Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 62

62. Preparing to Hunt Cheongil (4)

Taesu said,

“Let’s amplify the rumor that Jangsu Bank is buying up shares of Western oil companies.”

“You don’t actually mean to buy up the oil company shares, do you?”

“Let’s buy them. On a grand scale. Let’s spread a scent so delicious that Choi Mu-ryong will come running with his eyes blazing.”

Jang Mal-dong turned his head sharply.

“Judging by the current situation, there will be a war in the Middle East soon. Less than half a year left.”

‘You’d be a fool if you couldn’t gauge the timing of a war while smuggling weapons in the Middle East,’ he thought.

Jang Mal-dong could even roughly estimate the timing.

That meant the undercurrent atmosphere he directly faced on the ground was becoming increasingly tense.

“If a war breaks out in the Middle East, Western oil companies will be the first to take a hit. Are you telling me to get on a sinking ship with you just to kill Choi Mu-ryong?”

“Surely not. Knowing it will sink, we can just get off the ship before it departs, can’t we?”

“Hahaha!”

Jang Mal-dong burst into laughter.

‘That’s a really good idea,’ he mused.

“Good! Let’s make a proper investment in oil companies! Oil company stock prices have been rising every day anyway. Shall I make some quick profits without letting my money sit idle?”

“That’s exactly it.”

Jang Mal-dong pointed at Han-soo.

“But why is that guy going all the way to America to set up an investment company? It seems like spreading rumors would be enough to catch Choi Mu-ryong.”

Taesu answered instead.

“To deceive him properly. Han-soo will establish an American investment company and propose an investment to Jangsu Bank.”

“Why bother? Our Jangsu Bank’s capital alone is······.”

“You’re not thinking of bringing the money you made selling weapons in the Middle East as is, are you?”

“That’s right! Money laundering!”

Only now did Jang Mal-dong realize why Taesu had introduced Han-soo to him.

And he understood why he had set up an American investment company.

Taesu said.

“Does Choi Mu-ryong know that you’re working as a weapons dealer, sir?”

“He doesn’t.”

“That suspicious guy must be squeezing his brain trying to calculate Jangsu Bank’s capital.”

“That’s right. That detestable guy sends rats in every time to try and figure out my pockets.”

In fact, they had crept right up to his chin.

Starting with the 8.3 debt freeze [referring to a specific economic crisis in South Korea on August 3rd], Jang Mal-dong turned his house upside down and caught all the rats that had sneaked in.

‘At that time, I thought Choi Mu-ryong had stolen this Jang Mal-dong’s information,’ he recalled.

The appearance of the rats solidified his suspicion.

Then, he learned recently.

‘The truth is, Choi Mu-ryong was wielding those in high positions and the wealthy through other means.’

It wasn’t thanks to stealing Jang Mal-dong’s information that he had safely overcome the debt freeze.

Choi Mu-ryong had weathered the crisis in another way.

‘Instead of loan documents, he used ledgers! He shook their weaknesses and recovered his money.’

So, even if the loan documents became scraps of paper, those whose weaknesses were caught had no choice but to cough up the borrowed money.

But the information Taesu had given him, ‘Choi Mu-ryong is starting a bank,’ did its part.

Anyway, thanks to Taesu, he was able to weed out all the suspicious guys.

With that, Jang Mal-dong could grasp Choi Mu-ryong’s calculations and intentions.

‘Choi Mu-ryong wanted to peek into this Jang Mal-dong’s vault. Counting the coins in other people’s pockets.’

But Choi Mu-ryong would never know.

That Jang Mal-dong’s hidden face is actually a weapons dealer.

That he had built a large-scale weapons factory overseas and had been secretly selling weapons all along.

“Sir, tell me honestly. All this time, you’ve been running a private loan business in the underground finance world to hide the money you’ve earned as a weapons dealer, right?”

“I can’t fool you.”

“You needed a new front because you were going into the light by starting a bank, right?”

“Yes, and if possible, I thought it would be good if a smart guy like you became our daughter’s spouse······.”

“That’s enough.”

Taesu always cut him off whenever the topic of this family’s daughter came up.

“Even the security business has come into the light, but a weapons dealer couldn’t come into the light. So, you wanted to use the mine and cement factory to launder money.”

“That’s true, but I sincerely want you to be the daughter’s spouse. Don’t misinterpret my intentions that far······.”

He keeps pushing whenever he gets the chance.

He cuts him off again without mercy.

“That’s why I’m introducing you to my younger brother.”

“It’s not your brother I want as the daughter’s spouse, it’s you······.”

‘Is this guy for real!’ Taesu thought, exasperated.

“So, aren’t I proposing to launder money for you now? We’ve formed an alliance, so I’m saying I’ll launder your money too, but are you going to keep talking nonsense?”

“Keueung-”

“If you don’t want to, don’t. If you bring the money you made selling weapons in the Middle East as is, Park Jeong-hwan will be very happy.”

“Keueung- Why are you getting so angry? It’s just silly talk. Let’s just move on. I’m really grateful that you’re taking care of me too. I mean it.”

Jang Mal-dong finally raised both hands in surrender.

“Our Han-soo has established an American investment company, so he’ll spread the word that he’s investing in your bank. With that money, you’ll buy up shares of Western oil companies.”

That money is from selling weapons.

It will change its packaging to investment funds through the American investment company.

The man in the hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] nodded.

Then Jang Mal-dong also nodded.

“Good, let’s do that.”

“Please use the information broker you have more actively. It would be quite painful if you wasted this good opportunity.”

“I understand. I’ll take care of stirring up Choi Mu-ryong. I’ll drive him crazy.”

Jang Mal-dong smiled sinisterly.

“I’ll catch that guy and swallow his bank.”

“Good idea. Let’s share it a bit.”

“Of course, we should. I’ll definitely take care of your share according to your contribution.”

“Then let’s write a contract.”

“Keueung- Now please trust this Jang Mal-dong a little. We’ve even formed an alliance, what’s with the contract!”

“Where else would you get a loan document?”

“Are you really going to do this?”

“I’m just kidding. I never intended to be stingy with you, sir.”

Taesu grinned.

“That’s why I didn’t even take an information fee from the beginning. Aren’t we allies?”

An alliance was a very good thing.

‘I still haven’t received the oil, so I can’t invest a penny in Han-soo’s investment company,’ Taesu thought.

Taesu’s oil is still tied up.

The oil he will receive when the road construction is finished.

The oil he will receive when the Middle East war breaks out.

‘Because of that, I didn’t have the money to invest in Han-soo’s American investment company.’

The money coming from the molybdenum mine, limestone mine, and cement factory is all being used.

To buy land in Daechi-dong, Gangnam [affluent districts in Seoul].

The money coming from the Middle East limestone mine and cement factory is also being used.

To pay the Bedouin workers’ daily wages and food, and to buy supplies.

To do road construction, wells, and waterway construction.

‘Thanks to Jang Mal-dong this time, I’m going to share Chomyeong Bank for free.’

Buying up shares of Western oil companies is also Jang Mal-dong’s money.

The money from selling weapons in the Middle East.

He uses that to catch Choi Mu-ryong.

After that, they share and swallow Chomyeong Bank together.

“Sir, let’s catch Chomyeong Bank together. In the name of an alliance.”

“Okay, let’s cooperate properly so we don’t regret forming an alliance.”

Of course.

We should.

You can’t trust people’s words.

But I trust Jang Mal-dong’s money that will go into Han-soo’s investment company.

‘Han Cheong-il, try to protect Cheongil Oil well.’

Oil shock.

A world disaster-level big event where oil prices suddenly skyrocket.

The time that no one can avoid is approaching.

‘There is always opportunity in crisis.’

So, he decided to use the oil shock as an opportunity.

As a battlefield to hunt Han Cheong-ho’s Cheongil Oil.

‘Han Cheong-ho, if an oil shock occurs, it will cost a lot of money to get oil anyway, but if the money runs out, what will you do with Cheongil Oil?’

Will he sell other affiliates to protect Cheongil Oil?

If not, will he have no choice but to give up Cheongil Oil?

Taesu was curious about that.

‘I’ve finished saying everything I needed to say to Jang Mal-dong.’

He suggested increasing weapons production to Jang Mal-dong.

And discussed the plan to catch Chomyeong Bank.

He introduced Han-soo’s investment bank.

‘Then I’ll have to do what I have to do in the Middle East.’

He has to finish the road construction.

And he has to introduce Jang Mal-dong, the weapons dealer, to the Saudi royal family.

Then he has to subtly encourage them.

‘I have to make them cut off the oil supply to Cheongil.’

Rahman will probably be the happiest.

Because he’s grinding his teeth after being backstabbed by Han Cheong-ho.

The Saudi Minister of Defense, whose status and influence will increase greatly due to the Middle East war, is his father.

Will Rahman’s father leave Han Cheong-ho alone?

‘Now I just need to meet Chairman Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan. Then I’ll return to the Middle East.’

It’s a short trip back home.

He has to hurry.

* * *

After Taesu and Han-soo left.

The man in the hanbok laughed loudly.

“He really is a bold guy.”

Jang Mal-dong yielded his silk cushion to the man in the hanbok.

And sits next to him, brewing tea for him.

“That bold guy has brought a big deal this time.”

“He’s going to introduce me to the Saudi royal family? How great is the influence of that guy’s backing?”

Penetrating the Saudi royal family is quite difficult.

It hasn’t been long since the founding king built the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The country is now ruled by the founding king’s son.

As the history is short, the grip is great.

“He’s busy doing road construction work that others were doing in the Middle East······.”

He took on a job with a tight construction deadline.

Samwon Construction took the job with the condition that it would shorten the usual 3-year construction period to 2 years.

But because those guys wasted several months, there is now less than a year left until the deadline.

Even if he is desperately attached to road construction, it is difficult to complete it by the deadline.

In the meantime, how can he come all the way to Korea and do this?

“He really is a great guy. This guts, this meticulous plan that he plans in advance.”

The man in the hanbok admired quietly.

“He’s not an ordinary player. He’s a scary guy.”

Jang Mal-dong poured a cup of tea and sighed.

“It’s getting harder and harder to deal with him.”

“It must be.”

He controls Jang Mal-dong, playing with him at a level of complete manipulation.

So, how difficult must it be for the person being victimized?

It is understandable that Jang Mal-dong is overwhelmed.

“Shall I order an increase in production at the weapons factory?”

“You should. Send a telegram immediately.”

“This time, catching Choi Mu-ryong······.”

“Jang Mal-dong, you have to take full responsibility for that.”

The man in the hanbok’s eyes shone.

“I’m going to the Middle East.”

It is better to move directly to make a first impression on the Saudi royal family.

“I need to check for myself what kind of connection Kang Taesu has grabbed.”

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ he thought.

“We will also advance to Saudi Arabia in earnest.”

It’s time to ride the highway that Kang Taesu has paved.

* * *

Kim Hwan, the general secretary of Geumsan Group.

He was surprised by a phone call.

“Kang Taesu? Is that really Kang Taesu of Taeyang Mine?”

-It’s been a while. How have you been?

At first, I couldn’t believe it.

“There’s no way I’d get a call from the Middle East······.”

-Of course, it’s Korea.

“Korea? When did you come in?”

-I came in yesterday. It hasn’t even been a full day yet.

That meant he called as soon as he came in.

Kim Hwan’s expression hardened.

“Is it urgent?”

-I was wondering if I could meet the chairman for a while.

“Chairman Jang?”

I thought he would have a personal request, but he didn’t.