China by Edward Rutherfurd (historical books to read TXT) 📕

help us. Worse, there are problems around the empire, from Jamaica to Canada. And the threat of hostilities in Syria. Palmerston’s got a lot of other things to think about. And what’s worst of all?”

“It has to be money.”

“Of course it does. At the end of the day, it always comes down to money. And there, it’s very simple. There ain’t any. The Chancellor of the Exchequer says so. Baring’s been going around London telling anyone who’ll listen that there’s no money for anything. And although he’s a senior member of the government, I think he may be telling the truth.”

“So the navy’s not coming, after all?”

“I didn’t say that.” Benjamin Odstock paused. “Something’s up. Recently, a British Navy vessel was ordered to leave Bombay for a rendezvous unstated. I’m hearing word of other navy vessels gathering in Ceylon and out at Singapore. And now our governor general, here in India, is quietly gathering regiments for some sort of expedition. No official word as to why.”

“That doesn’t prove—”

“Wait. There’s more. You know that Elliot and a good many of our people, including my dear brother, have returned to Macao. Lin’s threatened to kick them out again, but so far he’s done nothing. The emperor’s promoted Lin to governor, by the way. The point, however, is Tully writes me that Elliot received a private letter from Palmerston. Contents secret. But Elliot was overjoyed. And soon after, what does he do? Starts looking for a fast clipper to take him up the China coast. All the way up to the ports that supply Peking. Now why should he—a well-qualified naval officer, remember—want to do that? You tell me.”

“Reconnaissance.”

“Exactly. Ships gathering. Troops. Elliot, in person, wants to inspect the coast without saying why.” Odstock gazed at him. “Which means…?”

“Good God.” Trader stared at him. “We’re going to blockade the entire Chinese coast. That’s far beyond what Elliot planned.”

“Planned?”

“Just something he said to me once, in confidence. Please go on.”

“Well, it’s typical Palmerston. You have to understand how his mind works. The man’s an imperialist. You think he can tolerate the way the emperor of China wants our ambassador to kowtow to him? Or that we’ve always been forbidden to trade at any port except Canton? Or—if he ever saw the damn letter—that Lin sends the British monarch a lecture about how to be obedient?”

“Could it work?”

“Oh, I think so. China needs trade. They need all kinds of materials, foodstuffs as well, copper and silver, of course—they’re desperate for silver—most of which come from other nations, through the many ports along the coast where we are not admitted. A blockade of all trade would hit them very hard indeed. And if there’s one thing the British are good at, it’s a blockade.”

“All the same, declaring war on the entire Chinese empire…I’m amazed Palmerston could get Parliament to agree to it.”

Benjamin Odstock took a pinch of snuff. “He hasn’t.” The stout merchant watched Trader’s look of astonishment. “Members of Parliament keep asking him what he’s up to, but he won’t tell ’em.”

“Is such a thing legal?”

“God knows. But he’s doing it anyway. The ships and troops are on the way. By the time Parliament finally finds out and complains, it’ll be too late.”

“I’m shocked.”

“Do you want your money back?”

“Yes.”

“Palmerston has given no indication to Jardine or anyone that he’ll consider making us good. Indeed, if he’s unwilling to cough up the money now, still less will he do so after incurring the huge costs of an expedition and blockade. But we’ll still get our money back in the end.”

“From China itself.” Trader nodded. Elliot’s original plan, but on a bigger scale.

“That’s it. From the emperor of China—after he’s paid all our military expenses.” He gave a nod of satisfaction. “Palmerston wants to uphold the dignity of the British Empire. But if he invests in a war with China, he’ll expect a financial return.” He smiled. “After all, if the British Empire isn’t profitable, there’s not much point in it, is there?”

“So all my hopes depend on the Chinese emperor,” Trader said quietly.

“They depend upon the British Navy,” Odstock corrected him. “Much better bet.”

“It could take years,” said Trader.

“True. But in the meantime,” Benjamin Odstock continued, “we can still make money in the opium trade.”

“We can?”

“Is opium still being grown here in India?”

“Yes.”

“Opium’s like a river, my boy. A river of black gold. Nothing can stop it. The pent-up demand is huge. You can block one channel, but it will find another.”

“That’s what my friend Read said. What channels are we talking about?”

“Tully’s already supplying the dragon boats directly.”

“I thought Lin had taken them over. Turned the smugglers into coastguards.”

“And they’re turning back to smuggling again just as fast—for the right money. Some of them are probably working both sides of the fence. It doesn’t matter—well, not to us—so long as the opium gets through.”

“So we really are pirates, aren’t we?” remarked Trader a little sadly.

“Those good old sea dogs back in Shakespeare’s day—you know, Sir Francis Drake and all that—they were pirates to a man. That’s how it all began. Besides, you forget one thing.” He smiled. “We’re British pirates. That’s quite different.” He patted his stomach, chuckled, and took another pinch of snuff. But then suddenly his expression changed. He glared at Trader. “You don’t want to become a missionary, do you?” he asked fiercely.

John Trader thought of his cousin Cecil. “Absolutely not,” he replied emphatically.

—

Aunt Harriet was supposed to be coming with them, but as her husband wasn’t feeling well that day, she elected to stay with him at the bungalow. So it was just Charlie and John Trader who went to the dance.

The social life of Calcutta was still carrying on at the end of April. By late May it would be getting uncomfortably hot, and most of the British would be leaving for the pleasant hill stations in the Himalayan foothills.

The ball was being held in one of the clubs. Naturally, the women were all resplendent in ball gowns, and