so she could leave this awful room and the hateful Ruling Committee.
“The Americans have built a massive Behemoth tank construction site in Denver, Colorado,” she said briskly. “With it, they churn out ten or more Behemoths a month. The American command is building several regiments to unleash upon us in mass and during the depth of winter.”
Shun Li could hardly breathe after blurting out the news, and she wished she could close her eyes. Slowly, it dawned on her that the chamber was silent. Without turning her head, she realized those in her line of sight stared at her in…shock.
“This is true?” Hong whispered.
Shun Li almost didn’t answer. She almost nodded. Instead, in a firm voice and while staring at the unseen point, she said, “It is true, Chairman Hong. I have the verification information.”
“Produce it at once,” Hong said.
Shun Li reached into a pocket and removed the memory-stick with the information.
“Well, begin,” Chairman Hong said in irritation.
Covertly, Xiao Yang tapped a slot at his spot on the table.
Shun Li slid the stick into the slot and wondered what to do next.
Xiao Yang indicated his screen.
While standing, Shun Li tapped the screen and began to show her forged information. Everyone in the chamber watched in silence. The data appeared on the large wall screens. Finally, she quit talking and once again stood at attention.
Slowly, Hong shook his head as if shaking off sleep. “Give me the data chip,” he said.
The Police Minister popped out the memory-stick and slid across the table.
Hong picked it up, staring at the stick as if it was a plague item. He pocketed it and glared at Shun Li, as if she was personally responsible for building the hated super tanks.
She felt worse than ever. Can’t I win in this chamber? Was she fated to leave it feet-first?
“You have performed well, Guardian Inspector,” Hong said.
The words amazed her. She felt giddy with relief. Maybe she would survive this nightmare.
“Even more,” Hong said, “you willingly brought this to my attention. You cannot conceive how much I hate these grotesque tanks. I wonder if we should use nuclear weapons and wipe this city from the face of the Earth.
“What do you say, Marshal Wu?” Hong asked.
“I think it is too dangerous to use nuclear weapons on inland American cities, Leader. Let us send in bombers and obliterate it the conventional way.”
“No,” Hong said. “This is too important. The Behemoth tanks are a critical American weapon system. I want this giant factory destroyed. No! Wait. Doesn’t Liang’s Third Front press against Denver?”
“Elements of the Third Front are near the city, yes,” Wu said.
“Then we must capture this plant and use the Behemoth tanks for ourselves,” Hong said. “If we can storm this city in a day or two, completed tanks might actually fall into our hands. Then, when the Americans use these vile tanks against us, we shall send our own Behemoths against them.”
“A noble plan, Leader,” Wu said.
Chairman Hong slapped the table. “Tell Liang he is to cease all forward movement. He must concentrate everything toward taking Denver.”
The Marshal looked stricken. “But Leader…” Wu cleared his throat and spoke in a level voice. “May I point out a salient feature of that order?”
Hong stared at the old man. “If you must,” he said at last.
“Denver is too small a front,” Wu said. “Perhaps if we use rear echelon troops to take it—”
“We must storm Denver now,” Hong said, slapping the table a second time. “I want those tanks!”
“But the entire Front…?” Wu asked. “The key to the campaign is a swift assault all the way to the northern border with Canada. We must split the United States in two.”
“Storming Denver should only take a day or so, maybe three or four,” Hong said. “That will not upset our northern assault.”
“Denver is a fortress city,” Wu said. “Liang and I have spoken about it on several occasions. He desires to mask the city with troops as it’s too heavily defended to assault with any hope of quick success.”
“Yes, now we know why the Americans have turned it into a fortress,” Hong said. “They defend this huge Behemoth plant. We must take it from them and turn it to our own advantage.”
Old Marshal Wu rubbed his hands, and he appeared nervous.
“What now?” Hong asked. “You seem displeased with my idea.”
“Leader, I know you are correct about the importance of the Behemoth plant. Yet the Americans are desperate to halt our swift advance north. They have been going to great lengths