<h4>Chapter 250: The Autonomous State of Arirang (1)</h4>
“Dang, Baku is springpared to this.”
Shivering in cold, Jong-il was stepping out of an airne.
Today was an expanded board meeting at the autonomous state, so Cha Insoo and Kim Il-Kwon joined Youngho and Jong-il.
“It’s because of the wind. It would be more tolerable if there was no wind.”
Youngho, who agreed with Jong-il, also shivered.
Atyrau, Kazakhstan had a northtitude of 48 degrees, which was eight degrees higher than Baku and seven degrees higher than Korean Paektu Mountain. Inevitably, winter here was bound to be severe.
As December began, rivers began to freeze, and fishing was stopped.
Ice on the river could be broken with a sturdy and powerful car ferry, but having learned fromst year, Youngho already prepared everything ahead. For the factories near the wharf, Youngho had stored parts and materials ahead of time when it was still warm, so they could still produce, regardless of the outside weather.
Also, in case that sr power generation was disrupted by the winter’s wet season and electricity reserve was insufficient, each factory was equipped with its own power generator.
The wet season was not truly wet in Kazakhstan. The precipitation was only about a hundred millimeters from January through March, but since most of the rain in the country rained this time, it was called the wet season.
Having spent the harsh and severe winter once, things were prepared for any emergency at the farm, and it felt quite cozy. If there was no wind, the winter could be more tolerable, but unfortunately, because of the cold weather that went below negative four degrees in Fahrenheit, people had to stay inside until spring.
The underground gym built underneath the sheep ranch was the only ce where people could go to do indoor activities and exercises. Despite all of the facilities, the coldness was hard to bear for Serbians since they had lived their entire lives in the warm Balkan Penins. It seemed that they needed more time to adapt to the new environment.
“We concluded to send ten men from Countryside Force with H Corporation’s construction survey team. If there are no other inquiries or requests, today’s meeting will be dismissed.”
A team of H Corporation’s staffs came to Kazakhstan before beginning the highway construction and the team needed security guards around the vastnd of Kazakhstan. It was only a simple job of guarding, but because Countryside Force was being sent out of the farm for work, it needed to be reported to the Kazakh government. Although Countryside Force would majorly work at the farm, they technically belonged to the Kazakh Army. Any activity outside the farm should be reported and approved by the Ministry of National Defense. The Kazakh government wanted to have strict control over the farm’s force.
“Commander Cha Insoo, you’re aware of the fact that you need to report to Ministry of Defense tomorrow, right? When you’re there, you also need to report the arms and equipment our men will carry with them. I’m not sure if they will be approved though.”
“Private firearms will probably be approved. I’m also going to ask for the approval of light-armored vehicles as well, this time.”
French anti-tank missiles and ground to air missiles would stay hidden from the government, but Turkish light armored vehicles, Russian armored vehicles, multiple rocketunchers, and portable rocketunchers that were taken from Armenia would be reported. The government might have a question when the farm purchased such weapons, but it would not be a big matter, because now they were there to strengthen the country’s defense.
The government requested the farm toe up with patrol boats on its own, which meant that, it intended to strengthen national defense.
Seven armored vehicles, twenty-seven light armored vehicles, and two multiple rocketunchers were a great strength added to Countryside Force.
The light armored vehicles were used most of these days, so it would have greater firepower if they could have multiple rocketunchers on. The light armored vehicle could seat ten armed men. Its four-wheel-drive top-of-the-line tactical maneuver function showed off the best engine in vast ins and mountainous areas of Kazakhstan. The vehicle itself proved its worth when used around the farm in the meantime, So Youngho ordered ten more of them from Otokar, the light armor vehiclepany, in Turkey.
He nned to give them away to the Kazakh military as a celebratory gift for the farm’s elevation of the status as an autonomous region.
One reason was to earn favor from the military. Countryside Force would be under the Kazakh military’s control anyway, and Youngho thought that the best strategy for the farm was to make the military on its side. There was another reason as well. It was to let the Kazakh military turn its eye on defense equipment from other countries, rather than only relying on Russianpanies. There was no reason for the government to insist on Russian products when there was a great quality of foreign military products.
Cha Insoo came back from Ministry of Defense with an approval letter for ten Countryside Force soldiers and three light armored vehicles to leave the region for the first time.
One might ask why a survey team for road construction needed armed men and vehicles, but he would soon find out if he stayed in Kazakhstan for a few days. Wild animals appeared night and day, and since many regions did not even have roads, regr vehicles were not much of help. Moreover, robbers and bandits frequently appeared in remote ces. If the team was not armed, its members would risk not only their belongings but also their lives in many cases.
A lot of supplies were needed for the survey team, so one of the vehicles was filled with gas and camping supplies only. Despite the tight preparation, the team would only be able to sustain their expedition when receiving a supply of goods once in every week from the farm. Since the team needed to endure the severe continental cold during their expedition, the preparation did not seem sufficient. Thus, Youngho did not forget to slip a note to the Kazakh government that any support needed for the survey team’s convenience would be done as asion arose.
Although Kazakhstan made huge funds from trading their excessive underground resources, the country weed any foreign investments, as there were many asions to spend money as a developing country. Especially, if they came from a third country instead of Russia or China, where the government did not have any conflicts with, was more convenient for the country.
The old president made Youngho excited as he dly approved Arirang Farm’s autonomous status. The reason that Youngho suggested H Corporation build highways in the country was to show appreciation to the Kazakh government. It was also to keep the promise that he would spend money that was earned in Kazakhstan, for Kazakhstan only.
The old roads that were used by merchants who crossed Kazakhstan on horsebacks and camelbacks during the time of the Silk Road still remained in the country. This meant the road conditions were extremely bad and rough.
If the government refused to invest in the road construction project, he was going to do it all by himself, but it seemed unlikely since there were staffs from another Korean constructionpany in the survey team along with the staffs of H Corporation. This meant that he did not have to worry about investing in the construction anymore.
Youngho did not mind this at all since he could simply invest in other ces with the money now. He was attached to Kazakhstan more than Baku, Azerbaijan since Baku was already a stable city. Kazakhstan was and of opportunity in his eyes.
The desertednd could be turned into rich soil if it was well-taken cared off, and there were so many ways it could be developed into.
It was breathtaking when the government asked for the development of a vast tract ofnd over 247 acres under the condition of the autonomous state’s existence, but it was not a terrible condition.
If the water of the Ural River was drawn and supplied and the underground water resource was developed smoothly, thend could possibly be turned into mega farnd.
When Youngho and Park Youngsun scanned through the newnd on an airne, they could spot a few londs.
Park Youngsun pped hisp immediately. He thought of an idea to not only ting windbreak, but also set them in a way that pools of water would be formed in the londs.
He meant to create some kind of oasis.
It was such a great idea that Youngho was taking another tour around thend with Jong-il, Insoo, and Il-kwon.
“Man! This is all ours? How big is it anyway?”
Jong-il eximed. It was indeed a breath-taking view of the vastnd.
Youngho was worried to think about how much money would be invested here from now on.
“This is a little bit bigger than Seoul. I’m scared that the government might toss morend to us when this is all developed.”
“If the authorities give us more, just take it. I’ll take a shovel to give you a hand.”
“Man, that’s cute. Let me give you a hug, man.”
“Get off your disgusting hands, dude! You want to hug me whenever I’m off guard. I hate it.”
Il-kwon who was flying the airne took a turn.
“Boss. I think we shouldnd there.”
“Whynd in this coldness? Let’s take another round and return to the farm.”
“I think I saw some frozen ice. I should go check.”
“What? Did you say ice? That means there’s water.”
It was unprecedented to say that there was water in a ce that was a half-deserted region. Youngho had flown around the ce for several times but saw dried upnd only.
As an experienced pilot, Kim Il-kwon found a t ground and sessfullynded the four-seater Cessna airne. Thending was somewhat rough, but his skill was great enough to bring up everyone’s thumb.
“You’d make quite of money when you be a professional pilot.”
“Hyung, how dare can Ipare to you? You usually fly longer than I do.”
“Apetent pilot like you also approve of my skills, but he alwaysins whenever Ind. He’s so stingy withpliments.”
“Somebody with Boss’ skills is allowed toin to you.”
Jong-il and Il-kwon’s conversation seemed topliment and mock Youngho at the same time.
“Hey, you two! Why are you having that conversation in front of me? Hurry and get off the ne now!”
What Kim Il-kwon saw from the sky was a little pond and there was a little pasturnd and little bushes sparsely formed around the pond.
It could be only spotted because the frozen water reflected the sunlight, but the size of the pond was so small that it would not have been recognizable if there was no ice. The existence of the pond was surprising. It was not possible if there was no stream of water. It recently snowed and rained a little bit since it was the wet season, any water was dried up immediately due to the dry wind. Thus, it was such a valuable discovery.
“This is kind of an oasis but I don’t see any useful trees but some thin bushes.”
“The existence of water itself is amazing. I think there might be a stream somewhere. I should get Dr. Park here right now. If there was a living vein of water formed here, this might be better than a vein of gold.”
If the underground vein of water was found in a ce that was 20 kilometers away from the farm, the cost of irrigation canal construction would be saved and the ce around the water could be developed as farnd.
“Il-kwon hit a home run today.”
Water was the most valuable and cherished in Kazakhstan.
Any ce where people resided together had to have a source of water.
The discovery of a stream gave new hope. There might as well be other water ponds around the area. A thorough survey of thend was needed now. If there was enough water, there would be nothing to worry about.
So, groups of people of the farm on light armored vehicles were sent to different sectors of the newnd to find water. Youngho even put reward money for any group that found water, so many farmers were eager to find it. They would dly do the job anyway for the farm, but since there was a reward, people were enjoying their mission, despite the bitter weather.