CH22 : J. A. V. F

"Hwang Sajangnim, guide us. Quickly."

"Please follow this way."

We followed Hwang Hyesung to the backyard of the abandoned factory, running hastily. The factory grounds were quite expansive, taking us at least 10 minutes to reach our destination.

"How does it look?"

"Oh, this really is a polymerization reactor, isn't it?"

When Hwang Hyesung shined his headlights, a massive silhouette emerged.

The shape, with a rounded chamber perched atop a long cylindrical pipe, unmistakably resembled a karaoke microphone.

"As per the process flow diagram you provided, we have installed the pipes and valves."

Hwang Hyesung seemed to have studied the process flow diagram I had drawn with great diligence.

The paper was worn out to the point of being tattered.

He even annotated it with his interpretations and nylon reaction equations, as if asking me to grade his understanding of the flowchart.

"Hwang Sajangnim, you prepared for this like an exam."

"What score would you give me?"

Hwang Hyesung asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

He had high hopes for this polymerization reactor.

"Zero points."

"What?"

"But it's also a hundred points."

"Eh? What kind of score is that?"

Hearing my mix of jokes and seriousness, Hwang's face turned into a mess of confusion.

"Why not? I have no intention of producing nylon with this reactor."

"… You mean… polyester?"

In this era, not just in Korea but worldwide, polyester was the latest and highest-grade fibre.

Even military uniforms for the Vietnam War needed to be made from polyester. While more difficult to dye than nylon, polyester absorbed less moisture.

It would be of much better quality than the uniforms used by the Japanese military.

We have an expert who excels in dyeing, don't we?

"If we're going to establish a large-scale synthetic fiber factory, we must produce polyester. Isn't that right?"

"Even Japanese companies have barely succeeded in synthesizing polyester. How could you…"

"Because I'm a bit of a genius."

"..."

Hwang Hyesung's expression was priceless.

I had to surprise him even more.

Looking at the process flow diagram, I connected the DMT tank to the left chamber and the ethylene glycol tank to the right chamber.

These were the polyester raw materials prepared for this moment.

"Pour the bag over there into here."

"Yes, Sajangnim."

Together with Hwang Hyesung, we poured the calcium carbonate catalyst into the chamber.

"I'll stir here, and Hwang Sajangnim, follow my orders for the test run."

"You mean to test it right now?"

"It has already started. We've poured the catalyst."

Once the catalyst is added, the process cannot be stopped midway.

Even manually, the raw materials must be stirred.

"Give me the order."

"Good."

I started stirring the materials with a clean steel pipe, while Hwang took his position among the pipes, crowded with gauges.

Hwang, with his excellent work sense, grasped my commands immediately.

"Left chamber heater on! Target 197 degrees!"

"Chamber heater… 197 degrees."

"Aren't you repeating properly? Are you not focused?"

During a plant test run, failure to repeat commands correctly will inevitably lead to accidents.

"No, no! I am. Left chamber heater on! Target 197 degrees!"

"Temperature gauge!"

"Temperature gauge! 100, 130, 150, 170, 190!"

Like reciting safety slogans, he echoed my words as he operated the makeshift plant.

The humming sound made us uneasy.

"Don't be intimidated by the plant!"

"Don't be intimidated by the plant!"

As we were testing the plant, the plant was also testing us. If we got scared, we would lose.

"Right mixer on!"

"Right mixer on!"

The materials started being drawn into the polymerization reactor. The pipes growled like tigers.

If we changed the process conditions due to the loud noises, the test run would fail.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

"These conditions are accurate! Just follow along quietly, you beast!!"

I kicked the reactor pipes hard.

Kicking the plant during a test run is routine. The more you work with plants, the more it feels like taming a giant beast.

Compared to marine plants, this land plant is just a fussy cat.

See, it quieted down after a few kicks.

"Now! Reactor open! Target pressure 11 psi!"

"Reactor open! Target pressure 11 psi!"

"Immediately reactor heater on! Target temperature 250 degrees!"

"Reactor heater on! Target temperature 250 degrees!"

"Maximum output!"

"Maximum output!"

I increased the gas pressure on the heater to the maximum.

If the reaction didn't proceed correctly, it would explode.

Trust me. I'm an expert. These conditions are precise!

Rumble. Roar.

The polymerization reactor started roaring.

Endure, hold on, and produce the material I want.

"Steam extraction open! Target pressure 3 psi!"

"Steam extraction open! Target pressure 3 psi!"

Shhhh!

The reactor started emitting hot steam.

While the general public would panic over the heat, for plant engineers, it's just warm steam.

Releasing steam this way prevents explosions.

"Keep it open."

"Yes! I'm holding it."

Hwang held the steam lever firmly, and I continued stirring the raw materials without stopping.

All the materials had to go in without a trace left.

"Sajangnim, the temperature has risen to 280 degrees."

"Gear pump! Gear pump on!"

"Gear pump on!"

Whirring!

The gears engaged with a lively mechanical sound.

When extracting sticky substances like molasses, the gears interlock and pull it out.

What substance will come out?

Even if we ignore the colour, if something resembling molasses comes out, it's half a success…

"It's coming out! It's coming out!"

"Wowwww!"

I involuntarily screamed.

A silvery, almost transparent substance started being extruded like molasses.

It was perfectly synthesized polyester.

A synthetic fibre as soft as silk, washable, and often called water silk.

As the wind blew at the right moment, the polyester passing through the gear pump scattered like silk.

We only needed to cut it appropriately and spin it in a spinning machine.

"Poly!!! Polyester!!"

Everything around sparkled with a silver glow.

It felt like angels were spreading their wings to celebrate our success.

"We're rich!"

"Richhhhhh!"

I was so happy that I couldn't speak properly.

We hugged each other tightly, repeatedly shouting that we were rich.

***

Three weeks later,

After about three weeks, the abandoned factory in Ulsan started looking like a proper factory.

We selected skilled workers with a good sense of work, hired them as regular employees, and also employed former Marine Corps members as security personnel.

We refurbished the abandoned factory, established a company called Daese Chemical, and started dealing with Bento catalysts.

Ulsan Gulf Company.

"Daese Chemical is here to deliver the catalyst."

"Please insert it into this chamber!"

Now, when I visited Gulf, I was treated as the CEO of a partner company, and the sharp Daese Chemical employees efficiently delivered the catalysts.

Although we collectively referred to it as Daese Chemical, we separated the purchase of Bento, the sulfuric acid treatment plant, and the shipping and delivery warehouse, completely segregating the staff to minimize the risk of the catalyst know-how leaking out.

"Please open the pipe!"

"Pipe open!"

When we connected the pipe to the special truck, the Bento catalyst poured into Gulf's heavy oil tank.

The special truck was just a truck with a lid and a pipe protruding from the back.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's always amazing. Just by adding the catalyst, the gasoline extracts so smoothly."

The Gulf plant manager said with a satisfied expression.

"Please make sure to appeal to the head office."

I was just as happy.

I was earning $100,000 every time I delivered a 10-ton truckload.

The cost of materials was only about 100,000 won, and even with labor and other expenses, it didn't exceed a million won.

Currently, we deliver once every two weeks, but it will steadily increase proportional to Gulf's production volume.

"Ha ha, the head office technicians are already clamoring for the know-how. I heard the head office chairman decided to invest here in Ulsan."

"The head office decided to invest?"

Faster than I thought.

That means the intergovernmental loan negotiations between Korea and the U.S. are complete, and a Korea-U.S. summit will soon be held.

We have little time to prepare.

Though we succeeded in synthesizing polyester, we are far from ready for mass production. We haven't even connected the naphtha pipeline with the Gulf yet.

"It was mentioned in a telex. Oh, and there was a message specifically for you, Sajangnim."

"A message specifically for me?"

"Yes, they said they would like to meet you in person and provided their contact information."

The plant manager, with a serious expression, handed me the telex paper.

「J. A. V. F : 01-0004」

I wondered why he had such a serious look until I saw the single-line telex message.

J. A. V. F? Is this an acronym for someone's name?

Who could it be?

And what's with this phone number?

Is this even a phone number in Korea?

"Malton Sajangnim regretted not introducing you personally due to his busy company politics. He hopes you will contact him while he's in Korea."

"Who is he?"

"You don't know? Take a guess. It's General Van Fleet."

"General Van Fleet?"

Seeing my puzzled expression, the plant manager slightly frowned, as if asking how I could not know such a famous person.

"Don't you know General Van Fleet?

 He was the Supreme Commander in the Korean War after General MacArthur. I heard he's also close to former President Eisenhower."

"Oh… that person."

I feigned realization, as if I had just remembered.

I hadn't really heard of him, but he was the successor to General MacArthur? I really know little about this era.

"They say he has a special attachment to Korea because he lost his only son in the Korean War. Rumour has it that he's an unofficial ambassador between Korea and the U.S."

'Oh? That guy is this guy?'

I recalled stories from the old boys (OBs).

He was a big shot who managed the approval of loans for the Ulsan petrochemical complex and behind-the-scenes negotiations for sending troops to Vietnam.

A war hero who participated in World War I, World War II, the Greek Civil War, and the Korean War.

"By the way, can we connect the naphtha pipeline now?"

The plant manager quickly changed the subject, as if he was uncomfortable continuing to talk about Van Fleet.

"Anytime. Our factory can now operate at full capacity, albeit partially."

I followed his lead in changing the subject.

"Anytime? Then let's connect it now. Honestly, naphtha is a headache for us too."

The plant manager suggested connecting the naphtha pipeline right then, but I was ecstatic.

Finally, the naphtha pipeline would be connected to my factory. We could decompose naphtha like crazy and produce polyester.

"Hey! Open the naphtha valve! The one connected to Daese Chemical."

"Yes, manager."

"Once you go back and open the valve at Daese Chemical, naphtha will pour in."

"Thank you for your cooperation."

"Of course, we must cooperate. You are a valued customer who purchases naphtha."

"Hahaha."

The Gulf plant manager and I shook hands, feeling good as we looked at the distillation tower.

I felt a stronger connection with Gulf.

I initially thought they were just freeloaders, but it seems we can steer things in a positive direction.

'But what should I do… Should I meet him or not?'

Leaving the Gulf, my thoughts were still occupied.

Van Fleet… Honestly, meeting him was daunting.

Given his historical significance, the butterfly effect was a concern, and meeting him would inevitably create connections with the regime of this era.

It could be a shield, but it also had the potential to become a sword.

Swinging it recklessly could lead to significant injury, like a double-edged sword.