Jeff Stone_Five Ancestors 06 Read online

  “Well done!” Tonglong said, taking the scrolls. He unrolled the first one, and a confused look crossed his face. He unrolled the second and the third, and finally the fourth.

  In a fury, Tonglong hurled the first three scrolls across the room, holding up the fourth for ShaoShu to see.

  “Did you even bother to look at these?” Tonglong asked.

  “Yes, sir,” ShaoShu replied. “I looked at one.”

  “Which one?”

  ShaoShu leaned forward and inspected the scroll in Tonglong's hand. “That one.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “I think so, sir.”

  Tonglong's cold eyes burned with rage. “What does it say?”

  “It's full of numbers and characters. Words, sir.”

  “What words?”

  ShaoShu shrugged, tears filling his eyes. “I don't know! I'm sorry, sir! I can't read.”

  Tonglong threw the scroll against the wall. “That one is a list of women's undergarments! Why didn't you tell me you couldn't read?”

  ShaoShu saw Lei laughing silently next to Tong long and lowered his head. “I'm an orphan, sir. I never went to school.”

  “Get out of my sight!” Tonglong roared. “You are to remain in your quarters indefinitely.”

  ShaoShu looked up. Indefinitely? He would never be able to get back to Hok and Ying if he was stuck in his quarters.

  “But, sir,” ShaoShu said, his mind racing, “I can still be of use. I saw a lot of things, and I have a great memory. If you come with me to the shed where Lei keeps the guns and cannons, I think I can tell you how many of each I saw.”

  Tonglong glowered at him. “Are you certain?”

  “I'd bet my life on it, sir.”

  “I'll take that bet,” Tonglong said, standing. “You will not fail me again.”

  An hour later, ShaoShu stood between Lei and Tong long, pointing to items and providing quantities faster than Lei could write them down. Lei filled a full inventory scroll before ShaoShu said, “I think that's it, sir.”

  Lei put his writing brush down and grinned. “Not bad, for a kid.”

  Tonglong nodded. “Not bad at all, assuming he is correct. Let's see what else he remembers.”

  “Sir?” ShaoShu said.

  “Tell us about the warehouse and the weapons wing,” Tonglong said. “You never explained how you managed to sneak in there.”

  ShaoShu thought for a moment. He didn't want Tonglong or Lei to know that he already knew LoBak. “I followed LoBak, the apothecary owner, inside.”

  “The apothecary owner?” Tonglong asked.

  “LoBak administers treatments to HaiZhe every night,” Lei said. “I suggested ShaoShu use that to his advantage.” He turned to ShaoShu. “What about the secret door to HaiZhe's private quarters and the guard stations along the way?”

  “The guards were easy to sneak past,” ShaoShu said. “Inside, they were always in pairs, and they spent most of their time talking instead of watching the hallways. I saw LoBak push a special jellyfish on a big mural to open the secret door, and I waited a little while before copying him. I got lucky that no one was in the office when I snuck in. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks for telling me about the trap—”

  “That is excellent,” Lei interrupted. “You are most welcome.”

  Tonglong nodded, seemingly satisfied. “I've been told that you exited the facility by blasting a hole in the warehouse exterior.”

  “Yes, sir,” ShaoShu said. “There was only one exit out of HaiZhe's weapons wing, and it was back through the office that was blocked by guards. I had to make my own little door.” He smiled.

  Lei chuckled. “You certainly are something else, ShaoShu.”

  Tonglong rubbed his chin. “Are you saying that the weapons wing is enclosed by an exterior wall, and you blasted through it without blowing up the entire warehouse?”

  “Yes, sir. The gunpowder is stored against a different wall, far away. There are also many rows of things between the wall I blasted and the gunpowder barrels.”

  “I see,” Tonglong said. “Is it true that the hole you made was in the front of the building, facing the river?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What size charge did you use?”

  “I don't know. It was a small barrel of black powder about this big.” ShaoShu held up both hands to show the size. “I don't see one here, but I believe I've heard Lei call it a powder keg.”

  Tonglong nodded. “What sort of material was the wall made of?”

  “Brick, sir.”

  Tonglong grinned.

  “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” Lei asked.

  Tonglong's grin grew into a wide smile. “Forget negotiations. ShaoShu has solved the problem of how we can get in.”

  ShaoShu found himself back aboard another boat before the sun was even halfway across the sky. This time, it was Tonglong's man-o-war. He rubbed his weary eyes and stared at the crowded shore, half-asleep despite the brisk autumn breeze blowing hard against his face. He'd remained on deck because he hoped to slip away the moment they landed. He missed Hok and Ying tremendously.

  HaiZhe's warehouse came into view, and Tonglong roared, “Battle stations!”

  ShaoShu quickly backed away from the rail as men swarmed the cannons along that side of the ship. The great guns had already been primed and loaded to Lei's exact specifications based on Tonglong's requirements.

  “Remember to mind the recoil, gentlemen!” Lei said as he paced the deck. “With these loads, they'll kick like mules. Untie the carriages!”

  Two men from each cannon team released the thick ropes that secured the cannons and their wheeled platforms to the deck and side rail. The two remaining team members at each cannon kept their eyes glued to the shore, awaiting further instructions.

  ShaoShu followed their gaze and saw guards scrambling in front of HaiZhe's warehouse. They knew something was amiss. It wasn't every day they saw a man-o-war pulling up broadside in front of their facility, not to mention one with the six merchant ships in its wake, each packed to its topmasts with soldiers.

  ShaoShu looked up at the four gigantic sails on Tonglong's ship. Like the merchant vessels, the sails had rigid bamboo slats positioned parallel to the water that ran from the sail's wide bottom all the way up to its narrow top. The slats were intended to keep the sail open and were strung close enough for men to climb them like a ladder so they could reach the upper rigging. Soldiers on Tonglong's ship clambered up the slats, long-range pistols tucked into the folds of their robes.

  HaiZhe had a great many armed guards, but they would be no match for Tonglong's shipload of men. And when you factored in the thousand soldiers in the merchant vessels armed with swords and spears, HaiZhe didn't stand a chance.

  Tonglong suddenly shouted, “Fire at will, Com mander!”

  “Aye, aye, General!” Lei shouted back. In a thundering voice, he continued. “On my mark, men! Aim for the northernmost corner of the building. One shot per cannon. We only want to break through the wall, not demolish it. Ready … aim … FIRE!”

  ShaoShu jammed his fingers into his ears and dropped to his knees. The ship rocked violently as cannons roared along its length. His mouse shuddered terribly in its pouch, and smoke thicker than he'd ever imagined blocked out the sun. When it finally began to clear, ShaoShu stood.

  He looked toward shore. Several gaping holes were clearly visible in the side of the warehouse, and he could see guards moving about inside. One man ran outside, carrying a flag attached to a staff. The flag was embroidered with a jellyfish. The man rammed the staff into the ground and dropped to his knees, kowtowing three times in the direction of the ship.

  ShaoShu hurried over to Lei. “What is he doing?”

  “Surrendering,” Lei said with a satisfied grin.

  “Commander Lei!” Tonglong shouted. “I am going ashore with a group of men. Remain here with the ships.”

  “Aye, aye, General,” Lei replied.

  To
nglong's man-o-war eased into a gigantic dock, and Tonglong leaped ashore, followed by more than fifty armed soldiers. The merchant vessels began to dock, too, a thousand men ready to storm the warehouse if Tonglong should command it.

  As Tonglong neared the facility, Lei walked over to one of the sails and began to climb, presumably to get a better view. ShaoShu decided this was his chance to escape. He lifted one leg over the side rail and heard a loud “Meow!”

  ShaoShu froze.

  From behind, halfway up the sail, ShaoShu heard Lei ask, “Where do you think you are going?”

  “To see if I can help General Tonglong,” ShaoShu said quickly. “I was in there before, remember?”

  After a moment, Lei said, “All right. But I will be watching you.”

  “Yes, sir,” ShaoShu replied. He scrambled over the side and jumped down to the wooden dock, running straight toward the warehouse. Tonglong had just entered, and several soldiers were already posted outside the gaping holes. None of them stopped ShaoShu.

  ShaoShu passed through the warehouse wall in time to see HaiZhe's guards lay down their weapons. There were perhaps fifty, and they kowtowed in unison, each knocking his forehead against the floor three times.

  “You may rise,” Tonglong said. “And you may keep your weapons. You will need them. You all work for me now, and we have work to do.”

  The guards looked up with blank, confused faces, and HaiZhe called out from the far side of the large door, which was wide open. “Do as he says, men. It appears as though my time as your Southern Warlord has come to an end. General Tonglong, would you be so kind as to come here and collect my pistols as proof of my submission to your superior force?”

  Tonglong's eyes narrowed, and he stared at HaiZhe lying on the floor, his useless legs splayed out behind him.

  HaiZhe removed his pistols and set them down, then backed away until he was out of ShaoShu's sight.

  Tonglong headed for the doorway, and ShaoShu remembered the trip wires. “General Tonglong, wait!” he called out. “It's a trap! HaiZhe has silk strings connected to muskets in the ceiling.”

  Tonglong stopped. “What are you doing here, ShaoShu?”

  “I came to see if I could help, and I'm glad I did, sir. Commander Lei cut me off before I could tell you about the trap. I had to sneak beneath it, or I would have been blown to bits.”

  HaiZhe laughed. “That little rat can't be trusted. Come into my office, General, and let me tell you about my old friend LoBak.”

  Tonglong took a step forward, and ShaoShu sprang into action. He grabbed a bag of musket balls and headed for Tonglong, hurling the bag through the doorway.

  KA-POW! POW! POW! POW!

  Musket shot rained down from the ceiling, ricocheting off the floor and walls. Thick smoke billowed through the doorway.

  Tonglong's face hardened, and ShaoShu stared beyond him, through the doorway. From this angle, ShaoShu saw LoBak, bound and gagged, lying next to HaiZhe. Neither appeared to have been injured by the musket fire.

  HaiZhe reached for his pistols.

  BANG!

  HaiZhe's body suddenly lurched backward and went limp, lying still. ShaoShu turned to see Lei holding a smoking pistol, a huge grin on his face.

  “Congratulations, General Tonglong,” Lei said. “You are now officially the Southern Warlord.”

  Tonglong spun around. “I thought I told you to stay with the ship!?” he said angrily.

  “And miss all the fun?” Lei replied. “Not a chance.”

  Tonglong scowled. “I would have preferred to take HaiZhe alive. How long have you been standing there?”

  “Long enough to know what I had to do, sir. I am sorry if you feel I did the wrong thing. It won't happen again.”

  Tonglong cursed, walking away toward his new soldiers and the huge stockpile of gunpowder barrels against the far wall.

  Lei headed for ShaoShu. “Why did you say that I cut you off before you could tell General Tonglong about the trip wires?”

  “I … I don't know,” ShaoShu replied nervously.

  “You had better watch your back, Little Mouse,” Lei said, tapping the pistols across his chest. “Accidents happen all the time with guns around.”

  ShaoShu swallowed hard, and Lei breezed past him into HaiZhe's office. Lei hauled LoBak to his feet. “You're coming with me, Medicine Man,” he said. “You know too much about HaiZhe's operations to be running loose.”

  ShaoShu followed them back to the docks, where Lei handed LoBak off to a group of sailors. “Take him below,” Lei said. “I shall return shortly.”

  “Aye, sir,” the sailors replied.

  Lei turned to ShaoShu. “Get on the boat and stay there. If you step out of line, you will join the old man in the hold. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir,” ShaoShu said.

  Lei hurried back to the warehouse, and ShaoShu climbed aboard Tonglong's man-o-war. He considered trying to sneak belowdecks to check on LoBak but decided not to risk it. At least, not yet.

  Bored, ShaoShu scurried up one of the ship's tall sails. He found it remarkably easy to do with the bamboo slats. Stopping near the top, he surveyed the surroundings. From this vantage point, he could see all around HaiZhe's warehouse. Soldiers and sailors were busy removing items from the weapons wing, transporting them to Tonglong's ship and the six merchant vessels. They were making quick work of it.

  After some time, Lei returned with a box under his arm. He entered Tonglong's cabin and emerged a quarter of an hour later with the box, plus a small scroll. Lei was blowing on the scroll's wax seal to cool it down, and ShaoShu noticed that he was now wearing a large ring. It was shiny, so it caught ShaoShu's attention. He strained his eyes and saw that the ring had a raised image on top. ShaoShu knew that these types of rings were used to imprint a special pattern or design into a wax seal as a private signal. The image on this ring matched the image imprinted in the wax on the scroll. Even from where he rested, ShaoShu could see that the image was a cobra.

  Lei seemed to suddenly remember that he was wearing the ring and slipped it into one of his holster pouches. He glanced around and then up. His eyes met ShaoShu's, and Lei's face darkened. He slid the scroll into the folds of his robe and ordered ShaoShu down.

  ShaoShu stepped onto the deck, and Lei seized his elbow. “I warned you to keep your nose out of my business, Little Mouse,” Lei said in a harsh whisper. “You're coming with me. General Tonglong will be so busy the next few days, he won't even miss you. I am going to show you how a sailor ties knots. Your contortionist tricks will get you nowhere on my watch.”

  CHAPTER

  16

  ShaoShu sat propped beside LoBak in the hold of Tonglong's ship, surround by crates of cannonballs. He had never been tied up so tightly or so thoroughly Complex knots held his arms pinned to his sides with rope that didn't have the slightest stretch. No matter how much he tried to twist or turn or expand or compress his body the bindings did not give.

  He sighed and closed his eyes. Above his head, he heard the sound of cannons being repositioned on deck and Lei's strong voice shouting orders. The boats were fully loaded and the men were being pressed to set sail as soon as possible in order to make another attack. It seemed Tonglong was eager to put his new power to use.

  ShaoShu opened his eyes and turned to LoBak, whose gag had been removed by one of the kinder sailors. So far, nobody suspected that he and LoBak knew each other.

  “I am so sorry,” ShaoShu said. “I should never have asked you to help me.”

  “Do not say such things,” LoBak replied in a brittle voice. “I knew what was at risk, even if you did not. Men like HaiZhe, Tonglong, and Lei are not to be trifled with. We should consider ourselves fortunate we are still breathing. You, especially.”

  ShaoShu frowned. “I wish I could have snuck off this ship when we first landed. I had planned to run to your shop to get Ying and Hok. They would know what to do.”

  “That would have proved fruitless. They are gone. We agreed th
at if I did not return within a few hours, something was amiss and they were to leave before first light. I am sure they were well on their way before this vessel even made it to the mouth of the Qiantang River.”

  ShaoShu breathed a sigh of relief. “That's good. Where did they go?”

  “Ying was to take his mother to the mountains, while Hok was to accompany her temple brothers Fu and Malao to a nearby island with a Round Eye called Charles. They will be staying in a place known as Smuggler's Island, which is home to a large band of very rough foreigners. We had agreed that this was the best plan, but now I have my doubts.”

  “What do you mean?” ShaoShu asked.

  “I overheard sailors talking as they loaded this hold. They spoke of reports about a group of Round Eye pirate ships traveling south together just this morning. They think the boats came from Smuggler's Island, and Tonglong means to attack the island's stronghold cove while it is shorthanded.”

  “Oh, no!” ShaoShu whispered. “Tonglong hates foreigners! I wish there was something we could do to warn them.” Frustrated, he struggled and strained against his bindings one more time, but it was no use. He made no headway whatsoever. Tired, he leaned back against a cannonball crate.

  Something began to stir next to ShaoShu's belly button, and he held his breath. At first it felt like a mosquito, but then it began to tickle. Unable to control himself, he giggled softly.

  “This is no laughing matter,” LoBak said.

  “Sorry, sir,” ShaoShu said. “It's my mouse. He lives in a pouch attached to my sash. When Lei tied me up, he must have forgotten about it. He wrapped the ropes right over the pouch. I don't think my mouse likes it. He's squirming around, trying to get out. It tickles.”

  ShaoShu sucked in his stomach to give the mouse a little more room, and it stopped squirming. How ever, its lack of motion was replaced with something else—the sound of tiny teeth gnashing together.

  “Hey!” ShaoShu whispered. “He's trying to chew his way out!”

  LoBak glanced at ShaoShu's ropes. “Are you sure?”