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41.66% Genius Grandson of the Loan Shark King / Chapter 350: Chapter 350: No Hidden Intent

บท 350: Chapter 350: No Hidden Intent

President Kim Hak-gwon was well aware of Representative Heo Tae-min's movements.

Even if he didn't know about the relationship with former President Choi Seon-man.

"Is this about Representative Jeong Chan-seong?"

"That's right."

"Isn't it possible to pass the arrest agreement just with the members from the Moderate Party? Why do you specifically need to meet with Heo Tae-min?"

"Mr. President, you know everything already, so please stop playing coy. Just arrange the meeting with Representative Heo Tae-min. If you ask, he won't refuse, right?"

Kim Hak-gwon frowned as he fell into contemplation.

"What do you plan to discuss with Representative Heo?"

"I'm thinking of reestablishing relations with the Moderate Party alongside the passing of Representative Jeong Chan-seong's arrest agreement."

"Heo isn't someone to be underestimated. Even I have trouble keeping him in check."

"Nonetheless, if Representative Heo Tae-min steps in, the agreement should pass smoothly."

"It's uncertain if someone like you, who isn't a politician, can truly satisfy Representative Heo Tae-min."

"If you arrange the meeting, I'll handle it. I tried contacting him separately, but he refused."

"He's not someone to be swayed by money. I understand."

Kim Hak-gwon answered readily. Caught off guard by his unexpected response, I couldn't help but hide my complex feelings.

"I didn't expect you to agree so willingly."

"Haha, is there a fee for merely setting up a meeting? Besides, I'm nearing retirement. Just tell Chairman Yoon that when he becomes president, I'd like to live my remaining days comfortably."

He firmly believed that Yoon Chang-ho would become president.

Whether he was oblivious to Choi Seon-man's actions from the shadows, or aware yet feigning ignorance, it was hard to tell.

To gauge his true intentions, I tried to address the situation indirectly.

"Mr. President, why did you pardon both presidents?"

"I wanted to end the historical pain before my term concluded. I believed we shouldn't remain trapped in the past as it divides national sentiment. If I forgive and conclude it, wouldn't everyone come to accept it? That's why I decided on the pardon."

I nodded in agreement. He was right.

Having suffered all kinds of persecution from the past military regime, Kim Hak-gwon could forgive them, allowing it to pass without significant backlash.

"Is that really all? Wasn't there significant backlash just to erase the past with your own hands? Is there no other intention behind it?"

Kim Hak-gwon looked somewhat puzzled.

"What do you mean by that? What other intention?"

I carefully scrutinized Kim Hak-gwon's expression, but I saw no signs of deception.

Yet, I couldn't completely trust him.

After all, Kim Hak-gwon had been a cunning player in politics for decades.

"If there's no other intention, then that's a relief. I was just worried for you, Mr. President. Issues might arise after your retirement, you know."

"What do you mean by that?"

"There's no hidden intent. If there's no other meaning behind their pardons, then there won't be any problems."

An awkward silence filled the office. The one to break the stillness was Kim Hak-gwon.

"You know, because of your behavior, you'll eventually face a big setback. Don't forget the words of an old man who lived for decades."

"I appreciate the advice and will heed it thoughtfully."

"…I'll reach out to Representative Heo. I can arrange the meeting, but persuading him will be your responsibility. I've already distanced myself from the party."

Though he claimed to have distanced himself from the party, many representatives still aligned with Kim Hak-gwon remained in the Progressive Party.

I could only smile at his subtle attempt to withdraw.

The old fox, having seen all sorts of dirty business, seemed keen to escape this situation.

Upon expressing my gratitude, Kim Hak-gwon nodded and checked his watch.

"How do you know Vice Premier Hu Jintao?"

"Well, I have a personal connection with Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, but I don't have a direct link with Vice Premier Hu Jintao."

"Hmm… He keeps saying he wants you there."

"It seems like Chairman Han Gyeong-yeong has made considerable investments in China. That must be the reason."

Perhaps thinking it plausible, Kim Hak-gwon smoothly shifted the topic.

"For the sake of relations with North Korea, we must maintain cordial diplomatic ties with China. I hope you can assist a lot."

"I'll do my best, as much as I can."

"It's so good to have someone like you by my side."

However, I could sense a hint of sarcasm in his soft tone. I responded with a smile.

"I'll be on my way now. Let's meet at the guesthouse."

I stood up, bowed my head slightly, and left.

As I stepped out the door, Secretary Ma, who had been waiting outside, came with Manager Ma to guide me to the guesthouse.

Upon arriving at the guesthouse, we waited in a small room.

I surveyed the room as I waited for Vice Premier Hu Jintao.

The wait was short. Soon enough, Hu Jintao's party arrived at the Blue House.

A brief welcome ceremony took place on the first floor.

Staying at the back, I observed the welcome event without stepping forward while sizing up Hu Jintao's companions.

I recognized several familiar faces. Jack Ma from Alibaba was visiting with Hu Jintao.

Come to think of it, I did receive notice about him visiting Korea to gain insights on the IT industry.

After the brief welcome, Vice Premier Hu Jintao and a few others moved into the conference room on the first floor.

The rest of us headed to the banquet hall.

The guesthouse's first floor, beautifully decorated with hibiscus, symbolizing our country, was quite impressive as a venue for the banquet.

While the President and Vice Premier Hu held discussions, the rest of the party waited and engaged in light conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.

"Charlie."

Jack Ma approached me while surveying the banquet hall.

"Jack Ma! It's been a while."

"Haha, indeed! It's been a while."

"I've heard your business is doing well. Your financial statements show you finally turned a profit!"

"Thank you. It's all thanks to your unwavering support, Charlie."

I had invested not just in Alibaba but also in tech giants like Tencent and Baidu.

Finally, the fruits of those investments were gradually beginning to show. Though still insufficient, they would ultimately dominate China's information and communications industry.

Maybe that's why a natural smile appeared on my face.

As we continued our light chat, Jack Ma briefly surveyed the surroundings.

Leaning closer, he whispered in a low voice.

"Wen Jiabao's position faced some danger recently. Fortunately, Vice Premier Hu backed him up, allowing him to survive. Otherwise, my company could've been forcibly taken from me."

With Wen Jiabao losing his power and now Jack Ma too, it seemed that Jiang Zemin was set on a course of action.

"It appears the target for Chairman Jiang is you and James. After all, you were Wen Jiabao's steadfast supporter."

"It's been tough for you, hasn't it?"

"Indeed, when doing business in China, one cannot help but remain wary of the Communist Party."

A bitter smile surfaced on Jack Ma's face.

Having abandoned the guaranteed success in the U.S., he returned to China, only to struggle in a wholly different atmosphere.

"I'm sure there will be good results."

"Haha, it's fine. I've established good ties with many party officials. Now that the business is on track, they likely won't press too hard."

Jack Ma spoke heartily with a smile, but I couldn't feel reassured by that laughter.

I could only envision Jack Ma being ousted from the company he built simply because he angered the Party.

Of course, that was a distant possibility. This time, having taken his hand, I wouldn't let him be driven out so easily.

As I chatted with Jack Ma, President Kim Hak-gwon and Vice Premier Hu Jintao entered the banquet hall after concluding their talks.

Everyone who had been conversing freely fell silent and took their seats.

Aside from the Blue House officials, I was the only one present here from Korea.

I sat among the Chinese entrepreneurs where Jack Ma was seated.

Following a brief conversation between Vice Premier Hu and the President, the banquet dishes were brought out to the table.

The two-hour banquet concluded in a relatively straightforward manner.

After telling Jack Ma I would see him later, I left the guesthouse.

At that moment, a man quietly followed me.

"Boss Kim."

I turned to look at him. The man, keeping his head down, spoke quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.

"I am Li Pengru, Vice Premier Hu Jintao's secretary. Could we have a word?"

Nodding, the man introduced himself as Li Pengru.

"He said to convey an invitation to have lunch together tomorrow."

"Lunch?"

"Yes, he requested that you come to the hotel. There's no time available in his schedule otherwise."

"I see. Understood."

"It's at Goryeo Hotel."

Li Pengru handed me a note detailing the room number.

"I'll see you tomorrow then."

As Li Pengru bowed his head and stepped back into the guesthouse, he disappeared from my sight.

I crumpled the paper with the room number and tucked it into my pocket as I left the Blue House.

The night breeze felt particularly chilly today.

The next day.

I visited Goryeo Hotel early in the morning.

Presumably because Vice Premier Hu was staying there, security at the hotel was tight.

I was checked at the entrance and lobby, and upon reaching the seventh floor where Vice Premier Hu was, I was checked again.

Only then could I approach the room where Vice Premier Hu was.

"He's waiting for you."

Li Pengru, who had handed me the note yesterday, was waiting outside the door.

"I'm sorry, but you need to go in alone."

He said this while looking at Manager Ma.

As I nodded slightly, Manager Ma took a position beside the door.

Li Pengru opened the door, and as soon as I stepped inside, the door closed behind me.

Inside, I could see Vice Premier Hu Jintao gazing out over the skyline of Seoul through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Seoul seems to change every time I visit, which is quite fascinating. That shows just how quickly Korea is developing."

Without turning, Hu Jintao spoke. I didn't approach him but stayed in place and answered.

"China will develop rapidly too."

"It should. There's no other option here."

Finally turning around, Hu Jintao wore a beaming smile.

"Alright, let's sit down and talk."

Hu Jintao took a seat first, and I followed suit.

He poured tea from the teapot on the table and offered it to me.

"This is Gimen tea. Please have a cup. I'm sorry for summoning you so early."

I extended my teacup to receive the tea he poured.

"I truly appreciate what you did last time. If I had lost that child, the impact on me would have been significant as well."

"…"

Casually bringing up Hao Xun while showing humility left me no choice but to keep my guard up.

Hu Jintao continued pouring his tea.

"You think I'm being criticized for shaking hands with the underworld?"

"Not at all."

"There's no avoiding criticism. I owe that child so much for helping me reach this position."

Strangely candid. This side of Hu Jintao felt unfamiliar.

He had always been someone who concealed his weaknesses and hidden agenda to seek advancement.

Noticing my gaze, Hu Jintao smiled softly.

"Wen Jiabao told me what he thinks: that you can be trusted, Boss Kim."

"…Is Vice Premier Wen well?"

As Hu Jintao set down the teapot, he nodded.

"He's safe, yes. At least for now."

Yet worry was etched on his face regarding a topic he previously abandoned.

I began to think that this may be a façade. His demeanor likely shifted between the presence and absence of Wen Jiabao.

"Is it not possible to bring him back?"

"Chairman Jiang is very hardline. If we trade with him, we'd have to give something in return…"

Hu Jintao hesitated. Deep in thought.

Can I really trust this guy? He's a cold-blooded individual who wouldn't hesitate to discard his own when he feels threatened.

"That means you need something to negotiate Wen Jiabao's return."

"Correct."

Wen Jiabao raised his teacup, sipping tea while observing me closely.

His eyes seemed to say.

'Can you save Wen Jiabao?'

After much contemplation, I slowly began to speak.


บท 351: Chapter 351: I Will Trust the Vice Chairman

To restore Wen Jiabao, who has already lost power, we must appease Jiang Zemin's desires.

Jiang Zemin had to cede the presidency to Hu Jintao, realizing his own ambitions were recognized by Deng Xiaoping.

During Hu Jintao's decade-long rule, the two of them engaged in an unseen power struggle, constantly keeping each other in check.

As a result, Xi Jinping of the Taizidang rose as a new alternative, instead of the Communist Youth League or the Shanghai faction.

Having made up my mind, I finally spoke.

"Bring Qian Liangyu to the center. Request Wen Jiabao's reinstatement as a condition."

"..."

Hu Jintao remained silent, sipping his tea as he absorbed my words.

"If we bring Qian Liangyu in, Jiang Zemin will accept Wen Jiabao's reinstatement. What he desires is to groom his successor."

"…Why should I do that? Explain your reasoning."

"Can you control Jiang Zemin and the Shanghai faction without Wen Jiabao? No one in the Communist Youth League is there to protect you."

Despite being labeled as one of the three major factions in the Chinese Communist Party, the Communist Youth League was the weakest.

The Taizidang wielded tremendous influence and wealth passed down from previous generations, holding significant power in both politics and business, while the Shanghai faction leveraged Jiang Zemin's exceptional leadership and the city's unique status to exert substantial influence in Beijing.

Though the Communist Youth League had the most members, ironically, its power base was the weakest.

"You're suggesting we salvage Wen Jiabao by nurturing Jiang Zemin's successor? Do you truly believe that's reasonable?"

Naturally, Hu Jintao's tone sharpened.

"In return, I'll become your partner, Vice Chairman. I promise significant investments in China during your tenure."

"Hmm…"

To persuade the still hesitant Hu Jintao, I continued to elaborate.

"Later, we could easily entrap Qian Liangyu in some corruption allegations, just as Wen Jiabao experienced."

"Qian Liangyu isn't that greedy. He's cautious, humble, and passionate. If he were as openly greedy as Jiang Zemin, it might be easier. Nurturing such a man would only lead to them succeeding me in the end."

Hu Jintao glared at me with frosty eyes.

Is Qian Liangyu truly still untainted by power?

Ultimately, he would be purged by Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, facing numerous allegations.

"How long can the Shanghai faction's successor remain so cautious? Regardless of how clean he is, relatives and close associates will be overwhelmed by temptations. Eventually, he will become tainted too."

"As long as Jiang Zemin is backing him, it won't be easy to remove Qian Liangyu."

Hu Jintao still retaliated with a negative attitude.

"Then we must make it so he has no choice but to."

"Is there a way?"

"We will diminish the Shanghai faction's influence in Shanghai. If Wen Jiabao exerts his strength from the center and I continue investing in Shanghai, we can reduce the Shanghai faction's power. Don't think short term; consider the long term. Look towards the distant future."

Under Hu Jintao's leadership, China would achieve unprecedented economic growth.

I intended to take advantage of that to expand my influence.

"Can't you agree to keep investing?"

"Yes. I believe China will become the world's second-largest economy after the U.S."

Hu Jintao let out a small sound of admiration.

He seemed to share a strong national pride as a Chinese citizen.

Perhaps feeling better from my words, a broad smile appeared on his face.

"However, if the Chinese Communist Party rejects foreign capital, I'll have no choice but to leave China."

Of course, I didn't forget to add the warning.

I made it clear that if they ever rejected me, I would withdraw my investments in China without a second thought.

"There's no chance of that. Even if policies change, during my term, I will ensure your investments are protected, Boss Kim."

"I will trust the Vice Chairman."

Hu Jintao set down his teacup. His previously sharp gaze had softened.

"What should we do after Wen Jiabao is reinstated?"

"Don't you already have a plan?"

No matter how indecisive Hu Jintao was, he was an individual who overcame Jiang Zemin's opposition to eventually rise to the presidential position.

Such a person wouldn't come to me without any countermeasures.

"I just wanted to hear Boss Kim's opinion."

I didn't appreciate his somewhat testing demeanor, but I responded calmly.

"Keep negotiating until Jiang Zemin completely relinquishes his position as Chair of the Military Commission. During that time, hold onto the Shanghai faction's weaknesses while you gradually seize control of the party. Once you've taken over the position of Chair of the Military Commission, you can slowly push Jiang Zemin out of power."

"Do you believe I can do that?"

"The key figures in the Shanghai faction did not rise from the bottom. They were involved in businesses like state-owned enterprises. While they are bright in economics, they are also vulnerable to corruption. Grabbing their weaknesses won't be too hard. That's precisely why Jiang Zemin won't relinquish military power."

Hu Jintao nodded, chuckling softly.

He seemed satisfied with my answer that aligned with his thoughts.

"You'll be appointed as General Secretary in November, right?"

"Yes. I am scheduled to take office as Chairman next year. There hasn't been a confirmation regarding when I would transfer the Chair of the Military Commission. "

It appeared there were still no significant changes. Aside from Wen Jiabao's purging, everything was proceeding as I understood.

Just then, the door swung open, and hotel staff alongside Hu Jintao's aides began setting the room service food on the table before leaving.

"Since I called you early in the morning, let's continue our conversation over breakfast."

Hu Jintao rose first, and I followed suit to move to the table.

As soon as Hu Jintao sat down, he picked up his chopsticks.

Even during the meal, we spoke on various topics.

After finishing the meal, we returned to the living room to sip tea and converse.

I noticed Hu Jintao checking his watch, indicating it was time for him to head out.

Before concluding our meeting, I brought up one last topic.

"Vice Chairman, what are your thoughts on North Korea?"

"North Korea? Why are you asking me that?"

"Didn't you abstain from the Security Council resolution regarding the U.S. invasion of Iraq to avoid disrupting the atmosphere between the U.S. and North Korea? I'm curious about China's reasoning behind such a decision."

Surprise flickered across Hu Jintao's face.

"Huh…? How did you know? There aren't many people in our government who are aware of it."

"It's something you can infer with a bit of thought. Would it be alright to ask how you plan to proceed?"

After a long moment of contemplation, Hu Jintao cautiously opened his mouth.

"Our government's stance is simple. North Korea must remain as a buffer zone. Unification between South Korea and North Korea cannot occur. For that, we will utilize whatever methods necessary."

He responded far too frankly.

Of course, China absolutely does not desire the unification of Korea and North Korea.

If unification occurs, U.S. troops would be stationed beyond their border, which they certainly would not welcome.

Russia felt the same way. Even being friends with Putin, there was nothing I could do about this matter.

"Hmm…"

"Boss Kim, if you were a politician, you wouldn't have spoken so bluntly."

Though he spoke candidly, Hu Jintao added that remark, perhaps fearful of future repercussions.

I completely understood, nodding in agreement.

"Yes. I understand the position. By the way, I heard information that Jang Seong-taek has reemerged in Pyongyang. Are you aware?"

"Your information is faster than that of many nations. Yes, he will likely show himself in politics soon. This is why Wen Jiabao has become even more essential, as he shares a strong friendship with Jang Seong-taek."

It appeared that Jang Seong-taek's reemergence was almost confirmed.

If China and Russia tacitly agree, wouldn't Jang Seong-taek be smoothly recognized if he took power?

Nonetheless, I still couldn't fully trust Hu Jintao. Wen Jiabao's reinstatement was my utmost priority.

"Understood. Thank you for your candid message."

"Ha ha. Now we're comrades in the same boat, aren't we?"

I handed Hu Jintao a prepared piece of paper.

After receiving it, he asked,

"What's this?"

"It's a Swiss account containing ten million dollars. It's clean and should pose no issues."

"Hmm…"

Sighing softly, Hu Jintao gazed at me fixedly.

He seemed eager to ask what it meant.

"There will be many costs associated with Wen Jiabao's reinstatement. This is an investment for that purpose. I apologize if it seems offensive."

"No, I wasn't offended. I was rather surprised by how casually you present such a large amount."

Perhaps satisfied with my reply, Hu Jintao set the paper down.

"Thank you. I'll use it wisely."

With a friendly smile, I stood up from my seat.

"It was a good meeting. I'll take my leave now."

Hu Jintao also stood up, extending his hand.

We shook hands warmly.

"Boss Kim, I hope this relationship lasts a long time."

"I feel the same way. I look forward to our future collaboration."

"Oh, regarding the companies Boss Kim has invested in, I will take good care of them."

"Thank you."

Smiles adorned both mine and Hu Jintao's faces.

I secured a powerful backing in Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, who would rule China for the next decade.

For at least ten years, I would have minimal constraints while operating in China, which naturally made me smile.

Hu Jintao, having also gained a proven businessman, would likely think he could strengthen his power base.

As we shook hands repeatedly, our gazes exchanged.

* * *

A week had passed since my meeting with Hu Jintao.

"I have obtained the production rights from JC Entertainment."

I nodded at Manager Ma's report.

The movie starring Cheon Ji-young, which had been in production after Lee Song-hee's arrest, faced severe public backlash.

Filming was completely halted, and JC Entertainment quickly transferred movie production rights to us to distance themselves from the Lee Song-hee scandal.

"Please direct the production company under Heavenly Group to transfer to Ji-young's agency. Provide ample funding to ensure the production goes smoothly."

"Got it. I will take care of that."

"Additionally, let's completely separate Ji-young's agency from Heavenly Group. There might be issues later on. Manager Ma, please handle the necessary arrangements."

"Yes, Boss."

After confirming that Manager Ma had left, I took out my phone to call Cheon Ji-young.

― "Hello. Oppa…"

Cheon Ji-young's voice sounded weak.

"Why does your voice sound like that? Are you eating well?"

― "Yes, I'm eating well."

"Is it because the movie's production has been halted?"

― "I feel like it's all my fault that this happened…"

She was certainly too nice, suffering from the fallout from Lee Song-hee and other actors who rode on his coattails.

Shaking my head, I continued the call.

"What do you mean? What did you do wrong? Stop thinking foolishly. We'll replace Lee Song-hee's role with someone else, and the film will resume production soon. Just take care of yourself. I'll check in later."

― "Huh? Really?"

Cheon Ji-young's tone brightened over the phone.

"Yeah. I just acquired the rights for the film. We'll be investing more money than before, so don't worry. JC Entertainment will also provide personnel support."

― "That's a relief… Thank you, Oppa."

Only then did Cheon Ji-young let out a sigh of relief. It seemed she had been deeply self-blaming over the production being halted.

At that moment, Manager Ma knocked and entered the room.

I cast a puzzled look at Manager Ma, who returned much sooner than I expected.

Seems like it must be urgent. I ended the call, letting Cheon Ji-young know I'd contact her later.

"What is it, Manager?"

"We've received a call from Black Bear's headquarters."

"From Eric?"

"Yes. He asked if he could visit Korea. What should we do?"

It seemed that he had urgent news to communicate over the phone.

"Invite him over."

"Understood. I will relay this to arrange a schedule."

Eric's visit carried a clear implication: the Iraq War was about to commence.


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