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e had taste in jewelry； one of the better things for a man to have…at least in his woman's eyes。 But damn； if he could have gotten her one of those wolf…fur coats。。。 could he cut a deal with Sergey Golovko？ Jack wondered briefly。 But where the hell could you wear such a thing？ He had to be practical。
〃Would look nice in the closet；〃 Goodley agreed； seeing the distant look in his boss's eyes。
Color would go so nice with her butter…blond hair Ryan mused on for a few more seconds； then shook his head to dismiss the thought。
〃What else today？〃
〃SORGE has developed new information。 It's being couriered down even as we speak。〃
〃Important？〃
〃Mrs。 Foley didn't say so； but you know how it works。〃
〃Oh； yeah； even the minor stuff fits together into a real pretty picture when you need it。〃 The major download still sat in his private safe。 The sad truth was that while he did； technically； have the time to read it； that would have entailed taking time away from his family； and it would have had to have been really important for the President to do that。
〃So； what will the Americans do？〃 Fang asked Zhang。
〃On the trade issue？ They will； finally； bow to the inevitable； and grant us most…favored…nation status and remove their objection to our full entry into the World Trade Organization；〃 the minister replied。
〃None too soon；〃 Fang Gan observed。
〃That is true；〃 Zhang Han San agreed。 The financial conditions in the PRC had been well concealed to this point； which was one advantage of the munist form of government； both ministers would have agreed； if they had ever considered another form of government。 The cold truth of the matter was that the PRC was nearly out of foreign exchange； having spent it mainly on armaments and arms…related technology all over the world。 Only incidental goods had e from America…mainly puter chips； which could be used in nearly any sort of mechanical contrivance。 The overtly military material they'd purchased came most often from Western Europe； and sometimes from Israel。 America sold what arms it released to this part of the world to the renegades on Taiwan； who paid cash； of course。 That was like a mosquito bite to the mainland regime； not large； not life…threatening； but an annoyance that they continuously scratched at； in the process making it worse instead of better。 There were over a billion…a thousand million…people in mainland China； and less than thirty million on the island across the strait。 The misnamed Republic of China used its people well； producing more than a quarter of the goods and services the PRC turned out in a given year with forty times as many workers and peasants。 However； while the mainland coveted the goods and services and the riches that resulted； they did not covet the political and economic system that made it possible。 Their system was far superior； of course； because theirs was the better ideology。 Mao himself had said so。
Neither of these two Politburo members； nor any of the others； reflected much on the objective realities at hand。 They were as certain in their beliefs as any Western clergyman was in his。 They even ignored the self…evident fact that what prosperity the People's Republic possessed came from capitalist enterprise allowed by previous rulers； often over the screams and howls of other ministerial…rank politicians。 The latter contented themselves by denying political influence to the people who were enriching their country； confident that this situation would go on forever； and that those businessmen and industrialists would be satisfied to make their money and live in relative luxury while they； the political theorists； continued to manage the nation's affairs。 After all； the weapons and the soldiers belonged to them； didn't…they？ And power still grew out of the barrel of a gun。
〃You are certain of this？〃 Fang Gan asked。
〃Yes； rade； I am quite certain。 We have been 'good' for the Yankees； haven't we？ We have not rattled our saber at the Taiwanese bandits lately； have we？〃
〃What of American trade plaints？〃
〃Do they not understand business？〃 Zhang asked grandly。 〃We sell goods to them because of their quality and price。 We shop the same way。 Yes； I admit； their Boeing airplane pany makes fine airplanes； but so does Airbus in Europe； and the Europeans have been more。。。 acmodating to us politically。 America rants on about opening our markets to their goods； and we do this…slowly； of course。 We need to keep the surplus they so kindly give us； and spend it on items of importance to us。 Next； we will expand our automobile production and enter their auto market； as the Japanese once did。 In five years； Fang； we will be taking another ten billion dollars from America annually… and that； my friend； is a very conservative estimate。〃
〃You think so？〃
An emphatic nod。 〃Yes！ We will not make the mistake the Japanese made early on； selling ugly little cars。 We are already looking for American styling engineers who will help us design automobiles which are aesthetically pleasing to the white devils。〃
〃If you say so。〃
〃When we have the money we need to build up our military； we will be the world's leading power in every respect。 Industrially； we will lead the world。 Militarily； we are at the center of the world。〃
〃I fear these plans are too ambitious；〃 Fang said cautiously。 〃They will take more years than we have to implement in any case； but what legacy will we leave to our country if we point her on a erroneous path？〃
〃What error is this； Fang？〃 Zhang asked。 〃Do you doubt our ideas？〃
Always that question； Fang thought with an inward sigh。 〃I remember when Deng said； 'It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white； so long as it catches mice。' To which Mao responded with a livid snarl： 'What emperor said that？〃'
〃But it does matter； my old friend； and well you know it。〃
〃That is true；〃 Fang agreed with a submissive nod； not wanting a confrontation this late in the day； not when he had a headache。 Age had made Zhang even more ideologically pure than he'd been in his youth； and it hadn't tempered his imperial ambition。 Fang sighed once more。 He was of a mind to set the issue aside。 It wasn't worth the trouble。 Though he'd mention it just once more； to cover his political backside。
〃What if they don't？〃 Fang asked finally。
〃What？〃
〃What if they don't go along？ What if the Americans are troublesome on the trade issue？〃
〃They will not be；〃 Zhang assured his old friend。
〃But if they are； rade； what then will we do？ What are our options？〃
〃Oh； I suppose we could punish with one hand and encourage with the other； cancel some purchases from America and then inquire about making some other ones。 It's worked before many times；〃 Zhang assured his guest。 〃This President Ryan is predictable。 We need merely control the news。 We will give him nothing to use against us。〃
Fang and Zhang continued their discussion into other issues； until the latter returned to his office； where； again； he dictated his notes of the discussion to Ming； who then typed them into her puter。 The minister considered inviting her to his apartment； but decided against it。 Though she'd bee somewhat more attractive in the