Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 247 Landing the Pawn on the Peninsula
"go!"

Seven figures quickly disappeared from the coastline.

The reason for retreating to the heart of the peninsula is that this place is very close to Busan, and if British ships come from outside, they will definitely alert the Bald Eagles of Busan.

He Yuzhu wasn't interested in how the two sides argued, but he didn't want to be cornered here.

He Yuzhu chose a route far from roads and people, and led the team through the desolate area for two days with the help of a compass.

Along the way, he continued to incorporate various combat-oriented concealment, marching, and guard training exercises. Although the team members were exhausted, their ability to execute orders was completely different from what it had been a few days earlier.

He Yuzhu didn't say what the goal was, and his subordinates didn't ask either; they just followed their boss.

After traveling for another two days, and clearly heading towards the heart of the peninsula, someone finally couldn't resist and urged Old Wolf to come and ask.

"Boss, where are we going?" Old Wolf asked, following closely behind He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu didn't stop walking, his gaze sweeping across the slightly open valley ahead and the faint outline of the highway in the distance.

Daegu.

"Daegu?" Grizzly Bear panted, wiping the sweat from his face. "Boss, what are we going there for? Shouldn't we be leaving by now? Hong Kong..."

Before he could finish speaking, Old Wolf glared at him sternly, cutting him off. The boss's decision was not open to questioning.

He Yuzhu stopped and gestured for the team to take a short rest behind a shady rock.

He took out his water bottle, took a sip, and looked north, as if he could see through the mountains to the still-developing industrial city.

"Then let me tell you, Daegu was a spur-of-the-moment decision for me. Britain has lost so many men, they certainly won't let this go. And the Bald Eagles stationed in Busan next door are not to be trifled with either. Let them have their verbal battle."

"Then how do we get back?"

"Find a way to get legal status and go back through legitimate channels."

"Huh? That will take a long time?" Old Wolf said.

"It's not necessarily true. Which of you speaks Korean?"

“I will,” the old wolf said.

“I will,” the coyote continued.

“Me too, I’m Korean,” Grizzly Bear added.

"From Dandong? Someone in your family fought in the Korean Peninsula war?" He Yuzhu looked at the hyena and the grizzly bear.

“These two lads are the juniors of my comrades-in-arms, and they came with me,” Old Wolf said.

"Old Bai never told me that you participated in the Korean War."

“It’s shameful. I was wounded and had to come back after only half a month in 1952. It’s a good thing I came back, otherwise my comrades’ families would have no one to take care of them.”

Where did you hit him?

"I was a reinforcement soldier, I fought at Baimachuan, otherwise..."

"No need to say anything, I know." He Yuzhu stopped Lao Lang from continuing. There were some unpleasant things inside, and he didn't want the other young people to know.

"Yes, boss, you also participated in the Peninsula War?" Old Wolf realized he had misspoke.

That's outdated.

"Tell us about it, boss. You're so capable, you must have a distinguished record on the peninsula," Grizzly said.

"Why is your generation still interested in this war?" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, of course we have. Our parents were left over there. We just regret that we were too young. If we hadn't been starving, we wouldn't have come to Hong Kong with Uncle Wolf."

"Not bad, young man."

"Hehe!" the grizzly bear chuckled.

“Then I’ll tell you about it.” He Yuzhu then began his narration.

He didn't just talk about himself; he explained why the war was fought and how the Allied forces were defeated, interspersed with many anecdotes. He talked for over an hour, and everyone listened with rapt attention.

When He Yuzhu stopped, everyone was still reluctant to leave.

"Boss, have you actually fought all of these?"

"Part of it."

"Then you must have been at a very high rank when you left the army."

"No, I was demobilized in 1952 due to injury."

"What a pity, what a pity!" everyone exclaimed.

"Alright, the story is over, and you've rested enough. Let's move on."

"Yes!" This time everyone's spirits were much higher, especially Old Wolf. Only those who had been to that battlefield knew what He Yuzhu had gone through.

Five days later, seven weary figures, like dust blending into the city, appeared silently on the streets of Daegu.

This industrial city located in the southeastern part of the peninsula, Daegu, was still considered quite backward by He Yuzhu at this moment, compared to Hong Kong.

The people below didn't understand why He Yuzhu came here. Wouldn't it be better to go to Seoul, the capital of South Korea? What's so special about this place?

"Boss, where are we going now?" Old Wolf asked.

"Let's find a place to stay and settle down first." He Yuzhu's gaze fell on a small hotel on the side of the street with a sign that read "Hanjiang Hotel". The storefront was small, but it looked clean and simple.

"Grizzly Bear, Coyote, you two go and book two rooms, adjacent ones, and quiet ones." He handed over a few Korean won that he had picked up on the way.

"Yes, boss." Grizzly Bear and Coyote responded and headed towards the inn.

He Yuzhu and Lao Lang, along with the others, pretended to pick out items at a nearby general store.

A short while later, the two returned with the keys. "Boss, it's ready, the two innermost rooms on the second floor."

The group entered the hotel, and the owner glanced at the group of travel-worn, ordinary-looking "out-of-towners" but didn't ask any questions.

As an industrial city, Daegu has a large number of migrant workers, and they don't seem particularly out of place.

The room was small and simply furnished, but it was clean and tidy, and the window faced a back alley, making it relatively quiet.

After closing the door, He Yuzhu took out a bunch of US dollars, Japanese yen, and British pounds and said, "Coyote, take Iron Hammer out and find a local money exchange (similar to an underground bank) to exchange some Korean won. Iron Hammer, don't say a word when you go out."

"Boss, should we replace them all?" Coyote asked, weighing the wad of cash in his hand.

"Check the exchange rate first, and exchange it all if it's favorable. We need local currency transactions," He Yuzhu nodded.

"Yes." Coyote and Hammer accepted the order and left.

He Yuzhu then looked at Old Wolf and Grizzly Bear, and took out a few Korean won: "Old Wolf, you and Grizzly Bear go out and take a look around. The main thing is to find out what decent factories and businesses are around here. Which industries are more developed, and whether the government or large conglomerates have made any big moves recently. Go to the factory area, listen to the workers' chatter, go to a pub, and listen to what business those people who seem to have some status are talking about. Use your eyes and your ears."

The wolf and the grizzly bear exchanged a glance, understanding their boss's intention: "Understood, boss. We'll go right away."

Only He Yuzhu and two other team members (Wild Dog and Stone) remained in the room.

He Yuzhu walked to the window, opened it a crack, and saw that there was no one or anything special about the clothes drying in the back alley and the piles of household items. He then closed the window.

For the next two days, He Yuzhu did not rush to take action.

He let the team members take turns resting, while he, along with Old Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Coyote, and others, split up and went deep into every corner of Daegu.

They went to the industrial areas in the east and west districts.

Huge factory buildings stand side by side, with chimneys emitting smoke of varying thickness.

The textile factory roared day and night; trucks loaded with heavy parts came and went from the machine shop; the air in the shoe factory was filled with the mixed smell of leather and glue.

The workers, dressed in uniform but slightly worn-out work clothes, hurried along, their faces showing the fatigue of long hours of labor.

Job postings were plastered all over the factory gate.

They went to the downtown shopping streets and traditional markets. The variety of goods was far less extensive than in Hong Kong, mostly daily necessities and locally produced light industrial products.

Imported goods are scarce and expensive, making them unaffordable for ordinary people.

They sat in the simple tavern, listening to local businessmen and small business owners conversing in Korean with a strong Chongqing Shangdao accent.

Some complained about how difficult it was to do business, how hard it was to get loans, and how rising raw material prices were; others excitedly talked about how a certain company had received a large overseas order or that a new factory was going to be built in a certain place; still others mysteriously mentioned that "a big shot from Seoul" had inspected a certain place, and that the government might be going to support a certain industry.

They even "accidentally" passed by the perimeter of some offices or small factories bearing the logos of "Samsung", "Daewoo", and "Hyosung".

These names were already making their mark in South Korea at the time, but in Daegu, their reach seemed to be in its early stages of expansion, far from the scale of later giants.

The collected information was compiled in the hotel room.

"Boss, we've roughly figured out the situation," Old Wolf reported, while the others added details.

"Daegu is now a 'textile city'! Large and small textile factories, dyeing and printing factories, and garment factories account for half of the industry and have the most workers. Next is machinery manufacturing, mainly the production of supporting parts, supplying shipyards in Busan and automobile factories in Seoul. Then there are light industries such as shoemaking and leather."

“The scale of these factories isn’t very large,” Grizzly added. “Many of the factories we’ve seen look big, but the equipment seems quite old, there are a lot of workers, and the management seems… rather chaotic. They can’t compare to the modern factories in Hong Kong.”

“Yes,” the coyote added, “locals are saying that the government is really pushing the economy hard now, factories are being built everywhere, and exports are being encouraged. Bank loans are also easy to get, as long as you can secure overseas orders.”

However, the competition is fierce, and many small factories have gone out of business.

In addition, major brands like Samsung and Daewoo have set up operations here, but mainly as sales outlets or small-scale branch factories. Their core operations seem to be still in Seoul and Busan.

"There's another point. There are indeed gangs here, mainly entrenched around the factory area and the docks. They collect protection money, control some porters and female workers, and even interfere with the raw material supply of some small factories. But they don't seem to be very powerful; they're just local bullies. They can't compare to the organized gangs with powerful backers in Hong Kong. As long as you pay them or show them some strength, it shouldn't be difficult to take them down."

He Yuzhu listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the simple hand-drawn map spread out on the table, which marked the key areas they had explored.

Hong Kong is too small, a thought popped into He Yuzhu's mind. This wasn't the first time.

Hong Kong was a financial and trade paradise, but its land resources were extremely limited. High land prices and labor costs, as well as the monopoly of British conglomerates over key industries, severely restricted the development of heavy industry and large-scale manufacturing.

His Yellow River Industries can thrive in areas such as docks, real estate, automobiles, beverages, and security, but it is almost impossible for him to make any progress in Hong Kong if he wants to get involved in manufacturing industries that can truly lay a foundation and have core competitiveness, especially heavy industry and chemical industry.

The future electronics industry will require a massive industrial chain to support it, and Hong Kong cannot provide the necessary conditions.

And what about China?

He Yuzhu's eyes dimmed slightly.

In 1972, the mainland of China was still teetering on the brink of a special period. Although the dawn had broken, the overall business environment was far from mature.

It is characterized by high risks, underdeveloped infrastructure, a closed market, and a reticent attitude towards foreign investment.

The time is far from ripe for large-scale industrial investment now. We should wait at least ten years, or even longer.

His gaze returned to Daegu on the map; this place was different.

Although it appears backward, rough, and even somewhat chaotic, it possesses advantages that neither Hong Kong nor the mainland at that time could match:

1. Low land and labor costs: This is the foundation for developing manufacturing.

2. Strong government push for industrialization: Park Geun-hye's five-year plan is being pushed forward with full force, featuring preferential policies, loan support, and a clear target of an export-oriented economy. This is a huge opportunity of the times.

3. Preliminary industrial foundation: There is already some accumulation in textiles and machinery. Although the industrial chain is not perfect, it has taken shape, which is convenient for entry and upgrading.

4. Geographical location: Close to Busan Port, convenient logistics, which is conducive to import and export.

5. Relatively stable society: Under the strong rule of the military government, social order is much better than in many parts of Southeast Asia. As long as local relations are handled well, the business environment is controllable.

More importantly, those future powerful chaebols of the Korean Peninsula, such as Samsung, Hyundai, and Daewoo, are currently in a critical period of expansion and transformation.

Their foundations are not yet fully solidified, and their monopolistic structure has not yet fully formed. This is precisely the golden age for "wild growth," for securing positions early, and even for participating in shaping the rules!

A clear blueprint quickly took shape in He Yuzhu's mind.

Hong Kong is its financial center and a window to the world, but the real foundation for its future must be built on a solid manufacturing base!
And the peninsula, especially Daegu, which is striving forward in the wave of industrialization, is the place he chose to "make his move"!
"Boss, you mean..." Old Wolf looked at the glint in He Yuzhu's eyes and vaguely guessed what was going on.

He Yuzhu did not answer directly. His gaze slowly swept over all the team members in the room, finally landing on the coyote.

The hyena felt the boss's gaze and instinctively straightened its back.

“Coyote,” He Yuzhu’s voice was steady and powerful, “how long have you been with me?”

"Reporting, boss! Three years and seven months!" the coyote shouted back.

"Did you bring your Korean from home, or did you learn it later?"

"Reporting to the boss! My elders taught me this since I was little! I never lost it in Hong Kong, and I still keep in touch with my fellow Korean compatriots there!"

“Very good.” He Yuzhu nodded, looking at him intently. “Now, I’m giving you a task, a very important task.”

The hyena held its breath; the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"You stay," He Yuzhu said, enunciating each word clearly. "Stay in Daegu."

A look of surprise flashed in the hyena's eyes, along with a hint of barely perceptible unease.

"Boss, I..."

"Let me finish," He Yuzhu raised his hand to stop him. "I'll give you some start-up capital, enough for you to establish yourself here. You have a few tasks:"

"First, use the Korean won you've earned to find a reliable local partner, or simply register a small trading company yourself. Start with what you're most familiar with and has the lowest barriers to entry, such as trading textile accessories or reselling small mechanical parts. The goal isn't to make a fortune, but to integrate into the local business community, build connections, and understand the rules. Be discreet, and keep your identity 'clean'—don't get involved in anything messy."

"Second, keep a close eye on local industry development trends, especially key industries supported by the government and the investment directions of large conglomerates. Pay attention to small factories that have technology but lack funds, or those that are poorly managed but have potential. At the same time, pay attention to the people behind the money exchange and the main leaders of local gangs, and try to establish contact, but don't get involved easily. When necessary, you can 'showcase' your abilities, but be careful not to overdo it."

"Third, we need to find a safe and secluded place to serve as our future contact point and warehouse. This place must be absolutely reliable; I might send some Hong Kong specialties over."

"Fourth, and most importantly, learn the skills. It's not just about doing business, but also about learning how to survive and thrive in South Korea's unique political and business environment. Observe how those chaebols operate, learn their methods, but also maintain our own bottom line."

He Yuzhu paused, his tone becoming even more serious: "Coyote, this mission has no time limit. It could be a year, three or five years, or even longer. You will be far away from your brothers in Hong Kong, struggling alone in a foreign land, facing cold stares, deception, suppression, and even danger. Do you have the courage and determination?"

The hyena's chest heaved violently, and the apprehension in his eyes was slowly replaced by an almost fanatical light.

He Yuzhu's trust and entrustment made him feel extremely honored and ignited the flame of his unwillingness to be ordinary deep within him.

He snapped to attention, his voice loud and firm: "Reporting, boss! Coyote guarantees to complete the mission! We'll be based in Daegu and protect this territory for you! We will never betray your trust! As long as we're here, we'll hold this position!"

"Good!" He Yuzhu patted the coyote heavily on the shoulder, his eyes full of praise and expectation.

"Remember, safety first! I will send people to contact you regularly and will also provide you with instructions and support through special channels. You are not fighting alone; behind you is the entire Taishan Security, the Yellow River Group, and me, He Yuzhu!"

He turned to Old Wolf and the other team members: "Old Wolf, who else is willing to stay and sign up? In the next few days, we will do our best to assist Coyote, help him get familiar with the environment, find a place to stay and some initial business opportunities."

"Yes, boss!" Old Wolf solemnly accepted the order, his gaze towards the coyote complex, showing both joy at his old comrade's success and worry about the fledgling leaving the nest.

He understood that his boss was planting a seed in Daegu, a seed that might one day grow into a towering tree.

Grizzly, Wild Dog, Stone, Hammer, and the others echoed in unison, their eyes filled with envy and reluctance as they looked at the coyote.

Over the next two days, the team's focus shifted entirely to the hyenas.

Old Wolf, along with Grizzly Bear and Coyote, used the Korean won they had earned to rent a ground-floor storefront with a small warehouse in a relatively quiet back alley residential area not far from the industrial zone.

The house was old, but in a good location with unobstructed front and back doors, making it easy to observe and evacuate. The landlord was a talkative but greedy old man who, after receiving a "deposit" equivalent to three months' rent (actually hush money), cheerfully promised not to disturb the tenant.

Wild Dog and Stone were responsible for cleaning and setting up this temporary "outpost," purchasing necessary supplies, and ensuring that it looked like a place truly ready to start a small business.

Iron Hammer, despite his tough name, was the most meticulous. He was responsible for dealing with any "extra" items that the group had brought along that might expose their identities, and for completely destroying them in a secluded place.

He Yuzhu wasn't idle either. Alone, he changed into a more ordinary jacket that suited his identity as a local small businessman and ventured deep into the industrial area and docks once again.

This time, his observations were even more meticulous.

He needs to give the coyotes a clearer entry point, a direction that can both quickly integrate into the local ecosystem and lay the groundwork for future development.

On the evening of the seventh day, the team members gathered again in their simple hotel room.

The hand-drawn partial map of Daegu was still spread out on the table, this time with the locations of outposts and several key areas marked on it.

He Yuzhu pointed to an area on the map near the textile factory: "Coyote, your first step will start here."

All eyes were on them.

“Based on our observations over the past few days, Daegu’s textile industry is the foundation, but the competition is fierce, and small factories are struggling to survive. We can’t get involved in the core fabric production, dyeing, and garment manufacturing for the time being, nor is it necessary. But all factories, regardless of size, need one thing: spare parts and consumable components.”

The hyena's eyes lit up.

He Yuzhu continued, “The gears, bearings, belts, and even the most ordinary screws and nuts used in textile machinery are used in huge quantities and wear out very quickly. Large factories may have fixed suppliers, but small factories that are struggling to survive often need to replenish these small parts nearby and quickly in order to save costs and meet deadlines. And locally, it seems that there is no shop that specializes in this and offers flexible services and negotiable prices.”

"Does the boss mean... to open a hardware store? Specifically targeting these small textile factories?" Coyote immediately understood.

“That’s right,” He Yuzhu nodded. “Let’s start with the most inconspicuous things: screws, nuts, washers, wrenches, and lubricant. We already have a shop, and the location is suitable. I’ll give you enough start-up capital to stock up on a batch of commonly used goods. Old Wolf taught you how to tailor your approach to different people, and Grizzly and the others will help you with errands and familiarize yourself with the area. There are two key points:”

He held up two fingers.

"First, the service must be fast and flexible. If the machine breaks down in the middle of the night, you have to find a way to send the parts, even if it costs extra. Small business owners are most afraid of work stoppages."

"Second, get in touch with the money exchange offices and the local gang leaders as soon as possible. Pay all the required management fees, and even be proactive in doing so. Make them think you're sensible and know what's what, so your business can be stable. Taking a small loss at the beginning is for the sake of the bigger picture later."

"Understood!" The hyena nodded vigorously, his thoughts instantly becoming clear.

This job may seem insignificant, but it allows you to delve into the intricacies of the factory and interact with all sorts of people, providing excellent cover for gathering information and building connections.

"In addition," He Yuzhu took a thick envelope from his bag and pushed it in front of the jackal, "this is some extra 'operational funds.' Open an account in your own name at a local bank and deposit some of it. If necessary, treat people to meals or smooth things over; don't be stingy. Keep the rest for emergencies."

The hyena accepted the heavy envelope, knowing that it represented not just money, but also the boss's profound trust and the responsibility entrusted to him.

"Old Wolf, you guys have completed your mission. Tomorrow morning, we'll split up and leave Daegu."

"Boss, I want to stay and help the coyote," Grizzly said.

"Oh, who else wants to stay?"

“We all want to,” everyone except Old Wolf said.

"Hehe, boss, you don't need to look at me. My wife and kids are waiting at home. If I were a bachelor, I would definitely stay. The opportunities here are much better than in Hong Kong. I'd better go back to being a security guard."

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(End of this chapter)