“Your time has come,” Lei said. “Are you ready?”
ShaoShu frowned. “I think so, sir. It depends on what you want me to do.”
“Remember we talked about HaiZhe—Jellyfish?”
ShaoShu nodded. “You want me to spy on him, right?”
“That's right. General Tonglong wants you to collect as much armament information from him as possible, and you're only going to have one night to do it. This isn't going to be easy for you. To be honest, I don't think you'll come out of it alive.”
ShaoShu swallowed hard.
“I've been giving this a lot of thought, and it seems to me the most difficult part for you will be sneaking inside the facility itself. Your best chance probably lies with a man called LoBak.”
ShaoShu looked at the floor in an effort to try and hide his surprise. He knew exactly who LoBak was. LoBak's shop was the last place he had seen Hok.
“LoBak is an apothecary,” Lei continued. “He is a medicine man, and he attends to HaiZhe every evening—he delivers a special drink to help him with his condition.”
ShaoShu looked up. “What's wrong with HaiZhe?”
“His legs no longer work. Many years ago, he was a promising young vendor in the local black market. He borrowed money from a group of questionable investors that included, some say, Tonglong's father. When HaiZhe didn't make several loan payments, the investors decided to make an example of him. They severed every tendon in his body from the waist down.”
ShaoShu cringed.
“Most people would have died from loss of blood or shock or any number of things,” Lei said. “But not HaiZhe. He somehow managed to drag himself down the street to an apothecary, which was how he met LoBak. LoBak has been helping him ever since.”
“Does Tonglong know?”
“Of course. HaiZhe's injuries motivated him to crush nearly everyone around him, and he eventually became the Southern Warlord. As I mentioned earlier, Tonglong's father didn't like what he was seeing, and he tried to do something about HaiZhe's ways. Because of this and his presumed role in disabling HaiZhe, some people believe that HaiZhe killed Tong long's father with the help of a traitor.”
“Oh,” ShaoShu said, a lump forming in his throat. He couldn't help but think of Tonglong's father's ashes, and he changed the subject. “What about LoBak? Is he HaiZhe's friend?”
“No,” Lei said. “LoBak is more like a slave. HaiZhe would kill him if he stopped supplying the medicines that keep him healthy. Wait until you see HaiZhe. He is in amazing shape for someone with his disability.”
“How is LoBak going to help me?”
“Indirectly. LoBak always enters through a little-used rear entry that only has one guard. When the guard opens the door for LoBak, you must find a way to sneak in behind him.”
ShaoShu closed his eyes. He'd done this sort of thing before, but never with a guard standing there.
“Can you do it?” Lei asked.
ShaoShu opened his eyes and shrugged. “I guess I have no choice.”
“Smart boy,” Lei said with a grin.
“How will I get to the warehouse?”
Lei pointed out of a porthole to the fortress transport boat tied off at the ship's stern. Workmen swarmed over it, affixing a mast and a sail.
“A group of my best sailors will take you up the river and drop you off at HaiZhe's warehouse,” Lei said. “They will use the wind as well as row, as speed is of the essence. Did you notice those six Chinese junks approaching?”
“Yes.”
“They are merchant vessels that General Tonglong will use as transports. You may recall that he was gone for a few days last week. That's what he was doing— hiring these captains. He's been planning to mobilize our troops once these ships arrive. The merchant men have no idea what he is up to. Likewise, the men transporting you do not know your true mission. I hope you can keep a secret.”
“Sure,” ShaoShu said.
“Very good,” Lei replied. “The men transporting you will not be wearing uniforms so as to not raise any suspicion. They will drop you off and wait for you. You will only have one night—tonight. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” ShaoShu said. “Except, I'm not sure exactly what kind of gun information you want.”
“Inventory details. Equipment and supply lists. That is why you have been spending so much time with me. HaiZhe is the largest firearms dealer in China. Nearly all the guns and cannons in our country come from the Round Eyes, and they only work with him. We want to know what he has in his warehouse, including gunpowder and shot.”
“Why?”
“So that we can take it, of course. You've seen how pitifully armed we are.”