Officers who had received orders from the coup forces stord the office of the Pyongyang Defense Command.
Jeon Jinsu, commander of the Pyongyang Defense Command, was quite taken aback when the officers suddenly burst in.
But only for a mont. Soon he raised his voice.
“What is this? What the hell are you doing?”
The officers who had entered the commander’s office lined up in perfect formation and spoke.
“Commander comrade. Disarm yourself and raise both hands.”
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
“We request your cooperation. We do not wish to harm you, Commander comrade.”
“Have you all gone insane?”
Commander Jeon Jinsu shot up from his seat and barked angrily.
At the sa ti, the officers pointed their rifles at him.
“You sons of bitches. I’ll shove a rice paddle down your throats and stir your guts! You dare point guns at ?”
Even while facing the vicious line of rifles, Commander Jeon Jinsu showed no sign of backing down.
At that mont, a general pushed his way through the officers and stepped inside.
“Commander comrade. Please surrender.”
After confirming the general’s face, Commander Jeon Jinsu pointed a finger at him and shouted in fury.
“You... you bastard traitor...”
The man leading the rebel troops was a political officer sent by the General Political Bureau to monitor the Pyongyang Defense Command.
“This is an order from the Director of the General Political Bureau. You are to arrest Senior General Jeon Jinsu imdiately and suppress the rebels inside Pyongyang.”
“What? Rebels? You’re the rebels!”
“Our units are already prepared for deploynt. So do not resist and surrender. What are you waiting for? Arrest him.”
Commander Jeon Jinsu struggled and shouted as the officers moved to disarm him.
“You bastards! I’ll throw you all into a shit pit! Let go! Let go of !”
He thrashed wildly, but in the end his weapons were taken and he was dragged away.
The political officer sat down in the chair where Jeon Jinsu had been sitting.
“Move toward Pyongyang imdiately.”
At his order, the officers who had joined the coup quickly left the commander’s office.
* * *
The troops that had departed from the Pyongyang Defense Command stopped in front of a checkpoint leading into Pyongyang.
“Halt! What unit are you?”
The soldiers blocking them were not the Pyongyang Security Command soldiers who were supposed to be stationed there.
The soldiers, their faces tense with suspicion, raised their rifles and demanded identification.
The armored brigade commander leading the troops stepped down from the military vehicle with a stiff expression.
“I am Brigade Commander Ryu Gwang of the 91st chanized Infantry Brigade, Pyongyang Defense Command. Who are you?”
“Brigade Commander Ryu Gwang? Why are you bringing troops into Pyongyang at this hour?”
“We were ordered by the Director of the General Political Bureau to support the bureau.”
A soldier who had lowered his weapon during the conversation raised it again.
“What are you talking about? We received no such report.”
“This is a direct order issued in the na of the Director of the General Political Bureau. Move aside imdiately.”
“The commander of the Pyongyang Defense Command is Senior General Jeon Jinsu, isn’t he? Why are you the one commanding the troops?”
“The commander is guarding the base. Clear the road. At this rate, the reactionary bastards will seize Pyongyang.”
Even after invoking the na of the Director of the General Political Bureau, the Security Bureau officer did not budge.
“We received orders that not even an ant is to enter Pyongyang.”
“The Pyongyang Security Command has already been inford. Move aside. Do you realize what kind of trouble you’re causing?”
The conversation went nowhere.
“What nonsense are you talking! We’re from the Security Bureau! We are guarding this checkpoint under orders from General Hong Junsu. Bring a written order issued in the na of Chairman Jang Songthaek. Then we’ll move.”
In the end, the two n began shouting at each other.
As ti dragged on, Brigade Commander Ryu Gwang continued talking while thinking.
What should I do?
If they engaged in combat, they had a decent chance of winning even if they took casualties.
But if they entered Pyongyang after losing too many troops, they would never be able to defeat the Guard Command forces inside the city.
Their entire plan had been built around entering the city without bloodshed.
“...Move aside.”
“Stop talking nonsense. As long as I’m alive, not a single unit will enter Pyongyang!”
If the standoff continued, there was no telling what would happen to the command center inside Pyongyang.
Ryu Gwang was about to make up his mind and issue orders to his troops.
Just then, a military vehicle ca racing toward them from the direction of the Pyongyang Defense Command.
It stopped at the checkpoint, and the person who stepped out was the deputy commander of the Pyongyang Defense Command.
“Everyone stop.”
Ryu Gwang flinched at the deputy commander’s sudden appearance.
“Comrade Ryu Gwang. What are you doing here?”
“Deputy Commander, what brings you here?”
“Ha... you foolish bastard.”
The deputy commander looked at him with a pitiful expression.
Just as Ryu Gwang was about to respond, a loud noise ca from behind.
An armored unit, including tanks, was approaching.
Ryu Gwang’s face hardened.
“The Pyongyang Defense Command has been retaken by us. Give up and withdraw your troops.”
“....”
“Comrade Ryu Gwang. No, my friend Ryu Gwang. Why are you chasing such a foolish dream? If you turn back now, I’ll personally speak in your defense. Your family has already been arrested.”
“What! What do you an...”
Ryu Gwang’s face flushed red.
“The State Security Departnt has begun arresting the families of the rebels. You foolish man. Did you really think this would succeed?”
The deputy commander sighed as if he genuinely felt sorry for him.
“Turn back now. That way both you and your family might live. Trust and go back.”
The deputy commander then turned toward the Security Bureau officer standing behind Ryu Gwang.
“What unit are you with?”
“Security Bureau.”
“Good. We will turn back. Please allow us to withdraw. The commander said he would contact the Chairman directly.”
“We received orders not to allow anyone into Pyongyang. If you are turning back, we will not stop you.”
The deputy commander nodded and once again tried to persuade Ryu Gwang.
“Comrade Ryu Gwang. Let’s go back. This may be your last chance.”
“...Please save my family, Deputy Commander.”
“I will do everything I can.”
Finally convinced by the deputy commander’s earnest persuasion, Ryu Gwang issued an order to his n.
“Lower your weapons. We are returning.”
The sa scene was unfolding at checkpoints all around Pyongyang.
* * *
After taking sufficient rest, we began moving again.
In a few hours we would et up with the rcenaries Igor had brought.
The word hope gives people incredible strength.
The bodyguards’ expressions were far better than before.
“You’ve all worked hard. Manager Kim as well, and the bodyguards.”
I spoke to Manager Kim while walking with lighter steps.
“It’s nothing. If sothing had happened to you, Boss... the chief would probably have killed us.”
“Haha, Chief Ma is scary, isn’t he? Sotis he scares too.”
I joked awkwardly, trying to lighten the tense mood.
We kept moving as we talked.
“How much farther?”
“We’ll reach the eting point soon, Boss.”
Near the rendezvous point, we stopped walking.
Manager Kim looked around and said,
“Let’s wait here for now.”
I nodded and sat down directly on the dirt.
“I never want to go through sothing like this again.”
A bitter laugh escaped .
Cold. Hungry. Completely exhausted.
Since starting my new life, I had never experienced anything like this.
I had faced many crises, but nothing this physically and ntally exhausting.
When this is over, I really need to rest.
In China, Zeng Qinghong had already convinced Hu Jintao to remove Jiang Zemin.
North Korea’s power structure would be heavily purged after this incident.
As for Baltiche... it still needed more ti.
The opportunity would co when the massive wave starting in Arica finally swept over Europe.
I quietly reviewed everything ahead of while waiting for Igor and the rcenaries.
Then, lights appeared from the opposite direction—not from Rason.
Manager Kim quickly gestured to the bodyguards and turned off the flashlight.
The surroundings fell into complete darkness, and the identity of the approaching lights soon beca clear.
“They look like North Korean soldiers.”
Manager Kim whispered.
I nodded slightly.
They were probably soldiers chasing us.
“Will they run into Igor?”
“Most likely.”
With the equipnt we had, there was nothing we could do.
I don’t know what’s happening in Pyongyang.
Had the rebels been suppressed? What happened to Kim Jongil? Had the order to pursue been withdrawn?
Right now, we had no way of knowing.
The satellite phone battery was nearly dead, and what remained had to be saved for communication with Igor.
Soon the North Korean military vehicles began approaching our position.
“Hide.”
If we were discovered before Igor arrived, it would be disastrous.
After giving the order to Manager Kim, I quickly slipped behind a tree.
The bodyguards crouched down as well.
We waited silently for the vehicles to pass.
The vehicles slowly rolled past us.
Just as we let out a quiet sigh of relief, lights appeared again from the opposite direction.
Igor?
The North °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Korean soldiers noticed the lights and imdiately stopped.
Dozens of soldiers jumped down from the truck and quickly unloaded sothing onto the road.
At the sa ti, the lights from the opposite side also stopped.
Neither side moved.
Then soone on the North Korean side spoke through a loudspeaker mounted on the vehicle.
“I am Senior Captain Seol Ginam. Exit the vehicle and identify yourselves!”
There was no response.
“If you do not identify yourselves, we will open fire!”
The officer gestured with his hand.
The soldiers raised their rifles and aid at the lights.
The tension was razor sharp.
At that mont, the lights from the opposite side suddenly went out.
The headlights vanished, plunging everything into darkness.
But only for a mont.
Sparks burst from the darkness.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The sudden gunfire made the North Korean officer imdiately dive for cover.
“What the hell! Who are you bastards! Identify yourselves!”
Even while shouting, the officer clung tightly to the loudspeaker.
“Return fire! Kill them all!”
The North Korean soldiers instantly returned fire.
Gunshots echoed through the air, along with the choking sll of gunpowder.
I thought to myself,
It must be Igor’s rcenaries.
There was no one else who would suddenly attack North Korean soldiers like this.
One North Korean soldier began moving toward a jeep-mounted machine gun.
“Manager Kim.”
Manager Kim looked at with worry written all over his face.
“Let’s join the fight.”
“It’s dangerous, Boss.”
“If that machine gun opens fire, Igor’s team will be in serious trouble. If we hit them from behind, Igor will have more room to move.”
“...Understood.”
Manager Kim signaled to the bodyguards.
They took position and raised their pistols.
Our quiet movent fortunately drew no attention.
When I nodded, the bodyguards opened fire.
The soldier approaching the machine gun was hit first and collapsed.
“What—what is this! Where is the attack coming from! Return fire!”
The officer scread while hiding himself even more.
The bodyguards had joined the fight, but pistols had their limits.
The flashes from the pistols revealed our position, and the North Korean soldiers began firing at us.
I dropped flat on the ground and crawled behind a rock barely large enough to shield my body.
Now I couldn’t see anything.
Only the sounds remained.
Then a series of loud shots rang out.
From the continuous noise, it sounded like a machine gun.
“AAAGH!”
“Ugh!”
Screams of pain ca from the North Korean side.
It seed that thanks to our intervention, Igor’s team had gained enough room to operate and opened fire with the vehicle-mounted machine gun.
Screams erupted one after another.
The heavy thuds of bodies hitting the ground echoed through the darkness.
Boom! Bang!
Explosions and gunfire continued.
Gradually the shooting slowed.
Then, suddenly, everything went silent.
In the pitch-black darkness, only faint groans remained.
“Boss! Are you safe?!”
Through the darkness, Igor’s voice called out.
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