056 : Where the stars rise
Southeast Asia was a major target for Japanese trading companies.
There was no way that Japanese trading managers were unaware of the Mekong River.
The Mekong River forms the border between Laos and Thailand and crosses Vietnam again before flowing into the South China Sea.
In particular, the delta formed in the lower reaches of the Mekong River near Saigon was a large-scale grain belt that Vietnam is proud of.
The land was fertile enough to produce three crops simply by sowing rice seeds, without the need for fertilizer.
“As everyone knows, the Mekong River has a high riverbed, so isn’t it difficult for large ships to navigate without dredging?”
“It is. The lower Mekong River is winding like a snake and the waterway is difficult, so even the insurance premiums for commercial ships entering Saigon are expensive.”
“Isn’t it that an American dredger was attacked and sunk by the Viet Cong in the Mekong River Delta?”
“Hey? Is it really? Then, since it is a merchant ship and a warship, isn’t it that you can’t get in because it gets caught in the riverbed?”
“It is. Whether it is the Vietnamese government forces or the Viet Cong, the Mekong Delta is a food warehouse, and the US military has lost control of the region.”
The dominance of the U.S. military came from the Navy.
Without access to the Mekong Delta, whether by LSTs or scout ships, their dominance would be drastically weakened.
“It is an emergency.”
“I see now. You’re thinking of leaving the dredging work to that Korean.”
“It is. Isn’t it yijei? The Viet Cong are also at risk of food supply, and they will definitely try to get rid of those who try to resume dredging.”
“If he doesn’t die this time…”
“There’s no way that would be the case, but even if he survives, he won’t be able to dredge it. Then it will lead to a strong reprimand. Isn’t it like handing over a food warehouse to the enemy because we couldn’t do even one dredging project?”
“Then he will eventually be kicked out of Vietnam. Then we can go to Quy Nhon.”
“Kyaha~ This is amazing. This time he will never get out.”
Everyone clapped their hands and the atmosphere heated up.
“We’ve struggled so far, but in business, isn’t the last winner the real winner?”
“It is. This time, I will definitely kill Woo Chan-soo.”
“Hahaha, are we supposed to hope for the Viet Cong to win? Leave Saigon to Toyota.”
“Washington is our Itochu.”
Everyone clenched their fists and made up their minds.
There seemed to be no possibility for a single Korean to enter and survive in a place where even the US military lost its dredger and was defeated.
“For the Prosperity of Northeast Asia.”
“for.”
The five general bosses went hand in hand again.
They were more tenacious than anyone when it came to money.
That’s why the growth rate of the mainstream unemployment was frightening.
Following the tricot fabric, polytech dominated the Southeast Asian market, and took almost all of the Vietnamese specialties.
Both were like Japanese vegetable gardens.
***
Pleiku, Fierce Tiger troops.
＜To be bombed. Evacuate all of Pleiku SSE District 12. repeat planned bombing. Evacuate everyone in Pleiku SSE Area 12.＞
Sirens sounded and warning broadcasts sounded.
Shortly thereafter, yellow smoke bombs were dropped from the base, and bombers appeared.
Medium bombers were able to fly low, so they hit exactly where the yellow smoke bombs were rising.
Kwak Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwam!
“Yeah, the bombing is great as expected.”
At first, I was scared and couldn’t even look at it, but now I’ve come to the stage of watching the bombing with binoculars.
“Maengho, you can start the convoy now.”
“Thank you as always. Please escort us and request bombing.”
Whenever we went back and forth to the Fierce Tiger Unit, we always contacted Quy Nhon to ask for bombing support.
Thanks to this, the Viet Cong’s attack completely disappeared.
“He takes care of supplies, and this is natural.”
“That’s my job, well. I’ll send a separate truck to take the broken bulldozer over there. Please write a new one.”
“All right. Fierce tiger!”
As runways were laid around the company base, heavy equipment came and went easily.
Thanks to this, the members of the Fierce Tigers turned the jungle into rice fields faster, and we also carried logs with ease.
Indeed, sooner or later, Quy Nhon will be transformed into a large-scale grain belt comparable to the Mekong Delta, and the Viet Cong will naturally disintegrate if their shelter disappears.
Most of all, it was so good that the Fierce Tiger troops kept destroying heavy equipment while maintaining the jungle.
It was just a little disappointing that the wreckage of the crashed helicopter could no longer be salvaged.
“Let’s go, boss. We have a farewell party soon.”
“I see. Let’s go.”
We quickly escaped Pleiku’s Fierce Tigers.
It was once a place where bloody skirmishes took place, but at some point it was turning into a plain with rice fields.
Even the egrets made them forget that they were at war, even for a moment.
***
“Congratulations on coming home! live well.”
“Make a lot of money. We will work even harder in the US.”
Farewells were in full swing here and there.
It was a return procession of only 7 people, but it seemed that all the Koreans in Kwi Nyeon had come.
“Did you get the TV?”
“sure. Did you bring the radio?”
“Play it once before selling it, then sell it.”
“I will use the radio.”
“Oops, rich man.”
Everyone came out to the port carrying a mountain of luggage.
Like the Powells, if you return to Korea on a Navy LST, you will be exempted from customs duties for 100 kilos per person.
It can be said that the Korean government is considerate of Powell engineers who earn dollars.
In a way, it was extra-legal, but it was in the 1960s that the president allowed it.
No, it might be possible because the national sentiment was like that.
‘Shall I go home at this time? No, how much money do you make here…’
Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“Please take good care of my staff. Knights.”
“Do you have a favor? It’s about helping with the immigration process and finding a house.”
“haha. Thank you for saying that.”
There were no problems with passports and visas.
The Korean government hurriedly took the relevant measures, and the US visa was resolved in one shot as I attached a US military mechanic’s license and a letter of recommendation from Godel.
“We will look forward to the completion of the mainstream product.”
“Okay, see you soon in America.”
After shaking hands, Phil Knights climbed onto the LST.
I don’t know how he shaved it, but it was nice to see his gourd hair cut short like a soldier’s.
“I’m coming.”
“Don’t get hurt just by exercising and study hard at the library.”
There was another person who changed.
As Professor Joo Young-gil spent time with me, his expression and tone changed a lot. It was a short time, but it seemed like there was a change of heart.
“sure. Don’t worry.”
“Have you made your choice?”
“I’m going to go to the Department of Materials Science at the University of Missouri. In Korea, materials seem to come before machines.”
I thought about changing my major, but in the end I went back to normal.
The same goes for the school you got your degree from.
Fortunately, it seemed unlikely that his invention would change.
“Then you can give me this.”
I held a turbine blade from a helicopter engine in his hand. American universities and research institutes will also be able to analyze the ingredients.
“You mean to analyze it.”
“Imitation is the mother of creation. Start by analyzing the existing heat-resistant materials.”
“Imitation is the mother of creation, do you have anything more to say? Technically.”
“Technical advice…”
“Even if it’s something the boss always thinks about…”
Hwadu, Professor Joo seems to really think of me as a genius. There was something that just came to mind.
“It’s not a hot topic, but there are things to think about.”
“What? Tell me please.”
“If it’s a super heat-resistant alloy, don’t you think it can be made by melting it the way it used to?”
“… ah…”
Superheat-resistant alloys are alloys that withstand heat.
The idea of making a heat-resistant alloy that can withstand a furnace by melting it in a furnace is strange.
“Wouldn’t the method of making a superheat-resistant alloy be unique? No, wouldn’t it be possible to make superheat-resistant alloys if we found a way?”
It’s something you talked about in class.
He said that he suddenly had that idea during his research, and because of that thought, he was able to develop super heat-resistant alloy faster than anyone else.
“That… I see. Then how is that?”
“I don’t know about that.”
I hadn’t even heard of that method.
When you stood at the podium, the superheat-resistant alloy technology that Professor Zhu created at NASA was classified.
The license would have been released in the 21st century, but at that time I was already not interested in superheat-resistant alloys.
“Please get on board.”
“Come on. People wait.”
I sent Professor Zhu aboard the ship.
“Boss, I… can I really go to America?”Read at noblemtl
Jaehong was the last in the group.
I didn’t have time to say goodbye for a long time.
“What are you worried about? Jaehong will succeed.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
It’s not a strong word, it’s a fact.
you are bound to succeed
You won’t forgive yourself for failing.
Such a nobleman is 100% destined to succeed.
“Believe in yourself, that comes first.”
“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”
“Go! See you later.”
I even sent Mr. Jaehong up on the LST.
“Loyalty!”
“Everyone be rich!”
“Good bye! Be sure to succeed!”
“Work hard and be sure to succeed!”
Both the departing and the departing wished each other good luck.
***
“CS, the Colonel is looking for you.”
As I watched the LST receding over the horizon, Gothel’s aide approached me from somewhere.
“Why, what’s going on?”
“There is an emergency radio call from Saigon. The Colonel said he would like to discuss it with CS.”
“Emergency radio?”
There’s an emergency radio call from Saigon. Why are you discussing it with me? I couldn’t not go.
I went straight to the command post in my aide’s jeep.
***
“Welcome, CS.”
“What are you doing?”
Contrary to expectations, Gothel was not lying on the beach.
I was sitting at the command post in my uniform.
He was smoking a cigar as usual, but his expression was stiff.
‘Damn it, I don’t feel good.’
If someone around you does something they wouldn’t normally do, bad things happen.
“They say the Viet Cong launched a massive attack in the Mekong Delta. The Jamaica sank while dredging.”
“Why are you telling me that?”
“Because we are the only place where the dredger can afford it.”
Of course. Other ports are still in the early stages of construction.
We’ve been through dredging for a long time.
“It’s just a matter of moving the dredge to Saigon. You should consult with BR.”
“We want to do dredging in Saigon. By pointing out you.”
“There must also be a construction subcontractor. If you don’t have a heart, you can use Vietnamese.”
why do i go there
The area around Saigon is guarded by the US military. How great would the offensive be if the dredger was sunk?
Money is good, but not to the point of being so crazy that you don’t even know you’re dying.
“I was against it too. But, there is something to be said. Are you saying that you plan to avoid dangerous places and spend money in the rear to attach a star?”
“……”
“They told me to empty Quy Nhon and set up camp near the Mekong Delta.”
“Empty the kkwinyeon?”
What if Gothel emptied his quinn?
Originally, the place where honey falls is taken away even if it is empty for a while.
“okay. He told me to build a base on the Mekong River. They said that since it is responsible for 50% of all rice production in South Vietnam, keeping it is tantamount to cutting off the Viet Cong supply line.”
“There is Saigon, so why does the colonel have to step in!”
bang!
“That’s what I mean!”
Gothel was also annoyed and slapped the table.
I don’t know who it was, but it was really bad.
It was the same as saying to put out a well-groomed kkwinyeon.
If Gothel goes that way, my string will fall too.
Even if construction orders go ahead as scheduled, special recruitment for military supplies, lumber business, and the sale of surplus materials will not be the same as before.
I’ll be a thorn in the eye of Gothel’s competitors.
Besides, Quy Nhon could become the Hong Kong of Southeast Asia at its best. If it’s the Fierce Tiger Squad, I’ll definitely protect this place…
“shit! Are you telling me to go?”
“If you don’t go, I will go too!”
“Why is Colonel Gothel leaving! I have to keep the kkwinyeon.”
“I should put a star on it too! What will the stars do!”
It was so urgent that he did not even hide his feelings.
That was right. If you stick your butt to Quyen, the stars will fly away.
‘Do I have to risk my life for you?’
The words came up to my throat.
bang! bang!
It was my turn to hit the table.
“why me! why me!!!”
All I could say was this.
“They said that if CS didn’t go, I would go too.”
“Shit!”
“Who is going? choose! It’s me, it’s you!”
It was the reason Gothel was sitting in his livery.
Gothel is competing to undress with the command’s prospective stars.
The preliminary star on that side was all-in on the fact that Godel would not launch a defense operation in the Mekong Delta.
He is trying to get a star by advertising that he has done something dangerous that the coward Gothel did not do.
It’s nasty, but no one will stop the fight.
Since the commander-in-chief has already decided to upgrade Quy Nhon to the office of military aid, a constellation has appeared on the market.
It’s only natural that colonels compete for merit.
“Why is Kwun Nyeon… Kwun Nyeon turned into a trophy?”
“You raised me so well. It is the place where stars are born.”
I’ve worked hard and worked so hard!
If Gothel loses this fight, Quy Nhon changes hands.
Then I will fly with you.
There was no reason to wait on the day when the owner of the new Quyen helped Gothel.
“What about the construction cost?”
“What, are you going?”
“If I don’t go, I have no choice but to skip Quyen, right?’
Colonel Gothel will go to the Mekong Delta on his own if I don’t go, at least to attach a star.
Then I will definitely lose Quyen, and my relationship with Gothel will also be ruined.
“Are you really going?”
“How much is the construction cost!”
“Say it! I’ll do everything.”
“Five million dollars. No, six million dollars!”
“9 million! If it weren’t for CS anyway, I wouldn’t have come this far. I’ll bet on the position of colonel and try to make a deal of up to 9 million.”
If the dredging fails, not only me but Gothel will be blamed.
Rather, the blow would be greater for Godel.
“……”
At only 9 million dollars for the delta dredging work, he would have jumped up and down as a windfall under normal circumstances.
As long as they promise nine million dollars… Damn it… How risky.
“I’m going to take a ferry on the pretext of a tugboat.”
“take it. Anything else you need?”
“Will you give me combat troops?”
“It’s not that I won’t, I can’t. That’s the Saigon Camp operational area. The battle belongs to Saigon. The orders given to us are simple fortifications.”
“Really like a dog…”
Originally, camps were set up to build logistical ports at Saigon, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Quy Nhon.
Now the colonel ranks are competing with each other.
There was no way to even support the troops.
“Help me, CS. Quyen is ours.”
Gothel asked for something unlike that.
“Who doesn’t know!”
I shouted as hard as I could at Gothel and stormed out of the office.
