The former mayor, in order to solve the problem of the Bay Area, had put up a heavy bargaining chip to “uproot” Councilman Wade and his family from Golden Port City.
At that time, Lance had been very concerned about this matter, but also not very concerned.
He was concerned about Councilman Wade’s departure, but not about where this guy had gone with his men.
Who the fuck cares where he went, as long as he’s not in Golden Port City!
At that time, it was only heard that he had gone to a neighboring state. Did this “neighboring” refer to Indeno State?
James hadn’t expected Lance’s thinking to be so agile after he had come back from a smoke. He was stunned for a moment. “He’s right next to us.”
Lance tucked his chin in a little. This was a clear defensive posture. “Indeno State?”
James nodded. “Yes, right next door.”
After he had finished speaking, he saw the thoughtful expression on Lance’s face and immediately realized that there might be some fierce sparks between Lance and this Councilman Wade!
Oh! No!
Now he was Mayor Wade, and the Socialist Party was already preparing to nominate him as the next gubernatorial candidate for Indeno State. Maybe he would become the next Mr. Governor, or lieutenant governor?
Whether it was the main one or the deputy, in short, for the Wade family, this was a great development and progress. This was also the reason why he could completely disregard his “family business” in Likalai State and move his entire family to the neighboring state.
The opportunity was too rare!
Even if a person was very capable, for example, Mayor Williams, he was also a very capable person, but the Likalai State Socialist Party Committee would not nominate him as a candidate for the next governor.
There were only nineteen states in the Federation, one radish one hole. To nominate one would be one less, unless he was outstanding enough to make the state party representatives, all these people, stand on his side.
This not only required money, but also strength. He was a little lacking, but if he and Lance teamed up, there would be no problem.
This was also the reason why Mayor Williams had always maintained a close cooperative relationship with Lance. If that old guy Wade had a chance to be governor, his Williams family might not have this chance.
Countless thoughts collided back and forth in James’s young mind like lightning. His entire brain was pierced by the lightning of his thoughts, becoming like pieces of broken tofu.
But miraculously, under the effect of some mysterious force, it was restored again. This was a super brainstorm.
The storm had happened very quickly, in just the blink of an eye.
And in that blink of an eye, he came back to his senses. “My father has his contact information. Do you need it?”
Lance nodded. “It seems I have to pay a visit to Mayor Williams. Is he free today?”
James raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. “He should have time now. You can give him a call and try?”
Lance considered for a moment, nodded, and dialed Mayor Williams’s number. He was communicating with some capitalists who were preparing to enter Golden Port City. Lance waited for a while more, and he took the initiative to call Lance.
“I was a little busy just now. This time a big factory is coming, and the investment will exceed ten million.”
An investment of ten million, in this era, not to say super invincible, was also very much at the forefront.
There might not be a few investments of such a large scale in a whole year, and the other party’s sincerity was very sufficient. The initial investment could come in at any time.
So Mayor Williams had talked with these few people for a longer time.
“As it happens, I also have something I want to talk to you about. They plan to recruit five thousand workers, and they also talked to me about your situation.”
“For the five thousand jobs, I hope you don’t give them all to your foreign friends. You have to leave some for our locals.”
After all, this matter was related to Mayor Williams’s approval rating. Even if it was a little difficult to bring up, he still took the initiative to say it.
Lance did not refuse. “I will come up with a plan that is beneficial to all of us with the labor service company in the next few days. At that time, we will sit down and talk.”
There is absolutely no plan in this world that is beneficial to everyone. If someone benefits from something, someone must be harmed.
If it’s not them who are harmed, then it’s someone else.
Mayor Williams also knew that this matter could not be explained clearly on the phone. He agreed. “Just give me a call in advance. Even if I don’t have time, I will squeeze out some time.”
He paused for a moment. “So what did you want to see me about?”
“Do you have Councilman Wade’s contact information?”
“I hear he’s working on the Indeno State side?”
“Wade?”
Mayor Williams’s tone was a little surprised. “What do you want that guy for?”
They were indeed allies. In the face of huge interests, they were good allies of an offensive and defensive alliance.
But this did not mean that they were definitely also good friends in life. Why, when the former mayor had wanted to send a political force away, had he chosen to get rid of Councilman Wade and his men, instead of the Williams family?
In fact, the reason was very simple. To get rid of the strongest, and to leave one that he could deal with himself, this was the most core idea of the former mayor.
The Wade family’s power was a little stronger, so they had the right to choose their food first at the table of the “Golden Port Restaurant,” and then it was the Williams family’s turn.
So there was also a competitive relationship between the two political forces.
Any two forces with a competitive relationship could not possibly be friendly to each other. Competition would destroy the foundation of friendship.
So when he heard Lance mention Councilman Wade, he felt a little surprised, and his tone was also full of a disdainful attitude towards Councilman Wade.
Lance laughed twice. “Alright, Williams, he has already left. This is your territory now. There’s no one else to share it with you!”
“I have run into some trouble on the Indeno State side and may need some official support. You know, for some of our businesses, having official support, and not having official support, are two different situations.”
Mayor Williams did not refuse. After complaining a couple of times, he gave Lance two numbers.
“One is his home phone number. You can call anytime, but it’s best after eleven at night!”
“The second is his office phone number. You can only get through during working hours on a workday. Other times, even if he is there, he won’t answer.”
“This person’s brain is a little bit of a problem on some issues. You’ll understand after you’ve dealt with him.”
He let out a heavy breath. “Is James still at your place?”
Lance glanced at James, who was sitting opposite him, and nodded. “He’s right opposite me. Do you want to talk to him?”
“Put him on the phone.”
Lance handed the receiver to James. “The mayor wants to talk to you.”
James said “thank you,” and after receiving the phone and saying “hmm hmm” a few times, he handed the phone back to Lance. Lance and the mayor said their goodbyes and then hung up.
After hanging up, James stood up. “I have to leave. My father said you will sit down and talk about the unemployment rate.”
Lance nodded and extended his hand, shaking hands with James. “Yes, we will sit down and talk soon.”
The two’s hands shook briefly and then let go. “Then I’ll go and do my own thing first.”
Lance nodded. “I’m very busy, so I won’t see you off.”
James smiled. “You don’t have to be so polite.”
He nodded and then turned and left.
Lance sat there and thought for a moment, then picked up the phone and dialed the number of Mayor Wade’s office.
The phone rang for about a dozen or so times before it was answered. The one who answered was still the mayor’s secretary’s office.
In fact, this was quite normal. If you often go to a government department to observe, you will find that they often ignore the ringing of the phone for a period of time, even if the phone is ringing constantly over there.
Only after it has rung for a period of time, or a certain number of times, will they pick it up. This is actually also a small trick in their work, to avoid some minor troubles.
Many people who call the mayor are often just complaining and venting their grievances. These calls will occupy a large amount of the office’s time, and will also make the secretary waste time listening to their grievances.
These people often call on a whim. They may be in a fit of anger, and then they pick up the phone.
But it won’t be long before their emotions stabilize, and they will hang up the phone themselves. This way, the secretary doesn’t have to listen to people’s grievances, and also has to soothe their emotions, and doesn’t need to record these things in a notebook.
As for those who really have something to do?
They will keep waiting, keep ringing. These are the calls that the secretaries really have to answer.
After the phone had rung for a dozen or so times, it was answered with a click. “This is the mayor’s office. How can I help you?”
The female voice on the phone was crisp and爽, and the words spoken were also very regular, but the attitude was not very good, with a perfunctory feeling.
“I’d like to speak with Mayor Wade…”
“Do you have an appointment?”
The secretary directly interrupted Lance, because on Mayor Wade’s desk, there was a phone that could be directly connected.
If someone called the secretary and said they wanted to talk to the mayor, then it was definitely not someone who was close to the mayor, so as soon as she opened her mouth, she asked about the appointment.
“I don’t have an appointment, but if you tell him my name, he will definitely take my call.”
The secretary was a little impatient and was about to have him make an appointment for next week, but hearing Lance say so, she was a little surprised and hesitant. “What’s your name?”
“Lance, Lance White. You just tell him that, and he will definitely take my call.”
The secretary hesitated for a moment. “You’d better not be lying to me. I remember your voice. If you lie to me, I will never answer your call again.”
Lance smiled. “We’ll be meeting soon.”
His tone of firmness and confidence finally moved the secretary. In fact, he could have completely waited until the evening to call Mayor Wade’s private residence.
However, the people of the Federation did not like to be disturbed in their private lives by people they were not close enough to, outside of working hours, so he had still decided to try during the day first. If it really didn’t work, then he would call in the evening.
As for what Mayor Williams had said about after eleven o’clock, Lance was sure that Mayor Wade must have a habit of resting at ten o’clock. This was a prank!
The secretary turned and got up, walked to the outside of the mayor’s office and knocked on the door. After the sound of “come in” came from inside, she then pushed the door open a crack.
She poked her head in and saw the mayor who was sitting behind his desk and working. “Mayor, there’s a call from a man named Lance White. He says he has something to talk to you about.”
“He doesn’t have an appointment, and he also said that as long as you heard this name, you would definitely talk to him.”
Mayor Wade frowned. He didn’t react at first, but just subconsciously said, “I don’t…”
But soon he remembered who this person was. He looked at the secretary, who was about to leave, and said loudly, “Put him on line two.”
The secretary breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly backed out of the office and then put the call on line two.
Mayor Wade, in his office, sat there and thought for a moment, for about ten seconds.
Of course he knew this name.
Although he had left Golden Port City, he had still been paying close attention to the situation in his hometown for a while, including now.
He had even known what Lance’s Wanli Labor Service Company was doing in Golden Port City.
It was just that he himself had not had any contact with Lance, so he was not very sensitive to this name, but he definitely knew of Lance.
He was not clear why Lance would suddenly call him. Thinking about the things that had happened around him recently, there seemed to be nothing that intersected with Lance.
With a look of doubt and curiosity, he answered the phone and pressed the blue line two button.
“It’s me, Wade. Hello, Mr. White.”
“Hello, Mayor Wade. I’m sorry to have called you so suddenly. I hope I haven’t disturbed your work.”
A very polite mutual greeting. Mayor Wade leaned back in his chair, turned to look out the window. “No, I was just taking a break.”
“I was very curious when I heard the secretary’s message, Mr. White. As far as I know, there is no connection between us.”
A very direct inquiry. If there was something that would let him continue to talk, he would continue to say it.
If there was not, and it was just a boring phone call, he would soon “finish his break” and need to work, and then he would hang up the phone.
“Mayor Wade should know my main business.”
Mayor Wade nodded and said, “I’m not very clear, but it’s just those few things. Does it have something to do with wine?”
“It has something to do with wine. A batch of my wine was robbed in Indeno State. Among these people, there may be some who have a law enforcement background.”
Mayor Wade continued his words, “So you want to find me for help, is that right?”
Lance did not deny it. “If you are willing to help, then that would be for the best!”
Councilman Wade thought for a moment. “I hear you have some connections with the congressional side?”
Lance just laughed twice and said nothing.
This was just a small favor. If just helping with a small favor required Lance to help him to get in touch with the forces on the congressional side, then it would be better for Lance to directly solve this matter through Tom or the senator. Although it would make a simple matter more troublesome, at least he would not become a fool in the eyes of some people!
Councilman Wade also heard something in his laughter. He pursed his lips and constantly thought about it.
Regarding the fact that Lance had a good relationship with the congressional side, it was not the first time he had heard of it, on Senator Cleveland’s side, and also on the Prohibition Committee’s side.
Director Dale, from the local to the state committee, it was said that it was operated by Lance. This represented that he did not just have one connection on the congressional side.
Mayor Wade’s goal had always been very firm, and that was to run for governor.
Running for governor is not a simple matter. It requires a large amount of funds, social influence, and the support of Congress.
Many people will be very curious, what does the support of Congress have to do with electing a governor?
The governor is not elected by Congress!
But in fact, this point is still very important. For example, some of the campaign speeches of a gubernatorial candidate involve the content of federal policies. If it is endorsed by a member of Congress, it will be easier to win the trust of the public.
For another example, if a member of Congress helps them to stand on the platform, their status, their authority in the minds of the public will be significantly stronger than those who do not have a member of Congress on their platform!
Of course, the most important thing is still the tilting of federal policies, which is very crucial for the election of a governor.
The gold content of “I have someone above” is definitely not something that ability can compare with.
No matter how strong a governor’s ability is, you can’t change the country’s major policies. If the major policies are inconsistent with the local development of a state, the ones who will suffer will definitely be the local.
The other way around is completely different. For example, if the federal government directly says that they want to develop a certain plan in a certain state, it can immediately bring a large amount of investment and employment opportunities to the local area.
A portion of the federal people vote with their eyes closed and with their feet, but there is also a portion of people, and a considerable portion, who are very keen on politics.
These voters will also have meetings before they vote, to have some spontaneous discussions and unification. They will definitely be swayed by these people with a background.
Mayor Wade also had some help on the congressional side, but no one would dislike having too much of this kind of help. It was definitely the more the better.
In short, as long as it was a matter that could increase the chances of winning the election for governor, he was willing to do it.
“Where did you run into trouble?” he asked, after his thoughts had ended.
This represented that he was willing to get involved in this matter.
“New Birmingham.”
After hearing this, Mayor Wade frowned. “A remote small city. To be honest, I have no direct contact with them. How do you plan to have me help you?”
Lance thought for a moment. “I will first find the person who handled the specific matter, and then I may need to communicate with the other party.”
“If the other party is willing to communicate with us and is willing to compensate for our losses, then besides some specific exceptions, nothing will happen.”
“But if the other party is not willing to communicate with us, then we will have to use some means to ensure our interests.”
“They are the police. Our side will be relatively passive. When necessary, I need you to be able to control the outbreak of the situation a little.”
“For example, to persuade their local mayor to dismiss the police chief and a portion of the police officers.”
Under the mayor system of the federal society, a mayor has almost supreme power within his own jurisdiction. To dismiss a few police officers’ jobs is as simple as a yawn for a mayor.
To kill a police chief and a group of police officers, and to kill a group of ordinary people, are definitely not the same thing!