Chapter 147
Chapter 147
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Proposal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For a while, the internal meetings about the government's proposal for the Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers continued.
The conclusion, drawn from combining the opinions of managers from each department, was, as expected, to expand the ship's overall specifications.
We ultimately decided to propose this at the public hearing in a few days.
*Knock, knock!*
"Chairman. Natasha has requested a brief meeting with you."
Secretary Kim said, knocking on the door while I was reviewing some documents.
I had already heard the news that she had been summoned by Putin a few days ago and had briefly returned to Russia.
Contrary to my expectation that it would take quite some time, she returned in just three days, which suggested it wasn't a particularly important matter.
"Let her in."
I closed the document I was reviewing and moved to the sofa.
At the same time, Natasha entered the room and sat across from me as naturally as if the seat were her own.
"It is fortunate you have been alive all this time."
"..."
Her choice of words was still clumsy.
Feeling like my sanity would crumble if we continued the conversation like this, I waved my hand and spoke.
[Let's just speak English.]
[Oh! Is my Korean that clumsy?]
[Yes, very much so. Listening to you, I feel like you could kill a person several times over with just words.]
[Is it that bad? Well, anyway, I just wanted to ask if you've been well.]
[Fortunately, yes. But why did President Putin suddenly summon you?]
At my direct question, Natasha stared at me intently.
She had an expression that seemed deep in thought.
The moment I sensed something significant had happened, her hand suddenly moved to her chest.
"Hmm..."
I'm not even that surprised anymore.
Anyway, what is it this time that she stored it there?
*Swoosh.*
Before I could even shake off the thought, she pulled a memory stick from her cleavage.
She then handed it to me and even brought over the laptop from my desk, as if urging me to check it immediately.
*Click!*
I silently plugged in the memory stick and clicked on a file.
Instantly, what appeared on the screen were photos that looked like they were taken by a satellite.
When I looked back at her, puzzled, she spoke with an awkward expression.
[These are Chinese shipyards, photographed by a Russian military satellite.]
[Shipyards?]
[Yes. As you can see, destroyers exceeding 10,000 tons are currently under construction in about ten shipyards across China.]
At her words, I immediately looked at the photos again.
Just as she said, huge warships were lined up in the docks.
They looked to be about 90% complete, which was probably why they weren't bothering to use enclosed docks.
[This... Don't tell me China is building Aegis-class air defense destroyers?]
[According to the testimony of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, yes. The total number under construction is 12 ships. The number planned for the future is said to be another 15.]
"..."
For a moment, my mind went blank.
China building Aegis-class ships at this time.
A whopping twenty-seven of them, no less.
This went beyond a simple error in the timeline; it was a result that defied the current reality.
'Even if their economy has grown to an incomparable scale, China is mass-producing Aegis ships like they're flipping pancakes at this point in time?'
Besides that, this is a time when China should be hiding its claws. Why on earth would they suddenly reveal them?
[The United States elevated South Korea to a first-class ally, didn't they?]
Natasha mentioned this subtly while I was deep in thought.
As I watched her silently, her lips parted again.
[This might be one of the reasons the U.S. made that decision. Anyone can see this means they're preparing a blue-water navy, which goes against the interests of the U.S. as it tries to check China's expansionism. To put it simply, the U.S. naturally needed a countermeasure, and that countermeasure was likely South Korea.]
[Is that the conclusion reached by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service?]
[I got the feeling there was more to it, but I wouldn't know. Even if I did, it's not my place to say. In any case, not only the intelligence service but also His Excellency Putin stated that China's moves are definitely aimed at expanding its maritime territory.]
[So, what does Russia intend to do now? About us becoming a first-class ally of the U.S.]
Since the topic was already on the table, I asked directly.
As if understanding my intention, Natasha smiled faintly.
[Shall I convey His Excellency Putin's reaction exactly as it was?]
[That would be great.]
[Damn America! Go to hell.]
"..."
I blinked, flustered.
Just as the thought that this could be a huge problem crossed my mind, she chuckled and spoke again.
[No need to make that face. His Excellency Putin and the U.S. President have already spoken through the hotline.]
[...What did they talk about?]
[That, I don't know. In any case, His Excellency's intention is not to make an issue of it, 'for now.']
"..."
[What I can surmise is that Russia is also certainly wary of China's expansion.]
He might have said that, but the conclusion likely stemmed from the fact that Russia would also find it difficult to become an outright enemy of the United States.
Russia, having experienced it firsthand, knows best what happens when the U.S. genuinely exerts its power.
Moreover, Russia is currently in the midst of rebuilding its collapsed economy.
Putin would have had no choice but to remain silent, if only to ensure that process wasn't disrupted for the time being.
'Then again, who knows. Maybe there's another reason.'
[Oh, and His Excellency Putin asked me to tell you that he would like you to visit Russia without further delay.]
I nodded nonchalantly at her subsequent words.
Was she displeased with my reaction? Natasha suddenly grabbed my hand.
[He said not to delay any further.]
"..."
I stared at her, puzzled.
Her hand then moved to the laptop.
She started flipping through the photo files again, only stopping her clicking when pictures of a snow-covered landscape appeared on the screen.
[According to His Excellency Putin's message, he would like Jaewoo to participate in the development of the natural gas reserves buried here.]
[Natural gas?]
I instantly looked back at the screen.
The first thing that caught my eye was the file name.
It read 'Yamal Peninsula.' It was even written in English, making it easy for me to read.
[The Yamal Peninsula?]
I felt as if I'd been hit over the head with a hammer.
The Yamal Peninsula holds natural gas reserves amounting to 30% of the world's total.
A place where Russia would begin full-scale development around 2007.
And now he wants to develop it with Jaewoo?
[When should I go?]
I calmed my excitement and immediately asked.
Perhaps surprised by my overly intense reaction, Natasha stared at me with a blank expression.
[He said that sometime after his European tour would be suitable. So, that would be around the middle of the month after next...]
*Beep!*
Before she could finish her sentence, I pressed the intercom.
When I instructed Secretary Kim to book a flight to Russia for that date in advance, Natasha stared at me, dumbfounded.
[Please tell President Putin that I will visit him as soon as he returns from his European tour.]
[What if something urgent comes up then? Why are you confirming the appointment so early? If the meeting gets postponed again, His Excellency might...]
[The appointment won't be postponed. Oh, and if there's anything you want, let me know. The way I'm feeling right now, I could buy you a few houses.]
"..."
*********
Fifteen days before my departure for Russia.
At the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a preliminary public hearing was held to determine the military's Required Operational Capability for the additional construction of Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers.
The two companies invited for consultation were Hyunwoo Shipbuilding and Jaewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
Since both companies were already involved in the construction of the Yi Sun-sin class, this was a natural outcome.
"Chairman Jin, you came in person?"
The Chief of Naval Operations approached me with a surprised look on his face when he saw me.
I suppose it was unexpected for them to see the chairman of an entire group, rather than just the CEO of a shipbuilding company, attend a meeting like this.
But considering the importance of the matter, it couldn't be helped.
This wasn't just about making money.
If we don't set the right course now, it will have a massive impact on our navy's future combat strength.
"Given the gravity of the matter, I couldn't help but be interested."
I replied nonchalantly.
The Chief of Naval Operations seemed to consider my presence a relief; his face brightened as he offered me a seat, and for a while, I focused solely on the meeting's proceedings without intervening.
"We believe it would be best for the additional Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers to be built according to the existing design specifications. This would not only prevent the time consumption that comes with a separate design process but also offer operational convenience."
Hyunwoo Shipbuilding argued for maintaining the existing design to shorten construction time and ensure operational convenience.
The issue of operational convenience was not something to be ignored, so it was enough to gain the approval of the officials.
However, the reaction was surprisingly cold.
"Furthermore, once the Aegis ships are fully deployed, their air-detection capabilities can be shared freely through the tactical data link. There's no reason to spend a lot of money installing a multi-band radar in the meantime."
Sensing the atmosphere, the representative from Hyunwoo Shipbuilding glanced at the generals before continuing his explanation.
Objectively speaking, there wasn't a single flaw in his statement.
Nevertheless, the expressions of the navy officials remained stern. Knowing the reason why, I could only feel sorry for the Hyunwoo representative, who was solely focused on gaining an advantage in winning the contract.
'Tsk, telling a navy that has already tasted something sweet to be satisfied with an outdated system is a completely futile effort.'
No, even besides that, the idea of confronting the powerful maritime forces of neighboring countries with the current Yi Sun-sin class is nothing short of a comedy, so his argument was unlikely to gain traction.
"What happens if all the Sejong the Great-class ships in the fleet are hit?"
I interjected with a question.
Perhaps my direct intervention was unexpected, as all eyes in the room instantly turned to me.
"My apologies. As I was listening, it seemed like a point that had to be addressed."
"No need to apologize. I was about to ask the same question myself."
The Chief of Naval Operations chimed in, supporting what I had said as an excuse.
Was I mistaken? For a fleeting moment, I felt a smile of relief flash through his eyes as we made eye contact.
"I'd like to hear your answer to that."
The Chief of Naval Operations once again pressed the Hyunwoo representative for an answer.
The question seemed to have caught him off guard, as the Hyunwoo representative replied with a flushed face.
"According to the current construction plan, the number of Aegis ships to be deployed in our military will reach nine. Is it even possible for all of them to be hit?"
"It is possible. Aegis ships are not invincible, and in the event of a war, they are the very first targets to be eliminated among maritime forces."
This time, I answered for him.
The Hyunwoo representative's gaze shifted to me, and I continued, addressing the room.
"Especially if we're up against an enemy with a powerful submarine force or fighter jets equipped with long-range supersonic anti-ship missiles, we can never be complacent."
"..."
Representative Yoon of Hyunwoo Shipbuilding bit his lip.
Since I had already started, I continued without paying him any mind.
"Of course, our Aegis ships do have a longer detection range than previous models and are relatively well-prepared against supersonic anti-ship missiles. So, the concern in that area isn't great. However, we must not forget that there are always variables in combat, and victory is not determined by catalog specs alone."
"..."
"If that were all that mattered, would American Aegis ships have been sunk by our Jang Bogo-class submarines during RIMPAC?"
At that, Representative Yoon was rendered speechless.
Seizing the opportunity, the Chief of Naval Operations subtly turned to me and asked.
"Then I'd like to hear Jaewoo Shipbuilding's opinion."
"We recommend that the Yi Sun-sin class also be equipped with a multi-band AESA radar, making it capable of self-sufficient air defense."
"Then you must keep in mind that this will far exceed the available budget."
Representative Yoon immediately retorted.
All eyes turned back to me, and I shrugged as I replied.
"A budget increase is unavoidable. However, if we adjust the number of modules to fit within the ship's capacity, the cost increase won't be that burdensome."
"Even if we set aside the radar, it would be impossible to install the necessary armaments and combat systems to support it on a ship the size of the existing Yi Sun-sin class, wouldn't it?"
"Of course. That's why we need to increase the light displacement to the 6,500-ton class."
"The 6,500-ton class?"
"Yes, which would bring the full load displacement to roughly the 8,000-ton class."
This was said with the Korean-style destroyer that our country had pursued before my regression in mind.
The one designated as KDDX.
"But the navy wants to start construction this year. At this rate, when would the design even be completed...?"
As expected, Representative Yoon once again used time as his weapon.
*Swoosh.*
I immediately glanced at the representative of Jaewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Receiving the signal, Representative Lee Yong took out a memory stick at that precise moment and waved it.
"If it's a design plan you're worried about, we already have one."
"..."