jamesclavell.noblehouse-第1章

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　work　as　a　tribute　to　
　Her　Britannic　Majesty；　
　Elizabeth　II；　to　the　people　
　of　Her　Crown　Colony　of　
　Hong　Kong　　…　　and　perdition　to　their　enemies。
　
　
　Of　course　this　is　a　novel。　It　is　peopled　with　imaginary　persons　and　panies　and　no　reference　to　any　person　or　pany　that　was；　or　is；　part　of　Hong　Kong　or　Asia　is　intended。
　I　would　also　like　to　apologize　at　once　to　all　Hong　Kong　yan　…　all　Hong　Kong　persons　…　for　rearranging　their　beautiful　city；　for　taking　incidents　out　of　context；　for　inventing　people　and　places　and　streets　and　panies　and　incidents　that；　hopefully；　may　appear　to　have　existed　but　have　never　existed；　for　this；　truly；　is　a　story。　。。。
　
　June　8；1960
　
　PROLOGUE
　
　11：45　P。M。：
　His　name　was　Ian　Dunross　and　in　the　torrential　rain　he　drove　his　old　MG　sports　car　cautiously　around　the　corner　into　Dirk's　Street　that　skirted　the　Struan　Building　on　the　waterfront　of　Hong　Kong。　The　night　was　dark　and　foul。　Throughout　the　Colony　…　here　on　Hong　Kong　Island；　across　the　harbor　in　Kowloon　and　the　New　Territories　that　were　part　of　the　China　Mainland　…　streets　were　almost　totally　deserted；　everyone　and　everything　battened　down；　waiting　for　Typhoon　Mary。　The　number　nine　storm　warning　had　been　hoisted　at　dusk　and　already　eighty…　to　a　hundred…knot　gusts　came　out　of　the　tempest　that　stretched　a　thousand　miles　southward　to　send　the　rain　horizontal　against　the　roofs　and　hillsides　where　tens　of　thousands　of　squatters　huddled　defenseless　in　their　shantytowns　of　makeshift　hovels。
　Dunross　slowed；　blinded；　the　wipers　unable　to　cope　with　the　quantity　of　rain；　the　wind　tearing　at　the　canvas　roof　and　side　screens。　Then　the　windshield　cleared　momentarily。　At　the　end　of　Dirk's　Street；　directly　ahead；　was　Connaught　Road　and　the　praya；　then　sea　walls　and　the　squat　bulk　of　the　Golden　Ferry　Terminal。　Beyond　in　the　vast；　well…protected　harbor；　half　a　thousand　ships　were　snug　with　all　anchors　out。
　Ahead　on　the　praya；　he　saw　an　abandoned　street　stall　ripped　bodily　off　the　ground　by　a　gust　and　hurled　at　a　parked　car；　wrecking　it。　Then　the　car　and　the　stall　were　sent　skittering　out　of　sight。　His　wrists　were　very　strong　and　he　held　the　wheel　against　the　eddies　that　trembled　his　car　violently。　The　car　was　old　but　well　kept；　the　souped…up　engine　and　brakes　perfect。　He　waited；　his　heart　beating　nicely；　loving　storm；　then　eased　up　onto　the　sidewalk　to　park　in　the　lee；　well　against　the　building；　and　got　out。
　He　was　fair…haired　with　blue　eyes；　age　thirty…eight；　lean　and　trim　and　he　wore　an　old　raincoat　and　cap。　Rain　drenched　him　as　he　hurried　along　the　side　street　then　ducked　around　the　corner　to　hurry　for　the　main　entrance　of　the　twenty…two…story　building。　Over　the　huge　doorway　was　the　Struan　crest　…　the　Red　Lion　of　Scotland　entwined　with　the　Green　Dragon　of　China。　Gathering　himself　he　strode　up　the　broad　steps　and　went　in。
　〃Evening；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　the　Chinese　concierge　said。
　〃The　tai…pan　sent　for　me。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　man　pressed　the　elevator　button　for　him。
　When　the　elevator　stopped；　Dunross　walked　across　the　small　hall；　knocked　and　went　into　the　penthouse　living　room。　〃Evening；　tai…pan；〃　he　said　with　cold　formality。
　Alastair　Struan　was　leaning　against　the　fine　fireplace。　He　was　a　big；　ruddy；　well…kept　Scotsman　with　a　slight　paunch　and　white　hair；　in　his　sixties；　and　he　had　ruled　Struan's　for　six　years。　〃Drink？〃　He　waved　a　hand　at　the　Dom　Pérignon　in　the　silver　bucket。
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　had　never　been　in　the　tai…pan's　private　quarters　before。　The　room　was　spacious　and　well　furnished；　with　Chinese　lacquer　and　good　carpets；　old　oils　of　their　early　clipper　ships　and　steamers　on　the　walls。　The　big　picture　windows　that　would　normally　overlook　all　Hong　Kong；　the　harbor　and　Kowloon　across　the　harbor　were　now　black　and　rain　streaked。
　He　poured。　〃Health；〃　he　said　formally。
　Alastair　Struan　nodded　and；　equally　coldly；　raised　his　glass　in　return。　〃You're　early。〃
　〃Five　minutes　early　is　on　time；　tai…pan。　Isn't　that　what　Father　hammered　into　me？　Is　it　important　that　we　meet　at　midnight？〃
　〃Yes。　It's　part　of　our　custom。　Dirk's　custom。〃
　Dunross　sipped　his　wine；　waiting　in　silence。　The　antique　ship's　clock　ticked　loudly。　His　excitement　increased；　not　knowing　what　to　expect。　Over　the　fireplace　was　a　marriage　portrait　of　a　young　girl。　This　was　Tess　Struan　who　had　married　Culum；　second　tai…pan　and　son　of　their　founder　Dirk　Struan；　when　she　was　sixteen。
　Dunross　studied　it。　A　squall　dashed　the　windows。　〃Filthy　night；〃　he　said。
　The　older　man　just　looked　at　him；　hating　him。　The　silence　grew。　Then　the　old　clock　chimed　eight　bells；　midnight。
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。
　〃e　in；〃　Alastair　Struan　said　with　relief；　glad　that　now　they　could　begin。
　The　door　was　opened　by　Lim　Chu；　the　tai…pan's　personal　servant。　He　stepped　aside　to　admit　Phillip　Chen；　pradore　of　Struan's；　then　closed　the　door　after　him。
　〃Ah；　Phillip；　you're　on　time　as　usual；〃　Alastair　Struan　said；　trying　to　sound　jovial。　〃Champagne？〃
　〃Thank　you；　tai…pan。　Yes；　thank　you。　Good　evening；　Ian　Struan　Dunross；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　to　the　younger　man　with　unusual　formality；　his　English　very　upper…class　British。　He　was　Eurasian；　in　his　late　sixties；　spare；　rather　more　Chinese　than　European；　a　very　handsome　man　with　gray　hair　and　high　cheekbones；　fair　skin；　and　dark；　very　dark　Chinese　eyes。　〃Dreadful　night；　what？〃
　〃Yes；　it　is　indeed；　Uncle　Chen；〃　Dunross　replied；　using　the　polite　Chinese　form　of　address　for　Phillip；　liking　him　and　respecting　him　as　much　as　he　despised　his　cousin　Alastair。
　〃They　say　this　typhoon's　going　to　be　a　bastard。〃　Alastair　Struan　was　pouring　the　champagne　into　fine　glasses。　He　handed　Phillip　Chen　a　glass　first；　then　Dunross。　〃Health！〃
　They　drank。　A　rain　squall　rattled　the　windows。　〃Glad　I'm　not　afloat　tonight；〃　Alastair　Struan　said　thoughtfully。　〃So；　Phillip；　here　you　are　again。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。　I'm　honored。　Yes；　very　honored。〃　He　sensed　the　violence　between　the　two　men　but　dismissed　it。　Violence　is　a　pattern；　he　thought；　when　a　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House　hands　over　power。
　Alastair　Struan　sipped　again；　enjoying　the　wine。　At　length　he　said；　〃Ian；　it's　our　custom　that　there　be　a　witness　to　a　handing　over　from　tai…pan　to　tai…pan。　It's　always　…　and　only　…　our　current　pradore。　Phillip；　how　many　times　does　this　make？〃
　〃I've　been　witness　four　times；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Phillip　has　known　almost　all　of　us。　He　knows　too　many　of　our　secrets。　Eh；　old　friend？〃　Phillip　Chen　just　smiled。　〃Trust　him；　Ian。　His　counsel's　wise。　You　can　trust　him。〃
　As　much　as　any　tai…pan　should　trust　anyone；　Dunross　thought　grimly。　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Alastair　Struan　set　down　his　glass。　〃First：　Ian　Struan　Dunross；　I　ask　you　formally；　do　you　want　to　be　tai…pan　of　Struan's？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃You　swear　by　God　that　all　of　these　proceedings　will　be　kept　secret　by　you　and　not　divulged　to　anyone　but　your　successor？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Swear　it　formally。〃
　〃I　swear　by　God　these　proceedings　will　be　secret　and　never　divulged　to　anyone　but　my　successor。〃
　〃Here。〃　The　tai…pan　handed　him　a　parchment；　yellow　with　age。　〃Read　it　aloud。〃
　Dunross　took　it。　The　writing　was　spidery；　but　perfectly　legible。　He　glanced　at　the　date　…　July　15；　1841　…　his　excitement　soaring。　〃Is　this　Dirk　Struan's　writing？〃
　〃Aye。　Most　of　it　…　part　was　added　by　his　son；　Culum　Struan。　Of　course　we've　photocopies　in　case　of　damage。　Read　it！〃
　〃　'My　Legacy　shall　bind　every　tai…pan　that　succeedeth　me　and　he　shall　read　it　aloud　and　shall　swear　before　God　in　front　of　witnesses　in　the　manner　set　forth　by　me；　Dirk　Struan；　founder　of　Struan　and　pany；　to　accept　them；　and　to　ever　keep　them　secret；　prior　to　taking　to　himself　my　mantle。　I　require　this　to　ensure　a　pleasing　continuity　and　in　anticipation　of　difficulties　which　will；　in　the　following　years；　beset　my　successors　because　of　the　blood　I　have　spilled；　because　of　my　debts　of　honor；　and　because　of　the　vagaries　of　the　ways　of　China　to　which　we　are　wedded；　which　are　without　doubt　unique　on　this　earth。　This　is　my　Legacy：
　〃　'First：　There　shall　be　only　one　tai…pan　at　one　time　and　he　hath　total；　absolute　authority　over　the　pany；　power　to　employ　or　remove　from　employment　all　others；　authority　over　all　our　captains　and　our　ships　and　panies　wherever　they　may　be。　The　tai…pan　is　always　alone；　that　being　the　joy　and　the　hurt　of　it。　His　privacy　must　be　guarded　by　all　and　his　back　protected　by　all。　Whatsoever　he　orders；　it　shall　be　obeyed；　and　no　mittees　or　courts　or　inner　circles　shall　ever　be　formed　or　allowed　in　the　pany　to　curb　this　absolute　power。
　〃　'Second：　When　the　tai…pan　stands　on　the　quarterdeck　of　any　of　our　ships　he　takes　precedence　over　the　captain　thereof；　and　his　battle　orders　or　sailing　orders　are　law。　All　captains　will　be　so　sworn　before　God；　before　appointment　to　any　of　our　ships。
　〃　'Third：　The　tai…pan　alone　chooses　his　successor　who　shall　be　selected　only　from　an　Inner　Court　of　six　men。　Of　these；　one　shall　be　our　pradore　who　shall；　in　perpetuity；　be　from　the　House　of　Chen。　The　other　five　shall　be　worthy　to　be　tai…pan；　shall　be　good　men　and　true　with　at　least　five　whole　years　of　service　in　the　pany　as　China　Traders；　and　shall　be　wholesome　in　spirit。　They　must　be　Christian　and　must　be　kinsmen　to　the　clan　Struan　by　birth　or　marriage　…　my　line　and　my　brother　Robb's　line　not　taking　precedence；　unless　by　fortitude　or　qualities　over　and　above　all　others。　This　Inner　Court　may　be　advisors　to　the　tai…pan　if　he　so　desires；　but　let　it　be　said　again；　the　vote　of　the　tai…pan　shall　weight　seven　against　one　for　each　of　them。
　〃　'Fourth：　If　the　tai…pan　be　lost　at　sea；　or　killed　in　battle；　or　vanished　for　six　lunar　months；　before　he　hath　his　successor　chosen；　then　the　Inner　Court　shall　elect　one　of　their　members　to　succeed；　each　having　one　vote；　except　the　vote　of　the　pradore　shall　count　four。　The　tai…pan　shall　then　be　sworn　in　the　same　manner　set　forth　before　his　fellows　…　those　who　voted　against　his　election　in　open　ballot　being　expelled　at　once；　without　remuneration；　from　the　pany　forever。
　〃　'Fifth：　Election　to　the　Inner　Court；　or　removal　therefrom；　shall　be　solely　at　the　tai…pan's　pleasure　and；　on　his　retirement　which　shall　be　at　a　time　when　it　pleasures　him；　he　shall　take　no　more　than　ten　parts　of　every　hundred　of　all　value　for　himself；　except　that　all　our　ships　shall　always　be　excluded　from　any　valuation　。　。　。　our　ships；　their　captains　and　their　crews　being　our　lifeblood　and　our　lifeline　into　future　times。
　〃　'Sixth：　Each　tai…pan　shall　approve　the　election　of　the　pradore。　The　pradore　shall　acknowledge　in　writing　prior　to　his　election　that　he　may　be　removed　at　any　time；　without　need　for　explanations；　that　he　will　step　aside　should　the　tai…pan　wish　it。
　〃　'Last：　The　tai…pan　shall　swear　his　successor；　whom　he　alone　chooses；　in　the　presence　of　the　pradore　using　the　words　set　down　under　my　hand　in　our　family　Bible；　here　in　Hong　Kong；　this　fifteenth　day　of　July　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1841。'　〃
　Dunross　exhaled。　〃It's　signed　by　Dirk　Struan　and　witnessed　by　…　I　can't　read　the　chop　characters；　sir；　they're　archaic。〃
　Alastair　glanced　at　Phillip　Chen　who　said；　〃The　first　witness　is　my　grandfather's　foster　father；　Chen　Sheng　Arn；　our　first　pradore。　The　second；　my　great…aunt；　T'Chung　Jin　May…may。〃
　〃Then　the　legend's　true！〃　Dunross　said。
　〃Some　of　i