Chapter 729: Chapter 18: The Death of Tianbao (Conclusion) Chapter 729: Chapter 18: The Death of Tianbao (Conclusion) Chapter 18: The Death of Tianbao (End)
Yang Sheng remained unruffled, smiling as he responded, “Consul Hart, where does this come from? Haven’t the English tax officers you recommended taken up their positions at the tax bureau long ago?”

“My people can’t do anything but drink tea and enjoy snacks. Your officials won’t even let them see a verifying cargo manifest.”

Yang Sheng widened his eyes in surprise, “Oh, it’s like that? It can’t be that serious, can it?”

“Why feign ignorance, Lord Yang? Isn’t this precisely by your instruction?”

Hart’s words were full of complaints.

Yang Sheng listened quietly for a while, then replied with a calm and gentle tone, “The tax bureau has not been established for long. Naturally, it has its own regulations and atmosphere. Getting Englishmen and our people to eat from the same pot isn’t easy. Some bumps and scrapes are inevitable. Why make such a fuss, Consul?”

After pondering for a moment, he continued, “However, on the other hand… In the Great Qing, we have a saying: “A married daughter is like spilt water.” Now that these Englishmen are speaking the Great Qing’s official language, eating the Great Qing’s salary, they naturally should wholeheartedly serve the Great Qing. If there’re frictions with their colleagues, they should seek mediation from their superiors and can’t always go running to you, Consul. Should a married daughter run back to her parents’ house at every slight, weeping and complaining? What kind of behavior is that?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Yang, you’re too cunning,” said Hart with a bitter smile.

“Hahaha, if you don’t understand, then drink tea, drink,” Yang Sheng chuckled.

Unlike most Qing officials who were haughty and obstinate, Yang Sheng was enlightened and talkative, maintaining a good private relationship with Hart.

However, friendship aside, this time Hart was determined not to let Yang Sheng dismiss the matter lightly.

“Yang, Tianbao’s sorcery caused the sinking of twelve ironclad warships, and over a thousand English sailors are missing at sea. The Allied Fleet has always been under the command of the Dragon Ship Flag Order led by Qian Yongzhao. According to my informants, it was Qian Yongzhao’s reckless incompetence. The dragon ship he commanded broke formation in the furious waves and heavy rain, sunk by the enemy’s sorcery. This led to the fleet losing unified command and the disaster that followed. You should take responsibility for this. I demand that the official office immediately execute the related contract for the tax bureau and hand over the position of the commander of the Allied Fleet.”

Yang Sheng softly retorted, “What if I say ‘no,’ how would you argue?”

“If you’re unwilling to fulfill the contract, we can only disband the fleet right now.”

Unexpectedly, Yang Sheng stood his ground and stood up, straightening the court beads on his robe, the crane patch on his chest gleaming brightly.

“If the queen of your country is so presumptuous, I have nothing to say. At worst, we part ways amicably, farewell.”

Having said that, Yang Sheng turned to leave.

“Please wait a moment.”

Hart was stunned for a moment, but as he saw Yang Sheng not stopping, he quickly got up to urge him to stay, yet he couldn’t help but retort, “To date, the government has not captured a single Red Flag warship, nor has it taken a single Red Flag pirate prisoner. The result of the battles is nothing more than an empty island, and a Tianbao whose fate is unknown. If the Allied Fleet is disbanded now, are you not afraid that one day the Red Flag Gang will rise again?”

Yang Sheng stopped but refused to sit down as he replied in a clear and loud voice:
“Unity brings benefits to both sides, while division incurs losses to each other. Initially, you and I each served our own interests, stating benefits and detriments openly; there is nothing we can’t discuss. However, Consul, you repeatedly use the threat of disbanding the Allied Fleet to coerce me. Yang Sheng cannot yield to such pressure because this matter involves national dignity. For the past few decades, pirates have been rampant at sea, causing endless complaints from merchants. Your own country of Britain loses no less than a million silver coins each year due to this, which sustains countless major pirates. However, since I took office, by employing both suppression and recruitment strategies, I have restored peace and order to Guangdong and Guangxi. If one day the Red Flag truly does rise again, are you telling me, Consul, that you would stand by idly?”

Yang Sheng spoke eloquently and passionately, “Six years ago, out of your wild ambitions, Britain and Portugal provoked conflicts, killed our County Magistrate, and plundered our citizens. Fortunately, the officials and civilians of the Great Qing were united, heart and soul, defeating your artillery and warships. After triumphing, my empire graciously let bygones be bygones. We did not sever trade relations with you, even to the extent of proposing the formation of the Allied Fleet to exterminate pirates and maintain trade. Now you actually resort to threatening to end our contract, which is utterly absurd!”

What a man, Yang Bingyan! Back when the British and Portuguese allied forces attacked Guangzhou, Prince Fuling had to rely on hundreds of thousands of pirates just to repel the foreigners, a fact that was considered a huge disgrace by everyone in court and country. After that battle, the decrepit state of naval defenses became widely acknowledged, which not only elevated the reputations of Tianbao and Cai Qian, but even rumors circulated that the Great Qing’s two centuries of reign were coming to an end, causing widespread panic. Yet now, with just his persuasive words, Yang Sheng made it seem like the Celestial Empire’s generosity and forbearance, cleverly attributing several decades of rampant piracy in the South Seas to the fault of the other side. Such a display of quick wit and smooth talking!

Indeed, Hart was taken aback, his face alternately flushing and paling, and it took him a long time to reply in a strained voice, “That was just Hesting seeking private revenge against the official office for impounding his goods. My country has never officially declared war on yours. This matter, your Emperor himself has personally promised not to pursue further.”

Yang Sheng smiled disdainfully, “Matters that are already publicly acknowledged, I won’t prolong our debate over them with you.”

Hart’s tone softened somewhat, “Regardless, our losses this time are real. If Governor Yang is unyielding, I don’t think the East India Company will be willing to continue financing the fleet’s procurement of warships and cannons. Your financial situation will only get worse.”

Yang Sheng pondered for a while, then announced loudly, “How about this: you ask Hesting to prepare an inventory list. I can refer to the content of the list and consider reducing the tax rate on goods imported by the East India Company into our country for the next three years.”

“Five years. As long as Lord Governor agrees. I promise to replenish the Allied Fleet within six months and ensure that no details of the battle of Lantau Island are leaked from our end,” Hart pushed further.

“Fine, five years it is. But Hesting must agree to help the official office exterminate the Red Flag rebels who have fled overseas,” Yang Sheng conceded.

“Of course,” Hart said, adding, “Additionally, your country must implement the aspects of the contract that…”

“…”
The two men bantered back and forth for a long time before finally agreeing on the details of the arrangement.

“There’s one more thing,” Hart began, his expression becoming serious. “During the maritime disaster at Lantau Island, a court scholar accompanying the fleet went missing. His name is Saint Watson, and he has received the highest honor of the empire, the Queen’s Award. Saint Watson is more valuable than the entire fleet combined. The queen herself has ordered that he must be found.”

“The Queen’s Award? Court scholar?”

Yang Sheng was not familiar with these Western titles.

Hart patiently explained, “It’s like your scholars, your imperial preceptors, and the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor in the Celestial Empire.”

“Oh~”
Yang Sheng expressed his doubts, “This is troublesome. The sea is vast; if the distinguished person you speak of died in a sea accident, where would we even begin to search?”

“Lord Saint Watson will certainly not have perished. Governor Yang merely needs to post notices everywhere, and he will surely be found.”

“Alright,” Yang Sheng nodded. “It’s a deal then.”

————————-
The next day.

On Official Street, water was sprinkled to clean the road, while gongs and drums were sounded. A group of soldiers, with their heads wrapped in red and blue cloth, wearing white coats and carrying fire guns, swaggered through the crowd. Within a short time, they had cleared a wide avenue. Then, sixteen servants each grabbed a corner of a blood-stained and torn Red Sail, carrying it through the main streets and alleyways of Guangzhou City, parading around repeatedly from dawn until noon.

On the second floor of the tea house, about ten patrons craned their necks to watch, all discussing the procession of soldiers.

“Brother Nian, what act is this?”

The speaker had the look of a dashing young gentleman with a plaster on his face and a piece of ivory fan rib stuck behind his neck, wearing a brocade silk robe decorated with coins and a melon-skin cap inlaid with a dull green jade.

At the next table sat a scholarly man with a goatee, his thick and long braid unattended for far too long, now greasy. He fanned himself with his hat, revealing his bluish-green scalp. Glancing at the young gentleman, he snorted coldly, “Isn’t this second master Huang? You seem to be in good spirits. Weren’t you suffering from tuberculosis?”

The young gentleman extended his hand and made a sloppy sign of the cross, “I have embraced the Gospel Society. With the Lord’s blessing, how could my illness not improve?”

“Heh, if there were Gods willing to bless someone like you, I’m afraid they’d be blind.”

The scholar’s comments made it clear he looked down on this Second Master Huang.

The young gentleman, undeterred and still smiling, asked about the origin of the soldiers’ march.

After badgering the scholar for quite some time, the scholar explained reluctantly, “Don’t you know? Lantau Island was raided by the soldiers! See that Red Sail? That’s from Tianbao’s ship. Seeing the sail is as good as seeing the man. Governor Yang personally ordered that it be paraded around every state, county, and office. It’s to publicize the success of the bandit suppression.”

Someone nearby muttered, “Tianbao really dead? I saw him six years ago, sitting astride a grand horse, looking quite majestic. I heard that even when the Prince invited him to Longquan Restaurant, he didn’t attend and rode out of the city directly with his men.”

“I bet it’s certain,” chimed in an attendant. “That blood-stained sail doesn’t seem fake to me.”

The scholar shook his head, “Something feels off to me. Not a single criminal in sight, just a bunch of soldiers waving a tattered banner and not looking too pleased about it. It’s probably just to scare people.”

“Quiet down! Do you have a death wish?”

The normally dozing tea house owner suddenly opened his eyes and glared at the old scholar.

“I’ve actually heard something about this.”

The young gentleman spread out his folding fan, revealing a painting of a woman in palace attire, “I have a cousin who works for Yicheng Trade Company. He told me that there indeed was a raid a few days ago, and the government suffered significant losses.”

“I heard about it too,” said another. “Lantau Island was set ablaze by the newly appointed commander Yang Xingye. Tianbao was killed by cannon fire during the attack. The remaining leaders like Xu Chaoyi and Zhao Xiaoyi scattered like birds and beasts, escaping long ago.”

“Hearing is not as good as seeing,” the scholar shook his head, still unconvinced.

The person with the scoop, seeing the scholar’s disbelief, replied sharply, “If you don’t believe it, why don’t you swim to Lantau Island and see for yourself?”

“I think it’s fake.”

“It’s real.”

Both sides stood their ground firmly, neither willing to budge.

“Bang!”

Suddenly, a dull thud interrupted the debate. In the corner of the tea house sat a man clearly taller than average, with dark skin, heavy brows, and high shoulders muscled like slabs, a thick braid like a black python coiled around his neck, his face showing anger.

“Check, please!”

After saying this, he tossed down some Silver Coins and stomped down the stairs.

“Who is that guy? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”

The young gentleman scratched his neck with the fan.

Counting the Silver Coins, the attendant didn’t look up, “That’s Scholar Hong’s brother from Creek Tower. He hasn’t been home for ten years; nobody knows why he came back to Guangzhou recently. He’s over thirty and still not married. Who knows, he might be a pirate…”

“Don’t talk nonsense, go boil water,” said the tea house owner, snatching the Copper Coins from the attendant’s hand.