Free Web NovelAfter attending the plenary session of the Chinese Communist Party and returning to Shanghai, the news waiting for Chen Liangyu was anything but good.
“What did you say? Replace whom? Who dares to replace him without my permission!”
His closest confidant, Commander Chang Xinju, who led the Shanghai Armed Police, had been abruptly dismissed. In his place, Commander Liu Hongcai had been appointed.
Liu Hongcai was from Sichuan Province and had until recently been leading the Armed Police in Shaanxi Province.
“Who the hell dared to give such an order! Who in Shanghai thinks they can pull something like this without my approval! The mayor? Or who!”
“It’s an order issued in the name of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. All nine members of the Standing Committee have signed it...”
At the mention that every Standing Committee member had signed, Chen Liangyu fell into deep shock.
“...It came down from Beijing? What does that even mean? Not a single word to me! Isn’t this wrong? The order—right! Where is the order!”
“Commander Chang Xinju is on his way here now. He will probably bring the document with him.”
No sooner had the words finished than Chang Xinju arrived.
“Secretary Chen.”
His face was pale.
“What on earth is going on? Did something happen in Beijing? Why am I suddenly being dismissed?”
To prevent any possible incident, Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao had abruptly replaced the head of the Shanghai Armed Police before Chen Liangyu could return to Shanghai after the plenary session.
But Chen Liangyu, unaware of this, was simply bewildered.
“Sit down first, Commander Chang.”
Chen Liangyu was furious as well, but not as much as Chang Xinju, who had been dismissed without warning.
After sitting down, Chang Xinju handed over the official document from Beijing.
“This is the order issued under the Central Committee’s name. Did you know about this in advance?”
Chen Liangyu steadied his trembling hands and took the document.
An order bearing the signatures of all Standing Committee members, led by Hu Jintao.
In present-day China, no one could oppose such a document.
Chen Liangyu set it down and let out a deep sigh.
“I knew nothing about this. If I had known, would I have let you be dismissed? The Armed Police have been, since Chairman Jiang’s time, an armed force for the Shanghai Party Secretary. Do you think I would hand that over to someone else instead of you?”
“Then what on earth is all this?”
Just as Chang Xinju voiced his frustration, there was a knock on the door.
“Secretary Chen. It’s Wu Zhiming. Ah, Commander Chang is here as well.”
The one who had come to see Chen Liangyu was the Director of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Wu Zhiming.
“What is it?”
“Have you heard the news?”
Instead of answering, Wu Zhiming asked back.
“What news? That Commander Chang Xinju has been dismissed?”
“...What? Commander Chang has been dismissed? Is that true?”
Wu Zhiming looked at Chang Xinju in shock—he clearly hadn’t known.
“Then what exactly are you asking about?”
Annoyed by the reaction, Chen Liangyu snapped.
“I heard from a friend in the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection... that an internal investigation has been opened against you, Secretary Chen. Investigators have already been dispatched to Shanghai...”
Before Wu Zhiming could finish, Chen Liangyu slammed the table and jumped to his feet.
“What nonsense is that? Investigating me? Which lunatic dares to investigate me! I am Chen Liangyu—Chen Liangyu!”
At his roar, Wu Zhiming froze mid-sentence.
“Is it confirmed? That the Central Discipline Commission is investigating me?”
“Y-yes. My friend said he doesn’t know the exact reason. But investigators have already been urgently sent to Shanghai.”
Hearing of the secretly initiated investigation, Chen Liangyu collapsed back into his chair.
Wu Zhiming wasn’t the type to bring uncertain information.
Letting out a hollow laugh, Chen Liangyu regained his composure and asked:
“How far can your friend in the Discipline Commission find out?”
“He said he’ll try his best. But someone of your level... he likely doesn’t have the authority to access that information.”
“...Hah. Director Wu, sit down.”
Pressing his throbbing forehead, Chen Liangyu gestured to him.
As he rubbed his face dry, he sank into thought.
This isn’t something ordinary...
They had removed Chang Xinju first—his closest ally—and immediately launched an investigation.
A chilling sense of foreboding crawled down his spine.
“...Director Wu. What about the Public Security Bureau?”
“...Excuse me?”
“I’m asking if there have been any sudden personnel changes. Any signs that you might be replaced?”
“I haven’t heard anything like that yet. But... if Commander Chang has been dismissed, I may not be safe either.”
Wu Zhiming’s expression grew serious.
The head of the Armed Police had been replaced, and now a secret investigation was underway.
There was no guarantee the Public Security Director wouldn’t be replaced as well.
“They won’t replace the Public Security Director. Don’t you already have a firm grip on the Shanghai police?”
“That may be true, but... it’s meaningless now that the Armed Police have been taken away. If they move in, we cannot stop them with Public Security forces alone. And unlike the Armed Police, the Public Security Bureau is heavily influenced by the central government. That might be why they haven’t replaced me yet.”
The Armed Police mainly fell under local government control, following the orders of regional Party Secretaries.
But the Public Security Bureau was under central authority.
Even knowing Wu Zhiming was Chen Liangyu’s close ally, Hu Jintao and the central government had not replaced him—for that very reason.
“Then... shouldn’t we contact Chairman Jiang Zemin?”
Chang Xinju suggested cautiously.
No matter how powerful Chen Liangyu was, if the central government decided to strike, he could not stop it.
If he were clean, there might still be a chance to survive.
But Chang Xinju, who had carried out his orders, knew full well the extent of Chen Liangyu’s corruption.
To stop the Discipline Commission, they needed someone with real power.
“...Chairman Jiang...”
Chen Liangyu knew very well that contacting Jiang Zemin was the best option.
Yet he hesitated.
“Did something happen in Beijing? If not, this is no time to hesitate. At this rate, it won’t be me in danger—it’ll be you, Secretary ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Chen. If the Discipline Commission moves decisively, even you won’t be able to stop them.”
“...What did you say?”
Chen Liangyu glared sharply at Chang Xinju’s blunt words.
“None of us here can claim to be clean. The only person who can stop this is Chairman Jiang Zemin.”
The brutal truth struck Chen Liangyu, yet he said nothing in rebuttal.
“...Have you fallen out with Chairman Jiang?”
“Of course not. How could I fall out with him? But... even on his side, the atmosphere isn’t good.”
“...What exactly happened at this plenary session?”
“I don’t know the details either. But one thing is certain—the power has completely shifted from Chairman Jiang Zemin to President Hu Jintao. And no one opposed it.”
The shocking statement left Chang Xinju speechless.
Chen Liangyu himself had been deeply shaken by what he witnessed.
He didn’t know the full story. Jiang Zemin had given him no explanation.
Despite requesting several meetings, he had not been able to see him.
The only person he managed to meet was Huang Ju.
But Huang Ju was also a Standing Committee member—his signature was on the order as well.
And he had given Chen Liangyu no warning whatsoever.
“...Something is definitely happening behind the scenes. Otherwise, this makes no sense.”
Everyone present stiffened.
Every person in this room had staked their lives on Chen Liangyu.
If he fell, they would all fall with him.
“Still... you should contact Chairman Jiang first. Then we can discuss countermeasures.”
At Wu Zhiming’s suggestion, Chen Liangyu nodded and took out his phone.
He dialed Jiang Zemin’s private number.
The signal rang... but there was no answer.
He tried again.
And again.
But Jiang Zemin never picked up.
“Damn it! Why won’t he answer!”
Finally, Chen Liangyu hurled the phone.
It smashed against the wall and shattered.
* * *
I came down from Busan and, quite literally, did nothing.
Aside from occasionally going out for walks with Grandma, I just lazed around at home.
I pushed all complicated thoughts aside and focused solely on resting.
“Muhyuk-ah, come out. Let’s eat tteokguk.”
Lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, I got up at Grandma’s call.
I opened the door and sat at the table.
“Hey, wash your hands first.”
She smacked my back lightly as she spoke. Even at my age, she still treated me like a child.
I let out a small laugh and went to the sink, washing my hands roughly.
She clicked her tongue at the sight.
Seeing me do nothing all day since coming to Busan, she seemed a bit fed up.
When I sat back down, she placed a large metal bowl of tteokguk in front of me. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
She sprinkled crushed seaweed from a plastic bag over it.
“How long are you gonna keep loafing around like that?”
“Why? Want me gone?”
“No, that’s not it. You’re just stuck in your room all day. Go outside a bit. At this rate your bones’ll stiffen.”
I didn’t answer her nagging and just picked up my spoon.
Because I knew that if I actually left, she’d feel lonely.
“I’m a year older now.”
“Even if you get older, you’re still a kid. Hurry up and eat.”
I scooped a spoonful of tteokguk and turned on the TV.
On the news, President Yoon Changho was beginning a New Year’s reception with around fifty figures from various sectors.
—Hello, this is Yoon Changho.
I kept eating while listening to his greeting.
—Last year, many things happened.
Breaking tradition, he invited ten ordinary citizen representatives instead of limiting the event to political elites.
“I like this president.”
Grandma’s sudden comment made me pause.
“You like him?”
She had never talked about politics in front of me before.
She always voted, but never said who for—and never asked either.
“He’s trying his best, isn’t he? I’ve lived through many presidents, but someone who communicates with the people like that—this is the first time.”
“Well, as long as you like him. He’s a good president... and also a good person.”
Yoon Changho had record-breaking approval ratings.
I couldn’t exactly say I had nothing to do with that.
I chatted with Grandma as I finished the tteokguk.
“As expected, Grandma’s tteokguk is the best.”
As I put down the empty bowl, a faint smile appeared on her usually expressionless face.
“They say people are coming to give New Year’s greetings today. Go wash up and get ready.”
“Alright, alright... always nagging...”
Today, both Hyunseong’s family and Myungsoo’s family were coming.
After quickly showering and changing clothes, I waited while watching TV.
The New Year’s reception had ended, and now the news was analyzing it.
Grandma came out, all dressed up, and sat beside me.
“Change the channel. You keep watching boring news all day long.”
Glancing at the clock, it was time for the drama she always watched.
Without a word, I handed her the remote.
She smiled softly and switched to her usual channel.
“So those two are dating?”
“Yeah. But they’re actually siblings—switched at birth in the hospital.”
While we were watching the drama together, the doorbell rang.
Both Myungsoo’s family and Hyunseong’s family had arrived together.
