Empire of the Ring

Would anyone believe that the history of the world changed because of people’s palate?

There was an incident of the Crusades that had influenced the European culture, and its cause was spice.

It is told that the Europeans who tasted the oriental spices through the Crusades could not eat their own food after they returned home.

Their major diet was based on meat and since it was difficult to preserve meat, many were decayed and had bad odors. However, when people tasted spices of the East, there was a revolution of taste.

This was one of the main causes of the beginning of the Age of Exploration, and because of that, the East and West had clashed and the colonial era began as well.

Youngho was reminded of the history because it was impossible for him to like Serbian foods that the descendants of Serbia made for him on Arirang Farm. He could only have a bite of their meat and overcome its smell after putting a lot of pepper powder, cinnamon powder, and expensive saffron. He wished to fly back to Baku once the wind was calm enough.

He could see why Crusaders opened the Age of Exploration. Serbian people gave him pork leg that had been preserved in salt for years saying that it was good and gave him the most stinky cheese which was supposed to be high quality. So, Youngho frequently ate instant rice, dried seaweed, and ramen to satisfy his hunger.

“I can’t stand this anymore! I should go to Baku at once and bring some Korean side dishes. I’m going to wreck my health if I keep going on like this.”

As Youngho finally gave up, Jongil and Ilkwon nodded at him as if they felt the same.

“I should build a greenhouse or something for these people so that they can grow some vegetables. I’m afraid that they might have scurvy due to Vitamin D deficiency.”

Thankfully, the Serbian immigrants were healthy but the gang could not handle their food.

When Kim Chun’s wife invited the gang occasionally, the gang could eat some Korean foods. They wished that she would invite them every day but it was not like they were only invited to Kim Chun’s house. The influential people among the descendants kept inviting them to their houses, so they reluctantly visited their houses as well.

Spending a while living with the immigrants, Youngho could observe their lives closely.

Since there was nothing to do in the cold winter, many people drunk often together, and so Youngho made a computer class at the school, but it was not a fundamental solution.

It looked like he should build the drone production factory first thing once the temperature was warmed up and create jobs for the people.

Since the factory would be a simple assembly shop for now no special training was necessary. Once people received basic training, they would be able to assemble drones.

Because the construction of the wharf and roads proceeded in winter time, there had been many small and big safety accidents.

Although there were no life-threatening accidents, many were wounded due to safety frigidity, and the old retired doctor and nurses were busy taking care of the construction workers. It was because of them that the town could give first aid to the wounded people.

Through Old Niksic’s demand, many young Serbian women followed the nurses around and learned their work. They were of vital importance during emergency situations.

Arirang Farm in the winter was limping, but it was somehow operating well. Everyone was enduring the coldness and many deficiencies of the farm since they were thankful for they were accepted at the farm when they had nowhere to go.

Since they were safe from hunger and coldness, they seemed to be hopeful that they found a new home. Not to mention, the existence of their Archduchess was a huge encouragement.

Anyhow, they joyfully accepted every day and endured the cold winter in hope.

Youngho planned to hold an event to let the people feel the warmth of heart despite the coldness outside so that they could remember their first winter in Kazakhstan.

***

“Lee, why aren’t you joining us at the monthly meeting?”

“Chief. I’m now assigned in an operation as a field agent.”

“Your operation was over a while ago. How long are you going to use that excuse?”

“Well, there are finishing steps to an operation. You know that I’ve met the Kazakh president, right?”

“I’m going to reduce your expense if you keep mentioning meeting the president.”

Michael now knew exactly what Youngho was going through just by listening to his voice. It seemed that Michael should go down the mountain too.

“Chief. Is there something going on?”

“Every single day is drama. It’s nothing new.”

“If you need me, I’ll fly there at once.”

“The conference is already over, you don’t need to. By the way, I read your report. Is it true that the government is granting you autonomy?”

“Of course. The president was excited about creating an industrial complex. Therefore, you should connect me to a company that we can have a technical partnership with.”

At the end of his report, Youngho had requested an American company that Arirang Farm would have a technical partnership with. He emphasized that such a secure partnership was needed to impress the Kazakh government.

Making an assembly factory of a drone, which had a small-sized body, did not cost a lot. Since all of the parts would be imported, only a good-sized building with an assembly production line and inspection equipment was necessary.

The condition of the partnership was, of course, technology transfer in the proper time.

It was something that the CIA could grant in exchange for Kazakhstan’s peaceful transfer of power and national stability. Then, the CIA would achieve the nation’s job as the world police. The European chapter would also be fulfilling its purpose and Michael was intrigued by that fact.

“Can you also draw in some investors from America? President Nazarbayev wants active American investments and I’m also arranging Korean investments at the moment.”

“Okay, Lee. That’s not a difficult thing to do. It’s a chance for us to raise our voice, I’ll give you a hand.”

***

The Korean solar panel production company K Electronics had already established a joint venture in Baku, under the condition of a technical partnership with Azerbaijan.

Since the company’s size was only to deal with the countries of the Caucasus region, it could not handle the demand for Kazakhstan. This was why Youngho made a suggestion to the company to take over the big market of Central Asia. His suggestion was a good chance for K Electronics to expand its customer base.

There was a railroad that connected the countries of Central Asia, which was built during the time of Soviet Union, and if a production factory was built, the market and transport were guaranteed to other countries.

The demand for solar panels in Kazakhstan was extremely high. It was because the country was huge while its population was small. Rather than having telegraph poles to supply electricity in a barely populated area, having solar panels was a more efficient way.

In many remote regions of Kazakhstan, people watched old TVs in their living rooms or yurts. Those were all possible through solar panels or car batteries.

“Wow, Mr. Lee. When have you make your way into the Kazakh market?”

The staffs of K Electronics who had just landed at Atyrau Airport were busy complimenting Youngho. He was flattered.

“Well, please save your compliments. We should go to the domestic terminal first. To get to the farm, we’ll use another airplane.”

Youngho and Jongil escorted the staff and stopped before the Cessna airplane. As they distributed a little backpack to everyone and told them to put them on, their faces were puzzled.

“I just gave you parachutes in case of a crash. Put them on tight. The wind these days is just heavy.”

As Jongil scared them, the staffs were hesitant.

“Hey, stop teasing them. I’m sorry. We’ll all be fine, this is just for your safety. There won’t be any situation where you’d have to use them.”

Then Youngho grabbed the control stick, which made them even scared.

“Phew, I almost peed in my pants. I can’t think because the plane was so shaky but it’s thrilling.”

There was no pleasant thrill for the K Electronics staffs. Looking at their faces, it seemed that Youngho could count how many times they had been to heaven and hell in their minds.

“This is what we use every time. This is the only way that we can have a look around the area since it’s huge.”

“Are you saying you’d be building a panel factory here?”

“Of course not. The factory will be near the city of Atyrau but what you’ve seen today is where the biggest solar photovoltaic power station is in the whole Central Asia.”

The size of the forty acres of solar power facility could be only estimated by looking down from the sky. This was where the electricity to supply for seven hundred families, three thousand and five hundred people, were produced.

The facility was still in its process of expanding.

If a drone factory was built, more facilities would be necessary.

***

“I can provide as much land for the factory site. You can do a joint venture or sole venture, which one do you prefer?”

“We’ve already decided what we’ll do but I’d like to ask if the Kazakh government or you, are going to make investments as well.”

“If necessary, I’ll make an investment too but I’d rather be satisfied with doing the agency role here.”

At Youngho’s words, everyone’s face was brightened. Since K Electronics had made a lot of profit from Baku’s joint factory, they were expecting more for this business. If the Kazakh government participated in this, their portion would be divided. There was no reason to have a joint venture.

Youngho also wanted to invest in more for the solar panel factory but he was only going to make twenty percent of equity participation since he wanted to invest in another business to impress the Kazakh government.

When a foreign corporate body stepped up to build a solar panel factory immediately after Youngho’s meeting with the president, Kazakh officials were surprised.

Since there was a social problem that there were too many people crowding in big cities without enough jobs, it was good news that an assembly factory that could hire many laborers would be built. It would guarantee at least several hundreds of positions. Moreover, other related businesses would be also established soon, its economic ripple effect was huge.

In the beginning, construction workers for building factory facilities would have jobs and after the factory was completed, factory laborers would be needed. There would also be supply line workers who would deliver parts and moreover, the workers would need places to eat and entertain themselves.

Establishment of a single assembly factory had that much effect on the region’s economy.

Hearing that a Korean corporation had announced its investment in Kazakhstan, Koryoins were also encouraged. There had been some Korean corporations in Kazakhstan in the petrochemical complex but a Korean corporation’s involvement in a production factory was new. It would also create jobs for Koryoins since interpreters for Korean staffs were necessary.

Youngho heard that Kim Chun who was supposed to rest had made a temporary office in his hospital private room. Hearing that a Korean corporation was making its foray in the country, he could not stay still.

“Tell Mr. Kim to take care of his body. We still have a few months left until the construction begins, man. What a busybody.”

Jongil grumbled since he had to stay at the farm due to Kim Chun’s absence and had to suffer at every meal time.

“He’s going to gain illness if he has to lie down without any work. Let’s leave him alone. It’s still because of him our farm is settled this much.”

Youngho was reminded of the first day when he met Kim Chun.

It was lucky that he met him at the airport. He was working as a travel guide for Korean people. If it was not him, Youngho could not have had the very thought of establishing Arirang Farm.

He thought that it would not be a waste if he did any favor for Kim Chun.