The Black Sails of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 89 Report of Merit (Seeking First Subscription)

Xie Er panicked immediately. Before he could react, a tremendous force struck him from the back of his neck and collar, dragging him toward the cabin door like a dead dog.

Xie Er was terrified and struggled frantically with his hands and feet. He finally managed to hook his right foot onto the corner of the Ottoman couch and forcefully tighten his toes.

Bai Langzai increased the pressure on his hands, dragging the Ottoman couch along. The handmade carpet wrinkled, knocking over the small tea table on it. Xie Er's neck was gripped by the collar, and his face turned red from the strain.

He forced a sound from his throat and said, "Where is the mistake? I'll correct it!"

Lin Qian flipped through the parchment book, ignoring him.

"It's a backup plan, a backup plan! I'll add the backup plan!"

Lin Qian remained silent, engrossed in her book.

"And there's a river wharf! There's a river wharf behind the mansion, which connects to the Yongning River, which in turn flows into the Ling River and empties into the East China Sea. We can send boats... cough cough... we can send boats in!"

That parchment book recorded the Spanish people's observations on the American continent. It was mostly half-realistic and half-mythological, often starting with a few sentences and then going on to discuss theology at length.

If it weren't for the numerous anecdotes about the Incas and Mayans interspersed throughout, Lin Qian would have lost interest long ago.

Bai Langzai glanced at Lin Qian and, seeing that she still wouldn't tell him to stop, he was clearly going to scare her even more.

He pulled out a dagger, pretending to sever Xie Er's Achilles tendon.

Xie Er cried out, "I really don't know anything else! I've only been to the inner hall; I've never seen the back quarters! The silver on the ship was unloaded at the dock and given to the accountant. I really don't know where the accountant kept it!"

Lin Qian waved her hand, and Bai Langzai released Xie Er.

Xie Er felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and used all four limbs to entangle himself on the Ottoman's soft couch, refusing to let go.

Lin Qian took a piece of paper from the nautical table.

"Redraw it."

Xie Er carefully took the paper, and when he returned, he cleaned up the mess he had made while struggling.

An hour later, the new map was completed and handed to Lin Qian.

This version of the map is much more detailed, with narrow passageways added to both sides of the courtyard; these are called "Beilong".

The alleyways are usually extremely well hidden, with entrances often concealed behind artificial hills or stacks of firewood. The entire area is hidden between buildings, devoid of sunlight and extremely dark.

This is the path for the servants of the mansion, used for carrying water, delivering vegetables, patrolling, and so on.

Servants could move about without disturbing the master's daily life.

Similarly, because it was designed for servants, the passageways were all straight and straightforward, lacking any of the traditional Chinese aesthetic design of winding paths leading to secluded spots.

In such a large mansion, the most secluded and fastest way to reach a specific residence is through the alleyway.

Xie Er also added a river wharf.

Jiangnan is a place that thrives on water, and river wharves are like private docks, connecting to the river and waterways on the outside and the back gates of mansions on the inside.

When purchasing large quantities of goods such as grain, oil, rice, flour, and firewood, the household usually goes through this place.

When the young ladies of the household need to travel, they usually take a boat from here.

While waiting for Lin Qian to look at the picture, Xie Er kept thinking to himself.

The preparations were extremely secretive within the mansion, and ordinary people who had never entered a large mansion in their lives would never know about them.

Judging from this, this boat captain is definitely not an ordinary person; at the very least, he is a boat manager from some manor, just like him.

Throughout Zhejiang, there were other prominent families such as the Zhu family of Shanyin, the Sun family of Yuyao, and the Tu family of Yinxian. Among them, the Zhu family of Shanyin was the most powerful and also participated in the private ship trade.

However, the Zhu and Lin families were both based in Zhejiang, and their influence over Fujian and Guangdong was limited, so they probably did not have the capacity to build such a large fortress on Nan'ao Island.

When it comes to Fujian and Guangdong, the most powerful family is undoubtedly the Ye family of Fuqing.

Among the Ye family members, the most famous is Ye Xianggao, the former Grand Secretary and also the sole Grand Secretary.

Only he had the ability to build such a large-scale mansion on Nan'ao Island.

The Grand Secretary was known for his integrity, but it turns out he had done a lot of bad things behind the scenes. It's true that all crows are black.

Lost in thought, Lin Qian put down the drawing and said softly, "Draw it more detailed." "Huh?"

Xie Er opened his mouth in surprise. Seeing Lin Qian's expression, it seemed she had no intention of returning the drawing, so he had no choice but to go back to the table and continue drawing.

An hour later, the new drawing was completed.

After Lin Qian took it, she pointed out several differences between the two drawings and asked Xie Er to draw another one.

……

By the time the morning sun shone through the glass into the captain's cabin, Xie Er was already exhausted from painting.

He couldn't remember the forgery he had painstakingly created in the first picture anymore.

The fifth picture is significantly different from the first four. The direction of several alleyways has changed, and the labels of several courtyards have also been changed.

Bai Langzai handed the map to Lin Qian.

Xie Er couldn't help but secretly think to himself.

The King of Hell must be exhausted after not sleeping all night, so the changes he made were so subtle that they shouldn't be noticeable.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qian took the map, glanced at it, and then put it down with a cold snort: "You are indeed loyal."

"I didn't... Ah—" Xie Er's words were cut short by a sharp pain in his finger, and he swallowed the rest of his words, leaving only a scream.

Lin Qian glanced at Bai Langzai.

Bai Langzai explained, "I bent my left thumb, so it doesn't affect my drawing."

Lin Qian then said to Xie Er, "When you pay your respects at the mansion, you must go with me. If you see anything that doesn't match your drawing, immediately strike me with your knife."

Xie Er clutched his left hand, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and said through gritted teeth, "I understand..."

“Draw.” Bai Langzai took another piece of paper and placed it in front of Xie Er.

Just then, a crew member knocked on the door and came in: "Helmsman, breakfast has been delivered, along with a letter."

The crew member glanced at Xie Er, unsure where to put the breakfast.

Lin Qian said to Bai Langzai, "Take him to the warehouse, light the candles, and give me one after he finishes drawing one."

Bai Langzai must have taken Xie Er away.

The crew placed breakfast on the round table and then handed the letter to Lin Qian: "Captain, this came from Shen'ao early this morning."

Lin Qian knew before she even opened it that it was a report of merit written by Huang Hetai.

After opening and reading it through, it was indeed true. Huang Hetai, a fifth-rank garrison commander, was quite competent; his report of merit was impeccable.

The time, place, people, battle details, captured confessions, and soldiers' testimonies are all detailed and accurate.

Besides Li Kuiqi's head, the physical evidence also included the heads of the hundred pirates.

Lin Qian picked up her pen and changed the battle time on Huang Hetai's report of merit to last night, thus covering up the matter of impersonating Li Kuiqi to hijack the ship.

Salted heads don't keep fresh for long, and if someone uses Li Kuiqi's identity to commit another crime, the head will reveal the deception.

However, even if Li Kuiqi is handed over, there are still Zhang Kuiqi and Wang Kuiqi at sea. There are plenty of pirates on the Min-Yue sea, so there's no shortage of scapegoats.

In addition to the report of merit, the envelope also contained a private letter written by Huang Hetai to the deputy commander-in-chief.

After all, Li Kuiqi was the one who delivered water to the deputy commander-in-chief every month. His sudden death was something Huang Hetai needed to explain to him separately.

The letter used the old excuse of infighting among the pirates, and it had no flaws.

Lin Qian put the report of merit and the private letter back into the envelope and had someone send them back to Huang Hetai.

"Wait a minute."

Just as the crew was about to open the door and leave, Lin Qian stopped him again: "Tell the helmsman to send that ghost-headed broadsword to Shen'ao Port as well."

(End of this chapter)