Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Each With Their Own Plans

"What do you think?""He's simply like a different person. If he weren't so young, I'd almost think Paladin was still alive. He looks more and more like Paladin, only taller and stronger.""That's not true. He's not as outstanding as Paladin yet…"Nob Hill, still the Wilson family estate.But it was two in the afternoon, and Milo Blackburn had already left.In the small living room outside Schneider's bedroom.The old man was talking to his grandson, Edward.The subject of their discussion was Milo, who had visited earlier that day."Grandfather, could the rumors be true?"Edward asked, "Did Milo really receive divine inspiration?"The reason Edward had this suspicion was similar to the Cabrera brothers, who had met Milo not long ago.They had all been very familiar with Milo since childhood, especially Edward.The Cabrera brothers were familiar with Milo before he turned sixteen, while Edward was familiar with Milo from after he turned sixteen until Paladin's death.Despite Milo holding a degree from Harvard Divinity School, he had been sent to California at sixteen.He hadn't spent more than two months combined at Harvard.In California, Edward had always been responsible for contacting Milo on behalf of the Wilson family.To put it bluntly, Milo was in California, and the Blackburn family's influence there was limited.The troubles Milo had caused in the past, and the influence he had borrowed there, actually came from the Wilson family, their relatives through marriage.The Wilson family was one of the biggest local powers.So, the eldest son of the Wilson family was very clear about what Milo Blackburn had been like.Because of Milo's previous character, Edward connected Milo's changes to the recent hot news.Edward, like Victor, suspected that Milo had really received divine inspiration.This was also related to the Blackburn family's traditional occupation.Their ancestors were pastors on the Mayflower, and Protestant pastors were allowed to marry.Since then, the Blackburn family had been deeply involved in the religious field.At its peak, in the thirteen colonies before North America's independence, more than 30% of church pastors had ties to the Blackburn family…In the early part of this century, the Blackburns transitioned into secular life and gradually embraced reality.But they were still a top wealthy family in the American religious field.Especially in the New England region, the Blackburn family's influence in religion remained the strongest.In Edward's view, it didn't seem unreasonable for a member of such a religious family to receive divine inspiration.Provided that there really was a God in this world.Schneider gave his grandson a deep look and shook his head. "Who knows? But we only need to be clear about one thing. That is, with Paladin gone, we can no longer treat Milo the way we used to.""So, you called him over today and told him about Morgan Stanley's little tricks?"Schneider nodded again. "What do you think he will do next?"Edward thought for a moment and shook his head. "Grandfather, I'm sorry, I have no idea. But I know that even we wouldn't get the better of Morgan Stanley."This was the truth.Even now, the California Consortium's situation was somewhat precarious.The California Consortium was one of the ten largest financial groups in the United States, owning major commercial banks such as Bank of America, Western Bancorporation, Security Pacific Corporation, and the San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Company and Crocker National Corporation. It was a newly emerging financial group that had risen after World War II.Even among all the major financial groups in the United States, the California Consortium's financial strength was among the strongest.But… behind the major American financial groups, without exception, they also controlled powerful industrial foundations that could affect the American economy and people's livelihoods.For example, Rockefeller was the oil tycoon, Cleveland was the steel tycoon, and the DuPont family was the chemical tycoon.The California Consortium's industrial foundation was the arms industry.Along with the Boston and Texas consortia, they were part of the industrial component of the American military-industrial complex.In America, or rather in the Western-dominated world. Finance was at the top of all industries, but to truly reach this top.Beneath finance, without exception, there needed to be a solid foundation.The California Consortium's foundation was Northrop Corporation, Litton Industries, and Lockheed Aircraft Company.These companies were all among the top ten arms dealers in the United States.But now, a large part of the control of these arms manufacturing companies had gradually fallen into the hands of the eastern financial groups led by Morgan.The California Consortium's strength and status had declined relatively.This was also why Edward said they wouldn't get the better of Morgan.Even if Milo was currently facing only Morgan Stanley, just a part of Morgan's vast empire."Let's see what he does. The Blackburns have always tried to step out of their comfort zone, and Paladin was the most promising,"Schneider said with a smile, then as if he had thought of something, "By the way, call Sally and Anna in. If Martha is awake, let Martha in too. I have something to tell them.""Grandfather, you want Anna and Sally to get closer to Milo?"Schneider nodded."But." Edward frowned and reminded his grandfather, "I heard that the Blackburns are more inclined to cooperate with the Adams family.""Heh, what the Adams can offer, we can also offer.""What we can offer, the Adams can't necessarily offer!"Schneider rubbed his forehead and said, "Let them in. Especially Sally, Milo looked at her five more times than Anna just now."Seeing his grandfather like this, Edward had no choice but to nod in agreement and went out to call his sisters and mother in.……On the other side.After leaving Nob Hill.Milo quickly figured out why Morgan Stanley was targeting him.To put it this way, Netscape's IPO was handled by Morgan Stanley.And before that, Netscape had actually contacted several brokers and market makers.But those companies were somewhat puzzled by Netscape's situation.At that time, no one had done an IPO for an internet company.They were skeptical about whether a company that had lost tens of millions of dollars without a single cent of profit could go public.Finally, America Online acted as an intermediary and introduced Morgan Stanley to Netscape.Under the operation of Morgan Stanley and America Online.Netscape successfully went public, creating the first internet wealth myth.The two hundred thousand Netscape shares that Milo had obtained.Were what he had Wendy use family connections to get from America Online.Milo had paid four million dollars for these shares.Which came out to twenty dollars a share.Netscape's IPO price was $28.5, and now, Netscape's stock was worth more than $165 a share.What did this mean?It meant that Morgan Stanley was one of the initial pushers of the internet!And now that Morgan Stanley had heated up the market.They found that someone had taken a step ahead and occupied some good positions in the market…Morgan Stanley would definitely not let it go.Thinking of this, Milo spoke to Wendy in the passenger seat: "Wendy, have people keep an eye on Yahoo. Mainly the two founders. I think you understand what I mean.""Understood!"