Ito returned to Long Beach, California. His real name was Chan, Daling, and he was a minor shipping clerk in the COSCO shipping company. He composed a hand written message in Mandarin requiring the shipment of five tractors, three plows, three cultivators, two discs, three hundred AK-47s in semi-automatic mode only, two hundred and fifty thousand rounds of ammunition, twenty rocket propelled grenade launchers, one hundred rocket grenades, and two hundred hand grenades. The weapons were to be packed with the tractors and implements and labeled as spare parts. The tractors and implements were to be of Japanese manufacture, shipped to China and repackaged with appropriate re-stenciling. The bill was to specify delivery to COSCO at their Long Beach terminal warehouse but from Yokahama as the port of origin. From there, they would be trucked to a non-existent dealer in Tijuana, Mexico. Since the ultimate destination was Mexico, it would pass directly through the American inspection system without being opened or inspected in any way. Half of the records for such inspections were still generated on paper, and only half on computers. The inspectors simply had too much to inspect all those which had a destination in California for farm implements destined for Mexico and so would wave them on through without a second thought. He delivered the message in a sealed envelope to his COSCO boss who was attending a party that night where he would pass it to a Chinese intelligence officer from their embassy who was in the guise of a chauffer.

Then Ito and his bodyguards went to lunch at their favorite little Mexican restaurant. Ito told Miguel, who routinely waited on them, that after they were served in a small back room, they should have a little chat. Miguel smiled, knowing that this meant a little more business for the organization of which he was a member. After they finished their meal, Miguel joined them.

“Miguel, I trust there are people in your organization who know much about automobiles?”

“Indeed, we have a number of men who specialize in automobiles.” Miguel smiled to himself. A number of men in his organization had been or were still active as professional car thieves. They would steal cars throughout the American west and Midwest and drive them into Mexico. When necessary, chop shops would alter vehicle identification numbers and repaint them. Forged titles were a routine part of the business.

“I want your people, four of them who are very knowledgeable of automobiles, to purchase, not steal, a number of used automobiles for my company. We are only interested in used vans, sport utility vehicles and pickups that are in good condition. We are especially interested in four-wheel drive vehicles. We wish to build a fleet of these. Are you interested?”

“Of course, Mr. Ito, we are interested.” Miguel saw an opportunity here. They could steal a number of them, forge the Vehicle Identification Numbers and titles and sell them to Mr. Ito’s company at a substantial profit. A mix of legally purchased vehicles and stolen ones would be good cover. They could claim that they had no knowledge that some of them were stolen.

“How, Mr. Ito, do you wish to accomplish this?”

“I will provide you with cash. I expect a very strict accounting. Do not attempt to steal from my company. We will pay you very well for your services, and that should be enough compensation.”

Miguel saw a veiled threat here, and he looked at the two bodyguards who always accompanied Mr. Ito. He knew they were very good at their profession. Their knuckles were capped with connective tissue, and the outside edges of their hands were hard as horn. In the times they had come in short sleeved shirts, he observed that they were very muscular, very lithe, and their eyes constantly darted around them. Nothing missed their gaze. When they came in sport coats, he occasionally observed a handgun imprinted under the jackets. He had no doubt they were very well trained in the martial arts. Since Mr. Ito never identified exactly who he was or what company he represented, he had initially assumed that Mr. Ito must be a very big man in a very big company to have such guardians accompany him everywhere.

“When do you wish this to begin, Mr. Ito?”

“In two days, we will come again and bring money. Again, all purchases are to be legal. Not one of your people is to buy more than one vehicle at the same place. Ideally, you will buy them from individuals who advertise them in the newspapers and neighborhood flyers. It is permissible to occasionally buy one from a dealer, but that is not to occur very often. These vehicles are to be delivered to a parking lot of which I will inform you when I bring the money. The lot will be locked. I will give you four keys to the padlock, one for each of your men. The vehicles are to be immediately parked and left in the lot. They are not to be used for any purpose by your people whatsoever. A duplicate ignition key and door key, if required, will be made and placed in the glove compartment of each vehicle. Each vehicle is to have a spare tire in excellent shape. If a spare tire is missing, or is not in good condition, then have it replaced. Each gas tank is to be filled. Your people are to do all of this before parking the vehicle in the lot. They are to keep receipts for everything. Our bookkeepers must insist on total accountability. Again, you will be more than amply rewarded for your efforts. Is there anything you do not understand?”

“How many do you wish to purchase, Mr. Ito?”

“Ultimately, we wish to have a fleet of twenty four-wheel drive pickups, and forty vans or sport utility vehicles, also all four-wheel drive. This is to be accomplished over the next eight weeks. When this is done, I will have more work for your organization.”

“We will be glad to assist you in establishing your fleet of vehicles, Mr. Ito.”

“Good, then we will be back in two days. Please tell the chef to put more chiles in my tacos next time. I like spicy foods.” Mr. Wan smiled and left thirty dollars on the table for lunch. One bodyguard preceded Mr. Wan out, the other followed him.

Jesus Gonzalez returned to his farm, slept with his mistress, and presented her with a bottle of perfume and a new dress that he purchased in Texas. Then he packed a suitcase, took twenty thousand dollars in cash from his safe, and left for Alpine, Texas.

In thirty days, Jesus Gonzales had a fleet of forty vans and twenty pickups. Mr. Ito’s people began delivery before the packing sheds/garages were completed. Within a day or two of their delivery to the parking lot, they disappeared. Mr. Ito did not want Miguel’s people to learn their destination.

On various previous occasions, Miguel had different gang members follow Mr. Ito until they learned the location of his office at the China Ocean Shipping Company, or commonly called COSCO. Subtle inquiries of Mexican American workers at COSCO revealed to Miguel that Mr. Ito was a senior clerk in the shipping section. Nobody really knew exactly what aspect or cargo that he managed, only that they were considered high value items. Electronic goods, stereos, televisions, optics were not included in the categories of shipments he managed. When this was reported to Miguel, his suspicions were further aroused. Shipping clerks did not usually have bodyguards for routine dining. Miguel had the vehicles followed to the Mexican border. Using cell phones and different vehicles, switching them off, Miguel’s people ultimately determined their destination as Jesus Gonzalez’s farm. To be certain, Miguel had a transmitter placed in a Dodge Ram pickup.

When delivery of more than thirty vehicles had occurred, Miguel selected a particularly bright and ruthless but promising gang member for a particular job. Gomez was an illegal alien who had illegally entered the U.S. five years earlier. His command of English was as good as that of a second generation Mexican American. As a teenager, he worked as a field hand growing and picking tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons. Now twenty-six, he was skilled with a knife and his bare hands with four murders to his credit.

“I want you to return to Sonora for a few weeks, but not your old haunts. Here is ten thousand dollars. Buy a car in Nogales - legally. Then find a small town to hang around in for a week or two. After you have acquired the local flavor, drive to Ojinaga in Chihuahua. Spend a few days there. Your cover is that you used to be a bracero who tried running a bar and grill in Juarez but failed. Now you are looking for work of any kind. Ultimately, I want you to get a job on the farm of one Jesus Gonzalez. You are to find out what is going on there. Your communication will be only with me. I realize I might not hear from you for a couple of months. Memorize my cell phone number or hide it among some other numbers or something. I want to know what is going on at that farm besides farming. Be careful.”

“You are pleased, Señor Ito, with your vehicles? All of them are in excellent condition, as you requested, with good spare tires and full gas tanks.”

“Yes, thank you, Miguel, you have done well. The receipts have balanced, and so here is payment for you and your people. Lunch was good today, as usual.” One of the bodyguards handed Miguel a small overnight bag filled with twenty-dollar bills. Miguel had not heard from Gomez since he left a month ago, but he was not worried.

The following day, Chan and his bodyguards drove from Long Beach to Tucson, AZ. The following day, they drove through El Paso to Fabens, TX. They arrived at Jesus Gonzalez’s farm on the afternoon of the third day. “Perhaps we could consider flying next time to El Paso and renting a car, rather than a six-day round trip drive, Mr. Chan,” asked one of his bodyguards as they pulled onto Jesus Gonzalez’s road.

“That would require scrutiny at the airports, records of flights and car rentals, and provide an easily discerned pattern and trail. No, we will drive when a visit is necessary and pay cash for all the amenities and necessities along the way.”

“Forgive me, Honorable one, I was not thinking.” They left the car and walked to the office where Jesus Gonzalez was going over the tomato production figures. He looked up.

“Well, Mr. Gonzalez, are you satisfied with the way things are progressing? I see new packing sheds, your fleet of vehicles, the garage and dining hall almost finished, but how are you doing with recruitment?”

“Ah, Señor Ito. I hope you had a pleasant trip. It is a pleasant surprise to see you. I have made many contacts, or perhaps it would be better to say that many have contacted me. We have many men, now over two hundred and fifty, who are awaiting my call. As soon as the facilities are completed, we will bring them together. We have concentrated on recruiting young single men. There are many, and rumors of many more, who wish to join us. A few are true revolutionaries who think we are fighting Mexican corruption and American imperialism. Many are hungry and desperate. Others seek thrills and adventure. A few are truly criminal. We have collected names and phone numbers and addresses, such as they are. My secretary, Luis, has devised the mechanisms to notify them when we are ready. They will be presented with an application for employment during notification and provided a time and place to report where we will pick them up. Word of mouth about us has spread widely after Ruidoso. A few have managed to locate us on their own. These we have put to work as field hands while we scrutinize them and check their backgrounds. If they are genuine, then they are probably smart enough to be of real use to us. Only those who have been with me for a time, however, and who have my trust will be my lieutenants. Only these will know more than the most minimal of details.

“The tractors and guns have arrived. We have stored them separately from the explosives and ammunition. Bunk beds and mattresses are to arrive in a few days. By next week, we should be assembling our men. I have visited Alpine, Texas several times now. The students at Sul Ross State University will start returning in mid-August. We will conduct our business the first week of August to avoid any complications with students.”

“Very good, Señor Gonzalez. Do you require any assistance with the weapons and explosives?”

“No Señor Ito, the manuals are very explicit. My compadres and I are ready to start training our men as soon as they arrive. We have built a rifle range and two classrooms. We will practice with the rifles and master them, but I am reluctant to train with explosives, as that could attract attention that we do not want. We have already worked out training schedules and training teams. These teams will be maintained in the field, a basic premise of leadership, Mr. Ito.”

“Is there anything else you require, Señor Gonzalez, in order to complete this operation?”

“More ammunition and magazines for the rifles would be desirable, Mr. Ito. With two hundred and fifty men and two hundred and fifty thousand rounds of ammunition, that is one thousand rounds per man. Half, perhaps much more than half, will be consumed in training. I wish every man to be proficient and have his own dedicated rifle. We will probably have enough for Alpine, but a reserve would be desirable. Also cleaning supplies for the rifles and one hundred handguns, revolvers, preferably, and pump action shotguns. It would be easier for the men to learn revolvers than semi-automatics. Also, some Stinger type missiles for the highway patrol helicopters and Border Patrol aircraft, should they decide to interfere.”

“Very well. That seems reasonable. You will receive the extra rifle magazines, the ammunition; Soviet made shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles and shotguns in a month or so. The handguns will take a little longer. Perhaps not in time for Alpine but for future use.

“You are prepared to carry sufficient gasoline, food and water and supplies for a round trip?”

“Indeed, Señor Ito, including feeding the men on the return trip so there will be no stopping. I have one other concern, though, Señor Ito.”

“What is that, Señor Gonzalez?”

“There are many who know of this place. Some of the American suppliers might be suspicious even though they have been well paid. We used middle men for all of our American purchases, except for the underground storage tank and pumps. Their workmen installed the tanks and pumps.”

“Is that unusual for a fuel tank to be installed for a farm of this size?”

“No Señor Ito, many farms have such tanks, although this is probably the largest. What is unusual is that this is for gasoline rather than diesel fuel. No one uses gasoline tractors anymore. I have explained it is for irrigation pumps, trucks to haul produce, and other equipment. Still, it is a minor concern.”

“I would not be too concerned, Señor Gonzalez. If any Mexican officials become too investigative, bribe them. If such becomes necessary, inform me of them with their names, positions, addresses, and amounts involved. Do not be at all concerned about the Americans. Is there anything else of concern?”

“No, Señor. It is now the first week of June. We will be ready and strike the first week of August. It will be the biggest raid on American territory since Poncho Villa raided Columbus, New Mexico.”

“Excellent. I will leave one man with you to observe how things are going. You can reach me only through him. He will be something of a shadow to you. Learn to ignore him. Instruct your men to do likewise. He is not to be interfered with in any way. Do not try to hide anything from him. I will not visit you again until after Alpine.”

On the return drive to Long Beach, Chan decided the best way to provide revolvers was to have the Chinese embassy in Brazil purchase two hundred medium frame .357 magnum revolvers for testing purposes. These would be without serial numbers or markings of any kind so as not to influence the military ordnance officers conducting the testing. They were to be delivered to the embassy in Brasilia. From there they would be delivered by diplomatic pouch to the Chinese embassy in Mexico City. A truck would deliver them to Jesus Gonzalez.

Chapter 6

Jesus Gonzalez carefully studied the map of Alpine, Texas. He marked the targets, routes of escape and approach for each team: the police station, the county sheriff’s office, the West Texas National Bank, the Fort Davis National Bank, the Texas National Bank and the two sporting good stores.

He called his lieutenants together. Each was assigned a specific objective. He gave each five hundred American dollars and told them to visit Alpine independently of one another. Under no circumstances were they to acknowledge each other. For those whose objective was a bank, they were to take particular note of the vault, whether or not shaped charges were indicated, and their security arrangements. He expected to bring home over a million dollars between the three banks. Different escape routes were to be utilized by each team. Some would escape via Highway 90 through Marfa, twenty-six miles away, then south along Highway 67 into Mexico. Another team would head east the twenty-two miles into Marathon before turning south on Highway 385. They would cross into Mexico at Castalon. Still others would flee westward to Van Horn, Texas, and continue on to cross in Esperanzo. Others would travel Highway 28 out of Marfa and return via the underwater bridge.

Each team leader was assigned to either the sheriff’s office in the courthouse, the police station, one of the three banks, or one of the sporting goods stores. Based upon their personal surveillance of the town and the assignment of their target, they were to devise the assault plan for their target. They were to refer to their assignment simply as “their target.” Gonzalez would not establish roadblocks around Alpine. Rather, they would establish ambush sites on each road leading into the town to prevent the intrusion of any law enforcement officers from surrounding communities. To these teams he would issue Rocket Propelled Grenades as well as AK-47 rifles.

Jesus Gonzalez stood before his handpicked lieutenants, his team leaders. He had a large map of Alpine, Texas hung on the wall behind him. Guards kept all others away.