novelraw Chapter 64 : Party Convention (5)
Chapter 64 : Party Convention (5)
Chapter 64: Party Convention (5)
The first tape was cut at the joint speech rally in Jeju.
The banquet hall on the second floor of the hotel, where the party convention was being held, was filled with palpable tension.
Four candidates for Party Leader and seven for Supreme Council Member had passed the cutoff.
The host's energetic voice rang out.
“From now, together with the citizens of this province and alongside the party members, we begin the joint speech rally.”
Following the quorum report and opening declaration, the event proceeded in order.
There were also introductions of guests and performances, so the wait was long.
As it was my first party convention, I didn’t even realize how time had passed.
“Candidates for Party Leader and Supreme Council Member are entering now. Please greet them with loud applause and cheers.”
Accompanied by grand music, I stood at the very back and walked up onto the stage.
“Now, let us introduce the proud candidates who will newly lead the People’s Union Party.”
The host introduced each candidate by number, starting with the Party Leader candidates and then the Supreme Council Member candidates.
I was Candidate Number 7.
A lucky number—it made me feel good.
After the photo session, I stepped down from the stage and sat down.
With the Election Committee Chair’s opening remarks, the speeches of the Party Leader candidates began.
Representative Yeon Han-gil and Representative Park Jang-beom, who were competing for the Party Leader seat.
Their arguments were similar.
The logic was that new wine must be put into new wineskins.
No one from the Mainstream camp ran for Party Leader, and the other two candidates ended their speeches emphasizing party unity.
Next were the Supreme Council Member candidates.
Everyone from the Mainstream had been cut off, except for Go Jae-gyeong.
“A beautiful person greets you from beautiful Jeju.”
Go Jae-gyeong’s speech began.
“Beloved comrades of the Jeju Provincial Party. I will talk about the future. First, let me address low birth rates, education, and welfare.”
As Go Jae-gyeong was supported by the Mainstream, she focused on policy.
The following Non-Mainstream candidates mostly brought up the last presidential election’s failure, stressing the need for responsible politics.
Especially.
Candidate Pyo Chi-won, who was likely to win, sharply criticized the Mainstream.
“Our party has been abandoned by the people. Where did this crisis come from? It is the complacent self-preservation of the 486 generation. Unless we sweep everything clean, we have no future!”
Pyo Chi-won, fully backed by the Non-Mainstream, seemed to have decided to discard the Mainstream votes.
“Now, step down. The fallen nobles must return to their hometowns and farm—that’s the only way to seek forgiveness from the people. Please elect me overwhelmingly and give me strength.”
Pyo Chi-won exuded confidence.
His speech was so forceful that the following candidate’s remarks seemed weak in comparison.
Then came my turn.
I gave my speech without a script.
“Hello. I’ll greet you with an acrostic poem. Please help me out with the cues.”
“Kang!”
“With unwavering will, I pierce through the darkness!”
“Cheon!”
“With the spirit that roars like thunder!”
“Myeong!”
“I will live with honor!”
A roar of “Wow!” burst forth.
In truth, there weren’t that many shouting.
About fifteen people, including my aides and fervent party members.
They chanted my name until their voices cracked.
“I am Kang Cheonmyeong. I believe my life is a gift from the heavens, so I’ve never lived it in vain.”
Today’s strategy was simple.
Deliver a message with impact so the public would remember me.
“They say success is hard no matter how hard you try. That the kinder you are, the more you’ll lose. That if you want to survive, keep your mouth shut. Get rich. That’s what people say. But is this truly the world we dreamed of?”
As I continued, strength entered my voice.
“Privilege robs the future of its dreams. A country without dreams cannot exist. Only fairness and cooperation can drive social progress and ensure the stability of our community.”
I looked around at the delegates.
Five hundred of them.
If even ten of them could be swayed.
Fueled by that hope, I pushed my speech harder and reached the end.
“Please use me as a tool. If you must hammer a nail, I’ll be the hammer’s head. If you need shade from the sun, I’ll be the curtain. If you need filth cleaned, I’ll gladly be the dustpan. I earnestly ask you to choose me as a consumable for the party and its members.”
The reaction wasn’t bad.
Perhaps my message, different from the earlier candidates, came across as fresh.
“Kang Cheonmyeong! Kang Cheonmyeong! Kang Cheonmyeong!”
My supporters cheered until their voices gave out.
Jeju was a weak region.
Even Bok Dae-seon had said that since his connections were poor here, avoiding last place would count as a success.
I bowed and returned to my seat below the stage.
The Supreme Council Member candidate seated next to me said,
“Representative Kang, that speech was unbelievable. You’d make a killing even as a snake oil peddler.”
“Thank you.”
Though his words dripped with sarcasm, I didn’t react.
I just hoped not to come in last.
Soon, the on-site delegate voting began.
“Sunbae-nim, may I have a word?”
Representative Go Jae-gyeong approached me.
“This will take some time. Let’s go.”
I left with her through the emergency exit.
“You weren’t shaking at all, Sunbae-nim. Honestly, I was shocked.”
“Nothing to be surprised about.”
“I really thought you were a presidential candidate. Listening to your speech felt like being sucked into a black hole.”
“You did well too, Representative Go.”
“I hope you get elected too.”
She had full support from the Mainstream and also enjoyed the backing of the youth, so her chances of placing in the top four were high.
But I—
I had confidence, but it was true that it was a tough battle.
“No need to worry about me.”
“It’d be great if we both got elected. Representative Pyo Chi-won is probably going to win, right?”
“Since the Non-Mainstream is trying to make him the top Supreme Council Member, he’ll surge in the beginning. They’ll adjust later on.”
“What about you, Sunbae?”
“I’m doing my best, so I’m not too concerned about the results.”
“Your face doesn’t change, so I can’t read your thoughts.”
Go Jae-gyeong clicked her tongue.
“I should use the strengths I have.”
“You’ve changed so much since school that sometimes it’s unsettling.”
“How have I changed?”
“It’s like a savage wave crashing into a calm sea.”
“If that’s how it looks, then that must be true.”
Just then, a voice called out to me.
“Representative Kang!”
It was Representative Park Jang-beom, who was running for Party Leader.
Go Jae-gyeong slightly bowed her head upon seeing him.
“An alumni meeting from Gorim University?”
“I just stepped out for some air.”
“Representative Kang, your speeches keep improving. You could even run for the presidential election. They truly resonate.”
“Thank you.”
Park Jang-beom looked at Go Jae-gyeong and said,
“Representative Go, your speech was great too.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s so nice to see first-term lawmakers working so hard.”
Park Jang-beom turned to me.
“If you’re free this evening, let’s have dinner together.”
“That sounds good.”
“I know a sashimi place with an incredible view. You’ll love it, Representative Kang.”
“Thank you.”
Park Jang-beom was somewhat lagging in the Non-Mainstream vote.
To beat Yeon Han-gil, he needed support from the Mainstream.
Since I was Seong Chang-rae’s high school junior and Go Jae-gyeong’s university senior, he must have thought I could bring in some Mainstream votes.
I, too, needed his influence in the Capital Area and Gyeongbuk.
“Representative Go, if you’re free, join us as well.”
“Sorry. I have another engagement.”
“Then next time. I’m hoping for good results.”
“Thank you.”
Park Jang-beom smiled warmly and went back inside.
“He must be really anxious. Looks like he’s trying to win you over for votes.”
“I need his help too, so it benefits us both.”
“But Sunbae-nim, you already declared your support for Representative Yeon Han-gil.”
“That old man is in a desperate situation. Park Jang-beom is a fourth-term lawmaker. He must’ve experienced how words and actions in politics differ countless times.”
Go Jae-gyeong nodded.
“So that’s your strategy.”
“I need to win.”
“You’re a little scary, honestly.”
“Why? Are the waves crashing?”
“It’s not waves—it’s a tsunami. You keep surprising me every day.”
“I hope I surprise you even more. Let’s head back in.”
In thirty minutes, the results would be out.
Please, just let me avoid last place.
The head of the Election Management Committee declared the end of voting.
I tried to look composed, but of course that didn’t work. My chest trembled and my legs were shaking.
I wasn’t the only one.
Yeon Han-gil and Park Jang-beom, sitting up front, also looked tense and restless.
Even the sluggish time, crawling like a snail, eventually passed.
“I will now announce the vote count results. Starting with the Supreme Council Member voting rates, in order of candidate number.”
Silence fell as if water had been poured over the room.
“I’ll announce the rates. Candidate Number 1, No Hu-ram. Delegates: 7.7%, Dues-Paying Party Members: 8.3%, Party Members and Public Poll: 10%.”
The delegate votes were lower than expected. That meant votes had concentrated on Pyo Chi-won.
And the expectation was correct.
“Candidate Number 3, Pyo Chi-won. Delegates: 27%, Dues-Paying Party Members: 18.2%, Party Members and Public Poll: 16%.”
“Pyo Chi-won! Pyo Chi-won! Pyo Chi-won!”
Chants of his name echoed thunderously.
As expected, he received many votes.
Representative Go Jae-gyeong received 17% from delegates, 21% from Dues-Paying Party Members, and 15% from Party Members and Public Poll.
And finally, me—Candidate Number 7.
“Candidate Number 7, Kang Cheonmyeong. Delegates: 4%, Dues-Paying Party Members: 10.7%, Party Members and Public Poll: 18%.”
With only 4% from the delegates, even though I had the highest rate in the Party Members and Public Poll category, I still came in last.
I really wanted to avoid last place.
“We now conclude the Jeju primary to elect the Party Leader and Supreme Council Members.”
Representative Yeon Han-gil won the Party Leader seat by a margin of 2% over second place.
He came to shake hands with each candidate and finally reached me.
“Representative Kang, this is just the beginning, so don’t be too discouraged. The north wind will start blowing soon.”
“I think so too. Congratulations.”
“Keep up the good work.”
Yeon Han-gil smiled broadly, but I could tell he was hiding his anxiety.
His jawline was stiff as a board.
After greeting the other candidates, I left the hotel and met with my aides and party members.
Aide Im Seong-chan approached to offer words of comfort.
“You placed first in the Party Members and Public Poll. We’ll focus more on the delegates.”
“We need to shake the snake’s tail to move the head. Even if I’m last, I feel fine.”
“Seeing your confident expression, I feel ashamed that I was even worried.”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
A female party member from my constituency handed me a bouquet of flowers.
“Representative, you must not give up. Getting this level of support in Jeju is an achievement. Just climb one step higher tomorrow in Busan and Gyeongnam.”
“I’m perfectly fine, so don’t worry. I’ll repay you with better results tomorrow.”
“Fighting!”
“Fighting!”
I smiled and clenched my fist, but my tongue tasted bitter.
Only receiving 4% from the delegates was definitely a bad sign.
With Party Members and Public Polls only accounting for 20%, it wouldn’t be enough to overturn the situation.
“Aide Im.”
“Yes.”
“I have dinner plans with Representative Park Jang-beom. I’ll see you later at the hotel.”
“Understood.”
To turn the tide, I absolutely needed Park Jang-beom’s power.
He was a lawmaker from the Capital Area but originally from Gyeongbuk.
Although Gyeongbuk, along with Daegu, had the fewest delegates, it could become the stepping stone to rise in the rankings.
My heart swelled with solemn resolve, like Goguryeo’s Yu Yu heading out to slay the general of Wei.
I had to make Park Jang-beom my ally.