Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 49

“I never imagined my business card would be used in this way. If he had presented this card from the start and asked to keep the oil tanker docked in the Saudi port for two months, I wouldn’t have agreed. He saw right through that.”

Because it was a small favor that contrasted sharply with Han Cheong-ho’s request, he had readily agreed.

It was a simple matter to load water and supplies on the way to Bahrain.

However, if he had been asked to keep the oil tanker tied up at the port for two months, the answer would have been different.

“Just in case, I adjusted the schedules of other oil tankers and dispatched an extra one, so there’s no problem in accepting this request.”

Jang Jun-yong had somewhat anticipated this outcome.

But what truly mattered was that he had saved face in front of Han Cheong-ho.

Jang Jun-yong chuckled as he examined the telegram sent by the Saudi royal family.

“I thought retrieving the business card would be the end of it, but it turns out he’s a fellow who can even influence the Saudi royal family.”

The Saudi royal family had sent a telegram for the same reason.

The more he read, the more pleased he became.

“To think he could escalate things this far with just the water loaded on a single oil tanker! That’s quite a talent.”

Jang Jun-yong slapped his knee and laughed.

“Thanks to Kang Tae-soo, I’m forging ties with the Saudi royal family, even the King himself. I can finally start making inroads into Saudi Arabia, which has been difficult to penetrate until now.”

Jang Jun-yong turned to his secretary, Kim Hwan.

“Send a telegram to our embassy in Saudi Arabia. We need to give Kang Tae-soo an answer.”

“What message should I send?”

“Accept.”

One word was enough.

“What should I send to the Saudi royal family?”

“Inform them that we intend to bid on a construction project.”

Jang Jun-yong had his sights set on something grander.

“Geumsan should build the Jubail Industrial Port.”

Geumsan was finally gaining a foothold in Saudi Arabia.

‘This is all thanks to Kang Tae-soo. I’m indebted to him once again.’

He pondered how to repay Kang Tae-soo and simultaneously improve Geumsan’s chances of winning the construction bid.

“Should I suggest a joint bid to Kang Tae-soo?”

If he possessed the knack for influencing the Saudi royal family with just the water on an oil tanker, he could certainly secure the Jubail Industrial Port bid with ease.

* * *

Brum, brum.

Tae-soo was driving to the port in his Jeep.

Beside him, Skinny grinned.

“The well construction is progressing smoothly, the limestone mine and cement factory are taking shape, and the cement facilities are just starting to operate, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“There’s still a lot to do.”

“True, we’ve been neglecting the port while focusing on the village construction. I suppose we should unload the materials on the barge and decide where to build the waterway, right?”

“Yeah.”

As Skinny and he chuckled and drove, they soon arrived at the port.

The port where the oil tanker was docked was the largest in the area.

There were many ships coming and going, along with numerous fishing boats.

“Tae-soo, I’m always amazed when I come here. I thought this was a poor area with just a few fishing boats, but why is the port built so large?”

“It’s where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making large-scale construction investments. They entrust road construction projects to overseas construction companies for a reason.”

“The nearby villages don’t seem like much, though.”

“Just wait and see. Once the roads we build are properly established in this port, this area will become a much larger city than it is now.”

Tae-soo knew how this city would grow.

This was a port city bordering the Red Sea, and it had remained a small village until 1975.

However, it was a historically significant place that had served as a spice trade relay port connecting Yemen, Egypt, and the Mediterranean region since 2,500 years ago.

‘In short, it’s been a hub for maritime trade since ancient times. That’s why the Saudi government is trying to develop it in earnest.’

Soon, it would be recognized as one of the new centers of the oil industry, along with Jubail, and would develop significantly.

‘They’ve built such a large port and constructed roads, so development is inevitable. A new wave of the oil industry will sweep through here as well.’

After the Middle East war [likely referring to the Yom Kippur War of 1973], the Saudi government expelled foreign capital forces.

They reclaimed the oil that had been taken away at bargain prices and used it to build Saudi Arabia’s wealth.

As a result, the golden age of Western capitalism, which had benefited from the cheap oil of oil-producing countries, would soon come to an end.

‘The Middle East war and the oil shock [the resulting price surge] are opportunities for me.’

It was the perfect short-term investment for three months.

‘I’d have no regrets if I could subtly gain a foothold in Saudi oil while foreign capital forces are being driven out.’

But Tae-soo also knew.

‘To get there, I’d really need to be incredibly lucky. It’s impossible in my current state.’

To make that happen, another variable was needed.

‘I can’t help it. Let’s not be greedy.’

A crane was being used to unload containers from Geumsan’s ship.

Trailers and forklifts were also being used.

At that moment, someone approached Tae-soo.

It was a Korean man.

“Are you Kang Tae-soo?”

“Yes, I am Kang Tae-soo.”

A man in his 30s wearing work clothes took off his hard hat and smiled.

“I’m from Geumsan.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Tae-soo from Taeyang Construction.”

“I work at Geumsan Shipping. The person over there is from Geumsan Heavy Industries.”

“Geumsan Heavy Industries?”

When Tae-soo turned around, a man in the same work clothes raised his hand.

“Do you see those cranes, forklifts, and trailers?”

“Yes, what are they all for?”

“The chairman of Geumsan gave specific instructions: ‘The equipment sent by Cheongil won’t be enough, so make good use of these and then return them.’”

It was unexpected.

“The chairman of Geumsan is providing assistance so meticulously.”

“Haha, I don’t know. I’m just here to provide support.”

“I should thank him. This will be a great help.”

He said that, but Tae-soo’s thoughts deepened.

‘Why is Chairman Jang Jun-yong showing me so much favor? It’s not just the request he made to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but also the support from Geumsan Heavy Industries.’

There wasn’t even a negotiation at the President’s office.

Jang Jun-yong was offering help before Tae-soo even asked.

‘I just need to repay favors with favors and kindness with kindness. Still, I won’t forget that he reached out first.’

Perfect timing.

They needed a trailer to bring in the water tank anyway.

Heavy equipment is always useful to have.

Skinny happened to spot Chief Corino.

“There’s Chief Corino!”

On one side, the Bedouins were diligently digging the ground under Chief Corino’s direction.

With excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks joining in.

[Everyone is working hard.]

Several people beamed as Tae-soo approached.

Chief Corino was the first to rush over.

[The Bedouins are laying the waterways and connecting the pipes.]

[Thank you for your hard work. It’s all thanks to the Bedouins.]

[Everyone is happy that they can get enough water. The wages are generous, so their circumstances are improving day by day.]

[That’s a relief. I’ll make sure they are well compensated for their hard work.]

You shouldn’t arbitrarily cut the wages of those who work.

Tae-soo wants to coexist with them.

[As you instructed, we are also leveling the ground where the water tank will be placed.]

Over a dozen bulldozers were focused on leveling the ground.

[In the name of our tribe, I have requested additional support from the Saudi royal family. I don’t know how big of a storage tank they will send, but we are preparing for it.]

[Well done. The waterway construction is also progressing smoothly. I don’t think I need to give any separate instructions, do I?]

[That skinny fellow came to me last night with the blueprints.]

Chief Corino pointed to Skinny.

[That friend taught me how to mark the work area. Thanks to him, we are working smoothly without getting lost.]

Tae-soo looked where Chief Corino was pointing.

It seemed they had marked the waterway area by snapping a chalk line on the ground.

On the sandy ground where the chalk line wouldn’t hold, they marked the construction site by driving small iron stakes and stringing lines between them.

[That friend is quite meticulous and good at his job. He’s also friendly, playful, and has already learned quite a bit of our tribal language. He quickly became friends with our tribal children, and everyone likes him. Ah, except maybe the women.]

Skinny keeps getting rejected by the Bedouin women despite his advances.

Skinny was laughing and greeting the Bedouins.

‘He must have learned this after sticking to Park Cheol-wan and struggling for days.’

Skinny is quite a capable guy.

Park Cheol-wan probably taught him about the road construction Tae-soo was in charge of, but Skinny seems to have applied some of it to the waterway construction.

‘Skinny usually excelled in sales, but he always did his part no matter what task he was given.’

He was also quite clever and often handled tasks easily with his resourcefulness.

That’s why, when he followed Tae-soo into the Cheongil Group, he eventually rose to the executive ranks.

‘Han Cheong-ho valued Skinny quite highly, so he rose quickly compared to his age.’

Skinny was also Tae-soo’s reliable work buddy.

He supported Tae-soo in every way and always helped him.

That’s why Tae-soo felt so lonely after Skinny died first.

So much so that he quit drinking and didn’t even look at it for over 20 years.

‘I won’t send Skinny to Cheongil this time either. I won’t let him die at the hands of Han Il-kwon.’

Just then.

From the other side of the harbor, a tremendously luxurious cruise ship was entering with the sound of engines.

The Bedouins and the people in the harbor market all looked at the cruiser at once.

[Wow, that’s disgustingly big and fancy. Which royal family member came here for a cruise?]

[The gold plating is so shiny. I bet there are jewels embedded in those chairs? How much is all that worth?]

[This is what you call wasting money!]

Chief Corino quietly approached and whispered to Tae-soo.

[It seems a member of the Saudi royal family has arrived.]

Tae-soo nodded.

[Do you happen to know who it is?]

[There are so many members of the royal family that I usually don’t know that much, but judging by the cruise ship they are riding, there is one person I can guess.]

[Who is it?]

[Rahman bin Khalid bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. He is said to be a talented member of the royal family in charge of western city development.]

Oh, great.

A bigger figure than expected has popped up.

Tae-soo looked again at the royal who was making a flamboyant entrance.

‘That’s the guy who was the key figure in the construction of the western Saudi city. I heard he planned this port and Samwon Construction’s road.’

The backer of Shoboksi, Samwon Construction’s overseas partner, and the person in charge of Saudi’s western city development.

The 12th son of the next king.

[Benefactor, it seems he came because I sent a telegram to the royal family.]

[It seems so.]

[I tried to explain the situation well, but it seems the telegram wasn’t enough. So, they sent a royal family member stationed in the west, I suppose.]

Tae-soo agreed.

‘It would be too much trouble to cross the desert from the capital just to confirm the facts. But this is unexpected. The dispatched royal family member is the man in question.’

Tae-soo thought while looking at the luxurious cruiser.

‘The foreign sponsor that Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil attached to me is that man…’

It must be a connection that Han Cheong-ho made in the Middle East for Cheongil Oil Refinery.

Which means.

‘That man’s influence is stronger than I thought. Han Cheong-ho wouldn’t have put in the effort for just anyone.’

Also.

‘Han Cheong-ho abandoned Samwon Construction like cutting off a lizard’s tail, and he abandoned the connection with it.’

Otherwise, the Saudi royal family wouldn’t have sent a letter of protest.

Even with Park Jeong-hwan’s advice, Han Cheong-ho shook his head and tried to get out.

He also spread enormous bribes to make the relevant officials Cheongil’s shield.

‘Why did Han Cheong-ho cut off his connection with that man?’

That’s the question.

‘That man’s father is the current Minister of National Defense. Moreover, he is the one who will become the next king.’

Why did Han Cheong-ho let go of the powerful man’s hand first?

The man who clings to power so desperately.

‘I’ll know once I meet him.’

I’m looking forward to it.

Tae-soo wanted to create a new connection with the Middle Eastern royal family.

A big, strong rope like a lifeline that would come down from the sky and pull Tae-soo up to the top in an instant.