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That was true, Kai thought, but the Supreme Leader would probably think it was an empty threat. He knew how crucial North Korea was to China strategically, and he might decide that, when push came to shove, the Chinese would find it impossible to abandon their neighbour. And he might be right.

However, Kai kept this thought to himself and said neutrally: ‘It’s certainly worth putting pressure on Pyongyang.’

Wu did not notice his lack of enthusiasm. ‘I’ll talk to President Chen about it, but I think he’ll agree.’

‘The North Korean ambassador, Bak Nam, is here tonight.’

‘An awkward customer.’

‘I know. Shall I let Ambassador Bak know that you need to speak to him?’

‘Yes. Tell him to come and see me tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ll try to have a quick word with Chen this evening.’

‘Good.’ Kai left Wu Bai and looked around. There were a thousand or so people in the room, and it took him a few minutes to locate the North Korean contingent. Ambassador Bak was a thin-faced man in a well-worn suit. He held his glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Kai had met him several times. Bak did not look thrilled to renew the acquaintance.

Kai said: ‘Mr Ambassador, I trust our emergency shipments of rice and coal are arriving smoothly?’

Bak replied in perfect Mandarin with a hostile tone. ‘Mr Chang, we know it was you who imposed the delay.’

Who had told him that? The who-said-what of a policy discussion was always confidential. The revelation of contrary opinions could undermine the final decision. Someone had broken that rule – presumably to get at Kai.

He set the question aside for the moment. ‘I bring you a message from the foreign minister,’ he said. ‘He needs to speak to you. Would you kindly make an appointment to visit him tomorrow?’

Kai was being polite. No ambassador would refuse such a request from a foreign minister. But Bak did not assent immediately. He said haughtily: ‘And what would he like to discuss?’

‘North Korea’s stockpile of chemical and biological weapons.’

‘We have no such weapons.’

Kai suppressed a sigh. The tone of a government was set by those at the very top, and Bak was only aping the style of the Supreme Leader, who had the righteous obstinacy of a religious bigot. Just say yes, motherfucker, he thought wearily; but he said: ‘Then it may be a short discussion.’

‘Perhaps not. I was about to request a meeting with Mr Wu on another topic.’

‘May I ask what?’

‘We may need your help in stamping out this American-organized insurrection at Yeongjeo-dong.’

Kai did not respond to the mention of the US. It was boilerplate propaganda and Bak did not believe it any more than Kai did. ‘What did you have in mind?’

‘I shall discuss that with the minister.’

‘You must be thinking about military aid.’

Bak ignored that. ‘I will call on the minister tomorrow.’

‘I’ll let him know.’

Kai found Wu again just as the guests were summoned to their seats for dinner. Wu said: ‘President Chen agrees with my suggestion. If North Korea deploys chemical or biological weapons we will cut off all aid.’

‘Good,’ said Kai. ‘And when you meet Ambassador Bak tomorrow to tell him that, he’s going to ask you for military aid against the rebels.’

Wu shook his head. ‘Chen won’t send Chinese troops into battle in North Korea. Remember that the rebels have nuclear weapons. Even North Korea isn’t worth a nuclear war.’

Kai did not want Wu to turn Bak’s request down flat. ‘We could offer limited aid,’ he suggested. ‘Arms and ammunition, plus intelligence, but no boots on the ground.’

Wu nodded. ‘All for short-range battlefield use, nothing that could be used against South Korea.’

‘In fact,’ said Kai, thinking aloud, ‘we could offer aid on condition that North Korea ended its provocative incursions into disputed maritime territory.’