Chapter Nine: Arranging Affairs at Sea

Li Jinzhong reminded him that Lady Li had asked him to come home for lunch, as his fifth brother, Zhu Youjian’s mother, had also passed away (killed by their father), and was now being raised by Lady Li as well. It was just a gathering for a meal, to observe propriety and foster their bond. Zhu Youxiao had always been on good terms with him before, and Zhu Xiaoqi, curious about this future Emperor Chongzhen of a fallen dynasty, was interested to meet him. Upon meeting, he saw only a reserved boy of about eight or nine years old, who saluted him with utmost care. Zhu Xiaoqi gently comforted him, asking what he liked to do in his free time. Zhu Youjian replied respectfully, “I read the Analects every day.”

So, he was something of a recluse then. But it was understandable—his body’s former owner was much the same. It wasn’t that they enjoyed being shut in; there simply wasn’t much for them to do. So, Zhu Xiaoqi promised that whenever he found something fun to do, he would bring him along. At this, Zhu Huiti quickly interjected, “Me too! Brother likes Huiti best!” She thought this brother, only a little older than herself, wanted to compete for their eldest brother’s affection, but she was confident she would win, for her brother liked her more. Zhu Xiaoqi hurried to reassure her he would always include her. She cast a triumphant glance at Zhu Youjian before happily continuing to eat the snacks her brother had brought her.

Before the meal, Lady Li reminded them to cherish one another, then went to dine with the Crown Prince. So, only the three children were left at the table. Though etiquette dictated silence at meals, Huiti was clearly unconcerned by the rule. Having filled up on snacks, she ate little from the table and spent most of the time chattering away, helping her big brother serve food and telling the new little brother which dishes were delicious. Watching lively Huiti, chirping like a sparrow, Zhu Xiaoqi’s face softened with affection, while Zhu Youjian kept his head down, eating quietly.

After the meal, with nothing to do, he took the two children to the Western Garden for an outing. Zhu Huiti clamored to go boating. They boarded a boat, and the gentle breeze was pleasant on their faces. Lotus blossoms dotted the water, their fragrance refreshing. Zhu Xiaoqi thought of the navy—the matter was beyond him for now, but perhaps he could start laying groundwork. He had ideas, but no trustworthy person to carry them out. He couldn’t very well ask Li Jinzhong to do it. Why were eunuchs the only people he could trust at this time? He sighed.

Zhu Huiti noticed and asked worriedly, “Brother, what’s wrong?” She stood up to walk over just as a gust of wind rocked the boat. She lost her balance and was about to fall when Zhou Yujie quickly stepped forward, caught her arm, and steadied her before letting go. Zhu Xiaoqi’s eyes lit up—these two “senior brothers” could be trusted.

He stood at once, concerned, asking if Huiti was frightened and whether she wanted to go ashore. Though she had been startled, her brother’s concern made her so happy that she shook her head—she didn’t want to go back. Zhu Xiaoqi agreed, but had two young eunuchs stay close by her. Then he asked Zhou Yujie, “Can you and your brother swim?” Lately, he’d taken to calling Zhou and Zhang “senior brothers,” which made them uncomfortable, but in the end, they could not resist him.

Zhou Yujie grinned. “I’m from Liaodong and can swim a little. Brother Zhang is from Fujian and swims very well.”

“Oh? Senior Brother Zhang, where in Fujian are you from?” Zhu Xiaoqi turned to Zhang Qianfang.

“Your Highness, I’m from Quanzhou, Fujian. I grew up by the sea, so I’m a decent swimmer.”

Zhu Xiaoqi asked nothing further. Returning from the Western Garden, he first sent Zhou and Zhang away, instructing Li Jinzhong to fetch Zhang Qianfang’s records from the Capital Garrison and to summon Lu Qin as well. He reviewed Zhang Qianfang’s file, which contained only a few brief lines: “Born in the twenty-first year of the Wanli reign, in Jinjiang, Quanzhou. Father Zhang Sihave served as instructor in Quanzhou Prefectural Academy, mother Lady Yang. Wife Lady Liu, one daughter.”

Since his father was an official, Zhang’s loyalty could be trusted. Setting the file aside, Zhu Xiaoqi asked Lu Qin for his opinion of Zhang Qianfang. Lu replied, “Commander Zhang is loyal and diligent, skilled in martial arts, with lofty ambitions. He often sighs that a true man should win honor and bring glory to his ancestors.” Lu, ever shrewd, realized Zhu Xiaoqi intended to use Zhang and tailored his answer accordingly, greatly pleasing Zhu Xiaoqi.

He summoned Zhou and Zhang inside, and the five of them sat down. Zhu Xiaoqi said, “Both of you have trained with me daily, for which I am deeply grateful. Yet I worry it may delay your careers.” They quickly stood to bow. “Safeguarding Your Highness is our duty and our honor,” they replied.

He waved them to sit. “Senior Brother Zhou, remain with me for now, we’ll see about the future. But I have a matter to consult with Senior Brother Zhang. Our dynasty’s navy is weak—because the court pays little heed, and there are few naval officers truly versed in sea matters and strategy. Under the current disorder, it is not the right place to foster real talent for the navy.” He changed tack, continuing, “I wish to take another path—seeking naval talent among the maritime merchants. So, I would ask Senior Brother Zhang to leave the Capital Garrison, become a sea merchant, recruit talent, familiarize yourself with shipping, and befriend the heroes of the sea, in preparation for the future. What do you think?”

Zhang Qianfang had long grown weary of the idle life in the Capital Garrison, with nothing to do and no prospects for advancement. Zhu Xiaoqi’s words instantly made things clear: the heir apparent wanted to establish his influence over the maritime trade—not for profit, but to prepare for the day he became Crown Prince or Emperor, so he could wield real power over the navy. Zhang realized he was to be Zhu’s first piece on the maritime chessboard—a rare opportunity he could not miss.

Ignoring the usual formality, he knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. “I will build a navy that rules the seas for Your Highness, making the empire’s coasts secure and the waters forever calm.” Even his form of address changed, from “your servant” to “your subordinate,” which Zhou Yujie watched with envy.

Zhu Xiaoqi helped him up. Zhang Qianfang had no money, no men, not even an official standing. To build a navy seemed like a pipe dream. But it didn’t matter—a time traveler had information, at least. He’d played “Uncharted Waters” before. So, he began to lay out the plan: first, become a sea merchant trading with Japan. Take raw silk and porcelain to Japan, and return with copper. The Ordnance Bureau would buy the copper with silver, making it easy to turn a profit.

“Making money isn’t the main thing. Even if you make a million taels in a few years, that won’t mean much to me. What I want you to gain is talent,” Zhu Xiaoqi said with a smile. “Now, this is most important: remember three names—Li Dan, Yan Siqi, Zheng Zhilong. I only know the names, not their ages or appearances. These three, or any other powerful figures you encounter, befriend them if you can. Remember, sea merchants are pirates in disguise—they are famed pirates. Befriend them and their followers, observe their words and deeds; if you find any with loyalty to the throne, draw close to them. When the time is right, have them accept amnesty, and thus you’ll gain many soldiers skilled in naval warfare.” He’d once read a book about Zheng Chenggong, which mentioned these three men—they seemed formidable, so he highlighted them. He didn’t know that Zheng Zhilong was only a year older than himself and still drifting about somewhere.

“Do not reveal you are with the government, but hint that you have some backing at court—only then will others trust you. Pick men from the Capital Garrison whom you trust implicitly—they must be clever, able swimmers, good fighters, and ideally, knowledgeable in maritime affairs. Once chosen, have Li Jinzhong and your commander informed. Select weapons from the Ordnance Bureau, especially matchlock muskets—one for each man—and pick a few of the flintlocks we tested, so you can see what improvements are needed.”

“You’ll take your men to Tianjin, where a sea vessel and sailors, bought with my own money, await you. Funds are limited and the ship is not the best. Sail from Tianjin to Quanzhou, getting used to life at sea. In Quanzhou, someone will contact you—I have an agent stationed there. Make your requests to him, report any information, and let him handle all cargo and sales. If you have any other requests now, speak up.”

“Your Highness, you are truly farsighted. Everything has been arranged perfectly. I am eager only to render service as soon as possible.” Laughter filled the room.

Zhang Qianfang and Li Jinzhong returned to the Capital Garrison to pick their team. Zhu Xiaoqi discussed matters with Lu Qin and Zhou Yujie. The Capital Garrison was under eunuch control; he wanted to extract a few men, which the chief eunuch would allow—but nothing more. The chaos within the Garrison, indeed within the Ming military as a whole, was something he had heard much about in his previous life, but there was nothing he could do to fix it now. He would have to find a different path.

“You two know the Garrison inside out. The practice of drawing pay for phantom soldiers is surely worse here than on the frontier, isn’t it?” Lu Qin blushed—he was a lieutenant, and though most of the spoils went to the eunuchs, he had taken his share. Zhu Xiaoqi glanced at him and continued, “I have no authority to investigate now, but that day will come. When it does, I won’t expect either of you to be spotless—that’s impossible. If you take nothing, you’d be ostracized. I only hope you won’t go too far. That’s a minor issue. What matters is that I need to know who in the Garrison is truly capable, and who is just coasting along—not just among the officers, but the rank and file as well. So, I must trouble you, my teacher and senior brother, to keep your eyes open. When the time comes, you’ll help preserve talent for the army.”

Both men cupped their hands and agreed. The heir’s words made it clear he had accepted them as his own. When he became Crown Prince, they would be able to ride the winds in the Garrison, following their prince to achieve great things.