American Scandal King

Chapter 103 The Karl Family Will Revenge
Before taking the flight back to Los Angeles that night, Ian went to see Gaskell.

The old man's spirits were obviously much better.

Sitting beside the bed, Ian and Gaskell talked: "We've verified that the insurance is handled by Ankang Company."

Ankang is a company specializing in medical insurance. I don’t know if it is a variant of the previous Aetna, but in the United States, Ankang is the leader in the medical insurance industry.

Gaskell wasn't surprised; after all, his health insurance was insured.

Gaskell asked Ian, "Did you get the evidence?"

Ian nodded slightly: "A department head."

Gaskell said softly, "Even if you expose them, it's useless. It won't cause any real harm to Ankang. On the contrary, it will even further increase Ankang's stock price."

This time Ian was surprised: "Are you sure?"

Gaskell said confidently, "They can just say it was someone below them who did it themselves, and throw in a scapegoat. As for the stock market... didn't I tell you that stockholders don't care about corporate ethics? They only care about expected profits. A company that lets its customers die just to make a profit seems pretty profitable, doesn't it?"

Ian was amused.

Perfect logic!

Of course the stock price will go up!

The same goes for insurance.

As long as Ankang Insurance Company throws out a few scapegoats, investors will think that this company can make a lot of money and will buy it!

Conscience and morality are weapons of those who have no interests, while those who have interests only care about interests!

At this moment Ian said: "Those guys almost killed you, I have to deal with them. Don't worry, I have plenty of ways."

Gaskell waved his hand. "Don't be impatient, don't be impatient, child. You are facing many problems now, and you must solve them one by one. Revenge should not be your primary goal, and killing should not even be a means. You should turn hatred into profit!"

Ian shook his head slightly. He grabbed the old man's hand and said, "That's not fair to you."

Gaskell smiled. "We are businessmen. There's nothing that can't be bought with money. Your plan requires a lot of funds. Even I can't lend you that much. This can help you solve a lot of financial problems. Ian, business is about utilizing all available resources. I don't mind being a small pawn for you."

Ian understood.

He thought about it and nodded. "So as long as I get evidence that their top management is involved, I can ask them for money? Right?"

Gaskell shook his head slightly. "That's not easy. You know a good lawyer can solve a lot of problems. It seems to me that the method you used to obtain that evidence is what they're really afraid of."

Ian understood.

For a big company, negative information is not scary. What is really scary is your model of producing negative information in an endless stream!

As Ian himself said.

He can steal anything he wants, including the lives of those big guys!

Ian smiled and said, "I know what to do. So what then?"

Gaskell said softly, "I'll help you with the funds for shorting the Italian lira, and I'll leave the CBS funds to them."

The funds for acquiring a company are good, after all, the company itself can be used as collateral, but the funds for short selling are riskier and require a large amount of margin as support.

This requires Gaskell's help, and only he can make some small breakthroughs in the rules for Ian - as for Ankang, it's the opposite, borrowing through formal channels, but the interest rate must be low.

Ian said, "Then the problem now is how to convince James Perry."

If CBS doesn't agree, it won't be any use even if Ankang can provide him with funds.

Gaskell smiled and said, "That's not easy. Whenever a new emperor comes, the old one is the most terrified, and only the ministers applaud and welcome him. What are you going to do? Use the same method to intimidate him?"

Ian shook his head slightly.

He pondered for a moment and said, "I feel like I'm heading down another wrong path... Using negative information about others to coerce others into doing business is also not a legitimate way of doing business."

Gaskell laughed.

The strong mental fluctuations made him cover his head. Lian Na hurriedly supported the old man and glared at him angrily: "Don't be so excited."

Gaskell patted his wife's hand and said, "I'm just happy that Ian is growing up."

Being able to reflect on oneself is a good quality among Chinese people, but for Americans, it is a rare and precious quality, at the orange legendary level.

Then Gaskell looked at him. "But you won't give up that method, will you?"

Ian nodded. "As the Chinese military strategy says, the right and the strange must be combined. A single-minded approach is too rigid. A single-minded approach is too unconventional to be effective."

Gaskell was speechless: "I'm beginning to understand why you want to invest in China... Put it simply, I don't understand."

"Those unconventional methods are essential, and shouldn't be used too often. They're only used at critical moments." Ian smiled. "If I agree to James Pelley continuing as chairman of CBS, and if he holds all my CBS shares on my behalf, do you think he'll accept?"

Gaskell was stunned: "So easy to talk to?" If this was the condition, then James Pelley would have no reason to disagree, and would even support it.

Ian smiled. "Managing a business isn't my forte. I want CBS mainly because I want to expand my influence. And my influence comes from my reporting... Whatever I want to do, I don't need to go through the board of directors. I can just report on it."

Gaskell's eyes lit up.

He understood what Ian meant.

Ian really doesn't need much power on the board.

If he supports something, he will expose the other party's negative information.

If he opposes something, he will expose the negative information of his own people.

As long as he could keep finding information about the big names, he could influence CBS through his reports and make them follow his plan. Even if CBS didn't cooperate, it would be useless because Ian had his own media and voice channels.

In that case, what about letting James Pelley be the chairman?
On the other hand, as a major shareholder, is it really possible that what he says is useless?

Proxy holdings can be given or taken back. If you displease me, you'll have no chance in the future. Even contractual restrictions are useless because I can expose you - just add "no scandals that affect the company" to the contract and you're done.

Then I will expose your scandal and rightfully take back the proxy holding rights!
If you have control over someone's lifeblood, it doesn't matter whether you have apparent power or not.

Gaskell smiled. "Anything else?"

Ian replied, "Just two newspapers aren't enough to negotiate with CBS. I need more capital, like Hollywood! I plan to use my abilities to take on as much Hollywood publicity and distribution business as possible, which will also be leverage for negotiations."

Hollywood produces a large number of film and television works every year, and these films need to be promoted and distributed. Pearl Harbor is nothing.

With these, we can also negotiate with CBS.

Gaskell smiled and said, "That's a good idea. I suggest you start a celebrity interview show on WND. After all, WND is your capital."

"Celebrity interview?" Ian was surprised.

"Right!" Gaskell replied. "Celebrities are the easiest to attract public attention, and they're a steady source of information. Unlike your news, while explosive, it can't be broadcast every day. It's just that the cost of inviting celebrities is usually very high. If they don't have enough industry influence, no one will pay attention... But you're different."

He smiled and said, "You have their dirty laundry, so they have to cooperate with you. You don't need to extort money from them, you just need their cooperation. It's the lowest cost for them, but it's an infinitely rich reward for you. Your celebrity interview show may not bring you to the top, but it will increase your average daily visits and circulation."

The media is not all news.

Interviews, dialogues, movies, TV shows, variety shows, news, documentaries, etc. are all part of the media.

As a boss, being able to control and influence others is the key. Once you have the black material of many important people, you can leave the rest to your subordinates.

This is the only way to realize the maximum value.

And this part is also one of the main contents of the TV network.

When it comes to media, there are only two core things.

One: High-quality content. Two: High-quality customers.

Ian's gossip is high-quality content, but as a businessman, building a long-term, popular column with steady viewership growth far outweighs the benefits of a single or two explosive revelations. Of course, Ian couldn't be blamed for not thinking about this, as he previously worked in a newspaper. But with a website, he could create variety shows, which also demonstrated his business acumen.

As for high-quality clients, the publicity and promotion Ian received from Hollywood was equivalent to a large number of advertisers.

He can advertise with daily newspapers, pioneer newspapers, TV stations and WND, and it would be no problem to add CBS, the advertising fees will only be higher.

With Gaskell's suggestion, Ian understood it instantly.

They discussed their plan beside the bed, and a big drama gradually unfolded amid repeated thinking and calculation.

This is a big project and it involves a lot of things.

Including a top American health insurance company, a top broadcasting and television network, a country's currency, and a super event that may shock the world in the near future!

If Gaskell hadn't been shot, he wouldn't have played such a big game with Ian even if he had high hopes for him.

But this life-and-death experience further deepened the trust and friendship between the two.

Just when the conversation was heated, the phone rang again.

Ian took the phone, chatted for a few words, and then hung up. He said to Gaskell, "I have something to deal with. You wait for good news."

Gaskell whispered, "Is it about MS13?"

Ian smiled.

He wouldn't ask Gaskell how he figured that out now; the old man knew him too well.

Ian made a salute gesture and said, "The Karl family, we must repay our kindness and avenge our hatred!"

As he said this, he gave the old man a hug, gave Lena a passionate kiss, and walked out of the hospital.

(End of this chapter)