Power and Empire

Dr. Hou was one of three staff doctors serving within the walls of the Zhongnanhai. He was old enough to be Zhao’s father — possibly even his grandfather — and dispensed advice with great pomposity, as if he were Confucius himself. The other two doctors were attending some medical training in Nanjing until the following day. Zhao found himself in dire straits or he never would have summoned this man.

The doctor lifted his nose toward the ceiling and fluttered his eyelashes as if he were explaining something very simple to a small child. “I read your description of the ailment. General fatigue, pain, and difficulty in passing water, slight fever. Tell me, does it feel as if you are sitting on a stone?”

Zhao nodded. “You might say that,” he said.

The doctor took a bottle of pills from the pocket of his lab coat and pushed them across the desk. “No doubt the general secretary is suffering from an acutely aggravated prostate. I would prescribe two of these capsules three times a day. The pills are quite large, so be certain to take them with plenty of fluids. I also suggest a marked increase in the frequency of physical congress between the general secretary and Madame Zhao.”

Zhao took the pill bottle and rolled it around in his palm. “Swallowing a large pill will be an easy task when compared to the remainder of your prescription.” The notion of explaining to his wife that the doctor ordered them to have more sex would have been comical had he not been in so much pain. “What is in the capsules? Antibiotics?”

The doctor shook his head. “Yin yang huo,” he said.

“Horny goat weed?” the foreign minister repeated.

“And saw palmetto,” the doctor added. “A very effective remedy when combined with the increased—”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Zhao said.

Foreign Minister Li looked away, as if biting his tongue.

All three men were silent for a long moment and then the doctor said, “Was there anything else, General Secretary?”

Zhao shook his head. “No,” he said. “That will be all. I appreciate your diagnosis.”

The doctor shut the door as he left.

“I am all for Eastern medicine, Comrade Zhao,” the foreign minister said, offering a friendly smile, “but I will see to it that my doctor prescribes you some antibiotics.”

“I would appreciate that,” Zhao said. “This is a perfect example of how we must move forward. Herbs have their place, but there are times when one needs actual medicine.”

“If I may be so bold as to ask a question,” Li said.

“Of course,” Zhao said, swallowing two capsules of horny goat weed to hedge his bets.

“Do you think there is any chance the Americans are behind the sinking of the Orion?”

Zhao sighed. “It is possible. But to what end?”

“True,” Li said. “Truthfully, though, I would not put anything past Jack Ryan. He is, I believe, a man with much guile.”

“I do not think it is guile,” Zhao said. “It is determination. And that is sometimes more dangerous.”

“Again you are right,” Li said.

“There is something else on your mind, my friend?”

“You are an astute observer, Zhao Zhuxi,” Li said.

“Tell me.”

“I hesitate to bring it up, but I am concerned about your push against the wealthy of the party.”

Zhao waved that off. “I am not interested in wealth. You yourself are one of the wealthiest men I know. I am prosecuting corruption.”

“You know best, of course. I will see to your antibiotics. I hope your health improves quickly.” He gave a sly wink. “In the meantime, I must remind my wife of her conjugal responsibility to my health.”

Zhao gave a polite chuckle, letting the bawdy comment slide. He preferred to keep things on a loftier level when dealing with members of his cabinet. “I understand you are hosting a dinner party tomorrow.”

Li shook his head and shrugged. “Nothing special. General Ma will attend, as well as General Xu and a few other minor guests. Such periodic functions allow me to keep a finger on the pulse of Beijing.”

“General Xu of the Central Security Bureau?”

The foreign minister nodded. “Yes.”

“Be wary of that one,” Zhao said. “He gives me cause for concern.”

“How so?”

Zhao narrowed his eyes, studying the man across his desk. “He has… how shall I put this? A bad smell. I intend to make changes in that organization in the near future. The Central Security Bureau is, after all, tasked with your protection. I don’t want to see it turned into a personality cult. You should be watchful.”

“I appreciate your concern, Zhao Zhuxi, and I will be careful.”

“See that you do, my friend,” Zhao said. “I am very rarely wrong about my sense for a person’s character.”

The foreign minister gave him a passive smile. “That is interesting to note, Mr. Chairman.”

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