Making a God of War (Uesugi: Legednary, Domination)

[Maltz]

Book 3 God of Fortune

Chapter 20. National hero in making

On a hot summer day of year 1548, a small emissary ship lands in the shore of Great Ming (China)'s Shandong.
The threats of Japanese pirates have peaked in recent years.
As a result, Great Ming issues a ban of all sea activities - no fishing, no private trades.

Yet the Portuguese merchants ignored the ban - they opened a market on an island offshore Zhejiang.
The market thrived - it became a city of its own.
The Chinese army landed on that island this year.
They sealed the port with wood and rocks, burned down the city, and killed hundreds of Portuguese merchants.
Some of them escaped with their lives and went to Japan...

"Ha! A dwarf emissary from the dwarf country!"

(Note: Japan was called "Wo" in Chinese, meaning "short". Japanese were in average quite a bit shorter than Chinese. Shandong is famous for having tall residents.)

"She is really short!"
A Shandong tall man points at Maoko the Housekeeper's nose.

"Well... I was born this way. Nothing I can change about it."
Maoko shrugs. She speaks broken Chinese.

"Excuse me. How do you go to QI's (pronunced: CHEESE) village?"
"Why? You are an emissary. Shouldn't you go to Beijing?"
"I am not an emissary from Kyoto. I am here to visit QI's village."
"Well... just around the corner ahead..."

***

"DAMN the Wako is here!"
The kids run amok upon seeing Maoko.

"Er... uncle, I am looking for a young man in your village. His father is QI Jingtong, and his name is..."

***

Qi Jiguang (戚繼光 Pronounced: Chee Jee-Guaang) 21 years old): "Who are you?! I don't know you! Wako pirates are enemies! I don't talk to you!"

(note: QI Jiguang is a Chinese national hero, who defeated the wako pirates with revolutionary tactics.)

Maoko: "Well... not all Japanese are pirates. Just like not all Japanese like to eat fish. I don't like seafood at all."
Qi Jiguang: "Hm... What do you want?"
Maoko: "You are planning to take part in the martial exam in the village next year, right?"
Qi Jiguang: "Huh? No. I am not. I am not ready yet."
Maoko: "How come? Don't you want to beat Wako?"
Qi Jiguang: "I do. But I have no idea where to start. I cannot just head into the exam hall and sell them nationalism... like disputed ownership on some rocks in the middle of the ocean. That at most will make me a captain of sailors. I want to become a general."
Maoko: "Hm... yeah you have to show knowledge on a higher level. Why don't I share with you our experiences with Wako?"
Qi Jiguang: "Are you selling out your own people? I don't trust you."
Maoko: "Wako are not entirely Japanese... many of them come from China. And they are criminals! They are darn pirates! I think we can unite on this front."
Qi Jiguang: "Hm... OK. So what do you know about Wako?"