mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 110 Bowing one's head
Chapter 110 Bowing one's head
Chapter 110 Bowing one's head
On March 1, 1997, an inconspicuous little company called paypaI was quietly founded in San Jose.
There was no flower-filled celebration, no media frenzy, only a handful of core members in a simple office, their eyes sparkling with anticipation and trepidation for the future.
On the day of its establishment, Ryan Ruiz, CEO of the recently rising game company Leap, personally went to congratulate them.
"Ernst asked me to tell you not to worry, he will always be there for you."
Ryan Ruiz didn't understand why Ernst didn't say these things to Peter Thiel in person, but instead had to relay them himself.
He sized up Peter Thiel, the man in front of him. The man looked calm and reserved, with a depth in his eyes that was beyond his years. At least at first glance, he certainly had the potential to succeed, no wonder he had won Ernst's favor.
Peter Thiel understood Ernst's intentions; this American tycoon, who was currently enjoying great success, did not want to put too much pressure on him.
After all, PayPal is just getting started, and the future is full of unknowns and challenges. Ernst’s personal appearance may bring attention to this startup, but it may also cast an invisible shadow, making him feel constrained on his way forward.
Just three days ago, the two met at YueDong Games.
At that time, with a mix of trepidation and anticipation, he laid out all his ideas about online payments to Ernst.
But to his surprise, Ernst's understanding of online payments was far more profound and thorough than his own.
When Ernst talked about PayPay's future development plans, his bold and avant-garde ideas left Peter Thiel speechless.
In his eyes, online payment is just the most basic function of PayPay; what he really wants to do is to subvert the entire financial order of the United States.
Funds, stocks, savings, consumption—Ernst's blueprint covers every aspect of people's lives, and every area could become a territory for PayPay.
Peter Thiel listened with great excitement. He didn't know if such a magnificent vision could ultimately be realized, but he knew clearly that once it became a reality, the long-established financial giants on Wall Street would face an unprecedentedly powerful enemy.
As for Ernst's blunt invitation for him to become the Garfield family's front man, Peter Thiel agreed without hesitation.
Whether a person succeeds or not is essentially a reflection of the value they generate, and how they generate value largely depends on what kind of person they become as a pawn in their game.
For him at this moment, being able to become a pawn of someone of Ernst's caliber was something he never dared to dream of before.
"He should be in Mountain View right now, shouldn't he?" Peter Thiel asked softly, gazing out the window.
Today, besides being the founding day of PayPay, another major event is unfolding that is being closely watched across the United States: the launch of Google Mail.
Several days ago, Gmail's GG was flooded with reports in major media outlets.
Gmail's eye-catching logo and slogans are almost everywhere—in the subway, on television, and on the front page of newspapers.
Today's Google is no longer the small player it was when it launched its search engine. When it's short of money, it has its own ways of doing things; when it's rich, it has its own paths to success.
The $6000 million Google fee caused a huge uproar in the entire internet industry, and everyone was shocked by Google's generous move.
Then it spread to all walks of life, and everyone wanted to wait and see if Google Mail would really revolutionize the entire email industry as they advertised on Google.
Ryan Ruiz shrugged and said, "You know, I have no way of knowing the big boss's schedule."
Is Ernst in Mountain View?
in.
However, it wasn't because of the launch of Gmail, but to welcome a big shot.
Inside a high-end clubhouse in Mountain View, the air is filled with the subtle aroma of coffee and the scent of expensive cigars.
Ernst held a cup of freshly brewed Blue Mountain coffee, his gaze slowly shifting between the two men opposite him, his eyes deep and unreadable.
The club's decor was understated yet luxurious, with several works by unknown painters hanging on the walls, and every piece of furniture revealed the taste and wealth of the place.
Soft lighting bathed the three of them, creating an atmosphere that was both private and slightly tense.
Seated on the left is Ernst's partner, Eric Prince, the founder of Blackwater International.
The man on the right, whom Ernst brought with him, is the important figure Ernst must treat with caution.
Last night, Eric Prince suddenly called Ernst, saying he would be in Mountain View the next day and wanted to introduce Ernst to an important friend.
Ernst's first thought was, "Is someone on Capitol Hill in contact with Blackwater?"
Blackwater International has been making waves in the U.S. police system recently, initially securing police training contracts in just a few cities, including Los Angeles and Houston.
However, due to the remarkable effectiveness of the training, the crime-solving rate and the number of police officers injured or killed in these cooperative police stations were greatly improved, and Blackwater International's business gradually expanded to the entire United States.
According to Eric Prince's previous report, Blackwater International has now signed training contracts with police departments in 37 cities across the United States, providing professional arrest training to officers in these areas twice a year.
At this moment, the other party called, pretending to be mysterious. The first thought that flashed through Ernst's mind was that someone had come to his door seeking cooperation.
They were indeed there to cooperate, and they were definitely important people.
But this important figure was so important that even Enss was surprised and hadn't expected it.
Jeff Skilling, CEO of Enron.
Despite his current net worth of billions of dollars, Ernst is a well-known figure in the United States.
Compared to An Ran, he was not a small fry at the moment, but at least a small shark.
And Enron? Definitely at the level of an orca.
This is undoubtedly one of the giants in the American business world today, with such formidable power in both the political and business spheres that it inspires awe.
Just one number is enough to show how powerful this orca is in both the political and business spheres.
Enron provided campaign funding to a total of 71 incumbent senators and 188 members of the House of Representatives, making it their biggest financial backer.
It's important to know that the entire United States has only 100 senators and 435 representatives.
Such influence is enough to make any company or individual dare not offend them easily.
"President Skilling, you should know that there are many people in Silicon Valley who know more about technology than I do," Ernst broke the silence first. His tone was calm, revealing little emotion.
But these calm words surprised, even astonished, Eric Prince.
Jeff Skilling, sitting next to him, narrowed his eyes slightly and stared intently at Ernst, as if trying to see through him.
Neither of them expected that Ernst would refuse an offer from a giant like Enron.
This is Enron; there's no one in all of America who doesn't want to get involved with Enron.
Not to mention individuals and companies, even the giants on Wall Street treated Enron's stock like a family heirloom, only buying and never selling it.
"Ernst, are you sure you know what you just said?"
After realizing what was happening, Eric Prince quickly tried to persuade him, his face showing obvious anxiety.
Jeff Skilling raised his hand to interrupt Eric Prince, his gaze never leaving Ernst, and slowly said, "Enron will only work with people who best fit the company's character, so I had some friends on Capitol Hill find Eric Prince and come to visit you in person."
He paused, his tone remaining calm, "Of course, this is just an opportunity to seek cooperation. You can refuse, and An Ran will not force you."
Ernst couldn't help but smile wryly upon hearing this.
Jeff Skilling's words were clearly putting him on the spot.
If he could truly refuse, the other party should have already understood the meaning behind his tactful words.
But now Jeff Skilling is clearly pressuring him to give a clear answer, an answer that requires him to say the word "no".
Refuse to cooperate with Enron? Does Ernst have the guts? Although he is no longer a nobody and has considerable influence in society, there is still a huge gap between him and Enron.
Once the news of his refusal to cooperate with Enron gets out, Enron's stock price is likely to be affected, and then he and Enron will be locked in a life-or-death struggle.
And retaliation from the other party will follow.
Given Enron's size and network, Ernst could almost imagine that all of his businesses would face various troubles.
Furthermore, Jeff Skilling specifically mentioned Capitol Hill and Eric Prince, which clearly implies that Blackwater International's desire to participate in defense missions is simply not a problem for Enron.
But if Ernst refuses to cooperate, then whether Blackwater International can continue to train police officers smoothly in the future is probably unknown. Ernst glanced at Eric Prince, his heart in turmoil.
The fact that the two were able to come together suggests that it wasn't just a simple collaboration between him and An Ran.
There is another very important character, and that is the little cowboy.
Thinking about it more deeply, it's like getting entangled with an elephant.
To be honest, despite Ernst not being Jewish, he actually leaned more towards the Donald camp.
The industries he operates, whether it's media, the internet, or the financial sector he may venture into in the future, are all industries controlled by the Donkey camp.
It would obviously be more advantageous for him to cooperate with the donkey camp than with the elephant camp.
Elephant is a supporter of the transmission industry, but within Elephant, Ernst has little say or support.
But the problem now is that the donkey's important figure didn't come, but the elephant came knocking.
Ernst didn't want to get too involved with either Elephant or Enron.
But now he is forced to bow his head.
After a fierce internal struggle, Ernst took a deep breath and slowly said, "In all of America, who can refuse Enron's cooperation?"
His tone carried a hint of helplessness, but more so a sense of compromise after weighing the pros and cons.
Upon hearing this answer, Jeff Skilling finally smiled. "Enron is the same. We are honored to be able to do business with one of America's most prestigious internet upstarts."
He paused, then continued, "I believe our cooperation will bring mutually satisfactory results. Of course, Anran will not treat any friend unfairly and will definitely make you satisfied."
It was clear that Jeff Skilling was a very busy man. After receiving a satisfactory answer, he did not linger. He exchanged a few simple pleasantries, then got up to say goodbye and left.
Inside the room, only Eric Prince and Ernst remained. The tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, but both of them had rather complicated feelings.