The Bottom of a Large Company Does a Good Job - Chapter 284



Only Noblemtl

Episode 284. Secret Instructions (2)

Destroy Taesung Construction.

This is actually an instruction the Chairman gave me.

He also told me not to tell anyone.

How does Kwon Tae-ho know that?

This didn’t really matter.

Kwon Tae-ho is the chairman’s confidant.

The chairman may have said it, or Kwon Tae-ho may have guessed it based on various information.

Anyway, it’s a problem between the chairman and Kwon Tae-ho.

The important thing is why are you telling me that now?

Don’t forget the chairman’s instructions?

I was ordered to destroy Taesung Construction, but I’m actually reviving it?

No, I said it because it’s ‘now’.

-Keep going.

Strength entered my tightly clenched hands.

In fact, even if he is Kwon Tae-ho, he should not openly mention the chairman’s secret instructions.

Whether you overheard it or heard it, it’s Kwon Tae-ho’s business.

Isn’t that like trying to intervene according to one’s own will in accordance with the chairman’s instructions?

If Kwon Tae-ho was needed, the chairman would have invited Kwon Tae-ho to speak at that time.

It would be risky to mention here the secret conversation between the Chairman and me.

The fact that you say it even though you know it means it’s important.

So the question to ask here is not ‘how’ or ‘why’.

“Is this something you need to do now? Do you have time?”

You have to ask when.

As expected, Kwon Tae-ho nodded.

“It’s a bit urgent.”

There was a special reason why I gave you the hint.

But Kwon Tae-ho’s words were not over yet.

“This time I need to know why.”

“Why?”

Kwon Tae-ho doesn’t usually tell me things directly.

Usually, a situation is given and we are asked to infer it.

But this time, he said it outright, ‘reason’.

Not revealing the answer may have been Kwon Tae-ho’s last consideration.

It’s about teaching me how to think for myself.

I gave you a hint, now think about it.

As he said that, Kwon Tae-ho closed his mouth.

He didn’t urge me or give me any further hints.

I just waited quietly.

Kwon Tae-ho is a person who uses his time efficiently.

The fact that he was just waiting for my answer without doing anything meant that he was doing me a favor.

I felt such a huge burden at that moment that my mind almost went blank.

I barely managed to hold on to the thoughts that were being erased in real time and organized them one by one.

What did I say then?

“It is because of the unique location of Taesung Construction.”

That’s right.

Taesung Construction is one of the two cornerstones that created today’s Taesung Group.

That’s why Taesung Construction left him alone even though he knew he was loyal to his ex-wife, Jo Mi-hyeon.

The chairman was displeased with that.

Those who bear the name of Taesung are also not loyal to him as their leader.

Taesung Construction is also acting arrogantly, relying on its past glory.

“Mr. Chairman, if we do that, we might really collapse.”

“You can really break it.”

This means, conversely, that it is not necessary to tear it down.

He said that, but what the chairman really wants is not to destroy Taesung Construction.

If necessary, it means that I will not be held responsible even if Taesung Construction collapses during the process.

If so, the chairman’s purpose is obvious.

“The chairman wants Taesung Construction to return to Taesung’s embrace.”

“yes.”

Kwon Tae-ho frowned as if telling me to speak.

“Just now, CEO Kwon Tae-ho said that Managing Director Chae On-ik joined hands with Tak Jae-min.”

“… … .”

Now that I’ve said this, it’s clear what I need to do.

It felt like my head was cleared.

Naturally, my speech became faster.

“Just as Mirae Group is facing a fratricide, Taesung will not sit still either, as Managing Director Chae On-ik will. Joining hands with Tak Jae-min means that he will soon create his own power.”

Kwon Tae-ho looked at me quietly, neither confirming nor denying.

But I could tell from the look in his sunken eyes that I wasn’t wrong.

“The next step is obvious. Managing Director Chae On-ik also has an inferiority complex like Tak Jae-min… … .”

At this point, I unconsciously noticed Kwon Tae-ho’s expression.

I don’t mind badmouthing someone else’s successor, but he’s still our company’s managing director.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just us here. Sometimes being direct can help you make a decision.”

Actually, Kwon Tae-ho is a person who would rather focus on understanding the situation than worrying about useless rhetoric.

Especially since there is no third party in this place that needs to be treated with such courtesy.

He continued speaking with Kwon Tae-ho’s permission.

“Executive Director Chae On-ik also has an inferiority complex. To be exact, he thinks he was deprived of opportunities. Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik thinks he was just born before him and thus has a stable position as successor. He is someone who thinks he will do better if he is left to his own devices.”

“That’s obvious.”

Kwon Tae-ho said as if he was bored.

Perhaps Kwon Tae-ho would know more about the family of the general manager.

You must have seen it since you were young.

“Regardless of whether or not Executive Director Chae On-ik is actually more outstanding, if things continue this way, there will definitely be conflict.”

Actually, I got a little lost in this part.

The chairman declared Chae Tae-ik as his successor.

That was also because of Jo Mi-hyeon’s conditions.

For the sake of Chae Tae-ik’s survival, Jo Mi-hyeon, that is, Taesung Construction, had to hold on firmly.

But the chairman said the opposite.

“Take down Taesung Construction. That means weakening the influence of former wife Cho Mi-hyeon. The chairman didn’t give a deadline before. But the president said it had to be done now. What changed in those few months?”

I said as I exhaled.

“This is Managing Director Chae On-ik.”

Chae On-ik will move soon.

“The chairman wants Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik’s power to be weakened. No, to be exact, I think he wants Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik to overcome it on his own without the influence of his mother.”

It is easier for subordinates to do as they are told without guessing the intentions of their superiors.

There is a line beyond which you should not know anything.

That’s why I didn’t even dare to express my opinion to Kwon Tae-ho in the past.

But at some point, Kwon Tae-ho started allowing me to have such thoughts.

Now, I was even giving myself time to guess his intentions.

He said that rather than just telling you that you have to do it ‘now’, you have to know why.

Even the chairman’s intentions.

“There are other reasons as well. It is true that Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik was able to take the successor position more easily than other groups. I am not saying that the Vice Chairman lacks ability. However, it is a problem that those around him may see it that way.”

“Someone is doubting Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik’s abilities.”

It was clear that the upper management did not like Chae Tae-ik.

Actually, even in my opinion, the current Chae Tae-ik has a strong image of ‘a person who became vice president thanks to his mother.’

I sat there comfortably without ever having a proper sibling fight.

“It’s not just some people, it’s most people. Especially those who have served the current chairman for a long time. They have grown up with the company, so they are very picky.”

They are, so to speak, the people who have worked hard to grow the company.

To them who lived fiercely, Chae Tae-ik was an ordinary second-generation chaebol who had a good mother and became his successor.

“The company will run well even if Chae Han-ik or Chae On-ik is put in the vice-chairman position instead of Chae Tae-ik. That is their thinking. In short, Vice-chairman Chae Tae-ik has shown nothing.”

Of course, it is difficult to just maintain the status quo.

How many large corporations have gone bankrupt in the past?

But unfortunately, the current situation is when the chairman is still in office.

The point is that maintaining the status quo is not Chae Tae-ik’s fault.

“The Vice President didn’t even have a chance to show anything.”

“That’s why Taesung Construction must collapse.”

Kwon Tae-ho’s eyes sparkled.

It seemed as if there was even a subtle murderous intent.

Kwon Tae-ho continued speaking.

“The former president must have wanted to protect her and her son’s management rights. That greed caused her to get angry. Since she didn’t have a chance to demonstrate her abilities, the vice president’s position is getting narrower as time goes by. If things continue like this, even if she becomes the next chairman smoothly, the seeds of distrust will not disappear.”

It’s the same concern that the head of the Mirae Group had.

Is it similar to the risks of an owner-managed business?

It’s better to make them fight now than to split up after the next president is elected.

Chairman Taesung must have thought so too.

“But, Chairman, you don’t like fighting between brothers. Besides, I have a promise with my wife. It won’t be easy for me to go back on what I’ve already said.”

The situation changes every time, so while allowing brothers to fight is one thing, breaking a promise with Jo Mi-hyeon is a whole other matter.

Instead of making Chae Tae-ik the successor, he gave up the cornerstone of Taeseong.

“So, we need to control it well from this side. Will the successor of Taesung Group be able to grab the hair and fiddle around like Mirae? It will be a fair exercise of ability and restraint.”

My eyes widened at Kwon Tae-ho’s words.

What did you just say?

You’re saying this is well-controlled?

“Are you saying that you will control the power of Executive Director Chae On-ik?”

Kwon Tae-ho raised the corners of his lips without saying a word.

My mouth fell open.

Isn’t it true that even Chae On-ik is in Kwon Tae-ho’s grasp, or rather, in his plan?

Could Chae On-ik have guessed?

No, by now you must have secretly succeeded in joining hands with Tak Jae-min and are excitedly planning your next plan.

I stuck out my tongue.

“So you are saying that you will also control Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik’s power through me?”

As for Chae On-ik, Kwon Tae-ho would have planned it out on his own.

I must cut down the power of Jo Mi-hyeon that supports Chae Tae-ik.

That is the true nature of the order to destroy Taesung Construction.

Kwon Tae-ho nodded.

“That’s why I’m telling you to know the reason. I think you would have figured it out as things progressed, even if I hadn’t called you today.”

Kwon Tae-ho had a pretty high opinion of me.

“Still, the reason I called you today is because I thought it would be necessary for negotiations with former Vice Minister Cho Mi-hyeon’s wife.”

If I were to break Jo Mi-hyeon’s power, it would be a breach of the Chairman’s contract.

When that happens, the first one to get hit by the hammer is me, who fought on the front lines.

“Later, when everything is over and Mrs. Jeon asks, tell her this story. I did all this for Vice Chairman Chae Tae-ik. Right now, I don’t want to let go of what I have, so I won’t listen, but then I will accept it and step down.”

Kwon Tae-ho was telling me how to behave.

Then a question arose.

“Shouldn’t this location be where the discard pile should be placed?”

I bear all of Jo Mi-hyeon’s resentment and am in a position where it is easy for the chairman to cut me off.

But telling me this means that at least you don’t treat me like a throwaway horse.

Kwon Tae-ho let out a soft sigh.

I know that too.

That my thinking is twisted.

But if it were me, I thought, and I became curious as to why Kwon Tae-ho made this decision.

What is the difference between him and me?

“If you try to command your subordinates, you will understand… … .”

I have no one below me now.

There’s Chae In-ha, but he’s like a boss to me.

Kwon Tae-ho explained the answer himself.

“If you want to entrust someone with something like this, you need someone who is smart, trustworthy, and capable of making on-site judgments. No matter how rotten the talent is, it’s not easy to cut off someone like that. It’s also hard to teach them to do that.”

I liked it.

The future group of the past cut off the father in one go.

What I liked most was that it was a choice made based on consideration of pros and cons, rather than an emotional judgment.

If it’s an emotional choice, it will change from time to time, but if it’s the result of calculating pros and cons, the same result will come out in the same situation.

At least I won’t be abandoned like my father.

“We need to cut down on Taesung Construction before Managing Director Chae On-ik makes a move.”

“Yes. That way, it will be easier for Chae On-ik to move. If things continue as they are now, he will definitely make excuses later.”

If Chae On-ik has a firm belief that he became the successor because of Chae Tae-ik’s origins, he will not easily accept it.

If Chae Tae-ik shows his ability without his mother’s power, there will be no gossip later.

Otherwise, even after Chae Tae-ik becomes the chairman, Chae On-ik will continue to oppose.

“Okay, I’ll move quickly.”

“great.”

I have something to do next.

I’m going to be busy again now.

Let’s try to bring down Taesung Construction by making some kind of fuss.

I left the president’s office with a pleasant sense of worry.