Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

Hu Jintao.

Leader of the Communist Youth League, and the next President of China.

When Deng Xiaoping appointed Jiang Zemin as President, he nailed down that Hu Jintao would be the next in line.

Since Jiang Zemin needed Deng Xiaoping’s support, he had no choice but to accept the demand.

But Hu Jintao’s power base was weak. So he grew his influence by turning the fellow Youth League members into his own faction.

Thanks to that, in sheer numbers, they were the largest faction within the Chinese Communist Party.

However, despite their numbers, real power was still completely seized by the Shanghai Clique.

― Mr. Kim Muhyuk? This is Hu Jintao.

I couldn’t help but be surprised at the voice on the phone introducing itself as Hu Jintao.

“Is this really Vice President Hu Jintao?”

― Haha, yes.

“I didn’t think Hao Xun would know your number, Vice President.”

Even when I said bluntly that I hadn’t known Hao Xun was behind him, Hu Jintao laughed heartily.

― That can happen. Sometimes it’s better not to know. Anyway, I heard Hao owed you a debt. My apologies.

“It’s nothing. It’s fine. Now I’d like to build a good relationship.”

― Will you? He’s someone I treasure.

“Really? That’s unexpected.”

Hu Jintao said with his own mouth that Hao Xun was someone he treasured.

That confirmed he wasn’t just some gangster.

Well, that explains how he could use a black agent from the intelligence service like a mere subordinate.

I gave Hao Xun a surprised look and focused on Hu Jintao’s words.

― I’ve sent several messages wanting to meet you, but you rejected all of them.

“I don’t want to get more entangled with Chinese politicians. Hasn’t your running mate, Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, already fallen? Because of Chairman Jiang Zemin’s check. A Vice Premier who was close to me ended up like that — how could I meet with another Chinese politician again?”

― Huh...

The Shanghai Clique, led by Jiang Zemin, had Shanghai, the greatest city in China. The Princelings expanded wealth and power passed down from their fathers’ era.

But the Youth League had no such foundation. No power base, no full control yet, and only limited funding streams.

Even when Hu Jintao would soon become Party General Secretary, for ten long years he wouldn’t truly taste real power.

“That’s why I haven’t met with anyone.”

― Wen Jiabao... what a pity. I never imagined Jiang Zemin would suddenly move like that. Before I could respond, he was detained and cast out of every position.

“You still should have protected him. You should have. Even if he didn’t belong to any faction, he was at least someone who could help you run the state. Now who can check the Shanghai Clique? In the end, you’ll struggle to escape Jiang Zemin’s shadow and waste long years in vain.”

On the other end of the line, Hu Jintao couldn’t speak.

“At least Vice Premier Wen Jiabao had built himself up in Shanghai. Right there in Shanghai, the very base of Jiang Zemin’s power. Of course Jiang would see him as a thorn in his eye. You should have used every bit of the Youth League’s power to protect him.”

― I did my best. But Jiang’s will was too strong. What else could I do?

Hearing him make excuses, I sighed inwardly.

This was the path Hu Jintao had always lived by. His own safety above all else.

During Jiang Zemin’s rule, he bowed his head and avoided showing ambition.

Talking more to such a man would only waste my breath.

“Since Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, I don’t want to form any more deep ties with Chinese politicians. That’s why I rejected not only you, Vice President, but also messages from Chairman Jiang Zemin’s side.”

The culture of guanxi could be a good medicine, but at times it could also be poison.

I had chosen Wen Jiabao to make use of that guanxi, but before I could act, he was crushed by Jiang Zemin.

Naturally, I couldn’t help but grow disillusioned with China as a country.

“...Still, I do plan to maintain a good relationship with Hao Xun here.”

Hao Xun, who had been bowing silently, lifted his head. His eyes were full of emotion.

― Hoho, it seems Hao has earned your favor. He is indeed clever.

I didn’t bother to correct his misunderstanding.

It was true I liked Hao Xun, but only as a card to play against the Japanese Yakuza.

Use barbarians to control barbarians.

If I could avoid staining my own people’s hands with blood, keeping one Chinese by my side wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“But if you try to use my relationship with him for your own purposes, then everything will end there. Please keep that in mind.”

― Hoho.

Though Hu Jintao let out a friendly laugh, he couldn’t completely hide the unease behind it.

― Mr. Kim, let’s not be like this. Just meet me once.

“I have no reason to go to China right now. And even if I do, I don’t want to get involved in Chinese politics. I’m sorry.”

― Hmm... Early next year I’ll be visiting Korea. Let’s meet then and talk. Shouldn’t we save Wen Jiabao?

Save Wen Jiabao? I raised my voice without realizing it.

“You can save Vice Premier Wen Jiabao? His political life is practically over. How do you plan to save him?”

― There have been precedents, haven’t there? So ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) let’s meet and talk. This isn’t a conversation for the phone.

“...All right, then.”

― Hoho. Then I’ll see you in Seoul. And please take good care of Hao for me.

Hu Jintao ended the call after again asking me to look after Hao Xun.

I stared at the phone for a moment, then handed it back to Hao Xun.

“You seem very close to Vice President Hu. He really seems to treasure you.”

Taking the phone from me with both hands, Hao Xun answered,

“He has cared for me since I was in the Youth League. But I wasn’t very interested in politics, so by chance I ended up in the Black Dragon Society, and with his help I rose to Vice Boss.”

If Hu Jintao had supported him, that explained how he could reach the position of Vice Boss of the Black Dragon Society ruling Tianjin at that age.

“Still, don’t get too deeply tied with politicians. Gangsters and politicians never end well together.”

“He and I aren’t like that. We’re like brothers.”

“Really? Well, if you say so, there’s no point in me saying more. Now, let’s talk about us.”

I gave a small nod to Manager Ma. He brought the bag from the floor and placed it on the table.

Hao Xun only looked at the bag with a puzzled expression.

“Open it.”

As soon as the order was given, Hao Xun opened the bag.

Inside were tightly packed bundles of hundred-dollar bills.

“This is...”

“Two million dollars. Take it.”

“What?”

Hao Xun tore his eyes away from the bag and looked at me in shock.

“If you withdraw from Korea right now, won’t your finances be in trouble? Use that first to keep your men in line.”

“...”

“You can’t immediately break into the Japanese market, and even if you do, you’ll have to fight the Yakuza. At times like that, instead of someone like Hu Jintao behind you, what matters is the subordinates who’ll fight on the ground. Don’t feel burdened. Take it.”

“...Then I’ll gratefully accept.”

Hao Xun closed the bag again and set it down beside his chair.

Watching him, I smiled with satisfaction. Whether the money went to his men or stayed in his own pocket, it didn’t matter to me.

It was just bait to plant a burden and make him listen closely to me.

“Do you already have a foundation in Japan?”

“Yes, we’ve been supplying drugs to Japan through Korea. But we can’t sell directly.”

“You’re distributing drugs directly in Korea but not in Japan? Is it because Korea is easier, or Japan too difficult?”

I raised one eyebrow, and Hao Xun quickly waved his hands.

“No, that’s not it. In Korea, the Chinese communities in Incheon and other areas made it easier to settle in. It’s definitely not because Korea was easier.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it? If Chunha Group hadn’t unified the underworld, no one would have cared whether Chinese or Japanese thugs ran wild. It would’ve been a free-for-all. You don’t have to be so cautious.”

There’s a saying that even a mongrel eats half when it’s in its own yard.

No matter how big the Black Dragon Society was in China, they couldn’t just ignore Korean organizations.

That’s why even back when it was Geukseong Group, they had offered money to join hands.

But since I had said absolutely no to drugs, Geukseong abandoned the drug market altogether. The result was that the Black Dragon Society grew in Korea instead.

“Do you have friendly ties with any Yakuza in Japan?”

“There are Yakuza who trade drugs with us. But if we try to break into direct sales, they’ll likely turn into our enemies.”

“So it’ll be quite a long war.”

After thinking it through, Hao Xun nodded firmly.

“Most likely. Still, if we establish ourselves... Honestly, the Japanese market is much larger than Korea’s. It’ll be much harder, but the payoff will be greater.”

“Handle the details yourself. But it will cost a lot of money.”

“Our businesses in Tianjin and parts of Beijing are already bringing in significant profit.”

If they had control of all Tianjin and part of Beijing’s underworld, money wouldn’t be what made them lose.

“When you move drugs from Korea to Japan, Chunha Group will be a big help. Discuss the details with Chairman Yoo. But in return, make sure no other Chinese group sells drugs in Korea. Whatever it takes, stop it. This is an order. If you can’t, say so now.”

“I’ll stop it, whatever it takes. Whether by talks or by fists.”

“I’ll trust you this once. And if you run short on war funds, just tell Chairman Yoo.”

The detailed plans could be worked out between Yoo Seongjin and Hao Xun.

All I needed was to push the battlefield from Korea into Japan and sit back to watch the fight.

If China and Japan fought each other, Korea’s underworld would quiet down for a while.

‘Should I bring the Russian mafia into this too?’

A drug war in Japan involving China, Japan, and Russia.

That would be fun. Rubbing my chin, I gave Hao Xun a signal.

“Go back for now. If there’s more to pass along, contact Manager Ma.”

“Yes, understood.”

Hao Xun rose and bowed respectfully. That arrogance he had shown at our first meeting was gone without a trace.

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

After saying goodbye, Hao Xun picked up the bag from the floor and left the Myeongdong office.

As soon as he left, I asked Manager Ma,

“What about Chairman Yoo?”

“I heard he and Kang Junwoo subdued everyone involved in this case. There was some resistance, but most were taken down without major clashes and dragged to Incheon.”

I nodded slightly. If they could do this well, why had they been so soft before? I couldn’t understand.

As I was about to stand up, I sat back down again.

“Oh, right. Manager, has the Russian mafia advanced into Japan?”

“Yes. The Solntsevskaya Bratva has established itself there. Their main business is arms smuggling.”

“Hmm... I wonder if they’re uninterested in drugs. The Russian mafia boss is Semion Mogilevich, right? Contact him. Set up a meeting.”

“Understood.” freewebnovёl.ƈom

Manager Ma bowed and left the office.