CH46 - JPA Plan

"Why are you hesitating?"

"It's about the patent clause in the contract."

"What about it?"

I expected the patent issue to come up.

"They want us to delegate the patent negotiation rights to headquarters. Are they planning to rake in royalties from port constructions worldwide? The amount of money involved seems enormous. Are you sure the patent is jointly held by me and CS?"

"Of course. We signed the contract. The patents and any outcomes belong to you, Silver."

The main inventor listed in the patent clause is Silver, while I'm registered as a co-inventor.

"Right, that's true."

My straightforward answer made Silver flinch.

It's not because I'm a gentleman; it's because this benefits me more.

The caisson construction method is different from the Polytech patent; it's a method that any architect can easily replicate.

Would leading construction companies pay royalties to a Korean like me for a method they can mimic just by looking?

Maybe in the 21st century, but not in the 1960s.

Collecting royalties would be impossible.

Major construction companies would laugh and either sue to invalidate my patent or claim their own superior foundational technology to strip me of the patent rights.

A patent needs power to protect it, and royalties require power to collect them.

Disney wouldn't have been collecting royalties for over 80 years with the same characters for no reason.

In other countries, the copyright would have expired long ago, but the U.S. keeps changing its copyright laws to continue collecting.

Even if I can't get 100%, if BR takes the lead in collecting royalties, getting a share would be the most realistic approach.

In the U.S., companies only have a license for an employee's job-related inventions, and inventors are typically compensated proportional to the royalties.

Moreover, as a co-inventor, I will hold a license for the caisson method, giving me an advantageous position in future international port construction bids.

In the short term, BR will come to me with a deal, and I can make a decent amount of money.

"That's not the only news, is it?"

"How did you know?"

"Tell me quickly. It's good news, isn't it?"

"Yes, I think I'll be promoted to Master."

It's a natural outcome.

The caisson method is a cash cow for BR, likely to bring in royalties for 20 years. They'd promote Silver to Master and bind him with various contracts.

They'd give him carrots to prevent him from going independent or moving to another company while also shackling him.

Of course, Silver, you're also tied to me.

To achieve results as a Master-level engineer at BR, you'll need to use my brain.

Silver, keep in mind, my brain's usage fee is very high.

"Congratulations, Silver. You'll be enjoying cocktails in Hawaii next year."

"Thank you, Master. It's all thanks to you."

"Sure."

I wondered when he'd call me Master.

'Not a fool, much quicker than I thought.'

The cola tasted exceptionally good.

If he did that to Silver, I'll be approached soon too.

They'll ask me to delegate the patent negotiation rights, so I should demand a fitting price.

A telex will arrive soon.

***

A few days later,

Near a ranch in Houston, USA.

Two men were enjoying whiskey and cigars at a table on a larger ranch.

"Come on, Van Flint. Are you a girl, drinking Jack and Coke? Bourbon is best straight."

To American middle-aged men in the 1960s, Jack and Coke and Marlboro cigarettes were considered feminine preferences.

"Brown, times have changed. Jack and Coke is a fail-safe cocktail. It's almost a symbol of America."

Van Flint and George G. Brown, Chairman of BR (Brown & Root), were close friends.

In the military-industrial complex, where BR monopolized military supplies and various construction projects, a war hero like Van Flint was as good as a billboard raising brand value.

"Hmph, did you like what that young Korean said so much?"

"Isn't a fail-safe life everyone's dream? But let's get to business. You didn't call me over just for Jack and Coke."

"The person you mentioned, CS Woo, right? I saw that name too."

Chairman Brown exhaled cigar smoke with an unusually amused expression.

When people his age found something interesting, they became deeply engrossed, sometimes as much as in making money.

"What for? That guy is busy building ports in Vietnam."

"Don't play dumb. He filed an impressive patent for the caisson method, didn't he? Using that clumsy Silverstein as the front."

"Really? That guy's pretty clever."

"More than just clever. That young brat dared to propose a deal to me."

"A deal?"

Van Flint feigned surprise.

Brown hadn't met CS in person, so this reaction was expected. If he had spoken with him even once, he wouldn't have called him a brat.

"Take a look at this. When we asked him to delegate the patent negotiation rights, he replied with this."

Brown handed over a report to Van Flint.

The fact that the BR leadership submitted a report to the Chairman itself indicated it was a highly strategic matter.

"I'll delegate the patent negotiation rights for the caisson method to BR. In return, construct a repair base for heavy equipment, including military trucks, jeeps, tanks, airplanes, and helicopters, in Quy Nhon. The quality should be the same as Japan's, but the repair costs should be 80%. CS Woo."

The report contained various analyses, but the telex sent by CS was enough.

"Haha! What a great deal."

"It's an impressive deal for a young brat. He's pretending to reluctantly hand over the patent while securing everything he can, from royalties to the repair base."

Brown saw right through Chansu's intentions.

Yet he held a favourable view of Chansu.

Brown knew that having someone who adeptly used power logic nearby could always be a useful card.

Even if they were just a brat now.

"Isn't it a good offer? There's been a lot of talk in the political sphere about how fast the Japanese are catching up. They're even saying they'll soon surpass West Germany."

"What do you think? Can this guy be a card to check Japan?"

"Why not? Whether he checks Japan or falls while trying, we won't lose anything."

Van Flint didn't want to reveal his high regard for Woo Chan-soo.

He spoke nonchalantly, but deep down, he hoped Woo Chan-soo... no, a Korean, would succeed.

"Hmph, nothing to lose... But if he falls, it's not a gain either. Why take the risk?"

"Aren't you curious about what this brat will do?"

"Curiosity alone can't move politics. Tell me. Why should we accept his offer?"

"As a soldier, I just believe Quy Nhon is a more strategic point than Saigon. Any competent soldier would agree with me."

"What do you mean? How can you compare Saigon and Quy Nhon? Saigon is the capital of South Vietnam, and Quy Nhon is just a rural area."

Brown's view was typical of a layperson's perspective.

"Saigon became the capital because of the Mekong Delta, a granary area. While it's great for rice farming, it's not a strategic military point. The complex waterways and surrounding jungles are actually used as hideouts by guerrillas."

"Hideouts for guerrillas?"

"Yes, even during the French colonial era, they couldn't clear out the guerrillas in that region. The dense brush and complex waterways make searches difficult and fire operations impossible. In contrast, Quy Nhon is a strategic military point that can cut off the supply route from North Vietnam."

Van Flint relayed Woo Chan-soo's view that Quy Nhon was a strategic point to cut off the Ho Chi Minh trail.

"Hmm, so the idea is to abandon Saigon and choose Quy Nhon if necessary... is that right?"

"Exactly. That's how I'll persuade the military."

Moreover, the U.S. military is primarily naval.

The waterways around Saigon were too narrow and complex.

There were too many factors hindering operations: mine attacks, surprise attacks, underwater explosions while docking, hidden explosives during cargo loading, and so on.

"One more thing. Are the Korean troops stationed in Quy Nhon competent?"

"I've heard they've built trench-type bases called tactical bases. They even won the hearts of the locals by distributing rice paddies. They balance military operations and psychological warfare very well."

"Psychological warfare? Can a war maniac like you use that term?"

"I can use anything if necessary."

Van Flint leisurely drank Jack and Coke and exhaled cigar smoke.

He found the changes in Quy Nhon astonishing.

It unexpectedly emerged as a top strategic point.

The fact that it started with Woo Chan-soo was intriguing.

"Alright, let's move the repair base from Saigon to Quy Nhon. Leave the political and business circles to me. The wealthy will gladly support if they can invest in a safer place."

Brown visualized the plan in his head.

Comparing the U.S., Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines, Quy Nhon seemed better than Saigon.

The idea of a port logistics hub being inland after travelling up a river in Saigon was fundamentally flawed.

"I'll handle the military."

"Give me a Jack and Coke too."

"Why? This is a cocktail for poor soldiers like me."

"All the poor soldiers are dead."

"Hahahaha."

The two wealthy men enjoyed Jack and Coke.

To them, new construction methods and repair bases were just among many money-making items.

***

JPA (Joint Procurement Agency) Hall in Japan.

The JPA meeting, held every month, was unusually convened in September.

The main agenda was relocating the heavy equipment repair base from Saigon to Quy Nhon.

It felt like the center of gravity of the logistics base was shifting to Quy Nhon.

"Hmm..."

The JPA leadership soon left the meeting, but the section managers couldn't leave.

They were the department heads from major Japanese companies like Itochu, Gabone, Mitsui, Toyota Tsusho, and Mitsubishi.

"What's going on here? We were assured that Japan would be the main supplier of military uniforms and boots. How could they disregard us like this?"

"It's like getting bitten by ants. Who knew the U.S. would quickly grant special hiring to Polytech?"

"That's why I said JPA should've swiftly taken over that Daese company instead of manipulating Samo."

They were so frustrated about losing the military uniform and boot supply that their resentment was directed at the JPA leadership.

"It's not just that. They're moving the heavy equipment repair base to Quy Nhon. How do I report this to the chairman... JPA, those incompetent fools..."

"Ugh, my department is ruined. We tried to make money by bringing timber and riding on the government's My Home policy, but we couldn't even get near Quy Nhon."

The managers from Toyota Tsusho and Mitsubishi sighed heavily.

"It's all because of that Korean guy, Woo Chan-soo. He has a firm grip on Quy Nhon."

"What? That guy is doing business in Quy Nhon? Didn't Gabone decide to strangle the logistics ships? What happened with that?"

"They tied up all the merchant ships, but he's using Korean Navy ships like merchant ships. What can we do?"

The Gabone manager clutched his chest in frustration.

They had even lobbied various shipping companies, incurring losses to block Daese's exports.

He was desperate, as Woo Chan-soo kept slipping away like an eel.

"Would the U.S. really trust that guy and move the repair base?"

"Of course not. He just got lucky. BR, the company he subcontracted, is building a major port with a new construction method. If large ships can come and go, it makes sense to move the repair facilities."

"Right... Quy Nhon would make it easier to deploy repaired equipment directly to the front lines. It's logical for the U.S."

"Now's not the time for sighing. We need a plan."

The Mitsubishi manager's face hardened.

"What can we do? We can't argue with U.S. policy."

"We can't, but we can sway South Vietnamese politicians. If we turn Quy Nhon into a mess, they'll have to return to Saigon."

Saigon was tightly controlled by the Japanese companies.

"!!!"

Up until now, Japan had supplied South Vietnamese uniforms, boots, motorcycles, road plates, construction steel, cement, cranes, and even beer.

High-end goods like cameras, TVs, air conditioners, radios, and watches were dominated by Japanese companies like Sony, National, Yashica, and Seiko.

In other words, if they could somehow ruin Quy Nhon, Japan could monopolize the Vietnam War benefits.

"Do you have a strategy for using South Vietnamese politicians?"

The other managers stood up and looked intently at the Mitsubishi manager.

"There's a place called the 2nd Tactical Zone near Quy Nhon. It's a contested area where the South Vietnamese and Viet Cong are constantly at odds."

The Mitsubishi manager spread out a prepared map of Vietnam.

"Wow, it's a strategic point at a glance."

The 2nd Tactical Zone was a transportation hub where National Route 1, running north-south, intersected with Route 19, running east-west.

"I heard Playku, An Khe, and Tuy Hoa are particularly dangerous areas."

"So?"

"We need to request the deployment of Korean or U.S. troops there and support logistics. Where do you think they'll go?"

"Quy Nhon will become a hornet's nest."

"Exactly. If they participate in front-line logistics, can they just sit back and repair trucks? The port construction will be a mess too."

"Haha! Brilliant idea."

"Getting the South Vietnamese command to agree won't be easy. I'll need your help."

"Of course. We must work together. We're all JPA members."

"Sure. We'll gladly help."

The five department managers who had just been criticizing the JPA leadership clasped hands.

Each was excited, imagining reporting this strategy to their superiors as their own idea.

Thus, the project to ruin Quy Nhon was swiftly organized.