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He was Kai’s superior, so Kai should have been here before him, not the other way around. ‘I just flew back from Yanji,’ Kai said. ‘I apologize for keeping you waiting.’

‘You’d better tell me what the hell you’re up to.’

Kai sat down and explained, and by the time he had finished Wu’s attitude had been transformed. ‘We have to act on this right away,’ he said. ‘The president will have to call Pyongyang and warn the Supreme Leader. It could already be too late.’

An aide appeared and invited them to follow him into the president’s office. As they walked, Wu said: ‘I will open the discussion.’ This was correct protocol: the spymaster served the politician. ‘I’ll tell him that a coup is being plotted, and you will give him such details as we have.’

‘Very good, sir,’ said Kai. It was important to defer to older men. Anything else would offend both Wu and Chen.

They went in. The president’s room was wide and long, with a large window looking out over the water. President Chen in real life was a bit different from the formal portraits that hung in so many government offices. He was quite short, and had a slightly protruding belly that did not appear in photographs. But he was friendlier than his public image suggested. ‘Minister Wu!’ he said amiably. ‘A pleasure to see you. How is Mrs Wu? I know she had a minor medical procedure.’

‘The operation was a success and she has fully recovered, Mr President, thank you for asking.’

‘Chang Kai – I knew you as a child, and now every time I see you I want to say how much you’ve grown.’

Kai laughed, though Chen had made the same joke the last time they met. The president took care to be affable. It was his policy to be everyone’s friend. Kai wondered whether he had read Machiavelli, who said it was better to be feared than loved.

‘Sit down, please. Lei will bring you tea.’ Kai had not noticed the silent middle-aged woman in the background who now poured tea into small cups. ‘So,’ Chen went on, ‘tell me what this is all about.’

As agreed, Wu gave him the headlines and then invited Kai to fill in the details. Chen listened in silence, twice making a note with a gold Travers fountain pen. The woman called Lei brought each person a delicate little cup of fragrant jasmine tea. When Kai had finished, Chen said: ‘And this comes from a source you can trust.’

‘He’s a general in the Korean People’s Army and he has been giving us reliable information for many years, sir.’

Chen nodded. ‘By its nature a plot such as this is secret, so we’re unlikely to get confirmation. But it might be right, and that dictates our response. Your source doesn’t know the strength of the rebels outside of Yeongjeo-dong.’

‘No. Perhaps we may assume that the ringleaders at least believe they have strong support. They wouldn’t move otherwise.’

‘Agreed.’ Chen thought for a moment. ‘As I recollect, there are eighteen military bases in North Korea – is that right?’

Kai glanced at Wu, who clearly did not have that information at his fingertips. Kai said: ‘Yes, Mr President, that’s exact.’

‘Twelve of them are missile bases and two of those have nuclear weapons.’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s the missile bases that really count, and the nuclear ones that are paramount.’

Chen had got to the heart of the matter in no time, Kai reflected.

Chen looked at Wu, who nodded agreement.

Chen said: ‘And your recommendation?’

Wu said: ‘At all costs we have to prevent the destabilization of the North Korean government. I think we should warn Pyongyang immediately. If they act now, they could crush the rebellion before it gets started.’

Chen nodded. ‘Much as we’d all like to see the back of Supreme Leader Kang, he’s better than chaos. As the proverb says, if you’re offered two bad apples you pick the least rotten one. And that’s Kang.’

‘That would be my advice,’ said Wu.

Chen picked up the phone. ‘Call Pyongyang,’ he said. ‘I need to speak to Kang before the end of the day. Tell them it’s most urgent.’ He put the phone down then stood up. ‘Thank you, comrades. You’ve done a good day’s work.’

Kai and Wu shook hands and left the room.

‘Well done,’ Wu said as they walked down the stairs.

‘Let’s hope we’re in time,’ said Kai.

***