Puramore

Chapter 2 - West Meets East-2

“I would not necessarily qualify our interest in your development as solely benevolent. I would rather prefer that you regard our involvement in your educational and career development as an investment that promised to reap untold returns for both you and the Order.”

“I am not quite following you.”

He was flatly incredulous to the core of his being.

“Firstly, why would you have chosen someone like me when you could have done the same from your own social circle? Secondly, how am I required to fulfil the terms of your investment?”

“Fair questions, which I am only too happy to answer. Well, someone like you only arrives on Earth once every one hundred years or more. You are a natural-born leader of the highest calibre. I say that not to shame your modesty, but to reflect the fact that we, as astute students of history, have a keen and discerning sense about how men are destined to develop given the proper providence. As a youth, you exhibited all the attributes of the kind of individual that we continually to discover and develop.

“As you depart this evening, please take special notice of the portraits you saw on your way to the dining hall. Some of the men portrayed hailed from quite austere circumstances, whilst others were born into privilege and opulence. I dare say that upon closer scrutiny you shall also recognise at least a few of them as having played pivotal leadership roles both in public and private offices they held.

“With regard to your second question, you have already repaid our capital investment outlay for your education in spades, as established by your success to date. The stellar accomplishments that you achieved by virtue of your own initiative and leadership skills starting from the day you entered Eton College have been a splendid victory for us as well.”

“As far as you are concerned, however, all of that experience is in the past.”

“You are giving me the impression that my career path is about to take an abrupt turn.”

“And an abrupt turn it shall be. Accordingly, we have decided that your talents shall be utilised to far greater effect in another capacity.”

The general’s eyes widened.

Before he could utter a syllable, Lord Chamberlain resumed, “Please hear me out before you comment upon our proposition to you. The years you have spent in the service of Her Majesty have been exceptionally beneficial toward the peace and prosperity of the nation as well as toward your own personal development. Yet, for all it was worth, that experience was merely a stepping stone onto the path of your true destiny.”

He took a sip of his cocktail.

“As you have undoubtedly noticed, the majority of the members of the order present this evening are in advanced stages of life. I myself am eighty-two years old. In this modern era, we as a group are a dying breed, both literally and figuratively.

“The noble charter of the Ancient Order of the Blue Garter that has lasted gloriously for ages is today only an anachronistic ideal cherished in the minds of us who survive at the very end of our time here on Earth. The younger membership, though fully capable of carrying on the club’s traditions indefinitely, shall never, I regret to say, be able to reshape the original charter to incorporate the realities of the modern world even if they possessed the inclination and capability to do so. Perforce of that ominous realisation, we have no other alternative but to pass on the mantel of our leadership to the only man alive capable of refashioning the charter into a viable and thriving influence. And that man, General Sir George Smythe, is none other than you.”

Although there was something tantalising about his presentation, Smythe harboured an essential, almost instinctual misgiving about his motives toward him. He learned early in his military career that the success of an endeavour often depends upon a crucial command decision based on gut instinct. In this case, his gut instinct was sending him a message to beware.

“You are at the very pinnacle of your military career with nowhere to go but sideways. I think that you ought to agree with me that your options otherwise are virtually nought. That is not a bright prospect for a young man like you. You crave the continual pursuit and attainment of power as most men breathe air to exist. Recognising that you are thus at a stalemate, we propose that you forthwith resign your officer’s commission and begin a new career in industry, initially under our tutelage. We in turn guarantee that from that moment forward you will at least receive a lifetime pension and benefits equal to your entitlement under your current military rank and tenure.

“If you succeed, as we expect you shall, we will turn over the business to you for your complete control and ownership. What is truly at stake for you is the opportunity to realise your fullest potential as a leader and innovator, unfettered by any and all social or bureaucratic obstacles in the way of your ambition and drive to succeed. That’s a heady prospect, wouldn’t you agree?”

The general picked up his half-full martini glass with his right hand and swirled the contents as he carefully contemplated the proposition. Bringing the glass to his lips, he took a reflective sip and lowered it down on the table.

“I have been rather dreading serving the remainder of my career until retirement. It’s not that I do not enjoy the power and prestige of my current appointment, it’s more that I am no longer challenged by military intrigue and gamesmanship.”

“Of course you're not. At just over fifty years old, you are a young man on the verge of exploiting his leadership capabilities to the ultimate level. We also realise that you suffer career ennui when you are not constantly stimulated by the challenge of rising to a higher level of power and prestige. Whilst the opportunity that we are offering to you will likely make you a rich and powerful man, the prestige you derive from that success is yours and only yours to define. In other words, you can make use of it as you desire by either staying out of the public view altogether or electing instead to use it as a platform for political gain in the public forum. In any event, we shall not hold you to any standard other than the one you set for yourself.”

“And I shall be free to manage the company at my complete discretion?”

“Yes, as Grand Exalted Master of the Ancient Order of the Blue Garter, I assure you that from the day you ratify our employment and membership agreement the company shall be yours to manage at your total discretion. Thereafter, if and when you meet our performance goals for the company’s business expansion over the course of the initial five years, 100 percent of the firm’s ownership will be transferred to your name.

“I know you must have reservations concerning the changeover from public to private life, but you won’t have any difficulty at managing the enterprise from the very day you set foot inside the chief executive officer’s suite.”

“And where may I ask is that located?”

“The headquarters office of Oriental Winds Commodities House is located in Hong Kong. OWCH owns the fifty-story building that houses its headquarters staff in the top fifteen floors. Your private office suite is located on the fiftieth floor of the building.”

“This is really too good to be true. There must be some sort of a catch.

“You stated earlier that passing leadership of the Order to me was deemed a necessity. I clearly don’t understand the nature of that responsibility, nor do I understand anything at all about the Order’s charter.”

“I assure you that there is none until the day you become a member and assume responsibility for developing a new charter. And there is no responsibility that you basically assume by accepting the Order's leadership position other than that. Otherwise, save for your obligation with adhering to the performance milestones during the five-year initiation period, we will transfer the business to your ownership without any encumbrance whatsoever.

The four senior partners, including myself, have owned the business for the past fifty years and have during that time made vast fortunes as a result. At this point in our lives, however, we have neither the time nor the inclination to devote any further energy toward maintaining the business even at its present level of performance.

“It is a fine firm that only requires a goodly bit of attention to shift out of its current neutral gear and into higher and higher performance levels. That is your challenge, pure and simple. Should you decide to accept the challenge, you will be thoroughly briefed by me and the three other senior partners as to the current status of the firm as well as to how best to initially proceed with its management. After that, you will be essentially on your own.”

He paused for a few seconds before resuming.

“I suppose you need a few days to further consider the merits of our proposition.”

The general glanced across the dining room as though searching for divine intercession on his behalf. Nevertheless, he knew in his own mind that an opportunity like this would never present itself to him again. He also knew that he would be a fool not to take an early retirement from military service in order to take advantage of this mysterious kismet. Yet, the Omen had just presented itself to him as Juan predicted it would several decades earlier. He knew in his spirit The Path laid before him in his acceptance of this opportunity.

“Well, if there is an overriding strength in my character as a leader, it lies in my ability to properly assess situations and effectively direct immediate action to gain control over them. Accordingly, I herewith accept the opportunity which you have presented to me this evening, Lord Chamberlain.”

“Jolly good! Now let's order dinner, shall we? I'm absolutely famished.”

* * *

“Sir, would you care for a glass of wine with your dinner this evening?”

He instantly pulled out of his reverie. As he looked up at the flight attendant, he removed his headphones.

“Yes, I would care for a glass of wine. Burgundy would be preferable.”

“Very well, Sir.” She gave him an alluring smile before leaving for the galley.

The general adjusted his seat for comfort. He sat in the window seat; the aisle seat next to him was vacant. Having found a comfortable position, he laid his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. No sooner had he done so than he heard the rustle of clothing in the seat next to him. He opened his eyes to see a well-dressed man of Chinese descent, a slightly sinister grin on his face, looking at him intently.

“General Sir George Smythe,” he said as though he had just found a long lost friend. “Please excuse the intrusion, but I couldn’t help but notice you as I passed through the first-class cabin. You probably don’t recognise me. My name is Huáng Xinghua.”

He extended his right hand to offer a handshake.

“My friends simply call me Wingtip...as do my enemies.”

His piercing dark eyes seemed to sparkle as he uttered the last word.

Accepting the handshake in a businesslike spirit, Smythe thoroughly inspected his unexpected visitor. He could tell Mr Huáng was about his age judging by the salt-and-pepper hair and the crow's-feet wrinkles around his eyes set in high cheekbones. His slightly gaunt face and lean and muscular body frame, as outlined through the beige silk suit he wore, revealed him as being in exceptional physical condition, perhaps as a result of a long-established regimen as a long-distance runner. Smythe also judged him as about his same height.

“I don’t believe we've met before, Mr Huáng.”

He extended his right hand to accept the handshake.

“I’m usually perfect in putting together names and faces.”

The stranger chuckled. “You must call me Wingtip, as I don’t know who Mr Huáng is anymore, and haven’t since I acquired the nickname in my youth.”

His smile widened. “Actually, we haven’t been formally introduced. I am in the armaments trade as one of my many business interests. I make it my job to know key figures, such as yourself, associated with my potential customers...one of which being the British military armaments consortium.”

“Well, Mr Huáng, for your information, I no longer serve in the British Army. I resigned my commission a fortnight ago and am now embarked upon a new career in private industry.”

“I am well aware of that fact, General Smythe. Additionally, I know that you are taking over the reins of OWCH.” He maintained an inscrutable smile as his gaze bore in on the general.

Smythe looked quizzically at the man for a moment. “And what don’t you know, Mr Huáng?” This man, he thought, certainly has a lot of brass approaching me in this manner. He was nevertheless intrigued by him.

“Not much when it comes to you, General Smythe. Here’s my business card.”

He presented him with a card as he rose from his seat.

“I think you’ll find me a diamond in the rough when it comes to trade relations with the People’s Republic of China. Do give me a ring when you have a mind to. We shall meet again in the not-too-distant future.”

He shook the general’s hand and departed for the coach cabin section.

The general brought the white card closer to his face to read the embossed black print. All that was printed was

Wingtip

Phone Number: 03-594-8503

* * *

A year after taking over the helm General Smythe transformed Oriental Winds Commodities House from what was akin to a majestic British clipper ship into a world class, late 20th century America's Cup sailing yacht. The new course he chartered during this period of reorganisation almost immediately lifted the firm's bottom-line as its sails tacked into the fiercely competitive winds with aplomb. It had been a gratifying experience for him, especially since for the first time in his professional career, he could take full credit for his accomplishment, and personally, reap the bounty of his management style.

Having delegated most of the daily operation of the firm to the line and staff management, he was then at liberty to commence his next project, the cornerstone of which was his quest to discover the whereabouts of his soul sons, whom he only knew from one nocturnal dream he had during his adolescence.