jamesclavell.noblehouse-第48章

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　〃Seven　odd　months　ago　you　changed　your　crewing　policy。　Up　to　that　time　Struan's　had　used　exclusively　Cantonese　crew　on　their　ships；　then；　for　some　reason　you　decided　to　employ　Shanghainese。　Right？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　remembered　that　Tsu…yan；　also　Shanghainese；　had　suggested　it；　saying　that　it　would　do　Struan's　a　lot　of　good　to　extend　help　to　some　of　their　northern　refugees。　〃After　all；　tai…pan；　they're　just　as　good　mariners；〃　Tsu…yan　had　said；　〃and　their　wages　are　very　petitive。〃
　〃So　Struan's　signed　on　a　Shanghainese　crew　into　Eastern　Cloud　…　this　was　the　first　I　believe　…　and　the　Cantonese　crew　that　wasn't　hired　lost　all　face　so　they　plained　to　their　triad　Red　Rod　leader　wh…　〃
　〃e　off　it　for　God's　sake；　our　crews　aren't　triads！〃
　〃I've　said　many　times　the　Chinese　are　great　joiners；　Ian。　All　right；　let's　call　the　triad　with　Red　Rod　rank　their　union　representative　…　though　I　know　you　don't　have　unions　either　…　but　this　bugger　said　in　no　uncertain　terms；　oh　ko　we　really　have　lost　face　because　of　those　northern　louts；　I'll　fix　the　bastards；　and　he　tipped　an　Indian　informer　here　who；　for　a　large　part　of　the　reward；　agreed　of　course　in　advance；　and　passed　on　the　info　to　the　Indian　consulate。〃
　〃What？〃
　Brian　Kwok　beamed。　〃Yes。　The　reward　was　split　twenty…eighty　between　the　Indian　and　the　Cantonese　crew　of　the　Eastern　Cloud　that　should　have　been　…　Cantonese　face　was　regained　and　the　despised　Shanghainese　northern　trash　put　into　a　stinking　Indian　pokey　and　their　face　lost　instead。〃
　〃Oh　Christ！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　have　proof？〃
　〃Oh　yes！　But　let's　just　say　that　our　Indian　friend　is　helping　us　with　future　inquiries；　in　return　for；　er；　services　rendered；　so　we'd　prefer　not　to　name　him。　Your　'union　shop　steward'？　Ah；　one　of　his　names　was　Big　Mouth　Tuk　and　he　was　a　stoker　on　Eastern　Cloud　for　three　odd　years。　Was　because；　alas；　we　won't　see　him　again。　We　caught　him　in　full　14K　regalia　last　week　…　in　very　senior　Red　Rod　regalia　…　courtesy　of　a　friendly　Shanghainese　informer；　the　brother　of　one　of　your　crew　that　languished　in　said　stinky　Indian　pokey。〃
　〃He's　been　deported？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　quick　as　a　wink。　We　really　don't　approve　of　triads。　They　are　criminal　gangs　nowadays　and　into　all　sorts　of　vile　occupations。　He　was　off　to　Taiwan　where　I　believe　he　won't　be　wele　at　all　…　seeing　as　how　the　northern　Shanghainese　Green　Pang　triad　society　and　the　southern　Cantonese　14K　triad　society　are　still　fighting　for　control　of　Hong　Kong。　Big　Mouth　Tuk　was　a　426　all　right…　〃
　〃What's　a　426？〃
　〃Oh；　thought　you　might　know。　All　officials　of　triads　are　known　by　numbers　as　well　as　symbolic　titles　…　the　numbers　always　divisible　by　the　mystical　number　three。　A　leader's　a　489；　which　also　adds　up　to　twenty…one；　which　adds　up　to　three；　and　twenty…one's　also　a　multiple　of　three；　representing　creation；　times　seven；　death；　signifying　rebirth。　A　second　rank's　a　White　Fan；　438；　a　Red　Rod's　a　426。　The　lowest's　a　49。〃
　〃That's　not　divisible　by　three；　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃Yes。　But　four　times　nine　is　thirty…six；　the　number　of　the　secret　blood　oaths。〃　Brian　Kwok　shrugged。　〃You　know　how　potty　we　Chinese　are　over　numbers　and　numerology。　He　was　a　Red　Rod；　a　426；　Ian。　We　caught　him。　So　triads　exist；　or　existed；　on　one　of　your　ships　at　least。　Didn't　they？〃
　〃So　it　seems。〃　Dunross　was　cursing　himself　for　not　prethinking　that　of　course　Shanghainese　and　Cantonese　face　would　be　involved　so　of　course　there'd　be　trouble。　And　now　he　knew　he　was　in　another　trap。　Now　he　had　seven　ships　with　Shanghainese　crews　against　fifty…odd　Cantonese。
　〃Christ；　I　can't　fire　the　Shanghainese　crews　I've　already　hired　and　if　I　don't　there'll　be　more　of　the　same　and　loss　of　face　on　both　sides。　What's　the　solution　to　that　one？〃　he　asked。
　〃Assign　certain　routes　exclusively　to　the　Shanghainese；　but　only　after　consulting　with　their　426　Red　Rod　。。。　sorry；　with　their　shop　stewards；　and　of　course　their　Cantonese　counterparts　…　only　after　consulting　with　a　well…known　soothsayer　who　suggested　to　you　it　would　be　fantastic　joss　to　both　sides　to　do　this。　How　about　Old　Blind　Tung？〃
　〃Old　Blind　Tung？〃　Dunross　laughed。　〃Perfect！　Brian　you're　a　genius！　One　good　turn　deserves　another。　For　your　ears　only？〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Guaranteed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Buy　Struan's　first　thing　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃How　many　shares？〃
　〃As　many　as　you　can　afford。〃
　〃How　long　do　I　hold　them？〃
　〃How　are　your　cojones？〃
　Brian　whistled　tonelessly。　〃Thanks。〃　He　thought　a　moment；　then　forced　his　mind　once　more　onto　the　matters　in　hand。　〃Back　to　Eastern　Cloud。　Now　we　e　to　one　of　the　interesting　bits；　Ian。　36；000　taels　of　gold　is　legally　worth　1；514；520　U。S。　But　melted　down　into　the　smugglers'　five…tael　bars　and　secretly　delivered　on　shore　in　Calcutta；　that　shipment'd　be　worth　two；　perhaps　three　times　that　amount　to　private　buyers　…　say　4。5　million　U。S。；　right？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Exactly。〃
　〃Oh；　but　I　do。　The　lost　profit's　over　3　million　…　the　lost　investment　about　one　and　a　half。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃So　we　all　know　Shanghainese　are　as　secretive　and　cliquey　as　Cantonese；　or　Chu　Chow　or　Fukenese　or　any　other　tiny　groupings　of　Chinese。　So　of　course　the　Shanghainese　crew　were　the　smugglers　…　have　to　be；　Ian；　though　we　can't　prove　it；　yet。　So　you　can　bet　your　bottom　dollar　that　Shanghainese　also　smuggled　the　gold　out　of　Macao　to　Hong　Kong　and　onto　Eastern　Cloud；　that　Shanghainese　money　bought　the　gold　originally　in　Macao；　and　that　therefore　certainly　part　of　that　money　was　Green　Pang　funds。〃
　〃That　doesn't　follow。〃
　〃Have　you　heard　from　Tsu…yan　yet？〃
　Dunross　watched　him。　〃No。　Have　you？〃
　〃Not　yet　but　we're　making　inquiries。〃　Brian　watched　him　back。　〃My　first　point　is　that　the　Green　Pang　has　been　mauled　and　criminals　loathe　losing　their　hard…earned　money；　so　Struan's　can　expect　lots　of　trouble　unless　you　nip　the　trouble　in　the　bud　as　I've　suggested。〃
　〃Not　all　Green　Pang　are　criminals。〃
　〃That's　a　matter　of　opinion；　Ian。　Second　point；　for　your　ears　only：　We're　sure　Tsu…yan's　in　the　gold…smuggling　racket。　My　third　and　last　point　is　that　if　a　certain　pany　doesn't　want　its　ships　impounded　for　smuggling　gold；　it　could　easily　lessen　the　risk　by　reducing　its　gold　imports　into　Macao。〃
　〃e　again？〃　Dunross　said；　pleasantly　surprised　to　hear　that　he　had　managed　to　keep　his　voice　sounding　calm；　wondering　how　much　Special　Intelligence　knew　and　how　much　they　were　guessing。
　Brian　Kwok　sighed　and　continued　to　lay　out　the　information　that　Roger　Crosse　had　given　him。　〃Nelson　Trading。〃
　With　a　great　effort；　Dunross　kept　his　face　impassive。　〃Nelson　Trading？〃
　〃Yes。　Nelson　Trading　pany　Limited　of　London。　As　you　know；　Nelson　Trading　has　the　Hong　Kong　Government's　exclusive　license　for　the　purchase　of　gold　bullion　on　the　international　market　for　Hong　Kong's　jewelers；　and；　vastly　more　important；　the　equally　exclusive　monopoly　for　transshipment　of　gold　bullion　in　bond；　through　Hong　Kong　to　Macao　…　along　with　a　minor　second　pany；　Saul　Feinheimer　Bullion　pany；　also　of　London。　Nelson　Trading　and　Feinheimer's　have　several　things　in　mon。　Several　directors　for　example；　the　same　solicitors　for　example。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　I　believe　you're　also　on　the　board。〃
　〃I'm　on　the　board　of　almost　seventy　panies；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃True　and　not　all　of　those　are　wholly　or　even　partially　owned　by　Struan's。　Of　course；　some　could　be　wholly　owned　through　nominees；　secretly；　couldn't　they？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　〃It's　fortunate　in　Hong　Kong　we　don't　have　to　list　directors　…　or　holdings；　isn't　it？〃
　〃What's　your　point；　Brian？〃
　〃Another　coincidence：　Nelson　Trading's　registered　head　offices　in　the　city　of　London　are　in　the　same　building　as　your　British　subsidiary；　Struan　London　Limited。〃
　〃That's　a　big　building；　Brian；　one　of　the　best　locations　in　the　city。　There　must　be　a　hundred　panies　there。〃
　〃Many　thousands　if　you　include　all　the　panies　registered　with　solicitors　there　…　all　the　holding　panies　that　hold　other　panies　with　nominee　directors　that　hide　all　sorts　of　skeletons。〃
　〃So？〃　Dunross　was　thinking　quite　clearly　now；　pondering　where　Brian　had　got　all　this　information；　wondering　too　where　in　the　hell　all　this　was　leading。　Nelson　Trading　had　been　a　secret；　wholly　owned　subsidiary　through　nominees　ever　since　it　was　formed　in　1953　specifically　for　the　Macao　gold　trade　…　Macao　being　the　only　country　in　Asia　where　gold　importation　was　legal。
　〃By　the　way；　Ian；　have　you　met　that　Portuguese　genius　from　Macao；　Signore　Lando　Mata？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　have。　Charming　man。〃
　〃Yes　he　is　…　and　so　well　connected。　The　rumor　is　that　some　fifteen　years　ago　he　persuaded　the　Macao　authorities　to　create　a　monopoly　for　the　importation　of　gold；　then　to　sell　the　monopoly　to　him；　and　a　couple　of　friends；　for　a　modest　yearly　tax：　about　one　U。S。　dollar　an　ounce。　He's　the　same　fellow；　Ian；　who　first　got　the　Macao　authorities　to　legalize　gambling　。。。　and　curiously；　to　grant　him　and　a　couple　of　friends　the　same　monopoly。　All　very　cosy；　what？〃
　Dunross　did　not　answer；　just　stared　back　at　the　smile　and　at　the　eyes　that　did　not　smile。
　〃So　everything　went　smoothly　for　a　few　years；〃　Brian　continued；　〃then　in　'54　he　was　approached　by　some　Hong　Kong　gold　enthusiasts　…　our　Hong　Kong　gold　law　was　changed　in　'54　…　who　offered　a　now　legal　improvement　on　the　scheme：　their　pany　buys　the　gold　bullion　legally　in　the　world　bullion　markets　on　behalf　of　this　Macao　syndicate　at　the　legal　35　an　ounce　and　brings　it　to　Hong　Kong　openly　by　plane　or　by　ship。　On　arrival；　our　own　Hong　Kong　customs　fellows　legally　guard　and　supervise　the　transshipment　from　Kai　Tak　or　the　dock　to　the　Macao　ferry　or　the　Catalina　flying　boat。　When　the　ferry　or　flying　boat　arrives　in　Macao　it's　met　by　Portuguese　Customs　officials　and　the　bullion；　all　in　regulation　four…hundred…ounce　bars；　is　transshipped　under　guard　to　cars；　taxis　actually；　and　taken　to　the　bank。　It's　a　grotty；　ugly　little　building　that　does　no　ordinary　banking；　has　no　known　customers　…　except　the　syndicate　…　never　opens　its　door　…　except　for　the　gold　…　and　doesn't　like　visitors　at　all。　Guess　who　owns　it？　Mr。　Mata　and　his　syndicate。　Once　inside　their　bank　the　gold　vanishes！〃　Brian　Kwok　beamed　like　a　magician　doing　his　greatest　trick。　〃Fifty…three　tons　this　year　so　far。　Forty…eight　tons　last　year！　Same　the　year　before　and　the　year　before　that　and　so　on。〃
　〃That's　a　lot　of　gold；〃　Dunross　said　helpfully。
　〃Yes　it　is。　Very　strangely　the　Macao　authorities　or　the　Hong　Kong　ones　don't　seem　to　care　that　what　goes　in　never　seems　to　e　out。　You　with　me　still？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Of　course；　what　really　happens　is　that　once　inside　the　bank　the　gold's　melted　down　from　the　regulation　four…hundred…ounce　bars　into　little　pieces；　into　two；　or　the　more　usual　five…tael　bars　which　are　much　more　easily　carried；　and　smuggled。　Now　we　e　to　the　only　illegal　part　of　the　whole　marvelous　chain：　getting　the　gold　out　of　Macao　and　smuggling　it　into　Hong　Kong。　Of　course；　it's　not　illegal　to　remove　it　from　Macao；　only　to　smuggle　it　into　Hong　Kong。　But　you　know　and　I　know　that　it's　relatively　easy　to　smuggle　anything　into　Hong　Kong。　And　the　incredible　beauty　of　it　all　is　that　once　in　Hong　Kong；　however　the　gold　gets　there　…　it's　perfectly　legal　for　anyone　to　own　it　and　no　questions　asked。　Unlike　say　in　the　States　or　Britain　where　no　citizen　is　ever　allowed　to　own　any　gold　bullion　private