Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 216: 53 Tianbo Division

The Cai Clan’s Tianbo Division is the largest trade market on the South Seas, boasting that there is nothing it doesn’t possess, the shell of exotic treasures from all over the world.

French 32-pounder heavy cannons, the latest mercury-triggered firing mechanism “perfume bottles,” Portuguese seven-masted ships, high purity opium, Wuyi Mountain’s Dahongpao tea, Ming Dynasty doucai porcelain, and robust black slaves from Fort Saint Michael…

Silver, pepper, ivory, jade wares, silk fabrics. Moreover, if you can name it and it can be found on several continents, the Tianbo Division will be able to find it.

Occupying merely three to four hectares, the Tianbo Division sees a volume of ship traffic that accounts for a third of the entire Guangzhou province!

Here, transactions of staggering amounts frequently occur that astonish onlookers; last year, a fragment of a hand-painted Quran was sold for a total of 1.8 million taels of silver, further solidifying the Tianbo Division’s immense renown both home and abroad.

Located east of the Ryukyu Islands, the Tianbo Division is made up of eighty “China ships” {Manila Galleon}, interconnected by iron chains, with eight hundred Cai Clan golden men patrolling night and day.

The Tianbo Division has been under the operation of four generations of the Fiery Cauldron Sir’s Cai family, tracing back to the previous dynasty’s inspection by Emperor Fulin and having over a hundred years of history. By the current emperor’s time, there was already a decline; however, when it fell into the hands of the mere fifteen-year-old Cai Qian, he single-handedly pushed the government to establish the Thirteen Brokerages of Guangzhou, responsible for the foreign trading of tea, porcelain, raw silk, and wool. Over twenty years, it flourished, not only building an immense foundation but also rejuvenating the Tianbo Division.

With the recent downfall of Guangzhou to foreign forces, the urgency exceeded everyone’s expectations, but Cai Qian’s response was the quickest of all. Roughly three days after the incident occurred, pirates from the South Seas set out one after another, converging on this shell of exotic treasures, the Tianbo Division.

…

As the Spirit of the Duck drifted at sea, inside the cabin, Gu recounted the details of the current situation to Li Yan, introducing the formidable competitors of the Red Flag Gang.

“Treasure Ship King Lin Ajin, the Xijiang River Giant Bandit, whose ancestors for several generations were shipbuilders, possessing many ship schematics passed down since the end of the Han Dynasty. The Lin’s ancestor held an important position in the Ministry of Works during the previous dynasty, and it is said that the treasure ships of the Sanbao Eunuch were designed by the Lin ancestors. Lin Ajin is shrewd; in the past two years, he’s bought many rare items from the Red-haired Men to upgrade his fleet.”

“Yishi Zhufen, not much to say about this guy. His crew is slightly smaller than the Red Flag, but it’s quite a mixed bag, with people from India, An Nan, the indigenous tribes from the coastal islands, and even Americans.”

“The biggest headache is Zhang He, our old nemesis. His crew is no smaller than ours, and he’s made a name for himself recently when the British attacked An Nan. It’s said he used artillery to kill the King of An Nan and emerged unscathed. What’s more demonic, he set up an altar, performed a ritual in front of thousands, and crushed a British warship with one hand. Honestly, even the lady of our house never had such ability.”

“Now, all over the South Seas, it is said that regardless of the size of power or number of followers, if you talk about fighting alone, magical powers, this Demon Thief is the number one in the South Seas,”

Li Yan didn’t take it seriously but flipped through the transaction records of the Tianbo Division from the past two years — of course, these were the ones visible to others.

“This Cai Qian is also quite remarkable.”

After investigating the biography of the “big boss” from multiple sources, Li Yan couldn’t help but exclaim.

Gu grinned toothily, “That’s right, for the government, he’s the agent to the South Seas pirates. For the pirates, he’s a financier whom no one wants to cross. For the Red-haired Men, he can procure legitimate military weapons. It’s said that after Bast seized Guangzhou City, the kings and ministers in the city had to rely on his stewards to negotiate for their lives. What a character! He has a hand in everything.”

Cha Xiaodao, while tidying her nails, chimed in, “According to what you’re saying, Cai Qian has such clout with the Red-haired Men that even if Guangzhou fell, he wouldn’t suffer much harm. So why take the lead and summon all the pirates from the South Sea? Could it be that he really is a righteous merchant?”

“That’s not how it is,” Gu objected. “Even if his Thirteen Brokerages are doing great business, they still have to look to the government. With just one word from them to close up shop, there’s nothing you can do. I reckon it’s Fulin who put a lot of pressure on Cai Qian to take charge.”

Cha Xiaodao shook her head, not quite agreeing with Gu’s viewpoint.

Li Yan had been silent all along, only speaking up when he heard this, “Gu, putting it that way, for this gathering, if we want to compete for the leadership, the likes of the Demon Thief, Yishi, and the Treasure Ship King can step aside. It’s Cai Qian that’s our biggest hurdle, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think it’s sufficient.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Gu replied, “To become the leader of all the thieves, your fists have to come first. True, Cai Qian has a considerable presence, and the number of sailors he employs is no less than ours, but there’s one thing, his people, they’re all law-abiding citizens with families to feed, working on boats to make a living. They can’t compare with us, folks who’ve strapped our heads to our belts.”

“Moreover, Cai Qian is a merchant, his vessels are cargo ships, and he has fewer cannons. Over the years, he’s spread himself too thin. He has more than enough to protect himself, but as for competing for leadership, I’m afraid he doesn’t have enough strength.”

Li Yan said with a smile, “Do you really think so?”

Gu nodded, “Decades earlier, the government explicitly prohibited the private construction of double-masted large ships. We treated that decree as nothing, but Cai Qian, who is a businessman, dare not. Think about it, Tianbao. Cai Qian follows the government’s lead like a shadow. The government isn’t a fool. How could they allow a brokerage merchant to grow that big? From what I know, the government keeps a very tight watch on Cai Qian’s brokerages and shipyards in Jiangzhe.”

“If the government can watch over the Thirteen Brokerages,” Li Yan was still smiling, “then tell me… can they keep an eye on the Tianbo Division that has been operating for a hundred years near the Ryukyu Islands?”

Gu was stunned.

“Put it another way, this businessman who pleases all sides, everyone uses him, but no one takes him seriously. Hence, while the Five Flags vie for the role of Alliance Hierarch, Cai Qian is doing business. When Mrs. Shi and Zhang He fight to the death, Cai Qian is doing business. When the government hunts down bandits, Cai Qian is still doing business…”

Li Yan sighed, almost certain of his thoughts as he pointed to the few veteran Red Flag leaders who had come with him:

“You…”

“Have lost yourselves in the game.”

The young man with long eyebrows sighed.

This was a black-sailed broad ship over sixty meters long, with crew members patrolling all around, surprisingly dressed in An Nan military uniforms.

The young man with long eyebrows and dark skin had chapped lips and a haggard look, yet his eyes were deep and bright.

An Nan’s General Governor, who once crushed a Vasco warship single-handedly and remained unscathed amidst gunfire; after Queen Yan’s death, he was recognized as the most powerful sorcerer in the South Seas.

The Demon Thief, Zhang He.

“Let’s not talk about Cai Qian anymore. I asked you to look into the recent movements of the Red Flag Gang. Have you checked?”

Zhang He asked.@@novelbin@@

His subordinate nodded, “To the letter.”