CH57 - Crazy

"Damn it!"

When I stormed out of the command post, I kicked a nearby tree in frustration. Far from relieving my anger, it only deepened my exasperation.

Though I had boldly declared my intentions, my heart quivered at the thought of heading to Saigon.

"Master!"

"Silver."

"What the hell is going on? The Saigon Command sent an urgent telex, demanding you immediately lease a dredger to CS."

Damn, they're fast.

They've already assumed my departure is a done deal.

I haven't even calculated the construction costs.

'Wait... wait... Is this even possible?'

A strange thought suddenly occurred to me.

How do they know how much I'll ask for, and they've already sent the dredger?

Besides, Godell hasn't issued any orders.

They plan to request a whopping 9 million dollars from the command.

I should first ask Silver.

As a BR employee, he might have heard something different from the military.

"They want me to dredge the area around the Mekong Delta. Don't the Saigon guys have any construction subcontractors? Isn't that BR's jurisdiction?"

"That's not our responsibility. It's directly handled by the OICC, a U.S. military public works corporation. BR is considered a subcontractor compared to OICC."

"So, the U.S. military public works corporation directly chose me?"

"... That's right. It's unusual. Has your reputation spread to Saigon too? This is the first time I've seen something like this."

They're asking a subcontractor of a subcontractor to take on the hardest job.

The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

'Could there be something behind this?'

Recently, things have been oddly hectic around me.

From the sudden increase in troop deployment around Quy Nhon, to being tasked with logistical transportation.

It was an excessive deployment compared to historical norms.

Should I ask Van Flint for information?

Van Flint wouldn't provide information for free... but it's worth checking.

"Silver, have you heard anything? Why is everyone so worked up about the Mekong River dredging?"

"The Mekong Delta is a granary. Everyone is fighting to control it. Our side wants to deploy warships throughout the Mekong River, while the Viet Cong wants to prevent that."

It was no different from what Godell had said.

"I thought BR might have a different take on it."

"Oh, there is one thing I heard!"

"What is it?"

"The original dredging of the Mekong River in the Phát Diệm area was handled by Cam Ranh Camp. But it suddenly got transferred to us because their dredgers are still busy with port construction."

"That's... wait... Phát Diệm? Cam Ranh?"

"Yes, Phát Diệm. The Mekong Delta area refers to the vicinity of Phát Diệm. Without dredging, warships can't pass through."

"Wait, wait a minute!"

Hearing the words Phát Diệm and Cam Ranh brought a sudden clarity.

Wasn't the dredging project in Phát Diệm during the 60s a legendary and brutal one for Hyeonsan Construction?

It was famous in the construction industry for being conducted amidst machine gun and mortar fire from both the U.S. and the Viet Cong.

"CS, what are you thinking so hard about?"

"No, no, something is nagging at me."

"I'll look into it too. Why would they specifically subcontract to CS? I'm curious too. Are you going?"

"I'm deciding that now."

"If you go, take everything you need. The Saigon Command's order means BR can't say anything."

"I might take all the equipment."

"Take everything. It'll give me a break too."

Silver was completely on my side now.

"Thanks."

"No need to thank me. If there's an ulterior motive behind this, they'll pay the price."

We exchanged a fist bump and parted ways.

I needed to sort out my thoughts alone.

"So, it's the Hyeonsan Construction Phát Diệm dredging project."

There was another reason why the Phát Diệm dredging project was so famous.

It was a dangerous project, but the U.S. military pressured Chairman Wang by dangling other contracts, so he had no choice but to accept.

Sure enough, although there were fewer casualties than expected, there were still accidents, and Chairman Wang couldn't just sit idly by.

Eventually, they forged military documents to take all the necessary equipment from Cam Ranh Harbor, completing the dredging project twice as fast as originally planned.

The U.S. and Korean military shared all document formats in Vietnam, and they took advantage of the chaotic and sloppy equipment management at the front lines.

It was a court-martial-worthy act, but finishing the project quickly was the only way to stay alive, so they openly forged the documents.

The project was so gruelling that, despite receiving an enormous amount for it, they avoided further contracts by sending the team to U.S. bases in Guam and Alaska afterwards.

"If Chairman Wang did it, why can't I?"

For some reason, in this history, I received the contract instead of Chairman Wang.

Well, the Quy Nhon runway must have made a bigger impact than the Thai highway.

The problem was that the project had significant casualties.

I had no intention of tolerating any casualties.

"If Chairman Wang finished it twice as fast, I'll finish it four times faster. And didn't they say that project was the start of Chairman Wang's construction methods?"

The issue is the casualties, but if I don't go, I'll lose Quy Nhon.

I worked so hard to secure Quy Nhon.

I won't lose what's mine in this lifetime.

But risking lives...

I don't have time for this.

I need to think of a solution. Think! Think!

Wait... Why should I only bring equipment?

If Godell doesn't provide troops, do I just give up?

I'm Korean and have the Tiger Division, don't I?

If Chairman Wang reduced casualties by finishing the project quickly, I can finish it even faster and get protection from the Tiger Division.

I headed back to the command post where Godell was.

*****

Bang!

"Colonel!"

"Huh! CS, why are you back?"

"I forgot something."

"What did you forget? I said you could take all the equipment you need."

"Not equipment, you need to give us weapons too, right?"

"Wea... weapons?"

Colonel Godell was taken aback when I asked for weapons. What's there to be surprised about? There are plenty of weapons at the Quy Nhon supply base.

"Bulletproof vests, rifles, mortars, howitzers, etc., don't they all need to go to the Tiger Division?"

"Weapons for the Tiger Division?"

"The Korean military has independent operational rights. Even if the combat troops from the Quy Nhon camp can't go, the Tiger Division can support me, right? There's no problem with Quy Nhon providing logistics support to the Korean military."

"!!!!!"

"Request support for operations. Have them come to Saigon."

"CS, if I request operations from the Korean military, my merits..."

If he relied on the Korean military to establish positions in the Mekong River area, it wouldn't look good when reporting to the commander.

"I'm risking my life. Are you ordering me to go to a dangerous place without any support?"

"... No, that's not what I mean. This involves moving military forces. It will take time. It could be seen as evading orders."

Even as a senior officer, Godell was concerned with politics first.

"I can go first. Just promise fire support from the Tiger Division. Promise that."

I growled in Godell's face.

"If they support you, can you guarantee success?"

"I have to succeed. I'm risking my life! Fire support from the Korean military will ensure a spectacular success!"

"Spectacular?"

"Of course! We need to be the heroes who secure the Mekong River area!"

"The heroes of the Mekong River area!"

"Support us with weapons!"

"Of course."

Having secured Godell's promise, I also needed to request help from the Blue House.

Let's do this! I can do it.

Bang!

I stormed out of the command post again.

There was no other place to vent my anger than outside the door.

I headed toward the port.

I'd take as many dredgers and heavy equipment as possible.

In the original history, they took the heavy equipment from Cam Ranh, so in this history, I can take the heavy equipment from Quy Nhon.

Fortunately, there's plenty of heavy equipment thanks to the repair base here.

Faster, even faster!

Ding ding ding ding.

The moment I arrived at the port, I rang the bell.

I had to hurry. If I was going to do this, I had to do it quickly and perfectly so no one could interfere.

"Everyone!!"

"Yes, boss."

"Gather here. We have work to do."

"Did you get another job?"

The employees looked at me expectantly.

"This time, it's really dangerous. We'll be working under a hail of bullets. So, I'm taking volunteers."

"I volunteer!"

"Me too!"

Hands shot up from all directions.

"Did you hear me properly? This is really dangerous work. Do I look like I'm joking?"

"You're going too, right? You'll protect us, won't you?"

"I appreciate your trust, but I can't do anything about stray bullets. You know that."

"We know. That's why we're volunteering. What do we need to prepare?"

My employees weren't intimidated by me.

This is the current state of Daese I built.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I laughed like a madman. Come to think of it, everyone's crazy.

"You're all crazy!"

"If the boss is crazy, we have to be crazy too!"

I'm crazy too.

Taking these people to a death trap?

"Let's go crazy! Let's do it!"

"Boss, what do we start with?"

"Waaah!"

Right, war profiteering isn't something you can do with a sane mind.

You need to be crazy to pull it off.

Did I think I could make blood money without any risk? That was the real insanity.

"First, contact President Jin Dalrae to fill the supply ship with excavators. Also, connect the dredgers."

"Excavators, dredgers! Got it."

"Team leaders of the barges, each connect one tugboat. We're moving the caissons to Saigon."

"Yes, boss."

They answered without hesitation, even though we were moving the caissons.

"The rest of you, raid the PX. Grab a helmet and a bulletproof vest using my name and gather at the port. We're leaving for Saigon today."

"Waaah!"

Anyone who didn't gather at the port would be left behind in Quy Nhon. We'd need to keep a minimum crew for the runway and port construction anyway.

'We can do it. We can do it.'

I muttered like a madman.

I had to believe in myself first.

"Boss, here's your bulletproof vest."

"Thanks."

The employees helped me put on the bulletproof vest and helmet.

They were rushing, afraid they might be left behind.

They were definitely all crazy.

I went back to my quarters and sent a telex to the Blue House.

*****

"Aide."

Godell called in his aide who was waiting outside the door.

He had thought about it until he finished a whole cigar, but there was nothing wrong with CS's words.

"Yes, sir!"

"Send an urgent message to the Korean military commander."

"What should I say?"

"You heard everything earlier, don't pretend you didn't! Report the current situation to the Korean military. Ask them to support CS with weapons and military supplies to the Mekong Delta."

"Yes, sir!"

If the Korean military commander had any sense, he would certainly protect CS.

CS was an invaluable asset to Korea.

He was also an invaluable asset to Godell.

Even if it meant owing a debt to the Korean military.

******

Three days later,

"The delta is in sight."

"Dock the ship where the Saigon Camp flag is."

"Yes, boss."

We finally arrived at the Mekong Delta.

The employees, who would normally cheer upon reaching our destination, all looked pale.

I wasn't feeling great either.

After enduring the swaying South China Sea and navigating the tangled waterways of the Mekong River, seasickness was no joke.

Even the employees who had worked on boats in Busan were seasick.

Bang! Bang!

"Slow down and stop!"

Despite flying the Quy Nhon camp flag, the U.S. military ship fired at us.

Instead of welcoming us with a salute, they shot at their allies coming to help?

"Who's the commander here?"

Someone jumped onto the ship. It was a U.S. officer.

"It's me. I'm Woo Chan-soo from the Quy Nhon camp."

"Are you CS? Why are you so late? Did you forget it's an emergency operation?"

Crazy bastard. How dare he shout at me when we've just met?

"Hey, shouldn't we introduce ourselves first?"

"You punk! Are you pretending to be the Quy Nhon camp? Are you a Viet Cong?"

What the hell? Ridiculously, the U.S. soldiers jumped onto my ship. Their ship was twice as big, so just laying down a steel plate was enough.

"What the hell are you doing? We're here to dredge under your subcontract."

"Don't move. Why is there only one ship?"

"Are you crazy! Why are you pointing a gun at me?"

The crazy bastard pointed a gun at me.

"Why is there only one ship? Do you want to end up like Jamaica?"

I was dumbfounded, watching them go crazy by themselves. They talked about searching for bombs and being careful of suicide attacks.

What? The Jamaica? Suicide attack?

Could it be, that the dredger was hit by a suicide attack?

Did they fall for a Viet Cong disguised as a worker?

"We came through the South China Sea! The tugboats and barges are just delayed. Put down the gun!"

"Then prove it. Start working right away! Go in and dredge the river."

"Are you insane? We just arrived! We need to prepare! The barges to move the sand are still on their way."

"I said get in and start working. The Viet Cong will move rice tonight. We need to establish positions immediately."

"That's your problem. Are you going to take responsibility if we get shot for going in unprepared?"

"Follow the operation plan! That's an order."

The U.S. officer moved the gun from pointing at me to the wheelhouse.

My father was at the helm.

"FuXX! Is this bastard crazy?"

"What did you say? Are you ignoring my orders? Are you really a Viet Cong?"

"If I were a Viet Cong, you'd already be dead. Can't you grasp the situation?"

Despite my shout, he aimed his gun at my forehead again.

Has he gone mad because of the suicide bombings?

Did he go crazy with fear?

"Shut up, you yellow bastard. Do you want to die?"

"Shoot, bastard. Go ahead, shoot!"

"You bastard!"

"You rotten bastard! Can't you tell an ally from a Viet Cong? Shoot, bastard! Shoot!"

I grabbed the gun barrel and pressed it against my forehead.

If I backed down once to this idiot, it would be over.

Not only the Viet Cong but now even the U.S. military was acting up.

Moron.

"Do as I say. I'm the commander here. I'm the site supervisor!"

The young U.S. officer screamed, his face turning bright red and his whole body trembling.

Forget about being the commander; I wasn't backing down!

I am the president of Daese Industries.

If I back down, my employees will also be seen as easy targets, continuously pushed into dangerous situations.

Bwaaah!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Amidst our standoff, a loud noise echoed behind me.

"Korean troops are here! Korean troops are coming!!!"

"Waaah!"

"Hurrah! Hurrah!"

A dragon twisted on the fluttering flag.

It was the Cheongryong unit (2nd Marine Division, South Korea)