"What’s the title going to be? ’The Seventy-two Heroes of Xiping’?"
"Drop ’Xiping’; Second Master and the Emperor are at odds."
"Then... ’The Seventy-two Heroes of Nansha Bay’?"
"That sounds petty, petty!"
"How about ’The Seventy-two Valiant Heroes of Subduing Bandits’?"
"That’s a bit more like it, a bit more like it..."
"Then let’s just call it ’The Seventy-two Valiant Heroes of Vanquishing Demons’; it happens to fit our Second Master’s title ’Manifest True Lord’."
"That’s good, that’s good!"
"What do you think, gentlemen?"
"No objections!"
"It’ll do..."
"The Seventy-two Valiant Heroes of Vanquishing Demons? Then may I, the youngest brother, inscribe the title?"
"Hurry up, no dilly-dallying!"
"Is there enough ink? I want to make a rubbing to take back to Jiangling... It’ll make this trip worthwhile at least."
"I’ll make a rubbing too, to bring back to Taiyuan..."
As night fell, the crowd lit torches, the dancing flames illuminating the pitch-black stele, as well as the dark clothes in their hands.
...
Two three-masted ships swayed on the seemingly eternal sea of night.
Inside the captain’s cabin, Wang Cheng hosted a banquet to entertain the leaders of this expedition to Dongying - Yang Ge, Yang Tiansheng, Li Jincheng, Xiang Wudi, Zhou Fu, as well as Wei, the Deputy Head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Nangong Feiying from the Western Depot - all were present.
After three rounds of drinks, Wang Cheng, his face as red as a monkey’s butt, had a sheepskin map brought out and hung on the wall.
"Gentlemen, please look..."
Wang Cheng, supporting himself on the table, staggered over to the sheepskin map and pointed to two islands that were spread across it in a strip formation.
He first pointed to the island on the left: "This place is called the Five Islands. I, Old Wang, am not trying to deceive anyone here. My title, ’Master of the Five Peaks Ships’, comes from the five mountain peaks on this island that resemble fingers. This is a rallying point for Japanese pirates from Dongying, including those Frankish corsairs. They all stop here for supplies when heading to Dongying..."
"Of course, I, Old Wang, also know that this impressive expedition of yours to cross the sea is certainly not just to confront these swine and dogs of pirates."
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"Please look here, this place is called ’Hirado’, an important port for foreign trade and communication in Dongying, akin to Hangzhou in our Wei, where sea merchants from the entire East Sea, islanders, and even Frankish merchants and pirates consider it a harbor when they are in Dongying."
"The Japanese Daimyo here is called Matsuura Takamori. His family, the Matsuura clan, has ruled Hirado for generations. Some eighty percent of the pirates in the entire East Sea are under the control of the Matsuura clan, and all the merchants who pass through Hirado have to pay a hefty merchant tax to Matsuura Takamori... If you want to talk about the mastermind behind the scourge of pirates on the southeastern coast of our Wei, this man is it!"
At this point, he ruefully stroked his shining bald head, illuminated by the firelight, and said, "Speaking of which, he and I, Old Wang, have had a good relationship. When I was an adventurer in Dongying, alone on merchant ships, he supported me a lot. But in the face of national righteousness and clear-cut matters, I, Old Wang, will never muddle through. If we are to attack Hirado, my boys are willing to be the vanguard and clear the way for all the heroes here!"
With a face full of noble sacrifice, he saluted the others with clasped fists as if he was making a great concession.
The group gazed at the sheepskin map for a moment before simultaneously turning their eyes to Yang Ge.
Yang Ge, swirling his wine cup nonchalantly, although he had also drunk quite a lot, his face showed not the slightest hint of drunkenness: "I tell you, Old Wang..."
Wang Cheng immediately responded: "Second Master, just give your order. If there’s anything I, Old Wang, can do, I’ll do it without a second word!"
Yang Ge let out a smile, speaking softly and unhurriedly: "Do you know what I told Shen Fa, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, about you last time?"
Wang Cheng immediately showed a grateful and tearful expression: "The grace of the Second Master, I, Old Wang, remember it in my heart and dare not forget..."
Yang Ge waved his hand to stop his flattery, continuing with a smile: "I told him that you, Old Wang, were recommended to the court by me, Yang Ge. Whatever the court decides for you, whether your position is high or low, I, Yang Ge have no objections. But if anyone dares to rake up the past and aim for your life with those old trivial matters... I would have a very big problem with it!"
Wang Cheng hesitated, opening his mouth as if to speak.
"Smack."
The wine cup in Yang Ge’s hand smashed through the sheepskin map, shattering against the wall.
With the sound of breaking, everyone in the cabin instantly became alert, the haziness of drunkenness in their eyes dissipating significantly. The glances they cast at Wang Cheng also gained a dangerous edge.
Wang Cheng felt a chill in his heart and immediately shut his mouth, continuously saluting the others with clasped fists.
"But do you know what I think..."
Yang Ge still wore a smile on his face as if he hadn’t just thrown the wine cup himself: "You’re still the same, Old Wang, aren’t you? What, still thinking that if you can’t make it in the court, you’ll go back to being the Master of the Five Peaks Ships, the Pirate King of the East Sea? Are you still figuring out how to maintain good relationships with those village chiefs and constables in Dongying to carve out your own territory and rule like a king?"
"Smack!"
As his voice trailed off, Liu Tang and Nangong Feiying slapped the table and stood up.
The rest of the company also dropped their smiles and watched Wang Cheng with expressionless faces.
Wang Cheng’s complexion changed subtly, and he quickly tried to joke his way out of it: "What are you talking about, Second Master? I, Old Wang, have no such thoughts in my heart. I swear to heaven that if there is even a shred of rebellion in my heart, may I, Old Wang, die a horrible death with my intestines rotting inside!"
Yang Ge chuckled, his voice still light and steady: "First, the path you choose is yours alone; I didn’t force you. Second, you were recommended to the court by me. If one day you want to leave the court, you should at least inform me out of basic courtesy, so I can repay the favor I owed when I recommended you."