Dragon and Tiger Clash (4)
All the achievements my subordinates and I had accomplished up to now—excluding those that absolutely required secrecy—had been repackaged as the exploits of the three deputy directors under Gao Xusen's command and reported upward.
In that process, deciding who got which merits was almost entirely up to me. Gao Xusen didn't pay it much mind, since he was the commanding officer regardless of who handled the actual work.
'If I'd pushed just one person too hard, he might have gotten suspicious.'
Suspicious that I was trying to poach him privately. But he didn't seem to suspect that all three deputy directors might have colluded to cozy up to me. That was probably due in part to his realistic view as a communist noble.
In the essential game of internal party politics for survival, they had no options beyond me and Gao Xusen. That conviction held true as long as their thinking was confined to party politics.
Belonging to a faction meant sharing its political debts and relationships. It bound them into a de facto community of fate—the weight of guanxi that was the destiny of bureaucrats on this continent.
For the three deputy directors, the old Gao Xusen had been their only choice, and even in this improved situation, he was still their best option with few alternatives. I was just playing a different game from Gao Xusen.
Hushan Liang set down his utensils, lost in thought. Until now, he'd received merits distributed evenly by my unilateral decisions, but now, alone with me, he'd been asked whose turn it was next. His mind must have been a whirlwind.
Was this an opportunity? A test? Was this favor only for him? If so, had he done anything to deserve it?
I beckoned to him.
"No need to rush your answer—the merits aren't going anywhere. Eat first, then speak. As someone leading many people, I take great interest in my subordinates' meals."
A man needs to eat. Hushan Liang's plate held Xiangwu pork belly, one of my favorites too. When staying at headquarters, I'd occasionally have the cafeteria head chef prepare it, but it took at least a day and a half to make properly.
Boil the pork, fry it, let it age cold for a day, then steam it with soy sauce and spices. Only then was it complete. In the final steaming, taro sliced as thick as the pork and lightly fried was wedged between the pieces. The taro soaked up the pork fat, cutting the richness while adding crunch—the harmony was exquisite.
It was a shame not to enjoy such a dish hot.
At my gesture, Hushan Liang resumed eating. After savoring a few bites with his chopsticks, he wiped grease from his mouth and posed a cautious question.
"If I may be so bold, could I know what kind of merit it is beforehand?"
I flicked my hand at a subordinate, signaling him to bring the prepared item. Under Hushan Liang's watchful eye, I opened the small hard case my man handed me.
"This."
Inside was a micro reconnaissance drone and controller seized from Mexico.
"What is it?"
"A Norwegian-made micro recon drone. The U.S. military adopted it under their 'Pocket Scout' program, and the British ordered the same specs. It's not just them—others have it too—but there's a huge performance gap. Resistance to hacking, extended comms range, autonomous flight, precise coordinates, improved night vision. Lots of U.S. and UK tech."
"So this was used by the British?"
"Exactly."
"How did you get something like this...? Don't tell me their special forces infiltrated Guangzhou...?"
"Unfortunately, not a trophy from around here. Just smuggled goods from my main line of work. But in this business, origins can be laundered easily enough. The higher-ups won't care much about authenticity."
You're used to it by now, right? I added, lifting my glass to eye level. Hushan Liang raised his in kind, taking a light sip. He chewed and swallowed a piece of pork layered with taro, eyes rolling as scenarios flashed through his mind.
The conversation resumed after a ceremonial top-off of our barely touched glasses. Hushan Liang licked his greasy lips.
"How valuable is this drone exactly?"
"Procurement cost I know of is about $200,000. Handmade by PhDs. But money alone won't buy it—on the black market, it'd fetch whatever I ask. Against your State Security, I'd confidently get $4 million per set."
"$4 million?! For this little—"
Hushan Liang trailed off, unable to finish. His gaze fixed on the case trembled like it had hit an earthquake. It looked like a kid's toy, after all.
I shrugged.
"Price includes reverse-engineering value. I planned to sell it somewhere originally. But helping my three new retainers advance seemed a better investment than cash."
The serial numbers on the internals were already scrubbed. Their unique features served as proof of authenticity—no issue there.
"Th-thank you."
Desire flickered in the Public Security deputy director's eyes as he swallowed hard.
"If it's real, it's something we need to prepare for beforehand."
"Precisely. You're experts on Public Security investigations, so you can craft a site, scenario, and alibi that won't raise suspicions. If needed, I can attach one of my men knowledgeable in that area as an advisor."
"Hm..."
A brief silence fell. We alternated tea and food, leaving the liquor untouched. Hushan Liang, who'd been too distracted by desire to eat properly, finally probed directly.
"A foolish question, but was asking whose turn it was a kind of test?"
"Hardly. I'm not the type to say 'eat comfortably' while making it awkward. I hate that."
Even that mentor bastard was infuriating, bitching about eating.
"My apologies. Then, may I ask your true intent?"
"No grand intent. I won't stay rooted here forever—I'll be leaving soon for real. So, assuming merits get distributed without me, wouldn't it make sense to hear from those involved and coordinate?"
"Ah..."
"I'll have Director Park Mi-joo, staying here, give final approval. But I'm also handing her command of the Awakened Hunter Corps, so even with extra hands, her workload won't be light. Your three-way cooperation is key. As comrades in the same boat, trust each other, lean on one another—each representing the others."
"I understand. We won't disappoint you, sir."
"'Sir' again."
"Sorry."
"No need." I tapped the hard case with my fingertips. "This also shows a way for you to keep racking up merits even after I leave. Get my meaning?"
"Yes. Nameless Company is even more impressive than I thought."
Merits aren't just about killing and taking heads. Supply the props for a staged setup, and merits proportional to their value emerge. Procuring such props was my organization's specialty.
'Useful for screwing rivals too.'
Key props become damning evidence. How do you defend when a house search turns up proof of guilt?
"Plus, Director Park's hunter corps can support you overtly and covertly. Maintain a clean public image while wielding a private unit of ability users—that'll help your careers immensely. And occasionally claiming their merits is a bonus. What do you think?"
"I'm overwhelmed by your consideration, Vice President."
"Now, eat." I picked up a piece of meat and raised my glass again. I sipped just enough to cleanse the grease; Hushan Liang drained his full one. A sign his mind was at ease.
The charcoal-infused native char siu paired well with the strong baijiu. Empty glasses were promptly refilled.
Fingering my glass, I broached a new topic.
"Let's talk something different now."
"What is it?"
"Your career paths."
"I'm listening."
"I predict upper levels will try separating you three from Gao Xusen's department before your next promotions. Or maybe indirect offers have already come. Which is it?"
"Spot on. Not necessarily bad for Director Gao."
Gao Xusen and the three deputies were awaiting their next promotions. Not due to lack of merits, but because less than a month had passed since the last ones—too soon to advance again.
'So to the higher-ups, the deputies' next promotions are a perfect chance to sever Gao Xusen's limbs.'
From Gao Xusen's view, sending trusted aides to other departments reduced immediate manpower but expanded influence. Pros and cons. Faction power grew this way.
Clinging desperately to all close aides out of obsession with visible results would only arouse superiors' wariness. With promotion to higher departments all but certain, accepting this one step back for two forward was worthwhile.
Besides, Gao Xusen now had a boat everyone clamored to board. Plenty of room to groom new loyalists.
"I'd like one of you to aim for State Security. You know better who to greet and bribe."
"State Security..."
"Feasible?"
Not really asking if it was possible. Assuming Gao Xusen didn't sabotage, they could choose their preferred department.
State Security—Ministry of State Security, China's intel agency rivaling the CIA. Even said to surpass in HUMINT.
Hushan Liang stroked his chin, then nodded.
"If that's your will, Vice President, we'll follow."
"Good."
"Any specific plans?"
"I have plenty of ways to build merits for that path."
"I see. We'll discuss with the brothers and decide quickly."
Brothers here meant sworn brothers, jianxi xiongdi.
There's give and take. Knowing my motives weren't purely selfless, they'd divvy roles after calculating. But I was a sure payout from their experience—no reason for long deliberation.
Consistently profitable investments numb risk aversion.
Hushan Liang scooped some steamed mandarin fish topped with scallions and soy, looking pleased. Then, chopsticks in hand, he leaned forward slightly.
"I'd like to make a proposal."
"What?"
"You've heard of the 'Overseas High-Level Talent Recruitment Program'?"
"The 'Thousand Talents Plan'?"
"That's one name. Not official."
High-level talent recruitment was a facade; really, a state project bribing foreign researchers to steal key tech. Too shameful for open admission, so taboo in China—no media coverage, no search results, post about it on SNS and Public Security knocks.
Known in Korea as Thousand Talents Plan, but that was just a mid-stage goal within larger plans—starting with Hundred Talents, scaling to Thousand, Ten Thousand. Hence multiple Thousand Talents variants per project.
"Why bring it up suddenly?"
"Rumors it's expanding to ability users soon. Highly credible—either an expansion or new variant kicking off."
"And?"
"Someone of your caliber could fabricate an identity, naturalize here. No one to rival your abilities—you'd be the poster child early on, fast-tracking to power center in years. Massive rewards to lure more foreign ability users."
"Valid point, but losing freedom makes it the worst of bad options."
"Could be the opposite. Power enables much, and you have wealth to bribe upper echelons plus keen insight.Korea’s been making noise lately about how ability users are treated—better to secure a foothold in a major power than a small one, considering the future..."
"Enough. Not interested."
"But—"
"Stop."
Hushan Liang shut his mouth, face thick with regret. Understandable—he'd face less risk if I were bound here.