“You want me to spy on HaiZhe, don't you, sir?” ShaoShu asked.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
ShaoShu paused. It sounded dangerous. On the other hand, it had to be far less dangerous than getting on Tonglong's bad side. Besides, perhaps he could somehow use this mission to meet back up with Hok and Ying. “No, sir,” ShaoShu replied.
“Excellent,” Tonglong said. “Because we've just arrived at his fortress.”
ShaoShu looked over at the shore but saw only a sheer cliff that rose as high as a hundred men. He looked closer and noticed a stone staircase, incredibly steep, cut into the cliff. It led from the sea all the way up to a massive stone wall topped with turrets.
A group of men began hurrying down the stairs with what looked like a boat hoisted over their shoulders.
ShaoShu could make out huge black cylinders ringed with a metallic sheen inside the turrets. Can nons—and they were aimed directly at Tonglong's ship.
ShaoShu's nose twitched. He didn't like the looks of this.
CHAPTER 10
“Prepare to be boarded! a rough voice called out, and ShaoShu scurried over to the ship's side. The group of men he'd seen on the staircase were now rowing toward Tonglong's vessel. There were four of them. One held a musket that looked battered and in disrepair, even to ShaoShu's untrained eye.
“I'll handle this,” Lei said.
ShaoShu turned to see Lei approach with something glowing in his hand. It was a section of slow-burning fuse that the sailors called slow match. ShaoShu had seen great coils of it strategically placed around the ship's deck in metal buckets next to the cannons.
Lei walked over to the side of the ship nearest the small boat and whipped the cover off one of his immaculate cannons. He angled the great gun down toward the four men and began to lower the fuse over a small hole in the back of the cannon.
One of the men shouted, “Wait!”
“Wait for what?” Lei said. “Wait for you to attempt to shoot me with that rusted excuse for a weapon?”
The man with the musket lowered it. “A thousand pardons, sir. We are only following orders.”
“Do you have any idea who commands this vessel?” Lei asked.
Before the man could reply, Tonglong stepped out of his cabin, and ShaoShu's eyes widened.
Tonglong was wearing a magnificent armored jacket made from hundreds of small rectangles of pure white jade stitched together with silk cord. In one hand, he held a white jade sword. In his other hand, he held his straight sword. He approached the side rail, his armor radiant in the evening light.
“General Tonglong!” the man with the musket said. He and the others instantly bowed their heads.
“So, you know of me?” Tonglong asked.
“Of course, sir,” the man replied, looking up. “I recognize you from the fight clubs. It is well known that you are also one of the Emperor's top generals. What brings us the honor of your visit?”
“I have come to see HaiZhe.”
The men glanced at one another, concern flashing across their faces. “He is not here, sir,” one of them said.
“Where is he?”
“He is at his new warehouse in Hangzhou. He lives there now.”
Tonglong gave Lei a questioning look.
“It's true,” Lei said. “I thought you knew this.”
“I did not,” Tonglong said, rubbing his chin. “But it does not matter. In fact, it may make things easier.” He glared down at the men in the boat, one of whom was murmuring to another.
“What did you say?” Tonglong demanded.
“Your armor, sir,” the man replied nervously. “I've heard the legend since I was a boy, but I never dreamed it existed. They say whoever wears it is the rightful ruler of China.”
“What do you think?” Tonglong asked.
“Seeing it on the shoulders of someone with your legendary fighting skills, it has to be true.”
Tonglong nodded. “So it will be.” He turned to Lei, lowering his voice. ShaoShu had to strain his ears to hear what was said.
“How many men does HaiZhe have at this warehouse of his?”
“Roughly one hundred,” Lei replied.
“Do they possess cannons and other firearms?”
“They all carry pistols or muskets. HaiZhe also has more than a hundred cannons for sale, but none of them are used for defensive purposes, if that's what you are asking.”
“How many soldiers are here in the fortress?”
“Approximately one thousand, I believe.”
“Then I've changed my mind,” Tonglong said, pulling off his heavy armor. “HaiZhe has abandoned his official post, and I am going to take his command by force. We will keep the jade swords and armor out of sight for now. Is there any chance anyone outside this ship and that small boat knows about them?”