The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 98



Only Krnovel

Episode 98 Jamryong (1)

After 15 days.

My grandfather convened a CEO meeting at my request.

“Director Kim Min-jae said he had something to say, so he called a CEO meeting. “Let’s all hear what he has to say.”

“I would like to tell you about the progress of the plan to make up for Taewoo Engineering & Construction’s sluggish performance, which I mentioned at the last presidents’ meeting.”

I paused a bit and continued speaking.

“I contacted a famous investment company on Wall Street and created the Quantum consortium. And the Quantum Consortium signed a contract with the government to win the Subway Line 9 project and the Geoga Bridge project, and was promised to appoint Taewo Construction as the main construction company.”

“I heard that the Quantum consortium won a large contract, but the main construction company is determined only through bidding.”

President Jang Soo-young quickly grabbed hold of the pod and stepped forward.

The moment I did something he couldn’t do, his position became even narrower, so he tried to put me down in any way possible.

“For stable construction, the Quantum Consortium has set the condition that only construction companies with a debt ratio of 50% or less can submit bids. “Taewoo Engineering & Construction is the only construction company that meets those conditions.”

“Then, will we be fully responsible for the construction of Subway Line 9 and Geoga Bridge?”

“Not only that, but there are also projects that have not yet been discussed with the government. “Once negotiations are over soon, Taewoo Engineering & Construction will also take charge of the construction.”

President Jang Soo-young, whose expression is rotting.

On the other hand, my grandfather’s expression became very bright.

“Hehe, the cost of constructing Geoga Bridge on Subway Line 9 alone will be 4 to 5 trillion won.”

“That’s right. The construction period is also over 3 years, so I don’t think we need to worry about receiving orders for the time being. “When the economy recovers, the real estate market, including apartments, will pick up again, so we have gained time to hold out until then.”

Small and medium-sized construction companies were helplessly collapsing due to lack of work.

Large construction companies were also undergoing restructuring.

When everyone else was taking a step back, only we were able to move forward.

“It won’t be long until Taewoo Construction surpasses Hyunjae Construction. Director Kim has gone through a lot of hardships. “It’s really cool to move companies on Wall Street.”

“We were able to move Wall Street because it was a profitable business. Since the government has promised a minimum income guarantee, there will be no loss on Wall Street either.”

“Hehe, even if the business goes wrong, we won’t be criticized. Since we have a strong shield called Wall Street, we can just watch a ritual and eat rice cake.”

My grandfather was also a construction worker for decades.

Of course, you knew very well what kind of impact the minimum income guarantee would have.

He was even thinking that if there was a situation where he would be criticized, it would be the Quintum consortium, not Taewoo Engineering & Construction, that would stop it.

“A Wall Street consortium was absolutely necessary for the image of Taewoo Group.”

“yes. “We are just doing the construction under contract from the Quantum Consortium.”

“So there’s one more thing I’d like to tell you.”

The purpose of today was not to brag.

Orders received through the Queendon Consortium were also announced through government announcements and media.

Nevertheless, the purpose of convening the presidents’ meeting was to realize other plans through this achievement.

“Tell me.”

“Just as the Quantum Consortium was criticized for this business, I hope they will be treated as such for the newly acquired company.”

“Why do you need to be insulted?”

“Newly acquired companies also need restructuring and management innovation. However, if a large-scale restructuring is carried out at the Taewoo Group level, all criticism will be directed at the group.”

“So you’re saying we’re going to appoint someone to take the blame for us?”

“If we carry out restructuring and audit through an external consulting company and then take over the Taewoo Group, wouldn’t we be able to share the blame?”

The time has come to bring Dimon forward.

Although the role of scolding was important, this task had to be entrusted to Dimon in order to increase the company’s competitiveness through restructuring.

“Hmm, that doesn’t seem like a bad idea. “From the audit team’s perspective, they may feel like their work is being taken away.”

“The audit team plans to work closely with an external consulting firm to conduct audit work. “We just do it informally, not officially.”

“What does everyone think?”

No one objected.

Because he achieved results that even the president of Taewoong Construction could not achieve, he could not even dare to oppose.

Rather, several presidents, including President Woo Seong-il, raised their voices and expressed their approval.

[That’s a very good idea. If an external consulting company is used, the audit will be more transparent.]

[According to government policy, any company must undergo restructuring. By using an external consulting firm, acquiring companies can become part of Taewo without any resistance.]

[I strongly agree with Director Kim Min-jae’s opinion.]

The external consulting company’s case was passed.

And all procedures were delegated to the planning office, and I was able to select an external consulting firm as I wanted.

***

After the meeting, I headed to Captain Kang’s office.

After negotiations with the government, I collapsed and sat down next to Dimon and David, who were making green onion kimchi.

“thank you for your effort. “Negotiations are almost completed now, right?”

“We signed contracts for two additional tunnels and three sections of highway. “Detailed negotiations are still needed, but an official announcement will be made soon.”

“Dimon, please get out of the private investment business now.”

Dimon adjusted his posture and smiled sinisterly.

“Is it finally time?”

“Starting this week, I will be working as an external consulting representative.”

“I will perform beautiful surgery on the companies and safely attach them to the Taewoo Group.”

If he hadn’t worked on Wall Street, Dimon would have worked as a doctor or a butcher.

He was already salivating at the thought of restructuring.

“Please restructure only so that you can integrate well into Taewoo Group. “If you cut out too much, the project won’t work properly.”

“Don’t worry. “We will cut out people who use companies to fill their own pockets.”

David showed no reaction during our conversation.

David seemed to be dripping with alcohol instead of sweat, perhaps because he had been addicted to alcohol for several days.

“David needs to start a new job too.”

“Which construction project can I win this time? “I’m a bit tired of drinking with people in the construction industry.”

“It’s not the construction industry, it’s the political world.”

Only then did David adjust his posture and sit down.

And as I continued speaking, he even got up from his chair.

“That’s also a problem in American politics.”

“It’s finally time to revive my specialty. Who can I meet? Ruling party? Or the opposition party?”

“Shouldn’t we quickly prepare for the next U.S. presidential election?”

“There are still over two years left, so are we already starting preparations?”

“Would it be effective to offer wealth to a dragon who has already ascended to heaven? “For it to be effective, you have to invest in Jamryong.”

I had a lot of fun investing in Clinton.

But David had a different idea than I did.

“Although he helped Clinton’s presidential election twice, didn’t the boss actually gain almost nothing? “There is not much return on investment.”

“Why is there no benefit? Even if the U.S. government does not interfere, it is beneficial to us. And just by being excluded from Super 301, Taewoo Motors was enough to benefit us.”

“Other sponsors received tangible benefits, such as changing legislation or winning government-led projects, but the boss did not.”

“It’s not like you’re going to run a business for a day or two. “If we are known to want less than other sponsors, it will be easier for them to get our hands on it.”

Setting up a relationship with the U.S. government becomes difficult in many ways.

Since we had to worry about not only Taewoo Group but also SAVE Investment Company, forming a relationship with the U.S. government was very important.

“Well, if it’s the boss, then that’s probably the case. So, who do you plan on sponsoring this time?”

“I’m curious about that too. I understand that all of the people you supported have become president so far. “Who will be the next President of the United States?”

David and Dimon perked up their ears.

Since they are Americans, it was natural to wonder who the next president would be.

“I’d like to support the Republican Party.”

“If you are a Republican, you have multiple candidates. “The incumbent president and vice president are all Democratic politicians, so the Republican Party is without a proper leader.”

“But isn’t there a strong candidate?”

“The son of George HW Bush, the 41st president, is now governor of Texas, and Senator John McCain is also one of the strong candidates.”

David was also knowledgeable about politics.

Among politicians in the United States, there was hardly a person who did not have a drink with David.

“I want to support my son Bush. Since his father Bush was president, shouldn’t his son Bush also be able to carry the halo?”

“Then we need to make a quick contact. “The Republican Party has a lot of money compared to the Democratic Party, so if you are late, you can’t even be a sponsor.”

“There is still a lot of time until the presidential election, so there will be plenty of time. Try a natural approach. ah! Start by targeting former Secretary George Shultz. There are rumors that he supports his son Bush.”

“Are you talking about George Shultz, who served as Secretary of State? “If it’s him, I’ve met him once before.”

David’s eyes sparkled with life.

He seemed to be making a plan in his head when Dimon spoke up.

“If the government changes from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, Wall Street will be quite noisy.”

“I guess it will happen that way. ah! And let me make you a promise: I will keep the promises I made before the end of the Republican administration.”

“It seems like Wall Street is not only noisy, but chaotic.”

“Wouldn’t there be a crisis to create an opportunity?”

“I will only trust the CEO and work hard to do what he tells me to do.”

Dimon took out his cell phone.

To run an external consulting company, you need a lot of people.

We started recruiting people not only through SAVE investment company employees but also through personal connections.

***

Dimon’s restructuring skills were truly top-notch.

Within a month, CL Communications and Shinsegae Communications were created as completely new companies, and the two companies were merged with the existing Taewoo Communications to create a large telecommunications affiliate.

Since three companies were merged, factional fights were bound to occur.

A strong leader was needed to prevent factional fighting, but the position of Taewo Communications’ president did not change.

Lee Joo-young, CEO of Taewoong Communications.

It was also my will that allowed him to be reappointed as president.

Since he was a member of the faction that supported me along with President Woo Seong-il, I was able to easily control him.

So, as soon as he was reappointed as president, he came to the planning office.

He was explaining the situation at Taewoong Telecommunications to me as if a subordinate were reporting to a superior.

“Although we have merged two telecommunication companies, our market share is still low compared to the first and second leading telecommunications companies. “We will increase our market share as much as possible through aggressive marketing.”

“In the future, mobile phones made by Apple will be released first by Taewoo Communications, so our market share will naturally increase.”

Telecommunications companies and mobile phones were inseparable.

Various telecommunication companies used to sign contracts with mobile phone companies to increase their market share.

But there was no need to worry because we had already caught the big fish called Apple.