Eric van Lustbader - China Maroc 02 by Shan

Author:Shan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“War.”

As Zilin had predicted, the following day had turned out fine. But Mao was in a foul mood; even the exceptionally clear weather had failed to soften his attitude.

“War,” he fumed, “is all around us. Our economy can ill afford another war—especially one in the foreign land of Korea. Our people cry out for peace. They look to us for leadership and support not for a further effort which will leave Chinese blood soaking into the ground of another country.”

“Perhaps,” Zilin said, “we should be looking for a way to turn war to our advantage.”

“You do not understand,” Mao said impatiently. “The Americans, the Nationalists are like hungry sharks lurking in the waters just offshore. If we go to war they will wait until the military expenditures have further weakened us. Then they will strike. As of now the counterrevolutionists are relatively few and weak. A renewal of war will give them fuel. Like pouring kerosene on a fire, their cause abetted by the Nationalist agents will begin to pose a serious threat. Do you suppose I can allow that to occur?”

“Not at all,” Zilin said.

Mao stood quite still. They were still in quarters that had been turned into a suite of offices from hotel rooms. Out the window was Tienanmen Square. The whirring of the clouds of bicycles through the wide avenues was a constant sound through the open windows. “I want you to understand this clearly so that, at a later time when, perhaps, you have a different taste in your mouth, you will not come to me with your conscience bleeding and petition me for surcease.”

“What are you asking me?” From another office, Zilin could hear the clack-clack of a barrage of antiquated typewriters upon which propaganda leaflets were being banged out by a squadron of efficient clerks.

“Just this,” Mao said. “War with Korea will bring disaster here, no matter what advantage you may cook up for us internationally. The economy will collapse yet again and, worse, there is the distinct possibility that our actions will create our own political nemesis.

“In order to forestall such a catastrophe, we will be forced to depend more and more on the Ministry of Public Security.”

“The secret police.”

“If you would call them that, yes.”

“I cannot condone a reign of terror.”

For an instant, Zilin feared that he had gone too far. There was some color to Mao’s cheeks, unnatural as women’s rouge. There was silence between them so taut that Zilin could imagine biting through it with one snap of his jaws.

Mao sat down. He closed his eyes, massaging the lids with his thumbs. When he was sufficiently calm, he said, “I do not believe that either of us have a choice. You believe that war with Korea is inevitable.”

“Inevitable,” Zilin said, “and desirable,”

Intermittently, there were bells ringing, tiny sounds as the typewriters came to the end of their lines. Some minister stopped in to ask Mao a question and was quickly dismissed.

After a time, Mao said, “You had better make yourself clear, Shi tong zhi.

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