Chapter 5: If a Chaebol has regressed, what can't he do?

The反击 of the Chaebol family's playboy has been converted to a paid release.

A few days later, in the presidential office of the Blue House.

I, wearing an army uniform that no South Korean soldier had ever worn, with the rank of sergeant on my shoulder, received the Hwarang Military Merit Medal directly from the president. Along with me, the families of the nine fallen soldiers also received the Inheon Military Merit Medal on behalf of their loved ones, who were honored as fallen soldiers.

'Perhaps!'

It might be the first time a soldier has been promoted several ranks to sergeant after the Korean War.

It might also be the first time someone has received the Hwarang Military Merit Medal directly from the president.

"Congratulations, Sergeant Lee Sung-soo."

The president, who pinned the Hwarang Military Merit Medal on my chest, extended his hand to shake mine.

'What about the presidential bonus?'

If I was specially promoted to sergeant and received the Hwarang Military Merit Medal, the presidential bonus should come with it, but I don't see an envelope.

In South Korea, whether now or in 2023 when I lived, medals don't bring money. South Korea might be the only country in the world where soldiers are treated the worst.

Of course, this is the result of two military coups.

"Thank you, Sergeant Lee Sung-soo."

I answered loudly.

As soon as the medal ceremony ended, it seemed to be planned, the chief secretary led the families of the nine fallen soldiers out of the presidential office and then came back in alone.

"Hahaha, how about applying to the Korea Military Academy?"

The president made another surprising suggestion.

"I'll write a recommendation letter for you."

The president is offering to write a recommendation letter for me?

That means the president is quite pleased with me now.

"Thank you."

If I were to transfer to the Korea Military Academy?

'Even if I dedicate my youth and retire as a general.'

My pension would only be 5 million won.

Of course, 5 million won is a large sum for ordinary people.

'Wait, are they not giving me the presidential bonus?'

I thought the presidential bonus would be the seed money for my future investments, and it's really disappointing not to receive it.

"Hahaha, you're too stiff. How about a cup of tea?"

What will the president say to me?

What should I say to the president?

'It's 1971 now.'

Soon it will be 1972.

In 1973, the Fourth Middle East War will break out, and in 1974, the first oil shock will occur.

'I need to bring this up.'

I need to present accurate analysis and reasonable solutions naturally to avoid just pulling weeds in the Blue House.

* * *

There's coffee in front of me, but I can't take a sip.

"Sung-soo, you suggested bringing Lieutenant Smith to Korea, right?"

He seems curious about this.

However, the president called me by my name with a gentle expression.

'He's a scary person.'

Right now, he has a very gentle expression.

"If a New York state senator's son, who was a prisoner in the hell of Vietnam, meets his son in Korea instead of Vietnam or the United States, the senator will have a better image of Korea."

"Hahaha, you're a smart and thoughtful friend."

"I'll do my best not to disappoint you, Mr. President."

Just being in this position with the president can be quite powerful.

"Your eyes tell me you have something to say."

Amazing.

The president reads people's hearts through their eyes and expressions.

I was wondering when to naturally bring up the Fourth Middle East War, and it seems like a good time.

"No."

Still, I shouldn't speak first without thinking.

"It's fine. Your actions have been very helpful. If you have something to say, feel free to speak up."

In the future?

If I have something to say, I should speak up?

'The president isn't my neighbor's uncle, is he?'

This means I will be close to the president.

It seems I will be right next to him, not just working in the Blue House.

"Mr. President."

"You will be assigned to the Secretariat when you recover."

I'm surprised and flustered.

"What do you want to say with that look? Now I'm curious about what you want to say. Go ahead."

"Mr. President, I will speak frankly like a thunderbolt."

The chief secretary slightly frowned at my words, but the president couldn't see his expression.

Why?

Because the chief secretary is standing behind the president.

"Lee Sung-soo, be careful with your word choice."

The Blue House chief secretary said cautiously.

"Hahaha, these days, young people speak without hesitation. Good, speak your mind."

The president said with a reassuring expression.

"Mr. President, unfortunately, South Korea doesn't produce a single drop of oil or natural gas."

The chief secretary was surprised by my sudden talk about oil.

The president looked surprised.

'There is natural gas buried near Dokdo.'

And it's the end of December 1971, so next year, in one year, South Korea will sign an agreement with Japan to develop the 7th block, which is in South Korea's territorial waters, as a joint development zone.

'I need to stop that too.'

For that, I need the president's trust to be sky-high.

How should I proceed with the conversation?

'It needs to be convincing.'

The story I'm about to tell is about the first oil shock.

"Oil?"

"Yes, when I was detained in a secret North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp with Lieutenant Smith, there were many American prisoners there."

"Yes, thanks to your brave actions, 75 American and 17 Australian soldiers were rescued."

It's amazing that he remembers the exact number of rescued American prisoners. Of course, I know that prisoners from Thailand, the Kingdom of Laos, and the Republic of China were also rescued.

"One of the American prisoners said he had worked in the Middle East before the Vietnam War."

Everything I'm about to say is a lie.

But it's a convincing lie.

"An American prisoner who was stationed in the Middle East?"

"He said the situation in the Middle East will become serious."

The Middle East is already called a powder keg.

Israel and Arab countries have already fought three wars.

"So?"

"Mr. President, you need to prepare for the Fourth Middle East War."

"Are you saying that if Israel and Arab countries go to war again, South Korea's oil supply will be difficult?"

"I believe Israel will win the Fourth Middle East War. Arab countries will start to oppose the United States, which helps Israel, and from then on, they will likely weaponize oil."

"Indeed, you are insightful."

"Thank you. If we don't secure oil immediately, the oil price surge due to the war will cause an oil shock, and the Korean economy will suffer a fatal blow."

"I heard you're a law student."

"Yes."

"You have the level to teach college students in business school. So, what method do you suggest?"

The president is asking me for a solution.

"We need to receive a short-term loan through a New York senator who can influence the U.S. government."

"Short-term loan?"

It's not easy to borrow a loan from the United States.

"It's not a grant but a loan that the South Korean government will pay interest on."

"Indeed, Sung-soo, do you think the U.S. government will provide a loan to South Korea just because a senator exerts pressure?"

"I don't think so."

"Then it's impossible."

"That's why we need to put pressure on the United States."

"Pressure the United States?"

"Yes, the anti-war sentiment in the United States is boiling."

To get what you want, you need to use every situation.

"I've heard that too."

"If large-scale anti-war protests break out in South Korea, what will you do, Mr. President?"

"Anti-Vietnam War protests?"

"Yes, if there are large-scale protests, can't you use them as a negotiation card with the U.S. president? The U.S. still needs to send troops to Vietnam."

"Ha, are you telling me to make students protest?"

"If South Korean citizens oppose the Vietnam War so much, it will be difficult to send more troops, and you might have to consider withdrawing South Korean troops. The U.S. government will be in a hurry."

"Then the senator will bring up the loan?"

"Make it a negotiation card. Instead of begging for the loan, make it so the U.S. government has no choice but to provide it."

The president, who had been thinking for a moment, turned to look at the chief secretary.

"Chief Secretary."

"Yes, Mr. President."

"Can't we just have a cup of tea? Ask the restaurant to prepare some makgeolli."

"Yes, I understand, Mr. President."

"Sergeant Lee Sung-soo."

"Yes, Mr. President."

"Stand next to me when you're discharged."

The president's words left both me and the chief secretary stunned.

"And Chief Secretary."

"Yes, Mr. President."

"Ask the commander of the Security Command to come in."

"Yes, Mr. President."

The Blue House chief secretary immediately answered, bowed, and left.

"Sergeant Lee Sung-soo, you will need to take the lead in this matter."

"Me?"

"Will the student council presidents across the country believe a soldier's words?"

Now that I think about it, that's true.

"Consider it your first mission."

"I will achieve the best results."

What will be the best result?

'Stopping the Vietnam War deployment.'

If we have money and the economy grows, South Korean youth won't have to be dragged into other countries' wars.

* * *