Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 204 - 41 Cai Qian

Chapter 204 -41 Cai Qian

“Tianbao, someone is here to pay their respects. They say they want to meet the Leader of the Five Flags,”

one of the Red Flag subordinates came to report.

Li Yan sheathed the Ring Dragon Sword, stepping past Xue Ba who was holding his head, tearfully rubbing the spot where the flat of the Ring Dragon Sword had struck him, and asked, “Who is it?”

The messenger spoke with a face full of solemnity, “Boss, it’s Cai Qian.”

Following the death of Madam Shi and the infighting among the Three Flags, though it was unspoken, the Five Flags Alliance could no longer claim to be the greatest power in the South Seas.

In its place was Cai Qian, who quietly controlled the Thirteen Brokerages of Guangdong, rich enough to rival nations, and was respectfully nicknamed “Boss” by others.

...

His arrival was clearly a major event that required serious attention for Lantau Island.

“Meeting with the Leader of the Five Flags? Businesspeople sure get straight to the point.”

Li Yan stretched lazily, it took him a while before he finally said, “Where’s Xiu’er?”

“She’s in the loft where Madam Shi used to live.”

“Got it. Tell Mr. Cai to wait a moment, Xiu’er and I will be there shortly.”

In truth, everyone knew that the Red Flag Gang was now dictated by Tianbao, but the traditional head of the Red Flag Gang also held the title of the Alliance Hierarch of the Five Flags. This was a title that could not fall upon Li Yan.

The reason why the gangs of the Five Flags could form an alliance was that their ancestors were all descendants of the military leaders of the Zheng Family on Treasure Island. The leader of the Red Flag Gang, Zheng Yiguai, was an offshoot descendant of the Treasure Island’s Lord of the State. It was because of this that he had the ability and the right to form the Five Flags Alliance.

But Tianbao was an outsider. If he were to become the Alliance Hierarch, the others from the Five Flags would never accept him, and nor would the coastal populace and peripheral members of the Five Flags Alliance who revered the Zheng Family of Treasure Island recognize Tianbao as one of their own.

Therefore, the role of the Leader of the Five Flags should, and must, be assumed by Zheng Xiu’er. By presenting the Tiger Banner, Li Yan could leverage the deep-rooted influence of the Five Flags Alliance along the coast. Otherwise, the Red Flag Gang would not possess the potential to grow.

Of course, having Five Flags was a bit too many; fewer would make things easier to handle…

The mention of a meeting with the Leader of the Five Flags by Cai Qian was both a test and a reminder. The depth of his craftiness was revealed in just a single sentence.

“Squeak~”

Xiu’er buried her head in the quilt that once belonged to Madam Shi, as the door opened and sunlight fell upon her neck.

“Xiu’er~”

Li Yan walked in.

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Xiu’er’s eyes were red-rimmed; it seemed she had not been resting well these past few days. Her hair was disheveled, and with a raspy voice, she called out, “Tianbao.”

Li Yan noticed a corner of what appeared to be a piece of parchment under her arm. Seeing that Xiu’er seemed anxious, he pretended not to notice.

“At this hour, and you still haven’t washed or combed your hair?”

The girl lowered her head and didn’t speak.

Li Yan touched her head, “I’ll call the maid to help you with your hair.”

Xiu’er lifted her face under Li Yan’s hand, “Tianbao, I want you to help me comb it.”

Li Yan paused for a moment before answering, “Well, don’t blame me if it doesn’t look good.”

“Mhm~”

…

“Is this okay?”

“It looks ugly.”

…

“How about now?”

“Ouch~”

…

“Hey, this has to be right.”

Li Yan looked at Xiu’er in the copper mirror and felt quite satisfied with himself.

“Tianbao,”

Xiu’er looked up, her breath tingling on Li Yan’s chin.

“I don’t like that woman.”

“Who is it? Ah.”

Li Yan caught on.

“Then, I won’t play with her, is that okay?”

“Okay, Tianbao, pinky promise.”

…

“Achoo~”

Amidst the wilderness, birds and beasts called, and Lady Dan sneezed. A doe was gently licking her palm with its wet tongue.

…

“Cai Qian from Guangzhou, at your service, Miss Zheng.”

The man before her wore a white robe and carried himself with a dashing and elegant demeanor, bowing deeply to Xiu’er.

This was Cai Qian, who looked neither like a scheming merchant nor a brutal pirate. Rich enough to rival nations, yet he didn’t flaunt his wealth. He appeared more like an esteemed scholar who had attained enlightenment.

Li Yan stood aside, expressionless. He had thought that Zheng Xiu’er would be at a loss and turn to him for help, but to his surprise, the young girl conducted herself properly, returning the gesture aptly. With a few naive calls of “Uncle Cai,” she had Cai Qian laughing heartily. She then proceeded to mention how her late mother had said that Li Yan was in charge of everything.

Apart from the fact that she clung to Li Yan’s hand tightly, refusing to let go no matter how he tried—once even pinching the palm of his hand—her performance was impeccable.

“Tianbao of the Red Flag, I’ve long admired your reputation. To break through Humen in two days and flip the Three Flags with a single motion, you truly are a young hero. I, Cai, am impressed,” Cai Qian said.

Li Yan looked around and saw that Cai Qian had come alone. He laughed heartily and said, “Mr. Cai, you see, I’m used to blades and gunpowder. When I talk to people, words must cut to the chase. Don’t blame me for being blunt. You already know about my capture of the Three Flags Gang Leader, so why would you dare come alone? You should know that those three weren’t worth much, but you, Mr. Cai, are as wealthy as a nation. Every one of the Thirteen Hongs’ bosses in Guangdong has a fortune of millions of taels of silver. In fact, it’s all your money. Let me think … if I were to take you hostage…”

“Oops—” Li Yan clapped his thigh, “I’d make my fortune.”

Cai Qian lowered his head, a thoughtful look on his face. “That was quite an oversight on my part,” he remarked.

But then, changing the subject, he said, “However, I’m used to seeing gold and silver. When I talk to people, I have to see the profit in it. If you, Tianbao, want to make your fortune, there’s no need for kidnapping or extortion. All you need to do is say the word, and I guarantee that by tomorrow, ships full of silver will be delivered to Lantau Island.”

“Oh. Do tell.”

Thoughts flashed through Li Yan’s mind, and the name Lin Yuanfu briefly surfaced.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Cai Qian opened his mouth, he brought up something else.

“Did you know, Tianbao, that while we are conversing today, the coastline of An Nan is ablaze with gunfire?”

“Oh?”

“Zhang He violated a great taboo of the English. This time, the Demon Thief is either dead or crippled.”

…

In An Nan, Ya Gang.

Hundreds of large wooden warships were lined up, as robust men in white clothes and trousers shouted loudly, with dark clouds engulfing the port. On the other side, a Vasco warship with its silvery hull brought a palpable sense of oppression, with crossbows and cannon barrels aimed directly at the island.

On the hillside, the nominal ruler of the Nguyen Western Mountains regime, the current King of An Nan, Nguyen Jingnan, was pale-faced. His body, hollowed out by wine and pleasure, trembled in the piercing sea breeze. A young man with dark, handsome features and slanting eyebrows stood beside him, gently saying, “Your Highness, it’s time to give the order.”

The King couldn’t say a word for a long while. The young man, unconcerned, waved his hand, signaling the standard-bearers to hoist their flags and fire the first cannon of the naval battle.

Thick black fog and gunfire erupted near the shore.

“Madam Shi is dead…”

Amid the chaotic flow of silver and gunfire, the young man with long eyebrows clutched a message, his voice filled with unrestrainable excitement.

“I said I am young, and I can outlast you.”

Tossing aside the letter, at his feet was a carpet decorated with patterns of a coiled chi dragon. Balls of green incense burned wildly. Amidst the white smoke that twisted incessantly, the scene of a chaotic and burning naval battle materialized, with three-masted ships ramming and exchanging arrows and bullets, their fighting soldiers’ faces now mirroring the current strife at sea.

The young man with long eyebrows reached into the smoke and crushed a Vasco warship.

On the sea raging with flames, an East India Company warship appeared to crumble and splinter out of nowhere, sinking to the seabed like a toy crushed by a child.

“Hmph~”

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

“Fire!”

Soldiers aboard the East India Company’s silvery ships worked the rudders, with long cannon barrels aimed at the slope.

The young man with mysterious magic and long eyebrows frowned as a barrage of cannonballs rained down from the heavens, engulfing the hill he was on. A rose-red sea of fire swept away everything in its wake.