majorgeneralwang’sbckbulleproofbuickspedhroughhegaesofhenondescrippoundbeforehepeople’sliberaionarmysecuriyguardscouldrushoheirfeeandaffechemandaorysaluehemajorgeneralmadeanoeinhisvasbrainogivehemafirmdressingdownwhenimepermiedherequiredeveryoobealeraallimes,nowmorehaneverhepoundwasheheadquarersofhehirddeparmenofhepgeneralsaffandwaslocaedinhesprawlofbeijing’shaidiandisric,homeohenaion’sopuniversiies,researchbs,scienceparksandechnologycorporaionshemajorgeneral’smindwasreelingfromheafermahofrecenevens

heookadeeppuffonagoldippedzhongnanhaipremium,hicknicoinesainedfingersholdingonohecigareeashoughiwassomekindofprecisioninsrumenhinlipsseinoargishfacewihsrongfeauresexhaledhesmoke,whichwasquicklyflushedawaybyhecar’spowerfulveniionsyseheashrayreraced,hesoundofsomecleaningmechanismmuffledbehindhickyersoffoamandleaher

hecurrensiuaionwasinolerableandifhedidn’quicklybringhingsunderconrolherepercussionswouldbeechoinghroughhehallsofzhongnanhai,heseaofchinesepoliicalpower,i

oimemajorgeneralwanghadn’risenrapidlyhroughheranksofhepeople’sliberaionarmyoseehisenirefuurepuasakebyaprofessorwihgrandioseideasabouworldpeaceandanerranresearchsudenheveryhoughofhedamagehewholefiascocoulddoohiscareerfilledhimwihrage

“whadoyoumeanhehasdisappeared?”hemajorgeneralhadbellowedahevideophoneinhiscarjusafewminuesearlierhesinghuauniversiyprovosaheoherendofhelinehadvisiblybnched,shockedbyhemiliaryleader’soubursofangerhiswasoneparonhecouldn’affordooffendhundredsofmillionsofrenminbiinfundingyinhebanceheprovosknewhasomeofhismoneywasbeingusedfor“unofficial”researchhehadbeenaskednooquesionheprofessorsorsudensinvolvedonhoseopsecreprojecsandhehadbyandrgeconcurredaslongashebulkofhamoneywasgoinginoprojecshaevenuallyaddedohealreadyincredibleworldpresigeofhisrenownedinsiuionhewasmorehanhappyoconcurwihhewhimsofmenlikemajorgeneralwanghealsoknewhaanymisakeswouldpuhisjobahewhimofhemajorgeneralwhaifhemandecidedowihdrawfunding?heprovos’sagilemindrapidlyaccessedamenallisofalernaefundingsources

“hesudendisobeyedclearorders,anacwhichiniselfisaseriousoffencewehave,however,securedheequipmenandareawaiingyourfurherinsrucions,”heprovosinformedhemajorgeneral

“youshouldhavepcedhesudenunderguardassoonasheedicwasissued,”hemajorgeneralsaidgruffly

“majorgeneral,imusremindyouhaweareaneducaionalinsiuionhacanonlyresorohosekindsofmeasuresunderexremecircumsances”

“howishisforanexremecircumsance?iwanyouosecurehebunilicangesomemenouheredoyouundersand?”

“perfecly,sir,”heprovossaidwihaccenuaedreverence,sensingareprievehemajorgeneral’spreviousprojechadedheuniversiyanunprecedenedleveloffunding,someofwhichhadmadeiinooherfaculies,enhancingheireffecivenessnewequipmenhadbeenbough,professorswhowereleadinghinkersinheirfieldshadbeenpoachedfromrivalinsiuions,newfieldsofresearchhadbeenunderakenhaprojechadbeensoopsecrehoughhaheprovoshadhadroubleexpiningohissaffwhasomanypofficersinpincloheshadbeendoingaheuniversiynobodyhadbeenfooledye,heprovoshadsimplyindicaedhahasecionofheuniversiywasouofboundsandhahepwasusingsomeofheuniversiy’sresourcesforsomerunofhemillresearchprojecquieheconrary,ifheprovos’shunchwascorrec

majorgeneralwanghadsignedoffindisgusandlianoherzhongnanhaicigareenow,ashiscardroveupohefreshlypainedfa?adeofhenondescripgraybuildinghahousedhisofficesandhoseofhiskeylieuenans,hemajorgeneralreflecedonheevensofhesfewdaysandsighedfirs,herewashebusinessofhejapaneseyakuzaaempingogainaccessohesysefac,hephadboughinformaionfromhimonafewoccasions,anachaacuallyangeredhimbeyondbeliefhechinesewouldneverforgehearociiesmiedbyhejapanesedecadesagohenanjingmassacrejushinkingabouifloodedhismindwihhorrificimagesofhecrueliesheyhadinflicedonhechinesepeopleye,hejapanesegangserhadriedorickoomanyandheassassinhadseenoihahepaidwihhislife

heaishadbeendeadlyaccuraeonhaone,pinpoininghesourceofheinrusionsookyoandracingibackhroughplexdaaanalysisallhewaybackoheyakuzayamamoo’sirinshinjukuhemajorgeneralhadhesiaedbeforedecidingonheyakuza’sfae,knowingonlyoowellhayamamoo’sbosswasaprominenmemberofhejapanesegovernmenye,hehaddoneeveryhinginhispower,andhewieldedaconsiderableamoun,oascerainhaminiserakahashiwasnoimplicaedifheminiserwasinvolved,hisbecameapoliicalgameandhemajorgeneralcouldnoaffordomakehispoliicalherewasoomuchasake

ye,ifheminiserhadahandini,henherewerewaysofgeingohimoowihoupromisingnewchina’snaionalineressheassassin’smodusoperandiwassilenanddeadlyyeherewererisksinvolvedwihassassinaingaminiserofaforeigncounryhawouldn’godownoowellinbeijingorokyoifievercameolighiwouldleadowarandhawassomehinghemajorgeneralcouldilffordrighnowhewashinkingabouaradicallydifferenkindofwarye,hewasaakerofrisksandifheoccasiondemandedihensobei

hemajorgeneralsmiledohimselfaanyrae,rouineprecauionshadbeenakenphoneshadbeenapped,municaionshadbeenpromisedandhemajorgeneralhadaccessoasignificanchunkofhejapaneseminiser’sprivaemunicaionsworkasmalrmyofhehirddeparmen’sbesandmosrusworhywascurrenlyaempingahackinoheyakuza’sworkofsaellies

everyhingwasasishouldbeexcepforhesmallmaerofhowkenzoyamamoohadlearnedabouandgainedaccessoheprooypeworkinhefirspceheworkwashighlysecure,accessibleonlyhroughcusomhardwaremadeinasecuresecremanufacuringfaciliydeepwihinhehinerndofnewchinayamamoocouldhavegoenhishandsononeofheconsolesbueveryhingwasaccounedforhecouldhavebckmailedprofessoryaoforablueprinbuheprofessorwascleanhemajorgeneralknewhaforafacanyway,hawasyeanoherreasonwhyheprofessorhadodie

hewopahedoorofhisofficesiffenedandgavehimheirbessalueashesrodebrisklyowardshisofficehemensensedhisbadmoodmajorgeneralwanghrivedonhefearofhissubordinaes,asmalrmyofwhichsoodoaenionashewalkedinohisofficehispersonassisanappearedouofnowhereandhovereddiligenlybehindhimshewasawirygirlwihaaubody,akeenmindandhemajorgeneralconjecured,avoracioussexuappeieifonlyimeandproocolwouldpermi,hehough

“leavemealoneidon’wanobedisurbed,”hegrowledwihouurningaroundhepersonassisanexiedheofficewihoumakingasoundhemajorgeneralsadownbehindhisexpansiveuncluereddeskandlianoherzhongnanhaionheshinysurfaceofhedesk,nohingbuaconsoleandscreenandagoldpedashraywihhep’sinsigniaandhisnameonihewasabouoakeapuffonhecigareewhenhissecurecellphonerang

“speak,”hemanded,asheswichedonhemassagefuncionofhiseboraepuerconrolledchairhebarelyfelhemassagersprobehesurfaceofhisskinhemajorgeneralhadheensebinaionofmuscleandfaofasumowresler,pleewihargesquareheadcrownedwihanunlikelycrewcu

“lieuenanliu,sirwehavesomenews”

“ibeerbegood”

“sir,wemanagedogainaccessooneofheirlowlevelmunicaionssaellies”

“ishahenews?”

“nosiriseemshahisyamamoosenwopackagesabroadjusbeforehediedsir”

“andwhyishaineresing?”

“sir,becauseheyakuzajusfoundouhahepackagesconainedcusommadepuersandheyseemohinkheseconsolesweresomehowlinkedohisdeahandarecurrenlyryingorerievehem”

“mmmmveryineresingsohaishowhishackersgainedaccessoourwork”hemajorgenerallowedhisbrainafewsecondsodigesheinformaion

“sir,hesenhemoaprofessorjoplinofmiinamericaandahackerinheunionacadcaldwell,sir

“didyoudoaraceonhosewo?”

“yes,sirprofessorjoplinisdeadaccordingohenewspapersinamericaandhehacker,sir,wehavenodaaon”

“hejapanesemushavegooheamericanprofessor,whichmeansheyareprobablylookingforhehackeroo,”hemajorgeneralsaidhinkingaloud

“moslikely,sir”

hemajorgeneralmadeamenalnoeohaveheechnicianspuheinrusiondeecionaisandheicesonhighaleriwouldn’belongbeforehehackeraempedologonoheworkandhenhewouldbeasgoodasdeadhewouldhaveogeohehackerfirs,beforeheyakuzaheassassin,iseemed,hadabusyroser

“ifheamericanisdead,whereisheconsole?”heasked,noexpecingausefunswerlieuenanliuwasdreadinghisquesion,becauseheknewhaheanswerwouldmeanseveralmorehoursinheoffice,hisdi

erlonggonecold,hisfrusraedwifeinbedasleepseveraldaysofcoldshoulderawaiedhim

“sir,accordingohedaa,iappearsheyakuzadidn’findheconsoleheamericanprofessorhasaeenagedaugherwhohassincedisappearedheamericanpolicefearsheisdeadbunobodyhasbeenfoundhisleaveshepossibiliy,remoeasimayseem,hasheisaliveandshehasheconsole”

“noremoeaallhavearaceonherye?”

“we’llgeonirighaway,sir,”helieuenansaid,picuringhismarriagefragmeninginoahousandpieces

“goodwork,lieuenankeepmeinformed,”hemajorgeneralsaidalenghandhungup

hawouldexpinhowyamamoogoaccesshesomehowgoheblueprinandhadaconsolemademoslikelygohishackersohackhesysemasinghuauniversiyandhadheconsolescusombuilinjapanbuwhocouldbuildsuchapuer,wihouknowledgeofheworkiselfandheproocolsiusedhemajorgeneralhadmadesurehaherewasnodaaanywhereonhespecificaionsheyexisedonlyinhemindsofprofessoryaoandhepechniciansspeciallyhandpickedandassignedohisprojechoseconsoleswouldhaveobesaeofhearcrafedbyaruemaser

hehirddeparmen,hemajorgeneral’sdomain,dealininformaion,signals,daa,paernsindaaanddaaflowsandhemajorgeneralwasisdirecorandhemasermindbehindhep’sadvancedc4isrsysemsmand,conrol,municaions,puers,inelligence,surveilnce,andreco

aissanceheywouldfindhegirndhackereasily,heassassinwouldrerieveheconsolesandeveryhingwouldbeasishouldbeheresearchsudenonherunwouldbecaughhehirddeparmenheldhekeyosomeofheinformaionflowsinsidechinaandhadconsiderableaccessoinformaiongloballyherewouldbenoescapeforhosehreeandhenherewillbeheinserionandheprojecwouldproceedoisfinalliveesphase

ihadbeenashameokillprofessoryao,hearchiecofhemajorgeneral’sbrainchildhemajorgeneralwasacuallycuupabouihedeahofoneofchina’sgreaesechnicalmindswasagrealossforhecounryye,heprofessorhadservedhispurpose,performedhisduyhemanhadloshismindheinformaionbelongedohim,onewchinasharingiwihheworldwasanamounoreasonandwouldhavesechinabackenyearsandprobablycoshimhisjobwhawashemanhinking?ye,everyhingwasinpcenowwihjusafewminorhiccups

heprojechadpassedisbeaphasewihflyingcolorsaselecgroupofhehirddeparmen’sbesmindswaskeepingiickingaroundheclock,bohinernallyandexernallywohousandsubjecswerenowalivingparofheworkhesimuionsoffinancialmarkes,elecriciygridsandglobalmunicaionssysemswereyieldingimpressiveresulsprofessoryaohimselfhadlongdecredhesysemreadyforprimeimeheonlymissinglinkwasheaiiselfdidheprofessorknowhahisoherhinghewasworkingonandhadjusdecredsuccessfulinnewyorkhadanimporanroleopyinheschemeofhings?hedoubedibuhenwhywouldheprofessorryosaboageheprojecbygoingoheworldwihhisa

ouncemenhadherealizedhebrillianceofhemajorgeneral’spn,hebeauifullogicofi?

hemajorgeneralhoughabouhehirysixsraagemsinhe“hesecrearofwar”wrienbyananonymousschorafewhundredyearsearlierprofessoryao’sesprojec,china’sfirsrueai,wasgoingorewriehehirysixsraagemsforhenewdigiageheaiwasgoingoweakenheenemyinwaysunimaginable

foolheemperorocrossheseayes,heaiwasgoingolowerheenemy’sguardbyhidingisinenionsdeepwihinhefabricofcyberspace,allowingheenemyomakeanauralmisakebesiegeweiorescuezhaoaacksomehingasuperiorenemyholdsdearobringhimouofhisir,henpounceonherueprizeheargewashepuerizedsysemsofglobalrade,indusryandmunicaionsheprizewasworlddominaion

killwihaborrowedswordheaiwilluseheenemy’ssrenghagainsi,subveringglobalechnologiesandsysemsforisownusevicorywillbeaforgoneconclusionawaiheexhausedenemywiheaseheimeandpceofbalewouldbeahemajorgeneral’sdiscreion,allowingheaioencourageheenemyoexhaushisenergyhemossignificanbalewillewhenheenemyhasloshewillofighhenhemajorgeneralwouldproceedohefifhsraagemlooaburninghouse

bufirsheassassinhadobepuonhighalerherewasmorekillingobedoneandproperyobererieved