Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 71

71. Discussing War in Front of the Minister of National Defense (3)

Cho Myung Bank, located in Jongno [a district in Seoul], was bustling as usual.

Choi Mu-ryong frowned in his office.

“Are you sure? That Jangsu Bank received a large-scale investment proposal from an American investment firm?”

The man known as the ‘woodpecker of Jongno’ [a nickname for someone who digs up information], Choi Mu-ryong’s right-hand man, spoke cautiously.

“That’s the widespread rumor right now.”

“The truth of the rumor?”

“Information brokers are being vague, calling it unconfirmed, but more and more people are asking about it.”

*Then* it’s certain the rumor is spreading beneath the surface.

Reports continued to come in, indicating the rumor was spreading at an alarming rate.

Choi Mu-ryong, already on edge about the movements of his rival Jang Mal-dong, felt a knot tighten in his stomach at the investment news.

“The agreement hasn’t been finalized yet, but the amount is said to be beyond imagination.”

“How much are we talking about?”

“About 190 million won, they say.”

“What? 190 million won?”

To put it in perspective, the price level in the 1970s was roughly 1/30th of what it is in 2020.

Choi Mu-ryong couldn’t contain himself and jumped up from his seat.

“They’re investing that much money in Jangsu Bank? Why?”

“Jang Mal-dong reportedly met with an American investor in secret. The American investor allegedly signed some kind of agreement with Jangsu Bank for money laundering purposes.”

“Money laundering? What agreement are you talking about?”

“They said they would provide investment funds and have Jangsu Bank buy stocks in its name. That American investor is reaching out to several places for the same reason.”

Choi Mu-ryong groaned.

“Are they asking Jangsu Bank to hold stocks under borrowed names?”

“That seems to be the case.”

“What’s Jang Mal-dong’s reaction?”

“They say he’s drooling and jumping at the opportunity, saying it’s a great chance to increase the rate of return.”

Jang Mal-dong *would* do that.

He’s not one to miss a good opportunity.

“Jang Mal-dong is said to be so eager to buy stocks that he’s trying to scrape together all his petty cash, not just the investment funds.”

“Stocks? Directly? In addition to stocks under borrowed names, he’s investing separately?”

“Of course. I’d jump at it too if I got that kind of information. Besides, they’re all blue-chip stocks [stocks in well-established and financially sound companies], so the stock price is soaring day after day. Jang Mal-dong is grinning from ear to ear.”

Choi Mu-ryong, ever suspicious, didn’t fall for it so easily.

“Unleash the kids and have them collect every detail about that rumor.”

“Yes.”

“Report how much stock Jang Mal-dong is buying. Bribe the stock market guys.”

“Yes.”

“Also, check how much the stocks Jang Mal-dong bought have risen.”

“Yes.”

Choi Mu-ryong asked.

“By the way, what stocks is Jang Mal-dong buying?”

“European oil company stocks, they say.”

Currently, Western Europe is enjoying unprecedented prosperity thanks to cheap oil from oil-producing countries.

Even if it weren’t Jang Mal-dong, oil company stocks are rising day after day.

Choi Mu-ryong stroked his chin.

“European oil company stocks, you say…”

It’s tempting.

* * *

Tae-soo’s second ‘war’ stirred the hearts of Khalid and Rahman.

“Are you satisfied with the current situation, Khalid? If so, you can ignore this war.”

For the first time, Tae-soo shook his head.

“No, it’s a family matter, so I’m reluctant to interfere. I’d rather not say anything.”

Rahman said cautiously.

“Father, why don’t you listen to him first?”

“Hmm.”

Khalid was conflicted.

To be honest, who *would* be satisfied with this situation?

Right now, Khalid is suffering from the threats of his brothers, who are closing in from all directions.

“Father.”

“Alright, let’s listen to him once. It’s not too late to make up my mind after hearing what he has to say. Now, will you tell me your plan?”

“If you wish, I will.”

Tae-soo said.

“As I said before, when war breaks out, Minister of National Defense Khalid’s influence will increase. This is a golden opportunity to expand your influence in the Saudi royal family based on this.”

“Hmm.”

“I know that there are many forces trying to check Khalid.”

The main rivals are the fourth son of the first king, the Minister of Construction, and the ninth son, the Minister of Finance.

They are constantly opposing Khalid and narrowing his position.

On the other hand, their power is growing day by day.

“That’s why Rahman was driven to the western city, to the point where his fate depends on a small highway construction project.”

That’s right.

This time, Rahman was also demoted to the west by the influence of the fourth son, the Minister of Construction.

They falsely accused him and stole all the credit.

This happened several times.

Eventually, Rahman was unfairly banished to the western city.

It was to cut off Khalid’s influence.

“But the situation will change when war breaks out. In times of war, the power of the Minister of National Defense is enough to surpass the king of a country.”

He knows that too.

War is both a crisis and an opportunity.

You can build up achievements, make a name for yourself, and share the credit with your subordinates.

In other words, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand your power in the royal family.

Rahman couldn’t stand it and said.

“Father, how long are you going to keep yielding, giving in, and stepping back to your older brother?”

Rahman recalled his brothers who had been sacrificed in the meantime.

“So, did your older brother and younger brother consider your situation? Can’t you see it now? The end in sight is ultimately a cliff. I’m standing at that end.”

Khalid is already cornered.

Even his successor has been pushed to the end of the western city.

“Next will be your right-hand man, the commander of the National Guard, Abdullah. Will you still endure it?”

Khalid closed his eyes at Rahman’s plea.

“Father, isn’t that what politics is? The winner takes all. The winner enjoys power, and the loser loses his life.”

Politics is also war.

A brutal war where they fight for each other’s lives and positions instead of guns and swords.

“If Father is pushed out, all of us who are with you will collapse, like dominoes.”

The dominoes collapsing one after another loomed before his eyes.

Khalid’s power is still precarious.

Khalid looked at Tae-soo.

“What do you think? How should I behave?”

“Implement a deception policy. When no one knows that war is about to break out, that’s when you prepare for war.”

A ripple ran through Khalid’s mind because of what Tae-soo said.

Rahman added again.

“Father, the other side is sharpening their swords, aiming for the next king. How long do you think His Majesty, the current King of Saudi Arabia, can protect you?”

There is a limit to how much the current king can protect him.

That’s why Khalid is being pushed like this.

Khalid looked at Tae-soo.

“Do you think so too?”

“Everything is up to Khalid. I’m just following.”

Tae-soo said firmly.

It was clear that he had no intention of getting involved in Saudi royal politics.

“Father, fate is created by choices, not coincidences. Fate is not something to wait for, but something to achieve.”

Khalid’s heart began to beat at his son’s words.

“It’s better to become strong yourself and find a way to live than to rely on the strong and expect mercy.”

He also had ambition.

It was an ambition that he had been suppressing until now.

“That means…”

“Take this war as an opportunity to find your place, Father. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for a comeback.”

His son was looking at his father with earnest eyes.

Rahman, who had been banished to the end of the western city and was on the verge of being deported.

‘That’s right, I almost lost Rahman to my brother’s poison hand.’

It was wrong to expect kind words in return for kind words.

‘Rahman is right. I always try to yield to my brother Turki, but he keeps pushing me into a dead end.’

Khalid had already lost three sons.

‘I can’t lose Rahman, who will be my successor. I have to live too.’

Until now, he thought it was a family matter.

Although it is much larger in scale than others, brothers and relatives hold key positions and lead the Saudi royal family.

So he thought they should be harmonious.

He thought that they could do anything if they joined forces.

‘It was a naive thought. Foolishly… The enemy is holding a knife to my throat, but I still believe that the enemy with the knife is my brother.’

Khalid nodded heavily.

“You’re right. We need to start preparing for war, without anyone knowing.”

Khalid made up his mind.

In his previous life, it was a decision he made with tears of blood only after losing his successor, Rahman.

But this time, thanks to Tae-soo, he was able to make a decision *before* losing Rahman.

‘Brother Turki, I won’t just yield anymore. I have many people to protect.’

He can’t step back anymore.

“I will be the winner of the royal political battle this time.”

“Father!”

Rahman was moved by his father’s words.

It was a decision he had been waiting for for so long.

“I will become strong myself and find a way to live, and I will protect my people.”

It was the moment of decision to make the Minister of National Defense, who had been pushed out of the center of power, the next king.

And it was Tae-soo who led to that decision.

Rahman was looking at Tae-soo with grateful eyes.

Tae-soo just nodded slightly.

“Lastly, I want to hear your plan for the third war, the war of victory.”

Tae-soo began to talk about the third war.

“The third war I’m going to talk about is the oil war.”

“Oil war?”

Khalid’s eyes widened.

Saudi Arabia is currently producing so much oil that it is one of the top oil-producing countries.

“Are you saying that Saudi Arabia should wage an oil war against the Middle Eastern oil-producing countries, using the war that Sadat is waging?”

“You’re wrong.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“What’s the point of waging an oil war with the Middle Eastern oil-producing countries? Rather, we should join hands with them and drive out the *other* guys.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“I’m talking about the mosquito-like guys who are sucking on Saudi oil and sucking it up at a cheap price.”

He’s talking about Western oil companies.

“War breaks out in the Middle East. Then Saudi Arabia will enter a wartime system.”

That’s probably what will happen.

Martial law is declared, and the state wields enormous power, to win the war.

“The Sinai Peninsula becomes a battlefield. Take back the oil then.”

In fact, when the Middle East war broke out, six Middle Eastern oil-producing countries joined hands and declared a ban on oil exports.

That was the first oil shock [a period of significant increase in oil prices].

At that time, Saudi Arabia ruthlessly kicked out the foreign oil capital that was parasitizing its country.

That’s how Saudi Arabia was able to regain its oil and nationalize it.

Khalid couldn’t stand it and jumped up.

“Those mosquito-like guys who take our kingdom’s oil as their own and only fill their own bellies!”

They were deprived of it because they didn’t have the initial oil extraction capital.

It was enough to fill their bellies with Saudi oil.

“The perfect opportunity to kick them out has come. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that heaven has given to our Saudi kingdom.”

Khalid grabbed Tae-soo’s hand.

“I can’t help but be truly grateful to you for this. If we can only get the oil back, our Saudi economy will be able to stand on its own, and our people will be able to live well.”

Even if they win the Middle East war, there will be blood shed on the battlefield and land trampled on.

Even if they win the power war, there will be brothers and relatives who will be pushed out and shed tears.

But the oil war is different.

If they win this, Saudi Arabia will be able to stand tall in the world with oil.

It is the perfect opportunity to build this country properly with the resources of this country.

“Thank you. I have to win the oil war no matter what.”

Khalid liked Tae-soo very much.

‘Maybe meeting this guy was an opportunity to change my life.’

That’s probably right.

Khalid’s thinking completely changed after meeting Tae-soo.

“For my country, for my people, I will definitely win this war.”

Win all three wars.