According to Article 152 of the Great Qing Legal Code, those who opposed ritual propriety—such as sorcerers, cult leaders, and advocates of heretical doctrines—were all guilty. Those who spread forbidden books, bewitched the people, deliberately sowed fear or incited riots through proclamations, or privately printed, distributed, or publicly preached seditious texts were all guilty.
Nick opened the note again. Just as he was about to burn it, he hesitated and withdrew his hand.
This was evidence. If someone truly intended to create chaos, then the garrison troops should at least be warned.
Cao Xi was the commander's bondservant banner captain. According to the provincial graduate, the position was equivalent to that of a military adviser. He managed military registers, litigation, and other matters, but did not command troops. The main naval force was stationed in Huizhou. In the seventh year of Kangxi's reign, it had been disbanded because Guangdong's waters had been peaceful and uneventful. Only in recent years had it been stationed again at Humen because of the pirates.
The Qing Dynasty had never placed much importance on naval power. The weapons aboard its ships were mainly spears and sabers. According to a British "hostage" who had once been kidnapped by Zheng Yi and later ransomed for 7,654 Spanish silver dollars, the pirates' equipment was in an entirely different league from that of the Great Qing navy. That was why they not only repeatedly defeated government troops, but could even inflict heavy losses on the Portuguese fleet and blockade Macau until it was nearly out of food.
They had camps in Hong Kong, as well as shipyards, and they drew upon advanced science and technology. Once, when they exchanged fire with a British warship, they discovered that the British were firing twenty-four-pound cannonballs. A few months later, the pirates'