Free Web NovelChoi Ryunghae, Kim Youngchun, and the coup forces supporting them gathered at the General Political Bureau.
“Before the operation begins, we plan to secure President Kim Muhyuk first.”
When Choi Ryunghae spoke, Kim Youngchun nodded.
“That would be best. In the end, it’s because of that bastard that our Republic changed. If we just kill that son of a bitch, many things will change.”
Spread across the table was a military map showing the positions of units throughout North Korea in detail.
“Wouldn’t it be difficult to capture Kim Muhyuk in Pyongyang? Once he leaves Pyongyang, we will arrest or eliminate him and immediately mobilize the military.”
After speaking, Choi Ryunghae pointed to a spot on the map.
“We capture him here.”
It was on the road between Pyongyang and Kaesong.
After confirming the location, Kim Youngchun asked with concern,
“Has the 5th Corps agreed to participate in this operation?”
Choi Ryunghae shook his head.
“No. We failed to recruit the 5th Corps commander. But we did recruit the armored brigade commander under his command. They’re extremely dissatisfied that their forces were pushed to the rear because of the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The 4th Infantry Battalion will move with them.”
“True. The 5th Corps suffered the most because of Jang Songthaek.”
Because of the Kaesong Industrial Complex—the beginning of economic cooperation between North and South Korea—the 5th Corps not only had to withdraw its troops but was also reduced in size by half.
Knowing this resentment, Jang Songthaek had dismissed the original 5th Corps commander and appointed one of his own loyalists.
But not everyone under him shared the new commander’s views.
Choi Ryunghae and the coup conspirators exploited that very weakness.
Kim Muhyuk of South Korea—the starting point of the rapid changes sweeping through North Korea.
They intended to exploit the cracks those changes had created.
“That’s right. After the 5th Corps was reduced by half, resentment grew greatly. These sudden changes are pushing our Republic into a pit of corruption.”
Those gathered here had supported Jang Songthaek’s coup, but they had no intention of surrendering their privileges.
Yet Jang Songthaek kept introducing policies for the people rather than for the elites.
“Comrade Chairman Jang Songthaek does not understand what will happen when the people become well-fed. Eventually they will keep demanding more and more. Then the Republic will be shaken to its core. After eliminating Kim Muhyuk, we will speak to Chairman Jang Songthaek.” freēwēbηovel.c૦m
“And if he does not accept our will...”
They didn’t need to finish the sentence.
Everyone understood it meant Jang Songthaek would have to be removed.
“Listen carefully. This operation is to restore the Republic to its rightful place. I stand here with the heart of someone saving the nation.”
Kim Youngchun’s words carried weight.
He held the title of Hero of the Republic.
“If this fails, we all lose our lives. I will stand at the front, so follow me. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Marshal!”
The others answered loudly.
At that moment, a man with three stars on his shoulder asked Kim Youngchun,
“Marshal, what about the units outside Pyongyang?”
“Don’t worry about that. If we finish everything before they arrive, it won’t matter. Eventually they’ll watch the situation and surrender to us. Just like before.”
Choi Ryunghae continued.
“The core of this revolution is the Pyongyang Defense Command. Marshal Kim Youngchun has agreed to take charge of that.”
Every officer inside the command room focused on his words.
“The commander will be arrested the moment the revolution begins by officers already under our orders. After that...”
Choi Ryunghae spent a long time explaining the operational plan to the assembled officers.
To prevent leaks, they had agreed not to dispatch commanders to frontline units.
Instead, they would command everything from a single location.
Each officer had a communication device in front of him to issue orders to his respective units.
After Choi Ryunghae finished speaking, Kim Youngchun checked his wristwatch.
“By now the operation to behead Kim Muhyuk should have begun. Everyone prepare. The moment Kim Muhyuk is captured or killed, the operation begins.”
Those gathered in the command room began picking up their communication devices.
“Wait for the deployment order!”
The same command was transmitted to each unit.
* * *
Officers from Escort Command Unit 3, ordered to protect Kim Muhyuk, arrived at the checkpoint.
“Stop right there! Stop! If you don’t stop, we’ll fire! Stop!”
Their vehicle stopped before even reaching the checkpoint.
“Get out slowly.”
The soldiers guarding the checkpoint pointed their rifles and gave the command.
Shim Woong, sitting in the passenger seat, stepped out.
Then he walked toward the checkpoint.
“Stop! Don’t come any closer! Where are you from? State your unit!”
Shim Woong stopped at their warning.
“I am Lieutenant Colonel Shim Woong of the Supreme Guard Command.”
He was the officer responsible for Kim Muhyuk’s security.
Glaring at the checkpoint soldiers, he continued.
“We received no report about this. What unit do you belong to?”
“5th Corps.”
“What exactly are you inspecting for?”
“We received intelligence that a reactionary is heading toward South Korea. So we established this checkpoint—”
The soldier could not finish.
Shim Woong suddenly shouted.
“What?! A reactionary? What nonsense are you talking about?! Clear the road immediately. A guest of Chairman Jang Songthaek is inside that vehicle!”
“That is impossible. We received orders. We are soldiers.”
“Move! Aren’t you the reactionaries? Do you all want to die?!”
Shim Woong shouted as he pulled out his pistol.
“Disobedience is punishable by summary execution!”
At Shim Woong’s action, the escort troops behind him also raised their weapons.
The two sides aimed their guns at each other with hostile glares.
At that moment, a general wearing two stars walked forward from behind the checkpoint.
“Hey. You said your name was Shim Woong?”
“Yes. Lieutenant Colonel Shim Woong of the Supreme Guard Command.”
“I’m the armored brigade commander under the 5th Corps.”
Shim Woong hesitated.
“Lower your weapon. Should we spill our own blood? We have orders.”
“Orders from where?”
“From the Director of the General Political Bureau himself. So drop your weapon.”
At the mention of the Director of the General Political Bureau, Shim Woong’s heart sank.
“...You’re saying the Director personally issued the order?”
“Yes. So follow our control.”
Shim Woong steadied his trembling heart and answered calmly.
“We are escorting President Kim Muhyuk from South Korea under orders from Chairman Jang Songthaek. Does the Director of the General Political Bureau outrank the Chairman?”
“......”
“We must carry out Chairman Jang Songthaek’s orders. So please step aside.”
Silence hung for a moment.
Then the armored brigade commander sighed softly.
“Lieutenant Colonel. Must it be this way? Is your life not precious? The battle is already over. Drop your weapon and surrender.”
“I cannot do that.”
The tension rose higher with every exchange.
“I see. Then don’t blame me. Arrest them all.”
After giving the order, the brigade commander turned away.
Shim Woong bit his lip.
At this rate, President Kim Muhyuk would be captured.
The enemy forces outnumbered them more than two to one.
And if the armored brigade commander had moved, tanks were probably waiting nearby.
They had to buy time before the tanks arrived.
“You reactionary bastard! Die!”
Shim Woong fired his gun.
Bang!
The brigade commander was shot and collapsed.
That gunshot became the signal for battle.
Bang! Bang!
Gunfire instantly filled the air.
Shim Woong was hit in the arm and took cover behind a military vehicle.
“You bastards! Kill them all!”
“Don’t retreat! Kill as many as you can!”
Men fell on both sides.
But as time passed, Shim Woong’s side began to lose ground.
They were simply outnumbered.
* * *
The sudden gunfire made Manager Kim shout.
“Boss! Get down! Turn the car around immediately! Get out of here!”
I quickly lowered my head at his command while my mind raced.
Are they planning to eliminate me first?
This had been an official visit across the armistice line.
Because of that, I had brought fewer than ten personal bodyguards.
Jang Songthaek had allowed my guards to carry pistols, but pistols alone couldn’t fight off soldiers.
I had been careless.
I dealt with madmen too properly.
Manager Kim turned the car around and drew his pistol.
“Stay down. It’s dangerous.”
Two escort vehicles from the Guard Command followed behind us.
The gunfire continued, but gradually grew distant.
I raised my head slightly and {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} looked back.
No vehicles were chasing us yet.
Were the Guard Command soldiers holding them off?
My mind was spinning.
This couldn’t be the end.
Boom!
As expected, one of the escort vehicles following us was hit by artillery and flipped over.
“Drive in zigzags! Don’t stop! Speed up!”
Manager Kim shouted urgently.
The driver slammed the accelerator.
The engine roared as the car surged forward.
“Boss, we should return to Pyongyang first.”
I shook my head.
There was no way this was the end.
Anyone planning an ambush always prepared a second plan in case of failure.
“No. Pyongyang is dangerous. Give me the satellite phone.”
Going back to Pyongyang now would be suicide.
Manager Kim handed me the bag containing the satellite phone.
“Manager Kim. Can we reach the Russian border?”
“If we have enough fuel, yes.”
We had filled the tank before leaving Pyongyang.
Manager Kim glanced at the gauge and sighed.
“The problem is the roads...”
He trailed off.
I opened the bag.
“Then we’ll cut off midway and head toward Rason.”
“Yes, boss.”
The route back to Pyongyang was likely already blocked.
Other areas weren’t guaranteed safe either.
But we had to move toward the least dangerous direction.
Meanwhile, I tried contacting Jang Songthaek through the satellite phone.
No connection.
I tried several times.
Still nothing.
I bit my lip without realizing.
Did something happen to Jang Songthaek?
No.
A coup depended on secrecy.
Once exposed, it could never succeed.
So the only explanation was priority.
The coup forces planned to eliminate me first.
Then they would eliminate Jang Songthaek.
Otherwise they wouldn’t have moved this quickly.
I stopped trying Jang Songthaek and contacted Russia instead.
“Medvedev speaking.”
“Medvedev. This is Kim Muhyuk.”
“Ah, President Kim. A satellite call? Are you still in North Korea? Weren’t you supposed to return to Korea today—”
“I’m still in North Korea. We’ve been attacked.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s no time to explain. I’m heading toward Rason. Prepare the border crossing.”
I asked Medvedev to prepare troops at the border.
Even from my brief explanation, he seemed to understand immediately.
“Understood. Contact me again in ten minutes.”
After ending the call, I made another one.
“Igor.”
“Yes, boss.”
“You’re in Vladivostok?”
“Yes, boss. What’s happening?”
I ordered Igor to mobilize immediately.
Even without details, he seemed to sense the danger.
“Understood. You must survive, boss.”
By the time we reached Rason, Igor would probably arrive.
I tried contacting Jang Songthaek again.
The bombardment earlier clearly meant they didn’t care whether I lived or died.
You bastards.
If they couldn’t capture me, they would kill me.
I hadn’t expected them to go this far.
After several attempts, the call finally connected.
“Chairman! Are you safe? Why couldn’t I reach you?”
“Sorry. I received the report and returned immediately. Are you safe, President Kim?”
“I turned back the moment the Guard Command soldiers began fighting.”
“Thank goodness. Truly.”
Jang Songthaek let out a sigh of relief.
But it was too early to relax.
“What about Pyongyang?”
“We are confirming the situation. There is no movement in Pyongyang yet. The arrest operation will begin immediately.”
The original plan had been to wipe out the coup forces after I returned to Korea.
But that plan had already failed.
Now we had to move first.
“Act immediately. Arrest all the ringleaders.”
“Will you return to Pyongyang?”
“No. That route is probably already blocked. I’m heading toward the Russian border. And allow the Black Bear mercenaries to cross the border.”
I asked Jang Songthaek for several more things.
He agreed to all of them.
“I will never forget this.”
With that, I ended the call.
Grinding my teeth, I glared toward the checkpoint.
First, I had to survive.
Only if I survived could I take revenge.
If I died, there was no telling how much others would move for my sake.
Our car left the highway and began racing down a rough dirt road.
