Chapter 482: Let’s Talk Again After You’ve Read Everything

I returned to Beijing to meet Zhou Yongkang.

Since it wasn’t an official meeting, we agreed to meet at a VIP bar owned by Hao Xun.

It was a secret meeting place for high-ranking Communist Party officials.

“I didn’t know Beijing had places like this. Reminds me of those secret entertainment houses back home.”

The bar I entered under the staff’s guidance gave off exactly that vibe.

“Your companion will wait here.”

Manager Ma gave me a slight bow. When I nodded, he followed another staff member.

I went deeper inside with the staff member.

It was surprising enough to find a Qing Dynasty style building still standing in central Beijing but even more remarkable was how thoroughly isolated it was from the outside world.

“Please leave your mobile devices here. And if you don’t mind, could I check your bag?”

I took out my phone and handed it to the staff member while asking,

“The bag too?”

“I apologize but it’s our establishment’s policy. We just need to do a quick check for any recording devices.”

They’re quite strict. I couldn’t help but furrow my brows.

But there was no point in giving the staff member a hard time for following protocol.

I silently handed him my bag.

Despite saying it was a simple check, they didn’t open the briefcase but scanned it with an X-ray machine.

After confirming there were no listening devices, the staff member returned my bag.

“Thank you sincerely for your cooperation.”

The staff member bowed apologetically as he returned the bag. I thought the apology was unnecessary but supposed it was part of their performance.

“Rules are rules. As long as Minister Zhou Yongkang goes through the same process I don’t mind.”

“Yes. We treat everyone equally, even if it’s Chairman Hu Jintao himself. That’s why Communist Party Standing Committee members frequent our establishment.”

This seemed to be the bar’s selling point.

Fair enough – with security this thorough even the most paranoid person would feel at ease.

“I’ll show you the way.”

With the entry procedures complete, the staff member resumed guiding me.

Upon reaching the door, the staff member opened it respectfully.

“Minister Zhou Yongkang hasn’t arrived yet. Would you like us to bring in drinks now?”

“No. Please bring them when he arrives.”

“Then I’ll bring some warm tea first.”

The staff member bowed and closed the door as he left.

Inside were just a large round table and two chairs.

Unlike the bar’s lavish interior, the room was sparse. The contrast was almost peculiar.

“Well this is different from an entertainment house.”

I looked around the barren room as I sat down.

Soon after, a staff member entered with pu-erh tea.

“Please enjoy. We’ve received word that he’ll arrive shortly.”

I hadn’t expected a Chinese person to be punctual anyway. I nodded and picked up my teacup.

Just as I finished my cup of tea, the door opened.

Zhou Yongkang entered and sat across from me without a word of apology.

His face was just as I’d seen in photos – greed written all over it.

“Hey! Bring the drinks! What’s with serving tea when it’s men having a chat?”

“Yes sir. We’ll prepare and bring them right away.”

“Hurry up! You know I’m a busy man! I might have to crack down on this place if I get this kind of treatment! Watch yourselves!”

“We’ll bring it right away sir.”

His behavior was incredibly rude but the staff member seemed immune to it, responding only with politeness.

After the staff left, Zhou Yongkang finally acknowledged me.

“What an honor to meet Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok like this. I’ve heard your name so often from various sources that you feel quite familiar.”

Zhou Yongkang greeted me first in a relaxed tone.

“I was curious too about the person who shot up to Minister of Public Security.”

“What did you say? Hahaha!”

Zhou Yongkang laughed loudly but his eyes glinted dangerously.

“You’re quite interesting. But Chairman Kim don’t forget this is China.”

“Isn’t that exactly why I’m sitting here talking with you the Minister of Public Security?”

“Ha! I can’t tell if you’re fearless or just have big guts. Well never mind it’s true I rose quickly anyway.”

Though he acted boisterous I could see his plump cheeks trembling slightly.

They said he had a quick temper and that seemed to be true.

“But why did you want to meet me? Was there a reason for us to meet? I don’t meet with innocent people.”

“Is that so? I wasn’t aware.”

I pulled up one corner of my mouth.

It was quite amusing to hear such words from someone who’d committed the greatest crimes.

Just then there was a knock. We paused our conversation.

The staff began setting food on the round table.

After placing several bottles of Maotai on the table, the staff left.

“Well then let’s have a drink first.”

Zhou Yongkang opened a bottle of Maotai and poured it into his glass.

Following his lead I grabbed a bottle and poured into my glass.

We stared at each other as we brought our glasses to our lips.

“Indeed. Isn’t Maotai the king of liquors? Korea doesn’t have anything like this right?”

“Well I drink any kind of alcohol really. But oddly enough Chinese liquor just doesn’t suit my taste.”

“Haha you just don’t know how to appreciate good liquor yet.”

Having failed in his subtle attempt to look down on me Zhou Yongkang twisted his lips.

He grabbed his long chopsticks and greedily stuffed appetizers into his mouth.

Food particles flew out every time he chewed his overstuffed mouth.

What a disgusting display. It completely killed my appetite.

“Why aren’t you eating? The appetizers here are delicious.”

Though Zhou Yongkang offered I just took another drink without touching the food.

“It’s fine. Eat while you listen. I have several reasons for wanting to meet you today.”

“Several reasons? Ho oh I’m curious what they are.”

Zhou Yongkang continued talking while smacking his lips.

Food kept flying from his mouth as he spoke. What a truly filthy man.

Barely holding back from grimacing I continued,

“First I don’t tolerate anyone sticking their spoon into companies I own.”

“Me? What are you… Ah Tencent? How is that your company? It’s clearly a Chinese company. Why would you a Korean claim to own it?”

“Let’s not play word games. Don’t try to pick fights when you know everything already.”

“Chairman Kim do I look like I’m playing games? I’m the Minister of Public Security. If I wanted to I could make it impossible for you to do business in China.”

Zhou Yongkang made his threat.

Well he was in a position to do so.

This wasn’t America or Europe but China.

Though they had market opening policies it was still fundamentally a communist country.

“Oh really? Go ahead and try.”

But threats should be made after sizing up the opponent. I continued as I set down my glass,

“Do you really not know what would happen if Dream High Investment were to face disadvantages from the Chinese government? All foreign capital in China would withdraw at once.”

“You’re quite confident. Chairman Kim can you guarantee that?”

I silently poured more Maotai into my glass.

“As Minister of Public Security you must know what kind of influence Dream High has. Why else would Standing Committee members meet James every night begging him to invest in their support bases?”

“…”

I deliberately drank slowly. After finishing the glass I set it down with an audible sound.

“Go ahead and try. It might be fun watching China’s economy collapse because of you alone.”

“I could arrest you.”

“Who’s afraid of empty threats? Besides you must have looked into everything before meeting me. You wouldn’t have found anything to arrest me for.”

Zhou Yongkang slammed down his chopsticks and downed his drink.

“What is this? Did you ask to meet just to pick a fight?”

“How can you try to meddle when you can’t even tell if I’m serious or picking a fight? I’ll warn you once more. Don’t covet Tencent or any company I’ve invested in. Don’t play any silly games either. It’ll be better for China’s economy too.”

“This isn’t something I can resolve at my level. I can’t just say I’ll handle it – this isn’t up to me.”

Of course it wouldn’t be. I knew he had to do whatever Jiang Zemin told him to.

But I didn’t like his arrogant attitude so I pressed him hard,

“I know. I know former Chairman Jiang Zemin ordered it. I also know you’re his treasurer. But that’s your problem to deal with.”

“You know that and still act this way? Are you crazy? Do you think Chairman Jiang will leave you alone if he finds out about this?”

I opened my briefcase and tossed a binder onto the table in front of the raising his voice.

The glass was knocked to the floor by the thick binder but neither of us paid any attention to it.

“Lower your voice. It hurts my ears. Look at the documents first. We’ll talk again after you’ve read everything.”

“What is this?”

“Just look. Then you’ll realize I’m giving you an opportunity.”

I said nothing more and poured another drink. Zhou Yongkang glared at me for a while before picking up the binder.

With each page he turned his expression changed.

Watching his oily face transform by the second made me want to laugh.

After a couple more drinks Zhou Yongkang threw the binder to the floor and shouted,

“What are you trying to do! You want to go at it? Want me to really take you down?!”

Zhou Yongkang raised his voice like an enraged wild boar.

“Don’t get excited. Is that really how you interpret my actions? I came to you with those documents not to Jiang Zemin. If I wanted to destroy you would I have met with you?”

“…”

“What’s on top of your neck is meant to be used not just for decoration.”

The documents I’d given him showed the accounts and amounts Zhou Yongkang had secretly pocketed behind Jiang Zemin’s back.

No wonder Zhou Yongkang was upset.

If those got into Jiang Zemin’s hands he’d be a dead man.

They also contained all the dirty dealings his eldest son had done with the Black Society.

Zhou Yongkang filled his glass and downed two drinks in succession.

The drinks seemed to have calmed him down as his voice became steady again,

“What do you want? Why are you doing this to me? It wasn’t my desire to covet Tencent it was his order. I have no interest in such companies.”

Now he’s become more docile. Raising one eyebrow at his suddenly respectful tone,

“I know. South Africa recently contacted me saying Tencent rejected the investment right?”

I’d received the contact while handling Cheon Ji-young’s situation.

Tencent’s founders had united to reject Naspers’ investment.

Jiang Zemin wasn’t stupid so he wouldn’t contact them directly of course Naspers would have informed his treasurer Zhou Yongkang about this.

“Sigh… Yes. Naspers contacted me. I haven’t reported it to him yet. I plan to report it when I meet him tomorrow.”

“Let’s delay that report. I know a better investment opportunity. A chance to take over an even bigger company.”

“…What do you mean.”

There was no benefit in leaving hostile feelings about Tencent.

To achieve that I needed to make them turn their attention to another company.

“Take Wanda Group. It’s yours for the taking.”

“What? No are you crazy? Do you know who Wanda Group’s chairman is?”

I took out another binder from my briefcase and handed it to Zhou Yongkang.

“What’s this now.”

“Just look. It’s quite interesting.”

Zhou Yongkang opened the binder with an uneasy expression.

As he turned the pages his face grew cold but unlike before he didn’t turn pale.

Of course not. Those were evidence of Wanda Group’s Chairman Wang Jianlin moving assets overseas.

“…Is all this true?”

Foreign currency outflow was a serious crime in China. I nodded.

“That’s all I could find. The Public Security Bureau and State Security Department must have more dirt on Wanda Group.”

“…”

“Don’t tell me there isn’t any.”

“There is. But we can’t use it. The moment we do central politics will turn into a battlefield.”

They’re all the same these guys.

I let out a small sigh. Did he think I made this proposal without knowing that?

“I know. But what if the Princelings abandon Wang Jianlin?”

“…That won’t happen. He’s the right-hand man of Bo Xilai one of the Princelings’ top leaders. Bo Xilai won’t abandon him. And even if something like that happened the Party elders wouldn’t stay quiet.”

I took out the final binder from my briefcase.

“This will be tomorrow’s main story in American and British media.”

I tossed that last one to Zhou Yongkang.