Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 43

43. Meeting the Bedouins (2)

Tae-soo turned to see where Song Jin-gu was.

He found Song Jin-gu under the shade of a palm tree, legs stretched out, muttering curses.

“Is that the car the elder sent?”

“How would I know! This is my first time in the Middle East, too!” Song Jin-gu snapped, then immediately seemed to regret his outburst.

He jumped up and called out, “I’ll go check if it’s the right one! Wait a moment!”

Song Jin-gu hurried onto the scorching road.

The jeep, having spotted Song Jin-gu, stopped in the distance.

The sounds of Song Jin-gu and the driver talking drifted back.

Song Jin-gu raised both hands, making a large circle to signal this way.

“Looks like it’s the right one. Just a moment.”

“Yes? Uh, okay?”

As Tae-soo got up and walked over, Song Chang-jun followed, panting.

“Um, the interpreter…”

Song Jin-gu struggled to unload large trunks from the jeep.

“The elder said he got everything you asked for! He sent plenty, so you don’t have to worry!”

Tae-soo turned to Song Chang-jun and smiled. “Let’s load some things into the car. Would that be alright?”

“Of course, certainly. I’ll bring the car.”

Vroom. Screech.

Without a word, Song Chang-jun brought the truck-type jeep.

The men transferred the items to the car Song Chang-jun brought.

“Everything’s loaded.”

Tae-soo said to the driver who delivered the items, “Please coordinate so that the next vehicle can arrive directly at the agreed location.”

“Okay.”

The man who came on Jang Mal-dong’s errand made an okay sign with his fingers.

Song Chang-jun cautiously approached and asked, “What is all that, anyway? The trunks are quite large, and there are quite a few of them.”

“It’s what I prepared to meet the Bedouins. Shall we depart now?”

“Are you going to the accommodation?”

“No, there’s a place I’d like to stop by first.”

“Ah, you have another appointment?”

Tae-soo smiled. “Not exactly, but checking the site before starting construction is a must.”

Tae-soo politely requested, “Please take me to the road that Samwon Construction was building.”

“Alright.”

“We’ll also need to receive the heavy equipment that’s on its way there. Please coordinate that as well.”

“Understood.”

Song Chang-jun gave instructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee who had come along.

Then, he invited Tae-soo to get in the car and said, “You seem to be in a hurry. I’ll fill you in on the local situation while we travel.”

“Great. Thank you.”

‘He’s not the ambassador’s right-hand man for nothing,’ Tae-soo thought, impressed by his efficiency.

Vroom.

The car started, and Song Chang-jun’s report began. “First, regarding the construction progress, it’s only about 30% complete. The Samwon Construction site has turned into a battlefield due to the Bedouin tribes’ fighting. Construction has been halted for months since then.”

There was something Tae-soo had been wanting to ask.

“Why did they end up fighting at the construction site of all places?”

“I suspect it’s for two reasons. First, the geographical reason. The area where the road is being built is flat and has a wide view, and the two tribes live at similar distances from that point.”

‘In short, it’s a perfect terrain for a battlefield,’ Tae-soo thought.

“What’s the other reason?”

“You could say it’s the desert tribes’ territoriality. They didn’t like what Samwon Construction was doing. There were frequent minor and major conflicts between the desert tribes and Samwon Construction.”

“For example, what kind of things happened?”

“They were reluctant to supply drinking water, citing drought, demanded money for various reasons, or got into arguments with the workers.”

‘Other things are trivial. Similar things happen in Korea too,’ Tae-soo mused. But among them, the most noteworthy reason was ‘reluctance to supply drinking water.’ It was also the reason why Tae-soo went to the trouble of loading a tanker full of water.

“Samwon Construction must have been quite troubled.”

“They were struggling. The construction progress was slow, and the workers were running away one by one due to the immediate shortage of drinking water. After the fight broke out, they all scattered without looking back.”

Even without seeing it, he could imagine the situation.

‘The desert tribes must have been quite unruly towards Samwon Construction. Their momentum needs to be curbed at least once to make the construction easier,’ Tae-soo thought.

Tae-soo asked, “How did the Bedouin tribes end up fighting?”

“The severe drought was the root of the problem,” Song Chang-jun said with a sigh.

“The nomadic people here make up about 5% of the population. Most are semi-nomadic, but unlike in the past, their foundations are quite established, making it difficult to move their settlements in search of water. So, they build villages around wells.”

“So, the wells dried up due to the drought. Is this a common occurrence?”

“No, this is rare. They say this drought is unprecedented.”

So, Samwon Construction was also faced with an unexpected disaster situation.

“As most of the small wells dried up, a fight broke out over the largest and deepest well.”

“In the desert, water is like life itself.”

“Many casualties occurred in the process, and at some point, it seems to have become a battle of pride for the tribes. Now it’s almost like a revenge war.”

It is surprisingly common for a war that started with interests to turn into a battle of pride.

“As the fighting prolonged, supplies became scarce. Thanks to that, they are now fighting with cold weapons such as swords and axes instead of bullets or bombs.”

Tae-soo nodded.

“Are there any unique characteristics of each tribe?”

“I don’t know about unique characteristics, but the Hakonen tribe has occupied the well in question and is focused on defense. The Corrino tribe has occupied a rocky mountain that is advantageous for defense and seems to be carrying out raids and ambushes.”

They are targeting the well with ambushes.

The reason is clear.

“The Corrino tribe must be very short on water?”

“They seem to be surviving on the spring water coming out of the rocky mountain, but it doesn’t seem easy to hold out. The intervals between attempted raids are becoming more frequent.”

That’s why they have been engaged in a fierce battle.

“What is the tribes’ main business?”

“It’s not really a main business. They raise livestock to eat, sell by-products such as cheese and alcohol made from it, and weave and sell baskets or rugs.”

“Poor tribes with underdeveloped industries.”

Tae-soo was inwardly pleased. ‘Maybe things will go more smoothly than I thought. With this level of economic situation, the Bedouin tribes will have a hard time rejecting my proposal.’ He liked the overall situation much more than he thought.

“Most semi-nomadic people are like that. But these two tribes are a bit different. They earn money by sending skilled warriors as mercenaries or escorts.”

“Are you saying that a few warriors are feeding the entire tribe?”

Song Chang-jun nodded.

“The number of desert warriors who have gone out as mercenaries seems to be considerable. The remaining people in the tribe are also some of the best warriors in this country. The Saudi royal family especially favors them.”

“The Saudi royal family?”

“They are warriors who value loyalty. They are also highly skilled and very loyal. For that reason, they mainly serve as elite bodyguards dedicated to the royal family.”

Song Chang-jun sighed. “That’s why the Bedouin tribes have a high influence as supporters of the royal family compared to their numbers. The Saudi royal family also seems to have a hard time ignoring the requests of the elite bodyguards.”

Now he understands.

‘So, the Saudi royal family officially sent a letter unofficially for the sake of the Saudi royal family, who is the sponsor of the mere road construction delay,’ Tae-soo realized. There are many reasons involved in this matter:

-First, for the sake of the Saudi royal family, who is the sponsor of Samwon Construction.

-Second, to avoid diplomatic friction caused by the people of Samwon Construction being caught up in the Bedouin tribes’ fighting.

-Third, while expecting external support to stop the Bedouin tribes’ fighting.

-Fourth, to grant the requests of the royal bodyguards.

Vroom. Screech.

Song Chang-jun stopped the jeep.

The road construction site, which was half-built in the middle of the vast desert sand terrain, came into view.

“We’re here. It’s been abandoned like this for quite some time. The Bedouin tribes seem to have taken everything that was usable.”

Tae-soo nodded.

People got off the military transport truck that was following the jeep. They looked around and clicked their tongues.

“It’s hopeless.”

“It’s a mess.”

Everyone’s impressions were similar.

Tae-soo looked around and said, “You said the Bedouin tribes live with this road in the middle, right?”

“The Corrino tribe is over there where the rocky mountain is, and the Hakonen tribe is over there.”

“How far apart are they?”

“Um, about 2 kilometers apart? I’m not sure.”

“Not far, then.”

Tae-soo had the people unload the trunks.

Tae-soo looked for Song Chang-jun.

“Mr. Song, I think I’ll need your help.”

“What can I help you with?”

“I’d like to prepare a very large banner. I’d like to be introduced to someone who knows the local language.”

“As it happens, I know the local language quite well.”

That was very reassuring.

“You want to write something in the local language.”

“Yes, I’d like to write it in both English and the local language.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to advertise.”

“……?”

Song Chang-jun tilted his head, bewildered. “Are you going to sell something to the Bedouin tribes? What are you advertising?”

Tae-soo took out a notebook and pen from his pocket and scribbled something down. Then, he tore a page from the notebook and handed it to Song Chang-jun.

Song Chang-jun’s eyes widened.

“You’re going to build wells and waterways? Weren’t you here to build a road?”

“That’s right, I’m here to build a road.”

Tae-soo was nonchalant. “But due to the local circumstances, I have no choice but to build wells and waterways.”

“Why are you going to do construction that takes up time and money? The road construction deadline is already tight.”

Song Chang-jun expressed his concern.

“It’s to proceed with the construction faster. I have to do this to finish within the deadline.”

‘That doesn’t make sense,’ Song Chang-jun thought.

“It’s already difficult to meet the deadline even if we only focus on road construction.”

Because Samwon Construction wasted too much time.

“That’s why this construction is even more necessary. I’m already busy, so I can’t afford to deal with the Bedouin tribes’ territoriality. I need to get their active cooperation.”

He doesn’t understand even more after hearing that. If he messes around in the place the Bedouin tribes chose as a battlefield, he’s likely to be attacked rather than face territoriality.

“Could you please explain a bit?”

“Well, you’ll hear it when the Bedouin tribes come soon after seeing this. I’m busy now, so please help me with this first.”

Song Chang-jun nodded. How difficult could writing letters be?

“Is this much fabric enough?”

There was quite a bit of fabric for the desert tribes that he had prepared on purpose. Looking at the rolled-up white fabric, Song Chang-jun nodded.

“It’s enough.”

“Then let’s make a banner on the spot.”

The people who followed Tae-soo quickly opened the trunks and took out the materials. Black paint and paintbrushes came out, and they assembled poles to make supports.

‘Perhaps because they changed the sign to a service company, they are quick and good at doing odd jobs,’ Tae-soo observed.

“I’m done here.”

“I’m done here too.”

The banner is made in an instant. It flutters like a flag in the sandstorm.

“Well made?”

“It’s quite plausible.”

“I feel strange about something?”

Tae-soo turned to Song Chang-jun. “About the heavy equipment that was said to have left earlier. Does it take long to get here?”

“The port is closer than you think. It won’t take long.”

“It’ll arrive soon, then.”

“Probably. I sent someone.”

‘That’s a relief,’ Tae-soo thought and nodded.