Shanghai Party Secretary’s office.
Chen Liangyu, still unaware of anything, kept trying to contact Beijing.
“You ungrateful bastards!”
He pointed his finger as he shouted at Premier Wen Jiabao, completely arrogant as always.
Yet among all those who had once bowed their heads before him, not a single one answered his calls.
Wu Zhiming, standing beside him, spoke cautiously.
“Shouldn’t we go up to Beijing? Waiting like this won’t solve anything.”
“...No one is answering. If I go to Beijing like this, it’s the sa as walking straight into a tiger’s jaws and asking to be eaten! Does that make any sense? We have to hold out in Shanghai and buy ti.”
He had to endure, no matter what, and carve out an escape route sohow.
Just as he was about to start making calls again, his phone rang.
He imdiately checked the na on the screen.
“Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone?!”
— ...Secretary Chen. Considering our past relationship, let give you one piece of advice.
The reply ca out of nowhere, without even acknowledging his anger.
But instead of getting angry, Chen Liangyu felt his heart drop.
Huang Ju’s voice on the other end was heavy, sunken.
— Do nothing. Accept everything. That’s the only way you’ll live. Don’t think about anything unnecessary. That’s why I called.
“What do you an, accept everything? Are you telling to just die quietly?”
— For the sake of what cos after, don’t take any action, Secretary Chen. Even your family could be put in danger. So settle this politically, at an appropriate level—
“What kind of bullshit are you spouting?! I crawled like a dog for you people! And now you’re going to throw away? You think I’ll die alone? I’m not dying alone. Not a chance!”
The mont Chen Liangyu dropped all pretense and shouted bluntly, Huang Ju said nothing further and simply hung up.
“...He hung up? These bastards really want to go all the way, huh?!”
Chen Liangyu glared at his phone, then hurled it straight at the wall.
Even then, his anger didn’t subside as he breathed heavily, seething.
“Beijing?”
“What are you asking for?! You heard everything!”
“....”
“They’re throwing away? You think I’ll die alone?”
Grinding his teeth, Chen Liangyu turned to Wu Zhiming.
“Director Wu. Where are all the corruption files we secured?”
“...Hidden in the secret vault. You’re not thinking of using them, are you?”
Chen Liangyu nodded as if it were obvious.
“They’re trying to kill over what? How much did I even take? If I’m going down, we’re all going down together. At this rate, not just you—even Commander Chang dies.”
“....”
Neither Wu Zhiming nor Chang Xinju could answer.
They were tied to Chen Liangyu’s fate.
“Go back to the Public Security Bureau. Put all forces on ergency standby and prepare for imdiate mobilization.”
“...What? Are you planning an ard confrontation? That’s too extre. The Ard Police have already been replaced with people aligned with the central governnt. Even dealing with them alone would be difficult, and if the nearby army moves as well—”
“You think I don’t know that?! I’m showing them I won’t just sit here and die!”
Chen Liangyu snapped, glaring at Wu Zhiming.
“Director Wu. I live, you live. So follow my orders quietly.”
“...Yes.”
“Go. And keep your phone on.”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave.”
Wu Zhiming bowed and left the office.
Before leaving, he glanced at Chang Xinju with pity.
“Commander Chang.”
“Yes, Secretary.”
“You still have n inside the Ard Police, right?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Report their movents to in real ti. If the Ard Police moves...”
“I’ve already arranged that. If anything happens, they’ll report imdiately.”
At Chang Xinju’s answer, Chen Liangyu’s eyes glead with madness.
“As expected of you, Commander Chang. To replace soone like ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) you—it’s an insult to Shanghai. Yes, exactly. No one can arrest in Shanghai! Right, Commander?”
“...Yes. That’s right.”
Though his thoughts were different, Chang Xinju couldn’t voice them.
Back at the Public Security Bureau, Wu Zhiming gathered the commanders.
“Listen carefully. From this mont on—”
Before he could finish, the door opened.
“Director Wu. Do you have a mont?”
The man who walked in without knocking was Shanghai’s mayor, Han Zheng.
“Mayor, what brings you here?”
“I ca because I have sothing urgent to discuss. Or is this sowhere I’m not allowed to be, given your sharp reaction?”
Wu Zhiming had no rebuttal.
“...Everyone, step outside and wait. Mayor, I don’t have much ti. I have urgent matters.”
After the subordinates left, Wu Zhiming gave up his seat to Han Zheng.
Han Zheng sat down naturally and nodded.
“There’s nothing more urgent than this. Sit.”
Wu Zhiming hesitated, then sat.
Han Zheng glanced around and spoke.
“Stop what you’re about to do.”
“...Pardon? Stop what? I’m not doing anything—”
“Well. Shouldn’t you at least survive? Secretary Chen is finished. Even the Shanghai faction has decided to abandon him.”
Hearing it directly hit far harder than suspecting it.
Wu Zhiming struggled to speak.
“...Is that... true?”
“Yes. Both President Hu Jintao and President Jiang Zemin have agreed. Secretary Chen will be dismissed and arrested.”
Wu Zhiming could only open and close his mouth, unable to react.
“Temporarily, I’ll act as Party Secretary in his place. I just received the call.”
“...Should I congratulate you?”
Chen Liangyu and Han Zheng were both Shanghai-based politicians.
But their weight was completely different.
Chen Liangyu had ridden an elite path under Jiang Zemin’s full trust, while Han Zheng had yet to fully enter central politics.
“Congratulate ? It’s just temporary.”
Han Zheng waved it off, then grew serious.
“The Central Discipline Inspection Secretary has already left Beijing. As a courtesy, a Standing Committee mber is coming personally to arrest him. Are you planning to aim a gun at him? From that mont, it’s treason.”
“...A Standing Committee mber is coming personally?”
“Yes. And to escort him, the People’s Liberation Army around Shanghai has already begun moving. The Public Security forces can’t hold out. I ca because I pity you. I don’t want chaos in Shanghai. So take the hand I’m offering.”
Wu Zhiming’s eyes darted rapidly.
Han Zheng waited patiently.
“...If Secretary Chen falls, can you guarantee my safety?”
“I can’t guarantee your position. But I can keep you out of prison.”
“....”
Once a new master of Shanghai was decided, it was obvious the Public Security Chief position would go to his people.
After a mont of thought, Wu Zhiming nodded.
“...Understood. I’ll stay still.”
“Good. By the way, did you hear anything from President Jiang?”
Wu Zhiming was not only Chen Liangyu’s subordinate—he was also Jiang Zemin’s nephew.
“....”
“At tis like this, you should take care of your family. President Jiang must be having a hard ti as well.”
“I’ll visit him personally once things settle.”
“Then co with . I plan to hold an expanded Shanghai officials’ eting. I’ve already spoken with He Guoqiang.”
“...No. I can’t do that.”
Han Zheng nodded and stood.
“Then leave Shanghai for a while. I’ll announce that you’re on an out-of-town visit.”
“....”
Han Zheng walked over and patted Wu Zhiming’s shoulder.
“In the end, the one President Jiang will entrust Shanghai to is you. Don’t lose your confidence over this. Stand proudly before people.”
With that, Han Zheng left.
Left alone, Wu Zhiming closed his eyes in deep thought.
After so ti, he opened them and stood.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll be leaving Shanghai for a few days. Only you co with . Everyone else stays at the bureau. No one moves without my orders.”
“Yes, understood.”
Wu Zhiming looked back once at the bureau, then walked away from Shanghai.
* * *
A call ca from Wen Jiabao.
— President Kim Muhyuk.
“Premier, happy New Year. I hope this year brings only good things.”
— Ah, President Kim Muhyuk, happy New Year to you as well.
After the greetings, Wen Jiabao got straight to the point.
— Chen Liangyu has just been arrested.
“No clashes? He didn’t seem like the type to go quietly.”
— Haha. A Standing Committee mber went down personally. Pointing a gun at such a figure is treason in China. Even if he tried, who would follow him?
A Standing Committee mber moving personally... that was unexpected.
“Who went?”
— The Central Discipline Inspection Secretary. It was appropriate.
“I see. It’s good there was no clash.”
I thought Chen Liangyu would resist until the end. It would’ve been cleaner if he had.
Wen Jiabao muttered coldly.
— It would have been better if he had.
“What about Wu Zhiming? You need to deal with him to fully take control of Shanghai.”
— ...We couldn’t go that far.
Right. Taking down Jiang Zemin’s nephew directly wouldn’t be easy.
“Understood. Then replacing him with Bo Xilai should be enough. Is Bo Xilai going down imdiately?”
— No. The successor hasn’t been officially decided yet. For now, the mayor—
Wen Jiabao explained the Standing Committee’s decision.
“So it’ll take about a month.”
— Yes.
“But can Han Zheng be trusted? He’s still part of the Shanghai faction.”
— He is, but he’s the type to survive quietly and steadily. You don’t need to worry.
So, easy to control.
“Understood. Thanks for informing .”
— I’ll be visiting Pyongyang next week. The PLA stationed near the border has already withdrawn. But...
He trailed off.
“I suppose you’re worried about Sinuiju.”
— Exactly. To differentiate from Jiang Zemin, cooperation with North Korea is essential. But Jang Songthaek hasn’t given a clear answer.
“I’ll try to help. But China will have to make significant concessions. Jang Songthaek believes China tried to kill him.”
— Don’t worry. I’ll bring plenty of gifts. You know my relationship with him.
It was true. Wen Jiabao had introduced to Jang Songthaek in the first place.
They had shared a long-standing friendship.
Even if things were awkward, a eting would still yield results.
“Good. I understand Hu Jintao’s position, but I’ll continue moving to bring Jiang Zemin down completely. Not yet—but soon.”
— Of course, I’ll help. But for now, it’s better not to provoke him.
“I know. Also, lift the sanctions on as soon as possible.”
— That will be resolved quickly. We’ve already halted the special audits on companies you invested in.
Seems my threat worked.
A satisfied smile slipped out.
“Thank you. I’ll make so calls.”
— Rather than that, why not visit Shanghai when Bo Xilai takes office?
“You want to co to China?”
— Yes. Wouldn’t that be better? Don’t worry about security. I’ll personally be there.
Before, I would’ve refused without hesitation.
But this ti, after a brief thought, I accepted.
“Alright. I’ll go to Shanghai on the day of Bo Xilai’s inauguration.”
— Then I’ll see you then.
After ending the call, I summoned Manager Ma.
“Prepare for a trip to China next month. I’ll have to go personally. Raise security to the highest level.”
Even if Wen Jiabao guaranteed safety, I couldn’t fully trust it.
“Yes. I’ll prepare everything. Nothing like what happened in North Korea will happen again.”
I nodded, smiling at his firm tone.
“Now that’s reassuring.”
More than Wen Jiabao’s promise, Manager Ma’s words carried weight.
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