Chapter 3, Setting Sail

Ah, my foolish brother has indeed forgotten that my dear younger brother has suffered a shipwreck. Do not take offense, dear brother, and please rest well

At this point, Zhang Wei felt a surge of rage within him. Those detestable aliens had sent him back to the late Ming Dynasty instead of the Three Kingdoms. As if that were not enough, the so-called super equipment turned out to be merely a book titled "Flower | Flower | Prince." As soon as Zhang Wei boarded the ship, he found a quiet spot to open it. Amused yet exasperated, he could only toss the book into the sea; otherwise, if someone discovered it, explaining the situation would be quite a hassle.

For a time, the three of them fell silent, only hearing the sound of the waves continuously crashing against the hull. Zhang Wei lay quietly for a long while, until he felt his body gradually recovering, and surprisingly, he began to feel hungry.

Brother, come and have a bowl of ginger soup

Cough cough cough

Zhang Wei's historical knowledge barely qualifies as that of an undergraduate history major. As he feigned sleep in bed, he began to contemplate how to pursue his grand ambitions of dominance.

He Bin was originally reading under the light, but seeing the commotion over here, he also came to join in the fun and offered some kind words of comfort.

Southern Nanjili, which served as the secondary capital of the Ming Dynasty for over two hundred years, possessed a government structure corresponding to that of Beijing, with an army numbering in the hundreds of thousands to guard the south. Although it was the wealthiest region in all of China, it was not a place where someone like Zhang Wei, lacking a solid foundation, could instigate a rebellion

Zheng Zhilong, who was sleeping opposite, suddenly felt a chill on his back in a daze, tightened the quilt, and turned over to continue contemplating his plans for the fierce battle.

Zhang Wei, upon reaching this point, had already formed a preliminary plan for the future in his heart. He had acknowledged Zheng Zhilong as his elder brother, and it was only a matter of time before Penghu would be occupied by this person. Following him would merely bring some wealth and nobility. Zheng Zhilong had several biological brothers as his trusted aides; although he had sworn brotherhood with outsiders, in the eyes of the ancients who frequently formed such bonds, it was merely a slight improvement over being a stranger. If he continued to follow Zheng Zhilong, aspiring to establish his own foundation would indeed be like trying to catch the moon in the water.

Zhang Wei, who is not a proponent of Han nationalism, has always held a strong aversion to historical events such as the Yangzhou Massacre of the Qing Dynasty, the Three Massacres of Jiading, the practice of shaving heads and changing clothing, and the literary inquisition. He has no fondness for the policy of seclusion and isolation. Now, with the opportunity to change this part of history and allow the light of China to shine globally once again, Zhang Wei, proud to be a member of the Chinese nation, has decided not to miss this fortuitous chance to alter history

Propping up his body, Zhang Wei called softly, "Elder brother?"

At this thought, Zhang Wei felt a surge of spirit and chuckled softly to himself: "Hehehe... Old Zheng, I’m calling you big brother now, so in the future, you should also suffer a little loss and give your wealth, soldiers, and warships to your little brother to spend freely. Don’t worry, as a brother, I won’t let you suffer. Once I become emperor, I’ll surely grant you a title, like a marquis or an earl"

Haha, dear brother, do not worry. After drinking this, rest well, and you will soon feel better.

Zhang Wei secretly cursed: "These two clearly have something on their minds, yet they do not share it with me. Their secretive behavior surely indicates some nefarious dealings. I remember that Zheng Zhilong indeed went to Taiwan this year, and after clashing with the Penghu overlord Li Dan, he began to rise in power. Given the current situation, it seems that Li Dan is not entirely oblivious to his ambitions. It appears that once they land, it will be a fierce struggle between dragons and tigers. I thought this fellow was simply happy to take me on as a little brother, but it turns out that at a critical moment, he intends to use me as a lackey to help him fight."

Zheng Zhilong somehow managed to brew a bowl of thick ginger soup, bringing it close to Zhang Wei's nose. Before even tasting it, Zhang Wei's eyes were filled with tears from the spiciness of the ginger soup. Zhang Wei, who was sensitive to spice, weakly declined, saying, "Elder brother, thank you, but I won't drink this thing."

Cough, elder brother, you may not be aware, but I originally did not suffer from seasickness. However, the day before yesterday, I encountered a beach, and in my fright, my physical strength greatly diminished. When I first boarded the ship, I thought I would not experience seasickness, but who would have expected that my body...

Well, it is now the fourth year of the Apocalypse... In the ninth month of the third year of the Apocalypse, Yuan Chonghuan was dispatched to Ningyuan, where he achieved a great victory over Nurhaci, and for more than a decade, there was no danger beyond the pass. I remember in the first year of Chongzhen, the Qing troops had once taken a detour into the pass, plundering along the way, all the way to Shandong, seizing a population of over one million and countless riches. The north is not a place one can venture into.

Dear brother, please do not be too polite. I, your foolish elder brother, have not taken good care of you, which has led to this situation. You are just fine, and let us not speak of it; instead, you should rest well.

Zhang Wei coughed weakly, unable to speak due to the spiciness

After just a few hours, Zhang Wei had vomited until there was not a drop of bile left, lying in bed and moaning incessantly. If he had even a shred of strength left in him, he would surely leap into the sea to spare himself from this slow, torturous demise.

Brother, you did not take a boat back to Middle-earth, so why are you still seasick

In the first month of the 18th year of the Shunzhi era (1661), He Bin, who served as an interpreter for the Dutch colonizers, decided to defect to Zheng Chenggong. Upon meeting him, Chenggong, recognizing He as a former subordinate of his father, courteously inquired about his intentions. He Bin replied: "Taiwan boasts fertile lands spanning thousands of miles, truly a region fit for a sovereign. If we can secure this territory, it would strengthen our nation; if we cultivate the land, it would suffice for our sustenance. From Jilong to Tamsui, and even to the production of saltpeter and sulfur, all are available. Moreover, it is situated across the vast ocean, facilitating trade with foreign lands. We can establish ships for commerce, and we need not worry about the supply of masts, rudders, or copper and iron. By relocating soldiers and their families to this area, after ten years of accumulation and ten years of nurturing, the nation can become prosperous, and the military can grow strong, enabling us to defend and attack, truly allowing us to contend with other nations."

Although Zhang Wei had come to Mingwei out of necessity, he had always harbored dissatisfaction over the fact that one hundred million Han people were defeated by fewer than one million Jurchens. The opportunity to change that painful chapter in history, which severed the progress of Chinese civilization, did not leave Zhang Wei feeling too regretful about not being able to visit the Three Kingdoms.

Without saying much at the moment, I pinched Zhang Wei's nose. Unable to hold his breath, Zhang Wei opened his mouth to gasp for air, and thus an entire bowl of hot and spicy ginger soup was poured down his throat

Upon reaching this point, Zhang Wei felt that reality was vastly different from the game. In the game, money came easily, and it was also easy to befriend high-ranking officials, powerful generals, and learned scholars; one only needed to choose the right dialogue or attend a banquet, and naturally, a group of heroes would help him conquer the world. However, in his current situation, if he were to recklessly go to the home of an official from the Ming Dynasty and boldly say: "Here, shall we get to work at the banquet?"

Only by enticing him with benefits, can one quickly extricate oneself from his side while also gaining his assistance, thus enabling a grand display of one's capabilities. Therefore, one should have heeded He Bin's words decades earlier, taking advantage of the fact that the Dutch had just arrived in Taiwan last year and their foundation was unstable, to seize Taiwan for oneself. At that time, what worries would there be about not achieving great things

He took out a map from his sleeve, which detailed the distribution of Dutch forces and the placement of fortifications in Taiwan, and presented it to Zheng Chenggong as a basis for military decision-making. Upon hearing this and examining the map, Zheng Chenggong felt great joy in his heart. At that time, Zheng Chenggong had just suffered a setback in his attack on Jinling, finding himself in a difficult position and in urgent need of a new course of action. After being encouraged by He Bin, he finally resolved to launch an attack on Taiwan

Lying quietly back on the bed, Zhang Wei began to reflect on the experiences of the past few days. The initial reluctance he felt upon arriving in the Ming Dynasty had already dissipated. Determined to change the course of the Three Kingdoms' history, he was now diligently contemplating in his mind how to achieve great accomplishments in this chaotic era at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Zheng Zhilong angrily said: "How can a real man not be able to endure even a little bit of spiciness?"

Zheng Zhilong noticed that Zhang Wei's expression was gradually improving, so he turned around and sat back on his own bed, asking with suspicion

Glancing at the hourglass in the room, it was already midnight. Listening closely, I could hear Zheng Zhilong and He Bin breathing evenly, yet neither of them had fallen asleep.

Zhang and Tu Shuwei, who had never been on a sea vessel before, were unaware of the challenges as they first boarded the ship. Despite the constant swaying beneath their feet, Zhang, unable to endure the solitude of the cabin, wandered about. Fortunately, he had a cheerful disposition since childhood and called everyone 'brother.' Although his swaying movements were somewhat bothersome, the sailors on board did not seem to mind. However, as the ship sailed further away, waves began to rise in the sea. Zhang Wei, who initially did not grasp the depth of the situation, gradually found it hard to withstand the conditions on the deck. He leaned against the ship's side and slowly made his way back to the cabin. Just as he entered the cabin door, an overwhelming feeling of nausea surged within him, and he hurriedly ran back outside, vomiting uncontrollably.

However, he was also fortunate, as upon entering the noble realm, he met Zheng Zhilong, who, after more than ten years, commanded over a hundred thousand troops, possessed a fortune of millions, and had a fleet of a thousand ships. Although Zheng Zhilong is currently just a small pirate, given time, his achievements are bound to be extraordinary

Unfortunately, Zheng Zhilong's political insight was indeed not as sharp as his economic acumen. After supporting the Tang Emperor to ascend the throne as Longwu, he seized control of the court and suppressed dissent. However, after witnessing the Qing forces sweeping through Jiangnan, he disregarded his son Zheng Chenggong's advice and surrendered to the Qing. Ultimately, he met a tragic end at the hands of a foreign power. Although his abilities far surpassed those of his son Zheng Chenggong, his historical evaluation is considerably lower.

I fear that one would be immediately beaten to a pulp and sent to the authorities for legal action

Zhang Wei silently contemplated the rise of Zheng Zhilong: in 1624, he betrayed Li Dan, seizing the opportunity to eliminate Xu Xinsu, Lai Likui, and Zhong Bin, becoming unrivaled across the seas. Among the Dutch sailors, who were the maritime carriers of the time, this Chinese maritime overlord was respectfully referred to as "Old Daddy"; the straightforward red-haired foreigners assessed him as "a good old man from China"

Zhang Wei glanced at He Bin, who was in the same cabin; it was this person who advised Zheng Chenggong to attack Taiwan as a base.

To the west, although there is currently nothing of concern, the northwest is barren and cannot be developed. Moreover, in a few years, there will be a severe drought, making it even less viable.

I have already recovered, but I have caused you some worry, dear brother

Indeed, Brother Zhang Wei, this is for your own good, Brother Zheng.

Subsequently, he suppressed Li Guozhu, Zhen Heyi, and eliminated Liu Xiang, thereby asserting his authority across the eight provinces.

Based in Anhai, it combines the commercial and military group's multinational dominance, with its reach extending to Pinghu, Changqi, Bengal (on the west coast of India), Wandan, Jiugang, Batavia, Malacca, Cambodia, Myanmar, Daniu, Bani, Champa, Luzon, Meigang, Beigang, Dayuan, and other places. The individuals encountered include representatives of Japanese noble merchants, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, as well as porcelain merchants from Nanjing and Jiangxi. The Zheng family residence is "magnificent, stretching for miles, with vermilion railings and brocade canopies, filled with gold and jade," and "the sea route is opened, leading directly inside, allowing access for ocean-going vessels, with pavilions and towers, intricately carved, extending to stone caves and flowering trees, surpassing those in Quanjun..." The individuals encountered include representatives of Japanese noble merchants, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, as well as porcelain merchants from Nanjing and Jiangxi. The Zheng family residence is "magnificent, stretching for miles, with vermilion railings and brocade canopies, filled with gold and jade," and "the sea route is opened, leading directly inside, allowing access for ocean-going vessels, with pavilions and towers, intricately carved, extending to stone caves and flowering trees, surpassing those in Quanjun..."

How is it?

However, Zheng Chenggong, although revered as a national hero by later generations, was quite lacking in military leadership and development standards when viewed through the lens of posterity. He was cruel and fond of killing, often executing his soldiers for minor offenses, and he was also obstinate and unyielding, refusing to heed the advice of others. During the siege of Nanjing, he commanded 170,000 armored troops, along with 20,000 strong and vigorous warriors clad in heavy iron armor, known as the Iron Man Army, whose might was unmatched. In contrast, the city of Nanjing housed only a few thousand people. At a time when the Shunzhi Emperor was in a state of panic, Zheng fell victim to the enemy's delaying tactics, leading to the collapse of his encampment and the rout of nearly 200,000 troops, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope for the Han people's restoration. Later, upon arriving in Taiwan, he had the opportunity to rest and recuperate, to strengthen the overseas trade business left by his father, and to enrich the nation and bolster its military, which could have paved the way for future endeavors. Unfortunately, Zheng's pride prevented him from recovering from his devastating defeat, and he passed away in his prime at the age of 39. Furthermore, he failed to manage his family affairs properly, leading to disputes among his sons over succession, ultimately resulting in the loss of Taiwan and the extinction of Han clothing and customs.