Chapter 27 – Cooperation Reached

After the old man saw off the previous group of guests, he turned and walked toward George.

George stood up as well, took two steps forward, and extended his right hand. As a Chinese man who had received years of moral education in his past life, he felt a deep respect for this elderly gentleman—nearly eighty years old—who still returned to the board of directors to lead the company.

The old man recognized George's goodwill. Shaking his hand, he said, "Young man, you must be that lucky fellow George Orwell that Woodruff mentioned, right?"

"Yes, sir. I am that lucky fellow." George wasn't offended by the old man's teasing tone or being called a young man. Given the age gap, it was perfectly natural.

"Haha, luck is also a kind of ability. Woodruff told me you also like guns. Come on, I'll show you my collection. Although you're not old enough to buy guns, visiting them is always fine. And you seem to have made preparations." He looked pointedly at Paul as he finished.

The old man likely assumed George had brought Paul to purchase a gun on his behalf. George didn't bother to clarify, choosing instead to silently follow the old man into a display room.

The room's four walls were lined with display racks, each carved with an array of Winchester Company firearms in various intricate patterns. Multiple versions of each model were represented.

Near the entrance hung early Volcanic pistols and rifles, followed by the Henry rifle, which had contributed significantly to the Union Army's victory. After the war, the M1866—known as the "Winchester Rifle"—was improved and released. In the 1870s came the M1873 rifle, followed in 1878 by the Winchester-Hotchkiss, the company's first bolt-action model.

Two adjacent walls featured ten Browning-designed rifles and shotguns, including the iconic M1894 rifle, developed in collaboration with Browning in 1883.

The final wall showcased self-loading rifles—M1903, M1905, M1907, and M1910—as well as the M1912 shotgun, designed by the young and promising Thomas Johnson.

What was displayed here wasn't just a collection of firearms—it was the narrative of the Winchester Company's legacy. George could hear the old man's deep attachment to the company in his voice.

Despite the family's wealth, the Winchester lineage had its investment philosophy. With the older generation aging and no younger successors to step in, they had no choice but to sell.

After the tour, it was nearly noon. George and the old man had lunch together, then returned to the office and sat down.

George figured that the old man's willingness to spend an entire morning with him likely stemmed from George's respectful attitude, which had earned the elder's favor. In addition, the guests from earlier that morning may have spurred the old man to reminisce and come to terms with the company's fate. Touring his collection once more could have been a personal farewell.

After settling in with a sip of red tea, the old man said, "George, you've seen my collection. If there's something you like, I can have someone handcraft one for you. Consider it a reward for listening to an old man ramble all morning. Hahaha."

"Thank you, but my main purpose in coming wasn't just to buy a gun."

"Oh? Then, how many are you planning to buy? Just so you know, handmade guns take time. We may not have that luxury."

George understood the implication: the company would be sold soon, and the workers would no longer be available to craft firearms for him.

He smiled and replied, "Actually, I want to buy the entire Winchester Company."

The old man was momentarily stunned. "George, you're not joking, are you?"

"Not at all. I understand the company has been losing money for the past two years. Despite producing items like razors and military knives, there hasn't been any real progress."

George paused to gauge the old man's reaction, then continued, "My father was a soldier and owned several Winchester firearms. I've always had a passion for guns myself—even designed one. Now that the opportunity is here, I'd like to explore the possibility of working with you."

The old man considered his words seriously. "George, do you know what the Winchester Company is worth right now?"

"I'm waiting for your offer."

"You haven't done your homework, have you? This morning, Western Ammunition Company offered six million U.S. dollars. I'm still thinking it over."

George was taken aback. The price exceeded his expectations. He had anticipated a valuation around four million, hoping to leverage his firearm design and offer the Winchester family partial equity. There was still room to negotiate, though.

He could manage that amount, but he'd need three months, and overpaying wasn't necessary. Sentiment aside, Winchester wasn't his only option.

George currently $4.5 million in bank deposits and over $1 million in cash hidden away. He did a quick mental tally and said, "Mr. Bennett, my offer may be lower. I can pay four million for a 70% stake and include my rifle design. Regarding existing patents, I'd only ask for production licensing. If you choose not to manage the company in two years, I'll allocate an additional 5% as a management dividend to reward the team. The company name will remain unchanged."

"You're confident in your design? Let me see it."

Sensing an opportunity, George retrieved the blueprints from Paul. These were external schematics with basic data. A veteran like Thomas Gray Bennett could easily assess the gun's merits.

The two spent considerable time discussing the firearm, eventually reaching a preliminary agreement. Their respective teams would handle the remaining details.

George stayed at the company for three more days, leaving a $4 million check and a set of blueprints for the M1 Orwell rifle. He left Paul behind to manage follow-up matters and returned to New York. Now, in addition to the Coca-Cola Company, George also owned a light weapons and arms manufacturer.

Although his 4-million-dollar investment should have translated to a 66% share—including the company's patents—George voluntarily waived those patents in favor of production rights. On paper, it seemed like a loss.

In reality, it didn't matter. What George valued were Winchester's networks, skilled workers, and production lines. Patents could be acquired later if needed.

The next day, George returned to the villa and sent a telegram to Ryan, requesting a meeting in New York.

A week later, it was already June. Paul returned just before the month began. Bennett had also called to inform George he'd selected and was training a successor, inviting him to visit when convenient.

Paul shared his impressions of the successor, but George chose not to intervene. He displayed the two antique guns Paul had brought back—both verified with antique certificates—on a new stand, free of legal risk.

Looking at the handcrafted pieces, George thought of Old Bennett's collection. He decided he would one day have such a room himself.

Each of the guns bore Bennett's signature, potentially worth tens of millions at future auctions.

After Paul's return, George tasked him with monitoring the stock market and reviewing potential exhibits for an upcoming fair.

The next day, Ryan arrived from the winery. George gave him a day to rest, then invited him to the study after breakfast.

From a drawer, George pulled out a piece of paper bearing a name and an address.

"Uncle Ryan, this is for you. I've asked you here to travel to Britain and bring Baird back. He should be living in Hastings, in Southwest England. You'll need to locate him yourself."

George paused, then added, "He's not in good health, so be tactful. That's why I chose you for this task. Tell him I'll fully support his experiments once he arrives."

Baird—John Logie Baird—had been sickly since childhood but resilient in spirit. After graduating, he worked at an electrical company.

In 1906, he moved to Hastings, where he built a lab and began television research. In 1924, he successfully transmitted a blurry cross-shaped flower image over a three-meter distance using makeshift materials. On October 2, 1925, he created the world's first mechanical television prototype.

Baird is considered the "Father of Television."

After Ryan returned with him, George planned to invite Farnsworth, whose work led to the electronic television.

Farnsworth's journey had been arduous. By the time the U.S. Patent Office ruled in his favor in the late 1930s, it was too late—his funds were nearly gone. WWII halted television development, and by 1946, his patents had expired.

In this life, George would unite the two pioneers and secure television patents early. The market, even now, was worth hundreds of millions.

Once plans with Ryan were finalized, George scheduled his departure for London in two days. The journey would take five to six days, but locating Baird could take longer.

With that arranged, George began managing his June alcohol delivery business. A week later, he returned to New York and met with Tessio again, receiving an antique sales contract and a $1.5 million check. The price of alcohol had surged. Seeing Tessio's intense gaze, George merely smiled.

After receiving the funds, George personally called Corleone to express his desire to purchase a casino with a legal gambling license in Reno. He hoped Corleone could facilitate the deal.

Corleone promised to inquire.

Nevada was the only U.S. state where gambling was legal, and Reno was its primary hub. George wanted a casino both for laundering and for the legal license—a strategic move to avoid future blackmail when entering Las Vegas.

—End of Chapter 27—

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