Shi Kefa smiled. "Suppressing pirates is not difficult, in my view. Once the Wanli Sunshine arrives, what sea bandits could possibly stand against it?"
Shi Lang shook his head. "Lord Shi, you are thinking about the sea too simply. Clearing pirates is not something one ship can solve. Sailing on the open sea is nothing like traveling along rivers or hugging the coast. Sailors who are skilled on inland waters will be completely lost once they reach the ocean. Some will not even know how to tell direction."
"Oh?" Shi Kefa said.
"And the waters around Zhoushan are extremely complex," Shi Lang continued. "The coastline twists constantly, reefs are everywhere. One mistake, and a large ship will run aground and sink. Without detailed nautical charts or someone familiar with the routes to guide us, trying to wipe out the Zhoushan pirates would be incredibly difficult."
"I see," Shi Kefa said slowly. "In that case, after lunch, come with me. I will take you to meet some people."
Shi Lang froze. "People?"
He hurriedly shoveled down the rest of his food. He ate fast, but Shi Kefa ate slowly. The anxious Shi Lang ended up waiting a long while before they finally finished and left the camp together.
His curiosity grew stronger with every step.
Shi Kefa led him to a hillside outside the city. There had once been a wealthy gentry estate here, but the owner had moved away years ago. The compound had fallen into disuse until Shi Kefa rented it and converted it into the first prison in the area.
Inside the courtyard, forty three men were seated neatly in rows.
One glance was enough for Shi Lang to tell they were not good people. Calling them vicious-looking was already generous.
Shi Kefa lowered his voice. "These men are pirates I captured on my way here."
Shi Lang had heard rumors in camp. The Wanli Sunshine had destroyed several pirate ships under Liu Xiang and captured dozens of men along the way.
So this was where they ended up.
"Captured pirates are usually executed," Shi Lang said cautiously. "Yet Lord Shi is keeping them alive here. Could it be…"
He suddenly realized and brightened. "You plan to make them guide us to Zhoushan."
"You are quick," Shi Kefa said. "You figured it out immediately."
Shi Lang lowered his voice. "Pirates are cruel and treacherous. If we let them guide us, they might deliberately mislead us. If our ships hit reefs, they could jump into the sea and escape."
Shi Kefa nodded. "Correct. That is why we must first reform them ideologically. Come closer and listen."
Shi Lang walked to the gate and peered inside. He instantly froze.
The pirates were not simply sitting there.
They were attending class.
An ideological education class, exactly like the ones Shi Lang attended in camp.
The difference was in content.
Shi Lang's classes focused on themes like you are the people's soldier, you come from the people, love the nation and love the people.
The pirates' lessons, however, sounded more like this.
You have committed crimes in the past, but it is not too late to repent.
Turn away from evil and you can still contribute to society.
A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold.
You must become people useful to society.
You come from the people.
Love the nation and love the people.
Shi Lang did not know whether to laugh or cry.
So you are suffering this too?
Then again, after listening carefully, it did not feel like suffering at all. The longer one listened, the more stirring it became. Some slogans almost made him want to shout along.
He leaned closer to Shi Kefa and whispered, "Will pirates really take this to heart? What if they pretend to reform, then return to crime the moment they are released?"
Shi Kefa chuckled. "You are overthinking it. Look carefully at what is teaching them."
Shi Lang had not been able to see the lectern earlier. Now he adjusted his angle and looked.
His mind went blank.
Standing at the front was a painting.
Yes, a painting.
A painted immortal with an ethereal bearing and a handsome face.
That alone was not the terrifying part.
The terrifying part was that the painted mouth was moving.
Ink lips opened and closed. The paper rippled as it spoke.
This was horrifying.
No wonder the pirates sat straight as arrows, not daring to show the slightest hint of defiance.
Who would dare misbehave in front of this thing?
The painting finished a segment and grinned darkly. "Third row from the left, fourth person. Stand up and tell me what I just said."
The pirate trembled and sprang to his feet. "Tianzun, you said that women and children must never be harmed."
"And if they are harmed?" the painting asked.
The pirate shook violently. "Then you will slap us into minced meat."
"Very good," the painting said with satisfaction. "Sit down."
The pirate collapsed back into his seat, drenched in sweat.
Shi Lang turned stiffly. "L Lord Shi. Wh what is that?"
Shi Kefa did not answer, only laughed softly.
Then the Tianzun embroidered on Shi Kefa's chest opened his mouth and said, "That is me."
Shi Lang screamed.
"What are you afraid of?" Shi Kefa said calmly. "Have you done something shameful? This is Dao Xuan Tianzun, a true immortal. If you have done no wrong, he will not punish you. He will protect you."
Shi Lang swallowed. "A god? Not a demon?"
The embroidered Tianzun chuckled. "To the righteous, I am a god. To the wicked, I am a demon."
Those words settled Shi Lang's nerves.
He did not believe himself to be wicked. His father Shi Daxuan was known for charity back home and had lived an upright life. With no guilt on his conscience, why fear heaven?
He steadied himself, looked again at Dao Xuan Tianzun, then at the pirates who now behaved like frightened quails.
Understanding dawned.
These pirates had likely been terrorized daily by this immortal.
How could they dare harbor evil thoughts anymore? They were probably too scared to steal a neighbor's chicken for the rest of their lives.
"With pirates guiding us," Shi Lang said thoughtfully, "Zhoushan can be pacified in a single campaign."
Then excitement burst forth. "If we capture all the Zhoushan pirates, intimidate them, and put them to use, our militia will immediately have a navy."
Shi Kefa laughed and shook his head. "You are still a child, yet you learned intimidation so quickly. Not a good habit."