Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: New Ventures and Ominous News
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[Korean defense contractor Jaewoo Group partners with Everhard to establish an electric vehicle company.]
About a month later, a brief news report from the United States announced the founding of a new car company.
It didn't attract much attention at first, likely because the field was unfamiliar even to most Americans.
But in a few years, things would be different.
Just like when Tesla first appeared in 2003.
‘Tesla…’
Everhard had insisted on naming the company Tesla.
It didn't really matter to me, but it did feel a bit strange.
It was probably the emotional stir from realizing that I had moved beyond simply twisting history and was now actively participating in its reshaping.
“Chairman, I just received a call from our legal team. They’re proceeding with the establishment of a research complex and offices in the Palo Alto area.”
That part, at least, seemed to be following history.
After all, Tesla’s beginnings were in Palo Alto.
“Tell them to stay in the U.S. for the time being and meticulously oversee all the preliminary matters. Oh, and please prepare a car. I plan to visit Defense and Thales.”
Today was a particularly busy day.
I had to visit the infantry weapons development division.
I also had to stop by the ground weapons development division, which recently moved to Defense after merging with the departments from Wooyoung and Techwin.
The one silver lining was that I wasn't as swamped as I used to be, thanks in large part to the recently recruited Minister Kim Young-gi.
“Also, call Thales and ask Vice President Kim Young-gi to come over to Defense.”
On a sudden thought, I summoned the former minister.
I needed his opinion on a matter I had to deal with today.
He had just finished a meeting and immediately confirmed he would join us. A few hours later, we were reunited at the Defense research institute.
“You’ve gotten much thinner since I last saw you.”
Minister Kim, whom I hadn't seen in a full two months, was noticeably thinner.
The pressure of his new responsibilities must have been immense.
Just as a pang of guilt began to set in, he waved his hands dismissively.
“Ah, please don’t worry about it. I didn’t lose this weight because of work; I did it on purpose.”
“...”
“I gained nine kilograms while I was resting. I felt like I had become complacent, so I decided to go on a diet.”
It was a reflection of his mindset.
Honestly, at his age, making the effort to lose weight couldn't have been easy.
It suddenly occurred to me that I should check on my own physical condition, which was slowly starting to fall out of balance.
“By the way, what brings you to Defense all of a sudden?”
“Ah, I wanted to discuss the development of a new tactical mobility vehicle.”
I said to him as he asked nonchalantly.
He stared at me with wide eyes, as if the suggestion was completely unexpected.
“Are you saying you want to develop a replacement for the existing command vehicles?”
“Not a command vehicle, but a mobility vehicle with protective features. One that can shield soldiers from bullets and explosions.”
“It sounds like you’re talking about something like the U.S. military’s Humvee. But you want to build it for troop mobility, not for command?”
Minister Kim—no, Vice President Kim—looked baffled.
It made sense, as our military didn't use Humvee-like vehicles for troop transport.
Even if we were to develop one, it would primarily be used for commanders, communications, or medical transport, so his confusion was understandable.
“A vehicle with the performance of a Humvee won't be enough. That thing can barely handle defending against small arms fire. What I want is something that can withstand improvised explosive devices and machine-gun barrages.”
His expression grew more puzzled.
After I spent some time explaining to help him understand, he posed a crucial question.
“But if the goal is to protect our soldiers, wouldn’t it be better to improve our transport vehicles?”
He wasn't wrong.
Considering our military's operational style and circumstances, improving transport vehicles would be the more logical choice.
However, this project wasn't being initiated with our military in mind.
“Even if we were to improve our transport vehicles, when would they ever be deployed? Since we’re on the topic, I should make this clear: this project will be developed entirely in-house. It’s being designed for export, anyway.”
“Export? To whom, exactly?”
To be precise, I was targeting the U.S. military.
The 9/11 attacks were just a year away.
This was in preparation for the wars that would follow.
The U.S. military suffered heavy casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq, with losses from improvised explosive devices being particularly high. They hastily introduced the MRAP, but its massive size meant it failed to match the Humvee's mobility.
‘What if I already have something that satisfies their needs ready for them in that situation?’
When casualties are mounting, starting development from scratch is pointless. Naturally, they would look for a ready-made solution, which would be mine.
“I’m thinking of breaking into the American market.”
“Hmm, I don’t know if that’s possible, but even if it is, Defense’s production capacity won’t be enough to meet the demand.”
He had a point.
Even with the departmental mergers, Defense’s production capabilities were not at a level to fulfill an order the size of the U.S. military’s needs.
Therefore, to realize my plan, I needed a factory with an adequate level of automation and standardized production lines.
This would be even more crucial for smooth cooperation with Tesla down the line.
“A solution for that should present itself soon.”
But there was a way.
In a few months, Daeyu Motors would be declared bankrupt.
That would be the answer.
“Surely you’re not thinking of going after Daeyu Motors?”
Vice President Kim was, as expected, a man of sharp judgment.
Then again, it was the only logical answer at this point.
I responded with a faint smile, and he added another comment.
“But we can’t handle Daeyu’s enormous debt.”
“I know. We don’t have the ability to take on the tens of trillions of won in debt from the passenger car division alone. That’s why I plan to propose to the government and the creditors that they sell the truck division and Ssangwoong Motors, which Daeyu previously acquired, separately.”
“...”
Vice President Kim wore an expression that said he doubted it was possible.
But regardless of my involvement, Daeyu’s fate was to be torn apart by division. That was history.
The passenger car division would go to GM, the bus division to Youngan Hat Company, and the truck division to India’s Tata Group.
Therefore, it wasn't an unreasonable attempt, and for me, who needed to minimize the burden as much as possible, it was the only way.
“Actually, if it’s possible, that wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.”
Vice President Kim’s face lit up with delayed excitement.
He must have realized that this was where his connections and influence would be needed.
And it was true he could be a valuable asset in such matters.
“That aside, what kind of underbody design do you think would be best for the vehicle, Vice President?”
“Well, considering the damage from hidden explosives on the ground, a V-shaped hull would be necessary. It’s excellent at dispersing blast pressure. The problem is that unless it has tank-level protection, it won’t be completely immune to explosions.”
“I agree. That’s why I’m not asking for something completely invulnerable to landmines, just a design that minimizes casualties from improvised explosives. Which is why I was thinking, how about we use the new composite material we developed?”
“That would be ideal, but wouldn’t the cost increase significantly?”
“It will certainly be more expensive than a Humvee. But the U.S. military will still buy it.”
When their soldiers are dying, the military will feel the pressure. At that point, money is no longer the primary concern.
“...”
Vice President Kim still looked a little worried about the price.
I gave him a slight smile and turned away. He quickly followed.
“Are you heading up?”
“No, I have something I’d like to discuss with you in more detail. But let’s get something to eat first.”
I gave a short reply and got into the car.
Perhaps the words “discuss in more detail” made him tense up. His expression remained stiff all the way to the restaurant, and the moment we sat down at the table, a question burst out of him.
“Is there some kind of problem at Thales?”
“That’s not what I want to talk about, so you can relax.”
I could understand how he felt.
Though he was the Vice President, with the CEO position vacant, he was effectively in charge of Thales.
Especially having just taken command, he must have been on edge about even the smallest issues.
“I think you’ll agree with what I’m about to say.”
“...”
“Our military’s small arms, including our service rifles, are incredibly subpar. The K3, in particular, with its frequent malfunctions, is almost beyond words.”
“I feel a great sense of responsibility for that matter as well.”
He looked bitter, as if it were his own fault.
But that was a problem that had been building for more than a day or two.
I waved my hand dismissively and continued.
“For that reason, I think it’s time for us to seriously enter the business of improving our infantry weapon systems. To start, I’d like Thales to acquire a firearms parts company.”
“Which one?”
“I have Dasan Engineering in mind. I think it would be good to merge Dasan with the newly established infantry weapons development center at Thales. What do you think?”
“Absorb Dasan?”
“Yes. I was tempted by Daewoo Precision, but it’s already been sold to S&U, so there’s no point in lingering on it. Dasan has good technology, so I think they would be a fine choice.”
At this time, Dasan Engineering was nothing more than a simple firearms parts manufacturer.
However, through continuous technological development, it would grow into a comprehensive firearms manufacturer by the mid-2010s and later achieve the feat of exporting firearms to Germany, a powerhouse in metalworking.
Its destiny was the complete opposite of Daewoo Precision, which lost its potential for growth after being acquired by S&U.
I planned to use their metalworking skills to bring about a change in our infantry weapon systems.
“I’ve heard rumors that their skills are quite reputable, but will they accept a merger proposal?”
“We’ll have to make them an offer they can’t refuse. For example, wouldn’t a condition to retain all their researchers and existing employees be enough?”
“A condition like that might just work. For them, there’s the advantage of being able to focus solely on development with stable financial support. Still, the management will likely want to drive up the acquisition price.”
“It’s still just a parts company. Compared to a car company, it’s pocket change.”
Vice President Kim chuckled in agreement.
Just then, the gukbap we ordered arrived, decorating the table and bringing our conversation to a temporary lull.
“By the way, what’s the current distribution rate of body armor in the military?”
I brought up the topic again after we had mostly finished our meal.
Vice President Kim, who was rinsing his mouth with sungnyung, gave an awkward smile at the question.
“We’ve been issuing it to some units since ‘97, but the quantity is extremely limited. The performance is also at a level where it’s nearly impossible to stop a rifle round. But why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“Since we’re improving our infantry weapon systems anyway, I thought we might as well improve our body armor at the same time. The project cost isn't that large, so it shouldn't be a problem, right? For the record, this will also need to be developed with exports in mind.”
“To the U.S. again?”
“You know the chances of our military adopting it anytime soon are slim. Still, thinking of the future, making these improvements now will benefit our military in the long run.”
“But the U.S. military already has its own body armor. Would they have a reason to replace it?”
“The U.S. military uses PASGT vests with ceramic plate inserts. The problem is that a single ceramic plate weighs close to ten kilograms. I hear an improved version has come out recently, but it’s just as burdensome in terms of weight.”
In fact, most existing body armor faced such challenges.
They were essentially just plates added to Kevlar or other processed fabrics.
The problem was that the weight was at a level that increased soldier fatigue and caused a decline in combat effectiveness.
“So, do you have some other alternative in mind, Chairman?”
“My research lab previously developed a shock absorber for smart munitions and, in the process, acquired metal foam technology—that is, the technology to process metal into a sponge-like form by structuring it at the nano level. If we use that to produce the plates, we can expect NIJ Level IV performance.”
“...A level that can stop armor-piercing rounds? What about the weight?”
“Since it’s a nanostructured material, there’s no issue with weight. A single plate weighs about 800 grams.”
“...”
Vice President Kim stared at me, his mouth agape.
With that kind of weight, it would be a tremendous help in improving soldiers’ operational capabilities.
As a former military man, he couldn't help but be excited.
“What do you think? That should be good enough to present to the U.S. military, right?”
“Just the U.S. military? Every military in the world would be interested. But when would commercialization be possible?”
He showed a surge of motivation unlike before.
It was understandable. If this became a reality, it would be a product that could instantly dominate the body armor market.
I was about to let out a dry laugh when he suddenly changed his expression and clicked his tongue.
“Hmm...”
“What is it?”
“It’s a shame. Even if we create something truly useful, there’s no telling how long it will take for our military to be supplied with it. Of course, I don't have much room to talk on that subject, but I can’t hide my frustration.”
I felt the same way.
But compared to the original history, things were at least better now. I had to be content with that.
If we keep making progress like this, even one step ahead of history, someday our military will see its day in the sun.
“Huh?”
I offered a self-deprecating smile and was about to lift my water glass.
That was when a single line scrolling across the TV screen above the counter caught my eye. A news flash.
Startled, I shot up from my seat. Vice President Kim, who had followed my gaze to the TV, also rose from his seat with a bewildered expression.
“Baengnyeong Island?”
The breaking news was about a clash between a North Korean navy patrol boat and one of our own.
The Battle of Yeonpyeong instantly came to mind.
The problem was, why was it happening now, and unlike in history, why did it start near Baengnyeong Island?
[ROK Navy Chamsuri-class patrol boat sunk.]
The outcome of the event was also different from history.
The original First Battle of Yeonpyeong had been a decisive victory for our side.
But the news was reporting the opposite result.
“How could this...”