Chapter 292: Testing the Waters

Chicken soup with sea clams, taro paste in the tai chi pattern, river eel in fragrant sauce, golden-thread bamboo shoots with chicken velvet, thumb-ring scallops, stone perch braised in oil, satay lion's head meatballs, a jar of just-opened daughter's wine, a pair of exquisite Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain wine cups, two pairs of ivory-carved chopsticks — a table of exquisite delicacies and fine wine was laid out on a square table made of huanghuali wood.

"Come! Worthy brother, let me toast you! I have been in the capital for several years now, and in that time I have met all sorts of people — but not to sing your praises unduly, when it comes to composure and steadiness, talent and cunning, loyalty and sense of duty, you alone stand out above the rest; all others are not worth mentioning! That Huan Ge'er was fortunate enough to become your adopted son — who knows how many lifetimes of merit it took for him to earn such a blessing! I too share in the pride! This cup I drink first to show my respect!"

Zheng Zhifeng raised his cup with both hands, saluted Wang Shiqin who sat across from him, then drained the wine in one go.

"Brother Zheng, could it be that you have some matter to entrust to me? Why else such formality? I was originally but a son of farming folk; it was only through His Majesty's appreciation that I was suddenly elevated to such a high position. In terms of ability I have not a shred — my only asset is my utter loyalty to His Majesty! Today let us just chat casually between ourselves; do not let this table of fine food go to waste!"

Wang Shiqin raised his wine cup and took a shallow sip before setting it down, then picked up his chopsticks and helped himself to a scallop.

Though his capacity for wine was considerable, his special position and status required him to keep a clear head at all times.

"Good, good, good — my words were from the heart, but perhaps somewhat ill-timed, hahaha! Come, come, worthy brother, try this river eel. It was purchased by a servant of my household from the Eastern Market the day before yesterday, then kept in clean water for a full two days to let it purge all the mud and fishy smell, after which it was sent to the kitchen for preparation. Its flavor is truly fresh and delicious!"

After three rounds of wine, Wang Shiqin set down his chopsticks, wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth with a snow-white silk handkerchief, and praised: "The skill of the head chef in Brother Zheng's household is superb indeed — every meal makes one unable to bear setting down one's chopsticks. It seems I shall have to come and impose upon you often in the future, haha!"

Having drunk nearly half a jar of daughter's wine, Zheng Zhifeng was now slightly tipsy. He replied with a smile: "I would welcome a distinguished guest like you at my door as often as possible, brother — it's only a pity that your official duties keep you far too busy, unlike me, who is at leisure all day long!"

Wang Shiqin set down his handkerchief and said casually: "I too would like to be a wealthy idler like you, brother, but with responsibilities upon my shoulders, I am pulled in all directions against my will! Brother Zheng, since you transferred to a civil post because you did not care for military affairs, are you content at the Court of State Ceremonial? That office is indeed a position of pure prestige, but you are only thirty years of age, in the very prime of your vigor — surely you are not willing to while away your years there in retirement? Brother Zheng, you are fond of socializing and travel — I suspect the Court of State Ceremonial does not truly suit your tastes, does it?"

Zheng Zhifeng glanced at Wang Shiqin, then set down his wine cup and said: "To be frank with you, worthy brother, it is true that the Court of State Ceremonial is a post of pure prestige, but because of my background, certain people look down on me. Thus, though I bear the title of Vice Director, I lack the substance of the office, and so under ordinary circumstances I have no choice but to remain at leisure. In truth, this post suits my disposition quite well — the elaborate ceremonies of suburban sacrifices, ancestral rites, court audiences, and banquets are of no concern to me; what truly interests me is the reception of foreign officials at court and the tribute missions of the various barbarian states. Unfortunately, with the roving bandits wreaking havoc upon our Great Ming, the tributary states and foreign nations rarely come to present themselves anymore. As for what comes after — we shall see!"

"Could Brother Zheng be greatly interested in the barbarian lands beyond civilization? There are often red-haired, green-eyed foreigners within the capital, looking like ghosts — I find them quite displeasing to behold. Why is it that you take such a special interest in them?"

"Hahahaha! Worthy brother, that is simply a case of 'rare things seem strange'! When I was in Fujian, I frequently had dealings with the Folangji of all sizes and the red-skinned barbarians from abroad. I greatly admire how they travel ten thousand li to come to the Great Ming to conduct trade, and I have long yearned to see those foreign nations for myself. Do not look down on these barbarians, brother — their cannon and ships are far more formidable than ours. When we clashed with the Folangji back then, our warships could not face them head-on; we had no choice but to release countless small boats to close in on them and use fire attacks before we could force them to surrender. From that time on, I have wondered: what manner of land is their country? How do their people manage to build such powerful cannon and ships? If we could capture the artisans of their nation, then we would never again have cause to fear them!"

Zheng Zhifeng was deeply impressed by the sturdy ships and powerful cannons of the Folangji and the Dutch — especially those sailing warships capable of crossing the vast ocean, which were superior to the Great Ming's fuchuan warships by an immeasurable margin. Then there were the Folangji cannons and the red barbarian cannons — though the Great Ming could now fully replicate and mass-produce them, those were already designs from many years ago. According to what he had recently learned, the new Folangji cannons and red barbarian cannons now in use by the Folangji had seen considerable improvements in both weight and range, with greatly increased lethality as well. By contrast, the Great Ming — whether the imperial troops or their own Zheng family — still used the original cannons in battle. This made him all the more curious about those nations ten thousand li away.

"If only I could lead a fleet to the ends of the earth like the Folangji, and witness with my own eyes whether the daily lives of their people and rulers differ from those of our Great Ming — that would be another vista in one's life. Unfortunately, since the time of the Three Treasure Eunuch, our dynasty has never again sent expeditions to the Western Seas. When I recall how the Three Treasure Eunuch led a thousand sails on seven voyages to the Western Seas, his heroic bearing is truly something to yearn for!"

Wang Shiqin sighed with deep emotion, and Zheng Zhifeng nodded in agreement before raising his cup and drinking it down in one gulp.

"Brother Zheng, if an imperial order were to command you to lead a fleet in person to tour the lands of the Folangji and other such nations, what would you think of it? Would you go? Or would you refuse?"

Hearing the question Wang Shiqin had suddenly thrown out, Zheng Zhifeng was startled for a moment, then, while pondering, he picked up the wine jar and poured into his cup. The cup was already full, and the amber-colored wine spilled onto the table without his even noticing.

A light cough from Wang Shiqin brought Zheng Zhifeng back to his senses. He set down the wine jar, looked directly into Wang Shiqin's eyes, and spoke slowly: "What does my worthy brother mean by this? Could it be...?"

With that, he extended one index finger and pointed toward the heavens.

Wang Shiqin smiled and nodded: "Brother Zheng is indeed exceptionally perceptive. What I said just now was in fact an inquiry made on His Majesty's behalf — I beg you not to take offense. It is not that I sought to deceive you with words, but rather that this matter is of grave importance indeed: not only would it require a long separation from wife and children, but there is also the danger of losing one's life. His Majesty, in his consideration for his ministers, did not wish to force this upon anyone, and so I resorted to indirect speech. If you have no such inclination, brother, then I shall not revisit my final question. But from what I observed just now — when the Three Treasure Eunuch was mentioned, you seemed stirred with longing — and so I took the opportunity to ask!"

Zheng Zhifeng waved his hands repeatedly: "How could I possibly blame you, worthy brother? That my humble name could reach the ears of His Majesty already fills me with both trepidation and secret joy. And since you came this time bearing His Majesty's will to inquire, it must be that His Majesty values my strengths, hence the question. As for what you said about the gravity of this matter — I have already turned it over in my mind in this brief moment, but I have not yet reached a decision on whether to accept or decline. I ask for your generous understanding, worthy brother!"

Wang Shiqin nodded and replied: "Brother Zheng, whether in background or in office, the two of us could hardly be more different. I too have considered that if you were to accept this matter, the dangers along the way would be truly unforeseeable. Given your current circumstances, barring any major misstep, you could say that your descendants would enjoy inexhaustible wealth and honor — a mediocre man would surely choose the path of safety and stability. But a true man born into this world, if he leaves no name in the annals of history, has truly lived his life in vain! Brother Zheng, with your great talents, would you really be willing to drift through life in a daze, only to die of old age in your bed? Since the ennoblement of the Earl Who Pacifies the Seas, His Majesty has showered favor upon the Zheng clan without measure, and you yourself hold the honored rank of a fourth-rank official — do you not wish to advance further and extend your blessings to your descendants? As I see it, this is an opportunity not seen in a hundred years — whether to take it or leave it rests on a single thought of yours, brother!"

Zheng Zhifeng fell into pensive silence, and Wang Shiqin did not press him further, merely pondering his own thoughts in silence.

After a long while, Zheng Zhifeng raised his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and spoke: "This matter requires a few days of deliberation on my part. Please do not report back yet, worthy brother — within three days, I will surely have my decision!"