Bab 425: Chapter 425: I Want to Give You a Baby
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The conflict between Hardy and Indonesia continued without escalating into a full-scale war, but tensions remained high. Hardy's mercenary ships patrolled the Strait of Malacca daily, and warplanes regularly flew over Indonesia.
In August 1953, a car accident occurred in Jakarta. An officer named Suhart was hit by a large truck while on his way home from work. The truck fled the scene, and Suhart was found with fatal injuries.
Suhart was a mid-level officer in the Indonesian Military Staff. He had studied at the Royal Dutch-Indian Army Cadre School in Gobang, Central Java, and later served in the Japanese "Guardian Army" headquarters. After Japan's surrender in 1945, Suhart joined the People's Security Army and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army Staff.
Initially, Suhart's death was not seen as significant, and his family quickly buried him. However, Hardy took note of the news and was satisfied with the outcome. Although Hardy was uncertain if Suhart would have risen further in rank or become more influential, he decided that eliminating him was the simplest solution. He was not concerned about potential future complications.
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During this period, Hardy returned to the United States to focus on his American business ventures. He delegated responsibilities for Penang and Malacca to his subordinates while concentrating on increasing his revenue to support his troops.
Not long after, Hardy received a call from the White House. President Eisenhower requested a meeting to discuss the situation in Indonesia. Given Hardy's multifaceted roles as an American businessman, the husband of a British princess, the Governor of the Cayman Islands, and the Governor of the Hardy Dominion, Eisenhower had to approach him with diplomatic respect.
At the White House, Hardy and Eisenhower had dinner and then walked and talked in the garden. They discussed various topics including the situation in Southeast Asia, the Malayan issue, economic investments in the Hardy Dominion, regional control, and political orientation.
Eisenhower mentioned that someone was attempting to mediate between Hardy and Indonesia and asked for Hardy's opinion. The think tank had already considered these issues and recognized that a prolonged conflict was unsustainable. The war had showcased the Hardy Dominion's strength and resolve, serving as a warning to Indonesia.
Hardy's demands were straightforward: punish all involved in violence and vandalism, issue apologies and compensation for the dead and injured, cease unreasonable trade regulations, and compensate his company with $500 million. Indonesia was enraged by these demands, viewing them as extortion. While the first two demands were somewhat acceptable, the third seemed to interfere with their internal affairs, and the compensation amount was deemed excessive.
The mediation process stalled. Hardy was patient, focusing on his business and allowing his army to continue training.
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In September, Elena, a French woman, happily informed Hardy that she was pregnant. Hardy was thrilled and kissed her in celebration. He valued having children, whether through marriage or otherwise, and had already arranged a family fund in the Cayman Islands to support them.
Elena was advised by her doctor to avoid high-intensity exercise during the early months of pregnancy. Hardy reassured her, emphasizing the importance of the child's well-being.
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Princess Margaret of Great Britain was enjoying her newfound freedom after marrying Hardy. No longer constrained by royal duties, she found fulfillment in managing the global luxury goods sector of the Hardy Group. Despite having a professional team, Margaret's involvement added significant value, leveraging her royal status and expertise in luxury goods to promote the brand.
Hardy's strategy for managing his women involved keeping them busy to prevent idle behavior and potential issues. By engaging them in meaningful work, he ensured their focus was on their responsibilities rather than on his personal life.
Margaret's work included managing the Hardy Group's luxury goods magazine, which was gaining prominence. The latest issue featured her at a jewelry conference, holding Hardy's child, David Hardy.
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Hardy visited Santa Clara Valley in San Francisco, a location already home to several research laboratories and technology factories. His goal was to acquire land and establish a high-tech venture capital company, recognizing the area as a future tech hub—Silicon Valley.
In 1933, the region had become a naval research base, and after its relocation, it had attracted technology companies. The presence of nearby universities, such as Stanford and UC Berkeley, contributed to the area's reputation for talent concentration.
Hardy planned to purchase land and set up "Hardy Technology Investment" to support technology research and development.
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William Shockley, a researcher at Bell Labs, had invented the transistor and was known as the father of the transistor. He was seeking additional funds to further his research.
Shockley saw an advertisement for Hardy's new venture capital company and, intrigued, contacted them. After discussions, Hardy's investment company provided Shockley with $1.6 million to establish the Shockley Laboratory.
Shockley retained 40% of the laboratory's research results and patent profits, while Hardy's company held management control. The laboratory attracted many talented individuals, including future founders of Fairchild, Intel, and AMD. They focused on advancing transistor technology and exploring silicon wafers.
Hardy was pleased with the investment, knowing that early involvement in Silicon Valley would yield significant future returns. The establishment of Shockley Laboratory marked the beginning of a technological revolution that would shape the future.
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By 1955, under international mediation, the Hardy Dominion and Indonesia reached a settlement. Indonesia, unable to endure the continued harassment, agreed to investigate the violence, make compensation payments, and address issues affecting foreign investments. Although Indonesia resisted the full $500 million compensation, they eventually agreed to pay $120 million in installments.
Hardy's demands were met, and the conflict with Indonesia was resolved. Despite Indonesia's ongoing economic and political repression of the Chinese, the Hardy Dominion had preemptively eliminated potential threats and welcomed Chinese immigrants, leading to significant population growth and wealth accumulation in Penang, Malacca, and Singapore.
In March 1955, Elena gave birth to a daughter named Anna, who resembled a porcelain doll with blond hair and sky-blue eyes. Hardy was delighted and looked forward to a future with his growing family. Anna's birth was registered in the Cayman Islands, where Hardy had arranged for her and Elena's accounts to be managed.
Elizabeth Taylor, having learned of Elena's child, playfully demanded Hardy's attention. Despite Hardy's concerns about her youth and career impact, Elizabeth insisted on having children, adding a touch of humor and warmth to their relationship.
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Bab 426: Chapter 426: My Idol
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Elizabeth Taylor quickly became pregnant with Hardy's child, and her wish came true within two months. As a result, a new film she was supposed to star in was put on hold. The timing seemed to align with the year's events, as Ava and Heidi Ramah were also expecting. Heidi and Hardy's relationship had been infrequent, but it led to her becoming pregnant.
"Heidi, can I have this baby? You don't need to be responsible; I can raise her alone."
"Of course, the child must be born. I'm not an irresponsible person. As long as it's my child, I'll be responsible for it," Hardy said, pretending to be displeased.
The child would eventually be included in the Hardy family tree and become a beneficiary of the Hardy Family Trust. Heidi Rama embraced Hardy, thrilled by the news.
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On a plane to Australia, Andy and Hardy were casually chatting.
"Hong Kong's Yezhen, Princess Margaret, and Elena have all given birth. Now Ava and Heidi Ramah are pregnant as well. Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn will likely follow suit. Hardy, how many children do you plan to have?"
Hardy responded with a smug smile, "My idol is King Zhou Wen."
"Who is King Zhou Wen?" Andy asked, puzzled.
"He was a founding monarch in ancient China who established the Zhou Dynasty. Over 3,000 years ago, and the dynasty lasted more than 800 years."
Hardy elaborated on Chinese history.
"Wow, that's longer than the Roman Empire," Andy said in surprise.
"Yes, Zhou Wenwang was initially a fief lord under the previous dynasty. He later overthrew the Shang Dynasty and built a powerful empire."
"It's said he had countless wives and over a hundred sons."
Andy's eyes widened. "Goodness, don't tell me you want to have a hundred children too?"
"That's quite a challenge, but I'll do my best," Hardy said with a cheeky grin.
Andy looked at Hardy with a mix of admiration and exasperation. Despite Hardy's many qualities—his keen business insight, charm, and leadership—his approach to relationships was less conventional. Even though he was married to Princess Margaret, he had numerous other women in his life, yet Margaret seemed unfazed.
"What about you, when do you plan to get married?" Hardy asked.
Since meeting Zhu Xijun in Penang and with her studying in the U.S., Andy and Zhu Xijun had been together for over two years. They were now considering marriage.
"I plan to propose after graduation," Andy said, content with his relationship.
"Let me know before you tie the knot," Hardy said.
"And why is that?"
"I'll prepare a gift—a private yacht or jet. Your choice," Hardy offered.
"Wow, the boss is being generous. I'll take the yacht, then. It's worth more than a plane and will be on par with yours," Andy said with a grin.
Hardy pretended to be distressed. "Since I promised, I won't go back on it."
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The plane landed in Perth, Australia, where Hardy and Andy were greeted by the mayor. Hardy, a VIP due to his immense wealth and status, was warmly welcomed. Australia is a Commonwealth country, and its leaders are called prime ministers, with an enduring link to British nobility.
Hardy's mining company, which has expanded its investments significantly, was flourishing. The company now operates large-scale iron, coal, copper, and gold mines across Australia and other regions, including Canada, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Hardy Mining is now among the world's top three largest mining companies, with substantial mineral reserves and production capabilities.
The president of the mining company, Matthew, and vice president, Columbus, briefed Hardy and Andy on the company's development. After a day in Perth, the two flew to Penang to inspect their other interests.
They discussed various industries, including the potential of the spice business. Hardy suggested setting up a specialized spice company and producing standardized spices for global distribution. He also proposed leveraging their existing catering businesses to develop proprietary spice blends.
Andy noted the idea and agreed to explore it further.
Spice companies, though less glamorous, can be highly profitable on a large scale. Hardy's entry into this market seemed promising.
Upon arriving in Penang, Hardy was greeted by Han Yezhen and their children, Byrne and Annie. The children were adorable, and Hardy was delighted to see them.
The next day, Andy visited Zhu's family to propose to Zhu Xijun. The Zhu family welcomed him warmly, and Zhu Yunquan, the family head, gave his blessing.
"Thank you, Uncle," Andy said sincerely.
"Thank you, Dad," Zhu Xijun added, blushing.
The engagement news quickly spread, with the Zhu family likely sharing it with excitement.
Hardy, upon hearing the news, joked with Han Yezhen about his own romantic exploits. "Look at me, surrounded by so many beautiful women."
Han Yezhen playfully retorted, "Yes, you have quite the harem."
Laughing, Hardy picked up Han Yezhen and headed to the bedroom. "Let's have another baby tonight."
Though Han Yezhen was shy, she responded warmly. "Even with so many admirers, I'll cherish you tonight."
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