Chapter 28: The Head of the Pu Family: Will You Accept Me as Your Master?

“That young man makes a good point.

Give it a few more years, and our Prince Jing will truly be the Lord of the Eastern Seas, second in divine rank only to the Heavenly Consort.”

“Huh? Shopkeeper Sun, why are you back again? Don’t tell me you’ve lost your nerve?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ve always admired Prince Jing’s character. When he passed, my whole family paid their respects on the seventh day. It has nothing to do with being afraid of his spirit punishing traitors in the future…”

Most people, perhaps, did not know as many secrets as Xie He.

But every day, at the two moments when yin and yang exchanged, the mountain-and-sea prohibitions over the vast Cangming Ocean would manifest.

Everyone could see, clear as day, the temple facing the mouth of the Nine Dragons River. The spiritual officials who could read omens saw the incense smoke surging like a boiling sea.

Yet the Great Zhao Dynasty had never been a maritime civilization, but one of agriculture. Fear of imperial power and government was ingrained to the bone. Even a group of ship captains, caught off guard, hadn’t shifted their thinking.

They still clung to the belief that those who held power on land would rule the world, instinctively overlooking the importance of the sea routes, and lacking the deeply rooted understanding of sea peoples:

To control the maritime routes is to control world trade!

To control world trade is to wield global supremacy!

And to wield global supremacy is to become a king without a crown!

It wasn’t until Wang Cheng pointed it out that they finally understood: even if the local gentry held the advantage on land, the struggle over Yue Harbor’s fate and the maritime prohibitions was far from over.

At the very top of Baoshan’s beacon tower, the elder Shen’s gaze was full of approval, and he offered a succinct remark:

“If you don’t seize the ground of power, someone else will.

The court has forbidden the mountains and seas, and in giving up power over the Eastern Sea and the South Seas, the local sea deities and their followers have naturally stepped in to fill the void.

Though they may find it hard to interfere directly in the affairs of men, within their domains, they can certainly grant certain favors.

And a real threat is far more effective than mere kindness.

With today’s farce at an end, Prince Jing has once again protected Yue Harbor and its common folk.”

Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang both nodded to Wang Cheng, their eyes full of admiration.

“Young man, your insight is truly impressive.

More than that, you understand the human heart: what people desire, what they fear. We will not forget this favor.”

Yet they were considerate enough not to say more in public, lest it seem too close and draw resentment toward Wang Cheng.

Of course, they knew well it might be futile—standing with them was already a grave offense.

Wang Cheng just smiled, unconcerned by today’s unexpected prominence.

After all, appearances could be changed at will; as long as he could be invested and join the ranks, even a change of fate would not be difficult. No fortune-teller, geomancer, or even a silver-tongued schemer could harm him.

And as for the obvious dangers?

He had risked himself to stabilize Yue Harbor’s situation precisely to guard against them.

The crowd on the docks soon split into two clear camps.

One consisted mostly of retainers and lackeys of noble officials, powerful families, and gentry, or at least those closely tied to them—loyalties determined by interests, with no room for choice.

The other side was made up of poor commoners, water-gatherers, boat-dwelling Tanka folk, and the bulk of those who had been undecided.

The common people’s numbers far outstripped those of the gentry camp. The upper echelons—the eight great ship captains—could be bought off, but the great mass of the lower and middle ranks could not.

Perhaps the upper class looked weaker, but among the lower ranks, the Five Peaks Banner faction still held overwhelming advantage.

There were, of course, some who could remain completely neutral. Many foreign merchants—white-skinned, brown-skinned, blonde, and red-haired—stood aside, pointing and murmuring among themselves.

After all, regardless of who won or lost, business would go on with them.

“Manager Xie, what should we do?”

The three once-imposing ship captains, who had half-surrounded Huang Yuanzhou, along with their hired enforcer Wei Zhong, now found themselves riding a tiger—leaving would be a loss of face, fighting was uncertain, and the standoff dragged on.

“Why ask me? How should I know?”

Xie He, sweating even in the dead of winter, could not escape blame for the chaos. If things went badly for the gentry, and the Xie family—already purged once by the Wang and Xu clans—fell again, they would be finished.

When it came to confiscations and exterminations, nobody was more professional than government officials.

Just then, a newcomer hurried in from beyond Yue Harbor, breaking the deadlock.

Several warships, armed with both large and small cannons, docked at the quay.

A middle-aged man, dressed in a silken merchant’s robe, with a high nose and deep-set eyes betraying some foreign blood, strode through the crowd flanked by military guards, stopping beneath Baoshan’s beacon tower.

With a piercing gaze, he swept the scene, then strode to stand beside Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang. Looking sternly at Xie He and his group, he declared:

“Taking advantage while the Five Peaks Banner is short-handed—what sort of heroism is that?

I am ashamed to be associated with any of you!”

His words drew thunderous applause; everyone, on both sides, had to listen to him.

For this was the last of the eight great ship captains: the Water Division’s ‘Treasure Diver,’ known as Divine Eye, Pu Shouying!

The Pu family’s ancestors were foreigners, arriving in China three dynasties ago. In earlier times, when maritime trade was less restricted, the Pu family had served as high officials in the Maritime Trade Office.

After the founding of the Great Zhao, the office was abolished. The Pu family lost official standing, but soon became a powerhouse in smuggling, thanks to their amassed wealth.

They possessed the finest water-divining traditions, nearly rivaling the Wang family’s ‘True Compass of Favorable Winds.’

Their dealings had always been shrouded in mystery, and for two centuries they had survived, masters of playing both sides.

Now, with Pu Shouying’s unequivocal stance, the Five Peaks Banner and the commoners’ faction received a much-needed shot in the arm.

“I know we all have our differences, but we’re working for the future of Yue Harbor and maritime trade. There’s no need for bloodshed and to become a laughingstock.

If you’re determined to collude with outsiders and destroy the harbor that belongs to us all, you’ll have to go through me first.”

With his hand on his sword, eyes flashing, and a righteous air, this ship captain struck such fear into Xie He’s camp that none dared reply.

Gulp.

Xie He swallowed hard, wanting to speak but managing only:

“Hmph, let’s go.”

He led his people away.

The oppressive tension hanging over Yue Harbor quietly dissipated, like boiling water sealed with a lid—the crisis seemed to subside, balance restored.

Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang both breathed a sigh of relief, expressing their gratitude to Pu Shouying:

“Thank goodness you returned in time, Captain Pu. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Standing beside them, Wang Cheng lowered his eyes, hiding the glint within.

“This man is named Pu?

The real player has finally shown himself!”

Had he not previously encountered the imposter ‘Pu Shoucheng’—the so-called Japanese sea demon sealing the harbor under clan orders—he might have thought Pu Shouying a true hero turning the tide.

[Special Commodity: Pu Shouying, 38 years old.

Water Division’s Treasure Diver, current head of the Pu family…]

With this prior suspicion, his actions now made perfect sense:

“So, after tasting victory over my Wang family, he plans to use an insider to seize Yue Harbor?

First, Xie He’s open coup; then, Pu Shouying’s timely rescue—every move tightly linked, not to be underestimated.

If he succeeds, and quietly arranges for Old Huang’s death, he could seamlessly take over the armed sea traders of the commoners’ and open-market factions.

Clever fellow, trying to go public by borrowing my name?

Perhaps he even hopes to keep Huang Yuanzhou under his nose, and scoop me up as well—a neat three birds with one stone.”

Wang Cheng was already considering when to quietly warn Huang Yuanzhou, lest he fall into a trap, when Pu Shouying suddenly turned to him, smiling warmly:

“Young man, though you’re only a boy, you’ve shown real courage. When I was your age, I was nothing like you.

I’ve heard about you—standing up for the fishermen and merchants against the Water Division just days ago at the docks, wasn’t it?

Whatever the future holds for Yue Harbor, we waterfolk owe you our thanks.

Where are you from, and what is your name?”

His tone was full of elderly appreciation for the younger generation.

Wang Cheng replied modestly:

“Captain Pu, you flatter me.

My name is Wang Fugui. I was born to a military family here in Yue Harbor.

Though I passed the scholar’s examination last year, I am still a descendant of the naval garrison, a member of the waterfolk, and it’s only right that I stand up for my people.

But I am young and weak, good only for a bit of talk—not fit to match a hero like you, Captain Pu, who can turn the tide.

You are the pillar of jade supporting the heavens and the golden beam spanning the seas for all our waterfolk!”

His words were eloquent, clear, and composed, neither arrogant nor servile, and he did not forget to praise Pu Shouying—a rare quality at his age.

Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang nodded repeatedly, feeling that at last, among all these rough fishermen and boatmen, a true talent had emerged, a worthy successor to their tradition. They added a few words of encouragement.

Seeing the matter settled, Wang Cheng wished to avoid any further dealings with this smiling tiger, Pu Shouying, and was about to take his leave, when Pu called him back, beaming:

“Young Fugui, I see your spirit is concealed but bright—you’ve already kindled your heart’s lamp and become a disciple of the register at such a young age. That shows real talent.

Since you think well of me, would you… be willing to become my apprentice?”