Invasion: Alaska

“There are many spies in the outer world.”

“Yes,” Jian said.

“And not just CIA spies, but Chinese spies—the creatures of those who yearn to oust me.”

A sick thrill of fear coursed through Jian. Was the Chairman toying with him before the old man ordered his arrest? The Chairman kidnapped his worst enemies and sent them to experimental stations, where indentured scientists practiced hideous tortures.

“Do you wonder why I wish to speak freely with you?” the Chairman asked, with his eyes bright.

“I thought it would be concerning the war.”

“The war against hunger?”

Jian wondered if he could sprint across the room and throttle the Chairman before he was cut down. He knew hidden marksmen watched behind the walls. If he made a threatening motion, bullets would riddle his body… or worse, they would sink knockout darts into him.

“I am at your service,” Jian said.

The Chairman’s chair swiveled as crooked fingers pressed controls. Part of the wall slid up to reveal a screen. “I have read statistics,” the Chairman said. “Our internal unrest is subsiding as the people watch news-shows and blogs about the war.”

“Your strategy was brilliant, sir.”

“Yes,” said the Chairman, “it was brilliant. But this is a waiting period only, as far as the people are concerned. We must quickly defeat the Americans.”

“We are winning the war,” Jian said.

“We are advancing in the Kenai Peninsula. But we are not necessarily winning.”

“I bow to your superior insights, sir.”

“As well you should. Didn’t my insights allow the military to conquer Siberia?”

“Most certainly, sir.”

“Was it not me who returned Taiwan to the mainland?”

“You have guided our nation through its hardest times.”

“You are uncommonly perceptive, Hong. It is one of the reasons I’ve given you political control of the invasion.”

“The honor you’ve heaped on me—” Jian shook his head. “I will do everything in my power to make sure the invasion succeeds.”

“I’m pleased to hear you say that. Very pleased.”

“I will not fail you, sir.”

“Tell me,” the Chairman said. “How does the cross-polar attack proceed?”

Before Jian could answer, an outline of the Alaskan North Slope coast appeared on the screen. Dead Horse was shown, as it was on the doorstep of the Prudhoe Bay oilfields. The pack ice stretched away from the coast. On the western portion of the pack ice was a dotted line, which ended at the west edge of the screen.

“You see before you the line of advance of our Cross-Polar Taskforce,” the Chairman said.

“It would seem that the general-in-charge has been tardy in his advance,” Jian said.

“Which is why,” said the Chairman, with a strange glitter in his eyes, “it was wise of me to allow Army High Command to give General Nung a special East Lightning Commissar.”

Jian didn’t understand what the Chairman was trying to imply. He therefore spoke carefully. “I’ve read General Nung’s biography. The man is considered an attack specialist.”

“Nung was an attack specialist.”

Jian bowed his head. “May I ask you to clarify something for me?”

“You may.”

“Why did Army High Command ask for an East Lightning Commissar to watch Nung? I though the Army and the Political Police were at odds with each other.”

“You know so little, Jian. You are like a child among wolves. It is your youth, I believe. It is also one of the reasons I have seen fit to give you a second chance at life.”

“Sir?” whispered Jian, the ability to keep his composure dwindling because of the direction of the conversation.

“How does one maintain power?”

“I would not presume to instruct the premier master on the subject.”

“That shows you have a modicum of wisdom. One of the key ingredients is to set your underlings at war with one another. Always give them overlapping areas of authority. That ensures they will squabble with each other, and in time, they will run to the highest authority to act as a judge on a particular dispute. It means the politically grasping underlings will spend their time and energy fighting each other instead of trying to topple the one in charge.”

“I see,” Jian said, and he did. It made him think of Deng Fong and him. The thought chilled Jian. He has pitted me against Deng.

“The members of Army High Command hate General Nung,” the Chairman said. “He is an outsider and Russian-trained in lightning warfare. The Russians have never forgotten the bitter lessons taught to them by the World War Two Germans.”

“Ah,” Jian said.

“Yet all that is beside the point. The cross-polar attack has stalled. I desire for you to travel to General Nung and put a fire under him.”

“Sir?”

“Nung must strike the North Slope oilfields now. He must do it as my naval soldiers drive into Anchorage. War is only partly about fighting. It is more about morale, about perceptions. If the Americans see every front crashing around them, they will be more willing to sue for peace. We need their grain, and we need it now. Therefore, I desire that we accelerate the pace of our attacks. It was my goal to try to coordinate these two events to bring about American hopelessness and to encourage their peace demonstrators to bring an end to what they will come to call ‘a senseless war.’”

“That is a brilliant plan and analysis, sir. My single concern is—”

“Is about your safety,” the Chairman said. “Yes, I know.”

Frightened, Jian bowed his head. “I would never disagree with you, sir. But my greatest concern is for China.”

“What is your point?”

“Uh…uh,” Jian said. “What is the fastest way to General Nung?”

“Very good,” the Chairman said. “I thought you were about to ask why I should send you instead of, say, Marshal Kao.”

“I’m completely convinced that you have your reasons, sir, and that few of us could understand the brilliance of those reasons.”

“Hmm, that is overly perceptive of you. Therefore, I will try to explain. My military commanders are like golf clubs. I used to be quite good at golf, you know.”

“Your exploits on the greens are legendary, sir.”

“Like golf clubs, one general is excellent for putts. Another is like a driving iron. General Nung is like a sand wedge, a fast attacker, one who yearns to lunge. I have waited in order to pick the correct time to use General Nung to make his lunge. I am a military genius, particularly when it comes to timing.”

“The entire world knows of your brilliance, sir.”

“No! The entire world believes that I fought a weak rump state named Siberia. I have read the books about the campaign. Many say that if Russia had the will to fight, they would have demolished the Chinese, and therefore my brilliant concepts.”

“The Europeans who wrote such drivel are small men, sir. Their obvious envy of you and your greatness disgusts me.”

“I grant you they are small-minded,” said the Chairman. “But many still listen to them. My point is this: I have carefully selected my generals, often letting rivalries blunt their particular specialties. I do that for carefully thought out reasons. I cannot send Marshal Kao across the ice to do as I desire, because the marshal hates General Nung.