Chapter 5: Oil Prices Rise, Stocks Fall

"What? You say no one will publish it? What should we do?" For him, this problem did not exist. A tycoon naturally had a tycoon's solution. If all else failed, he could just buy a publishing house. As long as it wasn't too famous, a publishing house wasn't really that expensive. William White was busy with his grand plan these past few days. Busy with his grand creative plan. ... Seeing the young master back to normal, Fulton was very happy. But the continuously falling stock prices made him very worried. "Young master, the stock price is now only $2.50. It's dropped quite a bit from the high point of $3.20." "It's alright, Fulton. They're just shaking out the weak hands. It's not that easy to control the board." "What should we do?" "Put out the word that in extreme cases, White Oil will seek government trusteeship." "Young master, isn't that a bit too aggressive?" "It's just a rumor. Whether they believe it or not is up to them." "Alright, young master. I'll handle it right away." Actually, government trusteeship wasn't reliable at all. Not many people would believe it. The White family had indeed suffered heavy losses, but their lineage had lasted for hundreds of years. They still had some foundation. They wouldn't let others easily take over. This statement was more of a hint, a clear and unmistakable message to everyone. Someone was interested in their industry. The current moves were merely intimidation. If you sold your stock at a low price, you'd surely regret it later. ... "What? Government trusteeship? Impossible!" A slightly plump man said. "Boss, the other side is aware of our intentions. It's now a bit tricky to take action. In the short term, it's impossible to gather enough shares." "How's the situation with those shareholders we contacted?" "No problem selling shares, but they're all unhappy with the price." "Let's hold off for now. We don't have that much liquidity." Their plan was to use White Oil to make money. They really didn't want to control the company. Now that they hit a snag, they had to put the plan on hold. Whatever their plan was, if they encountered strong resistance, things would go awry. You want to mortgage it? Great, you can mortgage stocks. But mortgaging the company is impossible. After all, they were at least the second-largest shareholder. Unless you announced privatization and delisting. If there were lawsuits on top of that, it'd all go to pieces. Time was crucial, and they clearly didn't have enough. The other party didn't care about the current stock price at all, which frustrated them greatly. ... "Young master, the things you ordered have all arrived." "Fulton, clear out a few rooms in the north wing. Then, according to these blueprints, make these tables." "Alright, young master. The people you need will arrive tomorrow." "Arrange for the lawyers to sign confidentiality agreements. The salary can be increased by 30%." "Understood." "Fulton, I need lawyers proficient in patent applications. We'll need them in a month." "That's easy. I'll handle it right away." Looking at a pile of Apple II computers, William couldn't help but smile bitterly. These things were practically antiques to him. But in this era, they were high-tech. Typewriters were still widely used in this era. Assembling these computers posed no difficulty for him. As for his computer desks, well, they were indeed very Texan. Apart from the word "sturdy," there were no other adjectives to describe them. There were benefits, of course. These red cedar desks didn't need any paint. Although very ugly, they were at least solid. The computers and software of this era were disconnected. Computers had less impact than word processors. Of course, this wouldn't last long. In about a year, software would spring up like mushrooms after a rain. The first to seize this opportunity would undoubtedly profit the most. ... What worried Fulton didn't bother him at all. The Hunter family would eventually fail miserably, and when that time came, he wouldn't show any mercy. He actually didn't mind kicking someone when they were down. The Hunter family taking advantage of others' misfortune was also very taboo in their circles. Unless you planned to fight to the death, it was best not to do it. The Hunter family were old aristocrats. They not only had vast farms but also top-notch horse breeding centers. Don't underestimate that. A good horse cost at least tens of thousands of dollars. That was no joke. If it were a champion horse, the price would be even higher. Their family had no shortage of champion horses. They had oil companies and numerous industries in America. They also had large oil fields in Libya. Unfortunately, they encountered an unreasonable foe who confiscated their oil fields. Two consecutive wars had left the US stunned. They would avoid war unless absolutely necessary. Taxes were essentially protection fees. No one would mind global taxation as long as you did your job. But collecting money without providing services was unacceptable. Years of rising oil prices made the Hunter family green with envy. Seeing the White family in trouble, they pounced unhesitatingly. But they were destined to be disappointed. This time, their opponent had some tricks up his sleeve and would make them pay dearly. Word spread quickly on Wall Street. This was high-level news. It was clear White Oil was ready to fight to the end. They'd opt for government trusteeship if things got extreme. Who would dare to play tricks then? The price the Hunter family would pay would be enormous. It would be impossible for them to take over easily. The Hunters weren't the only ones with ill intentions. But the White family's stance was very clear. They wouldn't give in, even if it meant selling to the federal government. William White's move was brilliant. White Oil wasn't something they wouldn't sell. As long as the price was right, they wouldn't refuse. This retreat-to-advance strategy was very tough. If you initiated a hostile takeover, they'd back out in a blink. Then you'd deal with the government. It'd be a battle of who was more unreasonable. Once under government trusteeship, causing trouble would be a death wish. Based on current information, they weren't just bluffing. There were benefits, of course. Those with ill intentions would have to weigh the pros and cons. Either fully acquire and privatize, or forget about diluting the shares after gaining control. The government would scrutinize you thoroughly, ensuring a miserable end. The downside was stock prices falling. The White family would cease resistance. Anti-takeover measures wouldn't work, disappointing those hoping to make a quick buck. Actually, if the price was right, many companies would be interested in a full acquisition. With oil prices high, oil companies were very valuable. The biggest concern was the economy. Severe inflation was terrible news for investors. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.