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Tall for most Asian men at five feet； eleven inches； he was heavy around the waist； weighing in at 210 pounds； not solid but what you might call chubby； the aftereffects of a taste and appetite for good Chinese cooking。 The black hair was thick and cut short； with a part down the middle。 The head and face were not round but narrow and almost feline； and matched the long and slender hands。 The mouth； oddly and deceptively； seemed fixed in a permanent smile。 Outwardly； Qin Shang seemed as threatening as a shoe salesman。
No one who met him could forget his eyes。 They were the color of the purest green jade and revealed a black depth that belied a good…tempered man。 They burned with a frightening degree of malevolence and were so penetrating that men who knew him swore he could look through your skull and read the latest stock market quotes。 The inward man behind the eyes was a different story。 Qin Shang was as sadistic and unscrupulous as a Serengeti hyena。 He thrived on manipulation so long as it led to spiraling wealth and power。 As an orphan begging on the streets of Kowloon across Victoria Harbor from the island of Hong Kong； he developed an uncanny talent for exploiting people for their money。 By the age of ten； he had saved enough to buy a sampan and used it to ferry people and transport whatever cargo he could talk merchants into letting him carry。
In two years； he had a fleet of ten sampans。 Before he was eighteen； he sold his thriving little fleet and bought an ancient intercoastal tramp steamer。 This tired old rust bucket became the foundation for Qin Shang's shipping empire。 The freight line flourished during the next decade because Qin Shang's petitors hi the freight trade strangely fell by the wayside when many of their ships mysteriously disappeared at sea without a trace with all hands aboard。 Finding their profit margins dropping into the red； the owners of the doomed ships always seemed to find a ready buyer for their remaining vessels and dwindling assets。 Operating out of Japan； the pany that did the buying was known as Yokohama Ship Sales & Scrap Corporation。 In reality it was a front whose parental ties stretched across the China Sea to Qin Shang Maritime Limited。
In time； Qin Shang took a different course from his business peers hi Hong Kong； who established alliances with European financial institutions and Western exporters and importers。 In a shrewd move； he turned his focus on the People's Republic of China； creating friendships with high government officials in preparation for the day when they would take control of Hong Kong from the British。 He conducted behind…the…scenes negotiations with Yin Tsang； chief director of the People's Republic's Ministry of Internal Affairs； an obscure department of the government that was involved with everything from foreign espionage of scientific technology to the international smuggling of immigrants to relieve the country's overcrowded population。 In return for his services Qin Shang was allowed to register his ships in China without the usual exorbitant fees。
The partnership proved incredibly profitable to Qin Shang。 The clandestine transportation and trade in undocumented aliens； in concert with the legitimate hauling of Chinese goods and oil exclusively by Qin Shang's freighters and tankers； brought hundreds of millions of dollars over several years into the pany's many hidden bank accounts around the world。
Qin Shang soon amassed more money than he could spend in a thousand lifetimes。 Yet there was a fixed determination in his sinister brain to amass even more wealth； more power。 Once he had built one of the largest cargo and passenger fleets in the world； the challenge was gone and the moral and legitimate end of the business began to bore him。 But there was excitement in the covert side of his operation。 The rush of adrenaline and the intoxication of taking risks excited him like a steep slope of moguls in front of an expert skier。 Little did his fellow conspirators in the People's Republic know he was also smuggling drugs and guns along with the illegal immigrants。 It was a very lucrative sideline； and he used the profits to develop his landmark port facility in Louisiana。 Playing the ends against the middle gave him glorious hours of exhilaration。
Qin Shang was an egomaniac with a stratospheric level of insane optimism。 He held the firm belief that his day of reckoning would never e。 Even if it did； he was too rich； too omnipotent； to be broken。 He already paid enormous bribes to high…level officials in half the governments of the world。 In the United States alone； there were over one hundred people in every agency of the federal government on his payroll。 As far as Qin Shang was concerned the future was wrapped in a nebulous fog that never fully materialized。 But just for added insurance； he maintained a small army of bodyguards and professional assassins he'd pirated away from the most efficient intelligence agencies in Europe； Israel and America。
His receptionist's voice came over a small speaker on his desk。 〃You have a visitor arriving on your private elevator。〃
Qin Shang rose from behind his immense rosewood desk； raised on legs intricately carved hi the shape of tigers； and walked across the cavernous room toward the elevator。 The office looked like the vastly expanded interior of a captain's cabin in an old sailing ship。 Heavy oak planking was laid for the floor。 Thick oak beams supported a skylighted ceiling with teak paneling throughout。 Large builder's models of Qin Shang Maritime ships sailed on plaster seas inside glass cases on one side of the room while on the opposite wall a collection of old diver's suits with their lead boots and brass helmets hung suspended by their air hoses； as if they still contained the bodies of their owners。 Qin Shang stopped in front of the elevator as its doors opened and greeted his visitor； a short man with dense gray hair。 His eyes bulged as they protruded from fleshy pouches。 He smiled as he came forward and shook Qin Shang's outstretched hand。
〃Qin Shang；〃 he said with a taut little grin。 〃Yin Tsang； always an honor to see you；〃 Qin Shang said graciously。 〃I did not expect you until next Thursday。〃
〃I hope you'll forgive this unpardonable interruption；〃 said Yin Tsang； the minister of China's internal affairs； 〃but I wished to speak with you privately on a matter of some delicacy。〃
〃I am always available anytime to you； old friend。 e and sit down。 Would you like some tea？〃
Yin Tsang nodded。 〃Your own special blend？ I'd like nothing better。〃
Qin Shang called his private secretary and ordered the tea。 〃Now then； what is this delicate matter that brings you to Hong Kong a week ahead of your scheduled visit？〃
〃Disturbing news has reached Beijing concerning your operation at Orion Lake in the state of Washington。〃
Qin Shang shrugged carelessly。 〃Yes； an unfortunate incident beyond my control。〃
〃My sources tell me the holding station for the immigrants was raided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service。〃
〃It was；〃 Qin Shang freely admitted。 〃My best men were killed and our security people were captured in a lightning raid that was totally unexpected。〃
Yin Tsang looked at him。 〃How could this happen？ I can't believe you failed to prepare for such a possibility。 Didn't your agents in Washington； D。C。； alert you？〃
Qin Shang shook his head。 〃I've since learned the raid did not originate in the INS national headquarters。 It was a spur…of…the…moment operation conducted by the local district director； who took it upon himself to launch an assault on the holding station。 I was given no warning by any of my agents within the American government。〃
〃Your entire North American operation has been promised。 The Americans now have broken a link in the chain that will surely lead directly to you。〃
〃Not to worry； Yin Tsang；〃 Qin Shang said calmly。 〃American investigators have no evidence that directly ties me to illegal immigrant smuggling。 They may have their pitiful and insignificant suspicions； but nothing else。 My other staging sites along the American coastline are still in operation and can easily absorb all future shipments programmed for Orion Lake。〃
〃President Lin Loyang and my fellow ministers will be happy to hear you have everything under your control；〃 said Yin Tsang。 〃But I still have my reservations。 Once the Americans scent a crack in your organization； they will hound you unrelentingly。〃
〃You are afraid？〃
〃I am concerned。 Too much is at stake to allow a man more interested in profit than the aims of our party to remain in control。〃
〃What are you suggesting？〃
Yin Tsang looked at Qin Shang steadily。 〃I shall remend to President Lin Loyang that you resign from the smuggling operation and be replaced。〃
〃And my contract to carry the bulk of national Chinese cargo and passengers？〃
〃Revoked。〃
The expected response of surprise and anger did not materialize。 Nor was there the slightest sign of annoyance。 Qin Shang merely shrugged impassively。 〃You think that I can be that easily replaced？〃
〃Someone with your special qualifications has already been selected。〃
〃Anyone I know？〃
〃One of your petitors； Quan Ting； chairman of China & Pacific Lines； has agreed to fill your shoes。〃
〃Quan Ting？〃 Qin Shang's eyebrow rose a millimeter。 〃His ships are little better than rusting barges。〃
〃Soon he will be in a position to launch new ships。〃 The words came with a veiled implication that Quan Ting would be financed by the Chinese government with Yin Tsang's blessing and endorsement。
〃You insult my intelligence。 You have used the Orion Lake mishap as an excuse to cancel my association with the People's Republic of China so you can go into partnership on the sly and rake in the profits yourself。〃
〃You are no stranger to greed； Qin Shang。 You would do the same in my shoes。〃
〃And my new facility in Louisiana？〃 asked Qin Shang。 〃Am I to lose that too？〃
〃You will be pensated for your half of the investment； of course。〃
〃Of course；〃 Qin Shang repeated acidly； knowing full well he would never receive a cent。 〃Naturally； it will be given to my successor and you； his silent partner。〃
〃That will be my counsel at the next party conference in Beijing。〃
〃May I inquire as to whom else you've discussed my expulsion with？〃
〃Only Quan Ting；〃 answered Yin Tsang。 〃I thought it best to keep the matter quiet until the proper time。〃
Qin Shang's private secretary stepped into the room and moved to the sitting area with the grace of a Balinese dancing girl； which is exactly what she was until Qin Shang hired and trained her。 She was only one of several beautiful girls who served as Shang's aides。 Women he trusted more than men。 Unmarried； Shang kept nearly a dozen mistresses…three lived in his penthouse…but he followed a policy of never being intimate with the women close to his business dealings。 He nodded his appreciation as his secretary set a tray with two cups and two teapots on the low table between the men。
〃The green teapot is your special blend；〃 she said softly to Qin Shang。 〃The blue teapot is jasmine。〃
〃Jasmine！〃 Yin Tsang snorted。 〃How can you drink tea that tastes like women's perfume when your special blend is far superior？〃
〃Variety。〃 Qin Shang smiled。 As a show of courtesy he poured the tea。 Relaxing in his chair while he cradled the steaming cup in his hands； he watched as Yin Tsang sipped until his tea was gone。 Then Qin Shang politely poured him another cup。
〃You realize； of course； that Quan Ting has no cruise ships available to carry passengers。〃
〃They can either be purchased or leased from other cruise lines；〃 said Yin Tsang offhandedly。 〃Let us face the light。 You have made immense profits over the past few years。 You are not about to go bankrupt。 It will be a simple matter for you to diversify Qin Shang Maritime Limited into Western markets。 You are a shrewd businessman； Qin Shang。 You will survive without the People's Republic of China's benevolence。〃
〃The flight of a hawk cannot be acplished with the wings of a sparrow；〃 said Qin Shang philosophically。
Yin Tsang set down his cup and rose to his feet。 〃I must leave you now。 My plane is waiting to fly me bac