Free Web NovelThe drinking session went on for quite a while. As time passed, as glass after glass was emptied, Han Kyungyeong’s face flushed a deep red.
“So, what’s the mood like in Washington?”
“Just like you know it. Same as any other presidential election. The only difference—if you can call it that—is that it’s not fierce. The Democrats are already flocking to Hillary for the election after next. John Kerry is trying to do something, but it doesn’t look easy. He probably knows better than anyone that it’s a fight he’s bound to lose...... From where I’m standing, the Democrats have already lost. Watching a fight where the outcome is obvious isn’t very fun.”
“And the Republicans?”
“They’re already popping champagne and going wild. Totally fired up. They’ve even started milking campaign donations already. Bunch of lunatics.”
Han Kyungyeong spat out the curse. Pouting his lips, he kept grumbling.
“There are already tons of people lining up to pick a side...... It’s the same here as in Korea. No, actually, it’s worse here. Lobbying is legal, after all.”
Judging by his tone, he must have seen all kinds of ugly scenes while attending donor parties. He was clearly fed up.
Letting out a long sigh, Han Kyungyeong shook his head.
“Still, even at those donor parties, I could feel how much weaker the neocons have gotten. Back in the day, everyone would’ve been rushing toward them.”
“Hm...... Really? Even you think the neocons have lost a lot of power?”
“I’m not completely sure. It’s just how it felt.”
As expected, Han Kyungyeong could read the atmosphere and make judgments without much being said.
I really did choose the right person to keep by my side. I let out a small chuckle and continued.
“That’s a good thing. The stronger the neocons get, the worse it is for us. We need to keep pouring huge amounts of money into North Korea. It’d be a problem if the neocons interfered every time.”
“Do you really have to dump that much money into North Korea? No matter how I think about it, I just don’t get it. Is it because they’re the same people? Wouldn’t it be better to focus more on the Middle East instead?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Everyone really had it wrong. Patriotism, one people, shared blood.......
I’m a businessman. What matters to me is the safety of myself and my people.
“Why does everyone cling to those illusions? I’m not interested in any of that. The only thing that matters to me is my people. Same country, same ethnicity...... that’s none of my concern. North Korea is important simply as a business partner. And anyway, everyone will realize its value in less than ten years.”
If energy could be secured easily through oil and gas pipelines coming from Russia, and continental railways and roads connected Asia and Europe.......
That value couldn’t be measured in money.
Without passing through North Korea, South Korea was nothing more than an isolated island. A peninsula connected to the continent, yet surrounded by sea on three sides.
Back when North Korea was ruled by Kim Jong-il, it was unimaginable. But now, a continental railway connection was right within reach.
Of course, just because there was a railway didn’t mean all logistics could be shifted to rail.
That was why I had ports in mind as well. If I could take even half of the logistics flowing through Nampo Port into Shanghai, it would bring me far more wealth than I’d invested.
And that would give me enormous leverage.
“Even so, can you really trust Jang Song-thaek? Fine, let’s say you trust him. But what if the regime changes? What then?”
“As you say, that could happen. But no matter who takes power, they won’t be able to discard us. That’s what’s terrifying about money. Once someone has tasted its sweetness, they can never forget it. And it won’t just be us—massive amounts of capital from all over the world will flow into North Korea.”
Once North Korea opened up, it would experience an economic boom it had never known before.
People in Pyongyang would benefit the most, but other North Korean residents would inevitably benefit as well.
Once you taste a free economy, you can never go back to the past.
If someone tried to force things back, everyone would rise up.
When the topic of North Korea ended, the conversation shifted to Iraq.
“They said the CPA wants to talk about Iraq’s reconstruction. You’ll meet them yourself, right?”
The CPA was the Coalition Provisional Authority, established under U.S. leadership to administer Iraq.
And under it, there was a separate body responsible for managing reconstruction funds.
“Has the Iraq Reconstruction Management Committee already been set up? Isn’t it still too early? There are still sporadic battles going on. And they’re already talking about reconstruction?”
As I fired off questions, Han Kyungyeong shrugged.
“How would I know? They just told me to take our share as agreed. You handled all those negotiations yourself. I didn’t know much, so I just said I’d check.”
“Ah, so you didn’t tell me. Good job.”
As far as I knew, most of Iraq’s reconstruction projects would be led by Bechtel. freewebnoveℓ.com
Bechtel was a multinational engineering and construction company headquartered in San Francisco.
With a history spanning over a hundred years, it had carried out projects in more than 140 countries across all seven continents.
It also had close ties with Korea.
It had served as a technical and business advisor for numerous national projects, including Ulsan Nuclear Units 3 and 4, the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway, and the Yeonggwang Nuclear Power Plant.
Rather than doing construction directly, it focused on project management—planning, design, procurement, construction oversight, supervision, and post-management.
And...... Bechtel also had close ties with the neocons.
Less than a month after the Iraq War began—before Saddam Hussein was even captured—it became controversial for receiving tens of millions of dollars in no-bid reconstruction contracts.
“The UN won’t just sit back and watch the U.S. take everything, will they.......”
The contract Bechtel took on was worth $680 million over eighteen months.
Its content involved restoring Iraq’s destroyed electrical and telecommunications facilities.
An ironic situation—America destroyed them, then rebuilt them.
When I didn’t answer right away, Han Kyungyeong asked again.
“Muhyuk, you’ll meet them in person, right?”
“I should. It’s better for me to hear what they have to say directly. You should come with me then.”
The Iraq reconstruction project was something we had to participate in.
It wasn’t a project that would end in a few years—it would last at least a decade.
We had already secured equity in the reconstruction through negotiations with the U.S. Now all that remained was deciding which parts to take.
To secure a truly good position, though, there would be a bloodbath.
“All right. Let’s do that. I’ll set up the schedule. When works for you?”
“Set it for three days from now.”
“Okay, boss!”
At his crisp reply, I smiled slightly and stood up.
“I’m starting to get sleepy. Let’s finish this drink and call it a night.”
“Already? You’re getting old.”
“And you aren’t?”
Ignoring Han Kyungyeong’s jab, I drained the last glass in my hand.
After setting down the empty glass, I waved once and headed to my room.
* * *
After handling the scheduled business over the next few days, Han Kyungyeong and I flew together to Bechtel’s headquarters.
“This is weird. Discussing something this important at Bechtel’s San Francisco HQ instead of Washington?”
Han Kyungyeong kept grumbling even during the drive.
“It’s not something they can meet about openly.”
“Still.......”
Upon arriving at Bechtel’s headquarters, we were guided by someone who had been waiting for us into a conference room.
Several people were already there. Han Kyungyeong looked around the room in surprise—he seemed to know most of them.
So did I.
“Welcome. Which one of you is Charlie?”
At that moment, a middle-aged man stood up and approached us.
“I’m Charlie.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Riley Bechtel, chairman of Bechtel.”
The chairman of Bechtel himself had come out to greet us. Wearing a friendly smile, I shook his hand.
“Ah, so you’re the chairman. I’m Charlie Kim, major shareholder of Dream High.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“And I’ve always heard the name Bechtel. The world’s number one construction company, isn’t it?”
After exchanging pleasantries in a warm atmosphere, he spoke again.
“Then this must be CEO James.”
“Nice to meet you. James Han.”
After finishing handshakes with Han Kyungyeong as well, Riley Bechtel gestured.
“Please, let’s sit and talk.”
He led us to a round table.
Including him, six men were seated.
“This gentleman here is.......”
Riley Bechtel was about to introduce an elderly man with white hair but sharp eyes.
But I already knew him.
“You’re Secretary George Shultz, aren’t you?”
George Shultz exclaimed in interest.
“Oh? You recognize me.”
“How could I not? You served as Secretary of Labor and Secretary of the Treasury under Nixon, and later as Secretary of State under Reagan.”
George Shultz.
A former president of Bechtel and its current director, he was a heavyweight who had served as a cabinet member in both the Nixon and Reagan administrations.
Even now, while remaining a Bechtel director, he chaired the Iraq Liberation Committee, a policy advisory body to President Bush.
That alone showed how much influence he had over Bush’s Iraq policy.
“Then how about me?” the elderly man beside him asked.
“Yes. Secretary Caspar Weinberger, correct?”
“Sharp eyes. I heard you’re young...... yet you recognize an old man like me.”
Despite his words, Caspar smiled, clearly pleased.
Caspar Weinberger was another heavyweight who had served in key positions under both the Nixon and Reagan administrations.
He, too, was now a Bechtel director.
And beside him sat a man I’d shared meals with not long ago.
“Kissinger. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Adjusting his glasses, Henry Kissinger waved cheerfully.
“Charlie, good to see you again.”
Was this a private corporation, or the White House?
“Likewise. It’s good to see you.”
“You heartless fellow. If you were leaving for America, you should’ve said so. You left me all alone in Korea—what was I supposed to do?”
Henry Kissinger grumbled playfully.
“The summit was over, the Six-Party Talks wrapped up nicely, and there wasn’t anything left to do. After that, it’s up to you.”
“Hah! Listen to this guy. I told you I’d be staying in Korea for a while.”
“I’m a businessman, after all. I can’t just laze around. I spend more time overseas than in Korea.”
Casual banter went back and forth, and everyone alternated glances between me and Kissinger, clearly curious about our relationship.
Riley Bechtel, who had been listening quietly, asked Kissinger,
“Dr. Kissinger, do you know this young man well?”
“Of course. We’ve shared meals and some rather interesting experiences together. I’d say we’re quite close.”
Everyone looked at Kissinger in surprise. His answer °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° was vague, but those who knew his personality couldn’t help but be shocked.
Riley Bechtel nodded.
“I see.”
I also exchanged greetings with Jack Sheehan, a Bechtel vice president and a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee.
The last person introduced was Tim Bert, the current chairman of Kellogg Brown & Root, a subsidiary of the multinational oil company Halliburton.
After greetings were done, we took our seats.
“There isn’t a single person from the Bush administration here. Is it really okay for us to decide something this important on our own?”
I pointed it out the moment I sat down.
Riley Bechtel smiled in response.
“Yes. We’ve been granted full authority.”
“That’s unexpected. It’s hard to believe the White House would hand over the reins of such a critical reconstruction project to a private corporation.”
“We’re Bechtel. Does that answer your question?”
It was an answer brimming with pride. I nodded with a smile.
“I’m well aware of Bechtel’s capabilities. Still, won’t there be controversy over special treatment?”
“That doesn’t seem like something you need to worry about. Didn’t you also secure equity in the Iraq reconstruction project in advance through an agreement with President Bush?”
“I’m just receiving what I gave.”
“And everyone gathered here is doing the same. So there’s no need to worry about favoritism.”
Riley spoke lightly, but it was hard not to worry. ƒrēewebnovel.com
After all, this scandal would one day put President Bush in a difficult position.
