Free Web NovelThe meeting with Zeng Qinghong had been extremely productive.
After speaking with him, I could understand how he had operated as a kingmaker.
His parents had indeed been among the core members in the early days of the Chinese Communist Party, but compared to other prominent figures their influence had been relatively weak.
However, Zeng Qinghong frequently met with party elders using the prestige of his parents, and by building good relationships with them he compensated for that weakness.
In other words, his real power came from the elders.
He was also the person who enabled Jiang Zemin to gain the elders’ support.
“I heard President Hu Jintao has arrived in Beijing.”
Zeng Qinghong had returned immediately after meeting me.
It was because news had arrived that Hu Jintao had returned to Beijing.
“I heard that as well. But more importantly, next time you should meet him first, Chairman. A vice chairman traveling all the way to North Korea and meeting you afterward is a diplomatic discourtesy.”
Jang Songthaek smiled faintly and nodded.
“He came to Pyongyang to meet you, President Kim. Next time we’ll do it that way. By the way, how do you think President Hu Jintao will move?”
“He won’t launch a counterattack immediately. Though he has probably already arrested everyone involved in the assassination attempt.”
“I received a report that he met Prime Minister Wen Jiabao first. Did he contact you by any chance?”
I had heard that Wen Jiabao had been released from detention, but I hadn’t received any contact yet.
I shook my head slightly.
“Not yet.”
“Hm. President Hu Jintao won’t just stay still like this, will he?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what he’s thinking either. In the end, some kind of compromise will have to be reached... but I don’t know where that line will be drawn.”
Jang Songthaek let out a small sigh and spoke with concern.
“It isn’t good for this atmosphere to continue. I’ve received reports that among our citizens there are now many who see China as a greater threat than South Korea.”
Just as Jang Songthaek said, many North Koreans had begun to feel envy and resentment toward China.
China and North Korea had maintained relations for a long time and shared a sense of comradeship.
But after China adopted reform and opening while maintaining the same socialist line and began thriving, North Koreans—and even the North Korean government—started comparing themselves with them.
On top of that, the recent military provocation under the pretext of military exercises had caused growing dissatisfaction among the population.
“I see. After all, our borders are separated by just one river. That probably contributes to it. And companies from South Korea are helping the North Korean people quite a lot.”
“We will continue reducing dependence on China, but we cannot cut ties completely.”
Jang Songthaek pressed his temples as he muttered, clearly troubled by the situation.
“Is it very difficult?”
“If I said it wasn’t, that would be a lie. Just this morning people came to me insisting that we restore relations with China...”
Jang Songthaek trailed off gloomily.
Most of the officials he had elevated when he took power had been pro-China figures who shared his views.
But when Jang Songthaek changed course and continued business with South Korea while reducing dependence on China, those very people began pressuring him.
I didn’t like it, but I could understand their perspective.
New changes inevitably shook the vested interests of existing power holders, and power struggles were unavoidable in the process.
“Well, their survival is on the line.”
Before Jang Songthaek took power, numerous trading companies under his control had conducted active trade with China and earned enormous sums.
Whether they liked it or not, China had practically monopolized North Korea’s trade, forcing them into constant dealings.
Since those people also managed Jang Songthaek’s money, it wasn’t easy for him to simply reject their demands.
“For now I ordered that all urgent trade be shifted from China to Russia, but confusion will inevitably continue for a while. That’s the problem.”
“So you want to normalize relations with China.”
Jang Songthaek nodded slightly.
“Honestly, yes. I wish President Hu Jintao would step forward and restore relations.”
The closure of the border with China had been done at my request.
It had served its purpose well enough.
Now it was time to loosen the pressure.
“Then let’s watch how President Hu Jintao moves before deciding. Maintaining this level of tension indefinitely isn’t good for either side.”
Jang Songthaek nodded, then sighed deeply.
“Did your conversation with the Vice Chairman go well?”
“Didn’t he say anything?”
I had heard that Zeng Qinghong briefly met Jang Songthaek before leaving the country.
“He only said that you had a good conversation. For the sake of restoring relations with the republic.”
“Yes. I decided to join hands with Zeng Qinghong.”
“Not President Hu Jintao?”
“I plan to work with both Hu Jintao and Zeng Qinghong. Though I don’t know yet how Hu ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Jintao will respond.”
“The Vice Chairman does have good relations with everyone. Not only the princelings and the Shanghai faction, but he also belonged to the Communist Youth League when he was young.”
Even members of the princeling faction had to join the Communist Youth League when they were young if they wanted careers in public office.
“That’s his greatest weapon.”
“But he’s known as Jiang Zemin’s right-hand man. Are you sure this is safe? Could it be a trap?”
Jang Songthaek asked worriedly.
I smiled.
“I considered that possibility too. But if we give him what he wants, he won’t betray us. And as proof of trust he handed me Jiang Zemin’s weakness.”
“Is that true? He brought Jiang Zemin’s weakness?”
Jang Songthaek asked again in surprise.
I nodded.
“What he brought was a list of pro-China figures inside North Korea.”
“...I myself used to be pro-China. Can that really be called a weakness?”
Jang Songthaek said in a slightly disappointed tone.
You have to hear the whole sentence.
“More precisely, not pro-China figures—people supported by Jiang Zemin.”
“What? Can you share it with me?”
“Of course.”
I took the paper Zeng Qinghong had given me out of my pocket.
Before handing it to Jang Songthaek, I spoke firmly.
“But you must answer one thing clearly. Can you eliminate everyone on this list?”
“Let me see the list first.”
It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but I handed him the paper anyway.
When Jang Songthaek unfolded it and looked over the names, his eyes grew twice as wide.
“Is this a reliable list?”
His reaction was understandable.
I had been equally shocked when I first saw the list Zeng Qinghong gave me.
At the very top of the list was the name Choi Ryonghae—the man Jang Songthaek trusted so deeply.
“If Zeng Qinghong didn’t give me a fake list. But I’m certain this list is real.”
The reason I could be certain was Choi Ryonghae himself.
I knew better than anyone how obsessed he was with power.
He was the kind of man who would betray even his closest allies for it.
“Choi Ryonghae, that bastard...!”
Unlike me, Jang Songthaek reacted violently.
Perhaps because he had been betrayed by someone he trusted, he didn’t bother hiding his emotions.
“According to Zeng Qinghong, Jiang Zemin plans to move them to launch a coup.”
“This is insane!”
The General Political Bureau was the party’s military leadership and oversight organization.
Its authority was enormous.
That was why Jang Songthaek had appointed the trusted Choi Ryonghae as its director to oversee the military.
“Did you order Choi Ryonghae to strengthen surveillance over the military?”
Jang Songthaek answered in a voice filled with rage.
“Yes. After hearing your advice, I ordered Choi Ryonghae to strengthen surveillance over the military.”
“That’s like entrusting fish to a cat.”
“I did order the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces to monitor Choi Ryonghae just in case...”
Jang Songthaek muttered uncertainly.
But the list contained key officials within the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces as well.
It was no wonder he sounded uneasy.
Grinding his teeth, Jang Songthaek spoke coldly.
“They must be arrested immediately.”
If left alone, a coup could occur.
“Let’s leave them for now.”
“What do you mean? If they move the military and we fail to suppress it quickly, who knows what could happen!”
“Even so, we cannot act yet. We must strike when Jiang Zemin gives the order and they all gather together.”
If we eliminated everyone on the list now, we wouldn’t be able to catch Jiang Zemin.
Understanding what I meant, Jang Songthaek bit his lip to suppress his anger.
“The Security Bureau is completely under your control, correct?”
“That’s right. Both the State Security Department and the Security Bureau are staffed entirely with my people.”
When Jang Songthaek staged his coup, he had first seized control of the General Political Bureau, the Security Bureau, and the State Security Department.
The Security Bureau functioned much like South Korea’s Defense Security Command.
Its main role was to monitor the General Political Bureau.
Meanwhile, the State Security Department was North Korea’s intelligence and counterintelligence agency.
Jang Songthaek himself had been the head of it when he launched the coup.
“Move them secretly and have them simply observe. When all those people gather to conspire, we will arrest them.”
The list Zeng Qinghong gave me contained only the core members.
But a coup could not succeed with such a small group.
There would certainly be others working with them behind the scenes.
“If something goes wrong, a civil war could break out. Didn’t I tell you there is dissatisfaction inside the military?”
“So you lack confidence? How long has it been since you seized power?”
“...Of course not.”
His answer came after a long pause.
It had been a mild provocation, but it seemed to wound Jang Songthaek’s pride.
I lightly patted his shoulder and smiled.
“Then let’s wait. This will be a good opportunity to remove all the cancerous elements still remaining in North Korea.”
* * *
Choi Ryonghae visited the villa where Kim Jongil was staying.
Kim Yongchun and Kim Wonhong accompanied him.
“It has been a long time, General.”
Choi Ryonghae had already visited Kim Jongil several times, but it was the first time for Kim Yongchun and Kim Wonhong.
“Come.”
Kim Jongil nodded slightly after pulling in his fishing rod, then cast it again.
He didn’t even glance toward Choi Ryonghae’s group.
After remaining silent for a while, Choi Ryonghae spoke.
“Recently relations between China and the republic have deteriorated too much. If this continues, the republic will collapse.”
Only then did Kim Jongil turn his head toward them.
“Why are you telling me that? Go talk to Jang Songthaek.”
“I’ve said it many times, but Chairman Jang refuses to listen. All of this was orchestrated by President Kim Muhyuk.”
Kim Jongil smirked and looked at them sideways.
“So? What do you want me to do about it?”
At the indifferent tone, Choi Ryonghae slightly lowered his head.
“You must step forward, General. Only you can reverse this situation. At this rate, Jang Songthaek will hand the republic over to Kim Muhyuk entirely.”
“What? Choi Ryonghae, have you lost your mind? You want me to walk into my own death? Sounds like you’re trying to kill me.”
“Please trust us. The three of us here have gathered to restore you to power. China will support us.”
Choi Ryonghae openly proposed a coup.
Kim Jongil’s eyebrows twitched as he heard the proposal.
“You reactionary bastards... Have you all gone mad? Hey, Kim Yongchun! What the hell are you doing right now, you so-called Hero of the Republic?”
“General...” freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
“You shameless, treacherous bastard. You couldn’t even protect me until the end when I stepped down, and now you come crawling back to switch masters again!”
Kim Jongil shouted while pointing his finger at Kim Yongchun.
“I gave you chance after chance! When I purged all those brats from the Frunze Military Academy, I spared you. And what did I get in return? Betrayal! Now you come to me again telling me to die. You bastard who deserves to be thrown into a cesspit!”
Insults poured out relentlessly.
But Choi Ryonghae, Kim Yongchun, and Kim Wonhong simply endured Kim Jongil’s fury in silence.
The coup faction knew well that reinstating Kim Jongil was the best way to gain support from the military.
“You must step forward for the sake of the republic, General.”
“Selling the republic to China is supposed to be for the republic’s sake? And you call that a reasonable argument?”
“We are accepting China’s help only because it is unavoidable if we want to restore everything to its rightful place. Please make the decision, General.”
As Kim Yongchun bowed his head, the other two bowed as well.
Kim Jongil stared at the backs of their heads for a long time before turning his gaze back toward the lake.
“I didn’t hear anything today. Leave. And don’t do anything foolish.”
“General! The die has already been cast. Many people are already preparing to enthrone you again. This cannot be stopped. If you do not step forward, a civil war may break out.”
Choi Ryonghae pleaded desperately, but Kim Jongil refused firmly.
“Didn’t I say no? If you say another word, I’ll personally go see Jang Songthaek. Do you understand?”
“General! If you refuse to step forward, we will have no choice but to bring Comrade Kim Jongnam.”
At those words Kim Jongil snapped his head around.
His eyes burned as he glared at Choi Ryonghae.
“You... you filthy bastard. How dare you threaten me?!”
