The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry Page B
Authors: Steve Berry
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Thrillers, Suspense fiction, Antiquarian booksellers, china, Kidnapping, Pakistan, Denmark, ransom, Malone; Cotton (Fictitious character), Booksellers and bookselling
Ads: Link
provinces."
"Stealing."
"Preserving."
He was still bothered by the video. "Why was that man emasculated?"
"He joined a brotherhood. That initiation occurred three months ago. He is now healed, working with his brothers. He would not have been permitted to drink anything for three days after surgery. You saw how the attendant plugged the man's urethra before wrapping the wound with wet paper. On the fourth day, after the plug was removed, when urine flowed the operation was considered a success. If not, the initiate would have died an agonizing death."
He could not believe anyone would willingly submit to such an atrocity. But he knew Pau was right. Hundreds of thousands throughout Chinese history had done just that. When the Ming dynasty fell in the mid-17th century, more than 100,000 eunuchs had been forced from the capital. The decline of Han, Tang, and Ming rule were all attributed to eunuchs. The Chinese Communist Party had long used them as examples of unrestrained greed.
"Interestingly," Pau said, "of the hundreds of thousands who have been castrated, only a tiny percentage died. Another of our Chinese innovations. We are quite good at creating eunuchs."
"What brotherhood?" he wanted to know, irritation in his voice.
"They are called the Ba."
He'd never heard of such a group. Should he have? His job was to safeguard the government, and the people, from all forms of corruption. In order to accomplish that goal he enjoyed an autonomy no other public official was extended, reporting directly to the Central Committee and the premier himself. Not even Karl Tang, as first vice premier, could interfere, though he'd tried. Ni had created the elite investigative unit himself, on orders from the Central Committee, and had spent the last decade building a reputation of honesty.
But never had there been any Ba.
"What is that?" he asked.
"With all the resources at your command you can surely learn more about them. Now that you know where to look."
He resented the condescending tone. "Where?"
"All around you."
He shook his head. "You are not only a thief, but a liar."
"I'm simply an old man who knows more than you do--on a great many subjects. What I lack is time. You, though, are a person with an abundance of that commodity."
"You know nothing of me."
"On the contrary. I know a great deal. You rose from squad leader to platoon captain to commander of the Beijing military area--a great honor bestowed only on those in whom the government has much trust. You were a member of the esteemed Central Military Commission when the premier himself chose you to head the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."
"Am I to be impressed that you know my official history? It's posted on the Internet for the world to see."
Pau shrugged. "I know much more, Minister. You are a subject that has interested me for some time. The premier made a difficult decision, but I do have to say he chose well in you."
He knew about the opposition that had existed at the time of his appointment. Many did not want a military man in the position to investigate anyone at will. They worried that it might lead to the military gaining more power.
But he'd proven the pundits wrong.
"How would you know about any difficult decision?"
"Because the premier and I have spoken at length about you."
Chapter Ten.
SHAANXI PROVINCE, CHINA
TANG TOLD THE DIRECTOR TO REMAIN WITHIN THE PIT 3 building and stand guard at ground level, ensuring that he was not disturbed. Not that he would expect to be. He was the second most powerful man in China--though, irritatingly, others had begun elevating Ni Yong to that same plateau.
He'd been against Ni's appointment, but the premier had nixed all objections, saying Ni Yong was a man of character, a person who could temper power with reason, and from all reports, that was precisely what Ni had done.
But Ni was a Confucian.
Of that there was no doubt.
Tang was a Legalist.
Those two labels had defined Chinese
"Stealing."
"Preserving."
He was still bothered by the video. "Why was that man emasculated?"
"He joined a brotherhood. That initiation occurred three months ago. He is now healed, working with his brothers. He would not have been permitted to drink anything for three days after surgery. You saw how the attendant plugged the man's urethra before wrapping the wound with wet paper. On the fourth day, after the plug was removed, when urine flowed the operation was considered a success. If not, the initiate would have died an agonizing death."
He could not believe anyone would willingly submit to such an atrocity. But he knew Pau was right. Hundreds of thousands throughout Chinese history had done just that. When the Ming dynasty fell in the mid-17th century, more than 100,000 eunuchs had been forced from the capital. The decline of Han, Tang, and Ming rule were all attributed to eunuchs. The Chinese Communist Party had long used them as examples of unrestrained greed.
"Interestingly," Pau said, "of the hundreds of thousands who have been castrated, only a tiny percentage died. Another of our Chinese innovations. We are quite good at creating eunuchs."
"What brotherhood?" he wanted to know, irritation in his voice.
"They are called the Ba."
He'd never heard of such a group. Should he have? His job was to safeguard the government, and the people, from all forms of corruption. In order to accomplish that goal he enjoyed an autonomy no other public official was extended, reporting directly to the Central Committee and the premier himself. Not even Karl Tang, as first vice premier, could interfere, though he'd tried. Ni had created the elite investigative unit himself, on orders from the Central Committee, and had spent the last decade building a reputation of honesty.
But never had there been any Ba.
"What is that?" he asked.
"With all the resources at your command you can surely learn more about them. Now that you know where to look."
He resented the condescending tone. "Where?"
"All around you."
He shook his head. "You are not only a thief, but a liar."
"I'm simply an old man who knows more than you do--on a great many subjects. What I lack is time. You, though, are a person with an abundance of that commodity."
"You know nothing of me."
"On the contrary. I know a great deal. You rose from squad leader to platoon captain to commander of the Beijing military area--a great honor bestowed only on those in whom the government has much trust. You were a member of the esteemed Central Military Commission when the premier himself chose you to head the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."
"Am I to be impressed that you know my official history? It's posted on the Internet for the world to see."
Pau shrugged. "I know much more, Minister. You are a subject that has interested me for some time. The premier made a difficult decision, but I do have to say he chose well in you."
He knew about the opposition that had existed at the time of his appointment. Many did not want a military man in the position to investigate anyone at will. They worried that it might lead to the military gaining more power.
But he'd proven the pundits wrong.
"How would you know about any difficult decision?"
"Because the premier and I have spoken at length about you."
Chapter Ten.
SHAANXI PROVINCE, CHINA
TANG TOLD THE DIRECTOR TO REMAIN WITHIN THE PIT 3 building and stand guard at ground level, ensuring that he was not disturbed. Not that he would expect to be. He was the second most powerful man in China--though, irritatingly, others had begun elevating Ni Yong to that same plateau.
He'd been against Ni's appointment, but the premier had nixed all objections, saying Ni Yong was a man of character, a person who could temper power with reason, and from all reports, that was precisely what Ni had done.
But Ni was a Confucian.
Of that there was no doubt.
Tang was a Legalist.
Those two labels had defined Chinese
Similar Books
