"Gentlemen, we are all in this together, our interests are aligned. I believe everyone understands how crucial it is to master technology ourselves, for it dictates our development for the next several decades, even a century!" the Goldman Sachs representative said excitedly before the final vote.
On the other side, after the Goldman Sachs representative finished, Little Swift slowly spoke, "Utilizing Goldman Sachs' technology, this planned pipeline railway would cost at least a staggering 8,000 billion US dollars to build."
"However, if we use Chinese technology, I guarantee we can solve the problem for around 1,000 billion US dollars. That's a difference of a full 7,000 billion US dollars. You all know what is most beneficial for us. Would you rather spend an extra 7,000 billion US dollars? Would you be willing to pay that money yourselves?"
"Don't try to intimidate us!" the Goldman Sachs representative immediately retorted. "This funding can entirely be resolved through methods like increased share issuance. As for market confidence, as soon as we begin construction, confidence will immediately return."
"And as soon as we manage to build even a small section and get it operational, funds will pour in. We won't have to worry about money at all!"
"Fine!" Little Swift nodded. "Even if we go by your word, we still need to build a section first. This section would be at least seven to eight hundred kilometers long, right? Who will pay for this construction funding? The company's accounts are empty. Is Goldman Sachs willing to foot the bill?"
Little Swift thought that after he said this, the Goldman Sachs representative would have nothing more to say, as they surely wouldn't pay over a trillion to cover the costs of the first section of the pipeline.
Unexpectedly, the Goldman Sachs representative nodded and said very seriously, "If Mr. Chairman deems it necessary, our company can undertake a private placement with Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs can cover this expense!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room erupted in an uproar. Everyone stared at the Goldman Sachs representative in shock. They truly hadn't expected Goldman Sachs to be so bold as to actually pay this money themselves.
Little Swift was clearly stunned by Goldman Sachs' willingness to pay. He couldn't help but adjust the earpiece he was wearing and adopt an expression of listening intently.
After just a few seconds, the Goldman Sachs representative, who thought he had gained control of the meeting room, heard Little Swift snort, "Goldman Sachs truly has a clever plan. Our company's current total market capitalization is only 1.2 trillion. If you were to conduct a private placement of 1,000 billion US dollars with Goldman Sachs, wouldn't your shares in our company directly exceed 50%? And everyone present here would have their shares halved. From now on, the entire company would return to Goldman Sachs' control!"
"So what? If you have the ability, you can also invest 1,000 billion US dollars to develop it. Isn't Mr. Huang He the richest man in the world? Can't he afford this mere 1,000 billion US dollar investment?" the Goldman Sachs representative said with a cold smile. However, to be fair, Huang He really couldn't produce 1,000 billion US dollars.
Therefore, although Little Swift showed a threatening demeanor, he couldn't utter any domineering words like "I'll pay this 1,000 billion US dollars." He merely said, "You have quite the plan, spending only one trillion US dollars to seize future astronomical profits. What about the interests of our many directors?"
The Goldman Sachs director immediately replied, "Esteemed directors, although we have had many disputes in the past, we are all of the same blood and should stand together. After this meeting, our president will personally host a banquet for all of you to discuss important matters together, and he will absolutely guarantee everyone's interests."
"Conversely, some people are black devils, with a yellow-skinned monkey behind them. How can such people be united with us? They only think of their own interests. They are our enemies!" The Goldman Sachs director truly understood the art of persuasion. In a few words, he seemed to have swayed the hearts of the people.
"Alright, Mr. Little Swift, it's getting late. There's no need to waste any more time. Let's proceed directly to the vote. Raising hands to vote is the fairest and most just method!" the Goldman Sachs director said. Little Swift looked furious but helpless. He finally waved his hand and said, "Fine, if we're voting, let's vote. Let's be direct and decide the outcome with a single vote!"
"If everyone believes we should continue to use the previously provided technology from Goldman Sachs Group, please raise your hands. If everyone believes we should not continue to use Goldman Sachs' technology, but instead use the more advanced and cost-effective technology from China, then do not raise your hands."
"We have a total of 20 seconds. After 20 seconds, the final decision will be made. What do you think, Mr. Goldman Sachs Director?" Little Swift asked.
"Good… good…" the director mumbled in agreement, but a shiver of unease suddenly ran down his spine. Why did the other party agree so readily? Shouldn't they be delaying the process endlessly?
And shouldn't they be using a voting method that wasn't so black and white, but rather allowing one side to raise their hands first, then the other side?
These two voting methods might seem similar, but in the second method, some people would not raise their hands either time. They would neither agree with one proposal nor the other, or they simply wouldn't know how to choose, so they would abstain.
The second method had more variables, which was advantageous for the weaker party. Little Swift should naturally have used this method, so why would he resort to a black-and-white vote?
Before the director could figure this out, the voting had already begun. One hand started to rise, naturally that of the Goldman Sachs representative.
And as he eagerly hoped to see more hands rise, he discovered that apart from a few individuals, everyone else's hands remained firmly on the table, showing no intention of being raised.
The 20 seconds passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, although a few two or three people eventually raised their hands after hesitating, it was insignificant compared to the total number of people present.
As the 20 seconds drew to a close, not only had half the people not raised their hands, but even 20% of the total had not been reached. The outcome was already evident.
Upon seeing the result, many directors who had already raised their hands quickly lowered them at the last second. After 20 seconds passed, the directors who remained with their hands raised numbered only six. Five of them were staunch allies of Goldman Sachs, who held substantial shares, meaning they were definitely their own people.
"Why? Why aren't you voting!" the director's gaze was filled with anger, confusion, and bewilderment. He looked incredulously at the white-skinned, blonde-haired individuals in the conference room. "Why aren't you voting? Can't you see how much damage using Chinese technology will cause to our own technological development in the future? Our great nation might even lose its status because of this! What you are doing is destroying our country!"
"..." Faced with this director's frenzied ranting, most of the other directors wore awkward smiles, their expressions somewhat embarrassed, even blushing.
Of course, some people's expressions were completely indifferent, and some even looked at the Goldman Sachs director with ridicule. "Sir, you don't need to stand on the high ground of national interest and morality to accuse us. We all know each other. When have we ever had a country? Haven't we done many things that harm national interests?"
"It was Goldman Sachs who first took the lead in supporting the increase of the money supply, and it was Goldman Sachs who created hundreds of trillions of US dollars out of thin air to maintain the market. It was also Goldman Sachs that caused the financial status and credit of our US dollar to plummet."
"Don't you find it ridiculous that you are now standing on the moral and national high ground to accuse me?"
"Ultimately, we are all businessmen, so let's talk business."
"Earlier, Mr. Little Swift promised all of us that once the first section of the vacuum ultra-high-speed magnetic levitation pipeline is completed, he will immediately initiate an increase in share issuance to help the company absorb 2,000 billion US dollars in follow-up construction funds from the market."
"When the project reaches its halfway point, the company will initiate an increase in share issuance for the second time, absorbing a full 2,000 billion US dollars in construction funds from the market in one go."
"Similarly, when the project reaches 3/4 completion, funds will be absorbed again. In total, 6,000 billion US dollars will be absorbed from the market."
"This isn't my plan? This is what I meant! And I'm absorbing 8,000 billion, a larger amount!" the Goldman Sachs director said excitedly.
"Please, you don't mean that. You do want to absorb 8,000 billion US dollars from the market, but all of this 8,000 billion US dollars will be used to construct this pipeline, and we won't get a single cent of profit. On the contrary, Goldman Sachs already holds a large number of related technology patents. More than 80% of the high-tech equipment and materials required for the construction of this pipeline must be purchased from companies controlled by Goldman Sachs."
"I estimate that by the time this pipeline is completed, Goldman Sachs will have made at least 2,000 billion US dollars. You are the ones who will get rich, but what do I get? I get nothing, and I can only watch my own shares become increasingly diluted."
"Conversely, Mr. Chairman has promised us that the total construction funds for the entire project will not exceed 1,000 billion US dollars. If it exceeds this amount, all these funds will be borne by the Western Mustang Fund."
"As for the 6,000 billion US dollars obtained through the share issuance, they will all be directly distributed to us according to our shareholding proportions through various means, allowing all of us to make a fortune. This is the true spirit of people doing great things, unlike Goldman Sachs, who only knows how to take it all for themselves!"
"Let me tell you, this time, I am following Mr. Chairman!" the speaker said decisively at the end.