Hwang Sok-Yong - The Shadow of Arms

Minh pretended to be drunk and went on in slightly slurred speech, “But I say this, you know, too much ability can mean too many arbitrary decisions, that’s what I say.”

He chuckled and continued. “What’s this ability of his all about, anyway? The talent of making money. . with the governor behind him, is that what it is? Making me idle like this, and allowing you to lay hands on a little extra income, I’m sure. But when you think of it, what we see is merely a grain of rice stuck under a child’s nose compared to what my brother and General Liam are wolfing down, if you know what I mean.”

Kiem also almost blurted out something he had been choking back, but he managed to maintain his composure, and with a sense of decorum he said, “I can’t believe you’re saying this. The major is trying his best to work out many different things.”

“Ah, no doubt he is trying hard. But come now, let’s stop beating around the bush and see if we can come to an agreement on one thing.”

Minh held up one finger. Kiem felt his heart pounding. He avoided Minh’s bloodshot eyes.

“What sort of agreement?”

“Ah, well, nothing so special. You and I, let’s stop being burdens to Major Pham Quyen anymore, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Burdens?”

“Don’t play the fool. If you and I work together, we can do much better than Liam and my brother. My point is, why can’t we be independent, too?”

“You have some kind of plan in mind?” Kiem asked quietly.

“What do you know about the phoenix hamlets project, Lieutenant?”

“Well, its, uh. .” Kiem hesitantly replied, “It’s under the jurisdiction of the Developmental Revolution Committee. General Liam is the chairman of the committee, and Major Pham is one of the key members and should know all about it.”

“As I understand it, the Autonomous Residents Councils have been formed, is that not right?”

“Yes, and the major and I will be in charge of that program.”

“What about militia training and control?”

“I’m handling the job of liaison officer, but the training and command of the militia are under the Second Division military commander. The superintendent of the Da Nang police is to give support.”

“Isn’t the Second Division supposed to be providing perimeter defense for the stations?”

Gradually, Kiem began to grasp the intention of Pham Minh’s string of questions. Kiem explained the situation point by point.

“Officially, the Second Division is in charge of establishing and training as well as combat operations of the militias. However, they are supposed to set up a corps of training instructors who will be put under the command of the provincial office. A captain will be dispatched to our office as a liaison for the instructors. Since the militias are made up of civilians from each hamlet, the background investigations and other problems concerning conscription into the militia are under the jurisdiction of the police superintendent.”

“Aren’t you the one holding the key to the important matters?”

“In the end, yes, depending upon my effort. . but then, what I actually do will depend on what orders my superior, Major Pham, gives me to carry out.”

“There’s a famous saying: ‘In the military, duty means more than rank,’” said Pham Minh. “As far as the militia goes, I think your role is extremely important. Administering the militia is your duty.”

Kiem nodded. “In principle, it is.”

Having said this, Kiem stretched out his torso, still avoiding Minh’s gaze. Then, glancing up at the colorful patterns on the ceiling, he asked, “What is the favor that you said you wanted to ask?”

“To think over the matter we agreed upon, that’s all.”

“Did we agree on something?”

“That you and I should have an independent business together.”

“We haven’t yet reached any agreement, have we?” Kiem said, with great composure.

“I am Major Pham’s brother. Presently I’m in charge of all the traffic in goods at the Nguyen Cuong Company, one of the business contacts of the provincial office. Just like my brother, I have a full grasp of the content of the dealings being made by the office. You have no idea whether the outgoing goods are reaching the actual hamlet sites or are being siphoned away en route. That is no business of yours, but if you knew about it in advance, you’d know all the vital parts of the general’s and the aide-de-camp’s operations. Of course, it’ll only be possible if you cooperate with me. That is one of the main reasons why you and I need to cooperate.

“What’s more, you can have some independence in supervising the affairs of establishing the militias. You can make safer deals by doing business with the same dealers your superiors are already dealing with. But it’ll be bad if your superiors also have a grasp of your dealings. I’m confident I can cut off Nguyen Cuong. In a way, you and I are in the same kind of positions here in Da Nang, don’t you think? That’s another important reason. And as for the third important reason, I’ll tell you that when you’ve decided to be my partner.”

Pham Minh refilled both of their glasses. Then he held his up to eye level. “What do you say? To our partnership!”

Kiem raised his glass as well. “Fine. To our partnership!”

They clinked their glasses together and simultaneously drained them in a single gulp. Kiem spoke. “To set up the militias, they will be supplied with training allowances, rice, salaries, and an large amount of military equipment. But I’ll have to get the cooperation of Colonel Cao, the police superintendent, and the training corps liaison officer.”

“We only need to get a monopoly on certain items and distribute the rest.”

“Which items? What do you mean?”

“Weapons and ammunition,” Pham Minh said.

“Why, then. .” Lieutenant Kiem looked behind him to see if anyone could overhear them, then he leaned over the table and said in a whisper, “Isn’t that stuff traded with the NLF?”

“So? What’s wrong with that?” Pham Minh didn’t let the lieutenant answer and continued. “Do you mean to tell me you thought those construction materials, that rice and the rest of the supplies would go straight to the hamlets under strict control of Saigon? From the beginning of this war, the materiel brought in from France and America has been used by the North as well as the South. Those who profited from the trade are long gone from this hell. Even if you and I don’t do this, someone else will. Within two or three years, you and my brother will be transferred to another post. If you don’t boost your strength now, you’ll end up as a platoon commander in some small village or as a chief of militia back in the jungle somewhere, eating rations of fish and rice and eking out each day wondering when you’ll be struck down from behind. Or, perhaps you’ll dig out a channel and slip down to Saigon or escape to another foreign country. If we can drum up a ghost population of about two thousand, the things supplied to those souls — weapons, salaries, training allowances, death payments, rice, ammunition, and so on — will keep us fully supplied for our business dealings. And that’s not all. Nothing changes as drastically as military manpower. Nobody will bother to travel to those remote hamlets to do head counts to confirm the requisition quantities you record.”

It seemed unlikely Kiem would be surprised again. He busied himself for a while calculating in his mind the level of padding of manpower rosters he could get away with. “We’ll discuss this further as we go along,” he said.

“I thought you’d see it my way.”

They looked at one another and laughed.

“What are the terms of the partnership?” Kiem asked.