Free Mouse by Jeff Stone Page A

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 comefrom 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.”
    “But once I'm inside, how am I supposed to find it?”
    “HaiZhe stores the weapons in a special wing at the eastern end of the building. There is only one door way in or out, and it's located inside his office. Find the office, and you'll find the door. This will be a challenge, because the doorway into his office is secret. It's hidden within a huge mural down a very long corridor.”
    Great,
ShaoShu thought.
This is going to be impossible.
He said, “If I find a way into the office, how will I know which door is the right one?”
    “You can't miss it; it's huge. Be very careful, though, because there is a nearly invisible web of silk trip wires positioned in front of the door. If you so much as breathe too hard on the trip wires, four rows of muskets will simultaneously fire down on you from the ceiling. When I worked for HaiZhe, I saw three different guards accidentally brush against the web. Not even their closest family members could have identified their remains.”
    “I'm going to die, aren't I?” ShaoShu asked.
    “Maybe. I told General Tonglong that I thought this was a bad idea. He said he has faith in you.”
    ShaoShu stared at Lei. “Tonglong is going to kill HaiZhe, isn't he?”
    “With the right kind of information, we might be able to avoid conflict. The last thing General Tonglong wants is a bloody battle in the middle of the city. Perhaps we can pressure HaiZhe into surrendering his position with the information you retrieve, or maybe we can devise a plan to capture the weapons wing with only minimal casualties. If we take control of that wing, HaiZhe will have no choice but to surrender. I have to tell you, though, HaiZhe did not get to be where he is by giving in to pressure. He is as cunning as they come.”
    Lei turned to the porthole again, and ShaoShu saw the workmen leaving the transport. A mast and sail had been raised, and rugged seamen armed with muskets and pistols were climbing aboard.
    “Time for you to go, Little Mouse,” Lei said. “Good luck. HaiZhe's life might just be in your hands—as well as your own,” he added with a smirk.

CHAPTER
13

    S haoShu's transport vessel sailed hard for hours, the sailors often dropping oars into the water to urge the boat on faster than the sail alone would allow. They were obviously in a hurry, which was fine with ShaoShu. He needed to get there before LoBak's evening visit.
    They arrived in front of HaiZhe's warehouse soon after sunset. Most of the merchant ships and smaller transport boats were tied up for the night, bobbing gently in the river's steady current. The sky was overcast, but it didn't look like it was going to rain. ShaoShu couldn't have asked for