Dear Comrade

Chapter 7. Ryugyong Hotels (6)

Chapter 7. Ryugyong Hotels (6)

“……”

In response to Hong Kye-sung’s question, Jeong-hwan remained silent for a moment and kept his mouth shut.

In the quiet office, the heads of the Frunze clan, including Hong Kye-seong, especially Baek Seung-cheol, did not say anything and waited for his reply.

Soon Junghwan’s mouth opened.

“…It seems that solving the Bo-wibu problem was not enough.”

“Of course, I heard about it from Warden Paik. If we don’t have to worry about those damn security guards, Comrade Jeonghwan really makes a big contribution to our affairs. However………”

Hong Gye-seong paused for a moment, then glanced at the other leaders.

Seeing them nod their heads slightly, Jung-hwan realized that everyone, including Hong Kye-sung and Baek Seung-cheol, had come with a strong resolution today.

“That alone is not enough. Aside from the contribution of Comrade Jeong Hwan, there are still many hurdles to overcome before we can carry out the feat.”

“…if it’s a mountain to climb…?”

“I think Comrade Jeong Hwan is also familiar with it… Kim Jong-il and President Kim Il-sung have complicated the military and all party organizations of this republic under the mutual monitoring system in order to strengthen their power base. To keep each other spying on each other and not rebelling against them.”

Hong Gye-seong’s words were certainly true.

Although it was a problem he was already aware of, when those words came out of his mouth, Jeonghwan had no choice but to nod his head and agree.

“The Security Department is the largest among them, but there are still many departments left.”

“exactly. We recognized such a problem, and we spent a lot of time and effort to secure friendly forces, but… we are still in the process of moving forward. Comrade General Baek?” , ”

“I got it.”

Baek Seung-cheol, who had been silent until now, raised his fingers at Hong Gye-seong’s call and folded them one by one, enumerating the obstacles to the success of the great event in Jeong-hwan’s presence.

“First of all, the People’s Army Security Bureau is the place where we first tried to be vigilant and enlisted, as it is a place to monitor and control the elements in the military and to prevent any contingency. Although it took a long time, it worked out in the end. About half of them, except for the director of the National Security Agency, will stand by us in case of a major event. At least I’m not on the side of Kim Jong-il. But the problem starts after that.”

Baek Seung-cheol looked at Jung-hwan’s face to see if he would react, and folded one finger, but Jeong-hwan still didn’t say anything.

As if disappointed by his reaction, Baek Seung-cheol subtly twisted the tip of his lips and continued explaining.

“The second is the Ministry of Social Security. Their main task is to control the rebellion within the people, not the military, but ultimately they are all loyal to Kim Jong-il. Besides, technically speaking, it is under the Ministry of the Interior, not the military, so there are things that are difficult for us to touch.”

“……”

At Baek Seung-cheol’s point, Jeong-hwan had no choice but to nod his head once more.

The Ministry of Social Security, later renamed the Ministry of People’s Security, as Baek Seung-cheol said, is closer to the police than the military in Korea. it was undoubtedly

Of course, Jeonghwan, who knew this in advance, did not say it yet, and the Ministry of Social Safety and Security’s measures were also prepared.

However, Jeong Hwan knew that the most significant obstacle to eliminating Kim Jong-il and taking power had not yet been found.

“And the third and last… I think Comrade Jeonghwan knows this well, but I don’t need to explain it with my own words. There is no way that a comrade with the ambition to become our leader doesn’t even know the administrative system of this republic.”

Baek Seung-cheol’s remarks were heavily slandered towards Jeong-hwan, but Jeong-hwan completely ignored him and uttered only one word.

“General of the Guard.”

“That’s it.”

As soon as he heard that, Hong Kye-sung sighed and agreed with Jeong-hwan’s words, unlike the old-fashioned image he had shown before.

It was a part where he could tell without saying how much he had been struggling with this issue.

“They are the closest escorts to Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung. As such, their background and loyalty are also different from others. Party cadres do a background check that only goes up to the 8th, up to the 17th, can I say more? Even we, who even brought in a part of the National Guard, didn’t even think about speaking out. It’s suicide.”

At Hong Gye-seong’s complaint, the other executives sitting next to him, as well as Baek Seung-cheol’s expression darkened.

But Junghwan didn’t think it was surprising even when he saw it.

In fact, it was because Jeong-hwan himself had a lot of difficulties in his preliminary investigation and planning.

‘If the security guard is Kim Jong-il’s right arm, the General Guard is Kim Jong-il’s left arm. All members are among the elites selected with strong physique, and in case of an emergency, they have the powerful authority to use the equipment and armored vehicles of the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces and any unit of the land, sea, and air… I will.’

In particular, in the General Guard Bureau, the 1st Guard Bureau escorts Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung in close proximity, and more than 3,000 elite troops assigned to the Kim family escort the Kim family 24 hours a day.

Perhaps it was only a far-fetched task to eliminate Kim Jong-il without attacking the escort General Bureau, an impenetrable wall beyond the Security Council.

“……Then let’s listen to Comrade Jeonghwan’s thoughts for a moment. What is Comrade Jeonghwan’s plan for these difficulties? Now, stop and tell me what’s on your mind.”

“…………”

“According to Comrade General Paik, he still insists not to explain his plans to us in detail… So it is clear that we will not be able to trust each other. I heard that goals are good, but let’s hear where we can solve all these problems. Otherwise, it would be impossible to share a stake in the company with us.”

“…are you sure this place isn’t being eavesdropped?”

When Jung-hwan asked, as if to confirm, Hong Gye-seong frowned and confirmed once again, as if asking what he saw himself as.

“Don’t worry about that. No matter how harsh the guards are, they cannot reach the office of Hong Gye-seong, the deputy chief of staff of the People’s Army. But that will be the story until the tin is alive. If his son, Kim Jong-il, comes to power, it is certain that he will slander him regardless of east, west, north, and south.”

“Then I can tell you. First of all, the Ministry of Social Security will not have to worry.”

At the important declaration that Jung-hwan made casually, the expressions of all the leaders, including Baek Seung-cheol, changed significantly.

It was evident that he did not readily believe Junghwan’s words.

“……Why is that? As I said before, the Ministry of Social Security belongs to the State Council…”

“That’s exactly what it is. Since the people here, including the listed comrades, were in charge of the military, it would be reasonable for me to persuade the Party and the Cabinet. Then, wouldn’t I be able to claim my share in this supremacy?”

‘It was quite what I expected. They can’t hand over their interests so easily. It’s not because they genuinely care about this country and its people, but their own safety, survival, and power are the main goals.’

Well, I’m not in a position to insult anyone.

Junghwan thought so inwardly, without a smile on his lips.

At first, he did not think that even with Chebrikov’s rear support, the Frunze clan would serve him obediently as the leader so easily.

No matter how he succeeded in intimidating Baek Seung-cheol, who is ranked in the top 5 among them, it is natural to see himself as a single-blooded person, except for Yoo Hye-rim and Kim Yong-geon.

Even so, the reason that Jeong-hwan, who had barely escaped from exile recently, can still negotiate on an equal footing with them, is purely because of the file handed over by Chebrikov and the blood and blood of Kim Il-sung, who is still a mythical figure in the republic. was all of

‘Oh, and one more. After the overthrow of the government, he intends to use me as a well-spoken scarecrow.’

Junghwan had already guessed what kind of black heart they had inside.

No matter how the Frunze factions revolted against the one-man cult that led to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the mental world of the people, which had been hardened for nearly 30 years, does not change so easily.

Sometimes, faith is about the presence or absence of an object, but sometimes the direction is not so much a problem.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was a strictly Confucian blood-controlled country before the communist state.

The Frunze clan couldn’t have known that it was much easier for the people to accept that Jeong-hwan, who was born with the ‘white blood of President Kim Il-sung, the Sun of the Republic’, ascended to the (superficial) leader, rather than a group of unheard-of military officers who suddenly appeared.

Of course, it would have to be them who actually seized power, but of course, Jeong-hwan had no intention of pretending to be a scarecrow as a leader who only had his name.

So Junghwan finally threw the game he had been preparing for a long time.

“Of course, only if we can remove the Ministry of Social Security from the board, we will also believe in Comrade Jeong Hwan and have the belief that we and this republic can be created. But I don’t know how the hell is that possible. They sent the security guard far away, but they can always come back to Pyongyang…”

“We will attract Comrade Jang Seong-taek, head of the youth division. If Comrade Zhang, who has a strong influence on the party, is on our side, a third of the party will be ours.”

“……What, what?”

“That is nonsense! That person is Kim Jong-il’s brother-in-law…”

“Jeez, this is absurd. Totally delusional No, it is!”

The last remark mixed with abusive language was Baek Seung-cheol’s voice.

However, Jeonghwan insisted on his argument without heeding it.

‘If there is no tiger, the fox is the king of the mountain, but if there are several foxes, the story is different. While the foxes are biting and biting each other, the hunter has to raise a hunting dog to catch both of them and sacrifice them to himself.’

“Available. Comrade Jang has already undergone revolutionary education once. So you must have a deep resentment towards Kim Jong-il…”

“And it’s also the western side of Kim Jong-il’s sister, Kim Kyung-sook! Говно! Comrade Hong listed, there is nothing more to see. This person is a madman who will endanger our event, so it would be better to drive him out immediately and lock him up somewhere until the day of the event, I don’t think so…”

“…Wait a minute, Comrade Baek. Listen to Comrade Junghwan just once.”

Hong Gye-seong was calm as he was a survivor of the North Korean military, which is said to be more brutal than Asurapan.

After calming Baek Seung-cheol for a while, he opened his eyes and looked at Jeong-hwan.

Junghwan’s face was full of confidence as before.

It didn’t seem like he was picking up the wrong words to avoid temporary inferiority.

‘One thing is certain, this comrade has been preparing for this for quite some time. Maybe even more than us.”

“You’re talking great things, Comrade Jeonghwan, but you have to have a reason to make such a rant. Please tell me, what is the basis for believing that you can convince Kim Jong-il’s closest aide, Jang Song-taek?, No, before that…”

Now Baek Seung-cheol shut his mouth and focused his attention on Jung-hwan.

No, now everyone in the room was looking at Jeonghwan’s mouth.

“It seems that recruiting Comrade Jang Seong-taek is also part of the overall picture, but what are you aiming for? Last time, when I heard the conditions and everything that Warden Paik gave me, I thought he was an immature idealist with only ink on his head, but when we talked with him today, it doesn’t seem like that… I’m sure I can do it, so I put such a condition. Say it.”

“Are you sure that the people here are representing the Frunze clan? I would like to avoid telling the same story twice.”

“Don’t look down on us, Comrade Jeonghwan. Forty percent of the Korean People’s Army is in the hands of the five of us in this room.”

“……Then I will trust you and tell you.”

Of course that’s true, Junghwan never believed them.

So what he explained in the next five minutes was only 80%, no, 90% of what he had planned and prepared for over the past three years.

But as most important things are, the remaining 10% was the most important.

Eventually, when Jeonghwan’s story was over, voices came out of the mouths of the Frunze clan, including Hong Gye-seong.

“…Comrade Chebrikov was right. Maybe a comrade really deserves to be the leader, I don’t know.”

“It’s overrated.”

Jeonghwan responded with a smile, but this time, Baek Seungcheol did not raise any objection.

To that extent, the aftermath of the plan that Jeonghwan had just talked about still wrapped around them.

“……Then, can you say that I can get help from the Frunze clan, including Comrades General Hong and General Paik?”

“It’s a very risky plan, but it has the potential to succeed. Even if we fail, there is a hole through which we can escape. And above all else, it is difficult to find a way to get rid of all difficulties at once without this method. What do you guys think?”

It was a question, in fact, an invitation.

First of all, Hong Gye-seong agreed with Jeong-hwan and looked at the others. The others looked at each other and then nodded one by one.

“Comrade General Baek, how are you?”

“……I agree with you too.”

At the urging of Baek Seung-cheol and Hong Kye-seong, who did not express their approval with a somewhat dissatisfied expression until the end, he had no choice but to nod his head.

When opinions were finally gathered, Junghwan smiled and offered a toast.

“Hahaha… So now the CEO and I are really on the same boat. How could a toast be missed on a happy day like today?”

“So is he. then don’t toast For the future of the republic!”

The glass was poured, and as a toast was shouted, whiskey drops from the glasses lifted high into the sky fell on the Turkish rugs that covered the office floor.

However, even as the alcohol ran down his throat, Junghwan laughed internally with a satisfied smile and ridiculed their confident expressions.

They didn’t know the most important part yet.

That night, Junghwan returned to his ‘home’ after a long absence.

Although a considerable amount of time has passed since returning from Japan, he was unable to properly greet Kim Myung-ae, ‘mother’, due to various events that had occurred during that time.

“Mother, Jung-hwan, a Buddhist candlelight, raises me. How have you been in good health?”

“Hey, come on, you’ve been through a lot. Are you saying that this time you will take on a major role in the party?”

Kim Myung-ae, who had been living unchanged in a polite apartment (apartment) located in downtown Pyongyang, hugged Jeong-hwan tightly as if he had returned from a place from which he would never return.

Jeonghwan had not seen her for a long time, but when he saw her again, he felt an unfamiliar emotion rising from the depths of his heart and embraced her.

Perhaps it was because of her visibly decrepit face and hair that had grown gray after only three years had passed.

Kim Myung-ae’s beauty, which was once so beautiful that it shook Kim Il-sung’s heart, is now almost impossible to find, whether it is because of her loneliness or her longing for her son.

“…all thanks to the consideration of the general and the leader.”

“Yeah, I’m really proud of you. This mani thought that Junghwan would do great things. A long time ago, I knew it from a long time ago. My proud son…”

To Kim Myung-ae, who exclaimed and tapped on his shoulder several times, Jung-hwan felt a human body temperature he had never felt before, and felt an emotion that could not be described in words.

Although her real son, the ‘real’ Kim Jung-hwan, disappeared somewhere that he did not know.

And although it would probably be difficult to tell her about it for the rest of her life, it was the impression that she was the only one who could congratulate Jeonghwan’s return and death from the heart in this cold city of Pyongyang.

…but now was too dangerous a time to indulge in sentimentality.

“Come on, take a seat, have you eaten?”

“Yes, mother, but before that, I want to ask you something.”

“……What is that?”

“It’s the story you told about leader Kim Il-sung three years ago. Can I hear more about that?”

That night, Jung-hwan solved the problem by talking with his mother until late at night.

And several months passed .