Zheng Qi (pirate)


Zheng Qi was a powerful Chinese pirate operating from Canton and throughout the South China Sea in the late 1700s.

History

He was born Zheng Yaohuang in Xin'an County, Guangdong, Qing China in 1760. He was the seventh son of his pirate father Zheng Lianfu and his wife Lin Xiu, hence the nickname Zheng Qi.
Zheng Qi was recruited by Tay Son dynasty in 1788, and later became one of the most important subordinates under Chen Tianbao. From 1788 to 1799, Zheng frequently attacked southern coast of Qing China together with Mo Guanfu, Liang Wengeng and Fan Wencai. The Qing navy was very afraid of them.
In 1795, Zhang Qi abducted a 12-year-old boy named He Song and raised him as his adopted son. Few years later, Zhang Qi gave him a captive female as his bride and seven hundred of silver to set up store for the pirate trade. He would later bestowed three ships under He Song's command.
Tay Son army was defeated by his rival Nguyen lord in 1801 and, his three comrades Mo Guanfu, Liang Wengeng and Fan Wencai were captured. Zheng Qi came back to his base area in Quảng Ninh, and didn't want to get involved in the civil war. But later he was persuaded by Chen Tianbao, heading his troops to Thăng Long to aid the king. He was appointed as the Grand Marshal by Nguyễn Quang Toản.

Death

Zheng Qi got involved in the siege of Đồng Hới, and his fleet was defeated in the mouth of Nhật Lệ River by the famous general Nguyễn Văn Trương, he had to flee back to his base area. On September 1802, he was captured and executed by Nguyen dynasty.
His army descended into chaos after his death, and later, his cousin Zheng Yi succeeded him as the chief.