“Zhu Ping’an is just a Zhejiang governor; what right does he have to lift the maritime ban?” Xue Tao exclaimed, spotting a flaw and unable to resist pointing it out.
In his mind, he gave himself a pat on the back for catching it so quickly. Zhu Ping’an, a mere governor, had no authority to lift the maritime ban—that was the emperor’s prerogative. Zhu was clearly bluffing, and Mao Haifeng passing on his message was aiding a deceiver!
Wang Zhi turned his gaze to Mao Haifeng.
Mao, unfazed, replied confidently, “I asked Zhu Ping’an the same thing. He said he indeed has no power to lift the ban…”
Xue Tao couldn’t contain his excitement. “My king, listen! Zhu Ping’an admits he has no authority to lift the ban, yet he’s using it to trick you!”
“Shut up, Old Xue, let Haifeng finish,” Wang Zhi snapped, glaring at him.
“Yes, yes, my king, I’ll shut up,” Xue Tao shrank back under Wang’s stare, closing his mouth.
Mao Haifeng smirked disdainfully. He despised these old-timers who leaned on their seniority. In the pirate world, strength mattered, not age. What use was being old without skill? If not for being Wang Zhi’s townsman and part of his original crew, Xue’s level would barely qualify him to lead a small squad!
The old fool always grumbled to outsiders, claiming Mao only got his fleet because of Wang’s favour, boasting he could do better. Pah! Look in the mirror! Xue’s generalship was thanks to Wang’s favour. His military leadership was rubbish—his only command was “Charge!” Left on his own, he’d lose to government troops and rival pirates alike. Even a pig could command better! Yet he acted like being a general was beneath his talents, always eyeing Mao’s fleet. Clueless idiot, even if Mao fell, Xue wouldn’t get the helm!
After mentally scorning Xue, Mao continued relaying Zhu Ping’an’s words, “Zhu said he can’t lift the ban, but he has a hundred ways to work around it. And if my adoptive father cooperates, he’s eighty percent sure he can convince the emperor to lift it, opening the seas to wealth from all corners.”
Wang Zhi clapped, exclaiming, “Well said! Lifting the ban to gather riches from the four seas! This shows Zhu Ping’an understands sea trade. The wealth out there is vast, and the red-haired barbarians are already ahead. If we delay, they’ll dominate the seas!”
“Adoptive father, Zhu Ping’an told me plainly: he released my foster mother, sister, and younger brother as a gesture of goodwill. He asked me to bring you a message, hoping to share wine and discuss grand matters,” Mao said, seizing the moment to pass on Zhu’s words.
“My king, this is surely a trap! Zhu Ping’an’s like a weasel greeting a chicken—no good intentions!” Xue Tao blurted out.
“Oh? Uncle Xue, am I hearing things? Didn’t the king tell you to shut up?” Mao shot back sarcastically.
Xue Tao’s face flushed red and green, a chameleon of embarrassment, as Mao’s lips curled uncontrollably.
“Stop teasing your Uncle Xue,” Wang Zhi said, lightly smacking Mao’s head, his tone neutral. “Old Xue’s loyal.”
“Loyalty’s great, but blind loyalty can cause trouble,” Mao shrugged.
“Nephew Haifeng, that’s nonsense! Loyalty never causes trouble—disloyalty and indecision do!” Xue Tao, bolstered by Wang’s defence, straightened up.
“Oh? Forgotten Chen Sipan, Uncle Xue?” Mao asked pointedly.
Xue Tao paused, brushing it off. “Just a defeated foe, nothing worth mentioning.”
“Uncle Xue, you should read more. Bravery works for small fights, but as the king’s business grows, we need brains to help him,” Mao chuckled.
“You’re just saying I’m not smart enough!” Xue Tao huffed. “I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice.”
“Ha, no wonder you’re useless at everything—you’ve been busy eating salt! More than my rice, you say? I eat at least a jin of rice a day, that’s 360 jin a year. I’m thirty-two; even halving my childhood portions, I’ve eaten about 8,000 jin of rice. So, Uncle Xue, you’ve eaten 8,000 jin of salt? All day, every day, just eating salt, huh?” Mao teased wickedly.
“I…” Xue Tao realised he couldn’t outtalk Mao and scowled. “What’s your point about Chen Sipan?”
“How’d Chen Sipan lose, forgotten that?” Mao asked.
“You just want to brag! You’re the great one, sneaking into Chen Sipan’s birthday banquet, coordinating inside and out with the king, killing Chen, capturing his nephew Chen Si, and swallowing his remnants,” Xue Tao spat. Pah, just showing off!
“Uncle Xue, I got into that banquet thanks to Chen Si, remember?”
Xue Tao froze, having deliberately ignored Mao’s achievements.
“Uncle Xue, was Chen Si loyal to Chen Sipan?” Mao pressed.
“Of course! When Chen Sipan was killed and Chen Si captured, on the seventh day, after paying respects at Chen’s grave, Chen Si poisoned himself in front of it,” Xue Tao said.
“Exactly. And you know, I led my elite pirates into the banquet because Chen Si let us in. Chen Sipan told him to warmly welcome every guest. We brought gifts, and he welcomed us right in. Ha, we didn’t hold back. Now, Uncle Xue, isn’t that loyalty causing trouble? Chen Si killed himself out of guilt…” Mao chuckled.
Xue Tao fell silent.
