Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 213

213. The Goal is Cheongil Construction (1)

Han Il-kwon was reeling, unable to believe the situation he found himself in.

“You want me to return the money?”

“Your father must have been quite the operator.”

An Jung-woo set down his glass.

“To borrow that much money without collateral, interest-free, and have it remain untouched even after the repayment deadline… he’s no ordinary man.”

“President-elect!”

“You saw it too, didn’t you? I’ve been handing out national development projects to the top 100 conglomerates in this country [large, family-owned business groups]. What money do you think I’ll use to push all that forward?”

Would the *chaebol* [conglomerates] companies be crazy enough to do national development for free?

They’re rushing in like that because of the crumbs that fall from the table.

“I can’t just raise taxes as soon as I become president under the guise of national development. You know my campaign promises, right?”

An Jung-woo promised the people that he would lower tax rates.

He also said he would expand medical insurance and provide free education up to high school.

Just that alone would empty the national treasury.

“I’m in a situation where I have to work miracles, even if it means taking out loans. But if there’s a place where I can collect old debts? There’s no reason for me to refuse, is there?”

“So you’re saying you’re going to collect the debt from Cheongil?”

“Or were you planning to swallow the government’s money as it is?”

Building Cheongil Hotel, providing funds to Chun Doo-hwan [former South Korean president], and building Cheongil Apartments in the meantime…

Money doesn’t just fall from the sky.

But what if the person asking for the money is the next president?

You have to create it and offer it somehow.

“Grant my father a special pardon. Then I’ll return that money.”

“Why should I argue with you over such a thing?”

An Jung-woo’s eyes turned cold.

“Listen while I’m being nice.”

Han Il-kwon could easily understand the unspoken threat.

Because it was the same threat Han Il-kwon used to enjoy wielding.

-It won’t end with words next time.

-Can you handle it?

It’s an amount that’s hard to handle.

Han Il-kwon bit his lip.

“Give me… time.”

“The repayment date has already passed. But since it’s not just a penny or two, I’ll give you one more chance.”

An Jung-woo said firmly.

“Bring it unconditionally by the day of my presidential inauguration.”

There was only a month left until An Jung-woo’s presidential inauguration.

* * *

After chasing Han Il-kwon out,

In the VIP room on the 7th floor of Geumsan Hotel, Tae-soo and An Jung-woo remained.

An Jung-woo poured Tae-soo a full glass of alcohol.

“That Han Il-kwon, as you said, is a friend who reeks of garbage.”

Tae-soo drank the alcohol.

He remembered Han Il-kwon’s distorted expression.

Even the strong liquor felt soft and sweet.

“I’m curious how Cheongil will come up with the money within a month. There don’t seem to be that many sources of money.”

He saw Cheongil’s financial situation as if it were laid out in the palm of his hand.

“Selling one or two affiliates won’t be enough. They’d have to sell them off at rock-bottom prices to barely meet the one-month deadline.”

He recalled Han Il-kwon’s pale face.

Tae-soo found the alcohol so sweet that he gulped it down in one go.

“I did as you told me, but I can’t figure it out at all. What are you planning to do?”

“I’m thinking of bankrupting Cheongil Construction.”

“Cheongil Construction?”

An Jung-woo knew why it had to be Cheongil Construction.

“You’re thinking of touching Cheongil’s holding company. If the holding company collapses, the entire Cheongil Group will fall like dominoes.”

Han Cheong-ho was a person who became a *chaebol* starting from construction.

The reason why he put Han Il-kwon in the position of president of Cheongil Construction, with the next group chairman in mind, was precisely that.

‘Construction is the best field for obtaining government concessions. It’s also perfect for laundering black money.’

Because no one knows how much it costs to bury civil engineering work underground.

Laundering money for high-ranking officials, taking care of the aftermath, and sharing concessions with them.

That’s how the company grows, connections increase, and lobbying begins.

“Conversely, they won’t just stand by and watch Cheongil Construction collapse. They’ll try to protect the holding company at all costs, won’t they?”

“Cheongil Construction will definitely collapse.”

Tae-soo was certain.

An Jung-woo was half-doubtful.

“Even if they have to liquidate other affiliates at rock-bottom prices, they’ll desperately prevent the entire group from disintegrating, right?”

“That’s what usually happens.”

Tae-soo drank the liquor with a meaningful expression.

“But right now, the chairman of Cheongil is not Han Cheong-ho, and Cheongil Construction has Lee Moon-bok.”

“What does that have to do with it?”

An Jung-woo still didn’t understand.

Isn’t Lee Moon-bok the elite of the elites that Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan cherishes and nurtures?

He was a talented individual who stood out in Geumsan Construction.

It’s only natural that it would be even more difficult to go bankrupt with such a person at Cheongil Construction.

But Tae-soo was confident.

“Just watch. How Cheongil Construction collapses.”

Has Tae-soo’s words ever not come true?

Never.

An Jung-woo no longer questioned it.

“If you say so, it will be so.”

He knows that Tae-soo will somehow make it happen.

* * *

An Jung-woo, heavily drunk, was in a very good mood.

“I’m really benefiting from you. Hahaha, I’m becoming president.”

An Jung-woo laughed loudly as he sank deeply into the sofa.

It’s very rare for An Jung-woo, who has a considerable alcohol tolerance, to get drunk.

This is because the *chaebols* raised congratulatory drinks, each wanting to catch An Jung-woo’s eye.

“The *chaebol* leaders bowed their heads and promised to actively cooperate. I wonder if national development and the development of the country, which I have been promoting for so long, could be achieved so easily.”

An Jung-woo has been working for the country and the nation in the shadows for a long time.

But every time, he was repeatedly blocked by pro-Japanese bastards.

They were the vested interests, and they had power, money, and influence.

Rather, it was An Jung-woo who had to hide his body, hide his power, and hide his identity.

How deep and long-standing was that resentment?

“I have to eradicate the pro-Japanese remnants.”

It was An Jung-woo’s long-cherished dream and the long-standing desire of the An Jung-woo family.

It was everything that An Jung-woo had been working on since the liberation.

“Without correcting the shameful past, there is no future for this country.”

An Jung-woo looked back at Tae-soo.

“I’m thinking of unfolding a grand vision. All of this is thanks to you.”

An Jung-woo knows who was the one who picked him up when he gave up halfway, was frustrated, and resigned.

Why wouldn’t An Jung-woo know who cleared all the obstacles?

“Thank you. I will never forget that you cleared all the obstacles in my way.”

An Jung-woo patted Tae-soo on the shoulder.

“This time, I’ll open the way for you.”

An Jung-woo looked at the large map hanging on the wall.

It was a map that Park Cheol-wan had drawn with great care.

Traces of giving the *chaebols* the concessions for national development remained everywhere.

“You have to develop Gangnam with your own hands.”

An Jung-woo knows Tae-soo’s dream.

Drunk, An Jung-woo staggered and stood in front of the map.

He took out a pen and tapped the Gangnam area.

“The bridge connecting Gangbuk and Gangnam, the promenade and park along the Han River, you’ll take care of all of that.”

An Jung-woo deliberately did not give the Gangnam side to the *chaebols*.

Seocho-gu, Gangnam-gu, Songpa-gu.

The three Gangnam districts, which have not yet been properly developed, were Tae-soo’s share.

“You said you were going to build a large general hospital here. I also ask you to take good care of the schools and libraries for the future of this country.”

An Jung-woo drew lines.

It was the place where the hospital, school, and library would be built.

“Hmm, what else is there? Ah!”

An Jung-woo put the pen in his mouth and pondered for a long time before drawing a large circle.

It was a large circle that surrounded the entire Seoul.

“You’ll take care of the subway too.”

Kim Jong-pyo’s proposal was just a sweet talk to get through the crisis.

He would never have really thought of entrusting Tae-soo with the construction of Subway Line 2.

But An Jung-woo was serious.

“You built the Cheongil Hotel, so you have to build the Taeyang Hotel too. Where are you going to build the hotel?”

“I will build one in each of the three Gangnam districts.”

“Good! Come to think of it, there were apartments too! Can we end with Daechi-dong? Along the Han River like this…….”

An Jung-woo was circling along the Han River.

“We’re going to build apartments in a good location with a good view of the Han River. Taeyang Apartment will become the most luxurious premium apartment brand representing Gangnam apartments.”

An Jung-woo looked down at the circled part with satisfaction.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“I like it.”

Tae-soo looked at the Gangnam map that An Jung-woo was adding to.

‘Gangnam, the land of gold that has not yet been developed, is now made by me.’

It was the land that the Cheongil Group used to occupy.

It was Han Cheong-ho’s achievement to obtain all the concessions through the government.

As a result, Cheongil rose to the ranks of a large *chaebol*.

‘Taeyang Apartment was built where Cheongil Apartment should have been built.’

The largest apartment complex to be built in Gangnam Daechi-dong.

That place, which will become the mecca of education in Korea, will start from Taeyang Apartment.

He will take all the glory that Cheongil had.

* * *

Cheongil Group headquarters.

Even at this time when darkness has fallen, the lights were brightly lit in the Cheongil Building.

The current time was 9:20 PM.

Despite the end of the year, Cheongil employees were busy working overtime today.

“How come we don’t have year-end dinners, year-end parties, or bonuses?”

“They demand all-night work every day, but the salary is cut. Sigh-”

“More than half of us were laid off due to the large-scale restructuring at the group level this time. We’re just grateful to have survived.”

“If I get fired, my family will have to sit on the streets. I have to endure it even if it’s dirty.”

Cheongil Group was the most affected by the oil shock.

Han Cheong-ho, who was called the tiger of Cheongil and exercised control over executives, even went to jail.

Cheongil Oil and Cheongil Heavy Industries, which were the core businesses, were also handed over, and Cheongil Hotel closed immediately after opening.

In addition, Cheongil Apartment, where a lump sum of money was scheduled to come in, failed to sell.

Cheongil was suffering from financial difficulties.

“Ah, I want to transfer to Taeyang Group too.”

“Taeyang Group? Why Taeyang Group of all places? Are you going to sell oil?”

“Don’t you know? All the talented employees in our company were taken away by Taeyang Group.”

“Huh? Was that Taeyang Group?”

“The executive holes in each of Cheongil’s affiliates, and all the promising prospects who flew and crawled have all been taken away by the Taeyang Group scout team.”

Cheongil’s strength came from solid talent.

Chairman Han Cheong-ho only had to secure large projects through lobbying.

Then the executives who were good at management ran Cheongil on their own.

Thanks to that, Cheongil was able to grow to this point.

However, Cheongil has been shaken from the bottom since when Taeyang Group has been picking out only Cheongil’s talents.

The employees were the most aware of such changes.

“The whole company is a mess these days.”

“Since all the talented people have left, the work is not done properly, and even if I work all night every day, there are no results. I’m going to die.”

At that time, a brutal and cold voice was heard from behind.

“Shut up.”

The whispering employees closed their mouths at the same time.

Han Il-kwon glared at them, his eyes flashing.

The employees ran away in a hurry.

“Cut all those bastards off.”

Secretary Jang was embarrassed.

“It’s a bit much to fire them for speaking carelessly…….”

“If they didn’t want to be fired, they should have been careful with their mouths. Cut them off. I won’t say it twice. Should I cut you off first?”

“…I understand.”

It’s so different from Han Cheong-ho, who scraped together talent.

Han Il-kwon didn’t know how to cherish people.

Only cold wind blew on the road Han Il-kwon passed.

* * *

Cheongil Group headquarters, Cheongil Construction president’s office.

Lee Moon-bok was also working overtime.

The door to the president’s office of Cheongil Construction burst open.

“Who is it? Without knocking!”

“It’s me.”

“Ch, Chairman, have you come?”

Lee Moon-bok jumped up.

Han Il-kwon sat on the upper-class sofa with a nervous look.

Lee Moon-bok had no choice but to abandon what he was doing and sit next to him.

“What brings you here at this hour? I heard you were going to the HanKyungryun [Federation of Korean Industries] meeting.”

“I met President-elect An Jung-woo there.”

“The President-elect?”

That’s why he showed his face at the group headquarters, which he never came to.

Even after 9 o’clock.

‘If it’s not good news, he wouldn’t have run here at this hour.’

Expectation filled Lee Moon-bok’s face.

He had heard so much about how well Han Cheong-ho had lobbied since he was in Geumsan Construction that his ears were sore.

“Chairman Han must have sponsored even unknown politicians. So maybe you were promised a good concession…….”

“He told me to return the money my father borrowed from the government.”

“Yes?”

“By the presidential inauguration, unconditionally.”

“Yes? Is it all that huge amount of money?”

There’s only a month left until the presidential inauguration.

“It’s impossible. It’s absolutely impossible in the current situation. I can’t raise money by then.”

“You have to do it no matter what. It’s what the president has nailed down.”

“Even if I sell several affiliates at a fair price, it’s impossible…….”

“Find a way. You’re smart, so you can do that much, right?”

“Yes?”

Lee Moon-bok realized.

Why Han Il-kwon came to him at this hour.

It was to forcibly pass on an impossible mission.

Lee Moon-bok struggled to hide his distorted expression and racked his brain.

‘Let’s run away!’

He betrayed Geumsan Construction and came out.

He has no regrets about Cheongil Construction.

‘I can’t go out empty-handed.’

Lee Moon-bok’s eyes were meaningful.