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〃Of course； rade Minister；〃 Wei said； to remind Luo that he was a political figure now rather than the military officer he'd grown up as。
Luo went to the VIP sitting room； where green tea was waiting。 He reached into the pocket of his uniform tunic and pulled out some cigarettes； strong unfiltered ones to help him wake up。 They made him cough； but that was all right。 By the third cup of tea； Wei returned with a pad of paper scribbled with notes。
〃So； what is happening？〃
〃The picture is confused； but I will tell you what I know； and what I think；〃 Wei began。
〃We know that General Qi of Sixty…fifth Army is missing； along with his staff。 They were visiting 191st Infantry Division； just north and west of our initial breakthrough。 The 191st is pletely off the air as well。 So is the 615th Independent Tank Brigade； part of Sixty…fifth Army。 Confused reports talk of an air attack on the tank brigade； but nothing precise is known。 The 735th Guards Infantry Regiment of the 191st division is also off the air； cause unknown。 You ordered a helicopter out of Sunwu to take a look and report back。 The helicopter will get off at dawn。 Well and good。
〃Next； there are additional reports from that sector； none of which make sense or help form any picture of what is happening。 So； I have ordered the intelligence staff of the Seventy…first Army to send a reconnaissance team across the river and ascertain what's happening there and report back。 That will take about three hours。
〃The good news is that General Peng Xi…Wang remains in mand of 34th Shock Army； and will be at the gold mine before midday。 Our armored spearhead is deep within enemy territory。 I expect the men are waking up right now and will be moving within the hour to continue their attack。
〃Now； this news from the navy people is confusing； but it's not really a matter of consequence。 I've directed the mander of South Sea Fleet to take personal charge of the situation and report back。 So say about three hours for that。
〃So； rade Minister； we will have decent information shortly； and then we can start addressing the situation。 Until then； General Peng will soon resume his offensive； and by evening； our country will be much richer；〃 Wei concluded。 He knew how to keep his minister happy。 His reward for this was a grunt and a nod。 〃Now；〃 General Wei went on； 〃why don't you get a few hours of sleep while we maintain the watch？〃
〃Good idea； Wei。〃 Luo took two steps to the couch and lay down across it。 Wei opened the door； turned off the lights； then he closed the door behind himself。 The munications center was only a few more steps。
〃Now；〃 he said； stealing a smoke from a major； 〃what the hell is happening out there？〃
〃If you want an opinion；〃 a colonel of intelligence said； 〃I think the Americans just flexed their muscles； and the Russians will do so in a few hours。〃
〃What？ Why do you say that？ And why the Russians？〃
〃Where has their air force been？ Where have their attack helicopters been？ We don't know； do we？ Why don't we know？ Because the Americans have swatted our airplanes out of the sky like flies； that's why。〃
〃We've deluded ourselves that the Russians don't want to fight； haven't we？ A man named Hitler once thought the same thing。 He died a few years later； the history books say。 We similarly deluded ourselves into thinking the Americans would not strike us hard for political reasons。 Wei； some of our political leaders have been off chasing the dragon！〃 The aphorism referred to opium…smoking； a popular if illegal pastime in the southern part of China a few centuries before。 〃There were no political considerations。 They were merely building up their forces； which takes time。 And the Russians didn't fight us because they wanted us to get to the end of the logistical string； and then the fucking Americans cut that string off at Harbin and Bei'an！ General Peng's tanks are nearly three hundred kilometers inside Russia now； with only two hundred kilometers of fuel in their tanks； and there'll be no more fuel ing up to them。 We've taken over two thousand tanks and turned their crews into badly trained light infantry！ That is what's happening； rade Wei；〃 the colonel concluded。
〃You can say that sort of thing to me； Colonel。 Say it before Minister Luo； and your wife will pay the state for the bullet day after tomorrow；〃 Wei warned。
〃Well； I know it；〃 Colonel Geng He…ping replied。 〃What will happen to you later today； rade General Wei； when you organize the information and find out that I am correct？〃
〃The remainder of today will have to take care of itself〃 was the fatalistic reply。 〃One thing at a time； Geng。〃 Then he assembled a team of officers and gave them each a task to perform； found himself a chair to sit in； and wondered if Geng might have a good feel for the situation…
〃Colonel Geng？〃
〃Yes； rade General？〃
〃What do you know of the Americans？〃
〃I was in our embassy in Washington until eighteen months ago。 While there； I studied their military quite closely。〃
〃And…are they capable of what you just said？〃
〃rade General； for the answer to that question； I suggest you consult the Iranians and the Iraqis。 I'm wondering what they might try next； but thinking exactly like an American is a skill I have never mastered。〃
〃They're moving；〃 Major Tucker reported with a stretch and a yawn。 〃Their reconnaissance element just started rolling。 Your people have pulled way back。 How e？〃
〃I ordered them to collect rade Gogol before the Chinese kill him；〃 Colonel Tolkunov told the American。 〃You look tired。〃
〃Hell； what's thirty…six hours in the same chair？〃 A helluva sore back； that's what it is； Tucker didn't say。 Despite the hours； he was having the time of his life。 For an Air Force officer who'd flunked out of pilot training； making him forever an 〃unrated weenie〃 in Air Force parlance； a fourth…class citizen in the Air Force pecking order…below even helicopter pilots…he was earning his keep more and better than he'd ever done。 He'd probably been more valuable to his side in this war than even that Colonel Winters； with all his air…to…air snuffs。 But if anyone ever said such a thing to him； he'd have to aw…shucks it and look humbly down at his shoes。 Humble； my ass； Tucker thought。 He was proving the value of a new and untested asset； and doing so like the Red Baron in his red Fokker Trimotor。 The Air Force was not a service whose members cultivated humility； but his lack of pilot's wings had pelled him to do just that for all ten of his years of uniformed service。 The next generation of UAVs would have weapons attached； and maybe even be able to go air…to…air； and then； maybe； he'd show those strutting fighter jock…itches who had the real balls in this man's Air Force。 Until then； he'd just have to be content gathering information that helped the Russians kill Joe Chink and all his brothers； and if this was Nintendo War； then little Danny Tucker was the by…God cock of the by…God walk in this virtual world。
〃You have been most valuable to us； Major Tucker。〃 〃Thank you； sir。 Glad to help；〃 Tucker replied with his best little…boy smile。 Maybe I'll grow me a good mustache。 He set the thought aside with a smile； and sippe