“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.
Tonglong'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?”