Chapter 34 Nordstrom?

Quincy Restaurant is the oldest restaurant at Harvard University, even older than Harvard University itself. It was built at the beginning of the establishment of the North American colonies, and was originally the castle of a certain lord. Later, due to some changes, the lord fell and the school was established, so the castle naturally became part of Harvard University. It is now the most famous restaurant here, and also the place where Jie La chose to meet Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming arrived at the Quincy Restaurant. He told the waiter the name of the private room. The waiter was taken aback at first, subconsciously looking up and down at Zhou Ming. After reacting, he said sorry to Zhou Ming and led him to the private room.

The private room that Jie La had booked was in the middle of the castle. It was a small banquet hall with a very pretentious long dining table, the kind that often appears in medieval castles in movies.

Jie La was sitting at the table. She heard footsteps approaching and immediately stood up. Although she had invited Zhou Ming here, she didn't know what to say when she saw him. She just stood there, stunned. In the end, Zhou Ming eased the awkward atmosphere and said to her, 'Teacher Jie La, why did you choose such a place? Let's sit down and talk. Didn't you say there was an old friend of mine?'

Jie La was about to sit down when she heard Zhou Ming's words, but when she heard the last sentence about an old friend, she immediately stood up again: 'That's right, there is someone very important.'

This move surprised Zhou Ming: "Teacher Jie La, what are you doing? Who is this important person you are talking about?'

Before Jie La could answer Zhou Ming's question, he heard a voice coming from behind him: "The person she is talking about is me.'

Upon hearing this voice, Jie La immediately respectfully shouted out to him, 'Sir.' Zhou Ming also turned around in response, and then saw a very familiar face. Zhou Ming immediately called out his name, 'Mr Nordleman?'

The other person smiled slightly, revealing eight big white teeth, and took the initiative to extend his hand to Zhou Ming, 'Mr Zhou Ming, we meet again.'

Zhou Ming also smiled, shook Nordleiman's hand and said hello, then sat down together. Zhou Ming said, 'Mr. Nordleiman, it's been a year since we last met in Harbour City. It's just that, Mr. Nordleiman, since you wanted to find me, why didn't you just call me directly? Why did you let Teacher Jie La deliberately keep me in suspense? I was wondering for a long time who it would be!

'I was worried that I wasn't important enough for Mr. Zhou to remember. If I had introduced myself and you said you didn't know me, I would have been very embarrassed,' Nordlyman said.

'That won't happen. I haven't been in the United States for long and I don't know many Americans. I may not know the Governor of Massachusetts, but I definitely know you, Mr. Nordlyman,' Zhou Ming said.

After some small talk, Jie La asked the waiter to serve the food. It was a very typical American meal of a three-point steak, mashed potatoes, fruit salad and a bottle of red wine. While eating, Zhou Ming asked, 'Mr. Nordleman, what is the news about the Tang Dynasty Bank and the Gulf that you said you wanted to tell me?'

Hearing Zhou Ming ask the question, Nordleman was taken aback at first, then put down the cutlery in his hands and wiped his mouth with the napkin on his chest before saying, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, before answering your question, I would like to ask you another question. What do you think capital actually is?'

Before coming over, Zhou Ming had many conjectures about this meeting, including some questions the other party might ask him. Therefore, Zhou Ming was well prepared and only thought about it for a moment before answering, 'Although I don't understand why you are asking me this question, I think capital is actually wealth. Not only is it the money we use, but also the knowledge in your head, Nordlyman, and the enterprises I control. These means of production are another kind of wealth.'

'You are right, Mr Zhou Ming, but what you are talking about is a narrow definition of capital, and it is only wealth after you have quantified it,' Nordeman said. 'In my opinion, capital is actually the root of evil. It is everywhere, but it controls everything. It is as small as the steak we are eating, as big as the presidential campaign, and as far away as wars and peace across the ocean. It may seem far away, but it is actually all within the grasp of capital.'

'For example, if capital thinks that this cow shouldn't die, then we won't be able to eat this steak. If capital thinks that President Walsh is an asshole, then he will immediately get the hell out of the White House. If capital thinks that there shouldn't be a war, then there would be no ridiculous sit-in war that happened on the European continent 51 years ago. All of this is controlled by capital.'

Nordleman explained to Zhou Ming, and after looking at him, continued, 'You probably don't know much about this, so let me tell you something you do know. I'm sure you know the name Wu Zetian, right? She was the only empress in China, but I'm afraid you don't know why she was the only one.'

'Was it also because of capital?' Zhou Ming asked curiously.

'Was it not because of capital?' Nordleman deliberately asked in return.

Nordleman's deliberate rhetorical question did not require an answer from Zhou Ming. He continued, 'Wu Zetian, also known as Wu Zhao, was the second daughter of Wu Zixu, a famous wealthy merchant from Shanxi. When the King of Tang wanted to raise an army to conquer the world and ran out of money, it was Wu Zixu who helped him generously. The Tang king's return on investment for the Wu family was either the conferral of titles or helping him cover the country with capital, from Shanxi to Luoyang to Jingzhou, spreading to every corner of the country and even overseas. It was this abundant capital that helped the Wu family produce the only legitimate female emperor.'

As he spoke, Nordlyman held out his hands: 'A sword in one hand and a purse in the other is the true capital. You can't make a sword without money, and you can't protect money without a sword. They complement each other.'

Zhou Ming nodded in silence. 'Mr. Nordlyman, I can take what you're saying to mean that the ultimate form of capital is money politics? I understand all of this, but I'm curious, why are you telling me all this?'

'Because because you are the new capital!' Nordlyman replied, 'I have been watching you for a long time. From Red China to Hong Kong to Northern Russia to the United States, you have demonstrated superb business skills. I have never seen anyone accumulate wealth faster than you. Your eyes seem to be watching the world like God's, and wherever there is an opportunity, you are always the first to seize it.'

Speaking of Nordlemann paused for a moment, then continued, 'I heard that your Wharton Insurance Company has been desperately selling off assets for cash lately, preparing for the other side of the Gulf, right?'

'What are you trying to say?' Zhou Ming asked with a frown.

'Don't worry, my dear Mr. Zhou Ming, what I want to tell you is that there will definitely be a war on the other side of the Gulf, because there is a need for capital for this war, and it will probably happen at the end of July or the beginning of August,' Nordlemann said.

'The reason? To contain the expansion of the Tang Dynasty Bank and the consortium behind it in the Gulf region?' Zhou Ming asked again.

Nordleiman stared at Zhou Ming for a while and said, "You don't seem surprised. It seems that you have already spoken with Northern Russia on the phone. Did Mr. Meta tell you?'

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter who told me. What's important is why you went to such trouble to leak this information to me?'

'To give you a little help.' Nordleiman also gestured with his hand for Zhou Ming, "Because the Tang Dynasty Bank is not as simple as you think, so no one wants it to collapse so quickly, including its competitors. On the other hand, Zhou Ming, your rise in Brighton is also a very interesting thing.'

'So which consortium do you belong to? Chicago?" Zhou Ming suddenly asked.

Originally Nordlyman had picked up a piece of steak with his fork at this time, but when he heard Zhou Ming's question, his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air, and it was a while before he put the steak into his mouth.

After eating a piece of steak, Nordlyman wiped his mouth again before saying, 'It seems that you still have a certain understanding of me and the capital situation in the United States. But unfortunately, although I did come from Chicago, I do not belong to that consortium. I belong to a higher one.'

Zhou Ming frowned, because at this time, Zhou Ming was no longer the novice he had been when he first arrived in the United States. After several months of study, he had already supplemented his theoretical knowledge of economics, which included the conglomérat Nordleman had mentioned.

A is simply a monopoly alliance, which is similar to a consortium. Both are formed by combining important enterprises with strong capital to form an alliance of interests. However, unlike a consortium, the families and enterprises in a concern enjoy a higher degree of freedom. They usually do their own thing, and only when they face the same external threat will the members of the concern form an alliance.

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and asked Nordleman, 'What about the Tang Dynasty Bank? Does it also belong to your concern?'

Nordleman Nordleman laughed, with an expression that he knew what would happen: 'I knew you would ask this, but I advise you to take care of yourself first. If you didn't have the restraint of others, do you think you could have played so well in Brighton? Just one old Brooke could easily play you to death. Don't think that a senior senator of a state only has the little ability he has shown. Without support behind him, he will be out of the Capitol in no time.'

'You You mean the Brighton Consortium?' Zhou Ming asked curiously.

'The Brighton Consortium is one of the oldest monopolies in the United States, and its history is even longer than that of the United States. It was the full support of the Brighton Consortium that led to the American War of Independence.' Nordleman introduced in silence, and suddenly changed the subject, 'But this is only one aspect. The world is more complicated than you think. If you want to know more, please work hard to grow up. Only in this way can you turn the page and see the content at the back of the book.'

After saying that Nordleiman leaned back in his chair: 'Okay, I've said enough for today. Mr. Zhou Ming, you are the most unstable variable in Brighton's existence. I hope you will do your best!'

Nordleiman's words were a polite way of telling Zhou Ming to leave. Zhou Ming got up, thanked him, and left the restaurant.

Not long after Zhou Ming left the restaurant, another person arrived. He asked Nordleiman, 'Has Zhou Ming already left?'

Nordleiman Nordleman nodded as he ate and replied, 'He just left a short while ago. What a pity you missed him.'

The man sat down next to Nordleman and asked, "So you told him everything?'

Nordleman thought for a moment and replied, "I told him everything I needed to. But as you said, this Ming Zhou is really an interesting guy. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of miracle he can work in Brighton.'

'I I also hope so, after all, the capital situation in the United States has been stagnant for far too long. Everyone is like Scrooge McDuck, clinging to their own little piece of land, letting the situation rot and stink like a pool of stagnant water, with no freedom at all. Now that it's going to change, let it change completely, and see in which direction the final outcome will head,' the man said.