Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

Moore practically emptied Haojing of everything, leaving only some food and silver for Chi Honghai.

Looking at the remaining few hundred Portuguese, if they hadn't all been disarmed and tied up, it would have been difficult for the men on Chi Honghai's ship to control them.

However, transporting these hundreds of Portuguese back home is no easy task, and Moore did not reserve a ship for himself.

Moreover, many of these Portuguese people are familiar with him. They could see him clearly when he stood next to Moor, and they could probably guess that today's events were related to him. Even if they were transported back directly, they might not be able to submit to him.

That's actually not so bad. The most important thing is that Instructor Lang is also Portuguese. If he knew about this, he would definitely accuse him of betrayal. So of course, he has to make everything seem reasonable.

"Shen Er, take some brothers and sail back to Hong Kong Island. Have Instructor Lang bring his men over as soon as possible," Chi Honghai ordered.

Having received the master's instructions, he turned and ran towards the ship.

Looking at this group of Portuguese, their eyes were still filled with fear. Apart from knowing that they had been sold to the merchant in front of them, they did not know what their fate would be. Of course, they probably guessed what their fate would be.

They transported a lot of African specialties before they came to the East.

"Untie them," Chi Honghai said.

"Master! There are more of them than we are. What if they cause trouble if we untie them?" Pang San was puzzled by his master's actions and full of worry, trying to dissuade him from doing so.

"I said, loosen their grip."

Despite his own worries, Pang San could only follow Chi Honghai's repeated emphasis and led his men to do as he was told. They went forward, turned the Portuguese around, and cut the ropes binding their wrists with their knives.

"Alright, you're free now." Chi Honghai clapped his hands, making a crisp sound, his tone very calm.

The Portuguese looked at each other, wondering what this man wanted. They knew that, judging from Moore's attitude, they were traitors, destined to be either executed or enslaved. Since he had managed to get them from Moore, he must have spent a lot of money, and it was probably to make them his slaves.

But now, they say we are free. What's going on?

"The one lying on the ground, as you all know, was currying favor with the Spanish royal family and betraying the interests of the Portuguese. Although this has nothing to do with me, the Spanish occupied the land of my Great Ming, and I couldn't stand this man. Most of you wanted to take revenge on the Spanish, and I can see that. Now that this damned thing is dead, and I've saved you from the Spanish, you're free. Do I need to say it a third time?"

"I've already sent Lang over by boat. He'll lead you around Macau. I won't worry about anything else."

Chi Honghai's move can be considered a strategic retreat.

First, the Portuguese had all their supplies taken away, including their ships.

Secondly, their own country is gone. They were able to trade and maintain contact before because they had resources and supplies, but now that the Spanish have come and gone, all of that is meaningless.

However, since Haojing was not their own territory, everything they did was monitored by the Guangzhou government, and they really didn't have the resources to do these things.

Even if Giuseppe Castiglione came, there would be no way to stop him. Although he was free, if things continued like this, he would soon be eating tree bark, and soon after that, he would go to meet God.

But who would be willing to accept that? First of all, people have a will to live. They would never willingly walk down a path that they know will lead to their death, unless they are mentally ill.

Moreover, the country is no longer a country, all because of the Spanish. They've been holding back their anger for a long time, and even in death, they'll still want to cause trouble for the Spanish and vent their frustration.

Unfortunately, I had some skills a while ago, but now they're all gone.

To say that the great kindness of being saved could overcome the previous barriers, the Portuguese completely forgot about Chi Honghai's earlier confrontation with Gray. After all, they had been secretly unhappy for a long time about their superior's obsequious behavior towards the enemy.

"Sir, we can't stay here. Could you please take us in?"

Chi Honghai chuckled: "Take you in? So you're abandoning your affairs in Macau?"

"There's nothing left here, and there's no more supply to come. The Spanish might come back and raid us again someday. They can't stand to see us Portuguese doing well. We hope to work with you and make something of ourselves."

"Follow me? What for? To do business?" Chi Honghai asked.

"Either way is fine, either way is fine. In business, we Portuguese are no less capable than the Dutch and Spanish! Our merchants are all over the world! Our brothers have all sailed here, and they have a wealth of maritime experience!"

"What if I want to settle accounts with the Spanish?"

Settle accounts? Settle what accounts? The Portuguese clearly didn't catch the unspoken meaning in the Chinese.

"He owes you money, let's go get it together!"

"No, no, no, I'm the one who wants their lives."

These words, though startling, were even more inspiring. The Portuguese present had imagined countless times the moment when they would personally kill the Spaniards, but unfortunately, they had never been able to do so. Now that there was someone who could lead them to avenge the destruction of their country, they would definitely follow him. Moreover, as long as they could get revenge, they would follow him unconditionally.

What puzzled them was why Chi Honghai, who had just been standing with the Spaniards, was now so determined to kill them. Was it just because they had occupied Ming Dynasty land?

Chi Honghai's reply to them was simple: "They not only occupied the land of the Ming Dynasty, but also persecuted the people of the Ming Dynasty. Some of my brothers also died at their hands. Now they can be said to be our common enemy."

"Of course," the Portuguese readily agreed, "we'll take the opportunity."

Pang San, sensing something was amiss, asked his master, "Master, what did you say to them? Why do they seem so grateful to you? Shouldn't they hate us?"

"What do you know? What do family feuds and national hatred matter compared to what just happened? Besides, just because we didn't like him, did they like him? If nobody liked him, what was the point of his death?"

Pang San scratched his head, not quite understanding the reasoning behind it, but he knew that this was a good thing for the master. After all, no useless people should be left in Hong Kong, especially these foreigners, who all brought some skills and would definitely be of great use.

Two days later, Instructor Lang led his brothers from Hong Kong Island to Macau in three boats.

When everyone met, they missed each other dearly, but Instructor Lang was filled with even more questions.