Chapter 330: An Excuse Can Always Be Created

“Hurry up and tell me what Chief Cha said!” Chairman Zhen Weiliang urged Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

“He told us to remove the tracking device attached to the specialized container as quickly as possible.”

“Could it be... that they discovered it?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen considered that possibility extremely unlikely.

The tracking device was only about the size of a coin and had been painted exactly the same color as the specialized container. Because of that, it was almost impossible to notice with the naked eye unless someone was deliberately searching for it. Even so, as an extra precaution, they had attached it in a completely inconspicuous spot.

Moreover, the men Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan had brought with him had never even gone near that part of the container.

How could they possibly have found it under those circumstances?

Wei Chen explained his reasoning to Chairman Zhen Weiliang without hiding anything.

“Then what is Chief Cha trying to accomplish?”

“We can ask him later. First, let’s remove the tracker.”

At that moment, Director Pan Kai walked over to where the specialized container stood.

After looking around, he quickly removed the tracking device attached to it.

Then he returned to Chairman Zhen Weiliang and Vice Chairman Wei Chen with a perfectly casual expression.

“Brother-in-law, I removed it.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen nodded to show he understood, then immediately dialed Cha Jiham’s number.

As if Jiham had been waiting for his call, the ringing had barely begun before his voice came through.

“[Vice Chairman Wei, did you remove it?]”

“Just now. Now explain what’s going on.”

“[Don’t be surprised. Gold bars were stored in the basement of the house where Deputy Secretary Zhang was staying.]”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen was genuinely stunned.

However, remembering the people conducting the gold inspection nearby, he could not allow his surprise to show.

“Hmm... Is that so.”

“[I assume I don’t need to explain why I asked you to remove the tracking device?]”

“Of course not.”

“[It looks like we’ll have no choice but to make some adjustments to the plan we prepared earlier.]”

“That seems like the right thing to do.”

“[If you have any questions while I explain the revised plan, don’t hesitate to ask immediately.]”

“I will. Go ahead.”

“[To maximize the effect when Deputy Secretary Zhang presents the gold to Chairman Xi....]”

As he listened to Cha Jiham, Vice Chairman Wei Chen found himself nodding unconsciously.

The fact was that he had been thinking intensely about the same problem himself.

And as though Jiham had read his mind, he presented an extremely clear and straightforward solution.

While Wei Chen marveled at his astonishing insight, Jiham’s explanation came to an end.

“[...I think presenting it that way should be enough.]”

“But will Secretary Deng Zhiping agree to Deputy Secretary Zhang’s request?”

“[There’s an old saying: nothing can stand against money.]”

“You mean we should persuade him with money?”

“[I think that would be the best method.]”

After exchanging a few more words with Cha Jiham, Wei Chen ended the call.

As though Chairman Zhen Weiliang had been waiting for that exact moment, he immediately pressed him.

“Vice Chairman Wei, what exactly is going on?”

“National Intelligence Service operatives infiltrated that luxury residence where Deputy Secretary Zhang was staying again.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen told Chairman Zhen Weiliang everything he had discussed with Cha Jiham without concealing anything.

“...The situation has developed in such a way that we need to bring Secretary Deng Zhiping over to our side.”

“Hmm... I see.”

“I’ll take responsibility for winning Secretary Deng over.”

“That really would be best.”

“When a suitable opportunity comes up, give me the credit for it.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Just as Chairman Zhen Weiliang nodded, the warehouse door opened and Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan entered.

Wei Chen greeted him with a perfectly composed and calm expression, as though nothing had happened.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, welcome.”

“Chairman Zhen, when did you get here?”

“I spent the entire night here monitoring the gold-bar inspection.”

“I see. And when do you think the appraisal will be finished?”

“We’ve checked about 90% of the bars so far, so we should be completely done by eleven.”

“By any chance... did you find any counterfeit bars?”

“If we had, I would have contacted you immediately, Deputy Secretary Zhang.”

“...I see.” ℴ

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan sat down on an empty chair with obvious disappointment on his face.

Chairman Zhen Weiliang understood perfectly well why he looked so disappointed.

After all, if any counterfeit gold had been discovered, Zhang would have received damages equal to ten times its value.

But since no counterfeits had been found, he looked bitterly disappointed.

‘Dream on, you bastard!’

After throwing that jab at him inwardly, Chairman Zhen Weiliang sat down and continued his conversation with Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.

“How did you sleep last night?”

“I couldn’t get much rest because I was worried about Politburo Member Liu Peiqi.”

Chairman Zhen Weiliang decided he should reassure the troubled Deputy Secretary Zhang.

“I spoke with Politburo Member Liu Peiqi by phone this morning.”

“Really? And what did you discuss?”

“Gold futures broke through 1.17 million dollars overnight. Because gold prices rose excessively, the negotiations were suspended.”

“Can I take that to mean he won’t be giving gold to the Chairman?”

“Politburo Member Liu is unbelievably hungry for power.”

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan frowned in confusion.

He himself was planning to give Chairman Xi Jinping 31 tons of gold.

Politburo Member Liu Peiqi had managed to obtain, at best, only 15 tons.

Given that, the likelihood that Zhang himself would receive the Standing Committee seat was extremely high.

And yet Chairman Zhen Weiliang was hinting that Liu might still be able to take the position.

Zhang decided to ask directly.

“Vice Chairman Chen can answer that question.”

“Vice Chairman Chen, hurry up and explain.”

By “Vice Chairman Chen,” he meant Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

Chairman Zhen Weiliang had introduced him to Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan under the alias Chen Yichen.

It could hardly have been otherwise, since Wei Chen was the elder brother-in-law of Triad Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui.

Unaware of that fact, Zhang Jinan believed that Wei Chen’s surname was Chen.

Once again recalling Cha Jiham’s words in his mind, Wei Chen began speaking.

“The reason we transported the gold here instead of you doing it yourself, Deputy Secretary Zhang, was Politburo Member Liu Peiqi.”

“I know that perfectly well.”

“He didn’t have enough money to purchase more gold. But despite that, he hasn’t given up on the Standing Committee seat. What method do you think he’ll use to seize that position?”

“Could it be....”

As though something had occurred to him, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan stopped mid-sentence.

Of course, Vice Chairman Wei Chen understood perfectly well why he had faltered.

“Your ‘could it be’ is exactly right. Politburo Member Liu will wait until the moment you present the gold to the Chairman.”

“Hmm... That certainly makes sense. Then how do we crush his treacherous scheme?”

“The method is simple. When transporting the gold bars, you need an escort from the police or the military.”

“I’d like to do that myself, but we don’t have an excuse!”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen shook his head and answered Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan.

“An excuse can always be created.”

“And how?”

“Before I answer, I’d like to clarify one thing. Does Secretary Deng Zhiping know that you plan to present gold to the Chairman?”

“He only knows that I’m planning to give him some kind of gift.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen felt relieved.

If Secretary Deng Zhiping had already known about Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan’s plans, they would have had to change the operation.

“How about calling Secretary Deng directly to the place where the gold bars are being stored?”

“There still needs to be a reason to summon him.”

“Of course. Show him the bars and tell him they’re a gift for the Chairman. Tell him that police or military assistance is necessary to transport the gold safely.”

“Exactly! That’s what we should do!”

As though struck by the brilliance of the idea, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan slapped his knee.

“We’ll also have to reward Secretary Deng generously and give him a substantial amount for his trouble.”

“Is that really necessary?”

There was clear disapproval in Deputy Secretary Zhang’s question.

But Vice Chairman Wei Chen was not bothered in the slightest.

He had a trump card he knew would work.

“He’ll report to the Chairman that you’re preparing to give him the gold. If you put a juicy piece of pie into his hands, what do you think will happen?”

“......”

Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan fell silent, fully understanding what the outcome would be.

“May I take that to mean the matter of Secretary Deng’s reward has been settled?”

“Do it that way. By the way, how much should we give him for his trouble?”

“I’ll answer with a popular saying: the more, the better.”

“Ah. It seems I asked a pointless question.”

Some time later, someone approached Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan and reported,

“We’ve just completed the inspection of the gold bars. No counterfeits were found.”

At that moment, the gold deal between Chairman Zhen Weiliang and Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan was successfully concluded.

***

“Chairman Zhen, you did an enormous amount of work!”

On our behalf, NIS Director Om Giyeon congratulated Chairman Zhen Weiliang.

“Ha-ha-ha. Thank you.”

Chairman Zhen Weiliang sat down on an empty sofa with a satisfied laugh.

Feeling thirsty, he picked up a bottle of mineral water from the table, wet his throat, and continued.

“The gold deal with Deputy Secretary Zhang went off without a hitch.”

“That truly is excellent news.”

“Director Griffin, when should I transfer the 6 billion dollars?”

Originally, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan had planned to purchase 6 tons of gold belonging to Chairman Zhen Weiliang.

However, Cha Jiham had pushed him into buying 12 tons instead.

At that time, Director Griffin had given Chairman Zhen Weiliang 6 tons of gold from U.S. government reserves.

Adding the entrusted gold to his own reserves, Zhen Weiliang sold all 12 tons to Deputy Secretary Zhang for 12 billion dollars.

That was what he was referring to now.

“There’s no urgency, so there’s no need to rush the transfer.”

“Understood.”

“Nothing unusual happened during the inspection?”

“Nothing particularly noteworthy.”

“Five of the 12 tons were the same gold Deputy Secretary Zhang had sold to Carlos for 3 billion dollars.”

At that moment, Chairman Zhen Weiliang felt annoyed.

After all, he had sold those same 5 tons of gold back to Deputy Secretary Zhang for 5 billion dollars.

That meant Zhang had spent 2 billion dollars more buying it than he had received when selling it to Carlos.

Zhen Weiliang could have rubbed salt into that wound so beautifully, but now the opportunity was gone forever.

“Why didn’t you tell me something that important?”

“I was sure Vice Chairman Wei had already told you.”

At that moment, everyone’s eyes turned toward Vice Chairman Wei Chen.

Feeling our attention on him, he began making excuses with an awkward expression.

“With everything going on, I simply didn’t get the chance to mention it. I apologize for the oversight.”

“It’s fine. How is the matter Chief Cha asked about progressing?”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen broke into a satisfied smile simply from remembering it and answered Director Griffin.

“I told Deputy Secretary Zhang everything exactly as Chief Cha instructed.”

“And what did he decide?”

“He called Secretary Deng Zhiping right in front of us.”

“Did Secretary Deng accept his invitation?”

“Yes. They agreed to meet this evening.”

I had expected Deputy Secretary Zhang to meet Secretary Deng Zhiping tomorrow at the earliest.

But contrary to my expectations, they had arranged the meeting for this very evening.

If that happened, events could unfold in a completely unforeseen direction.

I had barely begun thinking through possible solutions when NIS Director Om Giyeon addressed me with a puzzled look.

“Chief Cha, your expression suddenly changed. Can you explain why?”

“If Deputy Secretary Zhang and Secretary Deng meet this evening, the plan we prepared will become completely useless.”

“Hmm... Now that I think about it, you’re right. Then how should we solve the problem?”

“The best option would be to prevent their meeting.”

“Then let’s just arrange that!”

At that moment, an excellent idea flashed through my mind.

Quickly shaping it into a clear plan, I continued speaking with NIS Director Om Giyeon.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Can I take that to mean you already have a Plan B?”

“Exactly. I think we should send Vice Chairman Tang Guochang a distress signal and ask him for help.”

“And how exactly?”

Growing impatient, NIS Director Om Giyeon leaned his entire body toward me, urging me to answer.

“We need to call Vice Chairman Tang, tell him about Deputy Secretary Zhang’s plan, and....”