The Black Sails of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 45 Setting Sail for the Ming Dynasty

A moment later, Lin Qian walked into the officers' mess hall, followed by Chen Jiao and Lei Sanxiang.

Zheng Zhilong, Zhou Xiucai, Jose, and Bai Langzai were already waiting there.

Everyone stood up to greet Lin Qian as she entered.

Lin Qian gestured for everyone to sit down.

Before long, the boatmen brought out the food in a row.

Zheng Zhilong arrived at the right time; the meal had not been prepared in advance, and it was just the usual food served on the ship.

Today's meal consisted of rice, roasted crucian carp with scallions, dried tofu with shepherd's purse, and pickled vegetables with cucumber.

The meal included both meat and vegetables, which was exceptionally lavish compared to that of ordinary people, but it was, after all, a work meal and not as high-class as a specially prepared banquet.

Zheng Zhilong sighed again upon seeing the food.

He wasn't lamenting about the meal, but rather his status as a hostage.

On the bright side, at least he can still eat now. But five days from now, it's hard to say whether he'll be eating meat and wine or facing a knife.

He was so distressed that he didn't even hear Lin Qian's apologies for his poor hospitality.

Seeing the wine on the table, Zheng Zhilong drank it all without hesitation.

This rum is made from sugarcane residue and has a slightly sweet aroma, making it easier to drink than rice wine.

However, Zheng Zhilong's words were full of bitterness.

Lin Qian raised her glass and said, "I have never been to Guangzhou before. I am fortunate to be able to visit this place thanks to the councilor. However, I am unfamiliar with the area, but fortunately, Brother Yiguan led the way, so I did not wander around aimlessly. Thank you in advance."

Zheng Zhilong was completely lost in thought, but he simply raised his wine glass and said perfunctorily, "Of course, of course."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.

Only after drinking the wine can you truly appreciate its flavor.

What does it mean to say "Fortunately, I had an official brother to lead the way"?
Isn't he a hostage? Why doesn't Brother Lin keep him on the boat?
Zheng Zhilong looked at Lin Qian and asked for confirmation, "Brother Lin just said that you want me to go to Guangzhou with you?"

Lin Qian smiled and said, "I've never been to Guangzhou before, so I'll naturally need Brother Yiguan to lead the way. Thank you for your help."

Zheng Zhilong was overjoyed. If he were a hostage, he would naturally be left on the ship. Lin Qian taking him to Guangzhou showed that she did not treat him as a hostage at all.

Moreover, his words were full of respect, and he made no mention of the hostages.

Looking back now, Lin Qian never treated him like an outsider from the moment she showed him the letter; she was always honest and open with him.

Although he and Lin Qian called each other brothers, he knew the principle of not speaking too deeply with someone he didn't know well and didn't expect Lin Qian to really treat him as a brother.

It wasn't until Lin Qian said those words that Zheng Zhilong had a thought: "Could it be that Brother Lin really acknowledges me as his brother?"
"I'm just a lowly translator, with no connections or influence whatsoever. How could I possibly deserve such treatment from Brother Lin?"

Zheng Zhilong felt a mixture of surprise and doubt.

Lin Qian didn't see Zheng Zhilong's expression, but she could guess what he was thinking with a high degree of accuracy.

To Lin Qian, Zheng Zhilong was of no value as a hostage.

Since the councilor was willing to send Zheng Zhilong here, he probably doesn't care whether he lives or dies.

Since that's the case, we might as well let Zheng Zhilong off the hook and do him a favor.

Moreover, Lin Qian's trip to Guangzhou was not solely for attending the Feast at Hongmen.

There are also two major tasks: discovering talent and recruiting Tanka people.

With time running out and the task heavy, bringing along Zheng Zhilong, a local strongman, would be a great help.

Although Zheng Zhilong is only sixteen years old now, he was a warlord who controlled a region in history. If we can recruit him, we will not only have one less formidable enemy in the future, but also gain a great general.

No matter how you look at it, it's a deal that won't lose you anything.

Of course, Lin Qian also knew about Zheng Zhilong's history of being two-faced, betraying the Southern Ming court and surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, so his loyalty was indeed questionable.

Lin Qian also wanted to employ true renowned ministers and generals such as Xu Guangqi, Zhao Shizhen, Sun Chengzong, and Cao Wenzhao.

The problem is that he is currently just a pirate with only about sixty men under his command.

Who would buy into his argument?
This is similar to blind dating; before making demands of a partner, you should first understand your own worth.

From a broader perspective, being a pirate is a lot like running a company; you'll encounter all sorts of people.

The way to employ people is like the way to manage water.

The waters of the Yangtze River irrigate the fields of several provinces on both banks, and the waters of the Yellow River also irrigate the fields of several provinces on both banks.

We should not use the water just because it is clear, nor should we discard it just because it is turbid.

It's simply about making the best use of everyone's talents.

Ignoring Zheng Zhilong's wild thoughts, Lin Qian turned to him and asked, "Bai Langzai, your home is near the Pearl River Estuary, right? Is it close to Po Shan Wharf?"

Bai Langzai stiffened, then solemnly replied, "My family's boat is docked at Po Shan Wharf." Lin Qian nodded, "Well, in that case, you should pack up and come ashore with me after lunch."

"Yes, Captain!" Bai Langzai's voice was somewhat excited.

He became a pirate to earn money to pay taxes for his family. Now that he is so close to home, he is eager to return.

However, Lin Qian had just said those words a few days ago, and if he were to make an exception and go back, it would definitely put Lin Qian in a difficult position, so he had not spoken up until now.

How could I not be excited to have the chance to go home?

Lin Qian then said to Zhou Xiucai, "Second Brother, I promised Bai Langzai before that he could exchange his dividends for pearls to take home. After we finish eating, you can give him the pearls at a discounted price."

Knowing that Bai Langzai was anxious, Zhou Xiucai simply wiped his mouth and said, "Alright. I've finished eating, let's go now."

Bai Langzai: "No rush, Second Brother, take your time eating."

Zhou Xiucai laughed and said, "As the saying goes, 'Looking towards my hometown, separated by mist and water, I feel my heart yearning to return home grow wings.' You're not really not anxious; you probably just want to fly back as soon as possible, right? Come on, let's get ready quickly so you can set sail sooner."

Lei Sanxiang said half-jokingly, "Second Brother, stop being so arrogant. As the saying goes, Seventh Brother can get his pearls sooner."

Scholar Zhou chuckled, rubbing his forehead, "Hahaha, that's right, let's go."

After saying this, Zhou and Bai went out.

By this time, everyone had almost finished eating and got up one by one.

Lin Qian pulled Zheng Zhilong to the captain's cabin to smoke cigars.

I also asked a few questions about the local customs and culture of Guangzhou.

Just as Lin Qian had expected, Zheng Zhilong was extremely familiar with Guangzhou, knowing it like the back of his hand.

It seems that bringing him along on this trip was the right thing to do.

After finishing his cigar, Bai Langzai also finished packing up.

Lin Qian carried fifty taels of silver, which she put in her satchel.

As I approached the ship's side, a single-masted fishing boat was waiting beneath its gunwale.

Chen Jiao, Zhou Xiucai, and Lei Sanxiang came to see them off.

Lin Qian instructed, "Everyone, act according to the situation. We'll see you in five days."

Chen Jiao lowered his voice and said, "I feel uneasy. Why don't I go in your place?"

Lin Qian smiled and said, "I appreciate your kind gesture, brother. But please rest assured, everything will be alright. Take care!"

Seeing that Lin Qian had said so much, Chen Jiao could only cup his hands in farewell and say, "Take care!"

Lin Qian, Bai Langzai, and Zheng Zhilong descended the rope ladder to the fishing boat.

After the three of them settled in, they waved goodbye to the people on the ship's side.

Fishermen hoisted their sails and rowed, their fishing boats slowly heading north.

Before long, they had sailed more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) away.

The weather was clear and sunny, the deep blue sea shimmered, and several seagulls circled above the towering stern of the large sailboat, emitting incessant hoarse cries.

A salty sea breeze brushed my face, bringing a slight dampness and coolness.

To the onlookers, the luxurious stern tower carvings of the large sailing ship floated slowly on the sea with the waves.

The fisherman exclaimed, "Why is this boat so beautiful? It's as beautiful as a palace or government office!"

Zheng Zhilong said coldly, "It's better to walk along Qingshui Road. It's not good to look at things that don't concern you."

The two spoke in Cantonese with a very heavy accent, which Lin Qian could not understand.

Seeing this, Zheng Zhilong explained in Mandarin: "Brother Lin, the fisherman praised the large sailboat for its beautiful decorations. I told him to be careful while sailing and not to look at things he shouldn't."

Lin Qian nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

Zheng Zhilong cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Lin, you're too kind. Please let me know if you need anything in the future."

The three stood at the stern of the fishing boat, watching the large sailboat gradually shrink in their field of vision.

The stern tower decorations gradually became indistinct, with only a line of silver Spanish letters reflecting the sunlight.

"Helmsman, is that the name of our ship?" Bai Langzai suddenly asked.

“Yes, ‘Santa Ana’ translates to ‘Saint Ana’,” Lin Qian nodded.

“Saint Anna? That’s a strange name for a foreign ship.” Perhaps it was a feeling of trepidation at returning home, but Bai Langzai was more talkative than usual.

Lin Qiandao said, "Most of the Spanish ship names are derived from religion. This Saint Anne seems to be the mother of the Virgin Mary, that is, the maternal grandmother of the Spanish gods."

Zheng Zhilong promptly offered a compliment: "I see, Brother Lin knows so much."

(End of this chapter)