‘An important point,’ said Chen.
Kai was encouraged. The president was clearly favouring restraint. Perhaps moderation would prevail. He went on: ‘Second, the Americans have used nuclear weapons not against us, or even against our friends in North Korea, but against a rogue group of rebels who are not owed loyalty by the People’s Republic of China. We might even consider that President Green has done a favour to us and the world by getting rid of a dangerous maverick group of usurpers who have almost started a nuclear war.’
An aide whispered in the ear of Foreign Minister Wu Bai. Wu looked angry. ‘The Chief Executive of Hong Kong has turned on us,’ he said gravely. ‘He formally requests the Chinese military to evacuate its garrison in Hong Kong immediately, all twelve thousand personnel, to ensure that Hong Kong does not become a nuclear target.’ Wu paused. ‘He has made this request publicly.’
Huang was red-faced. ‘The traitor!’
President Chen said furiously: ‘I thought we had that under control! We appointed that Chief Executive because he was loyal to the Party.’
You installed a puppet government, Kai thought privately, and you never expected the puppet to bite you.
‘You see?’ said Huang. ‘First Taiwan becomes defiant, then Hong Kong. I keep telling you, it’s fatal to appear weak!’
Kai’s boss, Fu Chuyu, spoke. ‘I’m sorry to follow bad news with worse,’ he said. ‘But I have a message from the Vice-Minister for Homeland Intelligence that you ought to hear. It seems there is trouble in Xinjiang.’ This vast desert province in the west of China had a majority Muslim population and a small independence movement. ‘Separatists have seized control of Diwopu Airport and Communist Party headquarters in Urumqi, the capital. They have declared that Xinjiang is now the independent country of East Turkestan and will remain neutral in the present nuclear conflict.’
Kai reckoned that rebellion would probably last half an hour. The army in Xinjiang would come down on the separatists like a wolf pack on a flock of sheep. But at a time like this even a comic-opera military coup was a blow to China’s pride.
It was unnerving, as General Huang immediately demonstrated. ‘This is reactionary imperialism, obviously,’ he fumed. ‘Look at what has happened in the last two months. North Korea, Sudan, the South China Sea, the Diaoyu Islands, Taiwan, and now Hong Kong and Xinjiang. It’s the death of a thousand cuts, a carefully planned campaign to deprive China of territory bit by bit, and the Americans are behind it every step of the way! We have to stop it now. We have to make the Americans pay the price of their aggression – otherwise they will not stop until China is reduced to the kind of servile colony it was a century ago. A limited nuclear attack is the only possible course for us now.’
President Chen said: ‘We’re not yet at that point of desperation. It may come, I know. But for now we must try less apocalyptic methods.’
Out of the corner of his eye Kai saw a look pass between his father and General Huang. Naturally, he thought, they would be disheartened at losing the argument.
Then Jianjun stood up, muttered something about a call of nature, and left the room. That was surprising. Kai knew that his father did not suffer from the bladder problems that were common among older men. Jianjun never admitted to health issues but Kai’s mother kept him informed. However, Jianjun must have had a strong reason to leave the room in the middle of such a vital discussion. Was he ill? The old man was a dinosaur but Kai loved him.
Chen said: ‘General Huang, please prepare for the People’s Liberation Army to enter Hong Kong in force and take control of the government there.’
It was not what Huang wanted, but it was better than nothing, and he agreed without resistance.
Kai noticed Wang Qingli entering the room. Wang was head of Presidential Security. Although a crony of Huang and Jianjun, he was much better dressed, and was sometimes mistaken for the president he guarded. Now he stepped up onto the stage and spoke in Chen’s ear.
Kai did not like this. Something was going on. Jianjun had left the room, then Wang had come in. Coincidence?
He caught the eye of his ally, Kong Zhao. Kong frowned. He, too, was unnerved.
He looked at the president. Chen, listening to Wang, looked startled, then anxious, and even went slightly pale. He was shocked.
By now everyone around the table had realized that something odd was happening. The discussion came to a halt and they waited in silence.
Fu Chuyu, the Security Minister and Kai’s boss, stood up. ‘Forgive me, comrades, but I must interrupt our discussion. I have to inform you that a Guoanbu domestic investigation has revealed strong evidence that Chang Kai is an agent of the US.’
Kong Zhao burst out: ‘Ridiculous!’
Fu pressed on. ‘Chang Kai has been running his own clandestine foreign policy agenda, unknown to his comrades.’
Kai could hardly believe this was happening. Were they really moving to get rid of him, in the middle of a global nuclear crisis? ‘No, no, you can’t do this,’ he said. ‘China isn’t some banana republic.’
Fu continued as if Kai had not spoken. ‘We have proof of three fatal charges against him. One, he informed the CIA about the weakness of the Supreme Leader’s regime in North Korea. Two, that at Yeongjeo-dong he made an agreement with General Pak that he was not authorized to negotiate. Three, that he gave the Americans early warning of our decision to replace the Supreme Leader with General Pak.’
All of that was more or less true. Kai had done those things – not because he was a traitor, but because they were in China’s best interests.
But this was not about justice. Such accusations never were. He might just as easily have been charged with corruption. This was a political attack.
He had thought he was armoured against his political enemies. He was a princeling. His father was vice-chairman of the National Security Commission. He should have been untouchable.
But his father had left the room.
Kai now saw the profound symbolism of that action.
Fu said: ‘Kai’s close partner in these activities has been Kong Zhao.’
Kong looked as if he had been punched. ‘Me?’ he said incredulously. He quickly recovered his composure and said: ‘Mr President, it’s obvious that these allegations have been brought forward at this precise moment because an aggressive warlike faction within your government sees it as the only way to win the argument.’
Chen did not reply to Kong.
Fu said: ‘I have no alternative but to place Chang Kai and Kong Zhao under arrest.’
Kai thought: How can they arrest us in the middle of the Situation Room?
But they had thought of that.
The main door opened, and six of Wang’s security men came in, in their trademark black suits and black ties.
Kai said: ‘This is a coup!’
He guessed this was what his father had been plotting with Fu Chuyu and General Huang over their dinner of pigs’ feet at the Enjoy Hot restaurant.
Wang spoke to Chen again, but this time loudly enough to be heard by everyone. ‘With your permission, Mr President.’
Chen hesitated for a long moment.
Kai said: ‘Mr President, if you go along with this, you cease to be the leader of our country and become a mere tool of the military.’
Chen looked as if he agreed with that. Clearly he thought the moderates had won the argument. But the old guard were more powerful. Could he defy them and survive? Could he defy the army and the collective authority of the old Communists?
He could not.
‘Go ahead,’ said President Chen.
Wang beckoned his men.
Everyone watched in hypnotic silence as the security men crossed the room and mounted the stage. Two stood either side of Kai and two beside Kong. Both men stood up and were held lightly by the elbows.
Kong spoke furiously. Looking at Fu Chuyu, he yelled: ‘You will destroy your country, you motherfucking idiots!’
Fu said quietly: ‘Take them both to Qincheng Prison.’