Chapter 7, First Meeting (Part 2)

As the elder brother, I will not let you suffer any grievances. I, Zheng Zhilong, rarely form brotherhoods with others, but this time, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have become sworn brothers, which is also a fate between us. Regarding the accommodation, let He Bin take care of it; he will ensure that you are satisfied with your stay.

Brother, do not rush to look at these; all the valuables here belong to us. If you desire, I will have two servants move all the calligraphy and paintings, as well as the antiques in this room, for you.

Hearing someone cough, Zhang Wei turned to look and saw a gaunt young man with a pained expression clasping his fists towards Zheng Zhilong, saying: "Zheng Laoda, may I speak first?"

Zheng Zhilon patted the chair beside him, inviting Zhang Wei to sit down, and said with a smile: "Good brother, are you moving in to live with me, or should I find you a residence in town?"

Upon hearing that they were to discuss the next major plan, Zhang Wei immediately began to contemplate: Considering that Zheng Zhilong and Yan Siqi had developed Beigang in Taiwan for only three years, although thousands of people had settled in Taiwan, it was merely a pirate base. Zheng Zhilong and Yan Siqi did not seem to care much about Taiwan; Zheng Zhilong would likely abandon Taiwan in a few years, using Anhai as a base to expand his fleet. His thoughts should be along these lines... However, I shall refrain from speaking too soon and will observe how others offer their opinions.

These fellows, having changed their master, are eager to curry favor. Tell them not to come; everything remains as usual. I, Zheng Yi, am not one to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, so they can rest assured.

Zhang Wei, however, paid no heed to these matters. Returning from modern times to ancient times, it was his first experience entering the home of a wealthy individual from the past. The floor beneath his feet was uniformly laid with blue bricks, and there were books around him. Upon entering, he was greeted by a long tribute table crafted from sandalwood, flanked by eight black, intricately carved armchairs. On the walls hung calligraphy and paintings from the Ming Dynasty, featuring the names of Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan. Zhang Wei did not understand any of this; he merely looked around like a country bumpkin, tilting his head in confusion.

The subordinate clasped his fists in acknowledgment and went to convey the message

As everyone had just settled in the hall of the Li residence, and before the pleasantries had concluded, a subordinate of Zheng Zhilong entered to report: "Zheng Laoda, there are a number of ship merchants outside seeking an audience."

Shi Lang... it turns out to be him. Zhang Wei couldn't help but observe carefully. It was indeed this person, who, driven by personal hatred and disregarding national grievances, insisted on attacking Taiwan, severing the traditional attire of Huaxia. However, in terms of the unification endeavor, this person could be considered a meritorious minister. Zhang Wei sighed inwardly, pondering that the merits and demerits of Shi Lang's life are truly difficult to articulate.

Zhang Wei sat down honestly and unceremoniously, picked up the exquisite bowl, lifted the lid, blew on it a couple of times, took a sip, and then replied: "Elder brother, this place is truly wonderful; I am reluctant to leave. However, since you have a family, it is indeed inconvenient for me to stay here. As for the house, it is not necessary; just find a place for me to stay will suffice."

Zhang Wei was taken aback, and the lid of the bowl in his hand fell to the ground with a "bang"

He Bin smiled and said, "Boss Zheng, Brother Zhang Wei still doesn't have a place to stay. Where shall we arrange for him?"

During the Song Dynasty, Penghu Island served as a dock for fishermen from Quanzhou to rest and repair their boats. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were already thousands of islanders residing here. Under the management of the Li brothers, it became a base for maritime trade, with dozens of sea vessels and hundreds of fishing boats. The local marine resources were abundant, and it was an excellent harbor leading to Taiwan and various regions of Southeast Asia. Zheng Zhilong was not particularly concerned about acquiring the Li brothers' ships, as he had already possessed thirteen small boats since 1621 when he traveled to the northern port of Taiwan with the Fujian merchant Yan Siqi. Over the years, he had also collaborated with Li Dan to acquire several more ships. The acquisition of the territory of Penghu, with its hundreds of fishing boats and rich marine resources, further excited Zheng Zhilong.

Brothers, everyone has worked hard today. Originally, I intended to let everyone go back and rest. However, since we are all gathered here, we should take advantage of this momentum to discuss how we can work together to expand our foundation and make it thrive.

"Brothers Shi Lang, speak your mind freely, without any of these empty formalities"

Zhang Wei no longer stood on ceremony, knowing that Zheng Zhilong disliked formalities, and thus he simply acknowledged with a nod and agreed.

Standing on the blue bricks of the Li family's hall, soaked in blood, Zhang Wei silently cursed: These people are truly devoid of humanity. It would be one thing to eliminate the men, but they do not spare even the women and children. What is more, they brazenly moved in without waiting for the blood to dry or the bodies to be removed.

The Penghu Archipelago consists of approximately sixty-four islands of varying sizes, with twenty of these islands being inhabited. Among them, the largest is Penghu Island (including Magong City and Huxi Township), followed by Xiyu and Baisha Township. The total land area is 126.8641 square kilometers

Shi Lang coughed again and said: "Zheng Laoda, I know you want to expand your maritime business, but in my opinion, recruiting more refugees from Quanzhou and establishing a stronghold on Taiwan Island would be the foundation of your lifelong enterprise..."

Li Dan originally settled on the main island of Penghu. After more than ten years of management, it has already developed into a small town, with thousands of people residing on the island, including fishermen, pirates, and merchants, all positioned around the estate of the local leader, Li Dan. Three days ago, Zheng Hongkui, accompanied by a group of Zheng Zhilong's subordinates, attacked the Li residence, slaughtering the Li family and their followers, thereby completely taking control of the Penghu archipelago.