Prologue-Chapter 8 Summary

Noble House is the continuation of James Clavell's exciting story of the biggest and most important trading house in Hong Kong. The original tai-pan devised a list of promises that all succeeding tai-pans must swear to uphold. Now a new tai-pan, Ian Dunross is to be sworn in and he also is expected to swear to uphold the pledge.

Alistair Struan, the current tai-pan, and Phillip Chen, the compradore, are waiting for Ian. Chen will witness the handing over the reins of control from Alistair to Ian. There are seven points to the pledge and Ian cannot become tai-pan if he does not agree to commit the company to China trade and Hong Kong.

It is now three years later and John Chen is at the airport awaiting the arrival of a charter plane called Yankee 2, which is owned by an American millionaire...