Chapter 320: Can He Really Be Eliminated?

The next day.

I went to Chairman Park Yeongil’s office and gave him a detailed report on all the information we had obtained by that morning.

“...Just in case, Triad members are keeping Politburo Member Liu Peiqi and the people around him under surveillance.”

“Good work. But there’s something that bothers me. Would Politburo Member Liu really go so far as to seize Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan’s gold by force?”

“Otherwise, Chief Pu Zhenghua’s men would have no reason to tail Deputy Secretary Zhang.”

“That’s true... Come to think of it, it makes sense.”

“We’re planning to hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures regarding this matter.”

“Of course. That’s what you should do. Where did you decide to hold it?”

“We chose an NIS safe house.”

“Why not Hong Kong or Beijing?”

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan was planning to purchase gold from Chairman Zhen Weiliang.

Considering all the circumstances, it would have been more logical to hold the meeting in Hong Kong.

That was why Chairman Park Yeongil found the choice of an NIS safe house questionable.

“Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol and Major General Lee Cheolseung will also be attending the meeting. There’s absolutely no need for them to be seen by outsiders.”

“Hmm, I see. Has the list of participants already been decided?”

“The final list hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it looks like Vice Chairman Wei Chen and Director Griffin will be attending.”

Chairman Park Yeongil nodded in understanding and turned to Vice President Cho Myeongsu.

“Vice President Cho, have you formed the task force for investing in gold futures?”

“We finished setting it up last night. KBH Investment mobilized all available operating funds and purchased gold futures.”

“Already? Why the rush?”

Vice President Cho Myeongsu didn’t answer Chairman Park. Instead, he simply turned his head toward me.

Understanding what he meant, I immediately spoke up.

“Chairman, I gave the order to buy.”

“And I assume you had a good reason?”

“I’ll answer with a well-known saying: the early bird catches the worm.”

“Executive Vice President Ju, you understood what Director Cha was thinking, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

After giving a brief reply, Executive Vice President Ju Seongjin sprang up from the sofa and hurried out of the office.

Chairman Park Yeongil glanced after him and continued.

“Vice President Cho, at what price did KBH Investment buy the gold futures?”

“An average of 885,000 dollars. Right now, the price is hovering around 900,000 dollars.”

Chairman Park Yeongil didn’t immediately understand Vice President Cho Myeongsu’s answer.

KBH Investment had poured an enormous amount of money into purchasing gold futures.

Yet despite that massive inflow of capital, futures prices had risen by barely two percent.

He asked why the price wasn’t climbing faster.

“To prevent a sudden price spike, we split the transaction and made several dozen smaller purchases.”

“Why did you need to suppress the price increase?”

“Because Korea Investment, Hangang Group, and Bongard Investment Group haven’t finished buying their shares yet.”

“Ah, I see. Still, at what price are you planning to sell the futures?”

It was finally time for me to join the conversation again.

“Chairman, we haven’t fixed an exact selling time or price yet.”

“Why not?”

“To tell you the truth, I expected the decisive day to come tomorrow. However, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan still hasn’t brought up purchasing the gold with Chairman Zhen Weiliang.”

“Why is he dragging things out?”

“I can’t say for certain. But considering that gold transactions take an average of two to three days, the decisive day may very well be pushed back to the weekend.”

“Hmm...”

As was his long-standing habit, Chairman Park Yeongil began tapping his fingers against the armrest of the sofa as he sank into thought.

We remained silent so as not to disturb him.

After a while, his fingers stopped, and he asked me,

“Tell me, is it possible that Deputy Secretary Zhang has no intention of buying Chairman Zhen’s gold at all?”

“He intends to present twenty-five tons of gold to President Xi Jinping. At the moment, he has around twenty tons on hand, so he’ll have to buy the missing amount one way or another.”

“Is there any chance he’ll buy it from someone other than Chairman Zhen?”

“I asked Chairman Zhen about that. There are practically no other people who possess that much gold.”

“That’s true...”

Bzzzz—

While Chairman Park Yeongil was choosing his next words, the phone lying on the table vibrated.

I quickly picked it up and checked the screen.

Vice Chairman Wei Chen was calling.

After telling Chairman Park who it was, I answered.

“Vice Chairman Wei, I’m listening.”

[Director Cha, we’re planning to take the nine o’clock flight to Korea.]

Korea was one hour ahead of Hong Kong, which meant it would be ten in the morning Korean time.

“Understood. What time do you expect to arrive?”

[We’ll land at Incheon International Airport at 1:30 p.m. Korean time.]

“Understood. I’ll inform NIS Director Om Giyeon.”

[Aren’t you coming to meet us, Director Cha?]

Since I had invited Vice Chairman Wei Chen, it would have been natural for me to meet him in person.

However, after speaking with NIS Director Om Giyeon, I had changed my plans.

“Vice Chairman Wei, you’re entering Korea without a visa, so you won’t be able to go through the standard immigration process. And since I’m a civilian, they won’t allow me into the restricted area of the airport.”

[I understand what you mean. In that case, let’s talk about something else.]

“I’m listening.”

[Last night, Director Liu Haoran and Chief Pu Zhenghua met for drinks. Our people overheard their conversation. Chief Pu suggested to Director Liu that they eliminate Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.]

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi’s greatest rival was Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.

If Zhang were eliminated, Liu could secure a Standing Committee seat even without presenting gold to President Xi Jinping.

For that reason alone, Director Liu Haoran had every reason to accept Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua’s proposal.

I asked Vice Chairman Wei Chen if my guess was correct.

[Your deductions are right on target, Director Cha. How should we disrupt their plan?]

But my thoughts on the matter were completely different.

“Vice Chairman Wei, you know what the strategy ‘kill with a borrowed knife’ means, don’t you?”

[Are you suggesting we simply let Chief Pu eliminate Deputy Secretary Zhang?]

“For Vice Chairman Tang Guochang to achieve his grand ambition, that man has to be removed one way or another.”

At that moment, Director Griffin’s number appeared on the screen.

The reason for his call was obvious, so after apologizing to Vice Chairman Wei Chen, I switched to the second line.

“Director Griffin. I’m listening.”

[Director Cha, when is Vice Chairman Wei arriving in Korea?]

“I was told he’ll arrive at 1:30 p.m. Korean time.”

[Phew... Thank goodness.]

Director Griffin was currently on his way to Korea.

And the sigh of relief that escaped him came from realizing that he would arrive at roughly the same time as Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

I cautiously asked if my guess was correct.

[You’re right, Director Cha. I’m flying with Director Nevers.]

“Director Nevers is coming too?”

[Director Nevers needs to know what’s happening in China.]

“I understand. What time do you expect to arrive?”

After exchanging a few brief words with Director Griffin, I ended the call.

Then I reported the contents of both conversations to Chairman Park Yeongil without leaving anything out.

“...Director Griffin and Director Nevers are also flying here to attend the meeting.”

“But here’s the question. Can Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua really eliminate Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan?”

***

“Chief Pu, can you really eliminate Deputy Secretary Zhang?”

The exact same words Chairman Park Yeongil had just spoken also came from Politburo Member Liu Peiqi.

“If we make thorough preparations starting now, we can eliminate him.”

“You understand what will happen if you fail, don’t you?”

“I understand perfectly.”

“Good. I’ll trust your abilities, Chief Pu.”

“Since you’ve placed your trust in me, I will eliminate Deputy Secretary Zhang flawlessly.”

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi nodded in satisfaction and turned to Director Liu Haoran.

“What about the matter I asked you to look into?”

Director Liu Haoran mentally returned to the events of the previous morning.

Chairman Zhen Weiliang had informed Politburo Member Liu Peiqi of Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui’s death.

Naturally, Liu Peiqi hadn’t believed Chairman Zhen’s words one hundred percent.

So he had immediately ordered them to verify whether Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui was truly dead.

“We checked through several channels, and Chairman Zhen’s words were confirmed.”

“Ha ha ha!”

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi burst into loud, genuine laughter at the pleasing news.

Naturally, Director Liu Haoran and Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua also broke into broad smiles.

After laughing his fill, Politburo Member Liu Peiqi remembered something else and picked up his phone.

After several rings, a restrained, displeased voice came from the other end.

[Politburo Member Liu, what do you want from me this early in the morning?]

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi had only one purpose in calling: to thoroughly ruin Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan’s mood.

But he wasn’t foolish enough to act like an amateur and immediately blurt everything out.

“I’ve heard rumors that Deputy Secretary Zhang is desperately trying to acquire more gold.”

[Aren’t we in the same position?]

“Ha ha. Are we? By the way, I’ve decided not to buy Chairman Zhen’s gold.”

[And I assume you have a reason for that?]

The reason Politburo Member Liu Peiqi had given up on purchasing Chairman Zhen Weiliang’s gold was simple.

He didn’t have the money.

But if he openly admitted his miserable financial situation, the consequences would be immediate.

To save face, he had no choice but to lie.

“I’ve arranged to purchase ten tons of gold from someone else.”

[I see. And how much gold are you planning to gather in total, Politburo Member Liu?]

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi possessed information that Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan intended to present President Xi Jinping with twenty-five tons of gold.

How could he possibly tell the truth under those circumstances?

“At the moment, I’ve already gathered twenty tons.”

[So you’re planning to amass a full thirty tons?]

“If you want to earn the General Secretary’s favor, shouldn’t you aim for that much?”

[Ahem. I understand.]

“Now I’ll tell you the real reason I called, Deputy Secretary Zhang.”

[I’m listening.]

“I regret having to deliver this kind of news, but your brother-in-law, Vice Chairman Chen, has passed away.”

[What did you say?!]

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan’s loud, shocked voice practically blasted through the receiver.

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi silently waited for his reaction, giving him time to collect himself.

A few moments later, Zhang’s slightly trembling voice came through.

[Politburo Member Liu, is that true?]

“I heard it from a high-ranking Philippine government official, so it’s true.”

[I understand. Excuse me, I’m busy. I have to go.]

Click.

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan unilaterally ended the call.

At that exact moment, Director Liu Haoran asked Politburo Member Liu Peiqi,

“Brother, how did Deputy Secretary Zhang react?”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi’s booming laughter was answer enough.

***

That afternoon.

I summoned Vice President Cho Myeongsu and Chief Secretary Kang Inhan to my office.

“Vice President Cho, what’s the current price of gold futures?”

“Ten minutes ago, they broke through 930,000 dollars.”

“Does that mean Korea Investment and Hangang Group have started buying futures too?”

“I’m inclined to think the same thing you do, Director.”

“If the futures price doesn’t rise to the level we need, let me know.”

“Are you saying you’ll buy additional gold futures with your personal funds?”

“I won’t deny it.”

At that moment, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan cautiously spoke up, indicating that he had something to say.

“Director Cha, I have some spare funds. May I invest in gold futures as well?”

“Why not? Invest as much as you like.”

“Ha ha ha. Understood.”

Bzzzz—

No sooner had Chief Secretary Kang Inhan chuckled quietly than the phone lying on the desk began vibrating.

I picked it up and saw NIS Director Om Giyeon’s name on the screen.

Already understanding why he was calling, I answered without delay.

“Director Om, has Vice Chairman Wei arrived?”

[Yes. But Chairman Zhen Weiliang arrived with him.]

“Chairman Zhen too?”

[That’s right. When I asked why he came to Korea, Chairman Zhen said he simply came along for the ride.]

“Understood. I’ll arrive at the NIS safe house exactly at the appointed time.”

[Agreed.]

As soon as I ended the call, Chief Secretary Kang Inhan, who had been listening closely the entire time, asked,

“Director Cha, what do you think is the real reason Chairman Zhen came to Korea?”