Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Chi Honghai was taken aback upon hearing this, then turned and headed towards the cabin.

He knew that this was a smuggling boat belonging to the magistrate of Xin'an County.

But what he didn't understand was why this time, the smuggling operation involved a woman.

Upon entering the cabin, the woman before me was bound hand and foot, standing in a corner with her head down, not daring to even lift her eyes to look at me.

Jiao Yingying looked like she was sobbing, clearly frightened by the fight outside.

"Sir, this woman is incredibly tender and beautiful..."

Chi Honghai raised his hand, stopping Shen Er from speaking.

He stepped forward, approached the woman, and used the knife in his hand to lift her chin, bringing her face up to face him.

Seeing the woman's terrified expression, but becoming arrogant after clearly seeing Chi Honghai's face.

Chi Honghai gave a cold laugh and then looked at the ship full of good goods.

He immediately understood everything.

Back then, he and Wu Laosi from this city were considered two wealthy merchants in Xin'an County.

When it comes to doing business with the government, Wu Laosi was no match for him and suffered considerable losses, so naturally he didn't get permission to do smuggling.

He harbored resentment ever since.

However, if one wanted to report it, firstly, the magistrate of Xin'an County would keep a close watch on them, and secondly, they wouldn't be able to obtain any substantial evidence.

Unexpectedly, Wu Laosi even sent his youngest daughter to the county magistrate. No wonder the county magistrate was so ruthless, leaving himself no way out.

It's true what they say, a new love makes you forget your "old love".

Thinking of this, Master Chi said sarcastically.

"This county magistrate is so lucky. He's over fifty and still manages to marry a twenty-year-old concubine. I wonder if he can handle it."

The woman looked at Chi Honghai in front of her.

"Chi Honghai? You actually hijacked an official ship? You...you're rebelling?"

"Rebel? How can I not rebel? Thanks to your old man, I'm a legitimate pirate now."

"What...what do you want...?"

The woman's legs unconsciously tightened, shrinking back little by little.

Chi Honghai released the knife from her chin and gently massaged her tender face with his thumb.

"Everyone knows how beautiful Wu Wanruo, the youngest daughter of the Wu family, is. Back then, so many people came to your house to propose marriage that they practically wore out the shutter button."

"You...! You dare! If my father finds out, he will never let you get away with this!"

Chi Honghai gently patted Wu Wanruo's face.

"Miss Wu, don't forget, your father has been trying to get rid of me for a long time."

Without waiting for the other party to speak, he turned and walked out.

"Shen Er, keep a close eye on him. Not a single hair can be missing."

"Yes, sir."

……

After the cargo ship returned to Hong Kong Island and docked, Chi Honghai stood at the bow and addressed his men.

"Brothers, move all the cargo from the ship to the shore and separate it by size."

"Aisi!"

Ai Si walked up to him: "Master, I'm here."

"Write everything on the ship down in the ledger, without missing a single item. Make sure all items are accounted for accurately, without any errors."

"Master, rest assured, I, Ai Si, am the head of the accounts. Over the years, not a single penny has ever slipped out of my accounts."

Chi Honghai nodded in satisfaction, and then followed the others to load the cargo onto the ship.

Just as the cargo was almost completely unloaded from the ship's hold, Liu Qingjiang ran to Chi Honghai's side.

"Master! We've struck it rich! This ship is full of silk utensils, crates of tea and medicinal herbs, and quite a few large paintings."

"A large painting?" Chi Honghai was a little puzzled when he heard this description.

Liu Qingjiang had someone bring the large painting from his mouth for a closer look.

It was a roll of Xuan paper. When unfolded, the contents were all landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds.

However, there was no inscription or seal on this painting, and its size was unlike that of traditional Chinese paintings I usually see.

He thought about it and realized that these were probably not the kinds of people he usually saw.

I gently stroked the page again and suddenly remembered something I had seen on a variety show.

Could this be wallpaper used for export during the Ming Dynasty?

"Master, master?"

Liu Qingjiang's call interrupted his thoughts.

"You know, this painting is so big, none of the brothers have ever seen one before."

Chi Honghai rolled up the Xuan paper again and handed it to Liu Qingjiang.

"This is wallpaper, specially exported to Westerners."

Liu Qingjiang heard the word "exit".

"That'll definitely fetch a good price."

"Don't worry, I, Chi Honghai, would never let everyone down."

Chi Honghai patted Liu Qingjiang on the shoulder and turned to look at Ai Si, who was keeping accounts.

"Aisi, how is it?"

"Sir, I've memorized everything. Would you like to review it or should I read it aloud?"

"Same as always, read it."

As Ai Si recounted the cargo on the ship, Chi Honghai also circled around it.

After confirming everything, Chi Honghai stopped in his tracks.

That's all? It's not even enough to cover the losses I incurred last time!

He looked around.

"This success is all thanks to the efforts of all the brothers. I, Chi, will keep my word. Distribute the few boxes of fine grain on this ship. However, I need to exchange the rest for money first. What do you all think?"

Liu Qingjiang took the lead and said, "Master is leading us to wealth, we'll all listen to Master!"

"We will all follow Master's orders!"

"Alright, Ai Si, distribute all the fine grains to everyone. After that, have someone move all of these things back and store them properly, and have Pang San and his men guard them."

Then the conversation shifted.

"Brothers, everyone has something. We all know the consequences if anyone breaks the rules by looting."

Everyone nodded and stood by the grain bins, waiting to receive their share of the food.

Having just finished dealing with the cargo, Shen Er ran out of the cabin.

"Sir, what should we do with that woman?"

"What do you think of her as the master's concubine?"

Shen Er smiled and said, "That's a blessing for that little girl!"

This caused everyone around to burst into laughter.

Chi Honghai went back into the cabin and sent everyone away.

The torches inside the cabin illuminated Wu Wanruo's face.

"Have you thought it through?"

"What?"

"I'll let you go back and become that county magistrate's concubine."

Wu Wanruo could no longer suppress the anger in her heart.

"Who would want to be that old geezer's concubine! If I refuse, my father can tie me up. To be his concubine is worse than death."

"Being a concubine is indeed beneath you. How about becoming the principal wife?"

Wu Wanruo stared blankly at Chi Honghai, not understanding his meaning for a moment.

"What's wrong? Can't you be my wife? I'm not some immortal old man."

"What do you want to do?"

"I've made myself clear enough."

With tears in her eyes, Wu Wanruo braced her bound hands and tried to use the momentum to punch Chi Honghai, but with her feet tied, she fell forward with a single effort.

Chi Honghai supported her on the outside, and the two of them bumped shoulders on the inside.

Flowing strands of hair draped over Chi Honghai's body, and he clearly felt something pressing against his chest.

After helping her to a standing position, Chi Honghai removed the restraints from her body.

"You can go back, but you know what will happen to you without me having to tell you. Besides, this is the middle of nowhere, and I don't have many people to escort you home, Miss. Alas, I'm afraid you might not come back."

Wu Wanruo did not react; she simply stood there.

"Shen Er!" Chi Honghai shouted.

Shen Erlian ran in and looked at the two of them.

"Master, Madam, what are your orders?"

"What madam?"

Shen Er was somewhat bewildered by the question.

"Ah? Master, this..."

"Arrange a room for Miss Wu to stay in private."

Chi Honghai naturally understood that Wu Wanruo could not be returned.

Even though the hijacking of the official ship was smuggling and couldn't be done openly, the authorities would definitely investigate who was behind it.

Regardless of whether they are discovered or how long it takes to be discovered.

This woman was someone who could cause concern for both the county magistrate and Wu Laosi.

After all, who wouldn't love their own daughter? And she knew the inside story perfectly well.

Now is not the time to make women unable to move.

We need to find a way to exchange the cargo on the ship for money and weapons in order to gain a foothold in Hong Kong.