Not completely unescorted. For he saw through his peripheral vision that a growing number of soldiers and functionaries were shadowing him, moving among the buildings in paths parallel to his own. For of course the gate guards would have spread the word at once: He's here.
So when he walked up to the entrance of the highest headquarters, he paused at the top step an
d turned around. Several thousand men and women were already in the space between buildings, and more were coming all the time. Many of them were soldiers under arms.
Han Tzu looked them over, watching as their numbers grew. No one spoke.
He bowed to them.
They bowed back.
Han Tzu turned and entered the building. The guards inside the doors also bowed to him. He bowed to each of them and then proceeded to the stairs leading to the second floor office suites where the highest officers of the military were certainly waiting for him.
Sure enough, he was met on the second floor by a young woman in uniform who bowed and said, "Most respectfully, sir, will you come to the office of the one called Snow Tiger?"
Her voice was devoid of sarcasm, but the name "Snow Tiger" carried its own irony these days. Han Tzu looked at her gravely. "What is your name, soldier?"
"Lieutenant White Lotus," she said.
"Lieutenant," said Han Tzu, "If heaven should bestow its mandate upon the true emperor today, would you serve him?"
"My life will be his," she said.
"And your pistol?"
She bowed deeply.
He bowed to her, then followed her to Snow Tiger's office.
They were all gathered there in the large anteroom--the men who had been present weeks ago when Han Tzu had scorned them for having lost the mandate of heaven. Their eyes were cold now, but he had no friends among these high officers.
Snow Tiger stood in the doorway of his inner office. It was unheard of for him to come out to meet anyone except members of the Politburo, none of whom were present.
"Han Tzu," he said.
Han Tzu bowed slightly. Snow Tiger bowed almost invisibly in return.
"I am happy to see you return to duty after your well-earned vacation," said Snow Tiger.
Han Tzu only stood in the middle of the room, regarding him steadily.
"Please come into my office."
Han Tzu walked slowly toward the open door. He knew that Lieutenant White Lotus stood at the door, watching to make sure that no one raised a hand to harm him.
Through the open door, Han Tzu could see two armed soldiers flanking Snow Tiger's desk. Han Tzu stopped, regarding each of the soldiers in turn. Their faces showed nothing; they did not even look back at him. But he knew that they understood who he was. They had been chosen by Snow Tiger because he trusted them. But he should not have.
Snow Tiger took Han Tzu's pause as an invitation for him to enter the office first. Han Tzu did not follow him inside until Snow Tiger was seated at his desk.
Then Han Tzu entered.
"Please close the door," said Snow Tiger.
Han Tzu turned around and pulled the door all the way open.
Snow Tiger took his disobedience without blinking. What could he do or say without making himself seem pathetic?
Snow Tiger pushed a paper toward Han Tzu. It was an order, giving him command over the army that was slowly starving in Sichuan province. "You have proved your great wisdom many times," said Snow Tiger. "We ask you now to be the salvation of China and lead this great army against our enemy."