America's Road to Wealth

"Good morning, Warren. Michael said you were coming to Washington?"

After reading the photos of her and little Alia sent by Charlize, Abel, who was about to go up to chat with his wife, father-in-law, and mother-in-law, was stopped by a call from Warren Buffett.

Abel had no choice but to wave his hand towards little Laura, while talking on the phone with a smile, while walking back to the living room, he reached out and gestured to the maid in the living room.

The maid in the living room nodded respectfully and went to make coffee for the master.

"Abel, since Michael told you in advance. Then he should have told you that I am interested in the Kansas City Southern Railway Company."

"Yes, Michael did tell me. But I'm really curious, dear Warren, why did you suddenly fall in love with such an old and ruined asset like the railway? You know, it's not 100 years ago, even the railway kings ran away Selling financial products and selling securities. You are such a successful Wall Street businessman, but you want to become a railway king, can you tell me your mental journey? You know, after a while, even my rocket will go to space.”

The corners of Abel's mouth were raised slightly, his tone was deliberately curious, and he asked knowingly.

Half a month ago, Michael Bloomberg suddenly called Abel in Los Angeles.

On the phone, the oilman boss told Abel that he and Warren Buffett, another tycoon of the Hydra Gang, wanted to take action against the Kansas City Southern Railway Company.

Kansas City Southern Railway Company is a long-established railway company and one of the seven Class I railway companies in the United States.

It was founded in Delaware in 1887 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas in its name is also this Kansas, not the Kansas next to Texas.

This company is a transportation holding company whose main business is to invest in railway construction in the United States, Mexico and Panama. Its main holding company in the United States is the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, which serves the central and south-central United States.

It has historically served the Northeastern, Central, South Central and Central Mexico, the port cities of LS Rocardenas, the states of Tampico and Veracruz, and owns 50% of the Panama Canal Railroad Company Interest, providing ocean-to-ocean passenger and passenger services along the Panama Canal.

In addition, Kansas Southern's "North American Railway Holdings and Strategic Alliance" is a major component of the NAFTA rail system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the United States, Mexico and Canada.

If the railway system is the blood vessel of this country, then the Kansas City Southern Railway Company is a very important sub-vascular system among the many blood vessels.

In the American railway system, it is particularly important. It is also called the seven major railway groups in the United States together with the American National Railway Passenger Company, the Pacific Union Railway Company, the Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and the Northern Burlington-Santa Fe NS Railway Group. Together they monopolize more than 50% of the country's railway operations.

In fact, it is mainly about the transportation of materials and cargo. After all, the United States has a very complete commercial flight system for manning.

In capital countries, railway companies are also listed companies, even the Federal Reserve is a private bank, and the National Railroad Passenger Company with a national name is the same.

Not to mention Kansas City Southern.

It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with an annual turnover of 25 billion to 30 billion US dollars and a total market value of about 45 billion US dollars. It is well-known on the list of the top 500 companies in the United States.

At the beginning, Abel was curious about why Bloomberg and Buffett, two Wall Street giants, suddenly became interested in a sunset company with heavy assets like Kansas City Southern Railway Company.

Fortunately, Buffett said that his investment philosophy is relatively conservative, and it is possible to invest in sectors such as railway transportation.

But as an oilman, Bloomberg should generally have no interest in companies like Kansas City Southern. Even if he is interested, he will also be worried because of his identity as an oilman.

Although it was not explicitly stated, the orthodox forces in the United States, mainly WASP groups, have actually been restricting the oilmen for a long time.

Oilers can engage in finance, high-tech, media and real estate.

But if there are oil people who want to engage in energy and other industries that involve the lifeline of the country, it will not be so easy.

Later, because Abel is the leader of the "New York Hydra" after all, or because he knew that he couldn't hide it from Abel, Bloomberg told him the truth to a certain extent.

Old Myer was pushed out.

It is precisely because of the multiple restrictions placed on the oilmen by the orthodox forces in the United States that the oilmen have always wanted to break the situation.

They don't want to be completely white gloves for WASP, they also want to be one of the masters of the country.

Now, as the oilman who works most closely with Abel, the oilman internally feels that Bloomberg can get Abel's support. They persuaded Buffett with benefits, and then pushed Bloomberg out.

I hope to get Abel's help, and then put my hand into this important industry.

It doesn't matter even if the proportion of shares is small, the most important thing is to maintain a sense of existence.

This is the thinking of the insightful people among the oil people.

"..."

Listening to Abel's knowingly asking, Buffett on the other end of the phone fell into a brief silence, and after a while he said, "If I say that it is profitable, you will not believe it. But if I say that I want to be a railway king, you will be even more convinced." I don’t believe it. With the relationship between us, I’ll just say it straight. The reason is very simple, that is, you have been increasing the huge influence brought by the investment in heavy assets, which makes me and the people around me feel very good.”

"We also want to try to see if we can strengthen our influence in this area. Of course, making money is also very important. The seven major railway companies are all very good cash cows. Although their profits are not as good as other industries, they are better than others. Stable. From this perspective, they are also high-quality assets.”

"National Railroad and Union Pacific I don't expect much, but Kansas City South and North Burlington-Santa Fe NS I'm more or less sure. If you will help, it will be more sure."

Abel curled his lips, thinking that I am also interested in National Railroad and Union Pacific, but that is the domain of Morgan and the old overlords, moving these two companies is to say to Morgan, "Let's fight to the death. "Bar!

Not even Abel would have thought about them unless it was necessary.

Just like Morgan and Rockefeller, they will not directly express their thoughts to Smith Financial Group.

"Then why Kansas City Southern. Isn't there a North Burlington-Santa Fe NS?"

Abel was not disturbed by Warren's frank and straightforward attitude, but the corners of his mouth were raised, and he asked back in a tone that did not know what Warren said.

For dealing with a scheming old fox like Warren Buffett, even if he is one of his allies, Abel will not fully trust him.

In fact, not to mention Buffett and the others, even if it was a bush, Abel also defended it.

In this super-sheda country, there is never a permanent relationship. The only thing that is eternal is interest, and everyone's desire for interest.

And from the perspective of real interests, they are just allies. Buffett and the others only belong to the periphery of the Texas United consortium.

The same goes for the entire New York Hydra gang.

If Abel had to choose one before the Hydra Gang and the Texas United Consortium, then he would definitely choose Texas.

Because that is his basic base, and the New York Hydra Gang is just a peripheral organization he uses to exert his influence and expand his power.

Now that the other party wanted something from him, how could Abel hand over the initiative so easily? If he wanted to help him, he could only follow his pace.

Because things like railways - he wants it too!

In a way, it is even more important than energy, the real lifeblood of the country.

Given the opportunity, Abel naturally couldn't let it go.