Chapter 6 Section 2(1)

On Thursday morning Tom Hagen arrived at his law firm.His plan was to rush through the paperwork to get everything sorted out for Friday's meeting with Virgil Sollozzo.It was a high-stakes meeting, and he spent the evening with the old man in order to discuss what they had long known about Sollozzo's proposal.Hagen wanted to find out all the details.In this way, when he went to the preparatory meeting, he was not guilty. As soon as Hagen returned from California on Tuesday night, he reported the results of his negotiations with Wultz.The old man showed no surprise.He asked Hagen to describe every detail in detail.The old man pouted and frowned in disgust when Hagen spoke of the pretty little girl and her mother.He murmured a "shameful" and that was his strongest objection.He ended by asking Hagen this curious question:

"Is this man really kind?" Hagen was thinking about what the old man meant by that. Over the years, he had learned that the old man's standard of worth was fundamentally different from that of most people, and that the same words might be different when he said them. Does Wultz have character? Does he have a strong will? That, no doubt, he has. But that's not what the old man is asking. Does the film studio boss have the nerve to be frightened? His Is he willing to take the huge financial toll that filming suffers and the scandal of his greatest star being revealed as a heroin addict? The answer is also yes. But that's not what the old man meant either. Finally , Hagen finally explained this strange problem properly. For a question of principle, for a question involving honor and disgrace, or simply for revenge, is Wultz really capable? Dare to take all risks, and Give it all away?

Hagen smiled.It was rare for him to crack a joke, but this time he couldn't help telling the old man a wisecrack: "You asked if he was a Sicilian?" The old man nodded cheerfully, appreciating the pleasing quips and the depth of their meaning. "He's not Sicilian," Hagen said. Getting that straight is everything.The old man thought about what to do until the next day.On Wednesday afternoon, he invited Hagen to his home for an interview.Hagen spent the rest of his working hours that day in order to make specific arrangements to implement his instructions; afterwards, Hagen admired him even more.The old man had settled the matter; Woltz would call him this morning to report that Johnny Fontane had been agreed to star in that new war movie.This seemed certain to Hagen.

Just at this time, the phone really rang.But it was from Amerigo Bonasera.The little funeral home owner's voice trembled with gratitude.He asked Hagen to tell the old man his sworn friendship.If anything happens to the old man, just give him a call.He, Amerigo Bonasera, willingly lay down his life for the gracious godfather.Hagen repeatedly assured him that the old man would be honestly reported. The Daily News had a mid-page article reporting Jerry Vernay and Kevan Moonan lying in the street.The photo was obviously taken by an insider, and it was chilling to see: they looked like two piles of human flesh.It was a miracle, the newspaper said, that both of them were still alive, but would have to spend months in the hospital and require plastic surgery.Hagen wrote a note to Clemenza, telling him what to do with Paulie Gatto.Clemenza seemed to understand his mission.

For the next three hours, Hagen has been working intensely and efficiently, summing up the profit statements sent from the old man's real estate company, olive oil import company, and construction company.It's not very prosperous at present, but after the war, it will become a way to make a fortune.He had simply forgotten about Johnny Fontane's question.Suddenly his secretary told him that California had called.When he grabbed the phone and said, "This is Hagen," he had a hunch and couldn't help but get a little creepy. The voice from the phone, because of anger and excitement, could not tell whose voice it was.

"You little deceitful bastard," Woltz yelled, "I'm going to put you all in jail for a hundred years. I'm going to take you to justice even if I run out of money. I'm going to take that Johnny Fontane's testicles cut off. Do you hear that? You fraudster!" Hagen said calmly, "I am of Germanic and Irish descent." The two sides did not speak for a long time, and then, with a "click", the phone was hung up.Hagen smiled.Woltz didn't say a single word about Don Corleone himself. Jack Woltz always slept alone.His bed was wide enough to sleep ten; his bedroom was so large it could have been used as a ballroom scene in a movie.But since his first wife died a decade ago, he has been sleeping alone.That's not to say he stopped seeing women.Physically, despite his age, he was still a vigorous man, but only very young girls could arouse his sexual desire these days.At the same time, he also found that being able to do a few at a time in one night is a proof of his youthful vitality, and he really has such patience.

This morning, for unknown reasons, he woke up very early.The light of dawn dimmed his spacious bedroom like a foggy pasture.On the other side of the bed, there was a familiar image. Wultz stood up on his elbows, trying to see it clearly.He saw the outline of a horse's head.Still a bit wobbly and can't see clearly.Woltz reached out and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. When he saw it, he was shocked into shock, as if a big hammer had hit his chest hard.His heartbeat suddenly became disordered, and he felt nauseated, and he vomited with a "wow", and the food residue splashed all over the thick high-end carpet.

The black silky head of the big horse Katumu was cut off and firmly embedded in the center of a large blood cake.The white, thin and long tendons are also exposed.The mouth is full of froth, and those big apple-like eyes, which originally shone like gold, are now speckled with internal bleeding, like rotten peaches, lifeless.Woltz was petrified by an instinctive terror.Out of this sense of terror he screamed and called to his servant to come quickly; out of this same sense of terror he called Hagen, unable to restrain himself, and threatened.His incoherent fits of frenzy frightened the head housekeeper, who got up and called Woltz's personal doctor and his number two in the studio.But, before their arrival, Wultz was back to normal.

He was in severe shock just now.Who could have the heart to destroy a livestock worth six hundred thousand dollars all at once?Not a word of warning in advance.No negotiation precedes such action, and action abolishes negotiation.This ruthless behavior, this reckless disregard for any value standard, shows that the mastermind behind the scenes regards himself as his own law, even as his own God.The man didn't think much of his Woltz stable security team.At this moment, Wultz thought: Obviously, someone must first use brute force to drive the horse away, and then someone will take an ax to calmly chop off the huge triangular horse's head.The security guards on the night shift insisted that they heard nothing, which Wultz found impossible.Find a way to get them to speak up.They've been bought, and it's possible to find a way to get them to tell who paid them off.

Woltz wasn't a fool, he was just terribly selfish.He mistakenly believed that the power he wielded in his world was far greater than that of Don Corleone, but he had only to think hard enough to see that it was not.He is only now grasping the message that, despite his wealth, despite his close ties to the President of the United States, despite his repeated claims that he has a friendship with the FBI director, an obscure Italian olive oil importer will figure out how to get His life, really will kill him!The reason is that he refuses to assign him the role he wants.This causality is hard to believe.People don't have any right to act like that.The world wouldn't be a world if people were so reckless.This is madness, which means that you have money, a company, and the power to call the shots, but you still can't do whatever you want, you have to smash it.This must not be allowed.Woltz had the doctor give him a very mild sedative.The medicine helped him calm down and he was able to think clearly.What really astounded him was the ease with which Corleone, the man, had ordered the destruction of a world-famous horse worth six hundred thousand dollars.Six hundred thousand dollars!And, this is just the beginning.Woltz shuddered.He thought about the life he had built.He's rich and can get the most beautiful woman in the world just by bending his finger and agreeing to a acting contract.He was received by the king and queen.He lived the best life money and power could possibly afford.It's madness to risk it all on a whim.Maybe he could follow the lead and find Corleone at last.What punishment can be imposed by the law for killing a racehorse?He laughed wildly; his doctor and servants watched him nervously and apprehensively.Another thought came to him: that he would be the laughing stock of California because someone flouted his authority with such arrogance, and that would be the end of him.Another idea is that maybe people don't intend to kill him, and there may be even more powerful conspiracies and tricks.

Woltz gave orders, the necessary measures were taken, and a team of his cronies sprang into action.The servants and doctors were sworn to secrecy, and those who violated were sworn enemies of the studio and Woltz himself.The story given to the newspaper was that the racehorse Katumu had unfortunately contracted an illness on the way from England to the United States and was now disabled. At the same time, he ordered the racehorse's body to be buried in the hidden place of the manor. Six hours later, Johnny Fontane got a call from the executive producer in charge of the film telling him to report for work the following Monday. Hagen came to the Don's house that night to help him prepare for the important meeting with Virgil Sollozzo the next day.The old man summoned his eldest son to attend.Sonny Corleone, with his thick Cupidian face wrinkled with weariness, was drinking from a glass of water.He must still be messing with that bridesmaid, Hagen thought.This is another headache. Don Corleone sat in an armchair, smoking a Noble cigar.Hagen always kept a pack of these cigars in his own office.He tried to get the old man to smoke Havanas instead, but the old man said the cigars hurt his throat. "Have we got everything we need to know?" asked the old man. Hagen opened the folder where the recording was kept.These records are not involved in criminal offenses at all, just codes that others cannot understand, to remind myself whether I have noticed every important detail. "Solozzo is going to ask us to help," Hagen said. "He wants us to provide at least a million dollars and promise some kind of legal protection. That way, if we get involved, no one will know what we're getting into." How deep. Sollozzo is secured by the Tattaglia family; it seems the Tattaglia family may have been involved too. This trade is a passing narcotic. Sollozzo has connections in Turkey where there is a race of L Opium. From there he will have no trouble getting his shipments to Sicily; in Sicily he has factories that can be processed into heroin. He has two conversion programs that can be downgraded to morphine and upped to heroin if necessary. It looks like, The processing plant in Sicily is well protected and secure, the only problem is getting the goods into the US and then distributing them for sale. Also, starting capital is a problem. A million dollars in cash doesn't grow from a tree. Hagen caught Don Corleone frowning and pouting.The old man was against being too flamboyant in doing business.Then he spoke very succinctly. "People say that Sollozzo is a Turk. There are two reasons: one, he has been in Turkey for a long time, and it is said that he has a Turkish wife and children; Skilled, but not unfounded with a bit of grumbling in business. A very competent man, with his own mind. He has a bit of a history: two prison terms, one in Italy and one in the US. Authorities consider him a narcotics dealer His questions are beneficial to us. That is to say, if we trace him, he will never escape, because he is considered a leader and has a criminal record. In addition, he has an American wife and three children: He is a person with a strong family concept, as long as he knows that his wife and son in the United States are taken care of in life, he will be strong and unyielding, and have the courage to bear any criminal responsibility." The old man took a drag on his cigar and asked: "Sandino, what do you think?" Hagen knew what Sonny would say.With the old man on top of Sonny's head, he felt that he couldn't use it, and he was very troubled.He wants to start a big business independently.A deal like this is exactly what it wants. Sonny took a long swig of Scotch. "There's a lot of money in that shit," he said, "but there can be dangers in there, and some people could end up in prison for twenty years. I mean, if we don't get involved in the actual business , and limit it to protection and funding, which is a good idea." Hagen eyed Sonny approvingly.Sonny had been shrewd.He's always wanted to stand out, and it's only fitting for him to make the most of it. The old man took another drag on his cigar. "What do you think, Tom?" Hagen, in order to appear absolutely serious, took a moment of composure.He had long since come to the conclusion that the Don would reject Sollozzo's proposal.But the tricky thing was that, in his experience, this was one of the few times in his life that the old man hadn't thought things through.In other words, the old man didn't see far this time. "Say it, Tom," the old man encouraged Hagen. "Even a Sicilian staff officer does not always agree with the commander-in-chief." They all laughed. "I think you should say yes," said Hagen. "You know the superficial reasons, but here's the crux: anesthesia makes more money than any other business. If we don't get involved, someone else will, maybe the Tattaglias. .They can use the money they earn to recruit more policemen and politicians. Their families will grow stronger than ours. At that time, they will come to us and take our territory. This is also like a country If they are armed, we have to be armed. If their economy becomes stronger, it will be a threat to us. Right now we have the gambling house, and the labor union is also in our hands. For now, These are the most critical departments to master. However, I feel that narcotics is a growing business, and we must participate in it, or we risk losing everything. Of course, not losing everything now, but Ten years from now there will be danger." The old man seemed greatly moved.He took a drag on his cigar, and muttered: "Of course, this is the most important thing." He sighed and stood up. "When will you meet with that lawless man tomorrow?" Hagen said hopefully, "He's due to be here at ten o'clock tomorrow morning." It looked like the old man would be there on time. "I want you two to come and stay with me then," said the old man.He stood up and stretched himself, then took his son by the arm and said: "Sandino, get a good night's sleep tonight, your face is so ugly, you look like a dead person. Take care of your body, you won't be young forever." Inspired by this paternal love, Sonny asked the question Hagen wanted to ask but was too afraid to ask: "Father, when the time comes, how are you going to answer?" Don Corleone smiled and said, "Haven't heard about the percentages and other details, so how do I know what to answer? Besides, I'll have to spend some time tonight thinking over the comments I just made. Anyway, I'm not that A reckless person." As he walked out the door, he said casually to Hagen, "Is there an entry in your records that this Turk made his living by running a brothel before the war, as the Tattaglias do now?" What did you do? Write this down for me before you forget it." The old man's tone was sneering; Hagen blushed all of a sudden.This point he is intentionally ignoring.Because it really didn't matter, and he was afraid that bringing it up would give the old man a preconceived decision.The old man was notoriously rigid when it came to men and women. "The Turk" Virgil Sollozzo, a stocky, medium-sized man with a dark complexion, could have been mistaken for a real Turk.His nose was like a machete used by the Turks in the past, and his black eyes were very cruel.His majestic demeanor is unforgettable at first sight. Sonny Corleone met him at the door and led him into the office where Hagen and the Don were waiting.Hagen looked at it and thought to himself: Except for Luke Blasey, he has never seen a more terrible person than this. Sollozzo shook hands politely with those present.Hagen thought, if the old man asked me if I was a man, I would say yes.Never had he felt such power in a man, not even in an old man.In fact, the old man looked rather unremarkable.When he met and greeted people, he pretended to be too innocent and relaxed. Sollozzo speaks straight to the point, the business is narcotics, everything is ready.Several opium plantations in Turkey had promised him annual rations.He had a protected factory in France that could convert the goods into morphine.He also has a completely safe factory in Sicily, which can process the goods into heroin.Freight to France or Sicily is very careful, it can be said that it needs to be as careful as possible.There may be a 5% loss when shipping goods into the United States, because the FBI does not accept bribes directly.Both of them knew this well, but the profits were still surprisingly large without risk. "Then why are you looking for me?" the old man asked very politely, "what do I have that deserves your praise?" Sollozzo's darkened face remained calm. "I need two million dollars in cash," he said, "and just as important, I need someone with a back door in a key department. In the next few years, someone might get caught with my undercover trafficman. It's It is inevitable. I guarantee that they all have a clean history, so the judge will logically give a lighter sentence. I need a friend who can guarantee that once my people commit a crime, they will not go to jail for more than one or two years. During the prison period, They won't talk nonsense. But who would have expected them to sit in prison for ten or twenty years? There are many cunning people in this world, and such people will talk nonsense, and he will bite out more important people. Legal protection A requisite. Don Corleone, I hear you have as much judges in your pockets as shoeshines have change in their pockets." Don Corleone did not particularly appreciate the compliment. "What about our dividend percentage?" he asked. Sollozzo's eyes sparkled. "Fifty percent." He paused for a moment, then continued, in an almost romantic tone, "You'll get three or four million dollars in the first year. After that, it will increase every year." The old man asked: "What is the percentage of the Tattaglia family's dividend?" Sollozzo seemed a little uncomfortable. "His family will get a little bit of my half. I also need some help in the process of running the business." "So," said Don Corleone, "I'll get fifty per cent just for funding and legal protection. I don't have to bother running it, do I?" Sollozzo nodded. "If you really think that two million dollars in cash is 'merely a grant,' then I congratulate you, Don Corleone." The old man said calmly: "I originally agreed to see you out of respect for the Tattaglia family and also because I heard that you are a respectable and dignified man. Now I must tell you clearly' No', but at the same time I must explain the reason clearly: the business you are going to have is huge, but the risk is also huge. If I partner with you, the business you are running may completely destroy my other profits Drop. Yes, I have many, many friends in politics, but if my business were narcotics instead of casinos, they wouldn't be so friendly. They think gambling is like booze, bad is bad, but it doesn't matter; but they think narcotics It's a dirty business. You don't argue, don't argue. I'm giving you their opinion, not mine. How a man makes a living is none of my business. What I'm going to tell you now Yes: The business you are doing is too risky. All the members of our family have lived a good life for nearly ten years, no danger, no disaster. I can't bear to give them or their life out of greed harm." Sollozzo was disappointed, but all he did was roll his eyes rapidly, searching the room, as if he was counting on Hagen or Sonny to help him.Then he said, "Are you worried that your two million won't be guaranteed?" The old man smiled. "No," he said. Sollozzo wanted to test again: "The Tattaglia family is also willing to guarantee your investment." At this point Sonny Corleone intervened, an inexcusable error of judgment and procedure.He couldn't wait to ask: "The Tattaglia family guarantees the safe recovery of our family's investment, so they don't ask us for a deposit?" Hagen was taken aback by this sudden interruption.He saw the old man staring at his eldest son with cold, fierce eyes.His eldest son was still baffled, and was so frightened that he panicked and was dumbfounded.Sollozzo's eyes flickered again.But this time, he showed a satisfied look.He found a crack inside the Don's fortress.The old man spoke again, his tone was to resolve the deadlock. "Young people are greedy for money," he said. "Young people these days have no manners. When the elders are talking, they cut in. They're nosy. And I'm usually too easy on my children, they're a bit spoiled; I've put They are spoiled. You can see that, Mr. Sollozzo, and my 'no' is irrevocable. All I want to say is this: I personally wish you the best of luck in your business. Yours is the same as mine. No conflict of interest. I'm sorry I had to disappoint you." Sollozzo bowed, shook hands with the old man, and was escorted by Hagen to his car.There was no expression on his face as he said "goodbye" to Hagen. When Hagen came back into the house, the old man asked him: "What do you think of that man?" "He's a Sicilian at heart," said Hagen dryly. The old man nodded thoughtfully.Then he turned to his son and said: "Sandino, don't let anyone outside our family know what you're thinking. Don't let outsiders know what you're trying to grab with your fingers. I think that comedy scene you played with that young girl Your mind is muddled. Stop fooling around like that, and take care of business. Get out of my presence now!" Hagen noticed the look on Sonny's face.First shock, then anger.Hagen thought to himself: Doesn't he really understand how dangerous the mistake he made today would be?If this is the case, then Hagen is absolutely unwilling to continue serving as a staff officer to Sandino Corleone, the future old man. Don Corleone waited motionless for Sonny to exit the house.He sank back into the armchair and gestured irritably for a drink.Hagen poured him a glass of anisette. The old man looked up at him. "Send for Luke Brasi to meet me," he said. Three months later, one day, Hagen was rushing through some paperwork at a law firm in the city and wanted to leave work early to buy something for his wife and children for Christmas.Suddenly, his work was interrupted by a phone call from a jovial Johnny Fontane.That movie has already been made.Hagen thought to himself, this sample set, regardless of how well it was shot, is very good.Johnny said he was going to give the old man a Christmas present.This gift will make the old man love it so much that his eyes hurt to look at it.He originally wanted to deliver it himself, but there were still some small things to do in terms of production, and he really couldn't get away.As a last resort, I had to stay there.Hagen fought back desperately, not to show his impatience.Johnny Fontane's charms had never worked on him, but this time his interest was piqued. "What is it?" he asked. Johnny laughed and said: "I can't say specifically, the best of Christmas presents." Hagen's interest died suddenly, and finally he hung up the phone politely. Ten minutes later, his secretary told him that Connie Corleone was waiting on the phone to speak to him.Hagen sighed.Connie had been lovely as a girl; she was a bit of a nuisance when she was married and a lady.She is always blaming her husband.She often goes home and stays for two or three days.And Carlo Rizzi is really worthless, he can't do anything with small productions, and it has gone from bad to worse recently.He ate, drank, prostituted and gambled, and sometimes beat his wife.Connie had never told his natal family these words, but she had told Hagen.Now, he was wondering what sad things she had to tell him. However, Christmas seemed to lift her mood.All she wanted to do this time was to ask Hagen what kind of presents her father liked for Christmas.And Sonny, Freddie, Mike, whatever they liked.She is clear.Hagen made some suggestions for him, but she rejected them all, thinking that Hagen was tacky.In the end, she simply didn't ask for his opinion. When the phone rang again, Hagen tossed the file back into the databasket.Really annoying.He was leaving get off work, but he never refused to answer the phone.When his secretary told him it was Michael Corleone, he happily grabbed the receiver.He has always liked Mike. "Tom," said Michael Corleone, "I'm going into town with Kay tomorrow, and I have something important to tell my father before Christmas. Will he be home tomorrow night?" "Sure," said Hagen. "He won't be out of town until after Christmas. How can I help you?" Michael, like his father, was tight-lipped. "Nothing," he said. "I think I'll see you for Christmas. Everybody's going out to Long Beach, isn't it?" "Yes," said Hagen. Michael hung up the phone without talking about anything trivial, which he found rather amusing.