From legendary short seller to god of American capital

Chapter 308 The First Small Gathering of Heroes

Chapter 308 The First Small Gathering of Heroes

That noon, Larry Livingston treated everyone to lunch at Delmonico, one of New York's most famous restaurants.

In addition to the Browning brothers, Belgians Hart, Henry Ford, Henry Leland, and others, Larry also invited Mr. Porter, as well as Henry Goldman from Goldman Sachs.

By this time, Mr. Potter had already moved into the top floor of his own property near the Waldorf Hotel, so it was very convenient to invite him.

As for Henry Goldman, it was even easier to get him to come. Because he was always at the company, it seemed like Goldman Sachs employees never knew what a vacation was.

The choice of Del Monico as the lunch venue was a reluctant one, as it is one of the most famous and upscale restaurants in the Metropolitan Government. Mr. Porter had previously chosen this place to entertain Cecil Rhodes.

This hotel has been established for 50 years and is still a top-tier establishment in New York, truly possessing the attributes of "high-end consumption, celebrity gatherings, and formal banquets".

In short, it has a great reputation! Dining here is a real status symbol! It's also a must-visit for wealthy people from out of town when they come to New York.

The gilded chandeliers illuminated the hall with a magnificent glow, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of cigars, roasted ribs, and eel sauce.

Because this is one of the most upscale restaurants in New York, gentlemen who dine here are required to wear suits or tuxedos.

However, to avoid the embarrassment of guests forgetting, there was a clothing store across the street that temporarily rented formal wear. Larry arranged for Mr. K to rent decent suits there, and everyone could change into tuxedos before dining across the street.

The waiter led everyone to a deluxe suite on the second floor according to the pre-arranged list. The suite was very elegant, with the restaurant setting the tableware inside and a cigar and tea room outside for guests to relax and chat.

When everyone meets, there is naturally a lively atmosphere.

Henry Goldman seized the opportunity to pester Mr. Porter about the subsequent investments in the Progressive Partners Fund; while the two engineers, Henry Ford and Henry Leland, began a wide-ranging discussion about the commercial prospects of automobiles and subsequent engineering improvements; and the Browning brothers and the Belgian continued their conversation about how to develop the ordnance industry.

Mr. K, with a sincere expression, apologized to Dunbar, who had just arrived. He looked like he was about to cry, and was almost ready to kowtow and apologize on the spot.

Before Larry could even greet everyone, Logan arrived! He had grown taller, and some of his acne had faded. Perhaps due to his long time as a teller at Morgan Trust Bank, he had matured a lot. He was able to greet people proactively and easily become friends with others, giving him a rather "social butterfly" feel!

Larry looked at these people and felt inexplicably happy. Everyone present was an expert in their own field, with diverse personalities and unique abilities, but they all had one thing in common: they had gathered together, more or less, because of him.

It was as if he had listened to storytelling in his past life, such as the gathering of heroes in "Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties" or "Water Margin". Larry felt very happy when he thought that all the heroes in the world were in his understanding, and a sincere smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, the restaurant's head waiter approached Larry and said that everyone could take their seats.

"Gentlemen, please be seated!" Larry clapped his hands and gestured towards the dining room inside.

There, the red oak dining table was already set with the highest standard: three sets of silver knives and forks, the outermost for oysters, the middle for fish, and the innermost for the main course, along with porcelain from China.

After everyone was seated, the waiters silently poured sherry for each guest. Soon after, the waiters brought out the desserts.

Mr. K quickly stood up and explained to everyone, "Although it's against procedure, I ordered this dessert on purpose. It's called Alaskan Baked Ice Cream, which was created in 1870 to commemorate the United States' purchase of Alaska. Everyone must try it."

Everyone looked at the dessert in front of them. This Alaskan dessert, which symbolized "a seemingly reasonable deal but actually a great bargain," was made of ice cream, sponge cake, and added meringue. According to the waiter, the dessert had to be baked quickly in the oven, so the dish was hot on the outside and cold on the inside.

Larry grinned and raised his sherry. "To Alaska!"

"To Alaska!" Everyone laughed and raised their glasses.

After the first round of sherry, everyone continued chatting while enjoying desserts.

This is when the main dishes are served.

At this time, Delmonique adopted the Russian style of serving food, which was just beginning to become popular at high-society banquets.

In late 19th-century Europe and America, especially at high-society banquets, French service was considered the pinnacle of dining service.

This is not only because it demands extremely high standards for ingredients, culinary skills, and the professionalism of service staff, but also because of its attention to detail. French cuisine offers guests an unparalleled, highly personalized, and immersive experience.

Guests are not merely diners, but also spectators and participants in a captivating culinary drama. The sense of prestige and ritual created by this interaction is unparalleled by other service methods.

Simply put, the French style of serving food involves cooking on-site. After the food is initially processed in the kitchen, the waiter or server completes the final cooking and plating next to the serving cart. All of this is done directly in front of the guests.

It's a bit like the live slicing of duck skin for Peking duck in China.

Of course, this method requires a large number of people and also imposes limitations on many cooking methods.

Russian-style dining began to take shape in high society at the end of the 19th century.

The difference is that the food is prepared and cut in the kitchen, and then served on a large silver platter by the waiter to the guests.

The waiters use ladles to serve food to guests, which is less visually appealing but very efficient.

The key to the popularity of the Russian-style dining method lies in its suitability for modern business banquets. American business people don't have much time for two-day banquets; most of the time, they need to quickly discuss business, and then eat. They can't afford to waste an entire day on a single dish like the old European aristocracy.

A bottle of wine.

This was also the biggest difference between the old aristocracy and the old money in Europe at that time.

Now, each guest has a waiter behind them who is responsible for pouring drinks and serving appetizers.

The appetizer was amber caviar with crispy biscuits. The dark brown biscuits were as thin as cicada wings with slightly curled edges, and the center was covered with deep golden caviar, each caviar plump like a crushed diamond. The surface was garnished with a few slices of fresh lemon zest.

This dish is incredibly dry and melts in your mouth. The salty and savory flavor is like surging ocean waves, with the oceanic aroma of caviar intertwined with the slight tartness of lemon, leaving a lingering sweet aftertaste in your throat, as if you've swallowed the tides of the entire North Atlantic.

Next up is the soup, called Amber Royal Soup. Visually, the soup is as clear as amber, with three golden wisps of oil floating on the surface. At the bottom, you can vaguely see chopped carrots and shallots, like gems set in sunlight.

Take a spoonful and put it in your mouth. The first bite is the rich flavor of chicken. Then, the Saturnian aroma of truffles and the salty fragrance of Parmesan cheese unfold layer by layer, as if being caressed by silk in your throat. The aftertaste is long and lingering, like the whisper of the French court.

This is a standard French dish.

Of course, according to Anglo-Saxon tradition, such a formal banquet must include a fish main course.

Today's dish is herb-baked bluefish with butter.

This is a classic Western seafood dish that emphasizes the original flavor of the fish and the complex aroma of herbs and butter through simple cooking methods.

Larry was seeing this blue fish for the first time.

This fish is a pelagic predatory fish that inhabits warm waters worldwide, except for the eastern Pacific Ocean. It can grow up to 130 cm in length, and its flesh is very fatty, making it extremely delicious when cooked.

The bluefish in this dish has a charred black skin, tender pink flesh, and when cut open, the juices flow out like amber. It is sprinkled with bright green parsley and chopped scallions.

Besides that, the main course was a Bordeaux red wine braised beef tenderloin, which Delmonico had arranged for this time.

This is also a classic fusion dish of French and New World cuisine, with thinly sliced ​​beef tenderloin marinated in a deep red wine sauce. The sauce is thick and juicy, and the surface is garnished with a few black peppercorns and small onion rings.

The beef melts in your mouth, the tanginess of the sauce and the fruity aroma of the red wine explode in your mouth, followed by the sweetness of the shallots and the tenderness of the beef, as if you've swallowed the sunset of an entire Bordeaux vineyard.

The group of grown men, who had probably come all the way from Boston and were all hungry, didn't say much before finishing their main meal; they were just focused on eating.

The restaurant waiters couldn't help but look at each other, as if they were helpless in serving this group of country bumpkins and nouveau riche.

During this time, only Mr. Potter and Henry Goldman remained relatively reserved.

Larry didn't seem to mind. After everyone had eaten their fill, he smiled and raised his glass—which had now been replaced with authentic Burgundy Chambétan red wine. This was the wine for the main meal, the proper wine for a top-class banquet.

"This glass is a toast to everyone here—to our friendship, to this turbulent era! May the tides of time help us set sail, and may the light of friendship guide us forward. Cheers!"

Mr. Porter and Mr. Goldman both smiled wryly, after all, this was not in accordance with dining etiquette, but they also knew that Larry, this fiery and energetic young man, was not the kind of person who followed the old New York rules.

The two men raised their glasses in unison, smiling as they looked at Larry.

The others wiped their mouths with napkins before eagerly raising their glasses, cheering loudly like a group of boisterous Viking pirates.

They then drank the red wine in their glasses in one gulp.

After the meal, it was time for drinks and cigars. The waiters cleared away the leftovers and extra plates, set out coffee, bourbon whiskey, and Cuban cigars, and then quietly left the room.

The group chatted while smoking cigars.

Larry didn't waste any time; he chatted and clinked glasses with everyone to build rapport while checking on the current tasks of each team. The main topics were arms deals and rifle testing and finalization.

John Browning, who didn't drink alcohol, assured Larry while sipping his water that the test would be foolproof. If all tests were passed, they planned to award the rifle model of the Mauser rifle cartridge to the Belgian company FN, while he would contact Colt to try to develop a version of the American bullet, which would of course be adjusted according to American usage.

Larry nodded in agreement, saying that once the rifle was finalized, he would accompany them to Colt for negotiations.

Matthew also reported that the factory has begun to renovate and expand its firearms workshop. This time, they will handle the semi-automatic pistol project themselves, since it's highly profitable and pistols are very suitable for gradually expanding production capacity.

“Great! But if you two go to Texas, who will manage the gun factory?” Larry asked.

John Browning pointed at Matthew, "Let him come! He came with me to Texas to scout things out in the early stages. After things are settled in Texas, let him return to Walden Pond. Matthew is suited to be a manager."

"That's right! I think Matthew has the ability, and besides, there are people waiting for him in Boston—" Larry joked with a smile, clinking his glass with Matthew's.

Matthew's face flushed slightly, but he also wore a happy smile.

Henry Goldman seized the opportunity to approach Larry and said, "Mr. Livingston, why don't you come to Texas with us? We can travel together!"

The head of Goldman Sachs was always polite in front of outsiders, calling Larry "Mr. Livingston," but in private, he was eager to be on friendly terms with Larry, and was very smooth-talking.

Larry smiled mysteriously, leaned close to his ear, and briefly explained that he was going to Rochester—there was no need to hide this from him, after all, it was Bausch & Lomb information that Goldman Sachs had collected for him.

Gao Man's eyes lit up, and she quickly offered, "How about I go with you? You'll need an assistant."

Before Larry could speak, Matthew quickly patted him on the shoulder with a smile, "No way! Mr. Goldman, everything in Texas was arranged by you, we can't do without you."

His meaning was clear: Goldman had to go in person and sort out all the complicated matters.

Henry Goldman frowned and thought for a few seconds. Reluctantly, but clearly considering the overall interests of Goldman Sachs, he said, "Then I recommend my brother-in-law to go with you. Trust me. Mr. Livingston, although he is far inferior to me—but if you're going to do investment banking acquisitions, Samuel Sachs can definitely help you."

Larry thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay! I'll visit him on Monday."

Upon hearing this, Gao Man quickly shook her head and said, "No, no! He's the one who should come to pay his respects to you. How could I possibly lower myself to let you visit him!"

Larry laughed. "Okay, then let him go to Mr. Porter's office. I'll check the latest market conditions while I'm at it."

After saying this, Larry went to Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter first secretly told him that he and Logan had just agreed to transfer all the gold coins from Barings Bank to Morgan Bank, "and he'll have Logan open an account for you later!"

"Oh, okay!" Larry replied to Mr. Potter, but secretly reminded himself that he would have to have Logan contact the senior partner named Whitney who had opened the gold coin account for him last time. It was better to keep all his gold coins together!

Larry then inquired about the fund, and Mr. Porter laughed heartily, saying, "The fund is all raised. I've already arranged with George Eastman of Kodak to finalize the investment and equity transaction on Monday or Tuesday. By the way, I've also got my eye on a few other startups. I'll discuss it with you properly when you're back in New York!"

Larry nodded, but then seemed to remember something. "Oh, right! Mr. Potter. Didn't you used to be on good terms with Tiffany? — I have a shipment of diamonds here, do they buy them?"

"Diamonds?! They must have been bought, Larry, you—" Mr. Potter's face showed astonishment.

"I think it's a good thing that customers don't have cash and are willing to use minerals like gold and diamonds as a discount. After all, the value they see is different from the value it has in the US. There's definitely something to make in this!" Larry said with a smile.

Mr. Porter got a general idea and realized it was an order from a gun factory customer, so he was relieved and assured them that he would contact Tiffany and purchase the goods at the current US price.

Leave this to him!

Larry made it very clear that business is business, and after this matter was completed, Larry would give Mr. Porter a 1% commission, to which Mr. Porter had no objection.

Then, while everyone was smoking cigars and chatting, Larry took Dunbar to the outer room and handed him a Citibank check for $5.

"Uncle Dunbar, I'm entrusting Lone Star Security to you! We need to make good use of your network to find some reliable veterans. Also, we need some honest young people. In short, start by building a team of about a dozen people to set up the framework—later, I'll talk to the people at Goldman Sachs and have them complete the complicated procedures, and then we can establish a public and mature armed force similar to the Pinkerton Detective Agency. At that time, we'll continue recruiting."

After saying that, Larry paused, then emphasized, "Uncle Dunbar, remember. Don't suffer! This money covers your food and drink, business must be successful, and we must live well. Use this $5 as you like. If you need more, send a telegram to Mr. Porter, and I'll send you more money."

Dunbar clutched the $5 check, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He looked at Larry, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "You trust me that much? This is $5! Aren't you afraid I'll run off with the money?"

Larry smiled, his face genuine. He patted the other man's hand. "Uncle Dunbar, I believe in your character."

"

"But we've only known each other for less than a year, and I don't even know my character. Why do you trust me so much?" Dunbar still looked puzzled.

Larry laughed again, putting his hands up on his head like ears, mimicking a horse, and said, "Sometimes, you don't judge a person by how they treat me, but by how they treat others. You've been so kind and caring to both horses, how could you possibly feel guilty towards me? Don't worry, Uncle Dunbar, I trust you."

Dunbar looked at Larry, a glint in his eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he stuffed the check into his inner pocket, nodded emphatically to Larry, and said, "Wait for my good news! You'll have a private army at your command."

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