Jake grunted softly. He’d started out protesting the President, holding up a sign as a college kid and marching around shouting slogans. That hadn’t worked. They’d sent him into the Militia. The next time he protested, he’d use violence to let the powerful know he meant it. I’m going to go Jefferson on them, go George Washington. It’s time our country was really free again.
Shun Li listened in silence, knowing this was an eventual death sentence for her. What did I do wrong? Why doesn’t the Chairman trust me anymore?
The full Ruling Committee met on the second floor in the Cho En Li Building in Mao Square. The old Navy Minister was gone, the spot filled with one of Hong’s new creatures. A young general in his fifties was the new Army Minister. Just like the old days, Lion Guardsmen lined the walls, with submachine pistols in their fists. Hong was in complete control again and he meant to stay there.
The Chairman stood at the head of the table. He wore a black suit, saying, “I trust Shun Li implicitly. She has been a wise Police Minister, and she has seen us through very difficult times. It is why I am doing this. Mother China needs her talents, and Shun Li will march in obedience to the call.”
“Gladly and happily,” Shun Li said.
“Her absence from the capital will only increase my burdens,” Hong said. “But I am no different from the lowliest peasant. When China summons me, I obey. Therefore, as of today, I will take upon myself the duties of Police Minister.”
Several Ruling members glanced at Shun Li.
Her face felt frozen as fear bubbled in her. She had returned from Australia to a debacle. The terrible Russians had fooled everyone. She had an impulse to bray with laughter and point out that the Chairman had trusted Konev. China would not be in this predicament if the Chairman had accepted defeat in North America. Instead of stuffing troops there, he should have put them into Kazakhstan and Siberia.
“Shun Li,” Hong said, “after the meeting you will head to the Northeast China Front. There, you will become the Guardian Inspector of the East Lightning Department heading the guerilla action. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the importance of your post. I expect extreme brutality from you. Your people will turn the Chinese into mud. They will clog the wheels and tracks of the enemy machine, using their flesh and blood if need be to stall the Russians and Americans.”
As he spoke, Hong eyes shined. “The Russians and Americans yearn for their old positions of power. But their day has long set. It is China’s hour.” He laughed, a devilish sound. “I accept this invasion and rejoice in it. Finally, our Russian enemy has revealed himself. He has thrust his head into a trap. The defensive form of warfare is stronger than the offensive. We have learned that in North America. Now, I envision trapping the Russian Army and annihilating these paltry Americans. After we have dealt with them—”
Chairman Hong frowned. “Yes, Industry Minister?”
A small old man lowered the arm he’d been holding up. “I wonder, Chairman, if you mean to use all Northeast China as a trap, or only the most northern province of Heilongjiang.”
Shun Li nodded. Northeastern China, or Manchuria as the old people called it, was composed of four provinces: Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and part of Inner Mongolia. The most important province, the heart of Manchuria, was Liaoning Province, which bordered old North Korea on the Yalu River.
“Speak freely,” Hong told the Industry Minister. “Explain yourself.”
The old man bobbed his head. He hadn’t been on the Ruling Committee long, nor would he last if he kept interrupting the Chairman. “I expect we shall lose Harbin.”
“Get to the point,” Hong said, testily.
“Our heaviest industry lies in Northeast China, Leader. I know you know this.”
“Of course I do.”
“We must stop the Russians before they reach Shenyang and rip into the heart of Liaoning Province. Otherwise, tank production will take a terrible dip.”
“Do you seek to instruct me in military strategy?” Hong asked.
“Certainly not, Leader, but I feel I must point out the importance of Shenyang and Liaoning Province. It accounts for thirty-two percent of our tank production and twenty-nine percent of our artillery—”
“I am well aware of the importance of Liaoning Province. Why do you think I’m sending Shun Li to the front?”
“We’ve heard of your work in Australia,” the Industry Minister told her. He coughed, and it sounded as if he had phlegm in his throat. Was he sick? “You broke the Australian resistance with a firm and steady hand.”
Lies, Shun Li thought to herself. I played a part and have been branded as a mass murderer for it.
Hong graced her with a grin. “She will excel in Northeast China, instilling her will into my East Lightning generals.” The Chairman turned to the fifty-year-old Army general. “Will your soldiers fight as zealously?”
“Yes, Leader,” the Army Minister said. He had been one of the toughest defensive fighters in North America, a man noted for his harshness and inflexibility. “I have a program mapped out for them.”
“Excellent,” Hong said. “Now—” He raised his eyebrows. “Shun Li, you have a question?”
Normally, she would never ask it, but the Leader had arranged this beforehand. He could have told her about the demotion then. Why had he sprung it on her like this? How had she failed him?
“Shun Li?” Hong asked.
She cleared her throat. “Leader, why don’t we ferry home some of our elite formations out of Mexico?” As she spoke, Shun Li noticed how several ministers leaned forward or opened their eyes a little wider. Hong must have known this would be on their minds, but who would dare to ask him such a question? Clearly, he wanted to lay the idea to rest.
Chairman Hong frowned at Shun Li, as if he disliked the question. “I have honored you with your new post,” he said.
“I thrill at the chance to serve China in my new capacity,” she said.
“I’m beginning to wonder if that’s so,” he said. “You seem to desire the Army to save you from your task. No. The Mexico-based soldiers will remain in North America for several reasons. For one thing, it is better to fight the Americans there than here.”
“But you just said it was good the Russians fight us here,” she said.
Hong rapped the table with his knuckles. The Lion Guardsmen along the walls grew more alert.
“Have a care, Police Minister.”
She looked down, berating herself for being careless. Maybe it was better to leave the Chairman’s close orbit. Too many people around him died.
“The Americans fear us,” Hong said, “because they fear our Army in Mexico. For too long, they have hidden behind their oceans. We are ready to spring to the attack once again. It is a matter of timing now. I was going to save this information for later, but I wish to inform all of you that the South American Federation has agreed to fully supply our forces in Mexico. That means our merchant marine will no longer make the dreaded journey to the Mexican coast. The American submarines have grown too thick for us. We need a breathing spell while we increase the number of our drone tenders. That is the other reason why we don’t bring home the troops. The Americans would sink too many transports, drowning useful Chinese soldiers. No. We will strike again in North America, never fear. Instead of losing those transports in North American waters, we will use them to ship home nearer garrison troops from Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. The trained soldiers will swell our continental numbers.”
He sipped from a glass of mineral water, setting it down with a clunk. “We need time, just a little more time to prepare. If our soldiers already in place combine with fierce guerilla resistance, we can buy enough time to gather a large army. That force will keep the Russians and Americans out of Liaoning Province.” He faced Shun Li. “That is why you must instill the guerilla forces with terrible resolve. If that means throwing their bodies before enemy tanks… that is what they must do for China. If that means igniting hidden nuclear weapons, why, we will not hesitate to do so. This invasion will fail because the Russians and Americans will run out of time. Then we will swarm them to death with our numbers.”