The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 184



< Anti-Trust (1) >

Five months have passed since the secret meeting of the Council of Seven in Georgia.

“Down with the monopoly! Bring justice!”

“Down with the monopoly! Bring justice!”

“The Supreme Court must set America on the right path!”

“We must lead!”

April 6 1911.

There are only ten days left until Easter this year.

As Lee Kang predicted it was announced to the public that the Supreme Court would announce the results of the anti-monopoly ruling.

“For a healthy American economy monopoly trusts must be regulated!”

“Break up Standard Oil American Tobacco!”

“Dismantle it!”

As various civic groups gathered in front of the Supreme Court the security guards guarding the court were extremely tense.

Because unprecedented crowds are now gathered here.

“Please be quiet. This is a sacred courtroom.”

“….”

“….”

“Furthermore this is the only Supreme Court in the United States. Everyone please be respectful.”

“That’s right. If you make any more noise I will arrest you immediately.”

Is it because the powerful public authority keeps sending out warning messages?

Fortunately the violent protests that the police had feared did not occur.

“Lawyers and audience members who have pre-registered please line up here for identification purposes. This way. Everyone this way.”

As it is the verdict of the century applications for admission tickets have already been completed.

As the verdict time approached people began to take their seats one by one.

Among them was John D. Rockefeller Jr.

“Everyone please stand. The Justices are entering.”

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

However the face of Rockefeller the representative of Standard Oil was nowhere to be seen.

Because public opinion was expected to be focused after the verdict they planned to put forward Rockefeller’s relatively young son as a shield.

“Case Number 396. I will now commence the sentencing of the antitrust case between the Department of Justice of the United States Government and Standard Oil Corporation.”

As the trial began Rockefeller Jr. closed his eyes for a moment and reminisced.

For a full year he lobbied with his father on antitrust lawsuits.

Memories of the hardships of the past quickly flashed through his mind.

‘Please God….’

John Rockefeller Jr. folded his hands and prayed to the God he believed in.

I begged to be spared just once.

It is now truly out of my hands that I have no choice.

Even the great Rockefeller who had no choice but to leave things to fate eventually sought God at the last moment.

“Before sentencing this court would like to tell you about the progress of this case. Our judges have tried to resolve this case fairly and promptly.”

Following the judge on the far left the large fat man sitting in the middle began to speak.

“I am William Howard Taft who presided over this judgment. Everyone please remain quiet and I will now begin the reading of the judgment.”

Taft was a member of Roosevelt’s cabinet who had been at odds with the New York capitalists.

In the original history Taft succeeded Roosevelt as president but due to Lee Kang’s intervention Roosevelt ran for a third term and Taft was left floating in the air.

Fortunately there was no conflict between the two.

Because Roosevelt demonstrated outstanding political skills and successfully persuaded Taft.

He was given the position of Chief Justice which he had always wanted and traffic control was done to avoid any noise within the Republican Party.

Is that why?

Taft’s face was very bright as if he was satisfied with his current position as Chief Justice.

“Standard’s monopolistic management practices are extremely damaging to our American entrepreneurial spirit which prioritizes capitalist market principles…”

Taft who was very friendly to the Roosevelt administration began to give a long speech.

From the beginning very harsh words came out of his mouth.

‘Oh like that.’

Rockefeller Jr. looked tense and focused on what Taft was saying so he wouldn’t miss a single word.

A long sermon followed lasting about 50 minutes.

“… This can also be seen as a market disruption act that strongly violates the Sherman Act which was enacted over 20 years ago. Therefore….”

Members of a civic group seeking justice.

Reporters trying to get the verdict out as quickly as possible.

A Justice Department official from Washington.

And Standard Oil’s army of fancy lawyers.

Everyone had their own thoughts but they all held their breath and looked at Taft earnestly.

“…This court rules as follows.”

A fleeting moment.

Taft and Rockefeller Jr.’s eyes met.

Ps …

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Taft smiled faintly at Rockefeller Jr.

At this Rockefeller Jr. suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

He didn’t know why but an ominous feeling ran through his body.

“I hereby pronounce upon the order of compulsory dissolution of Standard Oil Company.”

“Oh! Awesome.”

“It’s not a fine it’s a forced disbandment!”

“Is this the scoop of the century?”

It was the moment when the end of Standard Oil which had grown in size through octopus-like expansion over the past 20 years was confirmed.

“Within six months Standard Oil will have to come up with a plan to break up its monopoly structure. Failure to do so will result in….”

At this Rockefeller Jr.’s mind went blank.

I had been mentally prepared but I had no idea that Standard Oil would actually be split up.

* * *

Thump thump.

Shaking off the reporters who rushed toward him Rockefeller headed to his office near Washington.

“father.”

“okay.”

There sat Rockefeller.

With the Standard Oil legal team.

“….”

“….”

Rockefeller remained silent having already been informed of the results by telephone.

For a while the two rich men just looked at each other in silence.

“sorry.”

“no.”

It was expected that the fine would end at around 50 million dollars.

The anger that Roosevelt felt when he ran into the public in reality was much stronger than that.

“This Rockefeller despite all his hard work and effort couldn’t stop it. Anyone else would have gotten the same result.”

“….”

The inkling started a year ago.

Businessmen who were known for their hard work began to avoid him one by one.

Even the scholarship students stationed in Washington tended to ignore Rockefeller’s calls.

“Weren’t you there at that time too?”

“Are you talking about what happened in Georgia?”

“okay.”

The incident took place at Morgan’s vacation home in Georgia.

Because on the last day they treated Rockefeller like an old convict sentenced to death almost like a nobody.

“Your father-in-law also avoided us. In a way it was a planned process.”

After returning to New York his old friend and brother-in-law Aldrich also showed a reluctant attitude knowingly or unknowingly.

This made Rockefeller feel something.

His complete defeat in this trial is already a foregone conclusion.

But Rockefeller didn’t want to admit it.

He was the one who walked the smooth road without any failure throughout his life.

His child Standard Oil is being dismantled.

I really hate to admit it.

But now that it had become a reality that could not be changed Rockefeller had no choice but to accept it.

“Sir what should we do?”

“The reporters are just looking at the CEO’s mouth.”

Rockefeller was extremely annoyed and lost his temper.

“Tell him to wait.”

“….”

“Weren’t we given six months? It’s not like we’ll be out of breath just waiting a few days!”

Rockefeller stared blankly out the window for a moment then remembered a face.

A person who reached out to me until the very end when I was in the worst situation.

That’s what came to mind.

“Junior.”

“Yes Father.”

“Where did you say this prince is now?”

Rockefeller Jr. scratched his head for a moment then revealed Lee Kang’s current location.

“I heard he recently returned home to San Francisco from Oakland. Maybe he’s still there?”

“okay?”

Rockefeller looked at his son with a grave expression.

“I guess I need to reserve a train ticket.”

“yes?”

“Let’s go meet this prince right now. What are you doing? Get up quickly.”

* * *

“That’s what happened in the end.”

I was holding a telegram in my hand.

If we just hold out for a year a transcontinental telephone line will be laid making it easier to receive news from the eastern part of the country.

Since this had not yet been fully installed communication was conducted by telegram.

‘Two out of four were dismantled.’

As was the case in history Standard Oil and American Tobacco were ordered to liquidate.

Morgan’s IMM and US Steel were adjourned for further review.

It means that the verdict will be handed down in about a year perhaps because Roosevelt’s forces were influencing the Supreme Court through lobbying?

‘I guess I’ll use it before the next presidential election.’

After exactly one year each party’s candidate is elected.

The bear sitting in Washington is as smart as Morgan.

Roosevelt may have delayed the Morgan-owned company rulings to ensure that his faction would be next in line for power.

“Your Majesty. You are amazing.”

“….”

“Everything was decided as Your Majesty expected.”

Choi Hyun-woo made a surprised expression and gave a thumbs-up.

When asked how I could predict so accurately I did not answer but instead tried to predict the next future again.

“I guess Representative Rockefeller will come to see me.”

“Oh I see. It’s like a fire under his feet.”

“There’s something I have to do before that.”

I called Choi Hyun-woo and whispered softly.

“yes?”

At this Choi Hyun-woo opened his eyes wide and seemed slightly hesitant as to why he had to bring the person I had just mentioned into his office.

“I will do as you command.”

One minute after Choi Hyun-woo left the office.

A woman with him came into my room.

“Did you call?”

Choi Hyun-woo who came with Ethel nodded to me silently and went back down to the first floor.

It’s just Ethel and me in the office now.

“I called you because I have something to tell you madam.”

“What do you want to say?”

I squinted my eyes at Ethel.

“What you are planning Madam. Stop it now.”

“….”

“That doesn’t help me.”

* * *

Ethel was not embarrassed.

He asked me with a very calm expression.

“If it’s something you’re planning…”

“It’s a plan to lure the lady’s brother into rebelling from within.”

“….”

“That’s not a wise idea.”

Ethel was silent for a moment.

anything.

It seemed like he needed some time to think.

“All of this.”

Ethel slowly.

But he told me in a calm tone.

“Everyone did this for the prince.”

“Andao.”

“….”

“But sometimes such arbitrary actions come back to bite me.”

I clasped my hands together and rested my chin on them.

“I need the influence of Representative Rockefeller. If you try to rebel now your family’s power will be split in half.”

“That’s true. But you’ll have a definite ally.”

“Well I don’t think so.”

“….”

“There is no such thing as a sure ally. If it is not mine then it is just an ally.”

I emphasized the following words:

“Furthermore if the existing allies’ forces are split in half wouldn’t that mean my side is torn in half? If that happens it would be truly regrettable.”

Ethel continued to remain silent.

I warned her about this.

“So stop what you’re doing right now. I heard that you’ve taken everything from gold to artwork in the house and turned it into cash. It’s strange so I hope you don’t use it.”

“all right.”

Ethel seemed to have finished calculating.

She was quick to acknowledge the current state of affairs.

“I will leave all the funds that my family has saved up to you Prince.”

“To me?”

“Yes. I’ve heard rumors that the prince has been running low on cash lately. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could tap into some of our family’s pocket money?”

but.

It could be useful.

But I’m lending it to you.

If I could get my hands on cash at a time like this I’d be grateful.

“Thank you. If you do that I think Representative Rockefeller will be able to clear up any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

I warned Ethel again my voice louder.

“Oh! There’s one thing I want to tell you. Never do anything outside without my permission again.”

“….”

“I won’t warn you twice.”

“Yes. I won’t do that.”

“I believe you.”

Ethel appeared slightly dizzy and staggering.

So I approached her.

“Okay just a moment. Ugh.”

Ethel suddenly runs to the bathroom.

Then I started to feel nauseous.

“Huh? Ethel. Are you okay?”

Are you going to gag after hearing a few words of warning?

I didn’t warn you that sternly.

“Ugh.”

Ethel glanced at me and signaled for help.

So I hit his back hard and then a word suddenly came to mind.

“Ethel by any chance….”

< Anti-Trust (1) > End