After tallying the vast wealth in Xu San’s hidden treasury, Mao Haifeng and the others couldn’t help but be overjoyed. This Xu San was truly a great wealth-giving boy, amassing such a fortune, making this trip well worth it.
Zhu Ping’an was also thrilled. The two white turtles and the ambergris were items he was determined to acquire. Presenting these to Emperor Jiajing would surely win his favour, saving him a decade or more of struggle!
With Yan Song, Yan Shifan, and their clique still intent on his downfall, securing the emperor’s favour would render them powerless.
Thus, the white turtles and ambergris were non-negotiable.
The two white turtles, having been claimed by Zhu Ping’an earlier, posed no issue.
But the ambergris…
Mao Haifeng didn’t recognise it, unaware of its value, which surpassed gold. Though its worth was secondary to the chests of gold, ambergris was rare, priceless, and unobtainable.
The ancients didn’t know it was whale excrement. From the emperor to priests, alchemists, and common folk, all believed ambergris was the saliva of a sleeping sea dragon, thought to bring immense benefits: strengthening the body, boosting vitality, and extending life, a divine elixir among elixirs.
If Mao Haifeng knew it was ambergris, he’d surely want it.
After a moment’s thought, Zhu Ping’an had an idea. Pointing casually at the treasury’s riches, he smiled at Mao Haifeng and said, “General Mao, today’s victory is due to your great efforts. All the spoils here are yours. I’ll take the two white turtles and Xu San’s evidence of treason.”
“What?! Young Master, we’re taking nothing?” Liu Dadao, standing behind Zhu Ping’an, was stunned.
The other Zhejiang soldiers also looked pained. So much wealth, and they were to take none, leaving it all to the pirates?
Zhu Ping’an’s generosity moved Mao Haifeng deeply, but he shook his head firmly, “No, no, Lord Zhu, what do you take me for? We who roam the seas value loyalty above all. Today, without your Zhejiang army’s powerful firearms, we’d have been stopped at the dock by the Moon Island pirates. And in the final battle, if not for Lord Zhu raising the white flag to subdue them, our losses would’ve been heavy, and we might not have taken Xu San’s group, letting them escape. We wouldn’t have had the chance to raid his hidden treasury. The two white turtles are just a pot of soup, nothing much, and Xu San’s treason evidence was your doing. Lord Zhu, you’re essentially taking nothing, giving me all the spoils. If this got out, people would call me, Mao Haifeng, a greedy, shameless scoundrel. No, no, absolutely not.”
Mao Haifeng firmly refused.
Very firmly.
Zhu Ping’an was so generous, but Mao Haifeng wouldn’t be outdone. Loyalty came first, and he couldn’t lose face.
“These spoils, we split evenly. If Lord Zhu doesn’t agree, it’s as if you’re looking down on me, Mao Haifeng.”
Mao Haifeng pounded his chest resoundingly.
“No, no, this plan was your idea, the ships were yours, the insider was yours. Taking Moon Island was your greatest contribution. I’ve always believed in rewarding based on effort. In the army, I created the ‘Performance Assessment Record.’ General Mao, are you making me contradict myself? An even split is out of the question.”
Zhu Ping’an was equally insistent.
“Lord Zhu, you have principles, but so do I. You can’t make me a greedy, shameless villain, can you?!”
Mao Haifeng stood his ground.
The surrounding pirates were shocked, as if the sun had risen in the west. They’d seen people fight over spoils, but never push them onto others. Their leader, always one to grab, was now giving things away.
“Well, General Mao, why make this difficult? How about this: you take the lion’s share, we take the smaller portion. If you refuse again, we’ve nothing more to discuss,” Zhu Ping’an said seriously.
“Alright, alright, Lord Zhu, since you put it that way, refusing would make me the one breaking our alliance. I’ll accept on behalf of my men and thank Lord Zhu for your generosity.”
Mao Haifeng, with a look of reluctant acceptance, clasped his fists in thanks.
Inwardly, he admired Zhu Ping’an even more. To give away so much gold, silver, and jewels so freely was truly admirable.
“Here’s the deal: of the ten chests of gold, silver, jewels, and ornaments, I’ll take these three, you take the other seven.”
“Of the four antique shelves with ornaments and calligraphy, I’ll take this one, you take the other three.”
“Of the eight boxes of medicinal herbs, I’ll take these two, you take the other six.”
“And, of course, the two white turtles are mine.”
Zhu Ping’an pointed casually at the treasury’s riches, taking about a quarter of the items from the edges, assigning the remaining three-quarters to Mao Haifeng.
Though it seemed random, Zhu Ping’an had planned it. The ten chests of gold and silver were similar, but the shelf he chose had the most genuine calligraphy. The other three shelves held mostly fakes. And the two boxes of herbs included the ambergris.
“Lord Zhu, your ‘smaller portion’ is too small, not even thirty percent. You must take more,” Mao Haifeng, unwilling to take advantage, urged Zhu Ping’an to take a larger share.
Zhu Ping’an’s generosity exceeded Mao Haifeng’s expectations. To be so magnanimous was truly admirable.
At least, he couldn’t be that generous himself.
“No need, it’s enough. General Mao, you helped me wipe out the Moon Island pirates, that’s my greatest achievement. When reported to the court, I’ll surely be rewarded. With these riches on top, what more could I ask for?” Zhu Ping’an said with a smile, sticking to the earlier division.
He added to Mao Haifeng, “Of course, for helping me defeat the Moon Island pirates, I’ll report your contributions truthfully to the court and request rewards for you.”
“Thank you, Lord Zhu,” Mao Haifeng couldn’t help but clasp his fists again in gratitude.
Amid Mao Haifeng’s repeated thanks and admiring gaze, Zhu Ping’an smoothly obtained his desired items: the two white turtles and the box containing the ambergris. The Moon Island campaign concluded perfectly.
