Chapter 646: The Fate of Zheng Zhilong

Hearing this, Fang Zhenghua and the other two exchanged glances, their expressions still grave.

Although what Yu Zigao said was the truth and seemed to have no problems, the three of them dared not believe it.

Seeing that the three no longer seemed to question him, Yu Zigao breathed a sigh of relief.

He also understood that this did not mean the three before him had dispelled their suspicions of him. To put it plainly, they still wanted to find out what the facts really were.

Yu Zigao was silent for a moment, organizing his words before saying: "Now that we have captured them, we've roughly sorted out the situation. These people were originally Li Dan's subordinates. I believe none of you are unfamiliar with Li Dan."

"After Li Dan died, this group was handed over to Zheng Zhilong." As he spoke, Yu Zigao turned to look at Shi Laifu and said: "The Imperial Household Department should know more about this matter. They have a man named Xu Xinsu there, who was originally Li Dan's sworn brother. After Li Dan died, Xu Xinsu should have taken over this group, but Li Dan passed it to Zheng Zhilong instead."

"Moreover, the conflict between Xu Xinsu and Zheng Zhilong is quite intense — the two have even reached a point of irreconcilable enmity. To save his own life, Xu Xinsu sought refuge with the Imperial Household Department and has now even risen to the position of Deputy Director. On this matter, we would like to hear the Imperial Household Department's opinion."

Fang Zhenghua sat to the side without speaking. He roughly understood Yu Zigao's meaning. Yu Zigao wanted to swallow up this fleet — not just the ships already seized here, but likely others as well.

Fang Zhenghua knew who Zheng Zhilong was, and he also knew how large Li Dan's group was.

Under such circumstances, with this kind of opportunity presenting itself, Yu Zigao was clearly tempted. And what Yu Zigao needed to do now was to win the agreement of everyone present, especially the Imperial Household Department.

Judging from the current situation, the Imperial Household Department seemed to have some plan regarding Zheng Zhilong and Xu Xinsu. Yu Zigao's actions would likely disrupt the Imperial Household Department's arrangements, which was why Yu Zigao needed their consent.

The Staff Office would certainly support Yu Zigao. Even if problems arose afterward, they would have to renegotiate, and in the end the problem would circle back to him.

Thinking of this, Fang Zhenghua remained expressionless.

"The fleet you attacked belonged to Zheng Zhilong?" Shi Laifu looked at Yu Zigao, frowning as he asked.

"Lord Shi, please watch your words." Yu Zigao looked at Shi Laifu with a stern expression and said: "They were following us, intending to attack us. We merely counterattacked."

"Before the battle began, we fired warning shots. They refused to heed the warning, and only with no other option did we launch our counterattack. This matter must be made perfectly clear."

Hearing this, Shi Laifu felt helpless.

That story could fool a fool! Zheng Zhilong wasn't stupid — how could he possibly come and attack you?

Your fleet is the Imperial Navy of the Great Ming. Never mind whether the title matters — with that many ships, that many warships, they would come to attack you?

Even if they truly came to attack, would they bring that many merchant ships along?

Absolutely ridiculous!

There was definitely something going on here, but did it matter?

Shi Laifu thought for a moment, then shook his head.

It didn't matter. It didn't matter at all.

He glanced at Yu Zigao and sighed inwardly.

This imposing-looking great general actually had so many little schemes in his heart?

Yu Zigao had already guessed that the Imperial Household Department wouldn't care at all. What was the Imperial Household Department lacking right now?

Ships. Under such circumstances, why would the Imperial Household Department disagree with this matter?

If negotiations went well, Zheng Zhilong's fleet would become the Imperial Household Department's fleet. Not to mention anything else — weren't the ships right here already theirs? The rest would soon become theirs too.

"I see." Shi Laifu nodded with a look of sudden realization, then suddenly slammed the table and said: "These people are utterly lawless, far too bold — they'd dare do anything. They even dare to commit the crime of attacking the Imperial Navy?"

"In my view, we should arrest them all and send them to the islands to do hard labor. Otherwise, it won't be enough to quell public outrage, to reassure the people, or to deter the petty and wicked."

Fang Zhenghua glanced at Shi Laifu.

Sure enough, this was the Imperial Household Department's true nature. They changed their tune faster than turning a page — truly talented people.

"Lord Shi, that won't do." Yu Zigao said with a stern expression: "These people were captured by the Imperial Navy, but how they are to be dealt with is not something we can decide privately. We must await the court's decision. Those of us here should simply do our own duty — we must never overstep the rules."

Those who knew the two men were close would see they were reaching an agreement; those who didn't would think the two were arguing, had some enormous disagreement, and were constantly stabbing each other in the back.

"Yes, yes, the Commander is right." Shi Laifu wore a look of shame, nodding as he spoke: "Worthy of the Imperial Navy's Commander — insightful, thoughtful. I am truly ashamed. With a minister like the Commander, how could the Great Ming worry about its navy not prospering?"

Fang Zhenghua looked at the two men, knowing their performance was over, and said directly: "Regarding this man Zheng Zhilong, how does the Commander plan to arrange things?"

"He has already surrendered, but I have not yet met him. I invited you all here precisely to meet him together." Yu Zigao quickly said: "How to deal with him will likely require a decision from the palace."

Fang Zhenghua nodded and continued: "Such an arrangement is for the best."

Having said this, Fang Zhenghua turned to look at Shi Laifu and asked: "Regarding this Xu Xinsu and Zheng Zhilong matter, how much do you know?"

"I know most of it." Shi Laifu thought for a moment, then nodded and said: "This Zheng Zhilong is quite unruly and hard to tame. Compared to Xu Xinsu, Zheng Zhilong is far more difficult to manage. Over the years he's caused no shortage of trouble out there."

"Our Imperial Household Department has dealt with Zheng Zhilong before — we've even done business with him. Even so, our relationship with him can hardly be called good. After all, they've been domineering at sea for so many years, and some of their men are even Japanese. It's just that they never stirred up real trouble, so the matter kept getting put off."

Fang Zhenghua understood — they couldn't control him. Then he knew exactly what to do.

If they couldn't control him, that wouldn't do. On the territory of the Great Ming, there could not exist anything the Great Ming could not control. Whether you were a good person or a bad person, if you couldn't be controlled, that wouldn't do. Besides, what good people and bad people were there anyway?

And with Japanese among them — what did that indicate?

You were the embryo of wokou pirates. What if one day you got upset and came to attack us?

It would harm the people of the Great Ming.

Anything that could become wokou like this — just eliminate it outright.

Fang Zhenghua looked at Shi Laifu and said: "Does the Imperial Household Department have the capability? Besides the fleet before us, aren't there other ships? Reportedly they're on some island?"

"Yes, yes." Shi Laifu quickly nodded and said with a smile: "They're all on the island. But that's no problem — now that we have Zheng Zhilong in hand, we can have him go and persuade them to surrender."

"Isn't Xu Xinsu also here? Have the two of them go together. As for what official position to give this Zheng Zhilong or how to handle it, the Imperial Household Department will memorialize Your Majesty."

Hearing this, Yu Zigao felt a great weight lift from his heart.

The Imperial Household Department agreed, and Fang Zhenghua didn't object — then this matter would be easy to handle. Sooner or later, heading south, they would have to clash with Zheng Zhilong anyway; this time they might as well sweep him up.

Moreover, being able to obtain this much materiel this time would certainly allow him to claim a share of the spoils. This was a crucial matter.

In this regard, the Imperial Household Department knew how to handle people. And once Zheng Zhilong was defined as wokou, then this was seized war booty, and he could get another cut.

Yu Zigao's heart finally settled.

Fang Zhenghua said: "This is for the best. Then let it be done this way."

Shi Laifu nodded and said: "Since we've seized so much, let's do an inventory later and see what good things there are. Send some to the palace."

This was giving Fang Zhenghua his share of the benefits.

Fang Zhenghua said nothing, only nodded.

The few of them settled the matter in a very short span of time. Before they had even met Zheng Zhilong, his fate had already been decided.

Outside, Zheng Zhilong knew nothing of this, his mind occupied with how to curry favor with these officials and transform his identity from a bandit into an official.

Zheng Zhilong believed he was absolutely no match for the Imperial Navy, and surrender was the better choice.

Once he surrendered, his future would lie on the side of the officials.

Even a waste like Xu Xinsu could achieve such great development, so surely he could too. Thus, when someone came to lead him inside, Zheng Zhilong wore a very solemn expression.

Upon entering, Zheng Zhilong saw the several people present.

After a single glance, Zheng Zhilong hastily said, "Zheng Zhilong pays his respects to all the gentlemen."

Yu Zigao looked at Zheng Zhilong and said, "I am Yu Zigao, commander of the Great Ming's Imperial Navy. Surely you understand why you are here. Speak."

"Actually, we just wanted to see where you were going." Zheng Zhilong said with some helplessness: "This time we were headed to Joseon and Japan to do business, and you were going in the same direction. If we could know where you were going and what you were doing, it would benefit our trading as well. This is all a misunderstanding—we never intended any of this."

"A misunderstanding?" Yu Zigao gave a cold snort and said, "Spying on the movements of a great army, and you call that a misunderstanding? We suspect you of colluding with Japan and plotting against the Imperial Navy."

"No, no, absolutely not." Zheng Zhilong hastily shook his head and said, "How could I collude with Japan and plot against the Imperial Navy? Unless... are you saying this time you're going to Japan, and you intend to attack Japan?"

"That's right." Yu Zigao nodded and said, "We are indeed going to attack Japan."

"I can help with that!" Zheng Zhilong grew excited at once and hastily said, "I have people over there, and I know the territory well—I can definitely be of use."