In Lhasa, the imperial palace of the dictator Basam-Damdu is destroyed by a squadron of Espadons, and the world, relieved, celebrates the end of the Third World War. While in neighbouring China the Mao Communists confront the nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek, the Lord of the Xi-Li War seeks to get hold of a manuscript that will allow him to sit down his power over the Middle Empire. In the face of threats to the region, Captain Francis Blake is in charge of organizing the defence of the British colony of Hong Kong. In London, Professor Philip Mortimer is led to pay close attention to a Chinese archaeological curiosity that arouses appetite and covetousness. At the same time, the famous Colonel Olrik, former fallen military adviser of Basam-Damdu, takes advantage of the chaos surrounding his services to General Xi-Li in order to satisfy his thirst for revenge...