This Is How I Became a Chaebol

138 : Turning Crisis into Opportunity

“Major Yoon, let’s talk with me.”

I left the Blue House and started talking to Major Yoon.

You can’t start a job without a bottom or an end.

Even if you ask Nancy to connect you with the Israeli military, you’ll need to know something first.

“Ask me. I will tell you the best I can.”

“Does the Navy have no countermeasures against Styx missiles? You must have thought about it the most.”

“There is a countermeasure. First, Styx missiles are like aircraft, so if you spot them first, you can shoot them down with anti-aircraft guns. In other words, you have to discover it first.”

“Don’t talk about the obvious.”

If a fighter can be easily shot down with anti-aircraft artillery, which army in the world will operate a fighter?

“… The second is more obvious. It’s about having ship-to-ship missiles that are superior to the Styx missiles. Just spot it before the enemy and fire first.”

“……”

The military has no countermeasures.

“See you at the airport.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I parted ways with Major Yoon and headed to the US Embassy.

Having shown his face several times in the past, I was able to make an international call without any explanation.

***

U.S. embassy VIP room

“Hello, me. CS.”

＜CS? What’s up with you calling me? It’s been a while since I gave you a business card, but I only sent a telex every time.＞

“First, congratulations on winning the presidential election.”

＜Thank you for your congratulations. But that’s not the point, is it?＞

“I’ve run into a bit of a problem. Please get in touch with the Israeli military.”

＜What’s the matter? The Korean government is keeping away from Israel at almost the level of severance.＞

As a person in charge of international affairs, he knew diplomatic relations well. It was a somewhat heated reaction because it was related to Israel.

“It is not a matter of diplomacy. It is because the incident in which an Israeli warship was hit by a Soviet Styx missile and the incident in which our warship was hijacked by the North Korean military are related. It’s difficult to explain over the phone.”

＜No explanation needed. North Korea also uses Styx missiles. So our Department of Defense decided to sell a new missile to Israel. Europe has stopped exporting weapons to Israel, so it can’t be helped.＞

There is no need to make excuses between us.

At this point, the US should also make money from the arms trade.

That’s the job of an international affairs officer like Nancy.

“Since you already know, the story should be easy. We also need information to counter the Styx missile. Other than the principled words of having a ship-to-ship missile defense system.”

＜Why does Korea need ship-to-ship missile information? It’s not going to be an all-out war right now, and we should ignore the small naval engagement and focus on the army confrontation.＞

Nancy really seemed interested in making money, even though she was in the Department of Defense.

Does it make sense that they don’t care about the navy at all, even if it is the army’s priority in terms of our country’s defense strategy?

However, it was not something to be questioned in a situation like this.

“Required. Our navy has to do some armed demonstrations near the military demarcation line. Then, when the crew of the Pueblo ship returns, won’t the hijacked navy come back too?”

＜Well, after listening to it, it makes sense. Our goal is to get the abducted American soldiers home by Christmas. If you miss that time, the situation will become more difficult as Korea will have to negotiate alone.＞

“If the Israeli military shares information about the Styx countermeasures, the Republic of Korea will surely reciprocate accordingly someday.”

＜Where is the word “someday” in diplomacy? Transactions are made only when there is an immediate price to pay. If Korea has nothing to offer, meeting the military is futile.＞

said Nancy.

Conversely, it was said that there was a countermeasure that we could apply if there was a reasonable price.

“Help me, Nancy. The Korean government cannot owe Israel, but I can owe you. With your help, I will never forget you.”

Since I jumped at this job, I had to do my best.

Nancy’s information will be genuine.

＜How do you do this? In fact, even in Israel, there are no sharp countermeasures. Unfortunately, I barely got any missile fragments.＞

“Why do you need missile fragments?”

＜No, what if the tech master asks me that? He said that in order to confuse a missile’s target detection, it needs to know the radar frequency of the guidance device. You need to know that, whether it’s jamming or firing chaptan.＞

Wait, wait… Jamming? Chaptan?

You need equipment to jam it, but with Chaptan, you just fire it.

In the ’60s, was it possible to dodge a missile by firing a chaft?

Chaptans are small metal shards that are sprayed to prevent enemy radar from detecting friendly aircraft.

It is to scatter metal objects thinner than hair to disturb the enemy radar.

In general, the disturbance effect appears only when the length of the metal body is adjusted to about half a wavelength (λ/2) of the radar center wavelength.

If the target detection system of the Styx missile finds a target by radar guidance, it can theoretically be jammed with a chaptan.

If you fire a chaftan and evade it, the Styx missile will explode in the wrong place.

Rather, you can make a U-turn to the launching ship.

So most of the 21st century adds an infrared guidance device, but I don’t think there was that in the 60’s?

If we go further and create a jamming device, we will be able to neutralize the missile more reliably.

Of course, if you know the frequency of the missile’s target detection device, you can send out noise of the same frequency with a stronger output.

“It means you can sink an enemy ship if you fire a chaftan, evade it, and hit it with a gun.”

An armed demonstration may be possible in a short period of time.

As long as you get a target detector.

＜They said you need to know the frequency of the missile target detector to properly fire the chaff. If you fire the wrong chaptan for no reason, you’re only disturbing our radar.＞

“The frequency information is key.”

＜Right. There is no point in contacting the Israeli military right now. It’s just going to sound like you’re regretting it.＞

I could feel Nancy shaking her head on the other side of the phone.

Her words felt like hitting a wall.

Currently, there is no necessary information, and even if Israel had the information, it would not be easy to hand it over to South Korea.

We had no price to pay to Israel.

“Phew, that’s difficult…”

I unknowingly came out of a sigh.

I thought there would be something sharp when I met the Israeli military through Nancy.

＜Why don’t you rather ask the Korean intelligence department? Whether it’s North Korea, Indonesia, or Syria, it would be faster to infiltrate spies and take out target detection devices. If you just get it, countless countries will send love calls, so isn’t that risk worth taking?＞

With that level of top secret, you will be able to get a lot of money for the information.

Either the US or Israel.

But it’s easy to say, sending a spy to get your hands on such a top secret… Wait… Indonesia?

“Nancy, what about Indonesia? Do Indonesia use Styx missiles?”

＜Sure. Until last year, Indonesia was a socialist country. Although the president was changed in a coup in March of this year.＞

Was Indonesia’s 30-year dictatorship starting this year? I never thought it would be related like this.

Could it be possible to bring the Styx missile’s target finder from Indonesia?

Sounds like it would be a thousand times easier than going into North Korea or Syria?

It took a day or two for our goods to be loaded onto a smuggling ship from Singapore to Indonesia.

If you go through Singapore’s big hand, Razak…

“Nancy, why is the US not contacting Indonesia? They would also want to become a pro-American government.”

Isn’t the Indonesian dictator Suharto one of the dictators Kissinger supported?

＜Of course I have to contact you. However, it will only be done after decorating the cabinet, passing the federal excise law, and working through the Vietnam War from the inside out. First of all, there is nothing good if you stimulate the communist world too much from the beginning of the regime.＞

If you go out to hug Indonesia, you mean that the Soviet Union will be angry.

He meant that he would do it later, but if he was in a hurry, he should contact me first.

This was very important information for me.

“Thank you, Nancy. Now, I am deeply in debt.”

Nancy was silent at my words.

It was neither affirmative nor negative, but it showed me the way by repeating questions and answers.

＜… looks like you’re really trying. like. If we get information, we want to get it too. I’ll pay you well.＞

If only the information is extracted, the US or Israel will pay a lot of money.

For me, this was a better choice.

I’d rather go to Indonesia than keep in touch with Israel in the Middle East, which will soon become Eldorado for me.

Now that there has been a coup, the political situation in Indonesia is in chaos, and it is a situation where anything can be done with money.

“See you soon, Nancy.”

＜Good luck, CS.＞

After talking with Nancy, my eyes brightened. It was nice to see the road.

The work won’t be that difficult.

People who can be bribed are the easiest beings in the world to deal with.

I immediately rushed to the head office and sent a telex to Razak in Singapore.

“To. Indian Chamber of Commerce President Rajak

It’s been a while since I’ve told you the news.

I have business in Indonesia.

I would like to have close contact with the giants.

Please make arrangements.

I’ll see you in two days.”

Tiririk. Tiririk.

“Come to that place then.”

A reply came soon.

After all, there’s no way Mr. Razak would refuse my request for help. Because my fabric is a fire hazard to him.

***

two days later,

Adelphi Hotel Singapore.

Even though the destination was changed to Singapore, Major Yoon stayed by my side silently without asking why.

Tumble.

I headed to the Sky Lounge of the Adelphi Hotel.

“Welcome, Young Tiger. Very nice to meet you.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Director Razak.”

Like a friend I haven’t seen in a long time, I shook hands with Razak and hugged lightly.

Cleared an entire day for me.

“I’ll be busy, so let’s get to the point. which one do you want? politician? soldier? entrepreneur?”

“I want greetings from the military.”

“Are you the new military? Are you the old military department?”

“It’s on the side of the new military department. Specifically, we want someone to give us information about the Styx missile.”

“It’s a Styx missile… That kind of information wouldn’t be worth much money.”

I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it costs a lot of money.

The atmosphere was very good.

If only the information was obtained, it would be sold to the United States or Israel at a high price, so there was no problem at all.

I want to pay my risk allowance and sell it at an exorbitant price.

“The price is sufficient. We will also put you in touch with US dignitaries.”

I slipped away that my back stomach was America.

“Connecting us to the United States is the price. It seems that you are also trying to become a pro-US government.”

As expected, Rajak seemed to know a person among Indonesia’s new military government who could benefit from bribes.

I don’t know who it was, but it was also helpful to the new military department. The massacre was committed as a coup, and it was difficult to obtain national approval without the protection of the United States.

“It helps everyone. That’s because you get national approval and even money, the president gets official trade routes, and I get missile information.”

“Haha, it seems that Korea is a very complicated place. That kind of military information is also money.”

“Everything gets complicated when politics is involved.”

Razak was also quick-witted, so he quickly realized that this was a profitable business.

“Anyway, it will take a few days. Until then, have a good rest here at the hotel.”

Razak left the Sky Lounge with a confident expression, and only then I was able to relax with Major Yoon.

***

“Chief Wu, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, do it.”

He didn’t say anything the whole time, but as soon as the two of them got together, he said he had something to say.

“Although I am a bodyguard, the military’s candid analysis is that Israel is not a very dangerous place. This is because it is done through the president’s personal connections, and security in Israel is strictly managed.”

“okay?”

“Blue House… No, His Excellency, to be exact, thought that way too, and thought it would be enough for the president to attach me alone. By the way, Indonesia is a really dangerous place. If Singapore is not your final destination, you have to report it to the government.”

“… I would have to report it if necessary, but it’s unexpected. Was it an exaggeration to say that you were concerned about your safety?”

Somehow the nuance of his words seemed to suggest that the current situation was an unintended danger.

Looking at it that way, in Israel earlier, talking about my connections was something only a president who knew about Van Flint’s existence would say.

“At the State Council meeting, the Economic Planning Board talked about the preferential treatment of the general public and was concerned about public opinion. Other companies only allowed the general tax in Mexico, which blocked entry, and refused to take over Korean machinery, and swallowed it if it was sweet and spit it out if it was used. I was out the door with the Styx missile briefing gun. Even if I heard it sparsely, I wouldn’t be wrong.”

“It’s ridiculous. So.”

This guy’s preference issue never ends.

I penetrated Mexico, did the government permit it?

“And while the public is paying for defense contributions, they also emphasized that large corporations like Daese should pay more by establishing a new defense tax law.”

Did the Economic Planning Board manage the country like this?

“At that time, His Excellency said that it was not a preferential treatment, but that the boss was taking on the dirty work and producing results. He said that even in terms of the defense industry, he is doing a difficult job of contacting Israel.”

“……”

Did the president act as a shield for me?

These times are not easy.

It really felt like doing in-house politics at a large Korean corporation.

That team is in charge of an important job, so it’s as if the chairman takes care of it himself so that you don’t touch it.

“If the goal is to extract information from Indonesia, I will go alone. Just give me instructions.”

No, I have to go into this.

I think I know why Korea sold warships to Indonesia.