Chapter 44

Summary

• The China Cloud setting sail in the morning with calm seas and a light breeze
• The wind increasing in strength and Struan climbing the mast to check for any signs of danger
• Struan returning to the deck and ordering a sailor to take soundings
• The China Cloud arriving safely at the western Strait of Hong Kong in the evening
• Struan and Orlov discussing their age and the call of the sea
• Struan preparing to meet with Brock and discuss the future of the Noble House
• Struan and May-May returning home to Happy Valley
• Efforts to control opium trafficking in Asia
• Struan's company is a leading opium trader
• Officials in Hong Kong are trying to stop the trade
• Struan's friend, Tyler Brock, has offered a reward for information leading to the capture of other opium traders
• Struan offers to communicate Brock's suggestion to his superiors
• Struan plans to continue offering the reward if the others are caught
• Struan and Culum have a conversation about Gordon Chen and a secret society
• Culum accuses Struan of planning to kill Gorth
• Struan denies the accusation and says he dislikes using people for his own purposes
• Culum asks Struan not to associate with Brock
• Struan says he will make his own decisions when he becomes Tai-Pan
• Struan and Culum plan to have dinner at the club that evening
• Struan facing challenges including:
• A conflict with Cunnington
• Tension with Brock
• A desire to find a solution for Longstaff
• Concerns about Skinner and Mauss
• The need to find a solution for Culum
• The potential for a partnership with Cooper and Tillman
• The possibility of violence as a solution to certain problems