Chapter 64: Pointing To The Southeast
The General refers precisely to the Nan’ao Vice General.
According to Nan’ao Garrison Commander Huang Hetai, this General usually works in the temporary office in Chaozhou Prefecture, and the number of days he stays on the island each year can be counted on one hand.
It’s even happened that he doesn’t come to the island for an entire year.
Could it be that this General suddenly decided on a whim to come to the island?
Lin Qian nodded: “Good, I’ll go see Garrison Commander Huang.”
The soldier invited Lin Qian to go together on the fast boat.
Today the carpenter and shipwright are coming to reinforce the gunport, so the Santa Ana is not suitable to leave the harbor.
Lin Qian simply went along on the ship, called Bai Langzai before leaving, also brought five or six skilled hands, and gave Chen Jiao a few instructions.
The Santa Ana’s anchorage bay is called Houjiang Bay, very close to White Sand Bay, with only a ridge of Guo Lao Mountain in between.
In the time it takes to eat a meal, the fast boat had sailed into White Sand Bay.
This was still Lin Qian’s first time approaching Shen’ao Port up close.
Inside the harbor, besides over a hundred small boats, a three-masted Fuchuan ship was anchored, its hull smaller than a typical Fuchuan ship, with larger sails and shallower draft; this ship type is the Great Ming Navy’s Haicang ship.
It must be a cargo-transporting warship returning to port.
The navy ships Lin Qian had seen before were either leaky showpieces or small oar boats like fishing boats.
This was the first time seeing a proper warship.
Lin Qian couldn’t help but feel curious and took out the telescope to observe carefully.
The ship was maintained extremely well, hull wood paint intact, sails undamaged, deck level with no pooled water.
Up close, many navy soldiers could be seen standing on the ship, transporting supplies.
These soldiers were robust and nimble in movement, completely different from the navy on the island.
Seeing Lin Qian’s interest in the Haicang ship, the soldier said: “Those are the General’s household retainers, helping the General watch ships and run cargo.”
“Mm.” Lin Qian neither affirmed nor denied.
“Household retainers” are also called “household soldiers”; plainly speaking, they are private armies.
Household retainers’ pay is funded and issued by the generals themselves, with no deductions and welfare and treatment much better than the official army.
There’s a folk joke: “Ming army without full pay is worthless; with full pay, invincible.”
These private soldiers can be regarded as Ming army with full pay—not only full pay, but super doubled.
After hearing this explanation, Lin Qian, who had already looked away, suddenly noticed one household retainer’s unusual standing posture.
That person stood on the shore with knees slightly bent, looking different from ordinary people.
Lin Qian took out the telescope again and carefully observed the household retainers on the shore; most had knees bent to varying degrees.
This standing posture is the hallmark of Tanka people.
Because Tanka people live and work on ships, long-term stooping, crouching legs, and bending knees lead to many knee joint ailments.
On the ship it’s not obvious, but once on land it shows.
The derogatory term “curved hooves” comes from this.
These household retainers’ knee bends were extremely slight.
If not for Lin Qian’s long-term contact with Tanka people, it would be hard to notice.
Even if a general recruits household retainers, he would never recruit the much-discriminated Tanka people.
Something fishy here!
Lin Qian subtly nudged Bai Langzai with his elbow and gestured with his eyes toward the shore.
Bai Langzai glanced over and nodded slightly to Lin Qian.
This confirmed Lin Qian’s suspicion.
Immediately, Bai Langzai’s expression turned icy, his left hand gripped the katana tightly, and his eyes scanned the soldier’s neck ahead.
Lin Qian slowly shook his head at him, signaling not to act.
Now Nan’ao Island has his three thousand islanders, and the Santa Ana is still anchored at sea.
Before coming, Lin Qian had instructed Chen Jiao that if he didn’t return within an hour, the Santa Ana would blockade the harbor.
Bai Qing would also lead the islanders over Guo Lao Mountain to surround Shen’ao Port from land.
Based on Lin Qian’s understanding of Huang Hetai, this man is greedy and cowardly, absolutely wouldn’t dare act against him; even with foreign sea bandits or Imperial Court officials on the island, they would hesitate in this situation.
Shen’ao Port is nominally under Huang Hetai’s control but actually already in Lin Qian’s grasp.
Since things have reached this point, might as well go see what the real scheme is.
The ship arrived at the dock; Lin Qian disembarked and followed the soldier to the garrison commander’s barracks.
The soldier led him to a grand vermilion-lacquered yamen.
A plaque hung on the doorposts inscribed with “Fujian-Guangdong Nan’ao General’s Mansion” in large characters.
The soldier entered first, passed through the yamen and courtyard to a hall; a plaque hung over the hall door inscribed with “Command Hall” in two gilded large characters.
Behind the hall door was a screen wall with a massive painting of a fierce tiger descending the mountain; the tiger was painted masterfully with tremendous presence.
Passing through the command hall, the soldier stopped before the inner courtyard side room door.
“Go in; the garrison commander is waiting for the leader inside,” the soldier said.
Lin Qian brought Bai Langzai inside; unsurprisingly, Bai Langzai’s katana was confiscated, though they didn’t search bodies; the other crew members stood guard outside.
Pushing open the door, they saw Garrison Commander Huang brewing tea at the table.
Another man sat beside the table, tall and sturdy, square-faced with a broad nose, dark-skinned, body covered in knotted muscles.
This man held a tea cup in one hand, a pair of tiger eyes fixed on Lin Qian.
Garrison Commander Huang warmly rose to greet: “Leader Lin is here. This is Leader Li. You two are both under Ship Owner Li; no need for introductions.”
The man set down the tea cup, stood and cupped his hands: “Li Kuiqi; may I ask brother’s name?”
This man’s voice was powerful, making ears ring painfully.
Lei Sanxiang was already tall, yet Li Kuiqi was a head taller than him.
Lin Qian estimated this man’s height at over 1.9 meters, plus a body of ripped muscles; standing, he exuded tremendous pressure, making the room seem smaller.
Moreover, Li Kuiqi was under Li Dan; his arrival would not only expose Lin Qian’s impersonation but might spark further conflict.
After all, the Nan’ao Vice General has long taken bribes from Li Dan; in a sense, Nan’ao Island is Li Dan’s territory.
Lin Qian, experienced in all sorts of situations, responded calmly, cupping his hands: “Lin Qian; this is my brother Bai Langzai.”
“So it’s Brother Lin and Brother Bai; my apologies, please.” Li Kuiqi laughed, invited Lin Qian to sit as if he were the host.
Garrison Commander Huang handed Lin Qian a cup of tea, then lowered his head to focus on brewing, not letting the two fierce figures see his expression.
Li Kuiqi glanced at Bai Langzai and praised: “Brother Bai has a steady presence; must be quite skilled!”
Bai Langzai kept a cold face and said nothing.
Unfazed, Li Kuiqi turned to Lin Qian: “Brother Lin, you’re smart; you must have guessed my purpose here.
Newly arrived, yet you dared impersonate the Ship Owner and occupy this island; you must be a bold hero.
I, Li Kuiqi, admire heroes most in life! For your impersonation of the Ship Owner, I’ll plead your case; he surely won’t blame you.
However… Nan’ao Island is a key maritime spot in Fujian-Guangdong; brother can’t monopolize it—better take your men elsewhere.”
Lin Qian demurred: “The houses on the island are all built; we can’t just leave.”
Li Kuiqi’s tone cooled: “What, does brother want me to compensate you with silver?”
Lin Qian smiled apologetically: “Of course not. New to your territory and unfamiliar with it, if we just move off the island, where to settle? Please point out a good spot, brother.”
Li Kuiqi laughed: “Hahaha… I see; brother should have said so directly.”
He then pulled out a sea chart, pointed to a spot: “This is Hailing Island, west of Macau under Guangdong Zhaoqing Prefecture; only a few soldiers on the island—seize it at will, brother.”
Hailing Island was the one where pearl commoners rested when returning to Guangzhou; Lin Qian had anchored there before.
After pretending to ponder, he said: “Too mountainous, scant flat land; can’t fit my over five thousand men. Hope brother finds another place.”
Li Kuiqi was astonished inside, glanced at Garrison Commander Huang, thinking: “Huang clearly said this kid has over three thousand men; why does he say five thousand?
His expression seems sincere, not fake.
Did Huang deceive me on purpose?
Even so, three or five thousand is still a sizable force; better be cautious.
Fine, one more place then. Southeast coast has no shortage of islands anyway.”
Settling on this, Li Kuiqi pointed to the Fujian coast: “Here, Kinmen Island—plenty of land, garrison full of good-for-nothings; brother send five hundred elites to take it easily.”
Lin Qian looked and shook his head: “No, too close to Yuegang Port; bound to provoke Imperial Court suppression.”
Li Kuiqi glared, thinking: “If not for fear of Imperial Court suppression, it wouldn’t be your turn to occupy.”
Wary of Lin Qian’s five thousand after all, Li Kuiqi suppressed his anger and pointed to another island.
Sure enough, Lin Qian shook his head vigorously again.
