“The Americans are responding to an operation that has been sanctioned at the highest levels. I can’t go into the details. But if you’d like, I can get General Peng Biao on the phone for you to give you your orders directly.”

The Admiral stiffened at hearing the Defense Minister’s name. “What do you need?”

“I need you to direct your forces to Taipei, China,” He Gang replied calmly.

The two men locked eyes and remained silent for several moments, each considering their options. Admiral Qin Guoping had to know his career hinged on the very next decision he made. He would either be favored by the Party and continue his meteoric rise within the PLAN, or he would be arrested as a traitor for allowing Western aggression to go unchecked.

He Gang knew the success of his operation was dependent on the Admiral allowing the Americans to abscond with their repatriated spy and focus his efforts on the reclamation of Taipei.

Their staring contest was broken by a soft knock at the door. Both men turned to look at a commander who opened the door and stepped inside and addressed the Admiral. “Sir, the Americans have destroyed a radar facility on Woody Island, and we are scrambling additional fighters to respond.”

He Gang turned back to the Admiral. “Your decision?”

* * *

A few minutes later, Admiral Qin Guoping set the phone down and turned to He Gang with a somber look on his face. Not quite ashen, he was pale enough that several of his aides looked at him with concern and stepped closer to the older man. He waved them off.

“Is it done?”

The Admiral nodded. “Our remaining fighters are returning to base.”

“Come with me,” He Gang commanded.

They returned to the conference room, where He Gang dressed down the Admiral in a hushed tone that barely hid his boiling anger. “The next time I tell you to do something, you do it exactly as I say without hesitation. Is that clear?”

The Admiral nodded, then lowered his eyes to He Gang’s feet.

“If you do not do as you are told, you will not only be removed from your position here, but you will disappear from the face of the earth. Along with your wife, your two sons, and their entire families. Your lineage will cease to exist.”

The Admiral remained silent, but some coloring returned to his face at the mention of his wife and sons. Both his sons served in the People’s Liberation Army Navy, and one was on the island as a junior officer assigned to a ballistic missile submarine. The Admiral knew that He Gang was not to be crossed.

“Our fighters that went missing were lost during a training accident,” He Gang stated.

The Admiral looked up at him. “But the Americans shot them down.”

He Gang shook his head firmly. “Listen to me very carefully because I will not repeat myself. The fighters that went missing were lost during a training accident. We are not at war with the United States.”

Not yet.

“I must report this to the Fleet Commander,” Qin Guoping persisted.

He Gang locked eyes with the Admiral as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Without looking at it, he dialed a number, put it on speaker, and handed it to Qin Guoping. The Admiral took the phone hesitantly.

When the call connected, a deep voice asked, “How can I help you, General?”

The Admiral’s eyes flashed to He Gang with immediate recognition. “Admiral Fu Hai…”

Qin Guoping spoke with the South China Sea Fleet Commander almost daily and had known him for close to twenty years. He considered him a close friend and respected him as an officer.

“Qin Guoping, is the General with you?”

“He is,” the Admiral replied.

“And are you accommodating his requests to support this operation?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the operation,” Qin Guoping replied.

“You are a good commander, Qin Guoping,” Fu Hai said. “The General has committed his own vessels from the East Sea Fleet to this operation. Support them as they move on Taipei, and ensure that they succeed. Do as General He Gang asks, or you will be replaced.”

It wasn’t the same threat the General had made, but it was close enough.

“But the American aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan…”

“Is out of commission thanks to the General. He has done his part. Do yours.”

He Gang knew the Admiral was a good officer and would do as instructed so he could go home and crawl into bed with Wing Li and mourn the loss of their brave pilots in private.

“Yes, Admiral,” he replied quietly.

The Fleet Commander was silent on the phone for a moment, as if contemplating whether his subordinate commander would do as instructed. “Please hand the General the phone.”

Admiral Qin Guoping did as instructed and held the phone out to He Gang, who took it off speaker and lifted it to his ear. After several minutes, he ended the call with a simple, “Thank you for your time, Admiral. That will be all.”

49

Clark Air Base, Philippines