usatvline Chapter 41 The Murderous Intent of the List
Chapter 41 The Murderous Intent of the List
The flickering flames in the fireplace lengthened and shortened the shadows on Thomas Gage's face.
Li Wei, standing to the side, could vaguely sense that the other party's attitude was wavering between being aggressive and conservative.
After a minute of silence, Thomas placed his glass on the small table beside him, flicked his finger, and produced a crisp, light sound.
"Mr. Li, your business acumen is quite interesting."
"But business in Boston has its own rules."
Thomas no longer talked about porcelain, nor about caravans.
He leaned forward slightly, his scarlet uniform standing out starkly in the firelight.
"You've quieted down the docks, that's good. The Governor's Palace needs a quiet dock."
"But a quiet dock doesn't mean there aren't undercurrents. Those worms who call themselves 'sons of liberty' are always whispering in the gutter, gnawing at the foundations of the king."
Thomas's voice was calm and even, without any fluctuation, as if he were stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.
"I want to know, among these insects, which one is the head and which one is the brain?"
He paused, his gray eyes fixed on Li Wei.
"I need a list."
"Forgive my dullness, I..."
Thomas waved his hand, forcefully interrupting Levi, "A list of core members of 'Sons of Liberty'."
Andrew Gage, standing nearby, held his breath. He knew the real deal was about to begin; this was the real show of the night.
Li Wei did not answer immediately.
He tapped his knuckles on the armrests of the chair, the rhythmic sound spreading through the quiet corner, contrasting beautifully with the noise in the salon.
Li Wei was calculating, calculating the value of this intelligence, and calculating the risks involved.
Thomas, of course, noticed his "hesitation" and proactively offered his own chips.
"Of course, this isn't without reward."
"A permanent trading license, stamped with the governor's seal and protected by the Royal Navy. You may trade freely in any port of the thirteen North American colonies without paying any additional port taxes."
This price would drive any businessman in Boston crazy.
This means that Levi's business will be completely legalized, no longer confined to the gray area of the docks.
Gage seemed to think that wasn't enough, so he added another sentence.
"Furthermore, the deeds to that estate in Oak Bay, north of the city, along with the surrounding three hundred acres, will be delivered directly to your trading company. You can become a truly respectable man, Mr. Li. A landowner, a great merchant under the protection of the Governor's Mansion."
The temptations kept escalating.
Wealth, status, security.
This meant a complete cleansing, a leap from the shadows of the docks into the sunlight of colonial high society.
Li Wei's fingers unconsciously rubbed against the rim of the wine glass.
He lowered his head, seemingly engaged in a mental struggle, his face occasionally revealing a hint of greed, mixed with a touch of struggle and fear.
In Gage's view, such a complex expression was perfectly normal.
It's impossible for a businessman not to be tempted by such enormous profits.
That fear showed that he was aware of the consequences of offending the "Sons of Liberty".
"Mr. Thomas... this is... this is trading with one's life." Levi's voice was a little dry, and he seemed to have become a little fragile.
"Those people are all crazy."
"Isn't it precisely because they're crazy that they need to be locked in a cage?"
Thomas leaned back in his chair, picked up his glass, and his shadow was once again stretched far away by the firelight. "I'm not ordering you around, Mr. Li. I'm inviting a smart partner to do a deal that's mutually beneficial."
"I need time, and I also need to confirm my safety."
"Of course. I expect to see something of value in my office a week from now." For the first time, Thomas's face showed an expression that could be described as a smile.
As he left the Gage family's manor, the cold night wind blew against his face, and Levi's mind, which had been still tinged with the effects of alcohol, instantly cleared.
Upon entering the carriage, Li Wei's greedy expression from the salon vanished without a trace, replaced by an increasingly solemn demeanor.
Li Wei rested his head on Fiona's lap, feeling the beautiful woman's head massage, his thoughts wandering.
This is a doomed situation.
Thomas Gage doesn't want a list.
He was using this list to test his own worth.
If given a false list, the Governor's Office could easily uncover it. Then one would be an enemy who deceived the Governor's Office, and the consequences would be predictable.
If given a real list, and the Sons of Liberty leak even a little bit of information, he would be seen as a traitor, and his fate would be no better.
More importantly, once he handed over the list, he would become Thomas's dog, completely dependent on the governor's mansion, with no room for negotiation.
By then, his value will be quickly squeezed dry, and he will be discarded.
Therefore, a list must be submitted.
A list that would satisfy Thomas Gage without undermining his own principles.
The carriage stopped at the back door of the warehouse.
Li Wei stepped out of the carriage, the night wind ruffling the hem of his long robe.
He didn't go back to his own place, but went directly to Finn's place.
"Bring Samuel here. Now, immediately. Tell him I have a business deal to discuss that concerns the lives of all his people." Levy's order was devoid of any emotion.
Seeing the man's unprecedented seriousness, Finn didn't ask a single question, grabbed a coat, and disappeared into the night.
……
Two hours later.
In the basement, the flame of the whale oil lamp flickered uneasily.
When Samuel rushed in, his young face was full of anxiety and confusion.
"Mr. Li, what happened so late?"
Levi didn't beat around the bush; he poured out Thomas Gage's demands to Samuel like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.
Samuel's face turned deathly pale instantly.
"The Governor's Office wants a list? How could they... You, you agreed?"
"I agree."
"My God!" Samuel seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he took a step back and bumped into the wall.
"You can't do this! Mr. Li, you need to leave Boston immediately and go to Philadelphia, or somewhere further away! I'll arrange for people to help..."
"Leave? Why leave? I have no reason to turn down business that's offered to me."
"I called you here not so you could help me run away."
"This is not business! This is betrayal! It's using the blood of comrades to buy your own wealth!" Samuel shouted excitedly, the flame of idealism burning within him.
"So, I need you to cooperate with me and put on a show," Li Wei interrupted his accusation.
"Acting?" Samuel was stunned.
"I need the 'Sons of Liberty' to offer me a sacrifice." Li Wei's tone was devoid of any warmth.
"Someone insignificant, but whose identity is indeed yours. His rank cannot be too high, lest it arouse the governor's suspicion. But he must be verifiable, so that Thomas Gage's spies can easily verify his identity."
"No!" Samuel refused without even thinking.
"We will never sacrifice any of our brothers who fought for freedom! Everyone is equal, and no one is 'insignificant'!"
Levi stood up from his chair and walked step by step to Samuel.
"Equality? That's in your imagined paradise. In the real world, there's only the measure of value."
He tapped Samuel's chest with his knuckles, a sound that made Samuel stiffen.
"I, Li Wei, can provide you with British patrol routes, help you transport contraband, and eliminate the Governor's spies planted at the docks. My value is greater than that of a hundred members who only shout slogans."
"Now, all you need is one of your 'brothers' to protect me, a more valuable pawn, and keep me planted deep inside the enemy's heart."
Li Wei leaned close to his ear, lowering his voice even further, yet revealing a rare ruthlessness in his tone.
"If you can't even calculate this much 'cost,' and can't bear this much loss, then what's the difference between your so-called revolution and a bunch of children playing house in the street?"
Samuel trembled all over, his lips quivered, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Li Wei's words were like the sharpest knife, cutting through the cloak of ideals he had woven, revealing the cruel reality beneath.
Li Wei stopped pressuring him and simply returned to his seat, gently tapping the table with his knuckles.
"Go back and discuss it with your people. Think it through before you come back to me."
"Three days. I'm only giving you three days. If you can't provide the 'goods' I want after three days, I'll have to 'procure' them myself."