Afternoon, March 12, 2011
Outside the tightly shut Presidential Office Building, tens of thousands of students formed encircling layers. Despite hours of chanting slogans, fatigue seemed entirely absent.
Since the television broadcast depicting clashes between police and demonstrators, foreign war correspondents confined to hotels could no longer be restrained. Swiftly, news media from over a dozen nations joined the surrounding ranks. Every channel in every country repeatedly reported the Taipei mass demonstration. Several authoritative television stations even initiated forums to analyze the event.
Within the Presidential Office Building, Chen Bian remained surprisingly composed.
"Mr. President, this time..." Wang Jian began his report, only to be interrupted by Chen Bian.
"Say no more. I understand it wasn't your fault. This entire affair was a meticulously planned snare by those few spies. Given the situation that has unfolded, let us contemplate our subsequent actions."
Wang Jian was moved nearly to tears. When had Chen Bian ever displayed such understanding?
"Disregard the students for now. The entire world is observing; any action directly impacts our image," Chen Bian tapped the desk lightly with a single finger. "Enemy forces are accelerating their offensive relentlessly. I have ordered frontline soldiers to resist desperately, but the effect will likely be marginal. Establishing the new radar station requires over thirty hours, and the relocation plan needs five days for completion. All operations are racing against time."
"Mr. President, if necessary, I can lead troops to the periphery to buy time!" Wang Jian stated resolutely.
"Unnecessary, Commander Wang," Chen Bian smiled reassuringly. "Our game isn't concluded yet; they won't breach so easily. Recall Taiwan's potent yet untapped strength?"
Wang Jian was utterly perplexed by the question.
"A reminder: what significant event occurred in Taiwan three years ago?" Chen Bian indulged in a rare moment of playful curiosity.
Wang Jian pondered intently, then sudden enlightenment dawned.
"The Black Dragon Society?"
"Precisely!" Chen Bian chuckled triumphantly. "The leading gang that unified all Taiwanese gangs three years prior—the Black Dragon Society."
"Mr. President, your intention is..."
"Aren't they rushing to attack?" Chen Bian's countenance darkened. "I intend to make their controlled zones utterly chaotic."
Chen Bian wasn't boasting; the Black Dragon Society possessed such capability. Years ago, its leader, Black Dragon, debuted at merely eighteen. Through despicable and ruthless methods, he established his own gang by age twenty. Initially involved in organized prostitution, later expanding into narcotics trafficking. Any official in Taiwan accepting illicit funds inevitably dealt with him. Those who refused bribes also steered clear.
Three years prior, Chen Bian's foresight led him to support the Black Dragon Society's unification of Taiwanese gangs, precisely for this day.
"Little Dragon? Old Chen here. How have you been lately?" Chen Bian inquired solicitously over the phone. "Excellent, excellent. By the way, I need a small favor. Not concerning the students; I'll handle that myself. It's just that the Chinese army's advance has been too smooth lately, so I thought... Ah, wonderful if that's the case. Thank you for your trouble."
Chen Bian hung up, satisfied.
"Mr. President, Black Dragon agreed?" Wang Jian inquired incredulously. Black Dragon's lexicon lacked the concept of repaying favors; every interaction was purely transactional.
"Yes, but the condition is laundering all his domestic illicit funds and depositing them into an American national bank," Chen Bian resumed tapping the desk with one finger.
"You consented?" Wang Jian could scarcely believe his ears. "His black money in Taiwan is rumored to exceed three billion US dollars. Laundering such a colossal sum, I fear..."
"It matters no longer," Chen Bian waved dismissively. "Our plan involves relocating entirely to the United States anyway, taking everything with us, leaving over twenty million mouths for them. Taiwan is indefensible; China is determined to reclaim it this time. After over a decade as President, it's time for a rest."
Meanwhile, within a luxurious 5000-square-meter estate in Taipei City...
"Little Four!" A youth around twenty, clad in high-grade silk pajamas, rose from bed.
"What is it, Big Brother?" The room's gilded, carved door was pushed open by a one-eyed man.
"That old bastard Chen Bian wants a favor," the youth stretched languidly, removing his pajamas. "The terms are quite generous. Go make preparations."
"Favors from him are never simple. He's about to flee; is helping him necessary?" The one-eyed man retrieved a black suit from the wardrobe and approached him from behind.
"Irrelevant. It isn't overly difficult," the youth donned the suit, inspecting himself in a floor-length crystal mirror. A handsome, dashing young man appeared within.
"Notify the brothers in the zones controlled by the Chinese army," he adjusted the hundred-thousand-dollar suit. "The carnival can commence. Burn, kill, rob, torture. Don't omit a single evil deed. I want that place transformed into hell!"
The youth smiled and exited the bedroom. The one-eyed man sighed inwardly, lamenting, "Taiwan is about to change again."
March 13, 2011—a date all Taiwanese would henceforth remember.
Within the Chinese-administered controlled zones, an atmosphere of peace prevailed; even petty thieves had vanished. As crowds chanted "Long live Communism," dozens of fast-food restaurants in Tainan City simultaneously exploded. Before rescue teams could arrive, over ten more hospitals suffered explosions. The interim mayor managing Tainan City stared blankly as dozens of complaint hotlines rang incessantly like alarm clocks.
Upon receiving the news, Liu Tao immediately rushed towards Tainan. En route, however, reports of dozens more terrorist attacks arrived.
Chiayi City: Thugs took to the streets, firing AK-47s indiscriminately.
Tainan City: Dozens of residential complexes were deliberately set ablaze.
Taitung: Several girls' middle schools were invaded by armed thugs, who subjected students to...
Kaohsiung City: Over ten banks were robbed.
...
Seated in the military vehicle, the report in Liu Tao's hands had disintegrated into fragments. He picked up the phone and dialed Secretary Chen.
"Transmit my orders: Frontline soldiers halt offensive maneuvers; commence counter-terrorism operations across the board!"
Within hours, Liu Tao arrived in Tainan City, the first to be attacked.
The streets were scarred with charred buildings from explosions.
A mother wept, cradling her deceased child.
A boy wept, pushing his father's corpse.
Lovers wept, caressing the faces of their beloveds.
The entire city wept.
Inside the vehicle, Liu Tao repeatedly struck the closed window, each blow heavier than the last, mirroring the turmoil within his heart.
Another ten-odd minutes passed before he finally reached the Tainan City Government building.
"Explain to me, why did this happen?" Liu Tao sat calmly in the mayor's office chair, inquiring.
Below, the standing mayor was far less composed. Adhering to the principle of "Taiwanese governing Taiwan," all interim mayors were local businessmen renowned for integrity and reputation. The Tainan mayor before him owned a local food processing plant. Decades in business meant dealings with the government were unavoidable; the officials' conduct was crystal clear. Had Chen Bian been questioning him, he likely would have died numerous times over.
"Everything was proceeding normally, but starting at 7 AM, reports of explosions began pouring in. Thus far, there have been over eighty-four bombing incidents," the mayor reported, cold sweat trickling down.
"Do we know who is responsible?" Liu Tao clenched his fists.
"According to eyewitnesses, they are local gang members."
"I care not whether they are terrorists or gangsters," Liu Tao stated coldly. "Effective immediately, I do not wish to witness such events again. I will augment the garrisoned troops. They will assume full control of daily security operations. Your task is to provide their whereabouts and initiate another firearm confiscation drive. Not a single bullet shall remain among the populace. Dismissed."
The mayor departed swiftly, as if granted amnesty. Only Liu Tao remained in the spacious office.
Leaning back in the comfortable executive chair, Liu Tao massaged his aching temples. Any discerning individual knew Chen Bian was connected to this incident.
"If only this could be a war between just two individuals. Any suffering endured would be confined to us. Why involve innocent civilians? Is this truly what war entails?" Exhausted, Liu Tao drifted off to sleep.