Chapter 45: Setting Sail For Great Ming
Moments later, Lin Qian walked into the Officer’s Restaurant, followed by Chen Jiao and Lei Sanxiang.
Zheng Zhilong, Zhou Xiucai, Jose, and Bai Langzai were already waiting there.
Seeing Lin Qian enter, everyone stood up to greet him.
Lin Qian gestured for everyone to sit down.
Soon, Ship Workers brought the meals in one after another.
Zheng Zhilong had timed his arrival well; the meals weren’t prepared in advance, just the daily food on the ship.
Today’s meal consisted of rice, scallion-grilled crucian carp, fragrant dried tofu with Malantou, and pickled vegetable sauce melon.
This meal had both meat and vegetables, already extraordinarily sumptuous compared to ordinary folk, but after all, it was a work meal, not as upscale as a specially arranged banquet.
Zheng Zhilong looked at the meal and sighed inwardly once more.
He wasn’t sighing over one meal, but lamenting his hostage status.
Thinking on the bright side, at least now he could still eat meals; five days from now, whether he’d eat alcohol and meat or a knife was uncertain.
In his inner distress, he didn’t even clearly hear the few apologetic words Lin Qian said about the poor hospitality.
Seeing alcohol on the table, Zheng Zhilong unceremoniously downed it in one gulp.
This alcohol was rum brewed from sugarcane residue, carrying a clear sweet aroma, easier to drink than yellow wine.
But in Zheng Zhilong’s mouth, it was full of bitterness.
Lin Qian raised his glass and said, “I’ve never been to Guangzhou before. This time, thanks to Mr. Councillor, I can go around a bit. But being unfamiliar with the place and people, fortunately there’s Yiguan Brother to lead the way, so as not to stumble around blindly. Thanks in advance.”
Zheng Zhilong was lost in a daze, merely raising his glass and perfunctorily saying, “No problem, no problem.”
With that, he tossed his head back and downed the alcohol.
Only after drinking did he taste the flavor.
What did “fortunately there’s Yiguan Brother to lead the way” mean?
Wasn’t he a hostage? Wouldn’t Elder Brother Lin keep him locked on the ship?
Zheng Zhilong looked toward Lin Qian and confirmed, “Elder Brother Lin just said to take me to Guangzhou together?”
Lin Qian smiled, “I’ve never been to Guangzhou, so naturally I need Yiguan Brother to lead the way. Apologies for the trouble.”
Zheng Zhilong was overjoyed; if he were a hostage, naturally he’d be left on the ship, but Lin Qian bringing him to Guangzhou too showed he didn’t regard him as a hostage at all.
Moreover, his words inside and out were full of respect, without mentioning the hostage matter at all.
Thinking back now, from the moment Lin Qian showed him the letter, he hadn’t treated him as an outsider, always straightforward and sincere.
Although he and Lin Qian called each other brothers, he also knew the principle of not speaking deeply with shallow acquaintance, and hadn’t dared hope Lin Qian truly saw him as a brother.
Only after Lin Qian said this did Zheng Zhilong entertain a thought in his heart: “Could Elder Brother Lin truly recognize me as this brother?”
“I’m just a minor interpreter, with no connections or power whatsoever. What virtue or ability do I have to receive such treatment from Elder Brother Lin?”
Zheng Zhilong’s heart was half surprised, half doubtful.
Lin Qian didn’t look at Zheng Zhilong’s expression but could guess his inner thoughts pretty accurately.
To Lin Qian, Zheng Zhilong held no value whatsoever as a hostage.
Since the Councillor could send Zheng Zhilong here, he couldn’t possibly care about his life or death.
Since that was the case, better to let Zheng Zhilong off and do him a favor in return.
Moreover, Lin Qian’s trip to Guangzhou wasn’t solely to attend the Hongmen Banquet.
There were also the two major matters of scouting talent and recruiting Tanka People.
Time was tight and tasks heavy; bringing Zheng Zhilong, this half-local expert, would count as an asset.
Although Zheng Zhilong was only sixteen now, historically he was a warlord who held sway over a region; if he could be recruited for one’s own use, not only would there be one less formidable enemy in the future, but also an additional great general.
No matter how it was calculated, it was a profitable deal.
Of course, Lin Qian also knew about Zheng Zhilong’s historical wavering loyalties, betraying the Southern Ming court to surrender to the Qing dynasty; this man’s loyalty was indeed questionable.
Lin Qian also wanted to employ true eminent ministers and fine generals like Xu Guangqi, Zhao Shizhen, Sun Chenge, and Cao Wenzhao.
The problem was that he was now merely a sea bandit, with only a scant sixty-odd men under him.
Who would take him seriously?
It was just like matchmaking; before making demands of the other party, one must first weigh one’s own worth.
From a high-level view, being a sea bandit was much like running a company; one could encounter all sorts of people.
The way of employing people was like water conservancy.
Yangtze water irrigates fields across several provinces on both shores; Yellow River water also irrigates fields across several provinces on both shores.
One must not favor clear water nor discard turbid water.
Simply make full use of people’s talents.
Ignoring Zheng Zhilong’s wandering thoughts, Lin Qian turned and said, “Bai Langzai, your home is at the Pearl River Estuary, right? Close to Poshan Wharf?”
Bai Langzai stiffened, then solemnly replied, “My family’s boat is docked at Poshan Wharf.”
Lin Qian nodded. “Mm. In that case, pack up too; after lunch, come down the ship with me.”
“Yes, Helmsman!” Bai Langzai’s voice carried some excitement.
He had become a sea bandit to earn silver for his family’s taxes; now with home within reach, he was already burning to return.
However, Lin Qian had only a few days ago spoken those words at morning roll call; if he made an exception for himself to go back, it would surely put Lin Qian in a tough spot, so he hadn’t opened his mouth.
Now with a chance to go home, how could he not be excited?
Lin Qian then said to Zhou Xiucai, “Second Brother, I previously promised Bai Langzai to convert his share into pearls to take home. After the meal, appraise a price and give him the pearls.”
Knowing Bai Langzai was anxious, Zhou Xiucai simply wiped his mouth. “Good. I’ve finished eating anyway; let’s go now.”
Bai Langzai: “No rush, Second Brother, eat slowly.”
Zhou Xiucai laughed. “As the saying goes, ‘One glimpse of the homeland o’er misty waters wide, wings sprout upon the heart to swiftly glide.’ Your ‘no rush’ is fake; you really can’t wait to fly back. Come on, come on; we’ll pack up early so you can set sail sooner.”
Lei Sanxiang half-jokingly said, “Second Brother, skip the ‘as the saying goes’; Old Seven swapping pearls could go quicker.”
Zhou Xiucai held his forehead laughing. “Hahaha, exactly, exactly. Let’s go.”
With that, Zhou Xiucai and Bai Langzai went out the door.
By then, everyone had nearly finished eating and stood up one after another.
Lin Qian took Zheng Zhilong to the Captain’s Cabin again to smoke cigars.
He also casually asked a few things about Guangzhou’s local customs and traditions.
As Lin Qian had anticipated, Zheng Zhilong was extremely familiar with Guangzhou City, knowing it like the back of his hand.
Bringing him along on this journey had been the right call.
After finishing one cigar, Bai Langzai had also packed up.
Lin Qian brought fifty taels of silver, packed in a shoulder bag.
At the ship’s rail, a single-masted fishing boat waited below.
Chen Jiao, Zhou Xiucai, and Lei Sanxiang came to see them off.
Lin Qian instructed, “Everyone act according to the situation. See you in five days.”
Chen Jiao lowered his voice. “I keep feeling uneasy. How about I go in your stead?”
Lin Qian smiled. “Elder Brother, I accept this kindness, but please rest assured—nothing will happen. Take care!”
Seeing Lin Qian insist so firmly, Chen Jiao could only cup his hands in farewell. “Take care!”
Lin Qian, Bai Langzai, and Zheng Zhilong descended the rope ladder to the fishing boat.
After settling in, the three waved goodbye to the crowd at the ship’s rail.
The fisherman hoisted sail and rowed; the fishing boat slowly headed north.
Soon, it had sailed more than ten zhang.
The weather was clear and bright, sunlight perfect; the deep blue sea surface glittered with waves, several seagulls circling the galleon’s towering stern cabin, incessantly uttering hoarse cries.
A gust of fishy, salty sea wind brushed their faces, bringing a touch of moist coolness.
In their eyes, the galleon’s luxurious stern cabin carvings slowly rose and fell with the waves on the sea.
The fisherman exclaimed, “Why is this ship so beautiful? Beautiful enough to rival a palace or yamen!”
Zheng Zhilong said coldly, “Watch the waterway first; for things that don’t concern you, looking too much is bad.”
Their conversation was all in Cantonese, with heavy accents; Lin Qian couldn’t understand.
Seeing this, Zheng Zhilong explained in the official language, “Elder Brother Lin, that fisherman praised the galleon’s decorations as beautiful. I told him to sail carefully and not look at what he shouldn’t.”
Lin Qian nodded. “Thanks for the trouble.”
Zheng Zhilong cupped his hands. “Elder Brother Lin is too polite. In the future, if Elder Brother has any tasks, just instruct me.”
The three stood at the fishing boat’s stern, watching the galleon gradually shrink in their sight.
The stern cabin carvings grew indistinct; only a line of silver Spanish letters reflected the sunlight.
“Helmsman, is that our ship name?” Bai Langzai suddenly asked.
“Mm, ‘Santa Ana’; it translates to ‘Santa Ana’.” Lin Qian nodded.
“Santa Ana? Foreigners’ ship names are really odd.” Perhaps due to anxiety near home, Bai Langzai spoke more than usual.
Lin Qian said, “Spaniards’ ship names mostly derive from religion. This Santa Ana seems to be the mother of the Virgin Mary, or the maternal grandmother of the Spaniards’ deity.”
Zheng Zhilong offered timely flattery. “I see; Elder Brother Lin knows so much.”
