jamesclavell.noblehouse-第171章

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　Claudia　made　another　note。　〃Master　Duncan　called　from　Sydney　to　say　he　had　a　great　evening　and　he's　on　the　Monday　Qantas　flight。　Here's　a　list　of　your　other　calls。〃
　He　glanced　at　the　long　list；　wondering　fleetingly　if　his　son　was　no　longer　a　virgin；　or　was　not　even　before　the　lovely　Sheila。　Thinking　of　a　lovely　sheila　reminded　him　again　of　the　exquisite　Snow　Jade。　Curious　her　name　was　Snow　Jade　…　she　reminded　me　so　much　of　Elegant　Jade　who's　somewhere　in　Taipei　in　charge　of　a　House　of　Many　Pleasures。　Perhaps　the　time's　e　to　find　Elegant　Jade　and　thank　her。　Once　more　he　remembered　old　Chen…chen's　admonition　when　he　was　dying。　〃Listen；　my　son；〃　old　Chen…chen　had　whispered；　his　voice　failing；　〃never　try　to　find　her。　You　will　take　away　her　face　and　take　away　beauty；　both　from　her　and　from　you。　Now　she'll　be　old；　her　Jade　Gate　withered　and　her　pleasures　will　e　from　good　food　and　good　brandy。　Children　of　the　Pleasure　World　do　not　age　well；　nor　do　their　tempers。　Leave　her　to　her　joss　and　to　her　memories。　Be　kind。　Always　be　kind　to　those　who　give　you　their　youth　and　their　yin　to　succor　your　yang。　Eeeee；　how　I　wish　I　was　as　young　as　you　again。　。。。〃
　Dunross　sighed。　His　evening　with　Snow　Jade　had　been　impeccable。　And　filled　with　laughter。
　〃I　don't　eat　dessert；〃　he　had　replied　at　once。　〃I'm　on　a　diet。〃
　〃Oh　ko；　not　you；　tai…pan。　I　help　you　lose　weight　never　mind。〃
　〃Thank　you　but　no　dessert　and　never　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Ah！　Four　Fingers　said　you'd　say　that；　tai…pan；　and　for　me　not　to　be　shamed。〃　She　had　beamed　and　poured　him　a　whiskey。　〃I'm　to　say；　Have　passport　can　travel。〃
　They　had　laughed　together。　〃What　else　did　Four　Fingers　say？〃　The　tip　of　her　tongue　touched　her　lips。　〃Only　that　foreign　devils　are　mighty　very　peculiar　in　some　things。　Like　saying　no　dessert！　As　if　it　mattered。〃　She　watched　him。　〃I've　never　been　with　a　barbarian　before。〃
　〃Oh？　Some　of　us　are　really　quite　civilized。〃　Dunross　smiled　to　himself；　remembering　how　tempted　he　was；　their　banter　and　the　great　meal；　everything　good…humored　and　satisfying。　Yes。　But　that　doesn't　forgive　that　old　bastard　Four　Fingers；　nor　the　half…coin；　nor　the　theft　of　the　half…coin；　he　thought　grimly；　nor　the　trap　that　he　thinks　he　has　me　in。　But　all　that　es　later。　First　things　e　first。　Concentrate；　there's　a　lot　to　do　before　you　sleep　tonight！
　The　list　Claudia　had　given　him　was　long；　most　of　the　calls　urgent；　and　two　hours　of　work　were　ahead　of　him。　Tiptop　wasn't　on　the　list；　nor　Lando　Mata；　Tightfist　Tung；　Four　Fingers　or　Paul　Choy。　Casey　and　Bartlett　were　there。　Travkin；　Robert　Armstrong。　Jacques　deVille；　Gavallan；　Phillip　Chen；　Dianne　Chen；　Alan　Holdbrook　…　Struan's　in…house　stockbroker　…　Sir　Luis；　and　dozens　of　others　spread　throughout　the　world。　〃We'll　get　to　them　after　Hiro　Toda；　Claudia。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃After　Toda；　I　want　to　see　Jacques　…　then　Phillip　Chen。　Anything　on　Mrs。　Riko　Gresserhoff？〃
　〃Her　plane's　due　in　at　7：00　p。m。　She's　booked　into　the　V　and　A　and　she'll　be　met。　Flowers　are　in　her　room。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　went　into　his　office　and　stared　out　of　the　window。　For　the　time　being　he　had　done　everything　he　could　for　the　Noble　House　and　for　Hong　Kong。　Now　it　was　up　to　joss。　And　the　next　problem。　The　ships。　His　excitement　picked　up。
　〃Hello；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Hello；　Hiro。〃　Dunross　shook　the　outstretched　hand　warmly。
　Hiro　Toda；　managing　director　of　Toda　Shipping　Industries　was　of　an　age　with　Dunross；　trim；　hard；　and　much　shorter；　with　wise　eyes　and　a　ready　smile；　his　accent　slightly　American　from　two　years　of　postgraduate　work　at　UCLA　in　the　late　forties。　〃May　I　introduce　my　associates：　Mr。　Kazunari；　Mr。　Ebe；　Mr。　Kasigi。〃
　The　three　younger　men　bowed　and　Dunross　bowed　back。　They　were　all　dressed　in　dark　suits；　well　cut；　with　white　shirts　and　subdued　ties。
　〃Please　sit　down。〃　Airily　Dunross　waved　to　the　chairs　around　the　small　conference　table。　The　door　opened　and　his　Japanese　interpreter　and　assistant；　Akiko；　came　in。　She　brought　a　tray　with　green　tea；　introduced　herself；　poured　the　tea　delicately；　then　took　her　seat　near　Dunross。　Though　his　Japanese　was　easily　good　enough　for　a　business　meeting　she　was　necessary　for　face。
　Partially　in　Japanese；　partially　in　English；　he　began　the　polite　conversation　about　inconsequential　matters；　that　by　Japanese　custom　preceded　serious　discussion。　It　was　also　Japanese　custom　that　business　meetings　were　shared　by　many　executives；　the　more　senior　the　executive；　usually　the　more　people　who　came　with　him。
　Dunross　waited　patiently。　He　liked　the　other　man。　Hiro　Toda　was　titular　head　of　the　great　shipping　conglomerate　that　had　been　founded　by　his　great…grandfather　almost　a　hundred　years　before。　His　forebears　were　daimyos；　feudal　lords；　until　feudalism　and　the　samurai　class　was　abolished　in　1870　and　modern　Japan　began。　His　authority　in　Toda　Shipping　was　outwardly　all　powerful；　but　as　frequently　happened　in　Japan；　all　real　power　was　centered　in　the　hands　of　his　seventy…three…year…old　father　who；　ostensibly；　was　retired。
　At　length　Toda　came　to　the　point。　〃This　stock　market　collapse　must　be　very　worrying；　tai…pan。〃
　〃A　temporary　loss　of　confidence。　I'm　sure　everything　will　work　itself　out　over　the　weekend。〃
　〃Ah　yes。　I　hope　so　too。〃
　〃How　long　are　you　staying；　Hiro？〃
　〃Till　Sunday。　Yes　Sunday。　Then　on　to　Singapore　and　Sydney。　I　shall　be　back　for　the　closing　of　our　business　with　you　next　week。　I'm　glad　to　tell　you　your　ships　are　ahead　of　schedule。〃　Toda　put　a　sheaf　of　papers　on　the　table。　〃Here's　a　detailed　report。〃
　〃Excellent！〃　Dunross　swung　to　the　attack；　blessing　the　gods　and　AMG　and　Kirk。　ing　home　last　night　he　had　suddenly　realized　the　enormity　of　the　key　AMG　and　Kirk　had　given　him　to　a　plan　he　had　been　working　on　for　almost　a　year。　〃Would　you　like　to　bring　forward　your　payment　schedule？〃
　〃Ah！〃　The　other　man　covered　his　surprise。　〃Perhaps　I　could　discuss　that　with　my　colleagues　later　but　I'm　glad　to　hear　that　everything　is　in　control　then；　and　the　takeover　bid　contained。〃
　〃Didn't　Sun　Tzu　say；　'He　who　exercises　no　forethought　but　makes　light　of　his　opponents　is　sure　to　be　captured　by　them'？　Gornt　is　certainly　snapping　at　our　heels；　of　course　the　run　on　our　banks　is　serious；　but　the　worst　is　over。　Everything's　just　fine。　Don't　you　think　we　should　expand　the　amount　of　business　we're　doing　together？〃
　Toda　smiled。　〃Two　ships；　tai…pan？　Giants　by　present　standards。　In　one　year？　That's　not　a　minor　connection。〃
　〃It　could　perhaps　be　twenty…two　ships；〃　he　said；　outwardly　nonchalant；　his　whole　being　concentrated。　〃I　have　a　proposal　for　you；　in　fact　for　all　Japanese　shipbuilding　industrial　plexes。　At　the　moment　you　just　build　ships　and　sell　them；　either　to　gai…jin　…　outsiders　…　to　ourselves　for　example；　or　to　Japanese　shippers。　If　to　Japanese　shippers；　your　operating　costs　with　the　high　cost　of　Japanese　crews　…　which　by　your　law　you　have　to　carry　…　are　already　being　nonpetitive；　like　American　ships　with　American　crews。　Soon　you　won't　be　able　to　pete　with　the　Greeks；　with　others　and　with　us；　because　our　costs　will　be　so　much　lower。〃
　Dunross　saw　them　all　concentrating　on　Akiko　who　was　translating　almost　simultaneously　and　he　thought　with　glee　of　another　Sun　Tzu　saying：　〃In　all　fighting；　the　direct　method　may　be　used　for　joining　battle　but　indirect　methods　will　be　needed　to　secure　victory。〃　Then　he　continued；　〃Second　point：　Japan　has　to　import　everything　it　needs　to　support　its　rising　economy　and　standard　of　living　and　its　industrial　plex；　and　certainly　the　95　percent　of　all　energy　it　needs　to　sustain　it。　Oil's　the　key　to　your　future。　Oil　has　to　e　to　you　seaborne；　so　do　all　your　bulk　raw　materials　…　always　carried　by　bulk　cargo　ships。　Always　seaborne。　You're　building　the　great　ships　very　efficiently；　but　as　shipowners　your　operating　costs　and　your　own　internal　tax　structure　are　going　to　drive　you　out　of　the　marketplace。　My　proposal　for　you　is　simple：　You　stop　trying　to　own　your　own　uneconomic　merchant　fleets。　You　sell　your　ships　abroad　on　a　lease…back　basis。〃
　〃What？〃
　Dunross　saw　them　staring　at　him；　astounded。　He　waited　a　moment；　then　continued；　〃A　ship's　life　is；　say　fifteen　years。　You　sell　your　bulk　carrier　say　to　us；　but　as　part　of　the　deal　lease　it　back　for　fifteen　years。　We　supply　the　captain　and　crew　and　operate　her。　Prior　to　delivery；　you　charter　the　ship　to　Mitsubishi　or　another　of　your　own　great　panies　for　bulk　supplies　over　fifteen　years　…　coal；　iron　ore；　rice；　wheat；　oil；　whatever　you　want。　This　system　guarantees　Japan　a　continuous　supply　of　raw　material；　set　up　at　your　whim　and　controlled　by　Japanese。　Japan　Inc。　can　increase　its　financing　to　you；　because　you　yourselves；　in　effect；　are　the　carriers　of　your　own　vital　raw　materials。
　〃Your　industries　can　plan　ahead。　Japan　Inc。　can　afford　to　assist　financially　selected　buyers　of　your　ships；　because　the　purchase　price　is　easily　covered　by　the　fifteen　years　charter。　And　since　the　ships　are　on　long…term　charter；　our　bankers；　like　Blacs　and　the　Victoria；　will　also　be　happy　to　finance　the　rest。　Everyone　gains。　You　gain　most　because　you　ensure　a　long…term　supply　line　under　your　control。　And　I　haven't　yet　mentioned　the　tax　advantages　to　you；　to　Toda　Industries　particularly！〃
　Dunross　got　up　in　a　dead　silence；　the　others　staring　at　him；　and　went　to　his　desk。　He　brought　back　some　stapled　reports。　〃Here's　a　tax　study　done　by　our　people　in　Japan　with　specific　examples；　including　methods　to　depreciate　the　ship's　cost　for　added　profit。　Here's　a　suggested　plan　for　bulk　carriers。　This　one　documents　various　ways　Struan's　could　assist　you　in　charters；　should　we　be　one　of　the　foreign　shippers　chosen。　For　example；　Woolara　Mines　of　Australia　are　prepared；　at　our　direction；　to　enter　into　a　contract　with　Toda　Industries　to　supply　95　percent　of　their　coal　output　for　one　hundred　years。〃
　Toda　gasped。　So　did　the　others　when　Akiko　had　translated。　Woolara　Mines　was　a　huge；　highly　efficient　and　productive　mine。
　〃We　could　assist　you　in　Australia　which　is　the　treasury　of　Asia　…　supplying　all　the　copper；　wheat；　foodstuffs；　fruit；　iron　ore　you　need。　I'm　told　privately　there　are　new；　immense　deposits　of　high…grade　iron　ore　just　discovered　in　Western　Australia　within　easy　access　of　Perth。　There's　oil；　uranium；　thorium；　and　other　precious　materials　you　require。　Wool。　Rice。　With　my　scheme　you　control　your　own　flow　of　materials；　the　foreign　shippers　get　ships　and　a　steady　cash　flow　to　finance　and　order　more　ships；　to　lease　back；　to　carry　more　and　more　raw　materials　and　more　cars；　more　television　sets；　more　electronic　goods；　and　more　goods　outward　bound　to　the　States　…　and　heavy　industry　plants　and　machines　to　the　rest　of　the　world。　Last；　back　to　your　most　vital　import　of　all：　oil。　Here's　a　suggested　pattern　for　a　new　fleet　of　bulk　oil　carriers；　half　a　million　to　a　million　tons　dead　weight　each。〃
　Toda　gasped　and　abruptly　finished　the　translation　himself。　Astounded；　they　all　sucked　in　their　breath　when　he　mentioned　the　half　a　million　to　a　million　tons。
　Dunross　sat　back　enjoying　the　tension。　He　watched　them　glance　at　one　another；　then　at　Toda；　waiting　for　him　to　react。
　〃I　。。。　I　think　we　had　better　study　your　proposals；　tai…pan；〃　Toda　said；　trying　to　keep　his　voice　level。　〃Obviously　they　are　far…reaching。　May　we　get　back　to　you　later？〃
　〃Yes。　You're　ing　to　the　races　tomorrow？　Lu