Lord of the Southern Seas

In the late Ming Dynasty, the maritime ban in Fujian cuts like a knife—farmers are driven to banditry, and fishermen turn to piracy. When ports are open, pirates become merchants; when ports are closed, merchants become pirates. According to his grand blueprint, his path is clear: seize ships, conquer ports, take Taiwan, dominate the seas, build cities, produce salt, and gather refugees. Eventually, with a fleet of a thousand sails, he will launch a northern expedition to Beijing, sweep the Eight Banners back beyond the Shanhai Pass, and restore the glory of China. However, in the spring of the fourth year of the Tianqi reign, his immediate concerns are far more grounded: How many taels of silver is the cargo on that smuggling ship ahead worth? And where can he flee after robbing it so he won't be swallowed by Zheng Zhilong, blasted by Dutch warships, or exterminated by the imperial forces?