'None that I know of. Before leaving the capital I looked up his record at the Board of Personnel. He is described as a diligent and capable official, a brilliant young man already twenty years ago, when he was a junior assistant in the local tribunal here. Thereafter he served with distinction as magistrate in several districts, and was promoted to Prefect. Two years ago he was again sent to Canton, this time as Governor of the entire southern region. His family life is exemplary; he has three sons and one daughter. The only critical remark I found was that he is devoured by ambition, and fervently hopes for the post of Metropolitan Governor. Well, after I had given him the rigmarole about Dr Soo's murder, I ordered him to summon for a conference half an hour before the evening meal, the best experts on foreign trade. Thus I hope to gather some general information on Arab affairs, under the cloak of orientating myself on foreign trade in general.' Rising he added, 'Let's go to the Council Hall now; they'll be waiting for us.'
As they were walking to the door, Tao Gan asked:
'What could an Imperial Censor have to do with the paltry affairs of those black barbarians, sir?'
'Well, one never knows,' Judge Dee said cautiously. 'It seems that the Arab tribes have united themselves under a kind of chieftain whom they call the Khalif, whose armed hordes have overrun most of those barren western regions. What happens in those benighted lands on the periphery of our civilized world does not concern us, of course; that Khalif has not even become important enough to dare send tribute-bearing envoys begging His Imperial Majesty to grant him the status of vassal. Yet there is the possibility that some time he may establish contact with our archenemies, the Tartars, beyond our north-western frontier. Also, the Arab ships here in the south might supply arms to the rebels in Annam — just to mention two possibilities that come to mind. But let us not indulge in irrelevant speculation. Come along!'
V
The majordomo led the judge and his two assistants ceremoniously through a veritable maze of covered corridors. After they had crossed the central courtyard where clerks, messengers and guards were bustling about in the light of the coloured lampions, he took them through an imposing gate and ushered them into the sumptuous Council Hall, brilliantly lit by dozens of man-high candelabras.
The Governor, a tall, bearded man with broad, round shoulders, received the judge with a low bow that made the sleeves of his gorgeous robe of shimmering green brocade sweep the marble floor. The golden insignia attached to the quivering wings of his high cap made a tinkling sound. He acknowledged Judge Dee's introduction of Colonel Chiao and Chief-Secretary Tao with another, now rather perfunctory bow. Then he presented the thin, elderly man who was kneeling by his side as Pao Kwan, Prefect of Canton, in charge of the city administration. The Prefect touched the floor with his forehead.
Judge Dee told the Prefect to rise. After a casual glance at the old man's deeply-lined, worried face, he followed the Governor, who conducted him to a throne-like seat in the rear. Then the Governor stood himself respectfully in front of the dais; for although he was the highest authority in the Southern Region, he was still several ranks below Judge Dee, now President of the Metropolitan Court, and for two years concurrently Counsellor of State.
The judge sat down, and Chiao Tai and Tao Gan went to stand somewhat apart, on either side of the dais. Tao Gan looked quite dignified in his long brown robe and high gauze cap. Chiao Tai had put on his spiked helmet and had taken a sword from the armoury of the palace. The close-fitting coat of mail revealed his wide, bulging shoulders and muscular arms.
The Governor made a bow, then spoke formally: 'In accordance with Your Excellency's instructions, I have summoned here Mr Liang Foo and Mr Yau Tai-kai. Mr Liang is one of the wealthiest merchants of this city, he...'
'Is he a member of the clan of Liang that was nearly decimated by that infamous ninefold murder?' the judge interrupted. 'I dealt with that case fourteen years ago, when I was magistrate of Poo-yang.'
'One of Your Excellency's most famous cases!’ the Governor said suavely. 'It is still talked about here in Canton, with gratitude and admiration! No, this Mr Liang belongs to quite a different clan. He is the only son of the late Admiral Liang.'
'An illustrious family,' Judge Dee remarked. Unfolding his fan, he went on, 'The Admiral was a valorous soldier and a great strategist. The "Subduer of the South Seas", he was called. I met him only once, but I well remember his extraordinary appearance. A squat, broad-shouldered man, with a flat, rather ugly face — a low forehead and high cheekbones. But once you had seen those piercing eyes you knew that you were in the presence of a truly great man!’ He tugged at his moustache, then asked, 'Why didn't his son continue the family tradition?'
'Bad health made him unfit for a military career, sir. Which is a pity, for he has inherited his father's strategical talents, as evinced by his acumen in administering his vast commercial interests. And, in a minor manner, by his rare skill in the game of chess! Mr Liang is the chess champion of this province.' The Governor coughed behind his hand and continued, 'Of course a man of Mr Liang's breeding doesn't stoop to direct ah ... association with the barbarian traders. But he keeps himself informed about all the broader issues. Mr Yau Tai-kai, on the other hand, has close contacts with the foreign merchants, mainly Arabs and Persians. He doesn't mind; he comes from a rather er ... modest family, and is a broadminded, easy-going fellow. I thought that Mr Liang and Mr Yau would be able to present to Your Excellency a reasonably complete picture of the trade situation in my territory.'
'It's a big city,' the judge remarked casually. 'One would think that it harboured more experts on foreign trade than just these two.'
The Governor darted a quick look at him. He said quietly:
'Foreign trade is highly organized, sir. Has to be, seeing that it is partly state controlled. It's these two gentlemen who pull the strings.'
Chiao Tai came forward and said: 'I heard that a sea captain called Nee also is considered an expert in this field. His ships ply between Canton and Arab ports.'
'Nee?' the Governor asked. He cast a questioning look at the Prefect. Pao slowly pulled at his wispy goatee, then said vaguely:
'Oh yes! The captain is well known in shipping circles. But it seems that he has been staying ashore the last three years or so, and is leading a rather er ... dissolute life.'
'I see,' Judge Dee said. And to the Governor, 'Well, let the two gentlemen you mentioned come in.'
The Governor gave an order to the Prefect, then ascended the dais and stood at Judge Dee's right hand. Pao came back leading two men across the hall, one of small stature, very thin, the other tall, with a large paunch. When they were kneeling in front of the dais the Prefect introduced the first as the merchant Liang Foo, his portly companion as Mr Yau Tai-kai.
The judge told them to rise. He saw that Liang Foo had a pale, rather cold face with a jet-black, silky moustache and thin goatee. His curved eyebrows and unusually long lashes gave the upper half of his face a nearly feminine air. He wore a long, olive-green robe; on his head a black gauze cap indicated that he possessed a literary degree. Mr Yau evidently was quite a different type; he had a cheerful round face, adorned by a bristling moustache and a neatly trimmed ring-beard. Tiny wrinkles surrounded his large bovine eyes. He was puffing slightly, and perspiration pearled on his florid face. His ceremonial dress of heavy brown brocade was apparently bothering him.
PREFECT PAO PRESENTS YAU AND LIANG TO JUDGE DEE