“I have a hologram of the conceived assault,” Nung said. His Front had trained for such an attack. They were ready, well, almost ready. Something always needed greater priming. This was his moment, though. He could feel it.
“Yes, by all means,” the Leader said, “show us your plan.”
Nung took a computer stick from his pocket. His hand trembled, although probably only he noticed. He willed his hand still, inserting the stick into the scroll. He began tapping the screen. In thirty seconds, a holomap appeared above the center of the table.
“Notice please,” Nung said, “the heavy enemy fortification along the border. There are massive concrete emplacements, minefields, artillery pits and SAM sites. Behind the initial fortification is a vast network of trenches, supply dumps and more troop concentrations. We will wash these fortifications with multiple electromagnetic pulses, nullifying the majority of their systems. Then we will send in waves of special infantry to fix them in place.”
“A moment,” Deng said. “Fix them in place, not destroy them?”
“Correct, Foreign Minister. Because of Blue Swan, we will break through their lines in hours rather than in days or weeks. This will occur in key areas. Afterward, we will sweep around them, trapping the bulk of their forces. Because we have fixed them in place, they will be unable to withdraw at the critical moment. That is important, for the Americans have made a fundamental error.”
Nung studied the others. He saw it on their faces. They wanted to know what this error consisted of.
“The Americans have put too many troops in their forward lines,” Nung said. “In California, that is well over six hundred thousand at our last estimate. Once those troops are trapped and nullified, the state will fall to us like a ripe fruit. Such a blow at such speed will critically weaken the rest of the country.”
Deng recovered the quickest. He asked, “You will sweep aside the Americans as our troops swept the enemy from the Yalu River Line in 1950?”
Before Nung could answer, Marshal Kao spoke up. “I am not convinced attacking fortified lines is wise. The Army will be trading blood for blood. Yes, we have more troops, but fortifications are a force multiplier. This sounds like a battle of attrition where you eventually hope the Americans to wilt in place so you may advance.”
“I feel that I must agree,” Deng said. “I had expected brilliant maneuvers from you, Nung. You’re supposedly our best mobile fighter. This plan strikes me as two sumo wrestlers pushing and shoving against each other, trying to exhaust the other instead of using clever moves.”
Nung had to glance down at his scroll, forcing away his scowl. Win them over by keeping your voice level and showing them what this attack brings. Nung looked up, his features nearly placid. “As Marshal Kao suggests, the Americans expect to slaughter our troops on their fortification. The Blue Swan pulses will change that. Even so, breaking through their line at speed may prove costly, but that will allow us to encircle them and turn it into a battle of annihilation. You must remember that they do not expect an attack there. The surprise of our assault might well unhinge their resolve.”
“I doubt it,” Deng said.
A wash of emotional heat welled up in Nung. “Foreign Minister, doing the unexpected often shakes an opponent’s confidence. It is an ancient dictum of warfare and has done more to win more battles than any other factor.” He clicked his scroll. “I would like to read to you what Sun Tzu had to say.”
Sun Tzu had written The Art of War two and a half thousand years ago. His work was considered as the quintessential treatise on Chinese thoughts concerning war.
Nung quoted, “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
Nung looked up. “The Americans believe themselves safe behind their defenses. Therefore, that is exactly where we shall begin the grand assault.”
“And if your bloodbath means the Americans pour reinforcements there?” Deng said.
Nung allowed himself a faint smile.
“You would desire such a thing?” Deng asked, sounding surprised.
“Not a bloodbath, as you suggest, but their pouring reinforcements south,” Nung said.
“Why?”
Nung began to manipulate his computer scroll. The six members of the Ruling Committee watched his plan unfold on the holomap. It involved an armor thrust swinging well east of the southern Californian urban areas and heading straight for LA and the all-important Grapevine pass to Central California.
“A clever plan,” the Leader said later. “I am impressed.”
“Yes, yes, very clever,” Deng said. “Yet several matters outside the scope of the assault bother me. I do not wish to appear pessimistic…”
“I called this meeting so we could air our thoughts,” the Leader said. “We six guide Greater China to glory and world dominance. I hold the reins of final authority, but I desire your input and need your cooperation and, hopefully, your enthusiasm. To that end, I would rather hear your disagreements here so I can have the opportunity to persuade you.”
Deng nodded. “I have been to Berlin, Tehran and Brasilia. I have spoken with our allies and have received the privilege of listening to their generals. The Germans and their allies are still reluctant to attack America. Yes, they have sent airmobile and hover brigades to Cuba. They have moved a battle fleet into the mid-Atlantic, but they are still uncommitted to an assault. The South American Federation lusts after American farmlands. Of that, I have no doubt. Their military prowess, however, is in doubt. I am not a military expert, but I have been led to believe that our other fronts are not yet ready to assault the Rio Grande Line in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.”
“Marshal Kao?” the Leader asked.
Old Marshal Kao, with his aesthetic features, bowed solemnly. He had an unusually sharp nose for a Chinese citizen. There were rumors it had been bio-sculpted, and the thin shininess of the flesh at the base of his nose suggested the rumor was true.
“Leader,” Kao said, “the Expeditionary Army in Mexico stands ready to achieve the greatest conquest in history. We have six million soldiers of the highest quality, each man keenly devoted and trained to—”
“How long until the Army can attack all along the line from California to Texas?” the Leader asked.
“Marshal Nung is a hasty soldier,” Kao said. “It is his trademark and the reason perhaps why he seems to excel on a fluid battlefield. He has given us a…an incredible plan for taking California. The bulk of the Blue Swan missiles have been allocated to his front. More missiles will be en route from the factories for the New Mexico and Texas fronts in the coming months. The missiles are in limited supply, unfortunately. Thus, the attacks there will commence along conventional lines.”
“Can the other fronts be ready to attack in two weeks?” the Leader demanded.
Marshal Kao fidgeted, highlighting his long fingers. He was an accomplished violinist. “The other Front commanders will need another month at least, Leader. I would prefer another six weeks.”
The Leader turned to Nung. “What can the Americans do in another month? I mean those facing you in California and with their having learned about Blue Swan.”
“In a month, they can change many things,” Nung admitted.
“Too much?” asked the Leader.
“The possibility occurs. The greatest danger would be their pulling units out of the fortifications and placing them in strategic reserve.”
“What else could they do?” the Leader asked.