“Zhu Ping’an has gone to such lengths, so his ambitions must be grand. My Lord, why not negotiate across the river instead? That way, we can avoid falling into his trap.”
Wang Xiao’er couldn’t help but once again urge Wang Zhi not to attend the banquet, worried that Zhu Ping’an might ambush him.
“My Lord, why not let me go in your place? Zhu Ping’an isn’t worthy. It’s not like the emperor himself is coming—at least it should be someone like Zhang Jing, the Governor-General of Jiangnan. Zhu Ping’an, as a mere Zhejiang Governor, is a bit beneath your status.”
Mao Haifeng also spoke up, suggesting he attend the banquet on Wang Zhi’s behalf.
Wang Xiao’er and the others looked at Mao Haifeng in surprise. They had thought he would encourage Wang Zhi to go, but instead, he was advising against it, just like them.
“He’s not worthy, but you are?” Wang Zhi shot Mao Haifeng an exasperated glare and scolded, “I’ve told you before not to underestimate the heroes of the world. Besides, he’s already defeated our forces twice in a row. In my view, Zhang Jing won’t hold the Governor-General position for long. That seat will eventually fall to Zhu Ping’an.”
“My Lord, you think so highly of Zhu Ping’an?” Mao Haifeng couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Heh, rather than saying I think highly of Zhu Ping’an, it’s more accurate to say I think highly of ourselves. Zhu Ping’an has extended an olive branch, indicating potential for cooperation between us. With that, the pirate issue remains relatively manageable. But Zhang Jing? He refuses to work with us and still dreams of quelling the pirates? If he can’t suppress the piracy, does he think he can hold onto the Governor-General’s position? That’s just a pipe dream!” Wang Zhi tugged at the corner of his mouth, giving a half-smile.
So that’s how it is.
Mao Haifeng and the others suddenly understood. Wang Zhi’s confidence in Zhu Ping’an stemmed from Zhu’s willingness to cooperate with them.
“But, My Lord, Zhu Ping’an is no saint. What if he tears off his mask, disregards honor, and sets up a Hongmen Banquet?”
Mao Haifeng voiced his concern.
“That’s why I have three tasks for you to handle. If you carry them out well, Zhu Ping’an won’t dare set up a Hongmen Banquet, nor will he be able to!” Wang Zhi raised three fingers, exuding confidence.
“My Lord, please give your orders. Let alone three tasks, even three thousand—we’ll brave mountains of blades and seas of fire to get them done perfectly.”
Mao Haifeng, Wang Xiao’er, and the others clasped their fists.
“First task: Mao Haifeng, listen up! Wang Xiao’er, Da You Zhengchuan, Sato Igawa, Zhao Hang… listen up!”
Wang Zhi issued the order with a stern face.
“Your subordinate obeys!” Mao Haifeng, Wang Xiao’er, Da You Zhengchuan, and the others stood, bowed, and clasped their fists to receive the command.
“I appoint Mao Haifeng as temporary Grand Commander. While I’m attending the banquet at the Zhejiang army’s camp, he will act on my behalf, overseeing all military and administrative affairs of our Great Song!”
Wang Zhi fixed his gaze on Mao Haifeng, issuing the order with a serious expression.
“What?!”
Mao Haifeng’s jaw dropped in shock.
Wang Xiao’er and the others were even more stunned, their mouths agape wide enough to fit a fist.
None of them had expected Wang Zhi’s first order to be appointing Mao Haifeng as temporary Grand Commander.
This was equivalent to naming a crown prince to govern in his stead.
If—and this was a big if—something happened to Wang Zhi at the Zhejiang army’s camp, Mao Haifeng could, based on this order, legitimately take over and inherit Wang Zhi’s pseudo-Song enterprise.
If Mao Haifeng had darker intentions and colluded with Zhu Ping’an for some shady deal, Wang Zhi might meet with an “accident” even without one.
After their initial shock, Wang Xiao’er and the others’ first instinct was to object, to prevent Wang Zhi from establishing such a “crown prince.”
“My Lord, no! It’s not that we don’t trust Haifeng, but My Lord still has a legitimate son. The eldest legitimate son inherits—that’s the way it’s always been.”
“My Lord, the matter of governing in your stead requires careful consideration!”
Wang Xiao’er and the others spoke out to dissuade him.
They didn’t respect Mao Haifeng. When had Mao Haifeng become a pirate? When they were already pirates, he was still wet behind the ears. His experience and achievements were far from enough to earn the loyalty of these fierce pirate generals.
As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn’t want to be a general isn’t a good soldier, and a pirate who doesn’t want to be a pirate chief isn’t a good pirate.
These pirate generals all had ambitions!
Wang Zhi could keep them in check, but Mao Haifeng couldn’t. If Wang Zhi were gone, they wouldn’t follow Mao Haifeng! Compared to him, they felt far more qualified to inherit Wang Zhi’s enterprise.
To block Mao Haifeng’s appointment as temporary Grand Commander, they even brought up Wang Zhi’s living son.
“My mind is made up, so stop trying to persuade me! I’ve made this decision to show Zhu Ping’an that I’m prepared for the worst. I’ve made arrangements so that even if something happens to me, our Great Song won’t be leaderless, and Zhu Ping’an will have no opportunity to exploit! As for my son, he’s still in Zhu Ping’an’s hands. Besides, he’s just a child—how could he bear such a heavy responsibility? Haifeng is also my son, raised under my watch,” Wang Zhi said firmly, his gaze sweeping over the group, leaving no room for argument.
Wang Xiao’er and the others wanted to say more, but seeing Wang Zhi’s unyielding expression, they swallowed their words.
“At the same time, Wang Xiao’er, Da You Zhengchuan, Sato Igawa, Zhao Hang… you eight shall be my regent ministers. While I’m at the Zhejiang army’s camp, you will assist Haifeng diligently! Haifeng, all major military and state affairs must be decided in consensus with these eight regent ministers!” Wang Zhi continued with his orders.
“I obey.” Mao Haifeng clasped his fists in acknowledgment.
“Your subordinates obey!” Wang Xiao’er and the others also clasped their fists in compliance.
Hearing Wang Zhi’s arrangement of the eight regent ministers, Wang Xiao’er and the others felt less resistant.
These were regent ministers, and Wang Zhi had ordered that all major decisions required consensus with them. In other words, Mao Haifeng couldn’t bypass them to issue orders unilaterally.
This gave them a way to check, or even control, Mao Haifeng’s power.
“Second task: If anything happens to me at the Zhejiang army’s camp, your first duty is to raise an army for revenge! Unite with the regional lords of Japan and pirates from various regions, and launch a ferocious attack on the coastal areas! As long as one of you remains, the assault must not stop! Make the Ming Dynasty’s coastlines know no peace! This order is also for Zhu Ping’an’s ears, so he’d better think twice before acting recklessly!”
Wang Zhi issued the second order.
“We obey! If Zhu Ping’an dares to scheme, we’ll turn the Ming Dynasty’s coastlines into hell!”
Mao Haifeng and the others accepted the order.
“Third task: Send someone to Shaoxing to contact Ye Zongman, Matsuura, and Ouchi.” Wang Zhi issued the final order.
“Are we to tell them to halt their attack on Shaoxing?” Wang Xiao’er and the others asked.
If Wang Zhi was going to the Zhejiang army’s camp for the banquet and Ye Zongman and the others continued attacking Shaoxing, word of it might reach Zhu Ping’an, potentially angering him and endangering Wang Zhi.
“Halt?! Why halt?! Not only will you not stop them, but you’ll tell them to attack—attack fiercely! The harder they strike, the less likely Zhu Ping’an will dare to act rashly!” Wang Zhi sneered, issuing the order with absolute authority, adding at the end, “But do not harm Zhu Ping’an’s family. Treat them well and with respect.”
