Tai-Pan (69 page)

He had gained everything he had set out to get—and more.

The day after the investing of Canton had been launched the six million taels of ransom he had demanded were paid in full, and he had called off the attack. But he had ordered immediate preparations for full-scale war to the north. And this time there would be no stopping—not until the treaty was ratified. Within a few weeks the promised reinforcements from India would arrive. And then the armada would sail north once more to the Pei Ho—to Peking—and the Orient would be opened up once and for all.

“Yes, absolutely,” Longstaff chuckled. He was alone in his quarters in H.M.S. 
Vengeance,
 admiring himself in a mirror. “You’re really quite clever, my dear fellow,” he told himself aloud. “Yes indeed. Much more clever than the Tai-Pan and he’s the personification of cleverness.” He put down the mirror and rubbed cologne on his face, then glanced at his fob watch. Struan was due in a few minutes. “Even so, no need to let your right hand know what your left’s doing, eh?” he chortled.

Longstaff could hardly believe that he had arranged the acquisition of the tea seeds so easily. At least, he reminded himself contentedly, 
Horatio
 had arranged it. I wonder why the man’s so distraught over his sister’s wanting to marry Glessing. I would have thought that it was an excellent match. After all, she 
is
 rather drab and mousy—though she did look stunning at the ball. But a damned good piece of luck he hates Glessing, what? And damned good piece of luck that he’s always hated the opium trade. And damned clever the way I put the idea into his mind—the hook baited with Glessing’s removal.

“ ’Pon me word, Horatio,” he had said a week ago at Canton, “damnable business all this opium trade, what? And all because we have to pay bullion for tea. Pity British India doesn’t 
grow
 it, what? Then there’d be no need for opium. We’d simply outlaw it, save the heathen for better things, what? 
Plant seeds
 of goodness among them instead of that damnable drug. Then the fleet could go home and we’d live in peace and quiet forevermore.”

Within two days Horatio had drawn him aside and had excitedly expounded the idea of getting tea seeds from the Chinese and sending them to India. He had been suitably astonished, but he had allowed Horatio to convince him of the idea’s potential.

“But, good Lord, Horatio,” he had said, “how on earth could you get the tea seeds?”

“This was my plan: I’ll speak privately to Viceroy Ching-so, Your Excellency. I’ll say that you’re a keen gardener, that you have the idea of turning Hong Kong into a garden. I’ll ask for fifty pounds each of mulberry seeds, cotton seeds, spring rice, camelias and other flowers as well as assorted teas. That will throw him off tea specifically.”

“But, Horatio, he’s a very clever man. He must know that few, if any, of these plants will grow in Hong Kong.”

“Of course. He’ll just put it down to barbarian stupidity.”

Horatio had been beside himself with excitement.

“But how would you get him to keep this secret? Ching-so would tell the mandarins—or the Co-hong—and they would surely tell the traders. You know how those damned pirates would move heaven and earth to prevent what you propose. They would surely see through your purpose. What about the Tai-Pan? Surely you see what you propose would put him out of business.”

“He’s rich enough now, Your Excellency. We have to stamp out the opium evil. It’s our duty.”

“Yes. But both Chinese and Europeans would be implacably against the plan. And when Ching-so realizes what you really have in mind, as he must—well, you’d never get the seeds then.”

Horatio had thought a moment. Then he had said, “Yes. But if I were to say that in return for the favor to me—for I just want you, my employer, to be happy with a surprise gift—I, who have to count the chests of silver and sign for them, well, I might not miss one chest—then he would be sure to keep it secret from everyone.”

“What’s the value of a chest?”

“Forty thousand taels of silver.”

“But the bullion belongs to Her Majesty’s Government, Horatio.”

“Of course. In your negotiations you could ‘privately’ insure that there is one extra chest which could not be official so the Crown would not lose. The seeds would be your gift to Her Majesty’s Government, sir. I would be honored if you would say that it was your idea. I’m sure it was. Something you said triggered it in my mind. And rightfully you should have the credit. After all, you are the plenipotentiary.”

“But if your plan succeeds, then you’re not only destroying the China traders, you’re destroying yourself. That doesn’t make sense.”

“Opium is a terrible vice, sir. Any risk we’d take is justified. But my job depends on your success, not on opium.”

“If this succeeds then too, you’re undermining the very foundations of Hong Kong.”

“But it will take many years for tea to thrive elsewhere. Hong Kong is safe in your time, sir. Hong Kong will still be the emporium of Asian trade. Who knows what will happen over the years?”

“Then I take it you want me to investigate the tea-growing possibilities with the Viceroy of India?”

“Who but you, Your Excellency, could bring the idea—your idea—to a perfect conclusion?”

He had reluctantly allowed himself to be persuaded and had cautioned Horatio about the need for extreme secrecy.

The very next day Horatio had reported happily, “Ching-so agreed! He said that within six weeks to two months the chests of seeds would be delivered to Hong Kong, Your Excellency. Now all that remains to make everything perfect, for me, is for Glessing to be sent home immediately. I believe Mary’s just infatuated. Pity she can’t be given a year or so to make absolutely sure she knows what she’s doing, out of reach of his everyday influence . . .”

Longstaff chuckled again at youth’s transparent attempt at subtlety. He brushed his hair and opened the cabin door and went into the chart room. He searched through the papers in his safe and found the letter that Horatio had translated for him weeks ago. “No more need for this,” he said aloud. He tore up the paper, leaned out of a porthole, threw the pieces into the sea, and watched them float away.

Perhaps Glessing should be sent home. The girl is under age and Horatio’s in a very difficult position. Well, I’ll think about it. After the seeds are en route to India.

He saw Struan’s longboat approaching. Struan was sitting disconsolately amidships. The Tai-Pan’s gravity reminded Longstaff about the malaria. What the devil are we going to do about that, eh? Ruins the whole strategy of Hong Kong, what?

Struan was staring out the stern windows waiting patiently for Longstaff to finish.

“ ’Pon me word, Dirk, it was almost as though Ching-so knew we were going to demand six million taels. The ransom was instantly ready. To the penny. He was most apologetic for the raping of the Settlement. He said it was those damned anarchists—the Triads. He’s ordered a thorough investigation and hopes to be able to crush them once and for all. It seems that one of their leaders has fallen into his hands. If he can’t get anything out of the man, no one can. He promised to tell me at once the names of the Triads here.”

Struan turned from the windows and sat in a deep leather chair. “That’s very good, Will. I’d say you’ve done a remarkable job. Remarkable.”

Longstaff felt very pleased. “I must say things went according to plan. Oh, by the way. The information you sent about the pirate Wu Kwok. I would have preferred you to lead the flotilla, but the admiral was adamant. He went himself.”

“That’s his privilege. Let’s hope he does a good job tonight. I’ll rest a lot easier if that devil’s sunk.”

“Quite right.”

“Now all you have to do is to save Hong Kong, Will. Only you can do it,” Struan said, praying that once more he would make Longstaff put into effect the plan he had eventually devised as the only way to save the necks of all of them. “I think it advisable for you to order an immediate abandonment of Happy Valley.”

“Bless my soul, Dirk,” Longstaff cried, “if I do that, well—that’s tantamount to abandoning Hong Kong!”

“Queen’s Town’s malarial. At least Happy Valley is. So it has to be abandoned.”

Longstaff shakily took some snuff. “I can’t order the abandonment. That’d make me responsible for all losses.”

“Aye. You’ve decided to use the six million taels to reimburse everyone.”

“Good God. I can’t do that!” Longstaff burst out. “The bullion belongs to the Crown. The Crown—only the Crown—can decide what to do with it!”

“You’ve decided that Hong Kong’s too valuable to risk. You know you’ve got to move quickly. It’s a gesture worthy of a governor.”

“I absolutely can’t, Dirk! Not at all. Impossible!”

Struan went over to the sideboard and poured two glasses of sherry. “Your entire future depends on it.”

“Eh? It does? How?”

Struan gave him a glass. “Your reputation at court is tied to Hong Kong. Your whole Asian policy—and that means the Crown’s Asian policy—is focused on Hong Kong. Rightly. Without Hong Kong safe the governor, on Her Majesty’s behalf, will na be able to dominate Asia as he should. Without a town built there’s nae safety for you or for the Crown. Happy Valley’s dead. So a new town must be built and quickly.” Struan drank the sherry and savored it. “If you immediately reimburse those who’ve built, you’ll restore confidence at once. All the traders will rally to your support—which you’ll need in the future. Dinna forget, Will, many have considerable influence at court. It’s a grand gesture, one worthy of you. Besides, the reimbursement is really being paid for by the Chinese anyway.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Within three months you’ll be at the gates of Peking, commander-in-chief of an invincible force. The cost of the expedition will be, say, four million. Add six million for the damage to the Settlement. Ten million. But you ask fourteen million, which would be fair indemnity. The extra four million will be the basis of your Hong Kong government treasury—and thus one of the richest colonial treasuries in the Empire. Actually, instead of fourteen you will demand twenty million: The extra six repays the six you—in your shrewdness—‘invested’ in Hong Kong on the Crown’s behalf. Dinna forget, without a safe base you 
canna dare
 make the attack north. Without Hong Kong safe, England’s dead in Asia. Without Hong Kong safe you’re dead. You’re thinking of the whole future of England, Will. It’s that simple!”

Struan could sense Longstaff’s mind churning the possibilities. This was the only possible solution. The only way everyone could save face and save the island. And the instant he saw Longstaff open his mouth to speak he said, “A last thing, Will. You get the money back at once, most of it.”

“Eh?”

“You hold a land sale immediately. The bidding will be furious for the new lots. Where does the money go? Back into your government treasury. You gain all ways. The land you’re selling costs you nothing. You know how desperately you need money for all the problems of government—salaries, police, the governor’s palace, roads, law courts, harbor vessels and a thousand other things, and you certainly canna use the ransom money as such. I’d say that it would be a statesmanlike masterstroke. You 
have
 to make the decision now because it’s impossible for you to wait six months for a dispatch to go to England and the obvious approval to arrive back here. You save Hong Kong at no cost. But most of all you show Zergeyev very bluntly that England plans to stay in Asia permanently. I’d say, Will, your astuteness would impress the entire Cabinet. And certainly Her Majesty the Queen. And permanent honors go with such approval.”

Eight bells sounded. Longstaff took out his fob watch. It was slow, and he turned the hands to noon as his mind tried to find a flaw in Struan’s reasoning. There was none, he told himself. He felt queasy at the realization that but for the Tai-Pan he would have done nothing about the fever. Except stay out of the valley, hoping that a cure would turn up. He, too, had been perturbed by the epidemic, but, well, it was more important to win the Canton war first.

Yes. There’s no flaw. Damn it, you almost jeopardized a brilliant future. Certainly it’s exceeding instructions, but then governors and plenipotentiaries have unwritten powers and therefore it’s only an expedient extension of necessity. We can’t wait till next year to implant Her Majesty’s will on the heathen. Absolutely not. And the scheme about the tea seeds fits neatly into the design and shows foresight on a scale that even surpasses the Tai-Pan’s.

Longstaff had an overpowering impulse to tell Struan about the seeds. But he controlled himself. “I think you’re right. I’ll make the announcement right away.”

“Why do you na call a meeting of the Tai-Pans tomorrow? Give them two days to present construction and land bills to your treasurer. Set the new land sale for a week hence. That’ll give you time to get the lots surveyed. I suppose you’ll want the new townsite to be near Glessing’s Point.”

“Yes. My thought entirely. That will be the best spot. After all, it was one we considered a long time back.” Longstaff got up and poured more sherry, then tugged the bellpull. “As always, I’m pleased to have your counsel, Dirk. You’ll lunch, of course.”

“I’d better be getting along. Sarah’s leaving for home with the tide tomorrow, aboard 
Calcutta Maharajah,
 and there’s a great deal to do.”

“Very bad luck. About Robb and your niece.”

The door opened. “Yes, sorr?” the master-at-arms asked.

“Ask the general if he’ll join me for lunch.”

“Yes, sorr. Beggin’ yor pardon, sorr, but Mrs. Quance is waiting to see you. And Mr. Quance. Then there’s all these”—he gave Longstaff a long list of names—“wot’ve come by to ask for appointments. Shall I say yo’re busy to Mrs. Quance?”

“No. I’d better see her now. Please don’t go yet, Dirk. I’m afraid I may need moral support.”

Maureen Quance strode in. Aristotle Quance followed her. There were dark rings under his lifeless eyes. Now he was simply a drab little man. Even his clothes were untidy and colorless.

“Morning, Mrs. Quance,” Longstaff said.