Mr. Tsung is a descendant of a family that served as chamberlains to the Ch'ing Dynasty—those who ruled China from 1644 A.D. to about 1911, close to eleven hundred years ago. They were the last dynasty before China became a People's Republic (and before the initial attack by the Psychlo aliens).

His family always kept up on its background, expecting someday a dynasty they could serve would come back into power.

Becoming an advisor to Jonnie Goodboy Tyler, Mr. Tsung instructs him in the arts of politics and diplomacy—skills which may prove more valuable to the resistance than the numbers in their ranks or the strength of their weapons.