Tai-Pan

by James Clavell

  She sank deeper into the sweet-smelling coverlet and waited for Struan to talk to her.

  Struan, however, was concentrating totally on what he had learned from the briefcase.

  The papers had included a translated copy of a secret report prepared for Tsar Nicholas I in July last year, 1840, and contained, incredibly, maps of the lands between Russia and China. The maps alone, the first that Struan had ever seen, were priceless. There was also an analysis of the implications of the documents.

  The secret report had been prepared by Prince Tergin, Chief of the secret Foreign Affairs Planning Committee. It said:

  “It is our considered opinion that within half a century the Tsar will rule from the Baltic to the Pacific, from the Ice North Seas to the Indian Ocean, and be in a position to dominate the world, if the following strategy is adopted within the next three years.

  “The key to world dominance is Asia plus North America. North America is almost in our hands. If Britain and the United States allow us ten years of freedom in Alaskan Russian-America, all North America is ours.

  “Our position there is solid and friendly. The United States in no way considers our vast territorial expansion in the northern wastelands a threat. Consolidation from Alaska to our southernmost ‘trading fort’ in Northern California—and from there inland to the Atlantic—can be accomplished by the usual method: immediate emigration on a vast scale. Most of the western United States, and all but a small proportion of eastern Canada, is presently almost empty of settlers. Therefore the extent of our emigration into the northern wilderness can be kept secret—as it must be. From there the emigrants, which would be our hardy Euroasian warlike tribes—Uzbeks, Turkmen, Siberians, Kirghiz, Tadzhiks and Uigurs—many of whom deliberately would be nomadic peoples, would fan out and claim the whole land almost at will.

  “We must maintain cordial relations with Britain and the United States for the next ten years. By that time emigration will have made Russia the most virile American power and our tribes—who in ancient days made up the hordes of Tamerlane and Genghis Khan—armed with modern weapons and commanded by Russians, can at our whim sweep the Anglo-Saxon into the sea.

  “But a thousand times more important: Asia. We could concede the Americas, never Asia.

  “The key to Asia is China. And China lies at our feet. We share almost five thousand miles of continuous land border with the Chinese Empire. We must control her or we will never be safe. We can never allow her to become strong or dominated by another Great Power, or we would be trapped between East and West and might be forced to war on two fronts. Our Asian policy is axiomatic: China must be kept weak, vassal and a Russian sphere of influence.

  “Only one power—Britain—stands between us and success. If she can be prevented, by guile or pressure, from acquiring and consolidating a permanent island fortress off China, Asia is ours.

  “Of course, we dare not alienate our ally Britain at this time. France, Poland, Prussia and the Hapsburgs are in no way content with the Dardanelles détente, any more than Russia is, and we must be on constant guard against their continuous harassment. Without British support our sacred heartland would be open to invasion. Providing the British adhere to their stated position in China—that they ‘merely wish to establish trade relations and trading deposits, which all Western nations may share equally’—we can move forward into Sinkiang, Turkestan and Mongolia, and control the land route to China. (We already dominate invasion routes within easy reach of the Khyber Pass and Kashmir, thence into British India.) Should word leak out about our land conquests, our official position will be that ‘Russia is merely subduing hostile wild tribes in our hinterland.’ Within five years we should be poised on the threshold of China’s heartland, northwest of Peking. Then, with simple diplomatic pressure, we will be in a position to force advisers on the Manchu Emperor and, through him, control the Chinese Empire until such time it may be conveniently partitioned into vassal states. The hostility between Manchu overlords and Chinese subjects is vastly to our advantage and we will, of course, continue to encourage this.

  “At all cost, we should encourage and assist British trading interests to settle in the mainland ports of China, where they would be restrained by direct Chinese pressure which we would, in time, diplomatically control. And at all costs we must discourage England from fortifying and colonizing any island—as they have done at Singapore, Malta, Cyprus (or an impregnable position like Gibraltar)—which would not be subject to our pressure, and would serve as a permanent bastion for her military and naval might. It will be advantageous to initiate immediate and close trading relations with selected firms in that area.

  “The keystone of our foreign policy must be ‘Let England rule the seas and the trade routes, and be the first industrial nation of the earth. But let Russia rule the land.’ For once the land is secured—and it is our sacred heritage, our God-given right, to civilize the land—the seas become Russian seas. And thus the Tsar of all the Russias will rule the world.”

  Zergeyev could easily be a key to the plan, Struan thought. Is he the man sent to find out our strength in China? To settle “trade relations with selected firms”? Is part of his mission to report, at first hand, on American attitudes to Russian Alaska? Is he the man sent to prepare Russian Alaska for the hordes? Remember he said to you, “Ours is the land, yours the sea!”

  The commentary on this report had been equally bold and penetrating: “Based on this secret document and accompanying maps, the validity of which is to be unquestioned, certain conclusions of far-reaching importance may be drawn:

  “First, concerning the North American strategy: It must be noted that although the United States is gravely concerned over the present United States-British Canadian border dispute, she does not seemingly wish to acquire more territory on the North American continent. And because of the friendly relations that exist between the United States and Russia—carefully nurtured, it is believed, to fulfill this aim—the present general political feeling in Washington is that Russian involvement in Alaska and southward down the western coast does not infringe on her sovereignty. In short, the United States of America will not invoke the Monroe Doctrine against Russia and will therefore—astonishingly—leave their back door open to a foreign Power, contrary to their obvious best interest. Certainly contrary to the interests of British Canada. If five hundred thousand Euroasian tribesmen were to be introduced quietly in the north, as is perfectly possible, certainly the English and Americans would be in a completely untenable position.

  “It must be noted further that, although the present Tsar is contemptuous of Russian America, this territory does present a Russian key to the continent. And if there should ever be a civil war in the United States over the slave issue, as indeed appears inevitable, these Russian tribes would be in a position to dominate that conflict. This would certainly bring England and France into the war. Russian nomadic hordes, with short lines of communication over the Bering Sea and a primitive ability to live off the land, would have a distinct advantage. And as most of the western and southwestern lands are sparsely populated, these settlers—or ‘warriors’—could sweep southward with relative ease.

  “Thus, if Britain wishes to maintain her position as a world power and nullify Russia’s never-ending search for world domination, she must first eliminate the Russian Alaska threat to Canada and the weakling United States. She must persuade the United States, by any means in her power, to invoke the Monroe Doctrine to expel the Russian threat. Or she must exert diplomatic pressure and purchase this territory, or take it by force. For unless Russia is eliminated quickly, the whole of North America, within half a century, will come under her sway.

  “Second, England must maintain absolute dominance in China. It is necessary to trace Russian conquest thus far across the Urals, and see how far they have already penetrated into lands loosely under the historical over-lordship of the Chinese Emperor.” With a series of maps and dates and places, translated copies of t
reaties, the whole panorama of the Russian move east was documented.

  “For the last three hundred years (since 1552) Muscovite armies have steadily worked eastward in their search for a ‘final’ border. By 1640 Okhotsk, on the Sea of Okhotsk—north of Manchuria on the Pacific Ocean—was reached. Immediately these armies moved south and for the first time clashed with Manchu-Chinese hordes.

  “The Treaty of Nerchinsk, in 1689, signed between Russia and China, settled the north border between the two countries along the Argun River and Stanovoi Mountains. The whole of Manchurian eastern Siberia was ceded to Russia. To date, this line was a ‘final’ Russian border north of China.

  “About this time, 1690, a Russian named Zaterev was sent by land to Peking as an ambassador. En route he surveyed ways for possible invasion of the incredibly rich heartland of China. The best route he found followed the natural corridor of the Selenga River which flowed into the plains north of Peking. The key to this route is the possession of Turkestan, Outer Mongolia and the Chinese province of Sinkiang.

  “And, as Prince Tergin’s report has stated, their armies already dominate Eurasia, north of Manchuria, to the Pacific, and are already on the borders of Sinkiang, Turkestan and Outer Mongolia. It is from this direction that Russian encroachment on China proper will come, and will continue to come for a long time.”

  The report added: “Unless Britain maintains a firm attitude that China and Asia is her sphere of influence, Russian advisers will be in Peking within a generation. Russian armies will control all the easy access routes from Turkestan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, into British India and the whole British Indian Empire can be invaded and swallowed at whim.

  “If Britain wishes to continue as a world power it is vital that China be made a bulwark against Russia. It is vital that Russian advances be halted in the Sinkiang area. It is vital that a dominant British fortress be centered in China, for, by herself, China is helpless. If China is allowed to wither in her ancient ways and is not helped to emerge into the modern era, she will be conquered easily by Russia and the balance of Asia destroyed.

  “In conclusion: It is a matter of great regret that Portugal is not strong enough to hold the land-seeking hunger of the Russians at bay. Our only hope is that our ancient ally, Britain, will by eminence and strength prevent that which seems inevitable.

  “For this reason alone we have illegally prepared this dossier, entirely without official or unofficial permission. Prince Tergin’s report and the maps were acquired in St. Petersburg and found their way into unofficial friendly hands in Portugal. From thence here.

  “We have asked His Grace—who is not privy to any of this information—to place these papers in the hands of the Tai-Pan of The Noble House, one who will, we believe, insure that they reach their correct destination, so that action may be taken before it is too late. And as a measure of our sincerity we have signed our names, praying that our careers, perhaps our lives, will be in equally safe hands.”

  The report was signed by two minor Portuguese foreign policy experts whom Struan knew slightly.

  He threw the butt of his cheroot into the garden and watched it burn itself out. Aye, he said to himself, it’s inevitable. But na if we keep Hong Kong. God damn Lord Cunnington.

  How to use the information? That’s easy. As soon as I get back to Hong Kong, a word in Longstaff’s ear and Cooper’s ear. But what do I gain by that? Why do I na go home mysel’? This type of knowledge is a chance in a lifetime. What about Zergeyev? Do we talk “specifics” now? Do I bargain with him?

  “Tai-Pan?”

  “Aye, lass?”

  “Would you close garden window-door? It’s getting very gracious cold.” The night was warm.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  The chills convulsed May-may. The fires consumed her. During the delirium May-may felt her womb rip asunder and she screamed. The life-to-be passed out of her, and in the passing took all but the merest spark of her soul and strength. Then the fever broke and the sweat released her from the nightmare. Four hours she teetered on the brink of death. But her joss decreed that she was to come back.

  “Hello, Tai-Pan.” She could feel the continuous seeping from her womb. “Bad joss to lose baby,” she whispered.

  “Dinna fash yoursel’. Just get yoursel’ better. Any moment the cinchona bark’ll arrive. I know it will.”

  May-may summoned her strength and shrugged with a trace of her old imperiousness. “Pox on the longskirts! How for can the man hurry in a skirt, heya?”

  But the effort depleted her and she slipped into unconsciousness. Two days later she seemed much stronger. “Morning, lass. How do you feel today?”

  “Fantastical good,” May-may said. “It is a pretty day, heya? Did you seen Ma-ree?”

  “Aye. She’s looking much better. A tremendous change. Almost miraculous!”

  “Why for so good change, heya?” she asked innocently, knowing that Elder Sister had gone to see her yesterday.

  “I dinna ken,” he said. “I saw Horatio just before I left. He brought her some flowers. By the way, she thanks you for the things you sent her. What did you send?”

  “Mangoes and some herb tea my doctor recommended. Ah Sam went two, three days ago.” May-may rested a moment. Even talking was a great strain for her. She must be very strong today, she told herself firmly.

  There is much to do today, and tomorrow there is fever again. Oh well, at least now no problem for Ma-ree—she’s rescued. So easy now that Elder Sister has explained to her what all young girls in houses are taught—that with care and meticulous acting and tears of pretended pain and fear, and the final modest telltale stains cautiously placed, a girl can, if necessary, be virgin ten times for ten different men.

  Ah Sam came in and kowtowed, and muttered something to her. May-may brightened. “Oh, very good, Ah Sam! You may go.” Then to Struan, “Tai-Pan, I need some taels of silver, please.”

  “How many?”

  “Lots. I am impoverished. Your old mother’s very fond of you. Wat for you ask such things?”

  “If you hurry up and get better, I’ll give you all the taels you need.”

  “You give me great face, Tai-Pan. Hugest face. Twenty thousand taels for medicine cure—ayeee yah, I am worth like an empress lady to you.”

  “Gordon told you?”

  “No. I was listen at door. Of course! Do you think your old mother likes not to know what doctor says and you say, heya?” She glanced at the doorway.

  Struan turned to see a lovely young girl bowing gracefully. Her hair was coiled in a thick, dark snake atop her exquisite head and adorned with jade ornaments and flowers. Her almond-shaped face was like purest alabaster.

  “This is Yin-hsi,” May-may said. “She is my sister.”

  “I did na ken you had one, lass. She’s very pretty.”

  “Yes, but, well, she’s not really sister, Tai-Pan. Chinese ladies often call each other ‘sister.’ It’s politeness. Yin-hsi’s your birthday present.”

  “What?”

  “I bought her for birthday.”

  “Have you taken leave of your senses?”

  “Oh, Tai-Pan, you are very trying sometimes badly,” May-may said, beginning to cry. “Your birthday is in four monthses. At that time I would have been heavy with child so I arranged search for a ‘sister.’ It has been difficult to decide bestest choice. She is bestest, and now because I am sick I give her now and na wait. You dinna like her?”

  “Good God, lass! Dinna cry, May-may. Listen. Dinna cry … Of course I like your sister. But you dinna buy girls as birthday presents, for the love of God!”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, because you just dinna.”

  “She’s very nice—I want her for my sister. I was going to teach her for the four monthses, but now…” She broke out sobbing again.

  Yin-hsi hurried from the doorway and knelt beside May-may and held her hand and dried her tears solicitously and helped her to drink a little tea. May-may had warned her t
hat barbarians were sometimes strange and showed their happiness by shouting and cursing, but not to worry.

  “Look, Tai-Pan, how pretty she is!” May-may said. “You like her, surely?”

  “That’s na the point, May-may. Of course I like her.”

  “Then that’s settled, then.” May-may closed her eyes and lay back in her nest of pillows.

  “It’s na settled, then.”

  She summoned a final broadside. “It is, and I’ll na argue with you any more, by God! I paid huge monies and she’s bestest and I canna send her away for she’ll lose all face and she’d have to hang herself.”

  “Dinna be ridiculous!”

  “I promise you she will, Tai-Pan. Everyone knows I was lookings for a new sister for me and for you, and if you send her away her face is finished. Fantastical finished. She’ll hang herself, truly!”

  “Dinna cry, lassie. Please.”

  “But you dinna like my birthday present to you.”

  “I like her and you need na send her away,” he said quickly—anything to stop the tears. “Keep her here. She’ll—she’ll be a sister to you, and when you’re well we’ll—we’ll find her a good husband. Eh? There’s nae need to cry. Come on, lassie, now stop the tears.”