Empire of the Ring

Chapter 519: Double-sidedness (2)

In accepting the refugees, Youngho made no complaint to the Chinese government.

He even asked for the convenience of refugees.

Since Uyghurs believed that the Kazakh people would accept them as refugees, their faces as they passed the border looked comfortable.

There were multiple reasons why Kazakh people accept refugees.

First, they were nomadic people in Central Asia just like Kazakhs, so there was an inseparable relationship between Uyghur and Kazakhstan. This was because although the families were mixed up, they were of the same Turkic descent.

It was also aimed at addressing the population shortage of Kazakhstan. Taking Uyghurs would increase the national population. The third reason was because of the perspective of the Uyghurs on Kazakhstan. The Uyghur people accepted the Kazakh royal family as their own. This would mean that the refugees would serve the royal family and not turn to a threat to it in the future.

Since there was no problem taking them as residents but only benefits, the people of Kazakhstan welcomed the Uyghur refugees.

“So far, most of the refugees are those who lived near the border, but soon there will be more people from the inland area. We’ll soon have tens of thousands of refugees at this rate.”

“We can handle that much number. We’ve had enough of the aid we’ve received from the U.S.”

“You’re right. The real problem is that the Uyghur independence groups are almost destroyed. They had been fighting against the Chinese government in such reckless ways. We warned them to fall back temporarily until they restore their strength, but they didn’t take our advice.”

“They have nowhere else to stand. They must be fighting at the risk of their lives. It’s not going to be easy to convince them.”

“I’m worried that if the independent forces are destroyed, we’ll lose the momentum in Uyghurs’ independence movement. We need to experience independence fighters to survive, or we won’t have any future.”

Prime Minister Kasim was worried that all of the Uyghur independence fighters would be killed soon. If then, there would be no one to take the lead when the opportunity came.

“Would they be stopped by us? We’re lucky to be able to accept refugees at least.”

“Central Asians have been known to be tough from the past, but I’ve never seen people like Uyghurs who go after death to fight for independence. They’re indeed determined people.”

Historically, Russia and China had treated Mongolia and other Central Asian people as bandits and avoided them.

Russia had built a fortress over the Ural Mountains so that Central Asian nomadic tribes could not cross the mountains, and as if that was not enough, it built many fortress cities all over Central Asia.

Contemporary Central Asians were now turned into peaceful nomads driving livestock as their once warlike temperament had disappeared from them. Their ancestors fought for their well-being and did not mind plundering other countries on their horseback rides.

To give in would have seemed to be a weak nation in the eyes of others, and they could be forced to live a life of slavery by others. Their effort to survive in the barren environment would have seemed belligerent to other people.

“The courage of the Uyghur independent forces is admirable, but frankly, they’re like a group of varletry. They’ve never had a systematic training and are not organized. They should be glad that they came this far. It would be quicker to train the Uyghur refugees whom we accept this time rather than trying to save the current independence forces.”

Training those who had left their homeland with blood and tears to escape the persecution by the Chinese government would make hundred times better fighters than today’s independence forces.

“You haven’t given up on Xinjiang Uyghur, yet.”

“Regardless of my will, the refugees will get up on their own to get their homeland back. We will only be making them a chance to do so.”

Since Xinjiang Uyghur did not belong to Kazakh people, Kazakhstan would not take an initiative for the Uyghurs’ independence, but the Uyghur refugees would soon awake to get back their land.

***

The Kazakh-Chinese border area was crowded by Uyghurs who were flocking to enter Kazakhstan day after day.

As the government had already foreseen and prepared the situation, there were more refugees than expected, but it was not a problem since many campsites were already prepared for them and being built at the same time.

The Uyghur refugee issue was not a big deal compared to the exciting, high-profile events that took place across the country. It was because the completion of major highways had caused a stir throughout the country.

Two highways that had been under construction by the Korean H Corporation were completed now. A western highway which began from Uzbekistan, passed by the Aral Sea, and connected to Atyrau, the largest city in western Kazakhstan, and Oral, the border city near Russia, was open. And, the eastern highway which began from Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, passing through Vishkek to get to Almaty, was also opened at the same.

The opening of the two expressways had enabled more diverse logistics transport in Kazakhstan since it used to rely on the railways only. The Kazakh railways had been having overwhelming transport amounts because southern Central Asian countries had to go through Kazakhstan in order to get to Europe, China or Russia.

The highway construction became an opportunity for Youngho and Korean companies to join hands.

Moreover, trains produced at H Corporation’s local factory in Kazakhstan were already being used for subways in Almaty and trains all over the country. Previous trains were brought in from Russia and had been used for decades, and they were replaced with new trains.

Those old trains used to be dirty and inconvenient. When Youngho traveled on those, he was reluctant to use its bathrooms. A long-distance trip where he had to spend a night or two on the train was quite painful. Such inconvenience was improved with new trains.

“Your Highness, when are you planning to begin the construction of the East-West Highway?”

Kim Joo-hyuk of H Corporation came to celebrate the completed construction of the two highways asked.

“Are you ready for new construction already?”

“It’s because I don’t want to pull out the engineers who are used to the environment here. I want to give them a chance to even think about settling down as their second home.”

“There are too many projects going on now, and the East-West Highway is going to be delayed. Right now, the government is running out of budget to resume the extension work on Almaty’s subway system next year.”

A few years ago, the subway system was adopted in the urban area of Almaty.

It had only nine stops and a single line, and people were not using it as a public transportation very frequently because the subway was built 100 meters underground to prepare for a nuclear attack. It was quite inconvenient for them. Extending it further would establish it as a proper means of public transportation and would also help to ease traffic jams in the city.

“Why don’t we attract private capital instead of building it with the government budget?”

“I’m not sure about that. In the case of a subway, the fare will be too high if we use private investments. I think it’s a little too much.”

“I’ve been working with Korean companies, and I’m sure this will be helpful for the Kazakh government.”

“…”

“We are afraid to lay pressure on you or to the Kazakh people; you won’t be disappointed. You know Korean companies are trustworthy.”

The financial situation of the Kazakh government had been tight to build roads and subways that were not urgent right now, and it was fortunate that there was a way to build them. Since Youngho had been working with H Corporation and other Korean companies, he could trust them too.

“It is a tempting offer, Mr. Kim.”

“It’s not a big deal. We’re willing to take resources instead of the construction costs.”

“Are you going to get paid with resources, not cash?”

“Most of the Korean companies in foreign countries are group affiliates. There are about one or two resource-related companies. They are almost begging for resources in Africa and Latin America. If they could take resources from Kazakhstan, they would all welcome it.”

Even now, there were some Korean companies participating in the oil development in Kazakhstan. The oil was used within the country since there was no way to bring that to Korea.

“I have no reason to refuse it from our point of view, but wouldn’t it be a huge loss for Korean companies if they only get paid with resources for the astronomical construction costs?”

“If a company can reliably secure the resources it needs, that alone ensures the future of the company.”

“Well, there are a few places where Chinese companies have gone out this time. Would Korean companies be interested in those sites?”

Kazakhstan was a country that lived off selling its own resources.

In order to raise the national power to a certain level through economic development, selling resources was an inevitable choice.

Kazakhstan had been selling resources to China and Russia mainly, but now its export targets had been expanded to its allies such as the U.S., Sweden, UK, and Denmark. It seemed that Korea would be joining in the list market soon, too.

***

The Baikonur space station was exclusively licensed by Russia at the moment. In other words, if other countries were to use the space base, they must get cooperation from the Russian government.

Lockheed, the U.S. defense company, asked Youngho to use the space station in exchange for an early supply of F-35 fighter jets. So to discuss this, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade was sent to Moscow to get permission from the Russian government.

Since Baikonur Cosmodrome had been co-sponsored by researchers from around the world, Russia gladly accepted it. So, the trade minister called Youngho to inform the results of his visit to Russia.

-Your Highness, I have to come and tell you in person, but I’ll report you by phone first.

“Oh, a phone call would suffice since you’re busy. You didn’t have to convince Russia so hard, did you?”

-I’m rather surprised because it was so easy to resolve. It’s a strategic facility, so I thought Russia would be reluctant to give us permission.

“Did Russia order anything else?”

-There was nothing special. The minister said that he is accepting it to maintain good relations with the West.

For Russia, which was under Western economic sanctions over the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. company’s request to use the space station this time was good news.

Russia intended to show off to the outside world that it had accepted the request of U.S. company to use its strategic facilities for the joint goal of developing space.

“It would be a gesture of reconciliation toward the West.”

-That’s what I think. Russian officials said they would open the space base unconditionally. He thanked us for the American company’s request.

“It’s a testament to that financial difficulty.”

Russia had yet to pay rent for using Baikonur Cosmodrome this year. Although the official reason to allow Lockheed to reconcile with the West, it would be also to make money to pay the rent.

-And I think a Russian envoy will come to our country soon.

“A special envoy?”

-He didn’t say why, but he said that the envoy would come to see the Duke of the Kazakh royal family.

“Isn’t it a diplomatic custom to tell us what the envoy is coming for?”

-Of course, Russia has to. The Russian government will soon go through diplomatic procedures and inform us. Isn’t it a sign of intimacy to give a promise in advance?

The reason for sending the special envoy may be that Russia was hoping that Kazakhstan would play a bridging role with the West in the wake of the use of the space station.

It was understandable since Russia was having a hard time due to economic sanctions. If Russia expected Youngho to play such a role, he would not hesitate to do so because it would be another opportunity for him and Kazakhstan.