The Black Sails of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 88 Drawing (Seeking first subscription)

Xie Er looked up in surprise and saw Lin Qian sitting in the stern cabin, looking at him with a half-smile.

Lei Sanxiang came from the bow of the ship, entered the stern cabin, leaned his ghost-head broadsword against the wall, sat down in a chair, took off his stilts, and muttered under his breath: "That stupid bastard Li Kuiqi is too tall. With him around, the family will have to buy one less cow."

Of all the brothers, Lin Qian only brought Lei Sanxiang and Bai Langzai with her on this trip.

Chen Jiao wasn't there, and with no one to keep up with Lei Sanxiang's banter, Lei Sanxiang felt a little out of place.

Lin Qian said, "Fortunately, Third Brother's stilts are steady."

Lei Sanxiang chuckled: "This thing isn't very tall. I can stand still and act as a doorman, that's fine."

Lei Sanxiang looked at the mast of the two-masted Fujian ship, where the large "Lin" flag was still fluttering in the wind.

"This big flag is impressive, and it's perfect for hanging on a large sailing ship."

Lin Qian smiled and said, "There's no need to hang flags; the large sailboat itself is flashy enough."

Lei Sanxiang scratched his head: "That's true. By the way, why is their boat also flying a flag with the character 'Lin' on it? Are they from your clan?"

Lin Qian shook her head: "Lin is a common surname in Huangyan County, but there is only one Lin family in Huangyan. The term 'family' is not something you can claim just by having the surname Lin, right, Xie Er?"

When Xie Er was called out, he trembled and forced a smile, saying, "Master, your aura is much stronger than that of the master in the Lin family."

He spoke obsequiously, but inwardly he was racking his brains for a way to escape, his eyes constantly scanning Lin Qian's face.

Xie Er, as the ship manager of the manor, had met many members of the Lin family and other prominent families in the city with the same surname, but he had never seen this person before, which made him very curious.

He secretly looked out of the ship and saw that the ship was heading north and gradually approaching Nan'ao Island. Xie Er was overjoyed.

He thought to himself that these pirates were indeed foolish thieves, unaware that there was a navy stationed on Nan'ao Island. If they got close, they would likely be questioned by the navy ships, and he would then have the opportunity to escape.

Xie Er's expression did not escape Lin Qian's notice, and Lin Qian simply chuckled.

As the moon rose over the eastern mountains, the fleet slowly docked at Houjiang Bay.

The two-masted Fujian-style ship dropped its mooring lines, and the boatmen on the pier pulled it closer, tied the ropes, laid out the gangway, and then someone climbed the spiral staircase onto the ship, went down to the cabin, and methodically counted the cargo.

The remaining Haicang and Cangshan ships docked nearby, and the pirates disembarked one after another, chatting and laughing loudly.

On the deck of the Haicang ship, Xie Er glanced at this scene and was so shocked that he forgot to blink.

When did Nan'ao Island become a den of thieves?

Or perhaps, when did the deputy commander-in-chief... become a thief?

Xie Er's hands were tied behind his back, and he had been kneeling on the deck all night. His legs were so numb that he couldn't stand up at all.

Lin Qian found two people to help him off the boat, one on each side.

On the pier, Xie Er looked at the scene before him and was so exhausted that he could no longer walk. He let the two men carry him and drag him along.

On the harbor, countless ships of all sizes were densely packed, covering the entire bay and stretching into the darkness.

A large city suddenly appeared on the island. The city had wide, straight roads and neat houses, some of which were still lit up. It stretched out in an endless line.

It was not long after dark, and there were still pedestrians on the road. Many vendors had set up stalls along the roadside, and taverns, inns, and clinics were open to welcome customers. The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard from afar, creating a lively scene.

Among the pedestrians were both men and women. The women did not wear veils or headscarves, nor did they wear clothes with stand-up collars or bow their heads to cover their faces.

They walk on the street just like men, even walking side by side with men, without any hesitation.

He had been sailing for many years and had passed by Nan'ao Island countless times.

Every time I pass by, I only see some people around Shen'ao Port, while the rest of the area is deserted. I have never seen such a lively scene before.

Xie Er was immediately plunged into confusion and deep self-doubt, thinking to himself, "Could it be that I am already dead, and all of this is a mirage? Yes, there is a ship city in the South China Sea, where the souls of those who die at sea are forever trapped... Could this be the place? Alas! My newlywed second concubine!" Xie Er was helped off the ship, then onto another pier, and onto another ship.

The ship's hull was so tall that it was the largest Xie Er had ever seen in his life; even the giant ships of the Portuguese that he had seen in Macau were not as big as this ship.

Because the ship's gunwale is so high, the gangway is extremely steep. To prevent slipping and falling, anti-slip wooden strips are even nailed to the spiral staircase, making it feel just like a ladder when you step on it.

Xie Er boarded the St. Anna and was led into the captain's cabin, where he was seated at a round table near the door.

Bai Langzai untied the rope behind his back.

Xie Er only felt that his arm was numb and had lost all feeling. After a while, he felt a stinging pain like being pricked by needles.

Lin Qian brought out a candlestick, a bamboo pen, and ink and placed them on the round table.

“Draw it,” Lin Qian said.

"What to draw?"

"Stop playing dumb. You've survived this long enough to know what I'm asking you to draw?" Lin Qian said disdainfully. Then he turned to Bai Langzai and said, "If you can't finish drawing it within half an hour, drag the person to the side of the ship and kill them."

"it is good."

After Lin Qian finished speaking, she sat back down at the nautical table, took out the Spanish parchment book, and continued reading.

Xie Er picked up his pen and glanced at Bai Langzai. He saw Bai Langzai standing motionless beside him, his right hand gripping the dagger at his waist, his eyes so cold that he didn't even want to wait half an hour.

He glanced at Lin Qian again, only to see her leaning close to the white wax book, turning the pages incessantly.

"May I ask, Lord Captain, if you require the terrain of my Hualin Mansion?"

“Draw more carefully. Any mistakes or omissions will result in death.” Lin Qian flipped through the book without looking up.

Xie Er swallowed hard, dipped his bamboo pen in ink, and slowly began to draw on the paper.

In less than half an hour, he finished drawing the picture. He glanced at Bai Langzai, who picked it up and handed it to Lin Qian on the table.

Lin Qian took the drawing and saw that Xie Er's drawing skills were crude, but the content was still barely discernible.

The Lin residence was surrounded by high walls with crenellations, watchtowers at the corners, and a gate-like entrance.

The size of the courtyard is not visible in the picture. It can only be known that the mansion is laid out in a six-courtyard, three-section layout, with six large rooms, divided into east and west courtyards, as well as several side courtyards, and numerous side rooms, ear rooms, auxiliary rooms, guest rooms, and rear rooms. There is also a garden and several waterside pavilions.

Based on the number of houses, Lin Qian estimated that the mansion should be around twenty acres, equivalent to the size of two football fields.

In terms of functional zoning, it has everything from ancestral halls, living quarters, studies, carriage and horse yards, granaries, mills, and weaving workshops.

The combination of outer city walls for defense and inner houses and courtyards creates a complex and intricate structure that is dazzling even just looking at the pictures.

Even with a map, someone unfamiliar with the area could easily get lost within the mansion. Not to mention, the Lin mansion is surrounded by high walls and guarded by internal staff.

To attempt a conquest without preparation is utterly a pipe dream.

During the Jiajing era, Japanese pirates roamed the southeast and once attacked Huangyan County. The Lin family mansion, located outside the city, remained standing despite the pirates' attacks, demonstrating the strength of its defenses.

If Ruo Linqian were just an unsophisticated tenant farmer, or any other ordinary person, she would have believed the map to a great extent once she received it.

Unfortunately, Lin Qian was a designer in her previous life, and studying traditional Chinese architectural layout was one of her courses.

Xie Er's little tricks won't fool him.

"Drag him out and kill him."

Lin Qian put down the map and said calmly.

(End of this chapter)