Undercover - In China - Book 7

Part 61 - Supreme Commander Cho Cho

 (Author's note. In Chinese, the name Cho Cho is written with two different characters that are pronounced with different tones as they are two different words in Chinese languages. The name is normally spelled Cao Cao in in the modern official Chinese phonetic alphabet (Pinying) but I have spelled it phonetically in the closest way possible to English pronunciation).

For most of the day, Denny, Chen Ling, Licia, Miguel and I sat huddled together for warmth in one of the fishing boats, with Grandpa Chen's boat on tow behind us. The fog had burned off and the sun was high in the sky as our captors beached the boats on a sandy spit near the entrance of Cho Cho's naval station.

 ❘❘ ❘❘❘ ❘❘❘❘❘❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❘❘❘❘ ❘❘❘❘ ❘❘ 

 After an uncomfortable night tied together, we were taken to a huge tent. Peering between the wooden clouds of a carved entrance screen, we could see rows of officials. On one side, they wore brightly coloured robes. On the other, they were dressed, like Kongming with funny little hats, plain black robes and wide belts. There was a raised platform at the far end of the tent where an imposing man, wearing a beautifully embroidered, silk brocade robe, was seated on a wooden throne. Like most of the men in the room, he had a long flowing, black beard and mustache. As we were announced, Wang Bang pushed us inside pulling my head scarf off in the process. The man in the chair stared at my blue eyes and ordered that I be brought closer. Licia translated as he spoke. 'He must be Cho Cho,' she whispered. 'He has heard rumours that a boy with blue eyes can predict the future.'

'What can you tell me?' Cho Cho asked with a condescending smile. 

 'Untie us, your Excellency,' I replied boldly although my knees were shaking, 'and I will answer your question.'

Cho Cho smirked as Licia translated but he gestured for us to be released. I rubbed my sore wrists. My throat was dry. 'You will lose the battle,' I coughed. 

 Cho Cho laughed contemptuously. 'So! You do know the future? Tell me, what will happen next? What shall I do? Attack or retreat? Fight or die?' 

 His advisors erupted into a chorus of sycophantic chuckles. I thought quickly. Something Kongming had said. 'Lord Cho Cho. We know so little of this life. How can we know about the afterlife?'

Cho Cho roared with laughter. 'Ha! You quote Kongzi (Confucius). How can we know about the afterlife? Or, indeed the future! Who is your teacher? Ha, yes, it is Zhangzi.' He gesture to one of his aides and two guards left the tent.

Cho Cho ignored us while he discussed tactics with his generals. When the guards returned with Dr Zhang, we almost didn't recognize him. He was wearing a brightly coloured, embroidered silk coat and a ridiculously tiny hat. He stepped forward with a deep bow and Licia translated. 

 'I am the humble teacher of these ungrateful barbarians, my Lord Prime Minister,' Dr Zhang said. 'I am negligent in teaching them to respect their elders.'

The meeting was interrupted by a messenger. The fleet was ready for inspection. Cho Cho stood up ordering that young Xia Dian (that's me!) be brought to see the might of his armies before deciding if he could be defeated. As we followed Cho Cho's entourage toward the Long River, Dr Zhang told us about his adventures. Soon after he had been kidnapped, Murga's gang had run into a detachment of troops and Dr Zhang had been captured as Murga fled. Dr Zhang had been Cho Cho's hostage ever since. We told him how we had found Denny and Kozak and asked about going home. He told us he had asked Cho Cho to send us back to Jiangling after conquering the Southland.

The harbour was filled with thousands of boats crowded with soldiers and marines. The larger warships were arranged in defensive lines along winding channels to deter any enemy boats from entering the harbour.