Chapter 203: He Finally Took the Bait

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The moment Jiham hung up, Vice Chairman Wei Chen asked curiously,

“Director Cha, what exactly is going on?”

“Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui offered to supply Abu Sayyaf with North Korean missiles.”

“That bastard actually made such an offer?”

“That’s what the CIA Director said, so it’s true.”

“Will Carlos really accept his offer?”

“Abu Sayyaf is suffering enormous losses from Philippine Air Force bombing raids.”

Cha Jiham’s answer made it perfectly clear that Carlos had accepted Chen Zhihui’s proposal.

“Now I understand. But why would Chen Zhihui take such an unnecessary risk?”

“He already received an advance payment for supplying North Korean weapons to Abu Sayyaf. On top of that, he urgently needs money to pay compensation for the sinking of the «Silver Crystal».”

“But doesn’t the «Silver Crystal» belong to Eastern Shipping?”

“The «Silver Crystal» sank because the North Korean weapons aboard it exploded.”

“Ah, right.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen nodded, showing that he understood.

Bzzzz...

At that moment, Director Pan Kai’s phone vibrated on the table.

He glanced at the screen, saw the caller’s name, and immediately answered.

After exchanging a few brief words with the caller, he reported to Vice Chairman Wei Chen,

“A passenger car carrying Vice Chairman Tang Guochang just passed through the villa’s main gate.”

***

“Vice Chairman Tang, welcome back.”

Vice Chairman Wei Chen respectfully greeted Tang Guochang as he stepped out of the executive sedan.

“Vice Chairman Wei, it seems you knew I was coming back?”

“Director Cha told me.”

At that moment, Tang Guochang’s gaze shifted to Jiham.

“Vice Chairman Tang, let’s go inside. I’ll explain everything in detail.”

The living room.

Tang Guochang sat at the head of the table and addressed Jiham with undisguised interest.

“Now then, tell me, Director Cha.”

“I assumed you would return because you didn’t accept my gift.”

“Then you must also know why I didn’t accept it?”

“I assume you simply didn’t have a good enough justification to accept it.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Tang Guochang burst into loud laughter, confirming that Jiham was right.

When his laughter subsided, Jiham continued,

“Vice Chairman Tang, the people from Eastern Shipping will bear the consequences of the «Silver Crystal» sinking.”

“How do you know that?”

“The CIA and FBI were keeping Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui, who fled to the Philippines, under surveillance. In the process, they intercepted a conversation between him and Carlos, the leader of Abu Sayyaf.”

“And how do you have access to classified information of that level?”

In truth, there was no need to reveal Director Griffin’s existence to Tang Guochang.

However, Jiham had his own calculations, so he decided to take that step.

“I heard it personally from CIA Director Griffin.”

“Director Griffin? You know him?”

“Recently, an influential figure in the North Korean regime, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol, defected to the United States. That was when I became acquainted with Director Griffin.”

In reality, Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol had defected to the Republic of Korea.

But since North Korea and China believed that he had fled to the United States, Jiham had no choice but to lie.

“I see.”

“According to Director Griffin, Vice Chairman Chen Zhihui will personally cover all the losses suffered by Eastern Shipping.”

“Hmm, I understand.”

Jiham decided that this was enough to put the matter of the «Silver Crystal» incident to rest.

“Vice Chairman Tang, how is the operation to eliminate the North Korean hacker organization progressing?”

“We launched a missile strike on their base and leveled the entire place.”

The hackers’ base had been guarded by elite operatives from North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau.

They had only been armed with assault rifles, so heavy weapons alone would have been more than enough to eliminate them.

However, contrary to expectations, the Chinese military had gone to extremes and used missiles.

Jiham asked Tang Guochang why he had made such a decision.

“It was the best way to minimize casualties among the soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army of China.”

“But innocent civilians could have been hurt.”

“The hackers’ base was located far away from residential buildings.”

“In that case, that’s good. Can you tell me the results of the operation?”

“There weren’t many survivors after the missile strike.”

Jiham involuntarily felt a pang of pity.

Whatever the circumstances, both the hackers and the Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives were his fellow Koreans.

“I see. What about casualties on the Chinese side?”

“A battle broke out while we were clearing the site and apprehending the survivors. We suffered hundreds of dead and wounded.”

Apparently, the Chinese military had assumed that none of the North Koreans had survived and entered the base with their guard down.

However, contrary to their expectations, quite a few had survived.

And the outcome of a clash between soldiers who had let down their guard and desperate fanatics backed into a corner was predictable.

“My goodness...”

“Casualties are unavoidable in war.”

Tang Guochang spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, but the frustration on his face was unmistakable.

Well, what was done was done. Nothing could be done about it now.

“I understand. By the way, what about my request?”

Cha Jiham had previously mentioned that Politburo member Liu Peiqi was highly likely to be protecting the hackers.

He had asked Tang Guochang to check who owned the land beneath their base, and now he returned to the subject.

“Our investigation showed that the land belongs to Liu Peiqi.”

“So my suspicions were correct. Now we should make sure to hit both North Korea and Liu Peiqi where it hurts.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Give the media extensive coverage of the operation that destroyed the hackers.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Tang Guochang burst into loud laughter again, appreciating Jiham’s ingenuity.

To improve his mood even further, Jiham added the decisive argument.

“Vice Chairman Tang, I’ll increase your gift to 500 million dollars.”

Tang Guochang could not understand Cha Jiham’s reasoning.

Earlier, Jiham had offered him 500 million yuan and 400 million dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency seized from Liu Peiqi as a gift.

Since Tang Guochang was Liu Peiqi’s enemy, he had gladly agreed.

But why had the gift suddenly increased from 400 million to 500 million dollars?

“Director Cha, why are you being so generous?”

“If I hadn’t asked you to eliminate the hackers, you wouldn’t have suffered hundreds of dead and wounded. Consider the increase money to compensate their families.”

“Hmm... I see.”

“Please use this gift to bring some comfort to their families.”

The words “bring some comfort” to their families struck Tang Guochang in a strange way.

He directly asked what Jiham was getting at.

“Vice Chairman Tang, great things cannot be accomplished without the loyalty of one’s subordinates.”

“Great things?”

Tang Guochang had finally taken the bait.

“Vice Chairman Tang, why don’t we go to the study and speak privately?”

“Let’s do that.”

As soon as they entered the study and sat down on the sofa, Tang Guochang spoke first.

“Now tell me, Director Cha.”

“Allow me to ask you one question. Why do you think China’s economy is suffering such a severe downturn?”

“Obviously, because of sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries.”

“And why do you think the United States and the West imposed those sanctions?”

“Well...”

Tang Guochang trailed off as though something had occurred to him.

Of course, Jiham knew exactly what he was thinking.

“You’re thinking in the right direction. To revive China’s declining economy, the ‘common prosperity’ policy promoted by President Xi Jinping and the ‘anti-espionage law’ must be abolished. But he has closed his ears and refuses to listen to anyone. Because of that, public anger keeps erupting.”

“I’m well aware of that myself.”

“And I’m prepared to show you a path to saving China’s economy, Vice Chairman Tang.”

“Hmm...”

Tang Guochang rose from the sofa and walked over to the window.

Folding his arms across his chest, he sank into deep thought as he gazed at the scenery outside the villa.

Jiham knew what he was thinking and waited silently.

After a long while, Tang Guochang finally came to a decision, returned to his seat, and said,

“By ‘great things,’ you mean a coup d’état?”

“...I won’t deny it.”

“If I stage a coup, can I succeed?”

“Behind you stands the more than two-million-strong People’s Liberation Army of China.”

“President Xi, fearing a coup, has planted many of his informants throughout the military.”

“But you know who those people are.”

“That’s true, but even if the coup succeeds, I’m not sure I’ll be able to lead the country afterward.”

With Xi Jinping having completely ruined the economy, China’s future truly looked bleak.

Jiham realized that it was time to play the trump card that would finally push Tang Guochang into making his decision.

“The U.S. government has been watching you for a long time, Vice Chairman Tang.”

“Is that true?”

“If you doubt my words, ask Advisor Graff.”

“It certainly sounds far more promising if I have the support of the United States, but...”

“Washington is prepared to provide you with comprehensive assistance if you seize power.”

“Can I really believe that?”

“Wait a moment.”

Pausing the conversation, Jiham called Advisor Graff.

After several rings, Graff’s pleased voice came through the phone.

[Director Cha, what’s going on so early in the morning?]

“Advisor Graff, I’m currently holding secret negotiations with Vice Chairman Tang Guochang.”

[What?!] Graff shouted in astonishment.

“I’d like Vice Chairman Tang to hear our conversation personally.”

[Put me on speaker.]

Jiham immediately switched the phone to speaker mode and continued,

“Vice Chairman Tang is contemplating great things, but he hasn’t yet decided to take the final step.”

[May I ask why?]

“To govern China in the future, Vice Chairman Tang desperately needs assistance from the United States.”

[What can our country do to help?]

“To dispel his doubts, you should begin by sending a secret envoy.”

[Ask Vice Chairman Tang whether a visit from Director Griffin would be acceptable.]

Tang Guochang nodded in agreement.

“He would be glad to meet him.”

[Ha-ha. Excellent. I’ll contact Director Griffin immediately.]

After ending the call with Graff, Jiham put away his phone. Tang Guochang immediately asked,

“Will Director Griffin be able to enter our country safely?”

“He recently came to Macau to arrange Deputy Director Jo Ilcheol’s defection to the United States.”

“How did he manage that?”

“He used a special disguise mask.”

“In that case, there shouldn’t be any problems. When will he arrive?”

“He’s currently in Korea, so he can enter as early as tomorrow morning.”

“Do you know why he came to Korea?”

In reality, Director Griffin and Director Nevers had come to the Republic of Korea to meet Jo Ilcheol. But Jiham could not reveal that, so he gave a different reason.

“As far as I know, he came to arrange the transfer to the United States of Commander Kwak Taesu, who fled North Korea.”

“You mean Commander Kwak defected to Korea?”

Tang Guochang had hit the nail on the head, but once again, Jiham could not answer in the affirmative.

“The NIS and CIA believe Commander Kwak is hiding somewhere in China.”

“And where is he hiding?”

“I’m not God. How would I know?”

“Ah, that’s true. A foolish question.”

“It’s all right.”

“And please keep our conversation strictly confidential.”

Jiham ran his fingers across his lips as though zipping them shut and replied,

“I’ll take this secret to my grave.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Tang Guochang took a note from his pocket and handed it to Jiham. Unfolding the paper, Jiham saw the name of a bank and an account number.

“Vice Chairman Tang, I’ll transfer 500 million dollars and 500 million yuan within half an hour.”

“Agreed. Shall we go back out to the others?”