Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 144

144. The Last Puzzle (1)

Jang Jun-yong and Lee Geon-hoo took turns speaking.

“He warned us. Told us not to send money to the military.”

“He said the defense budget was sufficient, so there was no need for separate military funds.”

“He threatened that if we were caught sending money, it would be considered treason. He was very stern.”

“He received confirmation from each of the chaebols [large business conglomerates] and headed to the Blue House [the South Korean presidential residence].”

This was the second request Tae-soo had made to Cha Ki-beom.

-Please put pressure on Jeon Doo-ho from above and below.

At the time, Cha Ki-beom asked with an intrigued expression.

-How should I do it?

-First, block the flow of military funds to Jeon Doo-ho by controlling the corporations.

Generosity comes from a full granary [a saying that means one can only be generous when one has enough resources].

If finances are tight, the organization is bound to waver.

Especially a secret private organization like Ohseonghoe.

-That’s what I wanted. Even if you hadn’t asked, I had already decided to take down Jeon Doo-ho.

Now that he had shaken Jeon Doo-ho’s foundation, it was time to take him down from above.

-Also, subtly imply that you intend to recommend Jeon Doo-ho as the next Chief of Staff of the Army, along with the current Chief of Staff.

This time, Cha Ki-beom’s expression hardened.

Why wouldn’t it?

He was supposed to promote Jeon Doo-ho, whom he had decided to take down, to the position of Chief of Staff of the Army.

On the surface, it looked like a promotion, so this reaction was natural.

-Why should I do that? Promote a thorn in my side with my own hands?

-It’s called using barbarians to control barbarians [a strategy of using one enemy to control another]. You need to make the other commanders, blinded by jealousy, keep a close eye on Jeon Doo-ho.

Cha Ki-beom understood immediately.

-I see. The senior officers will have to stop Jeon Doo-ho, who is lower in rank, from becoming the Chief of Staff of the Army.

-If Jeon Doo-ho becomes the Chief of Staff of the Army, the senior officers above him will have to retire, according to custom.

The position of Chief of Staff of the Army is the highest command in the army, with only one seat available.

If Jeon Doo-ho were to take that position, surpassing his seniors, they would all be forced to retire.

Who would stand by and watch that happen?

-The senior commanders will band together to keep Jeon Doo-ho in check and will dig into Ohseonghoe.

-Very good.

-There aren’t many ways for the commanders to oppress Jeon Doo-ho. So, they will find and eliminate Ohseonghoe members in their units.

Cha Ki-beom smiled very 만족스럽게 [satisfactorily].

Tae-soo added one more thing.

-You can subtly mention this to the President as well.

Cha Ki-beom’s expression became cautious when Park Jeong-hwan was involved.

Tae-soo said.

-Jeon Doo-ho is secretly moving Ohseonghoe. He has been going around to companies demanding huge amounts of military funds. I have obtained records of his research on the post-martial law era.

What would Park Jeong-hwan think if he heard this?

He had planted Jeon Doo-ho in the military to control the military forces through Ohseonghoe. But what if he suspected that Ohseonghoe had bad intentions?

I don’t know how much or how long Cha Ki-beom laughed when he heard this.

It was a very rare occurrence for the stoic and expressionless Cha Ki-beom.

‘Cha Ki-beom will cut off the military funds flowing in from the companies, and the army generals will keep Ohseonghoe in check. Park Jeong-hwan will turn a blind eye. He will need to suppress Ohseonghoe a little bit.’

After laughing for a while, Cha Ki-beom nodded.

-I should have met with you sooner to discuss this. You’ve cleared my mind so thoroughly.

Cha Ki-beom confidently assured.

-Leave it to me to block Jeon Doo-ho from above and below. I’ll flatten him.

Cha Ki-beom left like that.

And now, the results are being confirmed.

A chaebol member of the Hankyungryun [Federation of Korean Industries] came to Tae-soo to convey Cha Ki-beom’s warning.

“So, what are you going to do at Geumsan?”

“What do you mean, what am I going to do? Cha Ki-beom even mentioned treason. Do you think I’m crazy enough to give him money?”

“Is Samcheong the same?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’d rather be out of favor with the Security Commander holed up in the military than with Chief Secretary Cha, who is close to the President.”

Money flows according to power.

Jang Jun-yong said.

“Even if we don’t send money, what can Jeon Doo-ho do right away?”

Jeon Doo-ho could only grind his teeth.

“So, I came to tell you not to send military funds to the military. Don’t get on the wrong side of the Chief of the Presidential Security Service. Don’t even look at the military side.”

With this, Jeon Doo-ho’s military funds were cut off.

‘Jeon Doo-ho, you’ve been buying loyalty by spreading money to Ohseonghoe, but now that the military funds are cut off, what are you going to do?’

Flies swarm around the smell of money, and even beggars don’t come near a place with no money.

‘Now, the only place left to get money is Han Cheong-ho, but I’m going to dry up Han Cheong-ho’s money supply. Let’s see how well you two do.’

Tae-soo smiled.

* * *

The chairman’s office at the headquarters of the Cheongil Group.

Han Cheong-ho crumpled the newspaper.

“Trying to change the image of Taeyang Apartments by using a drama? Do you think that’s going to be as easy as you think?”

Han Cheong-ho threw the crumpled newspaper away.

Secretary Park bent down and picked up the newspaper that had hit the wall and fallen.

The story of the drama that started with Jungse Ilbo [a newspaper] is now being covered in all the newspapers.

Secretary Park read the headlines of the articles that appeared on the front page of the entertainment section.

The viewership ratings are being updated daily.

TBS Dongin Broadcasting Station is already a famous broadcasting station for dramas and entertainment shows.

But this time, ‘Burning Like a Flame’ has become a huge hit.

“Only Taeyang Group has benefited from the success of this drama. They’re promoting their products very blatantly, aren’t they?”

“Taeyang Electronics’ sales have increased by 230% since the drama aired.”

“What? Not 20% or 30%, but 230%? Is that even possible?”

Han Cheong-ho’s mouth dropped open.

No matter how great the drama promotion is, how can sales increase by 230% in just one month of airing?

“Taeyang Group’s products had very low corporate recognition.”

Taeyang Group is a newly emerging chaebol group.

Tae-soo acquired Orion Electronics and transformed it into Taeyang Electronics.

How much recognition would Orion Electronics, which was just a small and medium-sized company, have?

The technology and products were of a high standard, but they did not see the same brand effect as those of large companies.

“This time, the image of the products being used by the chairman has been added, and they are selling like hotcakes. The design is also very sophisticated.”

This time, Taeyang Electronics has really caught people’s attention.

“That’s not all. Cosmetics from Taeyang Chemical are so popular that they can’t be sold.”

“Why cosmetics again?”

“The actresses are so pretty…”

“What?”

The drama blatantly shows the dressing table.

The cosmetics sponsored by Taeyang Chemical even show the logo clearly.

When the female actors apply it, their already good skin looks even better.

It was the effect of the reflector, but it fueled the women’s desire to buy.

“Taeyang Cosmetics is completely out of stock, so they need to build another factory.”

Listening to this makes me feel annoyed.

“A daily drama became a hit, so why is Taeyang Group benefiting?”

“Isn’t it obvious since they are the drama’s investor and sponsor? Moreover, this Taeyang Apartment advertisement…”

“Why the advertisement again?”

I don’t want to hear it because I’m getting angry, but I can’t not listen.

“We also put out a newspaper advertisement!”

“Taeyang Apartments produced and released a CF [commercial film]. This advertisement has become very popular.”

“Damn it!”

“It couldn’t help but be popular. Jung Yoon-ah, who has become a top star these days, appears on the front of the advertisement. Just like in the drama. And the advertisement copy is…”

“Enough! I don’t want to hear it anymore!”

Han Cheong-ho slammed the desk with his fist.

“Let’s shoot a CF for our Cheongil Apartments too! That’s all we need to do!”

“Well, the advertising budget has already been exceeded from the amount allocated for this year.”

“Shoot it anyway! Our Cheongil Apartments can’t be the underdog!”

Secretary Park would normally say ‘I understand’ and step back.

But Secretary Park is silent and doesn’t say anything.

“Why are you standing there like that?”

“Please take a look at this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a letter of demand from the bank.”

“What?”

The letter of demand that Secretary Park is handing over.

It’s not just one or two. There are too many.

“Which bank dares to send a letter of demand to Cheongil?”

“Jangsu Bank, Hanse Bank, Daehong Bank, Segwang Bank, Togeon Bank, Jeongil Bank, Miju Bank, Dogyeong Bank, Gwangmyeong Bank, Taesang Bank, and even Mokma Bank, a total of 11 banks have sent letters of demand.”

11 banks?

And all at once, as if they had colluded?

Han Cheong-ho’s complexion turned serious in an instant.

The voice that had only been expressing annoyance sank low.

“I need to meet the bank presidents.”

Why are these bastards suddenly acting up?

It’s clear that someone is plotting something.

“I need to see with my own two eyes who is trying to screw me over.”

Han Cheong-ho hurriedly put on his coat.

“Contact the bank presidents. Daeungak in Seongbuk-dong [a high-end neighborhood in Seoul], in 30 minutes.”

“30 minutes is too short notice.”

“Tell them that. And don’t forget to tell them that I’ll be watching anyone who’s late. Got it?”

Han Cheong-ho slams the door of the chairman’s office shut and leaves.

* * *

Taeyang Apartment construction site.

While Tae-soo and Park Cheol-wan were looking around the site, Song Chang-jun ran over.

“Chairman, Dongbang Ilbo [a newspaper] reporters have come to see you. What should we do?”

“What did the Dongbang Ilbo reporters come for?”

“They said they came to ask for advertising. In return, they said they would send favorable newspaper articles about Taeyang Apartments, like last time.”

“Let’s do that.”

No matter how much we promote Taeyang Apartments, it’s not enough.

But Song Chang-jun cautiously opened his mouth.

“Chairman, shouldn’t we just pretend we don’t know this time?”

Song Chang-jun is not the kind of person to stop this kind of thing.

Tae-soo stopped walking and turned to look at Song Chang-jun.

He shook his head with a serious face.

“Pressure has come from above not to run advertisements in Dongbang Ilbo.”

Song Chang-jun handed over the Dongbang Ilbo newspaper.

“Please take a look at this.”

“The advertising space is blank.”

“There’s nothing we can do since pressure is coming from above. Advertisers are canceling their advertisements and turning their backs on us.”

What was coming had come.

I had been waiting to see when it would explode.

‘The Dongbang Ilbo advertising suppression incident.’

The same thing happened in my previous life.

The Dongbang Ilbo advertising suppression incident.

Also known as the Dongbang Ilbo blank advertisement crisis, it was an unprecedented media suppression incident that began in 1974.

The advertisements contracted with Dongbang Ilbo were all canceled at once, and the advertising space was left blank.

The Taeyang Apartment advertisement, which had been advertising on two pages of the newspaper, is also not visible.

“Did you remove all of our Taeyang Apartment advertisements as well?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you report it?”

“Since our Taeyang Apartment advertisement that was running in Dongbang Ilbo had already ended, I thought there was no need to report it and omitted it. I’m sorry.”

It’s true that the Taeyang Apartment advertising period has ended.

I wasn’t planning on running the advertisement on two pages this time, so I was thinking of reducing the size of the advertisement a little.

But I didn’t know that they had removed it altogether.

“That’s why the Dongbang Ilbo reporters came to see me.”

“Yes. So, I don’t think you should meet them.”

Two reporters who seem anxious can be seen over there.

They were the reporters I had met before.

“I’ll meet them.”

“Chairman.”

Song Chang-jun had a worried look on his face.

“The President has drawn his sword. Unnecessary sympathy could make Taeyang Group look bad.”

Why wouldn’t Tae-soo know that?