1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 197 Because I pay Kony’s salary

After the news spread that the Pioneer was publicly displayed and offered free rides to all New Yorkers, there was an endless stream of people queuing up to ride the Pioneer every day.

New Yorkers who were lucky enough to ride the Pioneer couldn't believe that America's own railway company could actually create such an advanced and avant-garde locomotive with such a comfortable riding experience.

After a brief experience, when they reluctantly stepped off the comfortable train carriage, the faces of these New York citizens were full of joy and pride.

Some people are happy, while others are naturally sad and disappointed.

Those colleagues who came to ride on the first-come-first-served basis with a critical mentality were extremely disappointed.

They were not disappointed with the ride experience of the Pioneer, but they were disappointed that they could not find the shortcomings of the Pioneer.

In the entire United States, there is no other railroad company whose carriage ride experience is as comfortable as that of the Pioneer.

The Pioneer's performance was excellent and impeccable.

As for the speed they calculated using their pocket watches, it was around 40 miles per hour, which was far higher than the 35 miles per hour advertised by Liang Yao.

If it is fully loaded with one hundred tons of cargo, it can definitely run at a speed of 35 miles per hour. Liang Yao is not suspected of exaggerating or false advertising.

The Pioneer parameters announced by Liang Yao are true.

"Aren't you afraid of revealing the secrets of the Pioneer when you display the locomotive in public so boldly?" Vanderbilt teased.

"American railroad companies have no other skills, but their ability to counterfeit and plagiarize is top-notch. They don't care whether you have applied for a patent with the patent office."

"Given the current situation of the major railways, do you think they still have the energy and budget to imitate the Pioneer? I think the first thing they need to consider now is how to survive this major change in the railway industry."

Liang Yao said with great confidence.

"The Pioneer will not always be just a Pioneer. The improvement work of the Pioneer is already in progress. After they successfully copy it, more advanced locomotives may have been put into use."

The cruel law of natural selection and survival of the fittest also applies to the business field.

The abnormal environment in the United States has created the false prosperity of the railway industry over the past two decades. The bubble in the American railway industry has burst, and a large number of railway companies that lack competitiveness and enterprising spirit will go bankrupt.

I wonder how many of the more than 100 railway companies listed on Wall Street will be able to withstand this crisis and survive?

"I am very fortunate that when the entire industry is our enemy, I can still have such a reliable and strong partner."

Vanderbilt smiled pretending to be relaxed.

"I have offended a lot of people, and I will be involved in lawsuits for a long time, but fortunately I have enough experience to deal with the upcoming lawsuits.

Before I became a shipping king, I was a frequent visitor to the major courts in New York, and those nasty guys filed lawsuits against me again and again.

When the situation was at its worst, the letters I received from law firms every month were enough to keep me from having to wipe my ass for that month.”

Vanderbilt was not born into a wealthy family in New York. He was born and raised in an ordinary Dutch farming family. His parents were both ordinary small farmers.

If there is anything special about him, it is that he has inherited the business genes engraved in the bones of the Dutch, and has shown amazing business talent and extraordinary courage since he was a child.

When Vanderbilt was 8 years old, he secretly took the money his mother had hidden in the big pendulum clock, but he did not use the money to buy toys and snacks for enjoyment like other children.

Instead, he used the money to make loan sharks. He would be able to find a suitable loan target and recover the money in time. Many years later, Vanderbilt thought of this and said proudly:

My mother never noticed that I had touched the money in the big pendulum clock, because every time she checked the money, those silver coins would appear in the big pendulum clock.

One semester later, I saved a huge sum of $1 and 80 cents through loan sharking, and became the richest kid in the class.

But in the end, this matter was exposed. My arithmetic teacher discovered the fact that I had huge assets, suspected the source of my huge sum of money, and told my mother about it.

After my mother learned about this incident, she did not beat or scold me. She seemed to be happy to discover my business talent. She just told me seriously that if I want to use the family's money, I must tell him and get her permission before doing so.

Use the money.

In 1812, when the Second Revolutionary War broke out, no one was willing to transport military supplies to the six military forts around New York City.

After the war broke out, the British fleet blocked the waters near the New York port. Transporting necessary items for the US military in the military fortress was a very risky matter.

Vanderbilt, who was only 19 years old at the time, took on the arduous and risky task that his peers were unwilling to take on, breaking through the British blockade and promptly providing military supplies to the American troops in the fortress.

After the war, he not only made a huge sum of more than 9,000 US dollars, but also met some powerful people in New York, which was very helpful for his subsequent rise.

"You reminded me that in California I don't have to worry about competitors getting in the way or being sued," Liang Yao said.

"There are many people in the east, and there are also many disputes. I think I will encounter more and more lawsuits in the future. I must make preparations early and establish a strong legal department for my railway company."

As the largest oligarch in California, Liang Yao is the leading oligarch both politically and economically. The entire judicial system in California is just a tool in his hands.

No one would think of going against him, but the situation is different in the New York area. It may be difficult to find someone richer than him in New York, but there are many people more powerful and influential than him.

It is difficult for him to get a bargain in New York, and it is inevitable that his railroad company will be maliciously sued by competitors in the future.

Liang Yao called Kony, and Kony soon appeared in front of Liang Yao.

"Sir, are you going to tell me to buy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company?" Coney asked.

The stock price of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company has plummeted from $31 to $20 per share. In just a few days, more than $1 million in assets have been wiped out.

"Don't be anxious. Your father isn't even anxious. Why should I be anxious?" Liang Yao said, "The stock price of the Baltimore-Ohio Railroad Company still has a lot of room to fall. Let them fall for a while."

Liang Yao said very calmly.

The stocks of railroad companies on Wall Street are plummeting. Except for the two culprits who caused this tragedy, no one is willing to spend money to acquire the railroad companies that everyone is clamoring for at this time.

"Then what are your orders?"

Kony asked in confusion.

"Issuing a recruitment notice, Stonington Railway Company, a subsidiary of America Group, is recruiting experienced lawyers with specific benefits."

Speaking of the specific salary of New York lawyers in this era, Liang Yao's knowledge blind spot was touched upon, and he did not know how much salary he should offer.

He only knew that New York lawyers were among the elite and high-income people in society in this era, but he had no in-depth knowledge of their specific remuneration.

Whether it is 1850 or 2022, in New York, it can also be said that in the United States, the cost of becoming a lawyer is very high and requires a lot of money.

Career choice is also a high-risk investment. Careers with high entry barriers naturally mean high incomes.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, I would like to know how much the law firm pays to serve you?"

Liang Yao asked Vanderbilt.

"It's hard to say, it depends on how many times I'm sued." Vanderbilt thought for a while and said.

"The annual consulting fee for the law firm that specializes in serving me is US$3,600, but the consulting fee is only a small part of the expenditure. The income limit of the law firm is very high, and their income depends on how much they win for me that year.

Commission received from a lawsuit.

Since 1829, I have been the person with the most lawsuits filed against me in the entire New York area, a record that no one has been able to break."

Liang Yao probably knew in his heart that a law firm that could serve America's top wealthy people like Vanderbilt must be the top law firm of this era.

"The specific treatment will refer to the law firm that serves your father." Liang Yao said to Kony.

"Okay, I understand, sir."

Kony nodded, and at the same time did not forget to say to Liang Yao.

"This is all in the past. Ever since Clark became our son-in-law, Clark has been responsible for the Vanderbilt family's lawsuits. Clark does not charge money to litigate for his father."

After speaking, Kony smiled and walked away.

"You can also save this little money?"

Liang Yao looked at Vanderbilt in surprise.

He now even wondered if this guy had hired Clark, a son-in-law who was a lawyer, just to save on annual legal fees.

Vanderbilt had told him that Clark was his right-hand man, and now perhaps he could add one more: unpaid right-hand man.

"Clark has very strong professional skills and is a rare good lawyer." Vanderbilt said with a smile.

"Koni has undergone earth-shaking changes when you came to your place. He was never so diligent when doing things for me before."

"Because I pay Kony's salary."

Liang Yao said without thinking.

"After acquiring the railway company, I plan to let William also exercise."

Vanderbilt looked at Coney walking away and said.

"I think this will be a very wise choice." Liang Yao commented.

William's ability is enough to manage the railway company. Of course, the premise is that the father and son can put aside their estrangement between them.

At this moment, Liang Yao noticed several well-dressed people boarding the train that had just stopped.

One of the people seemed to be former New York Governor Fish and current New York Governor Hunter who had been seen at the port.

Both Fish and Hunter are from famous families in New York State. The status of those who can be with Fish and Hunter will naturally not be simple.

"Do you know who the people around Fish and Governor Hunter are? Their identities don't seem simple."

Liang Yao pointed at Fish and his group and asked Vanderbilt.

(End of chapter)