CH54 - Promotion

"Thank you, Mark. It's all thanks to your help."

"Well, they worked hard themselves. Not that they didn't work hard initially, but once they decided to take the certification exam, they became really intense. Koreans are a bit strange."

"We're originally like this."

Since it's so hard to make a living, they've developed a habit of competing over even the smallest pie.

That's why I don't even look at the domestic market.

It's a red ocean where competition isn't even possible, and what's the point of making money off poor people?

"I hope to formally hire these six until they return home."

"Wow, what's this? Instead of outsourcing to me, you're formally hiring them?"

"We're short on manpower. Recently, a huge number of heavy equipment is coming in from Thailand, and we're struggling too."

"Thailand?"

"Come to think of it, there's a Korean company involved there too. A company called Hyeonsan Construction is building a highway, and I heard their heavy equipment is breaking down every day due to the heavy rain. They're all coming to us."

"Oh? That's serious. Then we should help."

Wow, Chairman Wang is keeping his promise properly.

I wondered when the heavy equipment would break down.

"CS, go ahead with the hiring."

"I'll send the next batch of successful candidates, not this one."

The first batch will be sent to the U.S., but more successful candidates will keep coming, so it's fine to make this promise.

"Okay, okay."

If they hire them, that's good for me.

Our employees will gain experience with the U.S. Engineering Corps and can select the heavy equipment in advance for disposal.

I need to repair them neatly so Chairman Wang can't refuse to take over.

"Oh, and take a look at this. It's really amazing."

Mark suddenly handed something over.

"What is this? A chessboard?"

It was too beautiful to be called a mere chessboard.

The mahogany and teakwood formed a checkerboard pattern, reminiscent of a 21st-century end-grain cutting board.

Moreover, the chess pieces carved from brass and stainless steel were truly impressive.

"It's closer to a work of art than a chessboard. The certification exam supervisor even wanted to buy it."

"What? Was this made by a successful candidate?"

Did they have to carve chess pieces with a machine to pass? The difficulty level is no joke.

"He didn't pass. He didn't even take the written exam because he didn't know English. Everyone felt it was a pity. CS, I wanted to show you so you could pay attention to him."

"What? He doesn't know English?"

What do you mean? A top student who couldn't take the written exam because he doesn't know English?

"You know... the employee whose Achilles tendon was torn. He got injured while transporting."

"Jae-hong?"

"Anyway, he's young and quiet, but he's almost a master at handling machine tools. It'd be a waste to let his talent go unnoticed, so I'm informing you."

So, Shim Jae-hong had such a talent?

I told him not to come to the site since he was going back to Korea, but he was working at the repair base.

I headed to the repair base, leaving the runway site for a moment.

I had avoided entering the Engineering Corps area until now.

I was worried about unnecessary talk of technology leaks and such.

But today was an exception.

****

"Shim Jae-hong."

"Oh, Sajangnim."

"What are you doing here? I told you to focus on recovering since there's a job waiting for you in Jinhae."

"I'm perfectly fine. Besides, the military doctor said it's good to move my body a little."

Something felt different from before.

The calm tone was the same, but he seemed more reliable.

"Do you enjoy working with machine tools that much?"

"Yes, it's really fun. I only heard about lathes and milling machines, but now I can make everything I imagine."

No, it's not that you can make everything you imagine, but you're exceptionally talented.

Carving non-rotational symmetric pieces like the knight of a chess piece with a machine tool is no ordinary skill.

You need to be able to visualize 3D shapes in your head to make it possible.

It's similar to how world-class sculptors say they reveal the Venus hidden within the marble.

"Did you make this queen chess piece, Jae-hong?"

"Yes, I made it."

"There's an original shape, so why did you make it like this?"

It wasn't the usual queen.

It was in the shape of a woman with her hands clasped in prayer.

Both Mark and I couldn't help but be amazed.

Even if I were to copy it exactly, I wouldn't be able to do it.

No, it was hard to believe that such a sculpture could be made with a machine tool.

Even in the 21st century, it would be hard to carve better than this with a 3D CNC machine.

"I kept confusing the shape with the king and other pieces. And I thought the queen would be praying for the king who went to war."

It wasn't just the queen.

Even the pawn was sculpted like a small soldier holding a spear, rather than just a simple circle.

"Did you modify the chessboard in the same way?"

"Yes, I felt it was a waste to discard the yew and birch branches left over from logging. So I sliced them into pieces and attached them to make a checkerboard pattern."

"Why didn't you make a Go board or a Janggi board? Then your colleagues could have used it for leisure."

"I can't sell a Go board to the Americans. You said that to become rich, you need to export."

"!!!!!"

Sometimes, while working in a company, you see colleagues grow in real time.

Regardless of their educational background or family, when desperation and given circumstances combine perfectly, it creates a synergistic effect.

"You did this to prove yourself to me."

"..."

"Even though I said I wouldn't cut you off."

"It's not that I didn't trust you. I just wanted to show that I can move and work hard."

Jae-hong tried to lift his left arm, which couldn't go above his shoulder, trembling.

"Jae-hong, this won't do."

"Sajangnim! I can do it. I mean, I can do it well."

"Doing it isn't enough. You have to do it well."

"Sajangnim..."

"Leave. To America. You don't belong here, Jae-hong. Go and learn properly."

"... What?"

"Learn anything, whether it's machinery, woodworking, or metalwork. Find the one thing you're best at and dig into it for five or ten years."

I didn't know how he would grow later, but I couldn't just overlook such talent.

Moreover, supporting talented individuals is a virtue of the rich, isn't it?

"You're sending an uneducated person like me to America?"

Jae-hong would do well.

"It's not that you didn't learn, you just couldn't. You can start learning now. I'll handle the procedures, so don't worry."

"Thank you. Thank you, Sajangnim."

Tears like chicken droppings flowed down Jae-hong's face.

It seemed he had been mentally suffering due to his injured body.

I needed to make it clear.

I climbed onto the table.

Even if it's a bit embarrassing, a representative must deliver an accurate message to the employees.

Bang!

"Attention, everyone! Listen to me."

"Yes, Sajangnim."

First, I needed to declare to the college students here and then go to the site and declare again.

"As the representative of Daese, I don't take responsibility for your future. If you work stupidly, I will say harsh words and some of you may have to leave Daese unwillingly. But there's one thing I will definitely keep."

"..."

Everyone held their breath and listened to me.

The buzzing sound of the machine tools stopped instantly.

"As long as you think you're working for Daese, I will definitely protect you. I will protect your survival and safety, and furthermore, support your growth. Why? Because if you grow, we can all become rich together! This will never change. Never!!!"

"Wow!!!"

I will completely erase the nightmares of my past life.

At least in my company, such lives will never be repeated.

"Shout it out. We will become rich!"

"We will become rich!"

"Louder!"

"We will become rich!"

"We will become rich!!!"

"Will become rich!!!"

The repair base seemed to shake with their shouting, and only then did I feel somewhat relieved.

"Sajangnim..."

"You have to believe this much. Isn't that right, Jae-hong?"

"Yes, yes... of course. I'm sorry for causing you concern."

I headed to the runway site.

I needed to do it, but it's still embarrassing to shout in front of everyone.

Especially in an atmosphere where everyone is bowing deeply.

"Sajangnim, fighting!!"

Did they use the word 'fighting' in this era too?

"Fighting!!!"

"Fighting!!!"

Everyone clenched their fists and shouted fighting. I raised my arm high as I left the repair base.

"Wow!!!"

It's embarrassing, but I had to respond.

A sharp sound came from the sky.

It looked like a medium bomber.

Yes, it's time to check the runway.

It's incredibly hard, but it makes my heart race.

****

"Are you finally here, CS?"

"Colonel Godell, you've been here already."

"Already? This is an important task."

Colonel Godell was holding binoculars with a stern face in the temporary control tower.

It was a makeshift building with containers piled on top of each other and H-beams tied together at the end of the runway, but with state-of-the-art radios installed, it was indeed a control tower.

"It will work out."

I handed him a cup with a little cola.

He was looking for a place to tap his cigar ash.

"Are they doing it right? Smoke bombs are supposed to be thrown before the bombing."

"The runway lighting system will be installed separately. For now, this is just a test, so they're using smoke bombs to indicate positions."

Godell rushed so much that we're testing without even installing the lighting system, but he's nitpicking.

He's on edge because his promotion is at stake.

"What are they doing? CS is here, so let's land it!"

"Yes! Colonel."

The sergeants in the control tower were extremely tense.

"AF109, report if you're ready for approach."

<Roger, we're ready. Requesting approach clearance.>

"AF109, check altitude, check backflow."

<Roger. Altitude 8,000 feet, no backflow issues. Requesting approach clearance.>

"AF109, you are cleared to enter the Quy Nhon airspace. Heading 090. Keep frequency channel 125.9 open."

<Roger, entering Quy Nhon's airspace. Monitoring frequency 125.9. AF109.>

As the communication went on in the control tower, a bomber appeared in the distance.

The signalman vigorously waved a large red flag and then quickly left the runway.

The plane got bigger and bigger, and then the wheels became visible.

Bang... bang bang bang...

"Damn!"

"It's fine. It always bounces a bit like that."

The plane bounces slightly when landing.

Only large 21st-century planes controlled by computers land smoothly.

"Wow!!!"

When the bouncing bomber safely stopped on the runway, cheers erupted from all around.

"AF109, report."

<Roger, AF109 has safely landed on Quy Nhon's emergency runway.>

"AF109, welcome to Quy Nhon. Clear."

<Clear. >

"Wow!!!"

"Hahaha! Did you see it? Did you see that? Hahaha."

Colonel Godell's excited laughter echoed.

In just one month, we built a runway in the middle of the jungle. If we do this three more times, we'll have an impregnable fortress.

"What are you doing? Welcome the pilots, no, the triumphant officers. Cameras! Cameras!"

"Yes, sir!"

Godell threw away his cigar and ran out to the runway.

He called them triumphant officers even though they weren't coming back from battle.

He was busy organizing the officers in front of the bomber to take pictures.

The sergeants were cheerfully matching the rhythm.

Ba ba bam ba ba bam bam.

Somehow, the military band was lined up on the runway, and the air force officer proudly walked out with the pilot.

"Major William from Saigon Command, reporting safe arrival at Quy Nhon temporary combat airport."

"Good job. Welcome."

If he's a major, the squadron leader must have accompanied him.

Colonel Godell returned the salute and patted his shoulder in encouragement.

"There is an order from the General to bring Colonel Godell to Saigon Command immediately."

"Me?"

"Yes! The General has announced that if the landing is successful, he will award you the Distinguished Service Cross for greatly enhancing the operational capabilities of the military."

"Hohoho! Really?"

It turns out Yankees also make exaggerated sounds like in Korean historical dramas when overly excited. First time knowing this.

"Congratulations, Colonel Godell, no, Colonel."

"Haha, CS, you've worked hard too."

"Congratulations, Colonel Godell."

When I congratulated him, salutes poured in from all around.

After all, receiving a medal in a war zone means an immediate promotion.

"That's not all. There is a special message from the General to be announced to the entire Quy Nhon camp."

"Deliver it."

"Yes, sir. The General praised the significant contribution of Quy Nhon camp's uniforms, boots, and other logistics supplies to the military's operational capabilities."

"He praised our contribution?"

"Yes, sir. He said that if the achievements so far, along with the success of Operation Southern Cross, are completed successfully, he would elevate Quy Nhon camp to the Vietnam Military Assistance Office."

"Vietnam Military Assistance Office!"

Wow, this is a huge success.

Vietnam Military Assistance Office?

The official name of the Saigon Command is the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

Since the U.N. didn't officially support it, the U.S. military entered Vietnam under the pretext of providing military assistance.

Anyway, the Vietnam Military Assistance Office is directly below the Military Assistance Command.

It means becoming the No. 2 right under the General. It was an unprecedented promotion for a mere logistics camp manager.

'Congratulations, Colonel Godell. You're not far from becoming a general.'

I gave Godell a congratulatory wink.

Building three more runways is just a matter of time.

"What are you all doing? Give the Colonel a celebratory toss."

What should we do when he becomes a general?

For now, let's celebrate his promotion to Colonel with a toss.

"Haha, toss him up!"

"Everyone, come out! Hurry!"

When I gestured, our employees watching by the runway ran over.

They were quick-witted folks.

"Congratulations, Colonel."

"Hahaha. Hahahaha!"

"Colonel, long live! Long live!!"

Godell felt ecstatic every time he was tossed into the air.

With each toss, it felt like thousands of dollars were falling. Godell would grant us a lot of surplus equipment.

The officers who came on the bomber and the sergeants at Quy Nhon camp clapped their hands.

They were genuinely clapping because they would naturally be promoted too.