Wingrove, David - Chung Kuo 02 by The Broken Wheel (v3.1)[htm] Read Free Book Online Page A

tzu! I must save those men."
    Wang Sau-leyan
laughed and shook his head. He was staring at his brother strangely.
"Do what you must, Captain. You'll find them where I left them."
    Fischer turned,
facing the new T'ang. " Chieh Hsia , will you come?"
    Wang Ta-hung
swallowed, then nodded. "Of course."
    They met Hung
Mien-lo in the corridor outside.
    "You've
found them, then?"
    Fischer bowed,
then glanced at Wang Sau-leyan. "The Prince found them, in his
quarters. He has incapacitated them, it seems."
    Hung Mien-lo
glared at Wang Sau-leyan, then turned angrily away. "Come, then.
Let's see what the Prince has left us, neh?"
    * *
*
    WANG SAU-LEYAN
sat on a footstool in his bedroom, letting the doctor dress the wound
at his neck. Across from him Fischer was moving about the bathroom
suite, examining the two corpses.
    "Why?"
Hung Mien-lo asked him again, standing over him almost threateningly.
"Why did you kill them?"
    He looked up,
ignoring Hung Mien-lo, his eyes piercing his elder brother. "They
were dangerous men. They killed our father. What was to stop them
killing me?"
    He smiled
tightly, then looked back at the bathroom. He saw Fischer straighten
up, turn, and come to the doorway. He had been searching the dead
men's clothing, as if looking for something they had stolen.
    "Where are
they?" Fischer asked, looking directly at him. Wang Sau-leyan
stared back at him, irritated by his insolence. "Where are
what?" he asked angrily, wincing as the doctor tightened the
bandage about his shoulder.
    "The ears,"
said Fischer, coming out into the room.
    "Ears?"
Wang Sau-leyan gave a short laugh.
    "Yes,"
Fischer said, meeting the Prince's eyes. "The ears, my Lord.
Where are the great T'ang's ears?"
    The Prince rose
sharply from his stool, pushing Hung Mien-lo aside, his broad
moonlike face filled with disbelief. He strode across and stood
glowering at Fischer, his face only inches from his.
    "What are
you suggesting, Captain?"
    Fischer knelt,
his head bowed. "Forgive me, my Lord. I was suggesting nothing.
But the murderers took your father's ears, and now there is no sign
of them."
    Wang Sau-leyan
stood there a moment longer, clearly puzzled, then whirled about,
looking directly at his brother.
    "Is this
true, Ta-hung?"
    " Chieh
Hsia . . ." Hung Mien-lo reminded him, but Wang Sau-leyan
ignored him.
    "Well,
brother? Is it true?"
    Wang Ta-hung let
his head fall before the fierceness of his younger brother's gaze.
    He nodded. "It
is so."
    Wang Sau-leyan
took a shuddering breath then looked about him again, his whole
manner suddenly defiant, his eyes challenging any in that room to
gainsay him.
    "Then I'm
glad I killed them."
    Hung Mien-lo
stared at the Prince a moment, astonished by his outburst, then
turned and looked across at Wang Ta-hung. The contrast was marked.
Tiger and lamb, they were. And then he understood. Wang Sau-leyan had
dared to have his father killed. Yes! Looking at him he knew it for a
certainty. Sun had had access to the T'ang and motive enough, but
only Wang Sau-leyan had had the will—the sheer audacity—to
carry through the act.
    It took his
breath. He looked at the Prince with new eyes. Then, almost without
thinking, he stepped forward and, his head bowed in respect,
addressed him.
    "Please, my
Prince, sit down and rest. No blame attaches to you. You did as you
had to. The murderers are dead. We need look no further."
    Wang Sau-leyan
turned, facing him, a smile coming to his lips. Then he turned toward
Fischer, his face hardening again.
    "Good. Then
get the bodies of those vermin out of here and leave me be. I must
get some sleep."
     
     
PART
I SUMMER 2206
     
     
The
Art of War
     
     
    Though
the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him from righting.
Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood of their
success. Rouse him, and leam the principle of his activity or
inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his
vulnerable spots. Carefully compare the opposing army with your own,
so