Free Web NovelLate the next night, Hu Jintao contacted me.
— It’s been a while, President Kim Muhyuk.
“Yes. It’s been a while since I heard your voice.”
— You must have been quite disappointed that I didn’t help.
“If I said I wasn’t disappointed, that would be a lie. If you had stepped forward, Mr. President, my people wouldn’t have suffered that.”
If President Hu Jintao had helped me while taking political risks, I would never have faced such trouble in China.
After all, this whole matter had started in China.
— I heard the story from the Vice President.
“There’s no point dwelling on what’s already passed. Didn’t you also survive an assassination attempt, Mr. President?”
— Haha. If you see it that way, I should be grateful. I heard you also went through something unpleasant in North Korea.
“Thanks to many people helping me, I managed to reach Russia safely. It’s not something I’d ever want to experience again.”
— You and I have gone through similar things, President Kim. Now let’s talk about the future.
He meant we should forget the uncomfortable past and move forward.
It was shameless, but I had no intention of dragging the past out either. freēwēbnovel.com
After all, he hadn’t directly harmed me.
“So what are you planning to do now, Mr. President? I heard everyone involved in the assassination attempt against you has been arrested.”
— That’s correct. However, there isn’t enough evidence to strike at Jiang Zemin. He was promoted alongside me when I became Chairman of the Central Military Commission. In the end, I cannot say I have no responsibility in this matter.
Originally, the assassination attempt against Hu Jintao happened later, but even in my previous life the event occurred in the same way.
The place and method were the same.
And even then, Jiang Zemin could not be removed.
This time would likely be no different. Jiang Zemin wouldn’t have left behind any evidence.
The one meaningful change compared to the past was that Zeng Qinghong had completely shifted his allegiance to Hu Jintao’s side.
“Wasn’t Admiral Zhang Dingfa recommended as a member of the Central Military Commission by Jiang Zemin?”
— That’s true. But that alone isn’t enough to establish a connection to Chairman Jiang.
“Hm... So what are you planning to do?”
— I have convened a full meeting. I plan to replace the members of the Central Military Commission who are close to Jiang Zemin, including the vice chairman.
In China, controlling the military meant holding supreme power.
That was why Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin never let go of the position of Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
“So you intend to strengthen your grip on power. That’s a good idea. Collective leadership has advantages, but also its weaknesses.”
— I am not denying the collective leadership system. What I dislike is that people with no official titles continue to exist as shadow powers simply because they are elders. I am not doing this to monopolize power.
“No matter the reason, the result is the same. You’ll end up monopolizing power.”
— Do you know any good way to bring down Jiang Zemin? Perhaps some weakness he has?
Jiang Zemin’s weakness...
“There isn’t any information yet that could bring him down. But I believe there is someone who might know.”
To completely destroy Jiang Zemin, a decisive card was necessary.
Hu Jintao asked excitedly,
— Who is it? Hand him over to me.
“You know Lai Changxing, don’t you?”
— ...Did you say Lai Changxing?
“Yes. Jiang Zemin made me an offer. He asked me to hand over Lai Changxing in exchange for your weakness.”
— Is that true? Chairman Jiang made such an offer?
“Yes. What I found strange was that he seemed to care more about obtaining custody of Lai Changxing than about learning your weakness.”
— That is certainly strange.
Hu Jintao also found it suspicious.
— Do you have Lai Changxing in your hands?
“Yes. I approached him in Canada and provided him with a safe place to hide.”
— May I ask why? Why are you protecting him and providing him shelter?
Cunning old fox.
I had prepared Lai Changxing as a blade in case Xi Jinping showed signs of becoming the next leader, just as in my previous life.
But there was no reason to tell Hu Jintao that.
“It’s simply insurance. I hoped I’d never have to use it, but now seems like a good opportunity to make him talk. I’ve already ordered that he be brought to Korea, and his family has been moved elsewhere for protection.”
I called it protection.
But in reality, his family were hostages.
— Hand him over to me. We will investigate him.
“That would be difficult, Mr. President.”
Until I knew exactly what he knew, I couldn’t hand him over to anyone.
— ...Why not?
“Because we need to know what he knows first. I hope I’m wrong, but you might reach a political compromise with Jiang Zemin.”
Hu Jintao didn’t bother denying it.
If Jiang Zemin agreed to withdraw completely, he might very well be forgiven.
“I want his complete downfall. If Lai Changxing knows something that can destroy him, I will absolutely use it. Until then, I cannot hand him over.”
— President Kim Muhyuk, politics doesn’t work that way. Even for me, completely destroying Jiang Zemin would be difficult.
“I know. I know it’s difficult. That’s precisely why I cannot hand him over. If even Lai Changxing’s card cannot destroy him completely, then I’ll give him to you.”
— ...Can’t you just hand him over? This could make things very complicated.
Was Hu Jintao—or someone close to him—also involved with Lai Changxing?
By now my explanation should have been sufficient, yet he continued insisting I hand Lai Changxing over.
If it was a card that could bring Jiang Zemin down, it shouldn’t matter whether °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° I extracted the information or Hu Jintao did.
“Mr. President, are you perhaps connected to Lai Changxing as well?”
— ...That’s not the case. I truly have nothing to do with him.
Hu Jintao denied it, but his slight hesitation bothered me.
If he wasn’t involved, perhaps someone close to him was.
“Then perhaps someone powerful within your faction is connected?”
A long sigh came from the other end.
— I will speak honestly. There are many people connected to Lai Changxing. Not only me, but the Shanghai faction and even the princeling faction all agreed. We decided not to stop him from escaping and not to arrest him.
I had no idea just how many people Lai Changxing was tied to.
This was an even better card than I expected.
Suppressing a smile, I continued.
“I see. In that case, I must keep him with me even more. You cannot use that card easily, can you? I’ll adjust the information to suit my needs before handing it to you. I’ll make sure the Youth League faction and the princeling faction don’t suffer any damage.”
— ...Can I trust you?
“Haven’t you and the Vice President already decided to walk the same path as me? I won’t do anything that harms you.”
Chinese politicians were people who could stab you in the back at any moment.
Hu Jintao, Zeng Qinghong, and even Wen Jiabao—who had been acquainted with me for quite some time—could betray me anytime.
I didn’t trust any of them.
But if Lai Changxing truly held their Achilles’ heel, then I would have protection against the betrayal I feared most.
— Come to China. I canceled the trip to Russia, so why don’t we meet in person?
Originally, we were supposed to meet in Russia.
But after the assassination attempt, all plans had been reset.
“I’m still worried about entering China. What happened in North Korea was only a few days ago. There’s no guarantee the same thing won’t happen in China.”
— I guarantee your safety. We are not like North Korea.
“You say that even though there was an assassination attempt against you?”
— ...That was an internal power struggle. We have no desire to fight Russia.
How pathetic.
“I’ll enter China once I can trust that completely. Until then, restore everything to how it was.”
— If you’re referring to Chairman Yoo Seongjin’s situation, it will take time. We also have procedures. Since news articles have already been published, we can’t release him immediately. It’s a major case. Once the full meeting settles things, I’ll restore your business first.
The nuance was strange.
They couldn’t release Yoo Seongjin immediately?
“Then when can he be released?”
— Once Chairman Jiang clearly steps down. More precisely, once we place our own person as Shanghai Party Secretary.
“You already received the card to purge him through Zeng Qinghong, didn’t you?”
I reminded him that I had given Zeng Qinghong evidence of corruption involving Chen Liangyu, the Shanghai Party Secretary.
— Of course, it’s sufficient evidence. But even if we use it, it can only happen after the full meeting ends.
He was stalling.
I had no choice but to wait.
Compared to North Korea, where Jang Songthaek held firm power, China’s process was much more complicated.
“I understand. I’ll trust you.”
— I have a meeting, so I must go now. Please obtain the card that can tighten the noose around Jiang Zemin.
“Yes. I’ll be entering Korea in a few days. I’ll begin working on it immediately. Please give my regards to Premier Wen Jiabao.”
— I will. Goodbye.
It had been a long call, but one with considerable gains.
“Let’s see just how big this bomb really is.”
I immediately called Manager Kim and Igor.
The two of them, who had been waiting nearby, entered the study right away.
“Igor, tell the Black Bear mercenaries to increase security around Lai Changxing.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Once the situation in Korea is settled, Lai Changxing will enter Korea immediately. Manager Kim, please prepare a quiet safe house for him in Korea in advance.”
“Yes, boss. I’ll take care of it.”
Both men nodded without asking any questions.
“Let’s endure a little longer. Once President Hu Jintao monopolizes power, only smooth roads will lie ahead.”
The end was finally beginning to come into sight.
* * *
A large event was being held at a hotel in Haeundae, Busan.
It was the 80th birthday celebration of a retired gangster boss who had stepped down before Park Dongsu unified the underworld of Busan.
The man turning eighty had once been a gangster whose name was known not only in Busan but across the country.
Veteran figures from all over the nation had gathered, along with all the directors of Chunha Group.
Because of this, the Busan police deployed several police buses and waited around the hotel where the celebration was being held.
Dozens of detectives in plain clothes observed their movements inside the hotel lobby.
“What kind of era is this? Seriously!”
One detective grumbled, and the senior officer next to him scolded him.
“What can we do? Even if they’re gangster bastards, we can’t stop them from gathering for a celebration, can we? When the higher-ups say jump, we jump.”
“That’s exactly what pisses me off! My grandma’s 80th birthday was celebrated in some tiny corner...”
It was hard to compare an ordinary grandmother’s birthday celebration with that of a former gangster boss.
In truth, the scale of the celebration was just an excuse.
The detective was really just annoyed about working overtime.
“What are you talking about, kid! That old lady was smiling ear to ear that day. What would you have done then?”
“I’m just saying! Why do you always have to smack me with facts, senior!”
As the two detectives chatted, the time for the event approached.
From 4 p.m., two hours before the event began, gangsters began arriving one by one.
Dozens of men lined up at the hotel entrance, bowing to the arriving gangsters.
“Welcome, Director!”
With one hour remaining, the directors of Chunha Group were arriving.
Watching the scene from the rooftop of a building across the street were several people.
One of them pressed the transmit button on a radio.
— Target has entered the hotel.
It was Director Ma.
