Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 193

193. Let’s Make a Bet (1)

Ahn Jung-woo perked up at the word ‘bet.’

Tae-soo said,

“If they choose the greater good over personal gain, I will no longer try to persuade you, sir. I will wholeheartedly support him along with everyone else.”

It was true that the leading figures of the opposition party had long endured disadvantages and stood against injustice for the sake of democratization.

“However, if they choose personal gain over the greater good, I hope you promise me that you will never waver again and will only look forward.”

Now, the times and circumstances are different compared to my past life, so I want to test them once.

“I promise.”

“Good.”

Tae-soo nodded.

“Go and meet with Assemblyman Kim Young-sam and Assemblyman Kim Dae-jung. Make them a proposal.”

“What proposal?”

“A proposal for a unified opposition party candidate for the presidential election.”

Ahn Jung-woo’s eyes widened.

“Casually hint that you are willing to bring a Republican party member into the opposition party.”

The idea is to have the ruling and opposition parties join forces to oust Kim Jong-pyo and liquidate the dictatorial regime.

Ahn Jung-woo’s eyes widened.

“Currently, the Republican party holds a majority, but what would happen if the Republican party were to split because of you, sir?”

The opposition party would become the majority.

The situation would be similar to when Roh Tae-woo ran for election.

If the Republican party splits, the opposition party will be revived.

“Instead, you should demand that they work together for democratization.”

“How?”

“Show them your intentions. Say that we should liquidate the military dictatorship, purge the pro-Japanese faction [those who collaborated with the Japanese during the colonial period], eliminate private organizations within the military, and implement a direct presidential election.”

Ahn Jung-woo nodded.

“Say that we should expand medical insurance, implement compulsory education, ease cultural regulations, and abolish labor repression.”

These were all things that Ahn Jung-woo wanted to do.

“If they agree with you and put forward a single opposition candidate, I will no longer mention this matter.”

“They are all people who have fought together for democratization. I’m sure there will be good results.”

Ahn Jung-woo finally smiled.

He seemed to believe without a doubt that they would accept this proposal.

However, Tae-soo’s thoughts were slightly different.

“But if they are greedy for the presidency and refuse to concede power to each other…”

In his past life, Roh Tae-woo seized power in a situation where the opposition party held the majority.

This was because the two leading figures of the opposition party did not let go of their desire for the presidency.

“Then you, sir, must walk this path.”

Clink.

Ahn Jung-woo put down his glass.

His eyes, which had been full of fatigue, blazed again.

“Alright, if they turn away from the greater good, I will grit my teeth and walk the thorny path.”

Tae-soo and Ahn Jung-woo smiled at the same time.

“Since Kim Jong-pyo is already trying to win over Republican party members, he will have to reach out to the opposition party as well to become president.”

With the party split in two, it will be difficult to win the election with only Republican party members.

‘I had to meet Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung anyway.’

Go to a doctor for illness, a pharmacist for medicine, and a politician for politics.

It’s a chance to win them over and test them.

‘If the opposition party members take the lead and join forces, it will be much easier.’

The deliberation was short, and the decision was quick.

“Now that we’re on the subject, I’ll contact them now.”

“Now?”

Ahn Jung-woo was taken aback.

But wasn’t Tae-soo known for his relentless drive?

His action was even more swift and decisive.

“The presidential election is just around the corner. They will want to meet you properly.”

Tae-soo jumped up from his seat.

He opened the door and went outside to find a phone, and Ahn So-jung turned around with a puzzled look.

“Why are you suddenly looking for a phone?”

“I need to meet with Assemblyman Kim Young-sam and Assemblyman Kim Dae-jung.”

“If that’s the case, please wait a moment.”

Ahn So-jung winked at Tae-soo.

“Wait in the room. I’ll bring you good news.”

That meant Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung were at Daeun-gak [a high-end Korean restaurant] at this very moment.

* * *

Ahn Jung-woo left.

To meet Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung.

Tae-soo, who was left alone in the room, sipped his drink.

‘The two leading figures of the opposition party must be thrilled that the Republican party, which Park Jung-hwan had firmly grasped, is splitting.’

Park Jung-hwan wanted to use the Republican party as a rubber stamp, not as a coalition of outstanding figures.

So, there is no outstanding leader in the Republican party.

Park Jung-hwan deliberately prevented forces from uniting and potentially rebelling against him.

But now that Park Jung-hwan is dead, it’s different.

With no new outstanding leader in the Republican party, the wavering forces are on the verge of scattering.

Since Kim Jong-pyo has decided to become president, it is obvious that he will try to control the Republican party.

‘Who would wholeheartedly support me in starting an oil business?’

Only Ahn Jung-woo.

That’s why Tae-soo chose Ahn Jung-woo.

‘I need to properly verify Ahn Jung-woo this time.’

That you shouldn’t look for romance in the political arena.

You have to be mentally alert to survive in the arena of power and vested interests.

‘He doesn’t realize how powerful the weapon I’ve given him is when he’s holding it.’

Isn’t it the Korea-Japan Treaty that Tae-soo fed him?

How efficiently he wields it is up to him.

You have to become strong yourself to navigate the political arena.

Tae-soo closed his eyes.

‘I need to go meet Lee Se-hoo, the Army Chief of Staff and head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters.’

First of all, starting with Roh Tae-woo.

* * *

Tae-soo was drinking hot coffee at the Geumsan Hotel coffee shop, looking out the window.

The sunlight was intense.

It was already July, summer.

“Did you wait long?”

Lee Se-hoo smiled and sat across from him.

“Are you trying to fight heat with heat? Drinking hot coffee on a hot day like this. I’ll have iced coffee.”

Lee Se-hoo took off his hat and placed it on the table.

Soon, iced coffee was served.

Lee Se-hoo drank it down in one gulp, as if he was thirsty.

“One more of the same!”

Lee Se-hoo even crunched on the floating ice.

He finished a glass in an instant before the employee could even leave.

Wiping the sweat with a handkerchief, Lee Se-hoo smiled apologetically.

“Aren’t you hot? It’s like a steam room outside.”

This was a time when air conditioning in cars was not yet fully available.

“So, why did you want to see me?”

“I met Commander Roh Tae-woo yesterday.”

“Roh Tae-woo?”

Lee Se-hoo’s expression contorted.

“That friend of yours doesn’t have time to be meeting you.”

“He didn’t come to meet me. He was meeting with Acting President Kim Jong-pyo.”

“Kim Jong-pyo? Why?”

“What do you think the reason is?”

Tae-soo smiled.

Lee Se-hoo snatched the iced coffee that the employee brought out.

Thump.

“Don’t tell me Roh Tae-woo is with Kim Jong-pyo…”

“Kim Jong-pyo is aiming for the presidency. He’s dreaming of becoming the second Park Jung-hwan.”

“Hmm, I know that Kim Jong-pyo has been stirring things up by meeting with Republican party members…”

“It’s not just Republican party members. He’s also contacting and screening delegates to the National Conference for Unification [a body designed to rubber-stamp the president’s decisions].”

“I think I know why Kim Jong-pyo met Roh Tae-woo.”

Lee Se-hoo smirked.

“He’s trying to stir up the Ohsunghoe [a secret military society] to plot something again. Is he going to raise soldiers and stage another military coup or something?”

Wasn’t Kim Jong-pyo trying to swallow the Ohsunghoe, which Park Jung-hwan had nurtured with enormous support?

Lee Se-hoo’s voice began to roughen.

“Hasn’t he learned his lesson from what happened to Chun Doo-hwan? Roh Tae-woo, that bastard, isn’t he being self-restrained!”

What had Chun Doo-hwan done?

He had kidnapped and detained national army generals in a hotel and plotted a rebellion.

Wasn’t the rebellion led by members of the Ohsunghoe?

“Did he think I didn’t know and didn’t take off his military uniform? He was such an idiot that he couldn’t even understand that he was supposed to act according to the situation!”

The Ohsunghoe was like a disgrace to Lee Se-hoo.

Wasn’t it a private organization within the military that he had tacitly condoned while being mindful of Park Jung-hwan?

He had neglected the military to preserve his position.

Since the Ohsunghoe eventually staged a rebellion, Lee Se-hoo also felt responsible for commanding the military.

That’s why he promised to purge the Ohsunghoe forces within the military, risking his remaining term.

“You don’t have to worry about Roh Tae-woo and the Ohsunghoe. I’ll take care of that.”

It was a very refreshing answer.

As Tae-soo had expected, Lee Se-hoo was the one who would welcome it with open arms.

“Kim Jong-pyo is acting so arrogantly. He told me to end the joint investigation because the evidence related to the president’s assassination was clear.”

Why wouldn’t he?

Kim Jong-pyo would want to get rid of the Joint Investigation Headquarters led by Lee Se-hoo as soon as possible.

That way, he could act arbitrarily without worrying about the military forces.

“Are you going to end the investigation as Kim Jong-pyo wants?”

“No way!”

Lee Se-hoo snorted.

“I have that much sense. He must be thinking of cutting ties with the late President and getting away with it, but he’s underestimating me!”

Lee Se-hoo crunched on the ice.

Lee Se-hoo opened his mouth with a long sigh.

“The Ohsunghoe, like moths that eat away at the military. Do you know who came up with it?”

I guess.

“It came from Kim Jong-pyo’s head. He’s a cunning guy who’s trying to get into Park Jung-hwan’s good graces.”

There was a reason why he was called Park Jung-hwan’s brain.

Wasn’t he the main strategist who designed the May 16 military coup [a military coup in South Korea in 1961]?

“I have a lot of debts to repay to Kim Jong-pyo. Tell him to try it!”

Lee Se-hoo shouted.

It was a very reassuring shout.

* * *

Even after Lee Se-hoo left, Tae-soo still didn’t move from his seat.

The hot coffee had all gone cold, and Tae-soo ordered another cup.

Soon, the second guest appeared at the entrance of the Geumsan Hotel coffee shop.

It was a welcome face.

‘I’ve blocked Roh Tae-woo through Lee Se-hoo. Now it’s Prosecutor General Kim Cha-yeol’s turn.’

A man who holds the powerful authority of the Prosecutor General of Korea.

A man deeply involved in the four major allegations against Park Jung-hwan along with Kim Jong-pyo.

There was someone else who was fit to block Prosecutor General Kim Cha-yeol.

“I thought I was here before the appointment time.”

Shin Ji-soo, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency [KCIA, South Korea’s intelligence agency], smiled and sat down.

In the same seat where Lee Se-hoo, the Army Chief of Staff, had sat.

He wiped the sweat with a handkerchief and said.

“First, some cold water. With ice. Do you have fresh fruit juice here? I’ll have that.”

It seemed hot even though it was early summer in July.

Tae-soo waited for him to finish drinking the cold water and then opened his mouth.

“Have you heard the news?”

“I’ve heard more than that. The Prosecutor General was yelling and cursing into the phone.”

He washed his ears and showed a disgusted expression.

But of course, he wasn’t scared.

“What did he say?”

“What else would he say? He told me not to think about insulting the dead President and to stop immediately.”

Shin Ji-soo laughed as if it were absurd.

“He must be terrified that his deep involvement with Kim Jong-pyo will be revealed, right?”

Shin Ji-soo picked his ear.

“Barking dogs aren’t scary. They’re just noisy.”

Flicking his little finger, Shin Ji-soo leaned back in his chair.

“Kim Jong-pyo’s counterattack is fierce. I heard he blocked the sale of the Taeyang Apartment, right?”

“It’s not a big deal. Since we’re going to build 58 buildings anyway, it’ll be easier, faster, and cheaper to complete them leisurely.”

“I heard he called all the banks and told them not to lend to the Taeyang Group.”

“Isn’t this the first time we’ve experienced this?”

It was a method used by Park Jung-hwan and Han Cheong-ho.

Even if Kim Jong-pyo blocks the bank again, it won’t matter.

“We can’t be fooled twice by the same trick. I took care of that while I was abroad.”

We can raise enough funds from the bank that Tae-soo acquired.

Moreover, Han Soo also laundered money securely through a US investment company.

“I heard Kim Jong-pyo is moving the National Tax Service.”

“He’s going to conduct a tax audit on the Taeyang Group.”

“Are you okay? There’s no company that doesn’t have any dust when you shake it. The impact will be huge.”

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t operate carelessly enough to have dust when we shake it.”

Tae-soo shrugged.

“Even so, we’re a model taxpayer with the highest rating from the National Tax Service.”

Literally, only dust will come out.

“I’m fine, but what are you going to do, Director Shin?”

“Me? I remember already joining hands with you. Why? Do you want to let go?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you asking such an obvious question? Let’s go all the way together.”

I’m not afraid of the prosecution’s offensive at all.

Shin Ji-soo smiled.

“I can’t just stand by and watch the Central Intelligence Agency disintegrate like this.”

That means he will continue to hold Tae-soo’s hand.

“Who doesn’t dream of a flawless president? Kim Jong-pyo is going to put all the allegations related to his corruption on our Central Intelligence Agency. It’s already a mess anyway.”

That’s right.

Even if you look at the Walkerhill incident [a major corruption scandal in South Korea], one of the four major allegations against Park Jung-hwan, the Central Intelligence Agency was the hands and feet.

Shin Ji-soo took out a note from his pocket.

“This is what you asked for. It was a little difficult to find. He was hiding very well.”

The note that was pushed across the table was delivered in front of Tae-soo.

“I heard he’s been into fishing these days, so you can meet him if you go there.”

“Thank you.”

The Central Intelligence Agency is certainly good at finding people.

Tae-soo carefully checked the address written on the note.

‘It looks like I’m going to have to make a pilgrimage I wasn’t destined to make.’

Tae-soo smiled.

‘Kim Jung-rim.’

He is going to find the former Chief of Staff of the Blue House [South Korea’s presidential office], who was directly stripped of his position by Han Cheong-ho and was a key figure in the Park Jung-hwan regime.