Free Web NovelAs I straightened my posture, Jang Songthaek smiled and pushed the liquor jug toward me. Instead of answering, he offered me a drink. I stared at his hand for a moment.
“What’s the rush? First, have a glass.”
I raised my cup and received the drink he poured. Then I took the jug and filled his cup in return.
We lifted our glasses, downed them in one go, and set them down.
“The liquor tastes good.”
“...Since you were coming, I prepared a special traditional brew made by a master craftsman.”
I gave the prepared answer, and Jang Songthaek nodded in satisfaction.
“Lately, I’ve only been drinking whiskey or wine, so having our people’s traditional liquor feels really good.”
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking behind his light chatter, but I decided to simply match his actions.
Seemingly pleased, he poured himself another drink and tilted back the cup.
“Kh...”
Letting out a small groan, Jang Songthaek set the cup down and began to speak.
“The broker you introduced handled the money laundering perfectly. By now, only he and I know that account belongs to me.”
“That’s a relief.”
What Jang Songthaek wanted was to have his slush fund completely laundered without leaving a trace. That’s why I introduced him to a reliable broker in that field.
It took quite some time to finish the job, but in the end, he got the result he wanted.
“President Kim, have you heard anything about China?”
“China?”
“Yes. We’ve lost all contact with Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. No matter how much our informants try, they can’t even find out where he went.”
“...Is that true?”
I hadn’t been paying attention to China. I had planned to look into it once this current matter was over...
Noticing my expression, Jang Songthaek arched a brow.
“So President Kim didn’t know either.”
“I’ve been too busy to keep an eye on China. Then... won’t that cause problems for the ones who came from the North to China?”
I had been wondering why bringing Elder Jang’s family to Korea was dragging on so long. It seemed Wen Jiabao had been completely ousted.
As I clicked my tongue inwardly and considered alternatives, Jang Songthaek continued. freewёbnoνel.com
“I can’t say for sure. But if something had gone wrong, wouldn’t they have contacted you?”
He was right. If something happened to Jang Daeho’s family, they would have reached out to me.
Since no such message came, I gave a slight nod.
“That’s true. But still—does it make sense for someone as high as a Vice Premier to just vanish quietly? Especially a man so active in external affairs...”
“He must be under detention somewhere. The Shanghai faction’s checks on him were too severe.”
Now that I thought of it, Manager Ma had mentioned Wen Jiabao was facing restrictions, and he had brought up the Shanghai faction back then too.
Walking a middle path without belonging to any faction had now backfired on him.
“With your help, President Kim, his political weight must have grown compared to before. Because of that, the Shanghai faction’s checks grew harsher.”
Things seemed far worse than the last time I’d been contacted. If even Jang Songthaek couldn’t grasp the full picture, then it was certain an intense power struggle was erupting inside the Chinese Communist Party.
“Vice Premier Wen Jiabao’s strength is gone. His moderate weight and his independence from any faction were exactly why he was a strong candidate for Premier.”
“...That was his own choice.”
“Of course, I know. Wen Jiabao got greedy. I don’t understand him. If he had dreamed of becoming the supreme leader, maybe. But to risk so much for Premier—there was no need.”
Because of my help, Wen Jiabao’s strengths had been erased.
His balance, his survival without belonging to a faction—all of that had made him rise to Vice Premier. Why had he suddenly grown so greedy?
Was this too one of the futures I had changed?
As I fell silent, lost in thought, Jang Songthaek waved a hand lightly.
“I’m not blaming you. I’m just telling you what happened, and that I’m looking into it. That’s all you need to know.”
“I’ll look into it myself as well.”
He nodded and lifted the jug again. I followed suit, filling my glass.
After draining his glass in one go, Jang Songthaek paused, then spoke with a grim face.
“My footing within the Republic is starting to shake.” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
His footing? Even Kim Jongil relied on Jang Songthaek more than anyone.
Sensing my doubt, he smiled faintly.
“I’m under surveillance inside the Republic. More precisely—everything I do is reported directly to Comrade Kim Jongil.”
“Why? You’re his brother-in-law, aren’t you?”
Perhaps because of his somber expression, his next words sounded even more bitter.
“Power is never shared, even with family. And after the recent assassination attempt on Comrade Kim Jongil, his suspicion of me has grown. He always had me under some surveillance, but now... now they don’t even bother hiding it. It’s blatant.”
The more he spoke, the darker his face grew.
“That’s why I asked to meet you, President Kim. I want to know what Kim Jongil is planning. Why has he suddenly lost interest in improving relations with China?”
As I hesitated, swallowing my reply, he suddenly asked:
“Do you, too, think I was behind the assassination attempt?”
The bluntness of the question made me hold my tongue, just staring at him.
“I’m not that reckless. In foreign countries, they call me the second-in-command. But here, I sit in a seat that could be taken by a single word from Comrade Kim Jongil.”
“...That’s what being the second-in-command in a dictatorship means.”
The number two in a dictatorship lived like a fly. Above all, yet doomed to fall under the ruler’s suspicion.
Hearing my cold words, Jang Songthaek bit his lip.
“To be frank—I dream of a collective leadership system for the next generation, like China. For that, Comrade Kim Jongil {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} must not die now. So would I ever attempt his assassination?”
The phrase “collective leadership system” made me sigh.
In North Korea, a state no different from a monarchy, to dream of collective leadership—it was a shocking thought.
“You dream of a collective leadership system?”
I couldn’t believe it, so I had to ask again.
“Yes. That is my greatest goal. Even if power is passed down to Comrade Kim Jongil, should this hereditary system really continue after him?”
Now I understood why he had stayed close to China. China most desired North Korea’s shift to a collective leadership system.
And his answer also explained why, after Kim Jongil’s death, Kim Jongun had him purged.
“Given North Korea’s nature, is that even possible?”
“Possible or not—we’ll know with time. But for the Republic’s future, a collective system is the best path. It cannot go on like this forever. If it’s truly for the people, that is the right way.”
Hearing his solemn words, I laughed inwardly.
He dressed it up as being for the people, but in the end, it was ambition for power.
“For the people, huh... You’re not just making that claim because of your own hunger for power, are you?”
He clearly hadn’t expected me to stab straight at it. His eyes flickered.
I didn’t miss that moment.
“To claim it’s for the people, for the nation—these are the words dictators always use to hide their own greed.”
“...”
“Deputy Director, I don’t know why you’re telling me all this. Whoever holds power in North Korea doesn’t matter much to me. What matters is whether it benefits me or not. Be honest with yourself. At least Comrade Kim Jongil is honest about that.”
At the very least, Kim Jongil never hid his obsession with holding power.
Even when peace negotiations with America came up, he demanded guarantees for the regime itself.
“What do you want from me? For me to plead your case to Comrade Kim Jongil? To say you weren’t behind the assassination attempt?”
“...I just want to know his thoughts. Only then can I decide what to do.”
Now that he spoke openly, I smirked.
He had played the weak second-in-command, but inside he was plotting schemes.
Pouring himself another drink, Jang Songthaek asked:
“Can you tell me? His thoughts?”
I lifted my glass along with him. Our eyes met as we emptied them.
After a few more rounds in silence, I broke it first.
“Did you really think I would tell you that? No. I will never say a word. Nor will I ever tell Comrade Kim Jongil about your grand dream. You’ll get no answers from me.”
“...”
“All I’ll say is this: what he intends to do will be good for the people. Nothing more. Don’t ask again. Let’s just drink. I’ll call someone in.”
I moved to press the bell at my side, but Jang Songthaek stopped my hand.
“Wait, President Kim. Please.”
I looked at him calmly without replying. He spoke urgently.
“...Will that matter harm me?”
“Deputy Director Jang, do not lay a hand on me without permission. Consider this a warning.”
My cold words made him flinch and quickly withdraw his hand.
“A warning?”
Our eyes clashed in silence. After a long stare, he muttered, then asked slowly:
“Do you think I’m easy to deal with, President Kim?”
“Easy? Not at all. I would have said the same even to Comrade Kim Jongil. Imagine if I had grabbed your hand instead—how would you feel? This isn’t me treating you lightly. It’s you looking down on me.”
He had acted as if I were beneath him. When I pointed that out, he coughed awkwardly.
“My apologies. It was never meant as disrespect. Please don’t misunderstand.”
I answered his apology with a soft smile.
No matter how irritated I felt inside, he was still a useful card.
“Let’s drop the heavy talk and finish this drink. I’ll call someone in. And... it won’t be a bad thing for you either. As long as the words you told me weren’t lies.”
If he truly dreamed of collective leadership, then reconciliation with America would never harm him.
At the sound of the bell I pressed, staff entered the room. Jang Songthaek said no more.
That night, the drinking went on until late dawn.
The economic inspection team from the North toured various places during their one-week stay.
Finally, the day came for the team to return to Pyongyang.
“Did you find out anything?”
We were on our way to their lodgings so I could accompany them back to Pyongyang. At my question, Manager Ma turned and answered.
“Yes. As you said, Wen Jiabao’s whereabouts remain completely unknown. As for Elder Jang and his family, they are doing well without problems.”
“And what about a Chinese high official to help with their entry instead of Wen Jiabao? If there isn’t one, we may have to consider smuggling them in.”
“Just give the order, and we can contact the high ranks anytime. But it may sour relations with Wen Jiabao.”
The ones who had likely detained Wen Jiabao were the Shanghai faction, who now held power in China.
So making contact with their top officials meant preparing for hostility with Wen Jiabao.
“We’ll talk more after Pyongyang. Keep tracking Wen Jiabao’s whereabouts.”
While I spoke with Manager Ma, we arrived at the hotel where the inspection team was staying. After their preparations were finished, we departed together for Pyongyang.
And there, I faced the first crisis since my return.
