1885, I came to save Greece

Chapter 346 The Birth of the "Trust"

"We are not going to start an ordinary company."

Constantine's voice echoed in the quiet office, each word carrying a seductive power. He didn't sit down, but walked to the wall of the office and pulled out a small, brand-new blackboard from behind a map of Athens hanging on the wall.

Then, he picked up a piece of white chalk and drew a huge, round circle on the blackboard, a circle full of infinite possibilities.

What we are going to establish is a "Greek automotive industry trust".

Constantine turned to look at Ford and uttered a completely new term.

"A brand new, unprecedented business consortium integrating R&D, production, sales, and finance."

I named it "EAX".

That's an abbreviation of the Greek phrase "EλληνlκηAυτoκlvητoβloμηxαvíαHolding," meaning "Hellenic Automotive Industry Holding Group."

Ford frowned. In the United States, the word "trust" had begun to carry negative connotations of monopoly and dominance. But the "trust" Constantine was referring to seemed to have a completely different meaning.

Constantine didn't give him much time to think.

The chalk in his hand landed on the top of the circle.

"Draw a clear, unmistakable white line, from the center of the circle, toward the twelve o'clock position."

Next, the second line was drawn from the center of the circle to a position slightly to the right of six o'clock.

A huge fan-shaped area that occupied most of the space was divided up.

Constantine wrote a number heavily in that largest sector.

51%.

He used the tip of chalk to forcefully tap the number.

"The Greek royal family, that is, the state, owns 51% of this trust."

He turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, and stared directly at Ford.

"This is not about profit, Mr. Ford. The profits you generate are just a drop in the ocean for a nation."

"This 51% stake is to ensure that this soon-to-be-born industrial lifeline, which will be able to change the fate of Greece, will forever be in the hands of the Greeks themselves from the very first day of its birth."

"This is my bottom line, and it is also the only bottom line of this country."

His voice was firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable determination.

Upon hearing this, the financial advisor nearly jumped out of his chair with excitement. His gaze towards Constantine was filled with fervent admiration. This was a true monarch, a wise monarch who truly considered the long-term interests of the nation!

Henry Ford, however, felt his heart sink.

51%. This number weighed heavily on his mind like a mountain. It meant that no matter how hard he tried, ultimate control remained firmly in the hands of the royal family. He would forever be just a high-level employee.

Just as the light in Ford's eyes began to dim.

The chalk in Constantine's hand moved again.

"Swish"

Another line cuts off another considerable area on the pie chart.

Constantine wrote down the second number in that area.

30%.

He turned to Ford, his expression softening once more.

"You, Mr. Henry Ford, contribute your technology, your ideas, and your name that will soon resonate throughout the world, for a 30% stake in the trust."

"At the same time, in the name of the Crown Prince of Greece, I hereby formally appoint you as the Chief Technology Officer for Life and President for Life of EAX Trust."

He emphasized the pronunciation of the word "lifelong".

"This means that from today onwards, as long as you are still working for EAX, all of the trust's related to production, research and development,..."

All operational matters, including personnel and daily financial expenses, are entirely decided by you alone; you have absolute decision-making power.

"The royal family's 51% stake retains only ultimate oversight of the trust and the right to receive dividends at the end of the year."

"In other words," Constantine smiled, "as long as you don't commit treason and burn down the factories, then in this kingdom, as I said, you are the Tsar."

Sunlight streamed in at an angle through the office's huge glass windows.

A bright spot of light fell directly onto the blackboard with the pie chart drawn on it.

The white chalk in Constantine's hand seemed not to be dividing shares, but rather to be using light to plan a brand new, shining future for the country.

The only sound in the air was the "scratching" of chalk across the blackboard.

And Henry Ford's increasingly heavy, increasingly suppressed breathing.

Each heartbeat of his was like the thunderous crash of a heavy press in a factory, ringing an exciting and frenzied countdown for the birth of this unprecedented business model.

Ford was completely blown away by this plan.

30% of the shares!

In addition, there is a written, absolute, and lifelong right to operate the business!

This—this has far exceeded his boldest expectations!

This is almost equivalent to the royal family using real gold and silver and all their resources to build him a perfect industrial kingdom, and then, symbolically retaining only the title of "owner," handing over the scepter of the king completely to him!

His mind was racing. This plan almost perfectly satisfied all his paranoia about control.

but--

Ford's gaze fell on the last remaining small, blank sector of the pie chart on the blackboard.

"And—what about the rest?" he asked in a dry voice he himself hadn't even realized he possessed. "The remaining 19..."

Where did the % go?

The financial advisor also looked at Constantine with curiosity. In his view, the remaining 19% should be held by the royal family on behalf of the monarch, or a reserve fund should be established for unforeseen circumstances.

Constantine did not answer immediately.

He turned around and faced the blackboard again.

Then, he revealed his final, and most fatal smile of the day.

He used the chalk in his hand to write a few words on the blank fan-shaped area.

"EmployeeStockOwnershipFund."

(Employee Stock Ownership Fund)

Then, he turned around, looked at the American who was completely stunned, and said clearly, word by word, "The remaining 19% will be used to establish an employee stock ownership fund."

"All engineers, senior technicians, and outstanding workers who have served at the EAX plant for more than five or ten years and have made outstanding contributions to the plant."

"They all have the right to receive their own share of the profits from this fund."

Constantine took a step forward, his voice carrying a power like thunder.

"Mr. Ford!"

"I want you to lead a group of employees who work numbly just for a pittance each day!"

"What I want you to lead is a group of partners who, like you, are fighting feverishly for their own wealth, their own careers, and their own future!"