The Last Struggle (2)
Deep in the dead of night, at the gate of the Capital Defense Command. It wasn't particularly strange for a taxi to appear in front of the gate at this hour. It was common enough for officers who had been drinking outside to take a taxi back to their barracks. Of course, it was more common to call a driver from the unit and get a free ride back, but a taxi showing up wasn't unheard of. The problem was the identity of the passenger inside.
"I’ll authorize it, so won't you open the gate?"
It was an incredibly gentle tone compared to the usual JD. However, the military policeman at the gate wore a deeply ambiguous expression. 'What is this? Why is JD in a taxi?' In those days, if you looked at the TV or newspapers, JD’s face was almost guaranteed to be there. Therefore, the MP guarding the gate knew his face very well. That wasn't the problem. Why would JD show up in a taxi instead of a security detail vehicle? That meant there was a possibility that the person in front of him was an imposter, not the real JD.
"What’s the matter? My pass is right here."
JD felt genuine annoyance as a mere corporal dawdled in front of him. However, this was absolutely not a situation where he could afford to lose his temper. Even by his own estimation, showing up here in a taxi was a desperate, irrational move given the circumstances. But what other choice did he have?
Even the taxi driver asked JD, "Are you really the President?"
To the driver’s half-doubting question, JD forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, I came out to secretly inspect the Capital Defense Command at dawn."
It was a story that didn't make sense even with a moment's thought. Logically, the President's safety should be maintained at the highest national level. If the President were to be assassinated, it would bring chaos to the nation. But the taxi driver just shrugged and nodded. Of course, he didn't fully believe that JD was the real President. He was just in a situation where he only cared about getting paid. So, he decided to just enjoy the situation.
However, the gate MP was different.
"What are you doing? Open the road."
Despite JD's urging, the MP couldn't easily make a decision.
"Hey, Jong-ho, what on earth are you doing?"
Seeing the soldier unable to act over a single taxi, the guard officer at the guardhouse approached. "Ah, sir. It’s not that..." The MP trailed off, casting a glance toward JD in the backseat of the taxi.
"What is it? Who on earth is inside that..."
The guard officer, upon confirming JD’s identity, lost his words just like the MP. He stood there, lips twitching, agonizing over what to say. Furthermore, his right hand was twitching, clearly torn between whether to salute or not.
"Ah, I came out for a secret inspection today. Won't you open the gate?"
JD showed his pass to the guard officer. However, the officer couldn't easily make a decision either. 'Why would the President come here for an inspection in a taxi? Could this person be a spy sent by North Korea instead of the President...?'
But he couldn't make a reckless decision. If he opened the gate and it turned out to be an imposter, it wasn't a joke—his head would literally be on the chopping block. Soldiers during the military regime held sky-high power, but the accountability for mistakes was just as severe. Of course, that only applied to soldiers without connections, and the guard officer here was definitely on the side without them. If he didn't open the gate and it turned out to be the real President? That would also cost him his head. Thus, the soldier and the guard officer could only let out groans, repeatedly looking back and forth between the pass and JD.
'Ah, you bastards. Make a decision already.'
The one swearing inside wasn't JD, but the taxi driver. The meter was supposed to be running furiously, but seeing them walking at a snail's pace with such "craftsmanship" made the driver genuinely irritated. He had thought it was a decent fare when he picked up a passenger wanting to go from the Blue House to Namhyeon-dong at dawn, but now that they had arrived at the gate, time was being dragged out endlessly. Of course, the taxi driver didn't have the audacity to get angry here. He didn't know what kind of torture he might be dragged off to if he made a wrong move.
The taxi driver was somewhat anxious. JD was very anxious. The MP and the guard officer were agonizing in every way. Finally, the highest-ranking officer at the guardhouse, the guard commander, opened the guardhouse and came out.
"Guard officer, what on earth is going on?"
However, the guard commander, too, had no choice but to act exactly like the MP and the guard officer the moment he saw JD. The only difference was that he reported it to a higher unit.
[A person who looks exactly like the President is demanding entry. How should we proceed?]
Would people believe it if a soldier, a non-commissioned officer, and even a field-grade officer all appeared at the guardhouse? And at dawn, no less? Surprisingly, in late March 1987, this actually happened. Even after a colonel was mobilized, they couldn't make a decision, so the report went up to the stars above them, and finally, it reached Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan, the Capital Defense Commander.
"What? A person who looks exactly like the President is demanding to pass through the gate?"
Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan, who had been woken from his sleep by the emergency report, spoke with an absurd expression. "Are you joking right now? How can a soldier not recognize the President's face?"
The adjutant, who had come directly to the official residence, was sweating profusely and bowing his head. "I am truly sorry, but even after seeing him myself, his appearance is perfectly identical to the President."
"Did that actor guy disguise himself as the President or something?"
Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan's reaction was indifferent. In reality, JD had strictly forbidden an actor who looked exactly like him from appearing on TV. One perfectly capable actor had effectively had his career ruined by a single dictator. However, the fact that such an actor existed was already known to those in the know, so Kim Ho-hwan continued, assuming, 'I suppose there's another person who looks similar.'
"If it's a guy who looks similar, just arrest him and hand him over to the police. Why wake me up for that?"
Again, the adjutant bowed his head. "No, that's not it. He has the President's ID, and even his pass. But the problem is that he came in a taxi..."
"What? He came in a taxi?"
Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan wore an expression of disbelief. Why on earth would JD take a taxi?
"That is correct. Logically, this is not a matter we can decide on our own."
Eventually, Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan made a decision.
"I'll take responsibility, so first, search his body to check if he's carrying any weapons, and bring him to my office. Just in case, have the MPs accompany him."
Only then did the adjutant's face brighten. "Yes, understood! Thank you!"
About 20 minutes later. Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan, who had been waiting in his office, confirmed JD, who appeared with the adjutant after the door opened. 'No, holy shit, he really did come in a taxi?' Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
Lieutenant General Kim Ho-hwan had seen JD's face often, so he was certain that the JD in front of him was the real person. Therefore, he naturally seated JD on the main sofa for guests, sat on the three-person sofa himself, and ordered his adjutant to bring tea. And a moment later, once the tea was served, Kim Ho-hwan dismissed everyone else.
"Mr. President, please have some."
"Ah, thank you."
JD's words were remarkably soft. In normal times, he would have been furious, shouting, "Hey! How are you managing your subordinates!" but JD did nothing of the sort. Even after being subjected to a body search, he remained calm.
'It seems the President is feeling quite dejected because of the February protests.'
The fact that JD had been confined to the Blue House was a top-secret matter known only to the highest-level power brokers, so even Kim Ho-hwan didn't know the full story. He only guessed that JD had been pushed slightly away from the center of power. JD, assuming that was the case, went straight to the point.
"Ho-hwan."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"JSD has betrayed me."
"Yes? Ye-yes? Yes?"
Who was JSD? JD's self-proclaimed loyal subject. Yet, hearing from JD's own lips that JSD had betrayed him, Kim Ho-hwan could only stammer in confusion.
"You don't believe me? I can't believe it either. But it's true. Since the February civil unrest, I have effectively been confined to the Blue House. And JSD was the one in charge of that."
"That... cannot be... How could such a thing happen?"
Kim Ho-hwan looked flustered. But JD hadn't come to Kim Ho-hwan to vent.
"Ho-hwan, I could complain to you right now, but this is not the time for that."
"Ah, please speak."
Kim Ho-hwan straightened his posture.
"If things go on like this, we will all end up like a bucket with a broken rope. So, we must raise the military once again. I will occupy the Blue House and the National Assembly, and declare martial law. You'll join me, won't you?"
"..."
A second military coup, openly proposed by JD. However, Kim Ho-hwan couldn't answer easily.
"Hey, Ho-hwan. It looks like you're weighing your options, but do you think you'll be able to keep your current position if N becomes President while I'm ousted?"
At this very realistic point, Kim Ho-hwan's heart instantly leaned toward joining.
"Th-that may be true, but..."
"I didn't put you in that position for no reason. I told you from the beginning, didn't I?"
JD had naturally kept in mind the possibility that he wouldn't be able to secure the next presidency. And he had also naturally considered the possibility that N wouldn't listen to him. So, what had JD arranged in advance? It was placing individuals who were 3rd or 4th in the hierarchy based on 'classification' into 'key positions suitable for staging a coup.' JD was 1st, JSD and N were 2nd, Choi Hee-doo was 3rd, and Kim Ho-hwan was 4th.
In actual history, JD had done almost exactly the same things before designating N as his successor. However, what JD hadn't anticipated was that N's movements were too fast. As soon as N became President, he stripped all the individuals JD had placed in key positions of their duties, and thanks to that, all of JD's arrangements became meaningless. But in Yoon-gi's history, JD was trying to use the arrangements he had made. And he was doing it through the method of a "Second Military Coup."
"Ho-hwan, I won't be able to win the next presidential election anyway. So, if we stage a revolution again this time, I'll give the next presidency to you. I'm going to die if things go on like this anyway. I'm just doing this to survive before I die. So, decide. Will you stay still and get your head chopped off after N takes power, or will you join hands with me and become the number one man like a real man?"
Of course, JD had no intention of handing over the regime to Kim Ho-hwan. If the military coup succeeded, he would regain power, and then he would immediately solidify his position as the number one man again. That was JD's plan. However, Kim Ho-hwan, without anticipating JD's scheme at all, nodded with a stiff expression.
"Understood. What should I do?"
Greed 'often,' not 'sometimes,' clouded people's judgment. It was the same for Kim Ho-hwan right now. Furthermore, JD was a capable man who had already succeeded in the first military coup. Added to this, the thought that he would become the next President led him to make the worst choice.
"First, prepare a few cars. I need to visit a few divisions from now on to recruit guys who will help you. And keep your subordinates' mouths shut. If the ANSP guys find out I'm here, it'll be a big problem."
"Understood. Then, I will prepare immediately."
"Yes, Ho-hwan. You are the next President."
At JD's confident words, Kim Ho-hwan nodded again with a resolute expression. Thus, Kim Ho-hwan prepared vehicles for JD and even some escort troops to assist in JD's tour. Ten minutes after JD left Kim Ho-hwan's office, Kim Ho-hwan felt his heart pounding at the thought that he could become President.
Knock, knock!
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
At the voice from outside, Kim Ho-hwan nodded. "Yes, come in."
Even if he tried to hide his expression, the joy of power inevitably showed in his tone. However, this joy vanished the moment he saw the adjutant.
"Hey, you... what are you doing...?"
The adjutant who appeared after opening the door was aiming an automatic rifle directly at Kim Ho-hwan.