the Emperor's Tomb (2010) by Berry Steve

Author:Berry, Steve [Steve, Berry,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-01-14T19:19:24.781000+00:00

NI WATCHED THE PREMIER’S FACE, TRYING TO GAUGE IF THIS man was friend or foe. He truly had no idea.

“What you see is the wax replica made before the Chairman was embalmed. The body decayed long ago and, in fulfillment of Mao’s wishes, was burned to ash.”

“Then why keep all this open?”

“An excellent question. One I have asked myself many times. The simplest answer is that the people expect it.”

Ni had to say, “I don’t think that’s the case any longer.”

“You may well be correct. That is the sad thing about our heritage. We have no single legacy. Just a succession of dynasties, each rising with its own agenda, opposing the one before it, welcomed by the people, then descending into the same corruption of its predecessor. Why should our future be any different?”

“You sound like Pau.”

“I told you that he and I were once close. But there came a time when we deviated. He took one path, I another.”

An uncomfortable feeling swept over him. Usually, he was in command of a situation, knowing the questions and the answers. Not here. Others were many steps ahead of him. So he asked what he truly wanted to know. “Why will I lose to Karl Tang?”

“Because you are unaware of the threats around you.”

“That’s what Pau Wen said, too.”

“I want to know something. If I perceive you are lying, or telling me what I want to hear, this will be the last time we will ever speak.”

He didn’t particularly appreciate being spoken to like a schoolchild, but he recognized that this man had not risen to the top of the political triangle by being a fool. So he decided that he would answer the question honestly.

“What will you do with China if given my job?”

Ever since Pau Wen asked him the same question yesterday he’d thought about its answer. “First, I will separate the Communist Party from the government. That merger is the root of all our corruption. Next, the personnel system must be reformed, a reliance placed on merit, not patronage. The role of the National People’s Congress, and the other lower congresses in the provinces, has to be raised. The people must be heard. Finally, the rule of law must be established, which means the judiciary has to become independent and functioning. We have enacted five constitutions since 1949 and ignored every one of them.”

“You are correct,” the premier said. “The Party’s authority has been undermined by irrational policies, corruption, and no vision. At present, and this is the greatest fear I possess, only the military has the ability to rule if we fail. I understand you are of the military, but the nation would not last long as a puppet.”

“Of that there is no doubt. Three million active troops, controlled by seven regional commanders, of which I was once one, could not govern. We must locate and promote technical competence, managerial skills, and a business ability in our people. The glacial pace to our decision making does incalculable damage.”

“Do you want democracy?”

The question was asked in a whisper.

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