Ming East India Company

Later experience has shown that cloves and cardamom are not demanding in terms of cultivation conditions, and they have been successfully introduced to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa.

The Dutch controlled the Spice Islands for over two hundred years until the 19th century when Pierre Poivre, a famous French commercial spy, successfully stole spice seeds from the islands.

He successfully introduced the species to Madagascar, ending the Dutch monopoly on cloves and nutmeg.

Having learned from the French success, Hakuno decided to establish his own spice production base in Tohana, so that Ryukyu could also share in the profits of the spice trade.

Ever since stealing cinchona seeds from the Spanish, Shirano has become obsessed with using commercial espionage.

Anyway, the Dutch East India Company started out as a commercial spy company, stealing nautical charts from the Spanish and Portuguese with great enthusiasm. What's wrong with using them for themselves?

Having figured this out, Shirano began looking for a suitable corporate spy.

Unlike the carefree Spaniards, the Dutch were seasoned professionals in commercial espionage, so any attempt to "snatch food from their mouths" required careful planning.

……

The sea breeze in Dongfan is never as damp, cold, and lingering as that in Jiangnan.

After August, the island's air becomes increasingly crisp and clear. During the day, the warm sun shines on the green tiles of the bamboo and wood settlements, drying people off completely. At night, the sea breeze blows through the forest, carrying only a slight coolness that does not penetrate to the bone.

More than a year has passed since the disaster victims from Jiangnan arrived on the island.

Ryukyu dumped them all on the island of Tofan to cultivate the land. For the first three years, the government provided them with food, clothing, farming tools, and oxen. After that, they had to be responsible for their own profits and losses.

Having weathered the initial food shortage crisis when granaries were empty and people were filled with anxiety, the disaster victims managed to barely maintain order.

On the island, young and strong people go up the mountain every day to reclaim wasteland and level the slopes, while women go to the sea in groups to collect shellfish and dry fish. The elderly, weak, and children pick edible wild vegetables, berries, and seaweed in the mountains.

Everyone has work to do and receives a meager amount of food every day. Although it is not enough to fill their stomachs, they no longer have to endure the hardships of life in the desolate Jiangnan region, where they had to eat mud and grass and wait to starve to death.

Chen Shouyi was the most diligent person in the reclamation team.

He was young and strong, with a calm temperament. He had worked in the fields of Jiangnan since childhood, and his skills in clearing wasteland, plowing, leveling fields and building ridges were extremely proficient.

Every day at the crack of dawn, they would carry the iron hoes and wooden rakes distributed by the government up the mountain, clearing the barren slopes in the morning dew, and returning home only as dusk fell. The cracks on their hands, originally caused by famine, were worn down into thick calluses by daily labor, rough and hard, yet steadily supporting the livelihood of their family of three.

Li stayed home washing clothes, drying grain, tending to the small house, and gathering seaweed. Her mother-in-law was old and frail, and could only sit and rest at home, looking after the house. The family of three squeezed into a small bamboo and wooden house, living a simple life with coarse food.

These were the most peaceful days they had lived since being sold off by officials and gentry in their homeland and forced to wander across the sea. There were no devastating floods, no corpses strewn across the fields, and no looming shadow of death.

Despite the stability, the root of poverty has not been eradicated.

As a newly developed region with poor grain production, Dongfan faced the heavy burden of feeding 100,000 disaster victims. Even though everyone reclaimed wasteland, hunted, and cut back on food, they still struggled to find enough food each day.

The rationed mixed grain porridge was always thin and barely enough to keep them alive. Children were starving every day, and the elderly often woke up hungry in the middle of the night.

Chen Shouyi knew perfectly well that in this situation, no matter how hard he worked for the rest of his life, he would never be able to return to the good old days in the Jiangnan water towns; he would only be barely surviving.

It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Land reclamation is backbreaking labor, with each day's work yielding a meager meal. Year-round toil only ensures one family doesn't starve. When storms block the sea, fishing ceases, or crops fail, famine remains a constant threat.

He was the only able-bodied pillar of the family. His mother was old and frail and could not withstand the slightest hunger, cold, or hardship. His wife was gentle and kind but had no special skills. If they remained trapped at the bottom of the land reclamation and sea-farming industry for the long years to come, the family would only be able to struggle on the edge of subsistence and would never have a chance to get ahead.

What he wanted was never to live a life of mere survival, but for his family to have a truly peaceful and worry-free life for the rest of their days.

The turning point came one morning in mid-August.

That day, after returning from work, a snow-white notice, unlike anything seen before, was posted on the previously empty wooden notice board under the most conspicuous banyan tree at the village entrance.

Unlike the usual crude notices about distributing rations, assigning labor, and maintaining order, this notice was written in neat handwriting, with precise wording and fine paper, which was definitely not the coarse paper usually used by the government. It subtly exuded a sense of order and solemnity that did not belong to the settlement of displaced people.

Returning from their work, the disaster victims gathered in twos and threes under the tree, a bustling crowd discussing the matter. Most of the villagers were illiterate, and could only stand on tiptoe and peer around, their faces blank, waiting for the few literate people in the village to recite the explanations.

Before long, an old man who had once been a primary school teacher in the countryside of Jiangnan cleared his throat and read out the words one by one.

The notice's meaning is straightforward:

The Ryukyu ruler, Hakuno, announced that in order to facilitate trade, stabilize the islands, and monitor the situation, he would select from among the refugees those who were quick-witted, calm, meticulous, perceptive, and discreet to serve in the government.

They do not engage in land reclamation, fishing, or manual labor.

Their full-time duties included serving on ships, traveling to and from treaty ports, gathering intelligence, and recording market information.

The list of rewards at the end of the article stunned the entire audience of refugees into a deathly silence.

Those selected for service will receive six liters of fine rice daily, three taels of silver monthly wages, exemption from corvée labor for their entire family, priority allocation of superior farmland, and renovation and repair of their houses. If their duties are performed well and they are meritorious, they will receive quarterly rewards of silver, cloth, and seafood. At the end of the year, their accumulated merits will grant them the title of noble, a hundred acres of cultivated land, and lifelong exemption from corvée labor.

Each word struck the hearts of the crowd with the weight of a thousand pounds.

You must understand that at that time, the laborers who were reclaiming wasteland at the bottom of society worked themselves to the bone all day long, and they only received one and a half liters of coarse grains a day. They barely survived on thin bran porridge, and the whole family had to work to make a living. They had no time to relax.

This job at the public office required no bloodshed or sweat in land reclamation, no braving wind and rain to work at sea, and offered excellent food and clothing, exceptional treatment, and benefits to the family. It was an extremely desirable job among the displaced people.

The crowd erupted instantly, a cacophony of noise rising and falling, and a burning desire ignited in everyone's eyes.

"Three liters of polished rice a day! That's real white rice, not some coarse grain mixed with bran and sand!"

"We have no money! Since we fled here, we've never seen a single penny of silver!"

"The whole family is exempt from labor! The elderly mother no longer needs to gather wild vegetables, and the wife and children no longer need to brave the sun and rain to go beachcombing!"

"They'll also allocate us top-quality farmland and renovate our houses! This is to truly help us settle down and build our lives!"

……

In times of chaos, refugees seek nothing more than food, clothing, security, and shelter. This proclamation offered them the most desperate hope in their dire circumstances.

But after the commotion subsided, as people carefully read the notice and rules, they gradually calmed down, and the fervor in their eyes faded, replaced by hesitation and fear.

The notice clearly states that selection is open to all backgrounds, past experiences, and regardless of whether one is skilled in martial arts or academics; only four qualities are considered: composure, insight into people's hearts, ability to keep secrets, and stability in handling affairs. Candidates must undergo rigorous selection and testing; anyone who is impetuous, loose-lipped, dull-witted, reckless, easily swayed, or prone to impulsiveness will be eliminated.

Furthermore, the text ends with a cold and harsh conclusion: "The duties you perform are kept secret. Once you enter this gate, you must strictly abide by the rules and not divulge even a single word of the duties to outsiders. Violators will have their entire family executed."

No one could explain exactly what kind of job it was.

The villagers were simple and honest people, but after experiencing famine, treachery, and the machinations of officials and merchants, they had long since become suspicious and cautious. Everyone whispered among themselves, speculating, and the more they thought about it, the more alarmed they became.

"Good things don't come for nothing, and things that come for nothing aren't good things. Such generous treatment is definitely not that of an ordinary servant."

"To observe people's sentiments, assess the situation, and keep secrets...aren't you just becoming the eyes and ears of those who gather information and secretly investigate?"

"Are they going to be keeping an eye on our own people on behalf of the maritime merchants and the Ryukyu government? Will they have to report every single movement or unrest among our fellow countrymen in the future?"

Rumors flowed in fragments, and everyone knew the truth—this was no ordinary chore.

Some are tempted but dare not try, coveting wealth and stability, yet fearing they might get involved in clandestine affairs and lose control of their own lives in the future;

Some people consider themselves crude and dull, unable to read between the lines, and know they are not qualified to be selected, so they can only watch from the sidelines in disappointment;

Some people looked down on it and preferred to work hard rather than do the job of spying on their fellow villagers and secretly informing on them, feeling that it would be a loss of their hometown friendship and integrity.

……

The area under the tree was filled with the cacophony of voices, reflecting the diverse expressions of human nature: the greedy were restless, the righteous were disdainful, and the timid retreated.

Chen Shouyi stood silently on the periphery of the crowd, his eyes swirling with restlessness and hesitation.

He wasn't very literate, but he understood all the key points.

He knew better than anyone the costs and benefits of this job.

A man from the same village who had fled together and settled on the island to reclaim wasteland patted him on the shoulder and whispered words of advice:

"Shouyi, don't be foolish! We are refugees, we are suffering people. We should honestly cultivate the land and work hard, and as long as we have enough to eat and live a stable life, that's enough. Spy work is a life of luxury on a knife's edge, it looks glamorous, but it's actually dangerous! If you make even the slightest mistake, you will not only lose your own life, but also bring trouble to your elderly mother, wife and children! We farmers, being simple and content, is the way to long-term survival!"

Upon hearing this, his wife, Li, also advised him:

"My dear husband, I don't ask for great wealth or high status, nor for fertile fields or new houses. I only wish for our family to live peacefully and honestly. Clearing land is hard work, but at least we can sleep soundly and walk with integrity. Let's not compete for that dangerous job, okay?"

The elderly mother sighed repeatedly, "My son, in chaotic times, seek stability, not wealth and status. To live peacefully is a blessing; do not take risks."

After listening to everyone's words, Chen Shouyi remained silent for the entire night.

He used to work for the village's land management officer, so he was knowledgeable and knew a lot of people, and could probably guess what this job entailed.

Espionage has always been a high-risk, high-reward endeavor; a wrong turn can lead to certain death, while a right turn can bring honor and prosperity to one's family.

Most importantly, he knew that farming every day wouldn't make him rich; a horse won't get fat without night grass, and a person won't get rich without windfall gains.

If you work the fields for others every day, you'll never get ahead in life.

As dawn broke, Chen Shouyi finally made up his mind.

He turned to his wife, children, and elderly mother, his voice steady and firm, without the slightest hesitation:

"My mind is made up, I will sign up. I do not seek fame or fortune, I only hope to use my quick wit and composure to secure a stable life for you. I will bear the criticism of others and shoulder the risks ahead, as long as my family can live a life free from worries about food and clothing and a secure home, I will not fear any hardship."

The next morning, while countless refugees hesitated and hesitated, Chen Shouyi tidied his clothes, washed off the dirt from his work, and calmly walked alone to the governor's mansion to register.

At dawn, nearly a hundred applicants had already gathered in the open space in front of the Dongfan Governor's Mansion. They were all young, strong, and quick-witted refugees who believed they had some skills. They were all neatly dressed and tense, all eager to seize this only path to heaven.

The chief examiner was from Kagoshima, surnamed Su. He had been trading between Fujian and Zhejiang, Ryukyu and Luzon for many years. He had spent half his life as a merchant in the mountains and seas, and had seen countless people. He was deep in thought and had a sharp eye.

After sitting upright at the wooden table, Manager Su coldly swept his gaze across the room and went straight to the point, announcing the three-round assessment process: the first test examined resume and character; the second tested interpersonal skills in different locations; and the third tested physical strength and endurance. Each round of elimination was recorded in its entirety, ultimately leaving only one person to be selected.

The first round of assessment is the simplest, but also the most selective – asking about past experiences one by one to assess personality, verify experience, and screen background.

Manager Su remained calm and composed, asking each person a question with practical intent. He inquired about the subjects' past livelihoods, work experiences, and interpersonal skills.

The applicants answered one after another, most of them pure rural farmers who had spent their lives only knowing how to plow, plant rice, hoe, and harvest grain. They had no other skills besides farming. Some had spent their whole lives tending their small plot of land, never interacting with others or handling official business. They spoke haltingly and were practically mute. Some had been idle and lazy in their youth, and even before the disaster, they were idle and did not work. Their speech was incredibly light and nimble. Some only knew how to work hard and were completely ignorant of human relationships.

Manager Su shook his head slightly as he listened, and crossed out each name with his pen.

Commercial spies need to travel between border crossings, connect with all sorts of people, and investigate business and public sentiment. Purely unskilled farmers and lazy idlers are not up to the task.

It was Chen Shouyi's turn to step forward and answer.

He stood upright, neither humble nor arrogant, and spoke in a calm voice as he slowly recounted his past:

"I am Chen Shouyi, originally a farmer from Jiangnan. For ten years before the disaster, in addition to cultivating my meager fields, I was employed by a large clan in the village to manage their estates, coordinate tenants, check accounts during the autumn harvest, guard granaries, and handle village affairs."

He had handled all sorts of miscellaneous affairs and interpersonal mediation in the village. He had experienced floods, droughts, and minor disasters, helping his employers resettle displaced people, distribute grain and seeds, and patrol the dikes. He was well-versed in local customs and the importance of tasks.

These few words made Manager Su, who had been expressionless, suddenly look up.

These are among the few people out of the thirty-odd people present who have experience in handling affairs, coordinating interpersonal relationships, and managing tasks.

Manager Su then took the opportunity to ask a few practical questions: How to mediate tenant disputes? How to verify the autumn harvest grain accounts? How to inspect the dikes for flood prevention?

Chen Shouyi answered each question calmly and clearly, with a practical and down-to-earth style. Every sentence was a genuine experience accumulated over many years of work.

Manager Su had already made up his mind about 70-80%.

The first round of trials has concluded, with nearly a hundred people eliminated, leaving only twenty to advance to the second round.

The second round of assessment was extremely challenging and tested the most essential skills for trade in Ryukyu – cross-language comprehension and cross-cultural collaboration.

Manager Su ordered someone to summon a purebred Ryukyu native young man from the island. This man had grown up on the island since childhood, did not speak a word of Chinese, did not know a single Chinese character, was dull and stubborn, did not understand the etiquette of the Central Plains, and could only understand the local hand gestures and simple body commands.

The assessment rules were simple and brutal: everyone took turns stepping forward, and they were not allowed to write, have someone translate, or communicate verbally. They had to rely solely on gestures, body language, and facial expressions to guide the Ryukyu native through a set of pre-set actions in the shortest possible time.

The actions are all different and tedious: moving stones, sweeping the floor, straightening tables, transplanting potted plants, fetching water and purifying containers, standing in formation, and repeatedly arranging and combining them.

The most common obstacle to visiting the Spice Islands is the language barrier. Trade between mountains and seas, border crossings, and explorations in unfamiliar territory often involve encounters with indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia.

The Spice Islands have a complex language system, and many indigenous people needed translators to explore and communicate between the islands, let alone people from the Central Plains going to Ryukyu. Now there isn't even an interpreter who can go to the Spice Islands.

The remaining dozen or so people took turns, resulting in a chaotic situation.

Some people were impatient and kept calling out to urge the other party, but the other party looked blank and didn't move an inch; some people's gestures were chaotic and backwards, and their instructions were unclear, leaving the natives at a loss and doing things haphazardly; some people were impatient and, after gesturing for a while without any results, they would show their displeasure and raise their hands to urge the other party, which only frightened the natives into becoming more reserved and refusing to cooperate; some people could only raise their hands and wave, and could not convey any complex matters at all, resulting in a stalemate and stagnation throughout the process.

Most of the people spent half an incense stick's time, but still couldn't complete half of the task, and left in a sorry state.

When it was Chen Shouyi's turn to step forward, the entire room fell silent instantly.

Chen Shouyi abandoned all Chinese language habits and used only the most intuitive and simple body language.

He bent down to stroke the stone, then raised his hand to indicate the front. His movements were steady, slow, clear, and precise. The locals understood him at a glance and went forward to move the stone back to its place.

He held a bamboo broom and slowly made sweeping motions, his rhythm gentle and unhurried, and the local people swept the ground accordingly.

He lifted the table with both hands, straightened its position, and gestured for it to return to the center; he bent down and gently supported the flowerpot, making a gesture of transplanting and planting; he raised his hand to fetch water and lowered his head to wipe the vessel. Every action was intuitive, concrete, and unambiguous.

What's most remarkable is that he remained calm and composed throughout, showing no sign of anxiety or impatience. Even when the locals hesitated or paused occasionally, he didn't rush them, but instead repeated and refined the movements, patiently guiding them and adapting to their pace of understanding.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the entire pre-set task was completed cleanly and efficiently.

Manager Su sat behind his desk, his eyes filled with even greater approval.

That's the skill he's looking for: to remain calm, composed, and resolute when faced with language barriers; to be able to understand human nature, change perspectives, and accomplish the most difficult communication tasks in the simplest way.

After the second round of assessments, only three out of ten remained. Chen Shouyi remained firmly in first place, his advantage overwhelming the others.

The final test, the most basic yet most brutal, was a weighted endurance run.

While corporate espionage may not seem like a battlefield, it is extremely physically demanding. It requires traveling by ship across the sea, shuttling between various ports, enduring wind and rain, and working day and night. Without exceptional physical strength and endurance, one simply cannot withstand the hardships of such arduous journeys.

The assessment is standardized and fair: three people carry a 30-pound bag of wet grain on their backs and run along a dirt road along the coast for three miles. The first to return to the field wins.

The coastal dirt road is rugged and uneven, with many sandy and steep slopes. The sea wind is fierce and headwinds make it difficult to travel. Add to that the 30-pound weight, and it is an extreme test of physical strength, endurance, and willpower.

The whistle blew, and the three of them started running at the same time.

The other two finalists are both young and strong teenagers. They are young, physically strong, and get off to a fast start, far ahead of the competition. Relying on their youthful vigor, they charge forward and try to seize the initiative.

Only Chen Shouyi started steadily, walked at a steady pace, and breathed regularly, without being greedy for speed or showing off his youthful strength.

He spends his years working in the fields, toiling in all four seasons, carrying grain and loads, repairing dikes and moving stones. Although he is older, he has excellent endurance.

In the first half of the race, two teenagers led the way with great momentum;

In the second half of the race, the headwind picked up, sand and gravel lashed their faces, and the heavy burden completely crushed their hastily acquired brute strength. The two boys quickly became exhausted, their faces pale, drenched in sweat, and they had to frequently slow down, bend over to catch their breath, their legs aching and trembling, almost unable to continue.

Chen Shouyi, who ran at a steady pace, maintained a long and steady breath, his steps were unwavering, and his center of gravity was extremely stable.

In the final 100-meter sprint, Chen Shouyi steadied himself, slightly increased his speed, and steadily overtook the two exhausted teenagers, becoming the first to rush back to the finish line.

Manager Su stood up and stepped forward to personally assess the condition of the three people.

Endurance and physique are secondary; he values ​​character and self-control more.

Young people have brute strength but lack perseverance, have drive but lack stability, are easily agitated when faced with problems and easily collapse when faced with hardship, and are not capable of handling long-term, important tasks.

Chen Shouyi, on the other hand, was much more composed.

This is exactly the kind of spy talent that Ryukyu desperately needs.

With enough experience, one can understand business rules; with enough flexibility, one can understand the customs of different places; with enough physique, one can carry mountains and seas and travel far and wide.

Manager Su solemnly wrote down the final selection vermilion approval in front of everyone and loudly announced the results.

Chen Shouyi bowed his head and spoke in a steady voice: "I will keep the rules in mind and perform my duties diligently. I will never delay the master's important affairs."

As the sun sets over the sea, the sea breeze rustles through the bamboo and wood settlements on the island.

Three rounds of assessments in just one day completely rewrote the rest of a displaced person's life in Jiangnan.

After completing the assessment, Chen Shouyi boarded a speedboat bound for Kagoshima.

The 38th year of the Wanli reign, winter of the Gengxu year.

Inside a side hall in Kagoshima, Hakuno sat in the main seat, peering at the two people below the steps.

They were Chen Shouyi, recruited from among the refugees, and a Westerner—William Van Jansen.

Of the survivors of Adams' fleet three years ago, he was the only one who had served in the East India Company.

William has been working with Adams on shipbuilding for Hakuno for the past few years and has now been granted a fief of 300 koku. His family and others have also been secretly brought back to Ryukyu.

For Shirono, he was already someone he could trust.

William Van Jansen himself also hoped to gain more wealth.

Adams had blocked the shipbuilding route, so he could only focus on commercial espionage.

The room was still and windless, yet the oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

Shirayuki first looked at William and slowly said in fluent Western language:

"You've been training for a thousand days to use them for one. As the sole survivor of Adams' fleet, you've returned to the Dutch trading post in the Spice Islands, claiming you were shipwrecked. I've polished your resume and story to be flawless."

William bowed his head, his expression submissive: "I am willing to obey the master's orders."

Bai Ye then turned to Chen Shouyi and officially decided on his final disguise.

"From this day forward, there will be no more Chen Shouyi, the vagrant."

"You are William Van Jansen's personal East Asian servant, named A-Shou. You were sold multiple times as a slave, but William Van Jansen bought you and you followed him back to Southeast Asia."

Bai Ye's sharp gaze fell on Chen Shouyi, entrusting him with the final mission.

"You two go to the Spice Islands. William will be responsible for establishing a foothold, infiltrating the colonial system, and gaining the trust of the garrison."

Your job is to stealthily scout, find good seeds, and seize the opportunity to steal them. Take clove kernels, nutmeg seeds, and young jasmine seedlings—take what you can, but never be greedy; just ensure they survive.

After succeeding, they immediately broke away from the Dutch outpost, abandoned their ship, and boarded a small sampan provided by Ryukyu spies. They crossed the South China Sea and headed straight for the desolate mountains and wilderness southwest of Dongfan (present-day Tibet) to secretly plant the plants.

Bai Ye paused, then said:

"Remember, this operation is different from the past. William, just be a good East India Company sailor for me and do your daily chores locally."

As for Ah Shou, he was in charge of the actual theft. Spice seeds aren't as easy to cultivate as cinchona bark; you not only need to steal the seeds, but ideally, you should also smuggle some of the local people who know how to grow them. Understand?

Chen Shouyi nodded quickly.

"Also, you must remember that no matter what happens, you must not communicate with William or seek his cooperation. In case of any mishap, you must not let the Dutch obtain evidence. William is a spy we will continue to work with long-term; he will be of great use in the future. We cannot allow any accidents to occur because of this mission."

Chen Shouyi's heart sank. He understood Bai Ye's intention, which meant that he would be fully responsible for the subsequent actions and could not expect the Dutchman beside him to provide any assistance.

Chen Shouyi gritted his teeth:

"I will obey my master's orders. I guarantee with my entire family's lives that I will never betray Lord William."

Shiro nodded, then instructed the two to pack their luggage and prepare to depart.

At dawn the next day, the two bid farewell to Shirano and boarded a Ryukyu merchant ship bound for Manila.

At that time, Manila, as the center of Spanish colonial rule in the East, had recovered from the siege of White Field a few years earlier.

After the Spanish suffered a setback, the new governor no longer dared to oppress Chinese merchants. Under Lynn's leadership, the Chinese in the Eighth District continued to serve the Spanish diligently.

As a result, Manila became even more prosperous than before.

The harbor was filled with masts and sails, with Western warships, merchant ships, Chinese junks, and indigenous canoes from Southeast Asia packed together. The market was noisy and chaotic, with the sounds of Catholic bells, the shouts of sailors drunk, the hawking of merchants, and the reprimands of colonists all mixed together.

This place was a melting pot of chaos in Southeast Asia, and also the best place to clear one's name.

With Lynn's help, Chen Shouyi and William worked odd jobs at the Spanish docks for a while and soon managed to infiltrate a large Spanish merchant ship.

The ship owner was a seasoned veteran who had been navigating the Pacific routes for many years. He was greedy and careless, only seeking cheap and capable workers, and never bothered to investigate the backgrounds of his employees.

William lied, claiming to be a Spanish refugee shipwrecked in a chaotic world, homeless and only seeking food; Chen Shouyi remained his East Asian servant who had accompanied him for three years, hardworking, taciturn and obedient.

On the Western merchant ships, the crew consisted mostly of undisciplined Spanish sailors, Filipino laborers, and migrants from Southeast Asia—a mixed bag—and no one paid any attention to the two inconspicuous outsiders.

Moreover, William had studied Spanish before coming, so he did not give himself away in terms of language.

William and Chen Shouyi did not rush to take action.

They did not reveal any purpose, and dutifully unloaded, moved, and repaired cargo on Spanish merchant ships, living a law-abiding life and being more diligent and conscientious than all the other employees.

For several months, the two concealed all their abnormalities, never inquiring about the spice route or Spanish military intelligence, and simply sat quietly on the deck in their spare time, pretending to be ordinary people.

The relationship between the West and the Netherlands in 1610 was extremely delicate.

The Iberian Union had not yet completely disintegrated, and Spain and the Netherlands remained nominally in a state of hostility and war. Dutch privateers roamed the South China Sea, specifically targeting Spanish merchant ships, plundering their goods, and disrupting Spain's trade routes to the East.

It was this endless naval warfare that gave them the perfect opportunity to defect to the enemy.

After lying low in Manila for three months, once the monsoon season had turned and the sea conditions had stabilized, the two voluntarily left their original large Spanish ship and joined a smaller, more maneuverable Spanish coastal merchant ship as full-time sailors.

Based on his "work experience" on the large ship, William quickly rose to a mid-level position on the small ship, gaining access to the ship's confidential matters.

The captain's trust in him also increased considerably.

William and Chen Shouyi continue to keep a low profile.

William was familiar with Western navigation, sail repair, and star positioning. He was skilled and quietly secured his position as boatswain on the ship. Chen Shouyi took on the hardest and most tiring odd jobs, washing decks, moving cargo, repairing cables, and cooking. He was quick and efficient and never complained, which made all the crew members assume that he was just a dull and obedient Eastern laborer.

After sailing for half a month, the merchant ship reached the waters east of Mindanao, a key ambush area for Dutch privateers.

One afternoon, the sea was calm and the sunlight was dazzling.

A piercing scream suddenly came from the watchtower:

"Enemy ship! Dutch Clippers!"

At the horizon, three black sails suddenly pressed in; the ship was long and narrow, moving with incredible speed—an armed privateer of the Dutch East India Company. Its deck cannons stood menacingly at the edge, its flags fluttering, and it charged straight at the Spanish boat with an aura of menace.

The Spanish merchant ship was unarmored and unarmed, merely a civilian transport vessel. The crew was thrown into chaos; some drew their swords in panic, others knelt in prayer, and the captain roared an order to change course and flee.

The artillery roared.

Several hollow-point bullets struck the merchant ship's side, sending seawater soaring several meters high, shattering planks, and scattering wood chips everywhere. The Spanish sailors suffered heavy casualties, their cries of agony echoing across the battlefield. Their only hope was to rely on the speed advantage of the Spanish merchant ship to escape back to Manila as quickly as possible.

The Spanish merchant ship was hoisting its sails to catch the wind, attempting to escape using the turbulent currents near the shore. The lookout's shrill roar pierced the air: the Dutch privateer, flying the VOC black and red flag, was approaching at full speed, its bow cannons already aimed at the merchant ship's side.

Just as the entire ship was in chaos and disintegrating, William van Janssen, who had been working silently, suddenly sprang to his feet.

Taking advantage of everyone's attention being fixed on the oncoming Dutch warship, William dashed forward, heading straight for the gunpowder storage tank at the stern.

According to the navigation regulations of the Age of Exploration, gunpowder depots had to be guarded by designated personnel, and required two locks and to be located below the waterline.

However, this ship was a small boat built by the Spanish in East Asia, and its design and management were very rudimentary. As a result, the lock on the cabinet door was crude and was easily broken open by his heavy elbow.

Chen Shouyi stood quietly to the side and behind the crowd, his eyes lowered, subtly blocking the view of several Spanish sailors and concealing any unusual movements from him.

William grabbed a heavy bag of gunpowder, strode to the base of the mainmast, tore open the bag, and splashed the black powder onto the taut linen mainsail and rigging. A sea breeze blew, and fine powder mist scattered and spread, completely covering the massive sail.

He gripped the flint he carried, and with two clicks, sparks flew.

A cluster of bright flames suddenly ignited.

Without the slightest hesitation, William raised his hand and threw the fire onto the sail.

"boom--!"