Chapter 830: 284, finalize New York Central Railroad Company_2

Harold Vanderbilt’s smile faded, but he did not show any signs of anger.

“I’ve always wondered whether it would be Morgan or Rockefeller who’d come to me first about this matter. Honestly, I never expected it to be you, Donnie, to approach me first!”

It was quite clear that Harold Vanderbilt was aware of the actions of Morgan and Rockefeller.

Donnie, smiling, replied: “Whose mouth it comes from is not important; what matters is whether you are willing to sell your shares in the New York Central Railroad Company!”

“Donnie, you’re trying to snatch food from the jaws of a tiger. Even if you got the Vanderbilt Family’s shares in the New York Central Railroad Company, it would be very difficult for you to accomplish anything there!”

Harold Vanderbilt responded noncommittally.

Donnie laughed heartily and said: “That’s my concern, Harold. I can tell from your attitude that you aren’t opposed to selling your New York Central Railroad Company shares. Naturally, since I want to buy them, I’ve already investigated the situation of the company.

Because you are currently caught between those two, you already seem to be in a tight spot, and you should also understand that both of them will definitely try to get the New York Central Railroad Company. Rather than that, it would be better to let go and sell the company, that you can’t hold onto anyway, and then use the money to do what you enjoy!”

Donnie had decided to speak with Harold Vanderbilt so frankly only after understanding his character.

In another timeline, when Harold Vanderbilt managed the New York Central Railroad Company, he was actually very detached from it, focusing more on studying bridge techniques. After Morgan and Rockefeller formally initiated the acquisition of the New York Central Railroad Company, he decisively gave up the Vanderbilt Family’s shares there.

Indeed, just like Donnie had thought, Harold Vanderbilt was not angry about this private matter, and simply said to Donnie: “Since you say you understand the situation of the New York Central Railroad Company, you must also realize that if I were to inform the other two families about your intention to purchase, the price would go up…”

Donnie, with a smile, replied: “Harold, since I chose to be upfront with you about this matter, I am of course aware of the situation.

Why do Morgan and Rockefeller choose to slowly eat away at your family’s shares in the New York Central Railroad Company through such means? Isn’t the fundamental reason to achieve the biggest success with the least cost?

Moreover, given the relationship between the Vanderbilt Family and those two, do you really want to see them take away the last glory of the Vanderbilt Family right out of your hands?”

The Rockefeller Family was able to become the top-tier family corporation in the United States today, and they received help from the Vanderbilts during this process.

When Old Rockefeller was just getting into the oil business, there were no oil pipelines, and the Rockefeller Family’s oil business could only be conducted through railway transportation.

In the beginning, Old Rockefeller received help from the Vanderbilts, which allowed him to gradually grow his oil business. However, as the rift between the two sides deepened, the Vanderbilts began to suppress the Rockefeller Family and even joined forces with other railway companies at the time to collectively boycott the transportation of the Rockefeller’s oil.

This led to Rockefeller, with the support of Morgan, starting to venture into the railway industry, steel industry, and building their own oil pipelines.

In this showdown, clearly, the young Rockefeller defeated the aging Vanderbilt.

This made the feud between the two families even more complicated, especially since Morgan was on the side of the Rockefeller Family in this war.

Therefore, if there was a choice, Harold Vanderbilt would not be willing to sell his family’s last railway company to the Rockefeller Family, who had once been underlings to his own family!

“That’s the grudge of the previous generation, Donnie, you should understand that I won’t make an enemy of the US Dollar!”

Harold Vanderbilt spoke earnestly.

Donnie nodded his head; he understood what Harold Vanderbilt meant. Now, no matter the pretext, it was essentially Harold Vanderbilt’s desire to acquire more cash.

“Harold, have you ever thought about how, given the rate at which your family spends money, even if your forefathers left you a vast wealth, there will eventually come a day when it’s all spent!”

This was another reason why Harold Vanderbilt had been able to hold on to the New York Central Railroad Company for so long!

He was not a complete fool; not to mention the whole Vanderbilt Family, but just his own branch, continuing at such a speed of spending, it was possible that in a generation or two, they might end up as ordinary people!

Although the New York Central Railroad Company had not paid dividends for a long time due to Morgan’s and Rockefeller’s intervention, at least they still had the company’s shares in their hands; selling off a bit when they were short of money equated to a large sum of cash.

But this was by no means a long-term strategy, as after all, there would eventually come a day when the shares were sold off!