Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 69

69. Discussing War in Front of the Minister of National Defense (1)

Tae-soo greeted him politely.

[I am Kang Tae-soo from South Korea.]

[Pleased to meet you. I am Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the fifth son of His Majesty Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first King of Saudi Arabia, and currently serving as the Minister of National Defense.]

Khalid introduced himself.

[Instead of standing here, how about we talk in the reception room?]

[Certainly.]

Soon, they arrived at the reception room.

The reception room was decorated luxuriously.

It was bold, unconventional, and magnificent, reflecting the homeowner’s personality.

In short, everything noticeable was big, tall, thick, and expensive.

‘At least he doesn’t decorate every corner of the house with jewels and gold like Rahman.’

The most extravagant place in this house would undoubtedly be Rahman’s room.

You could tell just by looking at Rahman’s office, attire, cruiser, or car.

Rahman is excessively flashy.

‘Coming here really shows how extravagant Rahman’s tastes are.’

This was why Chief Corrino immediately guessed it was Rahman upon seeing the luxury yacht.

Rahman’s taste was too extravagant compared to typical Saudi royal culture.

Rahman, who loves flashy and luxurious things.

But his father is the Minister of National Defense, a powerful figure, and also wealthy.

So they leave his personal tastes alone.

[You must have worked hard to come all the way to Riyadh from afar. Are you the one who recently surprised the Saudi royal family?]

Khalid examined Tae-soo with an intrigued expression.

[I heard you taught my son that one should look at money instead of people’s words?]

[That is correct.]

The root of human behavior is desire.

The indicator that best represents that desire is money!

[I dispatched a royal private jet and prepared a luxury limousine. Why do you think I am spending money, in your opinion?]

Khalid came in sharply.

‘It seems I know who Rahman learned from.’

[Goodwill and gifts. Thank you very much for welcoming me so warmly.]

[You seem confident in my intentions. What is the basis for that?]

[Didn’t you just say it yourself?]

That you dispatched a royal private jet and prepared a luxury limousine.

[If you wanted to harm me, you would have spent money in other ways. Instead of a private jet, you would have dispatched a military helicopter to capture me, or instead of the back seat of a luxury limousine, you would have stuffed me in the trunk of a car.]

[Hahaha.]

Khalid couldn’t help but laugh at Tae-soo’s words.

[You are clever. I had an idea after listening to my son, but you are even more intelligent than I thought.]

[Thank you for the excessive praise.]

Tae-soo smiled and took a step forward.

[Thanks to you, I avoided the trouble of driving through the desert for a long time.]

[Considering the teachings you have given my son, what could I not give you? Welcome to my home.]

It’s a formal greeting, but it’s polite.

‘Finally met the future King of Saudi Arabia, the target of my persuasion.’

The goal Jang Jun-yong is aiming for.

The person Tae-soo needs to meet.

The man who will decide the Jubail Industrial Port construction is right in front of him.

[Let’s sit down first. How long are you going to stand there?]

Tae-soo sat in the seat Khalid offered.

Rahman took a seat opposite Tae-soo.

[To be honest, it seems my son has been dyed in your colors while I wasn’t watching. He has taken good words to heart.]

[There is an Eastern proverb, ‘Near vermilion, one gets stained red; near ink, one gets stained black.’ It means that when you spend time with friends, you pick up their habits and characteristics. So, it seems your son has been influenced by me.]

Khalid laughed.

[Are you saying you are my son’s friend right now?]

[Yes, that’s right. I want to be your son’s friend.]

Tae-soo pointed to Rahman.

[When I met your son earlier, he told me this:]

-If you keep poor friends around, all you get are fleas and bedbugs.

-On the other hand, if you keep rich friends around, even leftover rice looks delicious.

[It was a very impressive statement. I plan to share even better things with my rich friend.]

[What are you planning to share?]

[The spoils of victory.]

Khalid liked Tae-soo’s confident attitude.

[Victory is always right.]

Of course.

Victory is sweet, and defeat is bitter.

First, we need to address what needs to be addressed.

Khalid brings up the words he wanted to confirm when he met Tae-soo.

[I heard you have a lot of guts. I heard you made a bet over the road construction? Not only did you finish the construction without receiving a penny, but you also put up a limestone mine and a cement factory.]

[Have you heard about the bet?]

[Of course, your skill in extracting oil is extraordinary. My son bet 35 million barrels? Young people are so passionate.]

[Are you displeased?]

[Not at all. It’s my son’s will, and I can handle it, so there’s no problem.]

Khalid smiled.

[You can covet the oil. You can squeeze my son’s spine a little. But you must not tarnish my son’s honor. I cannot forgive that.]

Honor.

This is what Khalid values most.

The dignity of the Saudi Minister of National Defense is conveyed as is.

[I don’t think that will happen. The construction is already nearly 60% complete.]

[Father, what this friend says is true. At this rate, the construction will be completed in three months at the earliest, or half a year at the latest.]

Rahman added, and Khalid’s eyes widened.

Rahman’s face is bright.

This means the construction is really going well.

[Then I don’t have to worry anymore?]

[Of course. Please trust us.]

[Good. I will trust my son’s ally, no, friend, once.]

Khalid is satisfied.

He felt that the dark clouds over his son’s future had cleared.

He is relieved now.

Khalid’s gaze towards Tae-soo is warm.

[Please take care of him.]

[I am not as poor as your son, but I am not so poor that bedbugs or fleas will come out. I prefer to share other things than squeezing your son’s spine.]

[Yes, the spoils of victory! I welcome that anytime. Hahaha.]

Squeezing others to pick their bones is what scammers do.

I have no intention of scamming.

It’s enough to seize victory and enjoy the rewards that come with it.

That is much more honorable and much more valuable.

[I like that mindset very much. I wish you an honorable victory. I will repay you handsomely.]

Rahman has already given the Khaybar-AlUla Expressway as a gift.

But Khalid seems to be thinking of giving even more than that.

[I always repay more than what I receive. Rahman is my son. What my son receives is the same as what I receive.]

Khalid secretly gritted his teeth.

‘Han Cheong-ho, who betrayed my son, I will repay that betrayal several times over.’

Han Cheong-ho joined hands with Rahman to seek a chance for reversal.

But Han Cheong-ho abandoned his son’s hand and took someone else’s hand.

‘But I have a good feeling about this guy, Kang Tae-soo. He seems like he will be a good friend to my son.’

This ambitious young man in front of me seems very different from that cunning and sly old man.

A young man full of ambition is always welcome.

[This time, as Rahman’s father, I welcome my son’s friend. Nice to meet you.]

It’s the same welcome, but the atmosphere is different from when he first met Tae-soo.

He was genuinely happy and welcomed Tae-soo.

[Welcome to my home. My son brought a really wonderful friend! What can I do for you on such a happy day?]

[Why would I ask for much when I come to a friend’s house? Just a meal is enough.]

Khalid laughed loudly and applauded.

A servant approached.

[I must treat my son’s friend to a meal! Bring the food right away!]

Khalid looked at Tae-soo with satisfaction.

[Rahman has a smart and capable friend. Let’s talk more while we eat.]

Father likes the friend his son brought!

Needless to say, the table became much more abundant thanks to that.

* * *

A splendid table was soon prepared.

While eating, Rahman told his father what he had discussed with Tae-soo.

[Father, please accept this.]

Rahman handed his father a business card.

It was the arms dealer’s business card that Tae-soo had given him.

[It is said to be from someone who supplies weapons to Egypt and Syria. My friend Kang Tae-soo came to me and gave it to me.]

[You did?]

Khalid looked at Tae-soo with a renewed gaze.

Rahman told the story in detail.

At the part where the war would break out in six months to a year, Khalid’s expression darkened heavily.

[Hmm… We must hurry and prepare thoroughly.]

Rahman asked.

[What are you going to do, Father?]

[I will have to prepare for war on a large scale right now.]

Khalid replied.

[First, I will report this to His Majesty the King, then hold a cabinet meeting to secure military spending and purchase military supplies on a large scale. I will also have to issue a military conscription order.]

[Will the Minister of Construction and the Minister of Economy and Finance just stand by and watch?]

[It’s about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being swept up in war. No matter what, they won’t fight for power in the face of war. I trust my brothers.]

‘That can’t be.

They will use the situation of war to raise their voices even more.

For those who engage in politics, the power struggle and the fight for positions become even more intense in moments of change.’

Rahman bit his lip but couldn’t say anything.

This was because Khalid had no intention of fighting for power with his brothers.

‘I think I know why Rahman was exiled to the western city. Khalid hasn’t made a decision yet.’

At this rate, Rahman may be pushed out of the political arena again at any time.

He is like a lamp before the wind [easily extinguished].

‘Khalid needs to be a proper shield for Rahman. To win an overwhelming victory in the political struggle and become the next king, a firm decision is needed.’

Khalid must stand firm and seize power so that Rahman can live.

Rahman must firmly take root in the Saudi royal family so that he can be a strong support for Tae-soo.

Tae-soo, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

[May I say something presumptuous?]

Khalid and Rahman turned to Tae-soo at the same time.

Tae-soo wiped his mouth with a napkin and said.

[You must not prepare for war on a large scale.]

[Why?]

[It will only cause excessive vigilance, prolong the stalemate, and the fight will be prolonged. The money spent every day is a lot, but the results are not coming out, and the tedious fight will continue. The damage is too great.]

[Then what are you saying? You’re not saying we should just stand by and do nothing, are you?]

[We need to use a strategy.]

In fact, Tae-soo knows the outcome of this war.

Unlike a typical war, it ends in just three weeks with little damage.

That’s why he can speak with confidence.

In a very favorable direction.

[A crisis is just another word for opportunity. Are you going to ruin this opportunity given to you by heaven, Khalid?]

[Opportunity? Are you saying that war is an opportunity given by heaven?]

Saudi Minister of National Defense Khalid glared.

[If war breaks out, the Saudi people will shed blood. The Saudi territory will be devastated. And yet, you are saying that this crisis is an opportunity?]

Most of Saudi territory is desert, so even if it is devastated, it is still a desert.

But Tae-soo doesn’t dwell on such trivial matters.

Instead, he brings up something more important.

[If war is inevitable, shouldn’t we be thinking about how to win the war and what we can gain from it?]

Tae-soo placed the napkin on the table.

[Do you think you can avoid this war, Khalid? Will Egyptian President Sadat give up his intention for war?]

The Saudi Minister of National Defense knows Egyptian President Sadat well.

That’s why Tae-soo’s words resonated deeply in his heart.

[Sadat… He will definitely start a war. He is not one to give up his intentions.]

Khalid finally admitted the fact.

Perhaps he won’t be able to stop it.

If Sadat was someone who would give up his ambitions, he wouldn’t have come this far.

[You said, if war is inevitable, we should think about how to win the war and what we can gain from it. What do you think I can gain, in your opinion?]

Tae-soo held up three fingers.

[I will tell you about the three areas of war that you, Khalid, must win in this war, along with how to win that war.]

A strategy.

Tae-soo will tell him the tactics he mentioned earlier.

[Then you will naturally know what you will gain.]