Chapter 255 -92: Aftertaste
In the middle of July in the fourteenth year of the Jiaqing era, Fulin rode back to the Guangzhou General’s Mansion. He sent a lengthy report to the Capital City, running into hundreds of words.
His memorial read, “Long live my Emperor: The Red Hair pirates have caused chaos on our borders, Governor Ye Shanren underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, hit by a foreign gun, he perished on the spot, resulting in countless losses of soldiers and generals. Your humble servant is unworthy of the royal grace. By the vastness of the heavens, I was fortunate to receive the assistance of righteous individuals, only then was the treacherous fierce threat eliminated, without failing the trust placed by our ancestors in their defense…”
…
From the time Li Yan and Cai Qian entered the city to when Fulin resumed control, there passed about ten days.
During this time, Li Yan thoroughly enjoyed his stint as an emperor. Without any announcement, the officials and nobles of the city eagerly sought his favor, presenting gold, silver, and women. Needless to say, these people feared the pirates much more than they feared the Red Hair.
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[You have completed the event of Yan Fu: The Birth of the Pirate Queen]
Rating: 90% (The East India Company suffered heavy losses, marking Hesting’s biggest defeat in over a decade.)
Your purchasing rights have increased, and you receive an extra opportunity to draw rewards at settlement.
“Fulin wants to invite me to dine?” Li Yan asked with a smile that was not quite a smile.
“Understood.”
“Tianbao, how should I respond then?”
“Didn’t I tell you?” Li Yan glared at the man: “Understood.”
“Oh, oh.” The man nodded and walked out.
During this raid, apart from a few good quality blades that could be used as backups, only some books could serve as “fodder” for Cha Xiaodao. As for other things, especially treasures, there was nothing of special effect, or they were unique items like the Lotus Child Fishing Net that could not be taken away. Unfortunately, Li Yan didn’t need this bit of profit anymore.
The limit for exchange points was already reached. Li Yan touched several antiques that could be considered national treasures in modern times but did not covet them too much. Moreover, delicate girls were plentiful; a wealthy merchant surnamed Yang from the city once offered Li Yan more than ten beauties, renowned for their exceptional looks, including a pair of stunning twins…
At this time, Li Yan was busy raiding the British’s trading houses—this was already the ninth one.
He targeted foreign territories, precisely because the last Exotic Beast Map from southern China had been bought by an Englishman. Li Yan nearly searched through every church and trading building in Guangzhou but failed to find it. Later, he heard about the housekeeper of the East India Company who admired Chinese paintings. Many artists and intellectuals had been depending on his patronage over the years, and his reputation was well-established. That’s why Li Yan had rushed over.
“Tianbao, this was found in a hidden compartment of a bedside table, and I think there’s something off about it.”
Someone brought over an oil painting.
Li Yan examined it for a while. The painting was indeed famous, The Last Supper. A replica.
He used a gem-encrusted Xiaodao to pry it open, and indeed, something was hidden inside.
[Remnants of Yan Fu: Demon Xi]
Note: Ever since I bought this thing, I could hear a man’s voice every night, until I wrapped it in the oil painting, only then could I sleep in peace.
Li Yan curled his lip: “Then why did you buy it, causing me so much trouble?”
…
At dusk, in Guangzhou’s Longquan Restaurant. With its four stories and fifty-four deluxe rooms, it truly resembled “a glittering palace of pearl gates, a grand edifice of painted beams and carved rafters.”
In such a grand restaurant, only one table was reserved. The silk music played softly, while a songstress playing the pipa showed her thighs.
Four chairs surrounded the table; three were already occupied by the Guangzhou General, Imperial Clan member Fulin, the Tianbo Division head of the family, and Mr. Cai of the Thirteen Brokerages, and Ajin from the Precious Ship Lin Clan. One chair remained empty.
“Shunguan, my dear Shunguan!”
Fulin’s cheeks flushed red, clearly inebriated. He wore a Four-clasped Python Dragon Robe, his demeanor respectful, still retaining some of the aura from his earlier years of leading troops. However, years of indulgence in wine and pleasure had left his eyes puffy and swollen.
Cai Qian, sitting beside him with his right sleeve wrapped in a white band, whispered, “Your Highness, you should drink less.”
With the Lin Family having long severed ties with the officials, and Ajin being a Pirate Leader, he couldn’t quite connect with Fulin. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ajin just focused on his food, leaving Fulin and Cai Qian engaged in a toast.
“Shunguan,” Fulin said, holding his snuffbox: “The road tests the strength of the horse, the gale tests the resilience of the grass! Had it not been for your management, both internal and external, and making all the necessary gestures, this time I would likely have lost not just my official hat but perhaps my life too. Rest assured, as long as I am in Guangzhou, your wealth and honor will not be diminished one bit.”
His friendly attitude was not only more affectionate than before, but Fulin also made a deliberate effort to win him over.
When the Red Hair attacked Guangzhou, Fulin felt as though the sky had crumbled down on him, but he had never expected that his protégé Cai Qian would wield such power at critical moments. His ability to coax South Seas pirates into battle was surprising, and his political acumen was even more impressive.
Fulin himself felt that the truth could not be concealed much longer. When the Imperial Decree arrived, he knew he could not escape responsibility. However, a single word from Cai Qian rekindled his hope.
“Your Highness, with your years of governance in Guangzhou, this matter will certainly not reach a deadlock. If you trust me and delegate authority to me, I can guarantee you a deception that will hoodwink even heaven.”
With the crisis now averted, Cai Qian suggested that Fulin shift all the blame to the deceased Governor-General of Guangzhou, suppress the news, and transform the event into a “border pacification achievement,” thus everything would settle down peacefully.
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Fulin’s elation was of course due to Cai Qian’s plan taking effect,
Upon hearing Fulin’s words, Cai Qian merely bowed his head: “Your servant is willing to die for his lord, your words are too kind, Your Highness.”
“Good! Good!” Fulin echoed twice, then suddenly slapped the table and burst into an angry tirade, showing a somewhat capricious temperament, “Those nobles and royalty in the city, they’re all damned wolves that can never be tamed. Now they even talk about going to the capital to impeach me? Let them go! If they can make it to the Capital City, then I’m not of the Aixinjueluo clan.”
“Shh–caution, please exercise caution.”
Cai Qian admonished.
Fulin curled his lips and blinked his eyes, but upon noticing the white band on Cai Qian’s sleeve, he spoke with displeasure, “Shunguan, on such a joyous occasion, you wear such a thing? Isn’t it bad luck?”
Having said this, he reached out to grab Cai Qian’s wrist.
Twang~
The string of the pipa snapped, and the songstress let out a low cry of surprise.
Fulin was jolted, feeling a chill spread over his skull, sobering him up a bit. He gazed intently at Cai Qian; this merchant, normally so compliant, now turned to look at him with an undisguised chill in his eyes.
Fulin subconsciously let go of his hand.
“How could you be so careless.”
Cai Qian first turned his head to scold the songstress with a smile, then turned back:
“An elder in my family has recently died, I hope the Prince will be understanding.”
Fulin’s palms were all sweaty; he grunted a response and patted Cai Qian’s shoulder dryly, uttering a few words of comfort. The atmosphere turned somewhat awkward.
Lin Ajin buried his head in drinking, pretending not to notice.
Cai Qian raised his cup, “Now that Guangzhou has been restored and all is peaceful, even if there are those blind enough to spread rumors and stir up trouble, the matter is of great importance, and the court officials will not pay them any mind. Your Highness, you can rest easy.”
Fulin nodded his head and just as he was about to raise his glass, his brow furrowed, “Shunguan, didn’t you say that among those who drove off the Red Hairs, there was also a righteous Pirate Leader? We’ve been drinking for quite a while; why hasn’t he shown up yet?”
Cai Qian also pursed his lips, “I am not entirely sure, I saw him loitering in the foreigners’ trading house yesterday, but I haven’t seen him today.”
As they were speaking, footsteps approached from outside the door.
“Here they come.”
Cai Qian said with a smile, but the one who entered was a man with a fierce demeanor and a scorpion tattoo on his neck.
The Red Flag Gang’s Gaoli ghost, Gu.
Cai Qian’s smile froze, “Brother Gu? Where is the Tianbao Dragon Head?”
Gu gave a formal bow, “Our Dragon Head has fallen ill and has already left for Lantau Island. Before leaving, he asked me to express his gratitude to the Prince and Mr. Cai for their kindness. Additionally, the Dragon Head specifically mentioned that on the eighteenth of this month, at Red Water Port, he will release someone; please, Your Highness, do not forget to come and collect.”
“Who?”
“The new Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Lin Yuanfu.”
Fulin set his cup down, his expression turning sour.
On the other side, Lin Ajin also put down his chopsticks and saluted Fulin.
“Your Highness’s banquet was exquisite, Lin has eaten his fill and now I must take my leave.”
He got up and walked a few steps out, then turning back he said, “Your Highness, you once said at the Tianbo Division conference that you would reward the South Seas pirates with official titles if they proved their worth. Now that things have come to fruition, I hope the General will not go back on his word.”
After speaking, Lin Ajin turned and walked away, heading towards Gu to give him a beckoning wave.
“Brother Gu, I’m a bit drunk, help me out will you.”
Gu lowered his gaze and aided Lin Ajin down the stairs, ignoring Fulin’s darkening face.
Once the paper window is punctured, it can never revert back; with Guangdong and Guangxi’s coastal defenses being so weak, and the Red Hairs defeated at sea, what reason do I have to take you, the General of Guangzhou, seriously? If not for the checks and balances of the Cai, Li, Lin, and Zhu, even if I were to raise a rebellion, what could your government office do to me?
“Brother Gu,” Cai Qian called out to Gu.
“Mr. Cai, what else is there?”
“The Fire Cauldron Lady has been visiting Lantau Island for nearly a month; when you have a chance, could you inquire when she will be returning to my Tianbo Division?”
“I will convey the message.”
The two men turned and left.
Fulin was now truly infuriated, “These damned peasants are completely lawless!”