absolutely deep impression on me in the mind of that woman's father. In order to avoid having his third leg broken by him, I have taken the initiative to It extinguished the thoughts of her in my heart.”

"You're welcome." Tommy looked at Stephen: "I can still 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 they were both interested in. Matt Dillon had already said goodbye and left. He was not under any psychological pressure. Since he didn't need Tommy's approval, he already had Stephen's commitment.

Sandra Bullock had no interest in the movie because of Tommy's previous words. She came over to politely greet everyone and prepared to leave. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she saw the disgusting bastard smiling. Look at yourself:

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

"Are you always so careless about interviewing people? I haven't had time to prepare questions." Zoe was stunned when she heard Tommy's words. Although she had not officially resigned to help Tommy start work, there was no need to question Tommy's work now. arrangement, but it was obvious that Tommy's decision seemed a bit too hasty.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what question you ask him. The question he asked me is very important." Tommy glanced at Zoe: "Anyway, it's just to fill up the time when the show starts."

Sandra originally 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 not to Washington, but to Los Angeles.

It was impossible for her father to care about her situation. Ever since she insisted on studying performing arts like her mother, his father had completely ignored her and turned to care about his younger sister who was willing to follow her father's advice and enter law school.

It could only be that this guy named Tommy Hawke had something that interested his father.

This made Sandra feel that Tommy's nonsense was not a joke. He was not interested in her and did not need to catch up with her father on her own.

It was already noon the next day when Wilson Bullock met Tommy. He didn't even want to waste time waiting until the evening to have dinner with Tommy because he had already received certain news that Joseph Smith was indeed preparing to start a freight company. And the other partners in his company are all as ignorant as himself.

Are the connections of people like me in the Pentagon not as good as that of a young man who graduated from Stanford University? There is no way in the Arabian Nights that such a thing could happen.

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

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

After the meal, Tommy asked Page to send Zoe and Sandra to watch a musical with Otilia at the Broadway Theater in Los Angeles, while he and Wilson Bullock went back to the terrace of BT TV's company headquarters to have coffee.

"It feels bad to know that someone is about to steal my business, even if Joseph Smith is my close SSD brother." Wilson Bullock looked at the scenery of the San Fernando Valley and said, "But it makes me feel even worse. , how did you know about this?"

"I wrote that plan." Tommy looked at Wilson Bullock calmly: "My father will contribute 15% of the shares of the company on behalf of my brother."

"I thought about this, why do you 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 expand in Germany. Your connections in those military bases in Germany are unparalleled. You even do supply business with East Germany. I mean, my news network is in Germany." Both East Germany and West Germany want to gain a foothold and turn news gathering into a business, and the only person they can find who is the most reliable and trustworthy is you. After all, you mentioned in your internal magazine that you have some trading business in East Germany." Tang Mi said frankly.

Wilson was amused by Tommy: "So stealing my business means trusting me. And what kind of transportation business is it that makes you sure you can steal my order?"

"Nothing, I just provided an idea. The details were 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 conduct passenger and cargo air transport business at large overseas military bases in the United States. Each base will open one passenger flight and one cargo flight every week, such as taking off from the Stewart U.S. Army Base in Germany and flying directly to New York or Philadelphia to avoid those who protect the world. "U.S. service members 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. A few hours of military vacation are already very valuable."

Tommy didn't need to say more, just a few words, and a layer of sweat quietly broke out on Wilson Bullock's forehead.

He is a former officer who came out of the army. He knows that the big guys in the Pentagon are unlikely to reject this idea. Not only those big guys 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 garrison, the infrastructure construction costs of the US military's overseas bases are paid by the countries 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 that are called large. If they are connected to large passenger transport, then the bases The airport must be expanded. As soon as those large defense contractors who contract the U.S. military infrastructure business learn about this idea, they can immediately start lobbying work. The passenger and cargo business may be dismissed in the eyes of the real giants, but six to seven hundred overseas They will definitely hold the base's airport expansion project in their hands. Taken together, it is an astronomical figure.

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

Large-scale defense contractors with strong backgrounds got the most lucrative infrastructure business. People from the Navy Department, as initiators, got the passenger and freight business of military overseas bases, and became the initiators of the entire idea. Let’s put it this way, if Joseph- Smith has been running the company for several years and has helped those big bosses make a lot of money. He may be able to return to the Pentagon at any time. By then, he may be regarded as a capable subordinate by the big bosses and assigned a real power position.

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

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

In short, everyone can make money, and it is impossible for the U.S. federal government to refuse such a happy thing, because the United States does not need to pay the bill. It only needs to ask the garrison countries to increase their military spending, and they can reap the benefits of the military bosses in the Pentagon. Friendship, the U.S. federal government has absolutely no reason to object.

"Those countries may...may not be willing to increase their military expenditures because the Soviet Union can no longer sustain it and does not need to pay high military expenditures." Wilson Bullock tried hard to give a reason for his opposition, but he felt a little weak.

"Even the Soviet Union can't hold on, so who else do you think dares to say no to the United States? Our soldiers have protected those countries for so long, so it's natural to collect some interest." Tommy said:

"You can think more boldly. Maybe there is no need for real freight business at all. Once the contract and order are signed, once the Soviet Union disintegrates midway, the order will continue to be in effect. Those countries will also have to pay the fees in accordance with 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 had nothing to say. The fact that the other party was able to tell him the general idea generously meant that Joseph Smith had been preparing for long enough in private and many links had been opened. Even if he went back to Washington to try to make amends, he would probably be done. There is no way around it.

"Thank you for helping my news network expand its business in Germany. I hope my news is 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 said with a wry smile: "Are you really an enthusiastic person, helping the officers come up with a reason to extort military expenditures from other countries without asking for anything in return?"

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

"Those routes are operated by each country's own airlines, and the ticket revenue belongs to them. It's just for safety reasons that they need to purchase aircraft whose safety is recognized by the U.S. military. After all, there are some differences between U.S. military personnel and ordinary passengers."

Hearing Tommy's words, Wilson felt that he was really old. He just relied on his military background to make some small money, and he had to worry all the time. Look at the young people in front of him. It doesn't matter whether the airport is repaired or not, and whether the air route is opened or not. Just ask those countries to provide a military expenditure directly and openly, and with sufficient reasons, the other party does not dare to refuse. After all, which country dares to refuse, the U.S. military can definitely let the local U.S. garrison have a small outburst to let the other party feel how to do it for them. The dissatisfaction of the American soldiers who came from afar to defend the country.

Tommy continued: "As for whether it's timely, I can't help it. After all, I just met your daughter. Or, if my reporter is stationed in Asia, Europe can get your care. I think there is no chance for you to join." Share a piece of the pie, after all, the preparation work for this kind of large-scale business cannot be completed in a day or two.”

"What kind of care?" Wilson hesitated after hearing Tommy's words and asked.

"If a war breaks out in the next two years, my reporters will always get more timely information than other reporters. In addition to the Associated Press, if there are other blind foreign reporters grabbing business, I need your friends in the military to be willing to help me. On the pretext of preventing leaks, please ask them to sit in a room and wait until we finish publishing 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 of the pie can I get?"

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

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