Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Blue House Luncheon (1)

Defense industry companies mean all companies regarding national defense related equipment and facilities etc. that the country needs.

In Korea, usually the government calls large company chairmen and makes them advance into defense industry under the pretext of patriotism, or the government distributes work to foster small and medium enterprises.

“Jeong-hyeok, if the defense industry you are saying······.”

“If Taeseong, no need to hang only on domestic military supply. Would have to go in the form of producing and supplying civilian supplies and military supplies at the same time?”

If a system producing defense supplies, usually divides into three.

Supplying objects to the military even in peacetime, or producing military and civilian supplies in parallel, or making civilian objects in peacetime and converting to munitions production only in wartime.

“Among them, better if taking charge of fields that need high-level technology.”

For example things like armored vehicles, tanks, warships, fighters.

If Taeseong, technology.

The reason I particularly want to acquire U-gwang Research Institute is also here.

Taeseong has its own technology development research team by affiliate but is not operating a separate professional technology research institute.

“Grandfather would have received severe pressure until now. From the Blue House.”

Instantly grandfather’s gaze sank deeply.

Seeing unable to say no, seems the hardships unable to speak until now were considerable.

“Taeseong unlike U-gwang concentrated on technology development and facility investment. Thanks to that even handling stiffly didn’t fall out of the Blue House’s eyes. Thought what the reason?”

Probably because there is a part the government is expecting.

“When the government implemented the heavy chemical industry priority fostering plan, if a thick large company, had to forcibly participate as if allocated?”

“Yes.”

“As a result Taeseong jumped into chemicals and automobiles, and U-gwang took charge of steel and shipbuilding?”

“Right.”

“Actually curious why Taeseong happened to pick automobiles and chemicals.”

I stroked the U-gwang Chemicals document with fingertips.

“In the country, already Hyunmu Chemicals that succeeded in developing dynamite itself is taking charge of one axis of thick defense industry.”

“Jeong-hyeok.”

“There is another question. Why is U-gwang who participated more actively in the government’s industrial verticalization plan than Taeseong aiming for Taeseong Chemicals now?”

U-gwang was active in lobbying, and was this country’s best politics-business collusion type company.

If the reason such U-gwang revealed claws 7 years after jointly establishing chemicals with Taeseong,

“The government is pushing defense industry biting the teeth. Right?”

“Yes.”

“U-gwang took that as an opportunity and tried to actively overcome the crisis in defense industry?”

“Because no way to fill the accumulated deficit in steel.”

In one word the sound of trying to fill the holed pocket stripping the national defense budget.

“Huu. This damn country where a businessman can’t concentrate only on business.”

Grandfather sighed low.

Then slowly nodded.

“Taeseong also the time to decide the meaning now. If careless, about to shoulder nuclear weapon development.”

“So decided to readily hand over the Taeseong Chemicals cultivated with effort until now to U-gwang?”

“······!”

Grandfather dropped his mouth open.

Then turned his head abruptly toward Secretary Kim.

“Secretary Kim, by any chance this······.”

“Not me.”

“Then President Shim?”

“That also wouldn’t be. Don’t you know President Shim’s personality?”

Only then grandfather turned his head and looked at me with trembling pupils.

“Then the sound that Jeong-hyeok inferred all this alone?”

Then who informs such a thing to an eight-year-old kid?

“Now not the time to argue such things. The time to decide whether Taeseong will certainly jump into defense industry.”

“Yes, now the limit. A dead end.”

“If became unable to avoid, have to jump in boldly and properly eat a share.”

“Properly eat?”

“Said earlier. ‘If having to be hit by the midwinter cold frost anyway, when all the chaff die, only the biggest guy endures.’ Become a big shot of defense industry, us.”

“······Eh?”

I grinned.

“What’s wrong not knowing politics a bit, what’s wrong not being able to lobby a bit? If to the extent that if Taeseong falls, defense industry also collapses, no one can touch.”

“······!”

“Why does the Ministry of National Defense shout more firepower and stronger firepower every day?”

Well because of the Korean War.

During the 6.25 War, one participant left such writing in a notebook said.

-If we also had only tanks.

“The Republic of Korea is an armistice country. Even if staggering from the oil shock right away and war bursts, do you think the government will cut the national defense budget?”

No way.

“The more crisis situations, the more increasing is the national defense budget.”

“North Korea is watching for opportunities, can’t not pay attention to national defense even if other things.”

In the same meaning, soon the president will open a press conference and announce regarding starting various weapon development.

“If having to advance into defense industry anyway, have to aim even for export.”

“Even export with defense industry? Would that work?”

“No reason not to?”

I grinned.

“Does Taeseong have no factories, no distribution lines, no technology?”

Like large companies of this time all, Taeseong also grew the size with export.

Especially the distribution the second eldest uncle took charge of was to the extent of making overseas branches separately thanks to export.

Tried to take charge of trade and distribution yielding one seat to President Shim.

‘Soon large and small international disputes will start. From March, Israel will invade southern Lebanon to crush Palestinian terrorist organizations’ attacks.’

In the same month, the Italian terrorist group Red Brigades kidnaps former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.

In April, if the US pressures with Koreagate, the president observes the domestic high-performance tank performance test as if showing.

Also in the Republic of Afghanistan, a military coup occurs and the president and family are killed and a communist party dictatorship regime enters.

In May, Iranian university students will start anti-government protests, and in August collide with Iranian military police and 477 die. The Iranian Revolution starts.

Like that the second oil shock bursts.

‘Only 1 year left until the oil shock bursts and Yugong comes out as a market item.’

To acquire Yugong, impossible with only the funds I and Taeseong have.

Loans are essential.

‘When going to borrow money from abroad, can’t go empty-handed and beg? Naturally have to hold out a card that side would be tempted by and propose a win-win deal.’

I grinned.

“After the Middle East war, Saudi Arabia that advocated resource nationalism is pouring the overflowing oil money after the oil shock into national defense and construction?

What started like that is the 80s Middle East construction boom.

Not only that.

Until the 21st century, the Middle East pours astronomical money into national defense expenses.

Even one year’s national defense budget alone, the US 800 billion dollars, China 300 billion dollars, Saudi Arabia reaches 68 billion dollars.

‘In the Middle East just trying to drive out Western forces now, unable to obtain weapons and chaos.’

Calling is the price, and the sound that the owner is picking up blind money came out enough that sold like hot cakes.

“Will try selling well.”

Originally in places where war bursts, munitions merchants earn a lot of money.

Now the Middle East is the world’s number one powder keg.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Who made the applause sound?

Grandfather gaped his mouth and only let out a hollow laugh, while Secretary Kim let out an exclamation as if admiring and clapped with an undisturbed posture.

“As expected our Young Master! The Young Master had all plans!”

* * *

Only after finishing body search certainly, the Blue House security guard held out a hand.

Chairman Cha held out the Blue House luncheon invitation brought.

“Taeseong Group Chairman Cha and Taeseong Construction President Cha, please enter inside.”

The Blue House security guards opened the banquet hall door.

A super large round table that can seat at least 30 people revealed appearance.

In front of the round table, one nameplate each was attached.

Taeseong Group Chairman Cha’s name was in a relatively close place to the owner of the upper seat, but Taeseong Construction Cha Seong-jun’s name was placed at the lowest seat.

“Chairman Cha, welcome.”

The chairmen who came first raised hands and welcomed.

The chairmen of Samhwang, Ilseong, Noksan, Geumjo, Hyunmu, Cheonma, Sanguk.

“Did you also hear? Heard yesterday’s new year report meeting became a mess.”

“Yes, if the sound that the military and administrative leadership involved in U-gwang Construction bribes rolled so that wailing sounds came out, I also heard.”

“Properly caught so can’t help but break largely. On the other hand, the Blue House security chief and secretary chief, and the central intelligence director and army security commander received three cups of alcohol from His Excellency.”

Geumjo’s Chairman Jo whispered even more subtly.

“Even though rose to high positions, because looked after state affairs cleanly with a patriotic heart, the reward given or something.”

Hyunmu’s Chairman Oh also slightly added words.

“Thanks to that, His Excellency’s trust seems firmer. Heard they also all observe today’s Blue House luncheon.”

“Including Mayor Gu, high-ranking administrative officials also scheduled to surround like screens or something?”

“The sound that deliberately leaked words so this sound enters our ears.”

Noksan’s Chairman Kang refined his voice.

“His Excellency’s warning that if playing tricks like U-gwang, will thoroughly beat.”

“Seems determined to tear the sunk U-gwang.”

“If not that, no reason to call the military and administrative leadership to the political luncheon gathering particularly, these words.”

The group heads revealed subtle expectations.

“Even if the close aides tear U-gwang, there is a limit.”

“A matter of firmly taking a share with stocks and withdrawing. But the company remains.”

“The stock price falls to the bottom then rebounds in an instant so will see quite a loss though.”

The close aides are the leadership of the military and administration.

What they want is money, not the company’s management rights.

On the other hand, what the heads want is the company’s management rights and interests.

“If U-gwang sits down, the national economy collapses. We can’t watch that appearance.”

“Prepared to willingly shoulder the responsibility for this country’s economy and industry development.”

“His Excellency called all political and business to discuss that?”

In one word eyeing to acquire U-gwang affiliates at a cheap price.

“No need to fight to death among ourselves?”

“Let’s help each other moderately watching eyes.”

A collusion place formed in an instant.

Chairman Cha swallowed dry saliva.

“Is U-gwang’s Chairman Kim not yet?”

“Why would that friend come here?

Geumjo’s Chairman Jo snorted.

“Even if in the head position, a situation of having to flee the tail with the excuse of being hospitalized?”

“Will be hit by concentrated fire enough that the hearing goes away. With that pride, how intending to endure all that anger?”

Bang!

The banquet hall door opened, and a particularly young man compared to the aged heads walked with big strides.

“U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik. Long time no see, Chairman.”

He bent his waist politely and greeted toward the group heads.

“Because father resigned from the head position, became able to attend this seat as the head proxy. Please take care well today.”

“Dae-sik.”

“Chairman Cha was also here.”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik glanced at Taeseong Construction Cha Seong-jun then looked back at Chairman Cha with a smiling face.

“The marriage with Seong-jun······ regrettable. In various ways.”

An expression and tone not regrettable at all.

“Dae-sik, today the situation is not very good.”

“I know.”

“Better to return now before His Excellency comes. What can a thirty-seven-year-old greenhorn who hasn’t even risen to U-gwang’s head position do here.”

“Because a greenhorn who hasn’t risen to the head position yet, came.”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik straightened the suit jacket.

“No thought of hiding behind father like a coward. Have to try blocking at least U-gwang being cut up.”

“Dae-sik.”

“Can’t make business fall through just because the marriage fell through.”

Clack clack.

“Quiet! His Excellency enters!”

The group heads who were sitting stood up with a whoosh and bent their waists at the same time.

“His Excellency!”

Behind the president, the Blue House security chief and secretary chief followed.

Of course the central intelligence director and army security commander, the leadership of the military and administration entered matching speed.

“His Excellency, committed a crime to die!”

U-gwang’s Kim Dae-sik knelt on the spot and put his forehead on the floor.

“······.”

Silence flowed in the banquet hall.

Everyone standing, the person who prostrated flat on the floor and did five-body prostration was only one.