Free Web NovelWhen I stepped inside, Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and an unfamiliar man were in the middle of conversation.
The moment I entered, they stopped talking.
“Oh! President Kim Muhyuk, welcome!”
Hu Jintao, slightly drunk, greeted me with a wide, booming laugh.
Wen Jiabao also greeted me with his eyes, warm but reserved.
Then the last man approached and extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Bo Xilai.”
It was Bo Xilai — a man with whom I had never had a pleasant connection. I took his hand with a smile.
“A pleasure. I am Kim Muhyuk.”
“I’ve heard plenty. Thanks to you, one of my close aides ended up beyond recovery.”
“Well... he committed a crime deserving punishment, did he not? I didn’t send anyone after him — he brought it on himself.”
We both smiled mildly, but every word between us carried sharp edges.
“All right, all right. Let’s leave the past in the past and sit down,” Hu Jintao said, smoothing the atmosphere.
Only then did we release our handshake.
Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao sat opposite each other. Bo Xilai and I sat facing one another as well.
“I’ve heard that you and Bo Xilai previously clashed badly. That’s why I called you here today, President Kim. I want the two of you to shake off old grudges and become friends.”
“......”
I didn’t answer. Neither did Bo Xilai.
We stared straight at each other in silence, neither willing to blink first.
Without looking away from Bo Xilai, I spoke to Hu Jintao.
“Chairman Hu.”
“Speak, President ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Kim.”
“As far as I know, Bo Xilai is tightly connected to Chairman Jiang Zemin. The relationship between Bo Yibo and Chairman Jiang extended naturally to the man standing here, Bo Xilai.”
In reality, Bo Xilai stood on the opposite side of Hu Jintao.
In the future I knew, he would directly challenge Hu Jintao’s authority.
The Chinese Communist Party prized strict hierarchy and unity.
Above all, it was an unspoken law that no one challenged the supreme leader’s authority.
But Bo Xilai openly criticized not only Hu Jintao, but even Xi Jinping, the designated successor.
As if that weren’t enough, he publicly discussed internal conflicts among the Politburo Standing Committee.
No one doubted that Jiang Zemin stood behind him.
Because of that, Bo Xilai would eventually be purged by Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, sentenced to life in prison.
And yet, there he was — sitting politely beside Hu Jintao.
‘So Bo Xilai intends to switch sides?’
Too many things were diverging from the future I knew.
My mind churned, but outwardly I smiled.
“So you’re saying that Bo Xilai’s presence here means he intends to align himself politically with you, Chairman Hu?”
Hu Jintao nodded.
“Yes. Bo Xilai has chosen to join me. He asked me to guide him.”
One of my eyebrows lifted slightly. Bo Xilai personally asking Hu Jintao for guidance?
It was obvious why Bo Xilai abandoned Jiang Zemin.
I had used Zhou Yongkang to eliminate Wang Jianlin — Bo Xilai’s financial lifeline.
Jiang Zemin not only tolerated Wang’s downfall, but intended to place the Wanda Group under his own control.
That alone gave Bo Xilai enough reason to abandon Jiang Zemin.
Jiang had shown that he could discard Bo Xilai at any time.
For now, Jiang would not discard him because Bo Yibo was still alive.
But after Bo Yibo’s death? No one knew.
Except me.
When Bo Xilai was eliminated in the future, Jiang Zemin did nothing.
Bo Xilai obviously didn’t know that yet.
But suspicion naturally crept up.
Was Bo Xilai sincere? Or was he Jiang Zemin’s planted spy?
“So Chairman Hu intends to accept Bo Xilai — and wishes to mediate between the two of us?”
“Yes. There is no direct grudge between you and him... but things have been awkward, no? Even Bo Yibo mentioned it during our conversation.”
I had no emotion toward Bo Xilai whatsoever.
Once Wang Jianlin was purged, the matter was finished.
There was nothing about it worth remembering, and I had far more pressing concerns than that old incident.
“I’ve already forgotten it. I was angry at Wang Jianlin, but I hold no feelings toward Bo Xilai.”
“Haha! Truly? That’s fortunate.”
Hu Jintao laughed loudly, clearly pleased.
But the one who hits forgets, and the one who gets hit remembers forever.
I kept my gaze on Bo Xilai.
Noticing my stare, Hu Jintao asked him:
“Bo Xilai, what about you? Do you still harbor feelings?”
“No. I did not suffer direct harm, did I? I’m fine.”
Bo Xilai answered calmly. Whether sincere or merely pretending in front of Hu Jintao, I couldn’t tell.
“Good. Then from now on, we ride the same boat.”
Unlike me, filled with suspicion, Hu Jintao seemed completely satisfied with him.
Hu Jintao filled four glasses to the brim and handed them out.
“Let’s drink first and then talk.”
I drank and organized my thoughts.
The Communist Youth League faction joining hands with the Princelings to check the Shanghai faction...?
Even I couldn’t predict how China’s political landscape would evolve from here.
Jiang Zemin’s power ultimately came from the Party elders. And the Princelings were their children.
Their opinions would inevitably reach the elders.
“By the way, Chairman Wang Jianlin has been arrested, and the Wanda Group has fallen into Jiang Zemin’s hands. What do you think, President Kim?”
“I didn’t foresee that far. Zhou Yongkang likely acted on his own. All I knew was that I wanted Wang Jianlin arrested — and Zhou Yongkang approved it.”
Of course, much had happened behind the scenes, but I had no interest in the Wanda Group without Wang Jianlin.
However, for Hu Jintao and Bo Xilai, this meant something entirely different.
“The Wanda Group’s real estate and businesses are enormous. If Jiang Zemin swallows it whole, his financial power grows even more. We must discuss countermeasures quickly. And all this began from your request, did it not?”
The old fox was annoying — but I remained expressionless.
“Does the Wanda Group have strength without Wang Jianlin? Wanda grew because Wang Jianlin was there.”
“But if Jiang Zemin decides to back it fully, it may grow even larger. This is China.”
“That is your responsibility to prevent, Chairman Hu.”
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Perhaps he sensed my unspoken implication, because Hu Jintao subtly shifted the topic.
“President Kim, what do you think of Wang Jianlin’s new entertainment project?”
Around this time, Wanda had begun investing in the entertainment industry.
Ironically, that clash with me would destroy Wang Jianlin’s future dominance of China’s cultural sector.
Had he not approached Cheon Jiyeong, he might have become China’s entertainment titan as in the original timeline.
“The entertainment industry will become a promising field.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Hollywood is proof. China has begun turning to culture as well. Once living standards stabilize, people naturally invest their attention in films and dramas. It will become a major money-making sector. And beyond that... nothing launders money better.”
“Oh-ho... Tell me more.”
At the mention of laundering funds, Hu Jintao perked up immediately.
Bo Xilai and Wen Jiabao also fixed their eyes on me.
Greedy, all of them.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and continued.
“The exact cost of producing entertainment is extremely hard to calculate. Suppose a film is said to cost 100 million dollars. Depending on production choices, the real cost might be 50 million — or 200 million. You can inflate expenses and launder funds however you like...”
I spoke at length about the structural holes in the entertainment business.
Wanda had used those methods constantly, so explaining wasn’t hard.
“In the end, the money circles around and returns cleanly into your accounts.”
“Oh...”
Hu Jintao murmured, lost in thought.
Wen Jiabao’s eyes shone as well.
But Bo Xilai asked something different.
“...Then the key is who manages it. We’d need someone loyal to our orders and knowledgeable in the field. The business must succeed for the laundering to succeed.”
As expected, he had a sharp nose for money.
“Exactly. The larger the enterprise grows, the more funds can be laundered and multiplied. If China invests early — before any major companies enter the field — and Chairman Hu grants the right benefits, growth will be easy. And there’s one more important factor.”
“What is that?”
“Controlling media helps shape public opinion. People consume information through media. The internet exists, yes, but the government won’t leave it free. Ultimately, media controls perception.”
“That makes sense.”
Bo Xilai was indeed a reform-minded figure.
He asked sharp questions continuously, and I answered thoroughly.
The conversation dragged on without end until finally Hu Jintao broke in.
“President Kim. If we cannot recover the Wanda Group... what if we launch our own entertainment enterprise?”
“That is a good idea. Entertainment benefits greatly from early acquisition of market share. But the initial investment will be large. Recovery takes years.”
“Money can be made. The question is whether we have someone trustworthy enough to manage it...”
He trailed off while looking at me.
But I had zero intention of running an entertainment company.
He subtly hinted that he wanted me to do it — but I cut him off immediately.
“I’m not interested.”
“Truly? A shame...”
“But I will send capable Korean experts to China. Work with them.”
Hu Jintao brightened at once.
“Oh, you will?”
“Yes. If Korea and China cooperate as partners, it will benefit both sides. And with the Korean Wave rising in China right now, the synergy will be tremendous.”
Large-scale projects could be connected through JC Group, and management agencies through Cheonha Group, which handled Cheon Jiyeong.
“There is one person particularly suited for this. A Chinese national.”
“Who?”
“Chairman Hu, do you know a man named Hao Xun?”
“Hao Xun? You mean Wen Jiabao’s foster son?”
At the mention of Hao Xun’s name, Wen Jiabao flinched and glanced nervously at Hu Jintao.
“Yes. Vice Chairman Hao Xun. He may be a member of the Triad, but his business sense is extraordinary.”
“Hm...”
Hu Jintao stroked his chin, watching Wen Jiabao’s expression.
“And no one is better suited to cooperate with Koreans. What do you think? Make him your representative and enter the entertainment industry through him.”
The more influence Hao Xun gained, the more advantageous it was for me.
