Dear Comrade

Chapter 5. Shenzhen (8)

Chapter 5. Shenzhen (8)

The party was small but fun.

The celebration party held on the top floor of the hotel was attended by most of the backbones of the special delegation and Chongryon, from executives such as Jang Seong-taek, Hyun Young-sook, and Kim Yong-geon to attendants such as Yoo Hye-rim.

Although the number of people seated wasn’t very high, the atmosphere was more friendly than ever when the special envoys arrived in Japan, mainly because Jang Seong-taek, who sat at the top, was in a good mood.

“Come on, let’s all drink it up, Girai. Comrade Kim, you did a lot of work. If you go up to my center, I will not forget your name in the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. haha.”

“No, Comrade Jang. I was just doing what I was supposed to do as an officer of the republic.”

“No, what you’ve achieved here in Japan doesn’t mean everyone can do it, right? The general’s happy face is already good in my eyes, but hot.”

The alcohol circulated several times, and Jang Sung-taek’s face was getting drunk.

Whether it was because he was relieved or he was more than happy that he had managed to get out of the crisis he might have undergone revolutionary education again, Jang Seong-taek gulped down strong, high-quality whiskey and sake without hesitation.

On the other hand, the second-in-command of the special envoy, Hyun Young-sook, who sat next to him, was just sipping a few drinks in the beginning, then put down his drink and kept his seat.

Kim Yong-geon, who seemed to be thinking deeply about something and was looking at her while receiving Jang Seong-taek’s encouragement, had a cold heart.

‘What the hell did you talk about with comrade Jeonghwan… Maybe something is wrong?’

“Come on, Girum, now that you’ve had a bit of alcohol, shouldn’t we be bringing in today’s real guests soon? Isn’t that right, Comrade Kim? Don’t pretend you don’t know. This is because Jang Seong-taek knows who the secret cause of this meeting is.”

He said ‘to some extent’, but when Jang Seong-taek, who had already started to swell, opened his mouth, Kim Yong-geon woke up from his thoughts and coughed in response to him.

“of course. Comrade Jang seems to have already known.”

“Haha, who do you know as the blind man? Even during negotiations, the stiff-headed Japanese bureaucrats praised them so that their saliva dried up in their mouths. After all, it seems that the lineage of the leader is different from the seed, Gi-rae. Come on, don’t be like that and get Kim Jeong-hwan and Jeong-hwan inside. Hopefully, a dignified man will not be ashamed.”

At Jang Seong-taek’s urging, Kim Yong-geon got up from his seat and opened the door of the room to introduce them.

“Anyway, you have already been contacted. I would like to formally introduce you, Comrade Jang, Comrade current Director, and Comrade Kim Jung-hwan, who made this meeting possible.”

When the door opened and Jeonghwan entered, everyone’s attention was focused on him.

In particular, Hyun Young-sook’s gaze felt particularly sting, but Jeong-hwan didn’t care and bowed his head to greet Jang Seong-taek.

“Nice to meet you, Comrade Jang Seong-taek. My name is Jeonghwan Kim, who is eating rice in Chongryon.”

“Hahaha, this looks like the leader and the general and is even humble. If comrades like Ki-rae and Jeong-hwan are eating rice, we should go to jail for sabotage. Come on, sit next to me.”

At Jang Seong-taek’s invitation, Jeong-hwan politely sat at his right hand and took the cup he poured, but in his heart he was not at all vigilant.

‘Are you really drunk or are you pretending to be drunk?’

To a stranger, they would look like brother-in-law and brother-in-law who sat next to each other and exchanged cups affectionately, but neither Jung-hwan nor Jang Seong-taek had such naive thoughts.

Today, this place is not just a drinking party, but an arena in which the future of rice fields and whether it is taken or stolen is decided.

It was also Jang Sung-taek who blew the lead.

Whether it was because of the drunkenness caused by alcohol or because of the confidence that he was clearly in the position of a superior, he attacked directly from the beginning.

“By the way, if it’s the leader’s blood, he’s my brother-in-law. Let’s talk candidly with one family, Comrade Jeonghwan. Do you have any seats in the party that you have looked at in your heart?”

“I am already terrified that a knowledge worker like me who ate ink at university would be able to take charge of the party business. However, I have never fired a single gun before, so it’s like going to the military…”

“You have a small wall, unlike the comrade who made such a big business a success. After all, isn’t it that General Kim Jong-il is also wearing a military uniform and is concurrently serving as a member of the party’s military committee?”

“…………”

‘Maybe it’s true that I’m really drunk, of course I’m thinking about it, but…’

Jeonghwan thought that even if it was true that he was really thinking about it, it might be true that Jang Sung-taek was deeply dissatisfied with Kim Jong-il.

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No matter how much he is the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il, who has a position in the party, it is impossible with a strong heart to put such words in his mouth even if he is in a foreign country.

You can tell just by looking at how the friendly atmosphere of the table, which had been friendly until just a moment ago, quickly hardened with just one word from him.

‘I’m going to say, ‘I’d rather get a pod to say something like this. Go straight ahead.’

“Since you have said so much, I will tell you openly. All I want is to have General Kim Jong-il a little closer.”

“Because you’re a general… not Chief Abai? General Kim Jong-il also started his party life as an assistant to his father, President Kim Il-sung.

“Haha…don’t you already have a lot of great aides? So is General Kim Jong-il. How dare I intervene?”

“……………………”

Jang Seong-taek’s expression subtly changed several times at the words that came out along with Jung-hwan’s wild smile.

This is because his short answer contained a lot of meaning that could be interpreted in many ways, and not only Jang Sung-taek, but Kim Yong-gun and other people at the table were also immersed in their own concerns about what Jung-hwan’s true meaning was.

‘As Comrade Jeong Hwan said, General Kim Jong-il supported the President from the closest distance and formed the present position. It is not simply a means of propaganda, but a means of propaganda called the closest aides. Even after the general has taken over most of the real power of the republic, it is still the same. But Comrade Jeong Hwan just declared that he would not play that role.’

‘It means that I have no intention of becoming a competitor to the general. No, I mean to avoid being seen like that. Or maybe it means getting closer to the power of the future rather than the power of the past? Even so, the ultimate commander-in-chief of the major organizations of the Party Government, including our Propaganda and Agitation Department, and the supreme symbol of this republic is President Kim Il-sung… Are you really going to give up on that?’

While Kim Yong-geon and Hyun Young-sook were immersed in their own thoughts, Jang Seong-taek looked at Jeong-hwan with a strange expression and nodded.

It was a meaningless movement to anyone, but Junghwan instinctively knew that the movement meant ‘passing the first test’.

‘I wasn’t completely drunk either. testing me I’ll have to be careful with my answer.’

“Well, you are a smart comrade, I know your situation. Okay, so what position would you like to hold next to the general? Of course, the final decision will be made by the general, but I can upload the Cheong.”

“……I would like to participate in the Ryugyong Hotel construction project.”

At those words, Jang Sung-taek tilted his head for the first time today.

Ryugyong Hotel? Neither the Politburo nor the military staff nor the Cabinet member?

“I want to know why. Why are you there?”

“……As the Vice-Chairman comrades also know, I am in a position where it is difficult to gain the general’s trust. There are some that are younger, but my position is not the position. Even if no one else knows, I believe that the deputy head comrade does.”

Jang Seong-taek nodded his head as if he was guessing what was going on inside Jung-hwan’s eyes, as if he was revealing his feelings of injustice and frustration while breaking his luck.

It has been an open secret inside and outside the party that Kim Jong-il has long been beating the half-children of Kim Il-sung one after another.

‘Look at this, little boy, he might be doing this because he really wants to live.’

“Since my birth is my birth, I can understand why the general disregards me. So, after thinking about how to prove my loyalty to the general for a long time, I heard the news from Pyongyang. The Ryugyong Hotel Corporation is facing difficulties because it is blocked by the maneuvers of the Western imperialists…”

“Hmm, well, it’s true that progress is slow like a slug. But soon, as always, with the leadership of the General, we will overcome this obstacle.”

While saying those words, Jang Seong-taek turned his gaze as if he was being stabbed inward, and then made eye contact with Hyun Young-sook, who had a cynical smile, and coughed awkwardly.

It must be because both of them knew all too well that it was a blatant lie.

“Of course, I have no doubts, but I am saying this in hopes that at least I will have a place to add even a slight force to the cause of the historic revolution. Fortunately, I had a small business here, so I got some foreign currency from the republic. You’ve probably seen it, but…”

“Oh, I know. The reception was very gracious. So, are you going to help the construction with that foreign currency?”

“That’s right. It is said that there is a serious material shortage in the hotel construction, but in Japan, the construction industry is booming, so good materials can be purchased at a low price. So, if you give me a request so that I can take charge of the supply and demand of materials, I will do my best to do it. Then I think General Kim Jong-il will believe that I have no other feelings.”

“……Ummm.”

Jang Seong-taek pondered over Jung-hwan’s words and repeated his thoughts.

Junghwan’s request was a logical and reasonable action from his point of view.

It wasn’t that he demanded a very high-ranking position from the start, and it wasn’t that he was out of sight at all.

It is one of those positions where you have to prove your ability by jumping on your feet, not just a working-level worker, only a name that suits the crown of the leader’s illegitimate child.

‘No, on the contrary, isn’t this an expression of intention to roll up your arms and go into the mud…’

The Ryugyong Hotel in central Pyongyang, which was scheduled to open on the occasion of Kim Il-sung’s birthday, was delayed, and the materials were running out and the construction period was extended day by day.

Afraid of being reprimanded for falling, even those in charge are dying to find excuses, but this young man is voluntarily going to sit in a seat that everyone refuses.

Even if I thought about it coldly, the idea that beings outside the center of power would volunteer to prove their loyalty and build a position from the podium one by one from the podium was reasonable and convincing, rather than a position that could easily be achieved.

Maybe this kid named Kim Jung-hwan really doesn’t have any ambitions for the best position at all and wants to look good to Kim Jong-il?

At that time, a voice was heard to add strength to Jang Seong-taek’s long-term man.

“It’s a really good idea, Comrade Jeonghwan. Indeed, he is a person who inherits the leader’s lineage and deserves to be a model for the masses of the people both inside and outside the Party.”

The protagonist of the third voice who intervened in the tug of war between Jang Seong-taek and Jeong-hwan was Hyun Young-sook, the head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department.

With a subtle smile that was rarely seen, her eyes twinkled as if she was hesitating, and urged Jang Seong-taek to make a decision.

“As the head of the Propaganda and Propaganda Department, I was very upset when I heard the news that the construction of the Ryugyong Hotel, which will be a monument to the general and the leader’s achievements, was delayed by making Pyongyang the capital of the revolution known to the world. Hearing Comrade Jeonghwan’s words, it feels like my blocked heart is being opened.”

“Thank you for your words. Comrade Hyun Young-sook, manager.”

‘No, when did that bitch become so soft? Where do you put that stingy temper? That’s like a widow who saw a maid’s bottom, isn’t it? You mean those bitches got a double hit in the meantime?’

Jang Seong-taek was stunned at Hyun Young-sook’s attitude, which was completely different from the skeptical attitude he had just a few hours ago, but he could not figure out why.

At that moment, from Hyun Young-sook’s red lips, words that put a wedge in Jang Seong-taek’s decision came out.

“Comrade Deputy Chief Jang still seems to have doubts about Comrade Jeong Hwan’s loyalty, so I will give the township to the general. Isn’t it the duty of all Party officials, not just Vice-President Jang, to recommend talented people who will serve the Party and the Republic?”

“Ah, no, the current manager, wait a minute.”

“Do you have any problems, Comrade Deputy Director Jang?”

“……”

Jang Seong-taek frowned at Hyun Young-sook’s natural question, but there was nothing to answer.

The reason he wanted to stop Hyun Young-sook’s ‘recommendation’ was very simple, and that was the formation of factions.

On the surface, the Republic of Korea and the Workers’ Party of Korea seemed to be united in perfect harmony under the leadership of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, but, like everywhere in the world, there were factions and factions within them.

And Jang Seong-taek’s faction was one of the most powerful among them, and Jang was always wary of Hyun Young-sook, fearing that Hyun Young-sook would attract people to form a faction against him.

Although there is a weakness of being a woman, a woman named Hyun Young-sook had the ability to do so, as well as her background and will.

If Kim Jeong-hwan takes the position on her recommendation, of course, Jeong-hwan will become her faction, not Jang Sung-taek, but the favored one.

If it is the leader’s illegitimate child, Kim Jong-il’s competitor, Jeong-hwan is a disaster that should not be met, but if he succeeds in business and proves his loyalty, there is a good chance that he will become a determining factor between factions depending on what he does.

In the end, Jang Sung-taek made a decision after repeating such complicated calculations in his heart.

“There is no need to go to the current manager. Regarding Comrade Jeonghwan, I will report to the general. So, the current manager should only focus on the work of the propaganda and agitation department.”

“thank you! Comrade Jang Seong-taek, Vice President!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. But in this meeting, I have to make concessions as I am a subordinate.”

Jang Seong-taek, who was gazing at Hyun Young-sook, who had a disappointing expression on his lips, seemed to be thirsty, took a glass of alcohol and drank it.

Because of that, he did not notice the subtle exchange of glances between Hyun Young-sook and Jeong-hwan for a short time.

“Okay, then the issue of Comrade Jeong Hwan’s war was decided, and next time, most of the people here will see you in Pyongyang. Now that all the painful problems are over, let’s have a drink. Cheers are sung by this Jang Seong-taek, cheers! For the Republic!”

“For the Republic!”

Jang Seong-taek, who now seems to be getting drunk in earnest, shouted a toast with a reddened face, and the other people raised their glasses and shouted toasts.

At the drinking party that soon returned to a lively atmosphere, Jeonghwan felt Hyunyoungsook’s gaze looking at him, but he deliberately avoided her gaze.

Instead, his gaze was fixed on the forest of skyscrapers that lined the center of Tokyo, outside the window.

Although his eyes seemed to be looking out the window to see the man-made, darknessless night view, in reality his thoughts were farther away than here, toward Pyongyang.

‘Now is the time to return to ‘hometown’ .’