The Genius Grandson Of The Cash King Becomes A Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 134

#134

“What is this list?”

“These are soldiers who have sworn allegiance to the nation, the people, and the President.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it more like they swore allegiance to Chairman Yoon rather than me?”

Jung-hoon felt a chill run down his spine at Gu Han-soo’s words.

‘Is he wary?’

Jung-hoon glanced at Gu Han-soo’s expression.

He didn’t seem displeased.

A faint smile was on his lips.

“Hahaha, why are you so surprised? You need to understand the situation properly.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, you need to grasp the extent of Chairman Yoon’s influence. I’ll be done when I retire, but Chairman Yoon won’t. His immense influence will only grow. Control it well yourself.”

“Understood, Mr. President.”

He could feel the sincerity in his concern for Jung-hoon.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not foolish enough to be jealous. Honestly, I am a little jealous of how well Chairman Yoon is doing… Hahaha.”

It was a pleasant laugh.

“I will make good use of the list of military generals that Chairman Yoon gave me. I will pay attention to personnel matters so that they can become the backbone of the army.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m the one who should be grateful. Only when these people are in place can we drive out the Cheonjihoe [Heavenly Wisdom Society] bastards lurking in the military, right?”

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

“Anyway, I heard you had something else to say besides this.”

“Dragon Motors.”

“Hmm, isn’t that a headache? Massive debt, strong labor union, and with Youngsan Motors already dominating the domestic market, it’s like a white elephant.”

“But there’s still potential. And we’re not just looking at the Korean market. We’re looking at the global market.”

“Are you confident?”

Gu Han-soo stared into Jung-hoon’s eyes.

It was a moment he couldn’t back down from.

He was prepared to accept whatever proposal he made.

He had to take Dragon Motors.

“Of course.”

“I’ll speak to the president of the Korea Development Bank. There won’t be any problems with the acquisition.”

“Layoffs are inevitable.”

“Pardon?”

Gu Han-soo looked surprised at Jung-hoon’s sudden words.

“Haven’t all previous mergers and acquisitions included employment succession?”

“That’s true.”

Jung-hoon wore a troubled expression.

He lowered his stance like this.

And he had to cut the price.

There was no reason to buy something expensive when he could buy it cheap.

“Is there a reason?”

Jung-hoon questioned the President.

Gu Han-soo nodded.

“I see, it’s because of the debt. I underestimated Chairman Yoon. I was going to pass on the debt as well, ahem.”

“A lot of debt restricts investment.”

“How much do you want?”

Jung-hoon hesitated for a moment.

50%, 30%… No.

If he was going to do it, it had to be 100 percent.

“I’d like the entire amount to be written off.”

Gu Han-soo’s cheeks twitched in embarrassment.

“That’s going too far.”

“In return, I will guarantee employment for everyone. 10 years, or even 20 if you wish. I will promise in the contract that there will be no layoffs during that period.”

“Impossible. That would be preferential treatment for the Shinhwa Group. I could be summoned by the prosecution after I retire.”

“Employment is important. If we acquire it in this state and carry out layoffs, a strike is a given. Forced suppression is inevitable. You mustn’t forget the Sunjae Motors layoff incident in 2001.”

In 2001, Sunjae Motors notified nearly 2,000 employees of layoffs.

The union occupied the factory and went on strike, and the company mobilized the police to suppress them ruthlessly.

Injuries were rampant, and the strike was suppressed.

However, videos of the police’s brutal suppression were released to the media, and public opinion was outraged.

Jung-hoon had to use the cards he had.

Gu Han-soo’s face was stern.

“Preferential treatment? I can give it. If the company revives, the factory runs, and smiles bloom on people’s faces, I’ll do anything.

Chairman Yoon, are you confident you can save it?

It’s technology that even China covets. It’s severely lacking by global standards.

Are you confident you can persuade the labor union?

No, does Chairman Yoon even know?

Every company that has acquired Dragon has gone bankrupt. And you’re still confident?”

Gu Han-soo raised his voice and asked sternly.

His expression warned Jung-hoon.

Don’t get involved if you don’t intend to normalize the company.

A short word is more effective than a long explanation in this situation.

“Yes. I am confident. I’ll bet everything I have.”

Gu Han-soo’s face didn’t ease easily.

He had to present a clear alternative.

“We won’t make internal combustion engine cars.”

His eyes shook violently.

“What does that mean?”

“We will commercialize electric cars, battery-powered electric cars. Everything is ready. All we need is a finished car company.”

“Huh, hahaha. Am I supposed to believe this?”

“I’ll show you a new car next year.”

After thinking for a moment, Gu Han-soo started walking ahead.

He walked ahead with his hands behind his back, then turned his head to look at Jung-hoon.

Fortunately, a smile was on his face.

“Dragon Motors is a company with potential. I look forward to it.”

“Thank you. I understand that you’ve promised to write off the entire debt.”

Gu Han-soo nodded.

“I’ll make a call. But there will be no layoffs for 20 years.”

“Of course.”

Jung-hoon replied in a joyful voice.

He had just earned 3 trillion won.

It was the moment when the 3 trillion won in debt held by the creditors disappeared into thin air.

Gu Han-soo narrowed his eyes and looked at Jung-hoon.

“Chairman Yoon, you already knew, didn’t you? I heard that Shinhwa Group’s intelligence is extraordinary, and it’s definitely fast.”

“…Yes, Mr. President.”

“I didn’t want to give it to my Chinese friends, so this is good.”

“They’re just after the technology anyway. You can’t trust them.”

There had been a report that China’s Chengdu Automotive was participating in the sale of Dragon Motors.

They were aiming for Dragon Motors’ relatively high technology.

Many politicians were fooled by their snake-like, cunning sweet talk.

Jung-hoon decided to use Gu Han-soo’s wariness of China.

He extremely disliked Chinese companies owning Korean automobile companies. And he valued employment very highly.

Jung-hoon requested debt forgiveness in exchange for employment stability.

In any case, only a Korean company could be the winner in this acquisition battle.

“It’s a relief. It’s created a justification to support it, whether it’s preferential treatment or not… There are many dreams and hopes of the people in automobiles. Dragon Motors and its partners… I hope Chairman Yoon will nurture them well.”

“Thank you.”

“Ah, even so, full debt forgiveness is not possible. I’ll leave a symbolic debt of 1 won. Hahaha.”

Gu Han-soo remembered Jung-hoon acquiring the AR card for 1 won.

The most powerful man in Korea had approved the acquisition.

‘Is it halfway there now?’

An automobile company that no one cared about.

Far behind in technology.

Jung-hoon planned to pour the group’s capabilities into acquiring such a Dragon Motors.

***

Nothing went as planned.

The debt forgiveness offered by the creditors was a sweet apple.

Companies that had no interest before were now jumping in.

Even if they only sold the Pyeongtaek factory after acquiring Dragon Motors, they could earn a profit of 1 trillion won.

And if they built apartments there directly… they could easily make trillions of won.

Jung-hoon smiled bitterly as he read the articles.

Companies that had shown no interest until now were proposing rosy futures for Dragon Motors with all sorts of flowery language.

They even promised employment guarantees without hesitation.

Among them was GM Sunjae Motors, which had carried out massive layoffs a few years ago.

In Korea, acquisition is important.

Once that’s achieved, everything is resolved.

Promises?

They can be discarded more easily than worn-out shoes.

Almost none of the promises made by speculative capital that entered Korea during the IMF [International Monetary Fund] crisis were kept.

The same will be true in the future.

Management reasons, international political risks, economic crisis… there are always plenty of reasons not to keep promises.

“Get the car ready.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to do a field inspection of the Dragon Motors factory. Contact the company. Tell them I want to see it quietly without any escorts.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Jung-hoon got into the car driven by Eun-soo.

Hearing the rough exhaust sound of the car, he thought of the speeding tickets that had flown to his house a few days ago.

“Eun-soo… drive carefully. Two speeding tickets came yesterday.”

“Huh? That’s… you told me to go fast.”

“Really? Didn’t you take it out without me knowing?”

“Let’s go.”

Eun-soo ignored Jung-hoon’s question and strongly pressed the accelerator of the Bugatti.

-Woo woo woong

The car roared.

And it shot out with explosive speed.

But it soon had to stop at a red light.

“Drive carefully in the city, you punk. Gas is damn expensive.”

Jung-hoon scolded Eun-soo, worrying about the gas prices.

“Shut up, you cheapskate.”

“How dare you talk to the Chairman like that…”

Jung-hoon and Eun-soo exchanged pleasantries and arrived at the factory.

Leaving Eun-soo in the car, he quietly walked inside the factory.

Although it was an old factory, his heart swelled at the thought of the electric cars that would be newly born here.

The electric car will be designed by Peter Gleider, one of the world’s top three designers.

It will be equipped with the secret weapon, the autonomous driving system.

Apple’s intuitive and elegant operating system will be installed.

There is no automobile company in the world that can surpass this trinity.

It is old and shabby now.

But this factory will become the center of the world.

He was walking around the factory full of dreams.

A rough voice shattered Jung-hoon’s happy imagination.

“Hey! Come over here and pick up this trash.”

Jung-hoon ignored him and walked forward.

“Ha, look at this clueless young man. Hey, you should answer when someone speaks to you.”

The man grabbed Jung-hoon’s shoulder from behind.

***

Dragon Motors Director Cha Jun-seok was busily moving around the company.

The new acquirer will be decided soon.

With the creditors’ debt forgiveness, buyers were lining up.

He could make a solid profit if he did well at this time.

He had to squeeze subcontractors under the pretext of normalizing the factory and receive pocket money.

He had to rally the directors and show a gesture of opposing the acquisition.

He could only get a raise and proper kickbacks by doing all this.

It was the know-how he had gained by dedicating 30 years to the company.

Cha Jun-seok went to Dragon Motors’ primary partner company inside the factory.

“Director Cha, you’re here.”

The president placed a thick envelope on the table.

“Let’s have a cup of coffee first.”

Cha Jun-seok smirked and touched the president’s secretary with his eyes.

Her face contorted at the dirty look, but he didn’t care.

Soon, the secretary placed a steaming cup of instant coffee in front of him.

“Hehe, thank you!”

He patted her butt.

The president sitting in front of Director Cha Jun-seok had deep wrinkles on his forehead.

‘Ha, I must cut off that hand. Soo-ae, I’m sorry, Dad!’

The president looked at his secretary with a pitiful expression.

“Oh, thank you. Go and organize the receipts quickly.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“Here it is. I hope you can pay the overdue payments when the factory is normalized in the future.”

“Ah, of course. Don’t worry.”

“I’ve filled it to the brim so you won’t be disappointed.”

He put the envelope inside his clothes, downed the remaining coffee, and stood up.

“The coffee was delicious. I’ll come again to eat. Hehe.”

Cha Jun-seok greeted the secretary and looked at his hand.

Recalling the feeling from earlier, he went outside.

He saw trash in front of him.

There happened to be a young man who looked like a subcontractor employee.

“Hey, you, come here.”

The young man went his way without looking back.

He approached the person who ignored him and grabbed his shoulder.

“You should answer when someone speaks to you.”

A familiar face appeared.

Where had he seen him before…

He looked like someone he had seen on the news…

In an instant, his mind flashed and the taste of his fist came to mind.

Cha Jun-seok took a step back without realizing it.

But this was his territory where he was a nobleman.

The young man looked like a slave.

He mustered his courage.

“You, you bastard, you work for a subcontractor here…”

“Who are you?”

Jung-hoon looked at the half-bald man with a shiny scalp pointing at him for no reason.

“Don’t you remember me?”

Jung-hoon looked at him carefully.

Then he remembered.

It was the guy who got beat up for causing trouble with ramen.

“Oh, ramen… You’re still not right in the head, judging by your tone.”

Jung-hoon slightly raised his arm, and he flinched and stepped back.

“You bastard, you’re in big trouble. I’ll show you the power of Dragon Motors’ director.”

A bitter smile was etched on his face.

“What’s your affiliation, are you a regular employee or not?”

Jung-hoon pondered what to answer.

He had nothing to say since he wasn’t an employee of this company yet.

“What, are you a part-timer?”

“I’m not a part-timer, but…”

“Ha, look at how short you are with your words. You still haven’t come to your senses. Let’s go to my office. I’ll show you how great I am.”

“I’m curious about that. Show me how great you are.”

Jung-hoon retorted.

Cha Jun-seok led the way, and Jung-hoon followed.

People were running out of the main building.

Jung-hoon sensed that they were Dragon Motors executives and employees who had come to escort him.

“You… you must not apologize no matter what happens in the future. Got it?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Be quiet and follow me quickly. I will definitely make the president you work for kneel in my office.”

“Hmph, make sure you keep that promise.”

Cha Jun-seok, who was in a bad mood because of Jung-hoon’s rude remarks, turned his head and glared at him.

The young man had no manners.

‘Hmph, this is the best time. I’ll show you soon. The terrible power of Director Cha Jun-seok…’

Looking ahead, he saw executives rushing over.

He put strength in his shoulders and raised one hand to greet them.

“Oh, where are you going in such a hurry?”

But no one paid attention to him.

Cha Jun-seok turned his head to look.

The young man was looking at him and smiling.

But.

He couldn’t understand why all the executives were bowing in front of him.

“What’s that person’s name?”

Jung-hoon asked, and the president said.

“He’s Director Cha Jun-seok.”

Jung-hoon beckoned him with his finger like calling a dog.

“Cha Jun-seok, come here.”

Having grasped the situation, he couldn’t come forward.

Instead, he stood there sweating profusely.

As Jung-hoon walked towards him, he shouted.

“I’m sorry. I’ve committed a crime worthy of death.”

“I told you not to apologize…”

As he bowed, his shiny bald head came into view.

He slapped it hard with his palm.

-Thwack.

The feeling and sound of hitting were perfect.

“Hmm, good. Let’s go. To Director Cha’s office. Hurry.”

Jung-hoon urged them to go to Director Cha’s office.

“Please save me. I’ve committed a crime worthy of death. Please forgive me just once. Chairman.”

His face covered in tears and snot, he grabbed Jung-hoon’s pants and begged.

***

This is what it means to have built up goodwill.

The Dragon Motors union issued a statement.

‘Welcome, Shinhwa Group.’

They had never laid off anyone in any of their acquisitions.

Everyone believed his words when he announced employment guarantees.

GM Sunjae, Youngsan, and Renault also made the same offer, but people didn’t believe them.

Everyone knew their past of carrying out layoffs.

The local community also supported the Shinhwa Group.

They praised the fact that it was a company that would grow the company greatly, rather than an evil capital that would divide and sell the company.

Everything was turning in favor of the Shinhwa Group.

It will be announced in 10 minutes.

Jung-hoon waited for the acquisition announcement in the chairman’s office.

The Genius Grandson of the Cash King Becomes a Tycoon.