Empire Rising by Rick Campbell Read Free Book Online

of the underground command bunkers, while Tsou would accompany his aide, waiting in the car below, for the long trip to Ningbo, headquarters of the East Sea Fleet.

 
    7
    NINGBO, CHINA
    On the first floor of a four-story concrete, windowless building, Fleet Admiral Tsou Deshi stood in the shadows with his aide, off to the side of a large auditorium. Gathered in the headquarters of the PLA Navy’s East Sea Fleet this morning, fifty-four admirals sat in their dark blue uniforms, arranged neatly in sections representing the three fleets—the North Sea Fleet based in Qingdao, the East Sea Fleet headquartered in Ningbo, and the South Sea Fleet sortieing from Zhanjiang. All together, the three fleets fielded an impressive arsenal of ships, consisting of twenty-five destroyers, forty-seven frigates, fifty-eight diesel and nuclear-powered submarines, plus eighty-three amphibious warfare ships and over five hundred landing craft.
    The PLA Navy was a formidable force indeed, except when compared to the American Pacific Fleet. But Tsou had toiled diligently to level the playing field and make America pay dearly for its righteous superiority and willingness to employ it. After years of honing carefully guarded plans, it was time to reveal them.
    Tsou took a deep breath, then nodded, and his aide strode onto the stage, announcing “Attention on Deck” as he emerged. Conversation in the auditorium ceased as the admirals surged to their feet, standing at attention as Tsou followed his aide to the front of the auditorium. The aide departed, leaving Tsou standing in front of a twenty-by-forty-foot view screen towering above him, which would display every facet of the plan as it unfolded.
    â€œAt ease,” Tsou announced. “Be seated.”
    Fleet Admiral Tsou surveyed the men assembled before him as they took their seats. Their mood was somber; they knew the upcoming battle would be difficult. In a few minutes, they would understand just how difficult.
    â€œGood morning,” Tsou said. “Many of you have guessed why we are here today. The preparations made over the last week have no doubt indicated our intent, and I am sure you are confident in our ability. But there is more to our plan than meets the eye. The invasion of Taipei is merely bait, drawing our enemy close. For us to be victorious, not only must we defend our amphibious assault from the United States Navy, we must go one step further. Our real goal is to destroy the United States Pacific Fleet.”
    Tsou listened to murmurings throughout the auditorium. Until this moment, the obvious goal of their assault had been the unification of the two Chinas. Now, with the true intent of their plan revealed, astonished expressions spread across the room. Admiral Tsou continued as the murmuring died down, “It won’t be easy, but this is how we’re going to do it.” Tsou paused for a moment before beginning the two-hour operations brief.
    *   *   *
    After explaining the last element of his plan, Admiral Tsou turned from the view screen and faced his admirals, waiting for the expected reaction. He wasn’t the only one who understood the Herculean task they’d been assigned. As the murmuring began throughout the auditorium again, a Vice Admiral stood to address Admiral Tsou. His ships were assigned the most difficult—and seemingly impossible—task.
    He began by identifying himself and his command. “Vice Admiral Shao, Commander, 10th Submarine Flotilla, East Sea Fleet.”
    Admiral Tsou acknowledged the flotilla commander. “Proceed.”
    â€œPardon me for being a skeptic, but after years of studying the American Navy’s capability, I have a different assessment of the outcome.”
    Tsou had seen this coming from the moment the plan was conceived. “And your opinion is…?”
    â€œMy opinion ,” Admiral Shao replied, “is that this plan is ludicrous! We cannot defeat