Chương 563: Chapter 563: Cut All Ties with Me
Medvedev emphasized once again.
"Please, do not move."
That monster in the Kremlin was not someone who acted sensibly.
Still, I never expected he would consider mobilizing the army.
—Understood. I will convey it to the President. What about the Zaslon members? Should we send them back as is?
"Yes. It's become complicated, so they need to return immediately. If the U.S. or China learns of Russia's involvement in this, things will get messy."
—That makes sense. I'll contact you again if any new information comes in.
I hung up the call with Medvedev.
I felt a wave of irritation wash over me. Jang Seong-taek alone was a headache, and now there was talk of Russia preparing to move the military.
As I furrowed my brow, Manager Ma brought over a glass of ice water.
"Are you okay, Boss?"
Taking the glass, I slowly shook my head.
"Things just became tedious. I thought everything would go according to plan, but now there are variables I didn't account for. I didn't expect Jang Seong-taek to be this weak. Or is it more accurate to say he has resolution?"
Drinking the cool water with ice helped clear my head a bit.
With a sigh, I set the glass down.
"Manager, contact Igor for me."
Manager Ma dialed Jang Seong-taek's satellite phone.
—······.
The call connected, but there was no response.
I took the receiver and called for Igor.
"Igor?"
—Yes, Boss.
Igor finally responded after confirming my voice.
"Is anyone else there with you?"
—No. It's just me.
"What's the situation outside?"
—Branch Chief Jang Seong-taek rushed into the room where Kim Jong-il is, and hasn't come out yet.
It was clear that Jang Seong-taek had recounted everything that had happened and was trying to persuade Kim Jong-il.
He must have claimed that Ri Ul-sul had conspired with him while mobilizing the military without responding to calls.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I finally spoke up.
"······Igor, the order I'm about to give you must not be shared with other mercenaries. I will issue a command exclusively for you."
—Yes. Please give your orders.
"If Jang Seong-taek fails to subdue Ri Ul-sul, kill Kim Jong-il. Not just him, but his family members present there as well."
If the first method got tangled, the second had to be employed.
Ri Ul-sul had supposedly moved the military under the pretense of rescuing Kim Jong-il.
And if Ri Ul-sul emerged victorious against Jang Seong-taek, he would still need Kim Jong-il.
—Are you saying to kill everyone?
"Yes. Eliminate them all and then escape with the mercenaries."
—······.
"This is a precaution. I hope I don't have to make you carry it out."
—Understood. I will do as you say.
Igor accepted my directive.
"Now get rid of that satellite phone. Cut all ties with me. We'll meet again later."
The connection with Igor was severed.
* * *
Upon hearing Jang Seong-taek's remarks, Kim Jong-il was furious.
"So that bastard Ri Ul-sul really did it?"
"Yes."
"Hah······. That senile old man, I knew it. He's moving forces from the Pyongyang Defense Command right now?"
"Yes. If the Chairman doesn't intervene, a civil war will break out. A war between the people who allied with me and those who allied with Ri Ul-sul. The only person who can stop that is you, Chairman."
Jang Seong-taek's words drew a sneer from Kim Jong-il.
"What? Are you telling me to act like your puppet?"
"Chairman, do you really want us all to go down together? I promised to keep you alive, but do you think Ri Ul-sul would do the same?"
Kim Jong-il frowned.
"Are you saying that crazy old man would kill me?"
"Yes. Would the Chairman be safe? Jong-nam, Jong-chul, and even Jong-un… All the one carrying the blood of the Kim family will be killed."
"What? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Though Kim Jong-il answered nonchalantly, Jang Seong-taek continued with his statements.
"Ri Ul-sul's time is running out. Even now, he's struggling to hear and can barely communicate through his hearing aid. Why would he move the military to come here?"
"······."
"He's essentially saying he'll hand this Republic to his own lineage. Just as our leader passed the throne to you, he intends to do the same."
Kim Jong-il knew too. Unlike Ri Ul-sul, Jang Seong-taek was someone he could reason with.
If Ri Ul-sul seized control as Jang Seong-taek suggested, the possibility of even sitting down and talking would be impossible.
"······Will he really do that? After all, he was a comrade of my father's. Are you really going to kill all his kin?"
"Are you asking me that?"
Jang Seong-taek sneered at Kim Jong-il's words.
"Are you mocking me now?"
"Do you not recall how you wiped out an entire family when you purged others? Among them were long-time comrades of the Leader who fell victim to your blade. What happened to their families then?"
"······."
Kim Jong-il glared at Jang Seong-taek in silence.
"It's not that I lack confidence. I can handle a single army's troops from the Pyongyang Defense Command by myself. But I don't want unnecessary bloodshed."
"Really? Then try stopping them."
"I've already called in the 1st and 3rd Corps."
"What? You dare act without my orders…."
"That's not the issue, is it?"
"Then what is the issue?"
Jang Seong-taek spoke in a voice devoid of emotion.
"Should we manage to hold our ground, then the Chairman here will no longer be needed. I, too, will initiate a blood purge just like when you seized power. I don't know where that blade will ultimately strike."
"You little bastard! Are you threatening me now?"
Kim Jong-il slammed his fist on the desk and leaped from his seat.
"Chairman!"
Jang Seong-taek did not back down and raised his voice.
"So, I ask for your cooperation."
Kim Jong-il glared at Jang Seong-taek with a fire in his eyes, gritting his teeth.
""What I'm offering is an opportunity for the Chairman. Choose. Will you stand with me to stop Ri Ul-sul, or will…?"
Jang Seong-taek let his words trail off. Kim Jong-il exhaled a long sigh and sat back down.
"Jang Seong-taek."
"Yes, Chairman."
"What should I do?"
A victorious smile spread across Jang Seong-taek's face as he told him what he needed to do.
The forces of the Pyongyang Defense Command under Ri Ul-sul arrived near Yeohori Villa.
But already, troops from the 1st and 3rd Corps were firmly guarding Yeohori Villa.
As soon as the Pyongyang Defense Command began to move, Jang Seong-taek immediately contacted the leadership of the 1st and 3rd Corps requesting troops.
They were generals who had already been bribed and sweet-talked by Jang Seong-taek.
Jang Seong-taek's reason for choosing Yeohori Villa as the site of the coup was that.
Tanks from the Pyongyang Defense Command faced off against those from the 1st and 3rd Corps, their cannons trained at each other.
At that moment, Ri Ul-sul grabbed a megaphone and shouted.
"This is Ri Ul-sul! What are you all doing? You reactionary bastards! You're trying to stop me from saving the General? Do you all want to die?"
However, the opposing side showed no reaction.
Just as Ri Ul-sul grit his teeth and prepared to speak again, a familiar voice crackled through the megaphone.
"This is the Director of the General Political Bureau. Ri Ul-sul."
"Jo Myung-rok! You've also become a pawn of Jang Seong-taek?"
"Have you grown senile in your age? Why is Deputy Chief Jang here? He has nothing to do with this event. I arrived here at the call of the General."
Jang Seong-taek has nothing to do with it? Ri Ul-sul's eyes widened.
Clearly, Kim Jong-il had called him saying Jang Seong-taek was staging a rebellion. This was certainly off.
But before he could gather his thoughts, Jo Myung-rok continued.
"Deputy Chief Jang is currently with the General. Who is the treasonous one? Is it us guarding the General? Or is it you, Ri Ul-sul?"
"What are you babbling about! I'm Ri Ul-sul! The shield protecting the bloodline of Baekdu, Ri Ul-sul!"
"If you are a shield, then disarm yourself. Is it right to point your cannons at the place where the General is?"
Ri Ul-sul could see his forces beginning to waver.
He had already lost the initiative. Noticing the military personnel murmuring, Ri Ul-sul forced down his unease.
"I will warn you one last time. Disarm yourselves and withdraw your forces."
The longer the conversation went on, the more he realized he was losing.
He switched off the megaphone and ordered Park Gi-seo, the commander of the Pyongyang Defense Command who was standing nearby.
"Park Gi-seo, they can't beat us. Let's subdue them and rescue the General."
"······General? Aren't we here to save him?"
"Your General has already been captured by them. Right now, taking them down is the best way to save the General. Don't you trust me?"
As Park Gi-seo continued to hesitate, Ri Ul-sul spoke firmly.
"Park Gi-seo, I'm commanding you as a Marshal. Wipe them all out. Or I'll have you executed on military orders."
Under Ri Ul-sul's intimidation, Park Gi-seo narrowed his eyes.
"We're in this together. If this fails, do you think only I'll be killed? It'll be you too, Park Gi-seo."
"You said you'd come to rescue the General…"
While Ri Ul-sul and Park Gi-seo were arguing, a voice suddenly blared from the megaphone.
"To the honorable military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Soldiers of the Korean People's Army in the Pyongyang Defense Command, listen up!"
Kim Jong-il's voice resonated powerfully from the loudspeaker.
Startled, Park Gi-seo and Ri Ul-sul exchanged wide-eyed looks.
"As the General Secretary of the Workers' Party and the Chairman of the National Defense Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, I solemnly order you. Disarm immediately and surrender."
The soldiers murmured at Kim Jong-il's voice.
"Hey, hey. That voice is definitely the General's!"
"I don't know. What the heck is going on?"
"The commander of the Guard Command, Ri Ul-sul, and the commander of the Pyongyang Defense Command, Park Gi-seo, are plotting evil schemes, disregarding their significant responsibility of protecting me, Kim Jong-il."
Kim Jong-il's voice came through the loudspeaker brimming with authority.
"I give one last warning. Anyone who cooperates with Ri Ul-sul or Park Gi-seo will be punished severely as reactionaries. I declare this in the name of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party!"
Park Gi-seo turned to Ri Ul-sul and asked.
"The General's orders have arrived. What will we do now?"
"······."
Ri Ul-sul could say nothing and bit down hard on his lip.
Just then, a soldier rushed into the tent where Ri Ul-sul and Park Gi-seo were.
"We have a serious situation! A squadron of fighter jets that took off from the Second Air Command in Hamhung is heading this way!"
"A squadron of fighter jets? What do you mean?"
"A squadron of fighters has been launched from Deoksan Airfield and is expected to arrive soon."
"······It's over."
Park Gi-seo muttered in resignation, slumping down.
"Arrest Ri Ul-sul and Park Gi-seo. Glory to the heroic soldiers of the Korean People's Army!"
With that, the loudspeaker went silent.
A thick silence enveloped the tent.
Neither Ri Ul-sul nor Park Gi-seo spoke a word.
At that moment, lieutenant-level officers burst into the tent.
"You traitorous bastards!!"
They aimed their guns at Ri Ul-sul and Park Gi-seo.
Park Gi-seo snapped back to attention and shouted.
"What are you doing? Are you defying orders right now?"
"Defy orders? We're about to be labeled as rebels pointing guns at the General. What's this? Arrest them immediately!"
At the order of the colonel, the officers began to slowly approach Ri Ul-sul and Park Gi-seo.
"Are you crazy? What the hell do you think you're doing!! Do you really think you can survive this way?"
While Park Gi-seo was yelling frantically, Ri Ul-sul stared blankly at the ceiling with a dazed expression.
The officers disarmed and captured the two.
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