Volume 1, Chapter 23: Your Servant Is Here

The distant bell tolled, signaling the third watch of the night. Zhu Youjian stood before the window, watching the retreating figure of Zheng Zhilong.

"Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en whispered, "should we..."

"No need," Zhu Youjian waved his hand. "He cannot escape."

Wang Cheng'en hesitated. "But..."

"What is it?"

"He is, after all, a pirate by trade..."

Zhu Youjian sneered. "It is precisely because he is a pirate that he is easy to control."

He turned and walked back to sit before the dragon throne. "Tell the men of the Eastern Depot to keep a close watch on his movements."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youjian looked at the memorials on his desk, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

Zheng Zhilong hurried through the night, his mind already calculating his next moves. "Go and prepare the ships," he commanded his attendants. "We must depart within three days."

"Yes," the attendant replied. "And that item..."

"Do not ask!" Zheng Zhilong snapped.

The attendant dared not speak further and hurried away. Zheng Zhilong stood at the street corner, gazing toward the distant Imperial City. The towering palace walls appeared particularly stern under the moonlight. He knew he had been drawn into a massive whirlpool.

Inside the palace, Zhu Youjian paced, contemplating his next steps.

"Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en said softly, "regarding the Eastern Depot..."

"Tell them to be ready," Zhu Youjian said coolly. "If anything seems amiss, act immediately."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian approached the desk and took up his brush to write a secret edict. This document would seal Zheng Zhilong's fate. Watching his master's back, Wang Cheng'en could not help but shiver.

Zheng Zhilong had reached the city gate, his burly figure barely visible in the darkness.

"My Lord," an attendant whispered, "the ships are ready."

"Good," Zheng Zhilong nodded. "Tell the men to prepare."

"Should we..." the attendant began, but left the sentence unfinished.

"Do not ask what you should not," Zheng Zhilong said sternly. "Just do your job."

The attendant bowed and retreated. Zheng Zhilong looked up at the moon, then back at the distant Imperial City. He knew there was no turning back.

Zhu Youjian stood by the window, moonlight cascading over his dragon robe. "Wang Cheng'en," he spoke suddenly.

"This servant is here."

"Send men to Fujian," Zhu Youjian said calmly. "See how the naval forces there are preparing."

"Yes." Wang Cheng'en bowed and withdrew.

Zhu Youjian continued to look out the window. On the streets below, Zheng Zhilong had already vanished into the night. "These people," he scoffed, "all think they can play the game."

The candle flames flickered in the hall, casting shifting shadows across his inscrutable face.

***

"My Lord," a confidant whispered, "the cargo..."

"Transport it to the outer seas first," Zheng Zhilong said, lowering his voice. "Wait until the heat dies down."

"Yes," the confidant replied. "And what about the Jiangnan region?"

"Tell them to avoid the waterways for now," Zheng Zhilong ordered. "And be careful on the land routes as well."

The confidant nodded and departed quickly. Zheng Zhilong stood on the street, watching the distant lights. He knew he was caught in a grand game of chess.

Inside the palace, Zhu Youjian paced, weighing every possibility.

"Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en returned. "The men from the Eastern Depot are ready."

"Very good," Zhu Youjian nodded. "Have them keep a close eye on Zheng Zhilong."

"Yes."

The chill of the deep night intensified outside the palace walls. Zheng Zhilong had reached the outskirts of the city, where several large ships lay at anchor.

"Is everything ready?" he asked.

"Ready," the attendant replied. "We can depart at any moment."

Zheng Zhilong nodded, staring out at the pitch-black sea.

Zhu Youjian stood by the window, looking toward the distant harbor. "Wang Cheng'en," he said again.

"This servant is here."

"Issue a secret edict to him," Zhu Youjian said coolly. "Tell him I authorize him to recruit sailors in the Fujian region."

"As you command," Wang Cheng'en bowed. "And the other merchant ships..."

"Investigate them all," Zhu Youjian sneered. "No matter whose ships they are, investigate them."

"Yes." Wang Cheng'en moved to leave.

"Wait," Zhu Youjian added. "Tell Cao Huachun to establish more merchant shops in Fujian."

Wang Cheng'en understood. "This servant understands."

Zhu Youjian walked to the desk and wrote: "Zheng Zhilong is hereby ordered to take command of the Fujian Naval Force, effective immediately, to patrol the maritime borders."

He set down his red brush and looked at the wet ink. "Bring me the secret report from the Eastern Depot."

Wang Cheng'en handed over a sealed document. Zhu Youjian broke the seal and read carefully. It contained the latest intelligence on the trade routes across Jiangnan, with every line marked in detail.

Zhu Youjian sneered. "These people, they truly know how to do business."

He closed the report and walked to the window. "Tell Zheng Zhilong that I expect him to depart within three days."

"So soon?" Wang Cheng'en was surprised.

"Not soon enough," Zhu Youjian said flatly. "By the time Wen Tiren's people react, it will be too late."

Wang Cheng'en bowed and left to deliver the order. Zhu Youjian returned to the memorials on his desk. Behind every report lay a hidden secret.

"Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en returned. "Zheng Zhilong says..."

"Says what?"

"He says he needs some firearms."

Zhu Youjian sneered. "Tell him that as long as he does his job well, everything can be discussed."

"Yes."

He returned to the desk and wrote another edict: "Effective immediately, inspect all merchant vessels at the ports."

"Wait," Zhu Youjian added. "Tell the Eastern Depot to keep a close watch on the Zheng family."

"Yes."

***

Zhu Youjian stood before a map, his finger tracing the Fujian coastline. "These shipping routes are their lifeline."

"But," Wang Cheng'en said cautiously, "I fear the merchants..."

"Fear what?" Zhu Youjian scoffed. "They are merely merchants."

He turned to Wang Cheng'en. "Go tell Sun Chanting to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?"

"To clean up the mess," Zhu Youjian said coldly.

Wang Cheng'en bowed and retreated.

Zhu Youjian continued to study the map. "Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en returned. "Zheng Zhilong has..."

"Has what?"

"He has begun mobilizing his men."

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. "Very good."

He picked up another memorial, this one concerning an investigation into the Jiangnan salt merchants. "Bring me the secret report from the Brocade Guard."

Wang Cheng'en handed over the document. Zhu Youjian read it carefully—it was the latest update on the merchants of Jiangnan.

"Interesting," he chuckled coldly. "These people truly have no fear of death."

He set the report aside and walked to the window. The moonlight bathed his robes in golden light. "Go tell Zheng Zhilong," he said suddenly, "that I await his good news."

"Yes." Wang Cheng'en bowed and left.

Zhu Youjian gazed toward the distant harbor.

"Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en returned. "The Eastern Depot..."

"What is it?"

"They say they have discovered merchant ships smuggling arms."

Zhu Youjian sneered. "Perfect. Have Zheng Zhilong start his inspections with those very ships."

"Yes."

He returned to the desk and wrote: "Effective immediately, strictly crack down on maritime smuggling."

Wang Cheng'en took the edict and prepared to leave.

"Wait," Zhu Youjian added. "Tell Cao Huachun to send more men to Fujian."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian walked to the map, his finger hovering over the various ports. "These ports," he sneered, "are their vital points."

"But I fear the merchants might..." Wang Cheng'en said tentatively.

"Might what?" Zhu Youjian interrupted. "Do they dare to rebel?"

He turned to Wang Cheng'en. "Go tell the Eastern Depot to keep those merchants under strict surveillance."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian continued to look at the map, where every port was marked with detailed information.

"Your Majesty," Wang Cheng'en returned. "Zheng Zhilong says he needs..."