“Governor Zhu, you have the authority to lift the maritime ban? You can’t fool me—that’s a power only the Ming Emperor holds, isn’t it?” Mao Haifeng questioned, still reeling from the surprise.
“First, it’s true I don’t have the authority to lift the ban, but I have a hundred ways to bypass it. Second, if Wang Zhi cooperates, I’m eighty percent confident I can persuade His Majesty to open the maritime ban and embrace the wealth of the four seas,” Zhu Ping’an said confidently, looking at Mao Haifeng.
Indeed, though Zhu Ping’an lacked the power to lift the ban, as the Governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he had not just a hundred but ten thousand ways to circumvent it! As for convincing the Ming Emperor, Mao Haifeng felt Zhu Ping’an might actually pull it off, given how he’d already persuaded him step by step.
Compared to Zhu Wan, who enforced the ban strictly, or Zhang Jing, who upheld it, Zhu Ping’an’s stance as an advocate for opening the ban was even more significant than the news of Wang Zhi’s family being alive.
“Governor Zhu, how can I trust you’re not deceiving me?” Mao Haifeng asked again for confirmation.
“Because you’re still standing here asking these pointless questions!” Liu Dadao snapped from the side. “If we didn’t need you to deliver a message to Wang Zhi, we’d have pressed our victory and wiped you out! Why would our governor go to all this trouble just to trick you? You think too highly of yourselves!”
“You!” Mao Haifeng fumed but then realized it made sense. In today’s battle, Zhu Ping’an had clearly held back.
He’d thought Zhu Ping’an was overly cautious, missing a chance to annihilate them. Now he understood—Zhu Ping’an had deliberately restrained himself, wanting Mao Haifeng to act as a messenger to Wang Zhi.
Zhu Ping’an pointed at Mao Haifeng’s eyes, saying meaningfully, “Your eyes will see the answer.”
This official speaks with such profundity.
Mao Haifeng nodded inwardly. Indeed, I have eyes. Tricking me won’t be easy!
He nodded in agreement.
When Mao Haifeng’s group returned to the temporary pirate camp, Ootomo Sadakawa was waiting anxiously.
“How did it go, Brother Haifeng? Is the woman Zhu Ping’an mentioned really Prince Hui’s mother?” Ootomo Sadakawa rushed forward to ask.
“Yes, it’s definitely her. I recognized the old lady—she’s unmistakable. She also confirmed that Prince Hui’s wife and child are alive,” Mao Haifeng nodded firmly.
“Yoshi! This is fantastic!” Ootomo Sadakawa’s face lit up with a smile, clapping his hands. This news was a lifesaver after their crushing defeat by Zhu Ping’an.
“Brother Ootomo, besides this great news, I’ve brought back an even bigger one,” Mao Haifeng said smugly.
“An even bigger one? Is Zhu Ping’an surrendering to Prince Hui? No, that’s impossible! I can’t guess it,” Ootomo Sadakawa said, puzzled, shaking his head.
“Zhu Ping’an said lifting the maritime ban is his wish. He’s an advocate for opening it!” Mao Haifeng said excitedly.
“Zhu Ping’an wants to lift the maritime ban?!” Ootomo Sadakawa was stunned, his mind reeling.
“Yes, he said though he lacks the authority, he has a hundred ways to bypass it. And if Prince Hui cooperates, he’s eighty percent sure he can convince the Emperor to lift it,” Mao Haifeng replied.
“This… this is too unexpected. Even if he does nothing but tacitly allows private trade, the benefits are unimaginable. The Ming’s wealth is vaster than the sea. If we could trade openly, the gains would far surpass what we get from plundering,” Ootomo Sadakawa paced excitedly.
“My adoptive father’s dream is to open ports for trade! He’ll be overjoyed to hear this,” Mao Haifeng said, unable to hide his grin.
“Yoshi! Prince Hui ordered us to strike everywhere to ‘pressure the authorities and open ports for trade.’ If he learns Zhu Ping’an supports lifting the ban, he’ll be delighted,” Ootomo Sadakawa nodded.
“No wonder Zhu Ping’an said we share common interests. He meant lifting the maritime ban,” Mao Haifeng realized, recalling Zhu’s words. “He said, ‘There are no eternal enemies or friends, only eternal interests.’ He wants to lift the ban, and my adoptive father dreams of it. We align on this.”
“With just this, Prince Hui won’t refuse to negotiate with him,” Ootomo Sadakawa agreed.
“Zhu Ping’an looks honest, but he’s cunning. By throwing out this bait about lifting the ban, he’s surely holding back more lures, waiting to tempt my adoptive father during talks,” Mao Haifeng said, stroking his chin.
“Today’s battle showed it. Even together, we were crushed by him. How could he not be cunning?” Ootomo Sadakawa said with a wry smile.
“Hah, true. If he weren’t cunning, we’d be the fools,” Mao Haifeng chuckled bitterly.
“Brother Haifeng, what’s the plan?” Ootomo Sadakawa asked.
“Report everything to my adoptive father, deliver the letters and keepsake from Godmother, and relay Zhu Ping’an’s words,” Mao Haifeng answered without hesitation.
“Prince Hui is wise and discerning; he’ll see the truth,” Ootomo Sadakawa nodded.
“By my estimate, my adoptive father’s almost here. Let’s go meet him,” Mao Haifeng suggested.
“What about the camp?” Ootomo Sadakawa asked.
“Don’t worry. We’ll leave the men to guard it. Zhu Ping’an wants to negotiate with my adoptive father—he won’t attack. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let us set up the camp,” Mao Haifeng said confidently.
“Alright, let’s go welcome Prince Hui,” Ootomo Sadakawa agreed.
“Let’s go. I can’t wait to share these two huge pieces of news with my adoptive father,” Mao Haifeng said, tucking the letters and the golden keepsake into his robe, eagerly heading out.
“Hah, Prince Hui’s probably heard of our defeat by now. We might face a scolding when we greet him. Some have likely already slandered us,” Ootomo Sadakawa said with a laugh, catching up.
He spoke of a scolding but wasn’t worried, even joking about it.
“Hah, but they don’t know about these two massive pieces of news,” Mao Haifeng laughed. “I can’t wait to see the faces of those slanderers when they hear this.”
