After leaving Alibaba, I flew to Beijing and visited Baidu as well.
Baidu also wanted new investnt, and the details would be finalized once Han Kyungyeong entered China and drafted the contract.
The growth of Chinese IT companies had been fast, and it would only beco faster. Investing early returned imnse profit to .
The value of the companies I had already invested in had grown more than tenfold compared to when I invested. And in the future, they would grow even further and completely dominate the Chinese market.
Perhaps because of the busy schedule, my body was extrely tired, but the smile on my face did not disappear.
The next day, I left my Beijing hotel early in the morning.
“When does he arrive?”
“They say about ten minutes remain.”
Jang Songthaek had arrived in Beijing yesterday.
But he had not co alone. He was staying inside the North Korean Embassy under thorough surveillance.
Wen Jiabao had invited Jang Songthaek to his ho, and I was invited to that eting as well.
Since he had to return to Pyongyang imdiately after Hu Jintao’s inauguration ceremony, this was the only way to et him quietly.
A short while later.
Only after passing the security inspection of the Public Security Bureau could we enter the main gate.
“These bastards have real guts.”
At my muttered remark, Manager Ma turned his head.
“Are you referring to the people who were monitoring outside?”
“Tomorrow, Hu Jintao becos President and Wen Jiabao is appointed Premier. And soone is monitoring the Premier’s house? If that’s not insanity, what is it?”
I didn’t need to confirm who it was to know.
The only ones who would monitor who Jang Songthaek t and where he went were the people sent from the North Korean Embassy.
“That only ans how important it is to watch who Vice Director Jang ets, doesn’t it?”
“Hmph······. They can’t afford to discard the one trustworthy card they have left, but letting him move freely feels burdenso because he’s too close to China.”
The slowing car stopped in front of the entrance.
When I stepped out of the car, Wen Jiabao greeted .
“President Kim, welco.”
I exchanged a light embrace with Wen Jiabao and entered the house with him.
The outside was luxurious, but the interior was even more so. Passing through a Qing-style living room, we entered the innermost room.
“Vice Director Jang.”
Jang Songthaek, now noticeably more gaunt than the last ti I saw him, was drinking whisky alone.
He set down his glass and rose to his feet.
“President Kim Muhyuk. It has been a long ti.”
“It truly has. How long has it been?”
“Don’t just stand there, let’s sit first.”
Laughing heartily, Wen Jiabao offered seats.
He spoke first. Pouring whisky into my glass, he said:
“I can’t rember how many years it’s been since the three of us last gathered. It’s good to see you both.”
Wen Jiabao filled his own glass and lifted it.
“Let’s have a drink first.”
Jang Songthaek and I lifted our glasses as well.
“For our future.”
Wen Jiabao declared the toast and brought the glass to his lips, and I also drank.
“To see Vice Director Jang again here in China gives joy. I myself once fell from grace and was confined, so I can imagine how difficult it must have been. I’m glad ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) you’re safe.”
Jang Songthaek received Wen Jiabao’s words.
“This was my second ti. If there is a third, I imagine death will truly be waiting for .”
He spoke of his own situation with a detached tone. Wen Jiabao looked at him with pity.
With a bitter smile, Jang Songthaek refilled his glass and emptied it in one go.
While running my fingers along the cold rim of the glass, I asked:
“Premier, is there no danger of eavesdropping here?”
“None. No one can listen to our conversation. You may rest assured.”
I nodded, then turned toward Jang Songthaek.
“Vice Director Jang.”
He set down the empty glass.
“Yes, President Kim.”
I had considered how to bring this up, but circling around the topic was not my style.
“Do you have any intention of becoming the master of Pyongyang?”
“······.”
Jang Songthaek’s face turned pale, as if he had heard sothing he should never hear.
Even Wen Jiabao, apparently not expecting to cut straight to the heart like this, stared at with widened eyes, the glass frozen in his hand.
“I’ve already discussed the broad outline with Premier Wen. That is why I asked him to bring you quietly to Beijing.”
“······President Kim. You do know how dangerous those words are, don’t you? You know my Republic.”
His voice trembled slightly.
“Hasn’t this been your dream for a long ti? At Chairman Song of Daehyeon’s funeral years ago, soone who called himself your comrade ca to . He told that the world you dream of is a world for the people.”
“······I had asked him to convey that if he ever t you. He was purged as soon as he returned from Seoul. That is why I never heard back, but I’m glad he reached you.”
“Oh? That man died?”
“······Yes. He died.”
That, I had not known.
“Many comrades connected to were purged. So were demoted simply because they were associated with . Fortunately, I was reinstated, but that friend never returned. It is all my fault.”
He lifted his glass again.
But this was not a mont to drown in sentint.
“I regret hearing that. But that is all the more reason we must change things. How long will you leave North Korea in Kim Jongil’s hands? Do you truly believe that is the way to serve the people you speak of?”
At that, Jang Songthaek’s expression twisted with pent-up resentnt.
“How can I defeat the Leader? In the past, maybe—but after the coup plot incident, Kim Jongil no longer trusts . In fact, he trusts no one. How do you expect to remove the Leader?”
“If there were a thod, would you move? Or will you continue living in fear, never knowing when another purge might co?”
“President Kim, that’s enough.”
His voice rose slightly.
“If Vice Director Jang is willing, not only I but the Premier here will help you.”
When Jang Songthaek turned, Wen Jiabao nodded.
“I, too, can no longer trust Joseon as it is. If we continue supporting them blindly, China will only drift further from the international community.”
“······I never imagined Premier Wen thought this way.”
“I do not care what becos of Kim Jongil. My friend is Vice Director Jang.”
I saw Jang Songthaek clench his teeth.
“You know the situation in my Republic well, Premier. Removing the Leader is not easy. Who knows how much blood will flow.”
“What about now? Blood flows all the sa. People starve and die. Perhaps it is even worse now. Am I wrong?”
“······That is—”
“I agree with President Kim. If change is possible, then it must be done. If Kim Jongil stays in power, he will begin nuclear developnt soon. Later, even greater sacrifices will not be enough to stop it.”
Jang Songthaek could not deny Wen Jiabao’s words.
He was not a man who turned away from undeniable truth.
Wen Jiabao pressed on, firm and direct.
“As ti goes on, Joseon will only beco more isolated. And the ones who will suffer most will not be you or Kim Jongil, but the people. Is that the politics for the people you once spoke of to ?”
I wanted Jang Songthaek to take power to remove unpredictable variables, but Wen Jiabao’s reasoning was different.
They were politicians; I was a businessman. Our thoughts could not be identical.
But whether by a straight path or a crooked one, the goal was the sa. Objectively, my judgnt was not so different.
After a long silence, Jang Songthaek reached for the bottle again.
I picked it up and poured for him instead.
“Vice Director Jang. To speak coldly, the lives of your people have nothing to do with . The death of that comrade—there must be circumstances I do not know. But I know one thing. If ti passes like this, you will die. Even if Kim Jongil dies, his successor will kill you. I want to prevent that.”
“······.”
He knew that truth as well.
Without a word, he downed the glass I poured.
“As long as Kim Jongil holds power, relations between North and South will not improve. The United States will pressure North Korea more and more. China and Russia cannot protect North Korea forever. What future awaits then? Do you think nuclear developnt will change anything? Only harsher sanctions will co. The United States is that kind of nation.”
I lifted my glass. Through the glass, Jang Songthaek looked frozen.
“I want you to take power. For my business, and for your safety as well.”
Nothing could proceed unless he steeled his resolve.
Wen Jiabao stayed silent, drinking quietly.
An awkward silence stretched on. Then Jang Songthaek filled his glass to the brim, drank it all at once, and set it down hard.
“President Kim Muhyuk.”
“Yes, Vice Director Jang.”
“What possible benefit is there for you if I take power? No matter how I think about it, I cannot understand. What difference does it make to your life whether North Korea collapses or prospers?”
He had finally asked the real question.
“Please answer . I must know whether I may join hands with you for a coup, or whether you intend only to use .”
Good. If he has reached the point of asking this, his heart is already leaning.
“I want to lay a railway from South Korea through North Korea, then through Russia and China to Europe. Beyond that, pipelines too—from Russia, gas and oil. There is endless business. But none of it is possible because of the dictator Kim Jongil. That is the main reason.”
“That alone does not explain everything. Overthrowing a governnt—just for that?”
It was half true, yet he did not believe.
But I could not tell him that I acted with certainty because I knew the future.
Despite his heavy expression, a relaxed smile floated on my lips.
“I was born in Korea, and I will end my life in Korea. Does that answer suffice?”
A heavy silence pressed down on all sides.
“Very well. I will try.”
Biting his lip, Jang Songthaek finally accepted the proposal.
“To be honest, I have thought of it before. But after that coup attempt failed, things beca too difficult. Many of my people have been purged. The military is completely filled with the Leader’s loyalists. I cannot move freely now. How am I to lead a coup?”
He had accepted, yet remained doubtful.
He wanted to see what cards I had prepared.
“With money, what cannot be done?”
“Surely you don’t believe this can be solved with money? That is ignorance of our Republic—”
I cut him off.
“It would turn out that way if you tried to buy loyalty with a trivial sum. But if you present an amount that cannot be refused, that is enough.”
If sothing cannot be bought with money, then you must consider whether the amount is insufficient.
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