Chapter 144: Wangkan and the Madou Tribe

Working under the helmsman was, for everyone, the happiest and most lucrative time of their lives.

Suddenly leaving the island, no one felt willing in their hearts.

But unlike the Tanka boat people and the Liaodong refugees, most of these sixty-odd men had families, and their dependents were all on the shore—they couldn't stay away from home forever.

Now it was fine—since they could bring their families to the island and reunite there, wasn't that the best of both worlds?

Someone said, "Then I'm not leaving either. I'll go write to my family right now and have them come to the island."

Another said, "Old Zhang is following the helmsman for life. Even if someone held a knife to my throat, I wouldn't leave this island."

Chen Bo, the ship's cook, said, "My family died out long ago. Being alone on the island suits me fine. As long as the helmsman doesn't mind my cooking being bad, I'll cook for him forever!"

Lin Qian laughed: "Then I'll have good eating ahead of me. But it won't do for you to stay single—if you ever take a fancy to some girl, Chen Bo, just come and say so, and I'll play matchmaker myself!"

Lü Zhou stirred things up: "The helmsman has no one settled either—better worry about yourself first!"

At these words, all the crew burst into laughter, and the gloom of parting from before was swept clean away.

Qi San held two bags of gold, looking at Scholar Zhou with difficulty.

Seeing this, Scholar Zhou said, "If you don't plan to leave the island, the helmsman will send someone else to deliver the compensation."

Qi San was overjoyed and hastily returned the two bags of gold: "Then that's wonderful—I'm not leaving either. My family is small and lives by the sea, so it's best to bring them here to the island!"

Mute Huang's apprentice made a few gestures, and Xiao Jiu said, "Helmsman, Master says if there's nothing else, he'll go back to work—there are still over fifty camphor logs smoking in the fire-roasting shed."

Lin Qian said, "It's New Year's—take a rest."

Xiao Jiu waved his hand: "Can't do that—the roasting shed can't be left unattended. The density of the smoke, the size of the fire, the ventilation of the room—all need someone watching. Hey, Master, wait for me——"

Xiao Jiu hurried out of the courtyard gate, but within moments turned back, standing and cupping his hands: "Master told me to pay New Year's respects on his behalf. Helmsman, blessings for the new year!"

Lin Qian returned the greeting with a smile and had Bailangzai fetch five taels of silver to give Xiao Jiu as spending money.

On the shore, spending money was usually what masters gave to servants and maids.

But getting silver was always a good thing—no one would quibble over status.

And five taels of silver was by no means a small sum—roughly ten times the usual shore-side spending money.

Xiao Jiu took the silver and went off happily with his master.

The remaining crew members took turns offering New Year's greetings to Lin Qian, and each also received five taels of silver as spending money.

From the large amount of loose silver Lin Qian had prepared in advance, one could see that today's events were entirely within his expectations.

From the very start, Lin Qian had never intended to let everyone return to the shore—or rather, he had long guessed that they would choose to stay.

In truth, with how Nan'ao Island had developed by now, it really didn't lack sixty men of labor.

Lin Qian had staged this whole affair today for three reasons: first, to fulfill his original promise; second, to test everyone's loyalty; and third, to win them over.

Apart from Nan'ao's high-ranking officials, the sixty men present could be said to be the wealthiest on the island—ever since the raid on the Lin estate, they no longer participated in military operations.

After the New Year passed, aside from technical personnel like Chen Bo and Mute Huang, as well as mid-level officers like Lü Zhou, Lin Qian planned to strike the rest from the military guard rolls and let them engage in commerce among the people or contract land for cultivation.

Doing this had threefold benefits.

First, it would keep capital flowing, continuing to circulate into the market and create wealth.

Second, developing the private economy would stimulate the vitality of industry on Nan'ao Island and even Dongfan Island.

Third, it would give the remaining soldiers something to strive for, completing the closed loop of the life trajectory: enlist, get rich, retire, and enter industry.

Lin Qian didn't spell out these thoughts, but his sworn brothers had held high positions for a long time and were no longer as simple as before—more or less, they could all see through it.

Chen Jiao showed an expression of admiration, thinking to himself that it could be done this way—if a similar situation arose on Dongfan Island in the future, they could follow the same pattern.

After the sixty-odd men of the Qingping left, the government affairs hall fell quiet.

Lin Qian invited his brothers to take seats in the main hall and had someone bring out breakfast.

For New Year's Day breakfast, there were more Fujian and Guangdong specialties—what was served was basin feast and sweet rice cakes.

During the meal, Lin Qian asked, "Big Brother, how has the situation on Dongfan been these past six months or so?"

Chen Jiao wiped his mouth: "Before I left the island, Dongfan Island had a total of over 1,700 commoners, with two stockaded camps built at Tayouan Islet and

Chikan, and over 2,300 mu of land reclaimed, half planted in sugarcane and half in grain. We're still working on farmland irrigation."

Lin Qian praised, "Big Brother remembers clearly."

Chen Jiao smiled: "Of course—I've been keeping track ever since I came back from Dongfan Island, just waiting for the helmsman to ask."

Suddenly, a loud call came from outside the courtyard: "Your subordinate Ma Chenglie, along with his sons, has come to pay New Year's respects to the helmsman."

Lin Qian had someone open the gate. Ma Chenglie entered with five children, cupping his hands: "Helmsman, blessings for the new year—may you gather wealth and fortune widely!"

Then he applied force with his hands, gently pushing his children forward, and said in a low voice, "Kowtow to the helmsman!"

The oldest of these five children was already fifteen, and the youngest only four—all boys, all fair-skinned, tall, and sturdy.

In the Great Ming, the children of the rich and the children of the poor could be told apart at a glance by complexion and build alone.

Only after the five children had respectfully kowtowed and paid their respects did Lin Qian set down his chopsticks and complain, "Regional Commander Ma, what are you doing? Having the children cup their hands in greeting would have been enough—no need for kowtowing. You're being too formal."

Ma Chenglie said with a grave face, "Juniors kowtowing to elders at New Year is proper etiquette—it's both the children's sincerity and a way to keep them mindful of their place."

Between the lines, he was still pledging his loyalty to Lin Qian.

Having said this, Ma Chenglie then presented the gift list for New Year's greetings.

Lin Qian took it and exchanged a few pleasantries with him, after which Ma Chenglie withdrew.

After leaving the courtyard gate, Ma Chenglie's third son asked, "Father, you are a Vice Regional Commander of the Great Ming, rank 2b—why must you come to pay New Year's respects to a Battalion Commander?"

Hearing this, Ma Chenglie slapped his third son right on the backside, immediately making the boy cry bitterly: "You little brat, listen well—outside the island you may call him Battalion Commander He, but on the island you must call him Helmsman! Now, no crying—hold back those tears!"

After scolding his son, Ma Chenglie said to the accompanying servants, "Send the gifts to the back courtyard."

Back in the courtyard, Lin Qian sat down at the dining table and casually opened the gift list to browse. To his surprise, the list was truly long—he flipped through it for a good while without reaching the end.

Losing interest, Lin Qian handed the list to Scholar Zhou: "Calculate its value, and one of these days find an excuse to return a gift of similar worth."

Lin Qian turned his head: "Big Brother, continue telling me about Dongfan Island—are there any difficulties in developing Dongfan at present?"

"Plenty of difficulties—for instance, too many forests and vines, marshes everywhere, making land reclamation and drainage very troublesome. There are also poisonous insects and fierce beasts threatening us, on top of frequent typhoons and floods."

All of these questions were raised on the premise that the malaria problem had been solved — to sum it up in one sentence: they needed even more silver.

Whoever ties the bell must untie it — when talking silver, one must talk maritime trade, and when talking maritime trade, the most important thing was the output of the Eastern Barbarian Isle.

Lin Qian asked: "How goes the deer hide business on the Eastern Barbarian Isle?"

At present, the Eastern Barbarian Isle's sugarcane yield was insufficient, so the sugar-making industry could not yet be developed — the focus of trade goods naturally fell on the deer hide business.

"As of before the new year, Tayouan has collected over thirty thousand deer."

At these words, all the sworn brothers set down their chopsticks and bowls, looks of astonishment on their faces.

Chen Jiao had only been on the island for a little over half a year, yet over thirty thousand deer had met their end — averaging over a hundred slaughtered per day, an efficiency that could only be called astonishing.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Chen Jiao hastily said: "Most of them were hunted by the Eastern Barbarian natives; we bought them. The Eastern Barbarian Isle has plenty of deer — one axe is worth three deer."

"Good heavens," Scholar Zhou remarked. "No wonder you said you'd grown tired of eating venison."

"Once, when the weather was hot, the Mattau settlement sent over three hundred deer, and the tanners worked the whole day without closing their eyes, while everyone up and down Sakam was busy drying meat."

Chen Jiao gave a wry smile.

"Funny to say, the Eastern Barbarian Isle's weather is hot and humid, and that batch of venison jerky we desperately dried in the end still went bad."

While Chen Jiao regaled them with tales of the Eastern Barbarian Isle, Lin Qian was running a financial budget in his head.

Estimating from the current nine months and thirty thousand deer, by April of this year, the Eastern Barbarian Isle's total deer hide output should be around forty thousand skins.

According to the trade information the Portuguese had given earlier, Japanese merchants in Hirado purchased deer hides at roughly one tael per hide — of course, hides of different quality fetched different prices, and top-grade hides could sell for twenty taels apiece.

And Eastern Barbarian Isle deer hides had historically been renowned for their quality, deeply favored by the Japanese market.

Based on this estimate, selling deer hides alone would bring in fifty to seventy thousand taels.

Beyond that, the deer's other body parts were quite well received by the Great Ming market — for instance, deer antler velvet and deer penis, both of which were sacred tonics for replenishing yang in Chinese medicine; these, together with deer antlers and deer sinew, were collectively called deer products, all precious medicines.

In the Great Ming, anything that could be linked to replenishing yang never lacked buyers.

A rough estimate put the current stock of deer penis at around ten thousand pieces; deer antler velvet was harder to come by, and the exact amount was unknown, but it should not be insubstantial.

Selling these as raw materials would earn another tens of thousands of taels.

If deeply processed, the income would be even higher.

"But——" Chen Jiao suddenly shifted the topic, a troubled look on his face.

"What is it?" Lin Qian asked.

Just then, thunderous firecracker sounds suddenly rang out in the city.

One string of "full-ground-red" firecrackers ignited, prompting firecrackers elsewhere to sound as well.

The crackling sounds piled together, drowning out the voices of those speaking in the great hall.

After waiting a long while, the firecracker sounds weakened somewhat, and a voice came from outside the courtyard: "Hu Zhaoyuan of Chaozhou Prefecture has sent this servant to pay New Year's respects to the Helmsman."

Lin Qian had the man brought in.

The visitor was the steward of the Hu household — the same New Year's greeting procedure as before, and after it was done, he presented the gift list.

Lin Qian accepted it and ordered someone to take him to be entertained. As he was about to leave through the door, Lin Qian said: "Hold on."

The steward turned back: "Does the Helmsman have further instructions?"

"I've recently acquired a batch of deer antler velvet and deer penis — take some back for your master. If he likes them, I have plenty more here, enough to stock a whole medicine shop for him."

"Yes, thank you, Helmsman." The steward found it rather strange but did not dare ask on the spot, so he cupped his hands and acknowledged.

Lin Qian had not deliberately kept his development of the Eastern Barbarian Isle a secret.

But in this era, the flow of information was naturally poor, so it was hardly strange that the Hu household steward did not know.

After the Hu household steward left, Lin Qian said: "Elder Brother, what was it you were just about to say?"

"It's just that on the Eastern Barbarian Isle——"

"Your subordinate Huang Hetai has come to pay New Year's respects to the Helmsman." Chen Jiao had barely begun when he was interrupted by another New Year's caller.

In the Fujian and Guangdong regions, especially around Chaozhou Prefecture, people generally did not leave their homes on the first day of the new year, returned to their wives' families on the second, and only began visiting each other to pay New Year's calls on the third.

This folk custom was rather different from elsewhere.

Last year, Lin Qian had not known about this — on the third day of the new year he had stayed in the captain's cabin of the Tianyuan, and the New Year's callers had nearly trampled the pier to collapse.

So this year, Lin Qian had learned his lesson and stayed in the Government Affairs Hall compound on the third day.

By now the sun was high in the sky, and the New Year's callers were growing ever more numerous.

They even formed a long queue outside the Government Affairs Hall compound.

Lin Qian received them one by one and exchanged pleasantries until noon, and only then returned to the table, picked up his teacup, and said: "Elder Brother, please continue."

Scholar Zhou exclaimed in surprise: "Helmsman, after being busy all morning, you can still remember that?"

Even Chen Jiao had forgotten what he had originally meant to say, and only after thinking for a moment did he speak: "Right, I was just saying that the Eastern Barbarian Isle is fine in every way — it's just that we are not the only ones there."

"What do you mean by that?" Lei Sanxiang casually followed up.

He didn't need the prompt — Chen Jiao had meant to continue anyway. At the words, he glanced at him and went on: "Over a hundred and forty li north of Sakam, there is a large camp settlement, located on the lower reaches of the Beigang River, quite sizable in scale — the locals call it Wankang."

Scholar Zhou asked: "Elder Brother, what relation does that Mattau settlement you mentioned earlier have to this Wankang?"

Chen Jiao explained: "Mattau is a native village settlement with over three thousand warriors. Wankang is further north of Mattau — a motley mix of people there: southeastern sea merchants, pirates, and quite a few wokou as well."

"Wokou?" At the very sound of the name, everyone's expressions turned serious.

"Mm, there are quite a number of wokou," Chen Jiao said with a grave face. "Mostly from Hirado — they've behaved themselves so far, haven't done anything bad."

Bailangzai stroked his large miao saber and said coldly: "I'm afraid they're only reining in their savagery for the time being — given the chance, they're sure to do evil."

Shandong had never suffered wokou raids, and Lei Sanxiang had originally had no particular feelings about them — but after the battle at Macao, he too had come to dislike them. He said: "These wokou bastards are cruel by nature — keeping them around is asking for trouble. Helmsman, let's go wipe out Wankang!"

Chen Jiao hastily stopped him: "No, don't act rashly. Wankang has no shortage of fighting men, and the wokou's blades are sharp and they fight fiercely — if a conflict breaks out on shore, our people would not be their match.

Moreover, the major powers on the Eastern Barbarian Isle are the native village settlements. Our relations with Mattau are good right now — if we start wielding force wantonly and put the native settlements on their guard, developing the Eastern Barbarian Isle in the future will become troublesome."

None of the sworn brothers had personally been to the Eastern Barbarian Isle, and they were not as clear on the situation as Chen Jiao — at these words, they all fell silent.

Lin Qian toyed with the teacup lid in his right hand, pondering for a moment, then said: "Elder Brother's considerations are thorough."

Lin Qian had heard of Wanggang's reputation. Historically, this place was Zheng Zhilong's territory, and before Zheng Zhilong, it was Yan Siqi who sent people to develop it.

And Yan Siqi was under Li Dan, who was entrenched in Hirado, claiming to have nearly a thousand warships and tens of thousands of sailors. Before making full preparations, it was best not to lightly provoke a conflict.

Receiving the helmsman's affirmation, Chen Hong's expression relaxed.

Lin Qian continued: "That Madou settlement — tell me more about it. What does 'Madou' mean? Is that really its name?"

No matter how he heard it, the name carried a distinctly modern feel.

Chen Hong: "'She' means a village settlement. To the west of Dongfan Island there are four major settlements, called the Madou settlement,

the Xingang settlement, the Xiaolong settlement, and the Zijialiuwan settlement — all are native names. As for what Madou means, I wouldn't know."

"You've been clearing land and farming in Chiqian — haven't the native villages obstructed you?"

Chen Hong seemed about to speak, then held back. After pondering for a long while, he said: "Dongfan Island is vast in territory. The current one thousand-plus mu of farmland — the natives don't care about it. But — if we push deeper inland, conflict with the natives is inevitable. If Chiqian keeps expanding at its current pace, Wanggang needn't worry, but the Madou settlement will be the first to lose its composure."

On Dongfan Island, Chen Hong had always followed Lin Qian's instructions — maintaining friendly relations with the natives, trading fairly, and striving to avoid conflict.

That was how, in nine months, they had harvested thirty thousand deer, most of which the natives had hunted and sold to Chen Hong.

But trading in deer hunting was one thing; clearing land and farming was another.

Lin Qian pondered for a long while, then made up his mind and said slowly: "Since we are expanding, we need some methods. Direct military force is the lowest strategy; dividing and ruling is the middle strategy; the highest strategy is to assimilate them through the civilizing influence of the sage's teachings."

Chen Hong listened, lost in thought.

Scholar Zhou's eyes brightened. To civilize all directions, to have the four barbarian peoples bathe in virtue, to win the hearts of all under heaven — that was every scholar's dream.

"Second Brother, please trouble yourself to find some literate teachers on the island. After the New Year passes, send them to Dongfan as well, to establish a 'Teachers' Academy.'"

Confucian culture shackles people's thoughts and is full of feudal dregs — that was true. But it also inherently possessed extremely strong powers of dissemination and appeal.

Lin Qian's education on Nan'ao Island focused on practical statecraft and spreading scientific thought.

On Dongfan Island, however, education focused on Confucian culture and ethical principles, with the goal of letting the natives integrate into the Han cultural sphere.

Lin Qian thought carefully about the methods of cultural invasion used in later ages, then added: "Spring Festival is too late, but the Lantern Festival can still be celebrated on a grand scale.

Eldest Brother, return to Dongfan before the Lantern Festival and make it a lively affair.

Prepare dragon dances, lion dances, lantern displays, and deity processions — the spectacle must be grand. Foods like tangyuan and sweet cakes must be exquisite. Invite the chieftains and elders of the Madou and other settlements to observe the ceremonies.

Before they leave, give each guest Han clothing, cloth, and other items as gifts.

Oh, right — in the Madou settlement, what is the status of women?"

All the sworn brothers were dizzy from Lin Qian's lengthy discourse. Chen Hong recovered and answered: "Strangely enough, in the native villages, women hold very high status. Even in marriage, it's the man who marries into the woman's home."

Lin Qian thought to himself: just as I suspected — a matrilineal clan structure!

"In that case, bring plenty of rouge and powder, pearl hair ornaments, and fine silk dresses back with you. Second Brother, of the pearls seized from the pearl grounds on Naozhou Island earlier, how many remain?"

Scholar Zhou pulled out the account book: "The top-grade pearls have all been distributed. Five or six chests of mid- and low-grade pearls remain."

Top-grade pearls could serve as bribes in the Great Ming, comparable to gold and other hard currency. Mid- and low-grade pearls, however, occupied an awkward position — the powerful disdained them, and commoners couldn't afford them. That was why they remained in the warehouse.

Now they had finally found a good use for them. Lin Qian said: "Give all the remaining pearls to Eldest Brother to take on his return trip. They'll be excellent for trade or as gifts."

Chen Hong smiled wryly: "The helmsman doesn't know — the native women are crude and uncouth. They don't care at all about dress and adornment. On ordinary days they go bare-faced, with only their chests and crotches wrapped in coarse cloth; everywhere else is left exposed."

Lei Sanxiang perked up with interest: "Their thighs are bare too?"

Chen Hong was speechless. He glared at him and said: "I guarantee that one look and you won't want a second."

Lin Qian, however, was full of confidence: "Don't worry. If there's no demand, we create demand. This time when we go to Dongfan Island, bring some women along — bring beautiful women."

Chen Hong laughed: "On that matter, the helmsman need not worry at all."

The serious discussion concluded, and it was lunchtime. As it happened, the conversation turned back to women.

Lei Sanxiang asked curiously: "Eldest Brother, what are the native women like?"

Chen Hong said irritably: "Most are wind-beaten and sun-scorched, their bodies brownish-black; they're always running through the forests, so their skin is rough and covered in scars; they gnaw on bones and gristle, so their teeth are in poor shape —"

Lei Sanxiang waved his hand: "Stop, stop — the way you describe it kills my appetite. I don't believe that in a tribe of over ten thousand people, you can't find a single good-looking one."

"Well, I've never seen one." Chen Hong shrugged.

Lin Qian said: "I actually think the native women get plenty of exercise and have a kind of healthy beauty."

He wasn't simply discussing beauty and ugliness — he had another purpose in mind.

When it came to allying with the natives, the best method was marriage alliances, and the best candidate for such a marriage was none other than Eldest Brother.

Thus, Lin Qian was first laying the groundwork with Chen Hong on the subject of native women's beauty.

Sure enough, Chen Hong's tune shifted: "That's true. Though the native women's faces are lacking, their figures are uniformly excellent — they have a quality different from Great Ming women."

Bailangzai suddenly blurted out: "Are the deer penises from Dongfan Island really effective?"

The brothers all set down their chopsticks and looked at him.

Lei Sanxiang said in surprise: "Seventh Brother, you're still young — you have no use for such things."

Bailangzai shook his head: "I'm worried that the potent medicine is too strong and will end up killing Old Master Hu."

The brothers exchanged glances and burst into laughter together.

Chen Hong laughed so hard he rocked back and forth, tears nearly coming out. Finally he said: "Don't worry, don't worry. Deer penis is a proper warming tonic. At Old Master Hu's age, he knows well enough how to use it."

On the morning of the fourth day, Steward Hu's household manager sailed back to Chenghai County. As soon as he came ashore, he carried Lin Qian's "return gifts" and hurried back to the estate without pause.

Hu Zhaoyuan had woken in his room and was waiting in the main hall since early morning. Seeing the manager return, he hurriedly asked: "Well? Did the helmsman have any instructions?"

The manager said: "The helmsman only exchanged pleasantries with this servant — no additional instructions. It seems that with your gift, the helmsman —

was satisfied."

Hu Zhaoyuan relaxed. His vast fortune now depended entirely on the helmsman's protection, so he naturally paid the utmost attention.

"The helmsman also gave return gifts on the spot — though these return gifts are a bit strange." The manager's expression was odd.

Hu Zhaoyuan's heart tightened again: "The gift list? Let me see it."

"There's no gift list. The helmsman bestowed thirty sets of deer penis and thirty sets of deer antler. He also said that if you liked them, he still had plenty more — enough for you to open a medicine shop."

"Huh?" Hu Zhaoyuan found it extremely strange. Who gives such things as gifts — and thirty sets at once?

Was he mocking him for being an old ox chewing tender grass?

Hu Zhaoyuan was old in years but not in heart—just last year he'd taken an eighth concubine. Such things were common enough in Min and Yue, and lately he'd been reducing loans for the weaver households and opening charity granaries, earning himself a fine reputation. In the county seat he already bore the title "Hu the Good Samaritan."

From Hu Zhaoyuan's understanding of the helmsman, even if the helmsman were displeased with him, he would send someone to say so directly—he wouldn't beat around the bush like this.

Could it be a veiled jab at the goods he kept under his bed?

Hu Zhaoyuan's heart skipped a beat! How did the helmsman know?

After all, Hu Zhaoyuan was past fifty, and many things were beyond his strength. And that eighth concubine—she had once been a martial dan in a traveling opera troupe, skilled in every sort of acrobatics, with especially powerful waist work.

A few twists and turns from her and Hu Zhaoyuan would be defeated, leaving him feeling utterly shamed—he could only resort to other means of attack.

This was a secret of the household that even the first madam didn't know—how could the helmsman have learned of it?

At that thought, Hu Zhaoyuan felt as if he'd fallen into an ice pit, thinking to himself that the helmsman was indeed unfathomable.

Yahei

Fenyuan

Pen