America 1919

Chapter 703: The Battle for Baku Oil Field Begins_3

Donnie embraced Harding and exclaimed in awe.

Harding gave a wry smile, “Living in the White House is so dull, if I don’t get out and get some fresh air, I’m afraid I’ll suffocate!”

Donnie understood Harding’s sentiment.

In his early years, Harding had to show respect to Florence and her family behind her to make a social leap.@@novelbin@@

But now that he was President of the United States, and having sat in that position for more than two years, he had tasted the ultimate power and had long been dissatisfied with Florence and the Cleveland financial syndicate behind her.

The fact that Florence did not give Harding the corresponding respect because he was the President of the United States only intensified his dissatisfaction.

It was still like the old days in Ohio, causing a ruckus from time to time.

This only exacerbated Harding’s dissatisfaction with her, and if it weren’t for the deep entanglement of interests between them, and Harding’s own responsibility for his post-presidency life, he could only continue living with Florence.

But according to tabloid reports in Washington, Harding hadn’t shared a bed with Florence for a long time.

Moreover, Donnie knew another thing: that Harding had found himself another mistress in the White House, his own secretary, who was even pregnant!

This was a departure from history; on another timeline, Harding only had an illegitimate daughter with Nan Britton, and although he had numerous mistresses, he had no offspring.

This was because, on that other timeline, Nan Britton was actually always in Washington, accompanying Harding, while now she spent more time in Atlantic City.

This had given Harding more exciting times!

“Although I welcome your visit, Harding, this time you can only stay here in secret. I suppose you don’t want to see the newspapers of the Democratic Party attacking you tomorrow, do you?”

After they sat down on the sofa, Donnie said this to Harding with a smile.

Harding nodded seriously, “Of course, you can count on that, Donnie!”

Harding’s trip to Atlantic City was for two things: to have some fun playing a couple of hands, and then to have some fun with a few girls. That was his way of relaxing!

Afterward, Donnie called Nucky to take care of Harding’s arrangements in Atlantic City for the next two days while he went to talk to Albert Furr.

“Albert, I’m sure you didn’t come to Atlantic City solely to accompany Harding, did you?”

Donnie said with a smile.

Albert Furr laughed heartily, “I knew Donnie would guess my purpose!”

Donnie nodded, “Let’s hear your thoughts.”

Albert Furr confidently said, “Donnie, I understand you well, I’m certain your people are now in the Soviet Union, looking into the Baku Oil Field, I’m not wrong, am I?”

Donnie remained non-committal, “Didn’t you tell me about this, Albert?”

Albert Furr waved his hand, obviously not wanting to discuss that matter, and continued, “Donnie, give it up! The Baku Oil Field isn’t something you can dabble in!”

Donnie leaned back in the sofa, his expression calm, “If it’s not something I can dabble in, why did you tell me about it in the first place, Albert?”

Naturally, it’s to repay you for the good turn back then… Albert Furr said seriously, “Donnie, I suppose Mr. Rockefeller has already approached you about this, right?”

Donnie nodded, not denying it, “We talked about it when I was in New York!”

“Then, why do you think the Rockefeller Family, with all their might to seize the Baku Oil Field, would still want to find you?”

Albert Furr continued to hold back.

Donnie said, “I’m all ears!”

Albert Furr smiled, “Donnie, now that the Hess-Testi Oil Transportation Company that you and other companies formed is completed, you should know the importance of an oil transportation pipeline for an oil field, right?”

Donnie, struck by a moment of insight, had a sudden thought, but he said nothing and continued, “Go on!”

Albert Furr said, “Previously, the reason Rockefeller chose to give up on the Iranian oil fields was due to the strength of the United Kingdom and the control of the oil transportation pipelines by the UK and Shell beyond the United States.

Although Rockefeller has the largest domestic oil transportation pipeline, the UK and Shell own the largest oil transportation pipelines outside the United States, and Rockefeller did not want to create discord with the UK and Shell over the Iranian oil fields. Here, even Rockefeller’s overseas oil transportation needs this pipeline!”

Donnie nodded and asked, “So this time you’re here to negotiate on behalf of the UK and Shell?”

Albert Furr waved his hand with a laugh, “Of course not, if that were the case, I wouldn’t possibly be sitting here now!”

Albert Furr was the representative of the American oil magnates. If he represented the interests of the UK and Shell in this matter, it would indeed be foolish!

“Then whom are you representing now?”

Donnie asked curiously.

Albert Furr smiled, “Donnie, although you own a considerable share in Sinclair Oil Corporation, in reality, you don’t wield as much power there as I do!”

Donnie realized it all made sense now, and Albert Furr’s words today had unraveled all the doubts in Donnie’s mind.

After the incident with the Iranian oil fields, the Rockefeller Family indeed harbored some reservations about the UK and Shell, but they couldn’t bear to watch helplessly as the Baku Oil Field fell into the hands of others.