Shi Yang Queen of the Pirates: A historical novel based on true events by Penelope Dow

Author:Penelope Dow [Dow, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

A New Enterprise

1805

The smell of incense filled the cramped captain’s cabin of the Red Dragon. Shi Yang looked over the ledgers, trying to ignore the cannon fire and shouting from outside. She stretched her arms across the desk, anticipating the jolt as the vessels collided, ready for boarding. The inevitable crash rocked the ship. The ledgers and charts she couldn’t hold toppled off the desk. She stared at the locked door to the cabin, hearing her heart thump as the sounds of battle flared outside: the clash of blades, the crack of muskets, the thud of steel penetrating flesh.

Some time passed. The sounds of battle ceased, followed by cheering. Was it her crew or the other one? Footsteps approached the cabin. She primed an ornate flintlock pistol and aimed it at the door. The footsteps stopped. Three knocks followed—the code for a seized prize. She uncocked the pistol and ran to unlock the door. Zheng appeared in the doorway.

“Victory is ours,” he stated with a grin. “It’s time to tally up.”

Shi Yang grabbed her ledger, along with her pen and ink. She followed her husband onto the deck. Cannon fire had damaged the railing, and several sailors lay dead or wounded. The Red Dragon crew carried over sacks from the seized merchant junk. Cheung Po swung over from other junk on a rigging rope. He smiled as he landed on the deck.

“What’s our haul?” Shi Yang asked.

“Salt,” Cheung Po replied, still smiling. “And plenty of it.”

“Was it a bad engagement?” she asked.

“Lost a few during the encirclement,” Zheng replied. “Couple more during the boarding. But we’ve had worse losses.”

“The salt will fetch a good price,” Cheung Po added.

As Shi Yang noted the haul, she paused.

“Thinking up a new scheme?” Zheng looked at her.

“We still have contacts in Canton, right?” Shi Yang asked. “Because I’ve got another idea that we can work towards. Something that will make some money while reducing our losses.”

“I’m listening.” Zheng grinned at the mention of making money.

“My idea is that we sell… ostensible protection …to the salt merchants.” She continued, “They can buy a special flag that their junks can fly, and we instruct our ships not to fire on them when they’re flying that flag.”

“You mean they pay us not to seize their ships?” Zheng raised an eyebrow. “That sounds ridiculous.”

His laughter echoed across the deck, but he stopped as his wife stared at him.

“Yes, it does,” Shi Yang said bluntly. “But would it not be in our interest to reap the rewards with minimal risks?”

“What do you mean?” Zheng asked.

“I mean that if they pay us at the port, we win.” Shi Yang rubbed her hands. “And if they don’t pay us at the port, we seize the prize. Of course, seizing the prize carries the risk of losing our crew and having to cover repairs. The Confederation now has six fleets, so we’re in a good position to show our strength.”

“Hmm…” Zheng stroked his chin, trying to figure out what his wife had said.

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