Chapter 781: Coup in Pyongyang

Pyongyang Defense Commander Jeon Jin-soo was visibly flustered when his officers suddenly barged in.

But it was only for a moment. Soon, he raised his voice.

“What’s the meaning of this? What’s going on?”

The officers who entered the commander’s office lined up in an orderly fashion and spoke.

“Commander, disarm yourself and raise both hands.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Please, we don’t want to hurt you, Commander.”

“Are you all insane?”

Commander Jeon Jin-soo jumped up from his seat and roared.

At the same time, the officers pointed their guns at him.

“You little bastards! I’ll shove a rice paddle down your throats and stir you up! How dare you point guns at me?”

Even with the menacing gun barrels pointed at him, Commander Jeon Jin-soo didn’t back down.

Then, an officer pushed his way through the others and entered.

“Commander, you should give up.”

Recognizing the officer’s face, Commander Jeon Jin-soo pointed at him, his voice filled with anger.

“You… you traitorous scum…”

The leader of the rebellion was a political officer sent by the General Political Bureau to monitor the Pyongyang Defense Command.

“This is an order from the Director of the General Political Bureau. You are to arrest General Jeon Jin-soo and suppress the rebels in Pyongyang.”

“What? Rebels? You’re the ones who are the rebels!”

“The preparations for deployment are already complete. So, don’t resist and give up. What are you waiting for? Arrest him!”

Commander Jeon Jin-soo resisted the officers who were disarming him, shouting angrily.

“You little bastards! You sons of dogs who deserve to be thrown into a cesspool! Let go of me! Let go!”

He struggled, but eventually, Commander Jeon Jin-soo was disarmed and dragged away. The political officer took his seat.

“Move out to Pyongyang immediately.”

At his command, the officers involved in the coup all left the commander’s office.

* * *

The troops that had left Pyongyang Defense Command stopped in front of the checkpoint leading into Pyongyang.

“Halt! Where are these troops coming from?”

The soldiers who stopped them were not the Pyongyang Garrison Command soldiers they were expecting.

The soldiers asked with suspicion, their faces tense and their guns raised.

The armored brigade commander, who had been leading the troops, got out of his military vehicle with a stern expression.

“I am Ryu Gwang, commander of the 91st Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Pyongyang Defense Command. Who are you?”

“Commander Ryu Gwang? Why are you leading troops into Pyongyang at this hour?”

“These are the troops sent to support the General Political Bureau under the orders of the Director of the General Political Bureau.”

A soldier who had lowered his gun raised it again at those words.

“What are you talking about? We haven’t received any such report.”

“This is an order directly from the Director of the General Political Bureau. Move out of the way.”

“Isn’t the Pyongyang Defense Commander General Jeon Jin-soo? Why are you, Commander Ryu Gwang, in command?”

“The Commander is guarding the base. Clear the way. Otherwise, the reactionary bastards will take over Pyongyang.”

Even though they invoked the name of the Director of the General Political Bureau, the Security Bureau officer didn’t budge.

“We have orders to prevent even an ant from entering Pyongyang.”

“The Pyongyang Garrison Command has already been informed. Move out of the way. How do you intend to deal with the consequences?”

The two men’s conversation was at a standstill.

“What nonsense are you spouting? We are the Security Bureau! We are guarding the checkpoint under the orders of Chief Minister Hong Joon-soo. Bring the written order directly signed by State Affairs Commission Chairman Jang Seong-taek, and then we will let you pass.”

Eventually, the two began shouting at each other, escalating into a heated argument.

As time passed, Commander Ryu Gwang continued to weigh his options even as he argued.

‘What should I do?’

If they were willing to risk casualties, they had a good chance of winning a battle here.

However, if they entered the city without preserving their forces, they would not be able to defeat the Guard Headquarters troops inside Pyongyang.

Their plan was based on a bloodless entry from the start.

“…Move out of the way.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Not a single troop will enter Pyongyang unless the dirt goes into my eyes!”

If the standoff continued like this, there was no telling what might happen to the command structure in Pyongyang.

Just as Commander Ryu Gwang made up his mind and was about to give the order to his troops.

A military vehicle sped towards them from the direction of the Pyongyang Defense Command.

The person who got out of the military vehicle after it stopped at the checkpoint was the Deputy Commander of the Pyongyang Defense Command.

“Everyone stop.”

Commander Ryu Gwang was startled by the Deputy Commander’s appearance.

“Commander Ryu Gwang, what are you doing here?”

“What brings you here, Deputy Commander?”

“Ha… you stupid fool.”

The Deputy Commander looked at Commander Ryu Gwang with a pitiful expression.

Just as Ryu Gwang opened his mouth to say something, a loud noise was heard from behind.

An armored unit, including tanks, was approaching. Commander Ryu Gwang’s face crumpled at the sight.

“We have retaken the Pyongyang Defense Command. Give up now and pull back your troops.”

“……”

“Commander Ryu Gwang. No, Ryu Gwang, my friend, are you having a pipe dream? If you turn back now, I will definitely advocate for you. Your entire family has already been arrested.”

“What! What are you talking about…?”

Commander Ryu Gwang’s face flushed red.

“The National Security Bureau is arresting the families of the rebels. You stupid fool. Did you really think you would succeed?”

The Deputy Commander sighed as if he were truly regretful.

“Turn back now. That’s the only way you and your family will survive. Trust me and turn back now.”

The Deputy Commander turned to the Security Bureau officer behind Ryu Gwang.

“What organization are you with?”

“I am with the Security Bureau.”

“Good. We will turn back now, so please let us pass. I told the State Affairs Commission Chairman that the Commander would contact him separately.”

“I have received orders not to let anyone into Pyongyang. If you are turning back, I won’t stop you.”

At those words, the Deputy Commander nodded and once again tried to persuade Commander Ryu Gwang.

“Commander Ryu Gwang. Turn back. This might be your last chance.”

“…Please, save my family, Deputy Commander.”

“I will. I will do everything I can.”

At the Deputy Commander’s earnest persuasion, Commander Ryu Gwang ordered his subordinates.

“Lower your weapons. Let’s all turn back.”

The same events were unfolding at checkpoints all around Pyongyang.

* * *

After getting enough rest, we started moving again.

In a few hours, we would be able to meet up with the mercenaries Igor had brought.

The word ‘hope’ gives a person great strength.

The bodyguards’ complexions were much better than before.

“Everyone has worked so hard. Manager Kim, and the bodyguards too.”

I spoke to Manager Kim, my steps feeling lighter.

“It’s nothing, Boss. If something had happened to you… Manager Ma would probably have killed us all.”

“Haha, Manager Ma is pretty scary, right? Sometimes, I get scared too.”

I mixed in some jokes, something I didn’t do often, to try to loosen up the tense atmosphere.

We continued to move while talking like that.

“How much further do we have to go?”

“We will arrive at the agreed location soon, Boss.”

Near the meeting place, we stopped.

Manager Kim looked around and spoke.

“Let’s wait here for now.”

I nodded and sat down right on the dirt ground.

“I never want to go through something like this again.”

I chuckled to myself, sighing.

I was cold, hungry, and my stamina was completely depleted.

Since starting a new life, I had never experienced anything like this.

Though I’ve been through numerous crises, none were as difficult as today.

Not physically, not mentally.

‘I need to take a real break once this is over.’

In China, Zheng Qinghong had agreed to help oust Jiang Zemin after persuading Hu Jintao.

In North Korea, this incident was going to cause a significant shake-up in the power structure.

Valtiche… it still needed more time.

The opportunity would come when the massive wave starting in the U.S. crashes over Europe.

I waited for Igor and the mercenaries, thinking calmly about what I had to do in the future.

Then, lights began to appear from the opposite direction of Nakhodka.

Manager Kim, seeing the lights, gestured to the bodyguards and turned off his flashlight.

The surroundings became completely dark, and the identity of the approaching lights soon became clear.

“It looks like North Korean soldiers.”

Manager Kim whispered, and I nodded slightly.

It seemed like the soldiers who were chasing us.

“Will they run into Igor?”

“It seems likely.”

There was nothing we could do with the equipment we had.

‘It’s frustrating not knowing what’s happening in Pyongyang.’

Whether the rebels had been suppressed, what happened to Kim Jong-il, whether the order to chase me had been withdrawn…

Right now, I couldn’t know anything.

The satellite phone battery was also running low, and I needed to save the remaining battery for communication with Igor.

At that moment, the vehicles carrying North Korean soldiers began to approach us.

“Everyone, hide.”

We couldn’t get caught by the North Korean soldiers before Igor joined us.

I gave the order to Manager Kim and quickly hid behind a tree.

The bodyguards also crouched down, and we waited for the vehicles to pass.

The vehicles slowly passed by us. Just as we breathed a sigh of relief, lights began to appear from the opposite direction.

‘Is that Igor?’

The North Korean soldiers who spotted the lights stopped. Dozens of soldiers quickly got out of the trucks and began setting something up on the road.

At the same time, the lights coming from the opposite direction also stopped.

Those who had stopped were still motionless.

The North Korean soldiers who had occupied the road spoke into a megaphone installed on their vehicle.

“This is Senior Colonel Seol Gi-nam. Exit the vehicle and state your affiliation!”

But there was no response.

“If you don’t state your affiliation, we will fire!”

When the officer gestured, the North Korean soldiers raised their rifles towards the lights.

It was a tense atmosphere where a firefight could break out at any moment.

At that moment, the lights from the opposite direction went out.

When the headlights disappeared, the surroundings turned dark in an instant.

But only for a moment. Sparks flew from the darkness.

Tu-du-du-du!

The North Korean officer quickly took cover at the sudden gunfire.

“What is this! Who are these bastards! State your affiliation!”

Even amidst all the chaos, the officer, somehow still holding on to the megaphone, yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Return fire! Kill them all!”

The North Korean’s counterattack immediately followed. Even as the acrid smell of gunpowder and gunshots filled the air, I thought to myself.

‘Looks like that’s Igor’s mercenaries.’

The only people who would suddenly attack the North Korean soldiers were Igor and his mercenary team.

I saw a North Korean soldier moving toward a machine gun mounted on a jeep.

“Manager Kim.”

Manager Kim looked at me. His face was full of concern that I might get hit by a stray bullet.

“Let’s join the fight too.”

“It’s dangerous, Boss.”

“If they start firing the machine gun, Igor’s team will be in too much danger. If we cover their rear, it will be easier for Igor to move.”

“Understood.”

Manager Kim gestured to the bodyguards, and they took their stances and began aiming their pistols.

The subtle movements fortunately didn’t draw attention.

When I nodded, the bodyguards fired their pistols.

The soldier who was slowly moving towards the machine gun was the first to get shot and fall.

“Wha, what is this? Where is this attack coming from! Return fire!”

The officer shouted at the top of his lungs and hid himself more thoroughly.

The bodyguards had joined the fight, but their pistols had limitations.

The North Korean soldiers who identified our position because of the muzzle flashes from the pistols began firing at us.

I flattened myself and hid behind a rock that barely covered my body.

Now, I couldn’t see anything, only hear sounds.

Then, a series of gunshots rang out. The continuous sound suggested it was a machine gun.

“Aaaaargh!!”

“Ugh!”

Pain-filled voices came from the North Korean side.

Thanks to our intervention, it seemed like Igor’s team had gained some breathing room and had started firing the machine gun mounted on their vehicle.

Screams continued to come from the North Korean side. The heavy sounds of people falling down were heard as well.

Thud! Crash!

Explosions and gunshots continued to ring out as the battle raged on.

And slowly, the gunfire subsided, ceasing entirely at some point.

In the pitch-black darkness, the occasional groans were the only indication that a battle had taken place here.

“Boss! Are you safe?”

Igor’s voice could be heard through the darkness.