Empire of the Ring

“Your Highness, Congratulations on establishing a new government.”

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to the people around me. I’m sorry if I hadn’t been able to touch base with you these days.”

“It’s an honor to be invited by you like this. I was anxious to hear that the new government was reviewing all the resources exports, but I was reassured that you were in power.”

“Oh, I’m only an errand boy now. And the new government will strictly review the contract for the resources trades. Enes Kaya, the chairman of Koç Holding, was invited to the Arirang Autonomous State. When Youngho said that he wanted to discuss something, he hurriedly flew in.

“So, is the development of uranium mines subject to review?”

“As your company has a technical tie-up with us for the helicopter and the armored vehicle production, there is no significant difference.”

“Phew, that’s good to hear.”

“It’s all about adjusting the absurdities in trade contracts with Russia and China.”

Many resource contracts with Russia and China were written in favor of them, not Kazakhstan, so the government was trying to readjust them.

“The armored vehicle and helicopter assembly plants are being built now. I think we’ll be able to operate them from the beginning of next year.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Since semi-completed products would be brought in from Turkey, the production could start as soon as the assembly lines were completed. They were necessary to mechanize the whole Kazakh Army.

“It’d be great if you could produce all the general parts from Kazakhstan, but those should be imported from Turkey for the time being.”

“Well, we can’t help it for now. Having assembly plants only will be a big boost for us. We’re planning to attract parts factories in Atyrau so that we’ll be able to supply parts in the future.”

“If so, should I connect you to Turkish parts companies?”

“I’d appreciate it if you could do that, chairman. If the Volga-Don Canal is blocked, we’ll have trouble with the parts supply line.”

“It’s always disturbing to someone you can’t predict around you.”

“So we agreed with Azerbaijan and Georgia to double-track the railroad. It’d be useful when the canal is closed.”

“That’s a very cool decision. That will also activate the train from Istanbul to Georgia.”

“The reason I asked you to come is to discuss the matter.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do anything.”

The reason that Koç Holding was eager to do so was because its relationship to the Turkish president was worsening now. The company’s business activities in Turkey were being restricted without the government’s favor.

The Turkish government was risking a lot to tame the defense company since it let the company produce armored vehicles for another country. It was hard to understand the government’s behavior to deliberately turn a blind eye on Koç Holding. The company and the Turkish government had completely turned into enemies.

When Youngho told the chairman that he would buy an island of Greece and use it as a royal villa, he read Youngho’s intention quickly.

“Are you going to use it as a strategic hub?”

“Yes. This is the only thing I can do since our warships can’t enter the Black Sea.”

“Then you should coordinate that with the Greek government.”

“I don’t want to mention something sensitive now. We can negotiate once the island is in our hands. We have plenty of things to offer to the Greek government.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult. Would you let me talk to the Greek government? The Greek government will do a favor for the Kazakh royal family. If the Duke and the Queen stayed at the villa, they’ll have to be followed by guards.”

Youngho was glad to have such an ally. It seemed that Chairman Kaya and Youngho could make good friends. Even though Youngho did not say much, he already understood what Youngho wanted and stepped up to help him actively.

“Chairman, if the Turkish government keeps Koç Holding in check, would you like to move to Kazakhstan? I’ll help you by all means.”

“I’d love to, but most of our company’s clients are in African or Southeast Asian countries. I don’t think I can afford the cost of logistics if we move to Kazakhstan.”

“There’s a Georgian route, but there’s also a railway line under construction, which is going through Iran and into the Persian Gulf.”

“You’re building a railway to the Persian Gulf?”

***

If Koç Holding left Turkey, its economic loss would be enormous since the economic weight of the company in Turkey was great. It was a mega-company that had tens of thousands of people working for it, including second-hand employees. The Turkish president would be criticized for losing such a valuable company.

Kaya accepted Youngho’s offer. He decided to leave Turkey and start anew in Kazakhstan.

“Isn’t that a hasty decision? If you need more time to think, please do so. The relocation costs are going to be huge for you.”

“If I sold the factory site and the office building in Istanbul, I’ll have the location costs covered. I’m doing this because I saw the potential for future development in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Besides, the royal family’s going to have my back, isn’t it?”

“Alright. If you’ve made up your mind, I’ll give you an incentive. We’ll give you the factory or building site free of charge if you decide to move to the royal territory. I’ll also give you a tax favor after consulting with the government.”

The reason why Youngho recommended the autonomous state was that it would create jobs in West Kazakhstan. It was also an opportunity to increase the number of people in the state when various factories came in.

“I’m afraid the Turkish government will turn hostile against our company because we’re moving.”

“It’s natural for global companies to move their production facilities overseas to pursue more profit. Also, isn’t Kazakhstan a brotherly country to Turkey? It should be celebrated instead.”

“It’s just that the current Turkish regime is so unpredictable.”

“We can’t help if the government misunderstands that we’ve cajoled your company. It’ll just be admitting its fault for not protecting and nurturing its own company.”

“It feels like Turkey’s democracy is going backward. Turkey is abandoning secular Islam and strengthening Islamism these days. That would inevitably lead to a slowdown in our corporate activity. That’s one of the reasons why I’m trying to move out.”

“Don’t worry about anything and come here. Kazakhstan will never put forth Islamism.”

The former regime of Kazakhstan also strengthened Islamism in the country in order to drive out Russia’s influence. However, there had been conflicts since 44 percent of the Kazakh people believed in the Russian Orthodox Church.

So, the new constitution separated politics from religion. Now Kazakhstan, instead of using Islam as a state religion, guaranteed freedom of all religions.

“We must also anticipate religious conflicts with the southern Central Asian countries. They will no longer see us as a brotherly state.”

“The secular Islam still exists in Kazakhstan, and there are no fundamentalist Muslims in here as there are in southern Central Asia.”

“Separating politics from religion may be a good thing, but it could be a source of conflict with the southern Central Asian countries.”

“So we’re keeping an eye on them now. You don’t have to be worried about any contraction in corporate activity.”

“Is there any sign of a conflict?”

Kaya was too quick to notice.

Since he was an ally now, Youngho decided to tell him what he knew.

“We’re just worried that long-term presidents of those countries would think of dangerous ideas in order to keep their power.”

“You’re afraid that they’re going to return to socialism.”

“Exactly. The pro-democracy movement is quite big that if it spreads to bloodshed, China and Russia could intervene. In particular, there’s plenty of reasons for China to intervene. It’s invested a lot in infrastructure projects in the southern countries.”

“Does Kazakhstan have the power to stop it?”

Kazakhstan had no such power. However, if the international community was looking at it with its eyes wide open, then it was a different story. In that case, Kazakhstan was in a better position.

“We’re the leading country of Central Asia. We’re going to step up before China or Russia gets involved.”

“The southern countries will get furious for interference in domestic affairs and China will take it as a provocation.”

“It’s better than having another socialist country in the south.”

“Are you even thinking about annexation?”

“I don’t think I’ll get there when I can’t even manage Kazakhstan.”

Kaya thought for a moment. It seemed that he was calculating profits in his head.

“You must have more borders to protect.”

“Of course. More products from your company will be deployed.”

“From Kazakhstan’s standpoint, it would cost a lot of defense money, but it’s good news for an entrepreneur like me.”

“You’re honest.”

“We’ll help protect the lives of soldiers by making better products”

“Good. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

At one point, Kazakhstan would have to deal with China.

The construction of Chinese villages as far as the poorly guarded eastern border mountain area should be arranged, and unreasonable resource development contracts should be worked out.

What mattered right now was Chinese civilians who invaded the Kazakh border area, who were Han Chinese. If they were Uyghurs, it could be looked over since they were only here for farming or nomadic reasons, but if they were Han Chinese, it should be seen as an invasion of the border area since the Chinese government was turning a blind eye to its citizens, violating the border against Kazakhstan. The intention behind it must be to provoke a territorial dispute with Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan should take action on it soon.

On top of that, Youngho was planning to fully support Uyghurs. If Xinjiang Uyghur became an independent country, Kazakhstan’s border with China would naturally disappear—creating a buffer zone called Xinjiang Uyghur, so Kazakhstan would only have to worry about its border with Russia.

Xinjiang Uyghur must be freed for the sake of the safety of Kazakhstan.

Of course, China would not let Xinjiang Uyghur go so easily. There would be bloodshed. When that happened, Youngho would make it global news to turn it into a world-wide conflict zone. If Uyghurs moved, Tibet and Inner Mongolia would dream of independence too. China would not be able to handle all three countries at the same time. China’s response to the situation would be interesting.