by Ian Hamilton
“Thanks,” Uncle said, then went into his office and closed the door behind him. He sat down at the desk, took a notepad from a drawer, and wrote down the thoughts he’d had during his walk. When that was done, he turned to a fresh page and began to compose his opening remarks. Rather than reading them at the meeting, he would memorize them and try to make them sound as spontaneous as possible. It wasn’t easy getting the right words and tone; he made several false starts before settling on something satisfactory. He read aloud what he’d written, made a few more changes, and read it again. It still wasn’t perfect, but it would do for the time being, he thought.
As he set the notepad aside, his phone rang. “This is Uncle,” he said.
“Hey,” Ng said, “have you shut everything down yet?”
“We did it last night.”
“So did we, thank god. I just got a phone call from my deputy saying the cops are all over us,” he said. “Your heads-up has spared a lot of gangs a lot of grief.”
“Fong is hoping that will earn me some extra credibility this afternoon.”
“People will be grateful, but I’m not sure that will translate into support,” Ng said. “I’ve had calls from three Mountain Masters this morning asking me what I think you’re trying to do.”
“They have doubts about my motives?” Uncle asked.
“It’s in their nature to be suspicious. They’re wondering if you have a hidden agenda,” Ng said. “I told them no as strongly as I could. I’m not sure they believed me, but no one challenged me.”
“I’m very conscious of how territorial we all are. I’ll speak to that this afternoon,” Uncle said.
“You’ll certainly have some support. I just think it will be tough to get everyone onside,” Ng said. “There are guys who are friendly with Wu, and some have ties to gangs in Kowloon. They may think that gives them all the protection they need.”
“I will present the facts. After that, it’s up to them to decide whether they will align with us or not.”
“You don’t expect them to make a decision today, do you?”
“I would like them to, but I know that’s unrealistic. They’ll need time to think it through. But we can’t let them drag it out,” said Uncle.
“I’ll commit today, and I think a few others will as well. It will at least be a step in the right direction,” Ng said.
Uncle saw he had an incoming call. “Tse is phoning on my other line,” he said.
“You should take it. I’ll see you at one,” Ng said.
Uncle switched lines. “Tse, do you have news for me?”
“First, I want to thank you. We were raided this morning, and thanks to you, our losses were minimal.”
“I’m glad it worked out for you.”
“You won’t be so glad when you hear that Cho and Yin have cut a deal.”
“A truce?”
“No. As we suspected, Cho asked for one and was denied. He was forced to put his gang under Yin’s control. He’ll still be Mountain Master, but Yin will be making all the decisions.”
“That didn’t take long.”
“Cho thought the longer he waited, the worse deal he’d get. I can’t say I disagree with him.”
“Well, at least I don’t have to think about that anymore,” Uncle said. “I have enough on my plate here.”
“Are you referring to the meeting you’re holding this afternoon?” Tse asked.
Uncle paused. Had he told Tse about the meeting? “How did you hear about it?”
“Man called me, after Wu called him. I told him I knew nothing about a meeting, but I’m not sure he believed me. He’s rather paranoid right now, and I’m sure Wu is as well.”
“There’s nothing sinister about the meeting. I simply thought it was time for the Mountain Masters in the Territories to discuss how we can improve our co-operation.”
“Was Wu invited?”
“No, and I’m sure you can guess why. But the meeting isn’t a secret, so I’m not surprised he knows about it.”
“I have a hunch I know what you’re doing, but I don’t want you to tell me,” Tse said.
“That’s a clever approach.”
“It’s the safe approach,” said Tse. “Keep safe yourself, Uncle. I don’t want to lose you.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
At ten after one, Uncle surveyed the nine circular tables arranged around the dining room in the White Jade Restaurant and smiled. Every Mountain Master he had invited was there, and judging by the number of seats occupied at each table, they had brought most of their senior people with them.
“Welcome to Fanling, and thank you all for coming,” Fong said loudly. “We will serve food now and then Uncle will say a few words.”
“I’m betting he’ll say more than a few,” Poon from Mong Kok yelled. “But as long as the food is good and the beer is cold, I’ll stay for them.” There was a ripple of laughter. Uncle joined in, pleased that Poon had helped break the tension in the room.
It took close to an hour to serve and consume six different dishes. At one point Uncle turned to Fong. “I thought I told you this was to be a working lunch, not a banquet.”
“It’s only six dishes, Uncle. The restaurant owner wanted to serve more. He really wants to impress us,” said Fong. “Besides, everyone seems to be enjoying the food, and that can’t be a bad thing.”
Uncle ate lightly. He left his seat several times to visit the other Mountain Masters and thank them for coming, trying to gauge from their responses what level of support he could expect. They were all friendly, but many were reserved, which he interpreted as not ready to commit.
As the dishes were being cleared, Fong stood up again. “Now is the time to go to the washroom if you need to,” he said. “Uncle will speak in ten minutes.”
It took longer than ten minutes for the room to settle, but eventually it did and Uncle walked over to the centre. He looked at each table in turn, acknowledging the Mountain Masters with a slight nod. “I can’t remember the last time so many of us were in one place. It must have been at a funeral,” he said, and noticed some grim smiles. “Thankfully this isn’t such a sad occasion, but while we have no reason to mourn, that time could come. If it does, it isn’t just lives that could be lost — it’s everything we’ve spent our lives building.
“Before I go any further, I have some news I want to share with you. The good news is that the war between Cho and Yin has ended. So, hopefully, no more newspaper headlines,” he said. “The bad news is that Cho has ceded control of his gang to Yin. Kowloon now controls Macau.”
“Are you sure of this?” He from Sha Tin asked.
“I was told this morning by someone who was informed directly by Cho. It’s over. Yin won. Now the only question is, who’s next? I’m convinced it will be one of us gathered here today. If it is, can any of us survive on our own?” Uncle paused and looked at each table in turn. “I think not. In fact, I believe we have only two choices. We either stand together or we fall alone.”
“Excuse me, Uncle,” Tan from Mai Po said. “I know you explained most of this on the phone yesterday, but how certain are you that expansion into the New Territories is what Man and the others have in mind?”
“That’s an excellent question,” Uncle said, pleased that Tan had followed through on the promise he’d made the night before. “The truth is, I’m not certain. I know what I’ve been told and I trust the people who told me. I also know what happened in Macau, and although Yin will try to attach blame to both parties, I believe the result tells us everything we need to know. Does that mean I can predict when one of us will be attacked? No, I cannot, but if we wait until an attack comes, by then it will be too late. But, although I can’t give you any guarantees, I can tell you what I believe.”
Uncle then delivered a speech that encompassed the five pages of notes he’d made that mornin
g. He spoke slowly and without hyperbole. He outlined Man’s rationale for expansion, described the firepower of the Kowloon gangs, and did it without demonizing them. He spoke to the individual weaknesses of the Territories gangs, then switched to praising the potential of their collective strength.
“Let me finish by stating something I hope is obvious,” he said. “We should have formed an alliance — even an informal one — years ago. The fact that we’re talking about doing it now, as a way of protecting ourselves, only adds a touch of necessity to what is essentially a very good idea.”
“Uncle, I’m not interested in merging with anyone. I run my gang as I see fit. I don’t need anyone else to tell me how to do it,” Chow from Tsuen Wan said.
“I’m not talking about a merger or any loss of your independence,” Uncle said quickly, realizing that his comment about an alliance might have gone too far. “All I’m suggesting is that the nine gangs in this room pledge to stand united against any outside interference.”
“My gang is twice the size of most of the others,” He said. “If trouble starts, will we be expected to throw more men than anyone else into a fight?”
“We need to determine a formula that’s fair,” said Uncle. “If the most one gang can provide is twenty men, then no one else should be expected to provide more. And twenty times nine is a hundred and eighty men, a formidable force when added to the men of the gang that’s being threatened.”
“And there isn’t a gang here that can’t provide twenty men,” Ng chimed in.
“I have men,” Lee from Sha Tau Kok said. “But I only have old weapons, and not enough of them.”
“Fanling will help you buy weapons,” Uncle said. “I suggest that Wang, my Red Pole, meet with the other Red Poles to figure out what everyone needs. Within reason, we’ll put up the money.”
“I don’t want my Red Pole meeting with anyone until we’ve decided what we want to do,” He said. “I won’t be rushed into a decision.”
“I understand,” Uncle said. “I have made a proposal, but I don’t expect an answer from you today. I know you all need to talk it over with your executive committees. The only thing I ask is for you not to take too long. Time is not on our side. Can I suggest that we meet again in a week? Those who have decided not to join needn’t come. Those who are in or are still trying to make a decision can gather here. By then I’m sure you’ll have more questions and suggestions.”
“I like that idea,” Tan said.
“Does anyone disagree with it?” Uncle asked.
The room became silent. Uncle waited, giving anyone an opportunity to speak. When no one did, he said, “Thank you for coming today. Hopefully I’ll see all of you again next week.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Fanling triads remained seated at their table until everyone had left. When they were finally alone, Uncle said, “I want to apologize to all of you for volunteering to finance weapons purchases for some of the gangs. I should have cleared it with you in advance.”
“It isn’t a problem,” Yu said. “It was the right thing to suggest, and your timing was perfect.”
“I agree,” Hui said to Uncle. “I also have to say I think the case you made for us banding together was very persuasive.”
“Let’s hope it was persuasive enough,” Uncle said.
“How do you want us to follow up?” Fong asked.
“I don’t want you to do anything,” said Uncle. “I laid out the facts and told them where we stand. It’s now up to them to decide if they want to join with us or not. So let’s not harass them.”
“You know we have all kinds of interactions with these gangs. You don’t want that to stop, do you?”
“Of course not. And if one of their members raises the subject with you and wants to discuss it, then do it. I just don’t want us to initiate anything. I don’t want them to feel we’re pressuring them.”
“They’ll talk among themselves,” Tian said.
“I know, and we have advocates in Ng and Tan, who will keep pushing our proposal. We need to let that happen without being perceived as the instigator.”
Wang started to speak, then looked towards the door. “What are you guys doing here?” he asked two men Uncle recognized as Fanling forty-niners.
“We were waiting outside for the meeting to end. You told us to inform you as soon as the cops started leaning on us,” one said.
“What have they done?”
“They went after our businesses, but since most of them are closed they weren’t able to do much damage,” he said. “They did break into the mini-casinos, though, and took away the roulette wheels and baccarat tables.”
“Those are easily replaced,” Yu said. “Did they take anything from the massage parlours?”
“No,” the man said.
“Good. Those footbaths and massage tables are expensive.”
“Do you still want to operate the night market tonight?” Wang asked Uncle.
“That was the plan. Do you have a reason why we shouldn’t?”
“No, but it might be wise not to display our most expensive products,” Wang said. “If they do raid us, let them cart off the cheap stuff.”
“I’ll leave that decision to you and Hui,” said Uncle, rising from his chair. “I’m suddenly tired. I think I’ll head back to my apartment. You can reach me there if anything needs my attention.”
“There are three cars outside,” Wang said. “You take one and we’ll share the other two.”
“I’ll take Tian with me. His place is on the way to mine,” Uncle said.
Uncle and Tian didn’t speak as they walked to the car or during the ride, but when they reached Tian’s apartment block, Uncle got out with him and instructed the forty-niner to wait. Tian grabbed Uncle’s arm for support as they walked towards the entrance.
“Tell me how you really think the meeting went,” Uncle said.
“I agree with Yu and Hui. You couldn’t have done better.”
“How many of them do you think will come to our side?”
“At the minimum, I think you’ll get five. At the most, you might get them all. It will depend on how deeply they believe Kowloon is a threat.”
“I won’t be happy with five, but I will be satisfied. That will give us numbers.”
“It will give you numbers if only Man and Wu combine to attack any of us. But if you add another Kowloon gang to the mix, you’ll still be outgunned,” Tian said.
“Maybe outgunned, but not overwhelmed. I’m counting on the fact that if they know they can’t just steamroll over us, they’ll think twice before attacking.”
Tian stopped when they reached the building entrance. “I don’t like to hear you counting guns, Uncle, but I know why you think it’s necessary,” he said. “I have some old friends in other gangs. Although some of them aren’t active, they still have influence. Despite your admonition that we not lobby other gangs to support us, I would like to call those friends. Do I have your permission?”
“Of course you do,” said Uncle.
“I will be discreet.”
“I trust you completely, Tian. You know that.”
Tian nodded and smiled. “When you were speaking today, I couldn’t help thinking about the young man from Changzhai that my nephew brought to meet me so long ago. Your clothes weren’t much more than rags, you were scrawny, and you looked younger than your years. But there was a sense of purpose about you that caught my attention. I remember thinking, This is a young man to be taken seriously. You proved that correct many years ago, and you know I thought you’d make a great Mountain Master before you attained the position. But Uncle, what you are trying to do right now is beyond any of my expectations. If you can even loosely unite the gangs in the Territories, you will have accomplished something for the ages.”
Uncle shook his head. “Any success I’ve had i
s because of the support and friendship of men like you. If some of the gangs do come together, it will be because of your efforts, and those of men like Ng and Tan. I may have had the idea, but I can’t make it a reality without you.”
“As always, you can’t accept a compliment, but that modesty is another reason you are so respected,” Tian said. “Now go home and rest. You’ve earned it. Let the rest of us contribute what we can.”
Uncle waited until Tian had entered the lobby before making his way back to the car. “Thanks for the ride, but I don’t need you now. I’ll walk the rest of the way,” he said to the driver.
The forty-niner looked hesitant, and Uncle guessed that Wang had instructed him to make sure Uncle got home. “It’s a short walk from here and I need some fresh air,” he said, and then started off without waiting for a reply.
As he walked along, Uncle thought about what Tian had said about their first meeting. Most of it was true. He had been so scrawny that his ribs were almost sticking through his skin, the result of a year of near starvation. His clothes were indeed raggedy, but the shirt and trousers were all he had brought with him, and they hadn’t fared well during the swim across Shenzhen Bay. As for his demeanour, he had been so stricken with grief after the death of Gui-San that he had felt numb; maybe Tian had confused that grief with something else.
Tian had always been one of his strongest supporters. Uncle was intensely grateful to him, but his old mentor saw virtues in Uncle that he didn’t believe he possessed, such as modesty. While it was true he had difficulty accepting compliments, modesty had nothing to do with it. His view of compliments was that they were standards other people were setting for him, and he didn’t want such obligations. Moreover, he didn’t think he was modest. He knew he was intelligent and possessed the discipline to make good use of his cleverness. He also considered himself an excellent leader of men and a superior Mountain Master. No one had ever voluntarily left his gang, and why would they? Uncle had made the Fanling Triad the wealthiest in the New Territories without incurring the wrath of the authorities. And he had created a path forward that promised more of the same — assuming, of course, that he would be able to blunt the plans of Man and Wu. He thought the meeting at the White Jade had been an important first step in doing that.
