Juan saluted. "I will do as you command."
"Moreover, I will adopt you as my second son, after Big Tree. With those tokens of my good will, I am sure Captain Huang will come around, but if not, I will speak to him directly. How does that sound?"
Juan bowed. "I could not be happier."
"Write out your letter of resignation now, and I will make the announcement at dinner. I will take care of the rest."
∞ ∞ ∞
Since Zheng Zhilong had adopted Juan Cardona, he could act as his father insofar as the customary marriage rituals were concerned. He presented Captain Huang with Juan's "eight characters"—in essence the year, month, day, and hour of his birth. There was a certain amount of fudging here; Zhilong had asked an astrologer in advance as to what was the most auspicious hour on that day.
More fudging followed. Zhilong found out the name of the astrologer that Captain Huang favored, and Zhilong's agent made it quite clear to that interpreter of the heavens that his own future would be much more auspicious if he proclaimed that Juan and Mingyu had highly compatible horoscopes.
Then, as Juan's adoptive father, Zhilong presented the offer of marriage to Captain Huang, asking that Mingyu become the bride of his son Juan. The offer was delivered by a matchmaker, together with cakes and other gifts in red lacquer boxes. On each box were the characters signifying "double happiness," in gold ink.
Since Captain Huang was already related by marriage to Zheng Zhilong, and was also one of his employees, this offer of marriage was quickly accepted. However, the captain requested that the wedding be held in Anhai, and to this Zheng Zhilong agreed.
"Let the northeast monsoon bear us home, and bless the happy couple," he added.
Chapter 24
Anhai
Year of the Rat, First Month (February 7-March 6, 1636)
Standing stiffly in the reception hall of the Huang family home, Mingyu made a face. "Father, I will be able to go back to sailor's clothes after the wedding, won't I?" She was wearing a blue "phoenix crown" and a wide-sleeved red coat that reached down to her knees. A blue dress peeked out from underneath it.
"That will be up to your husband," said Captain Huang. "But if you are finding the bridal clothing cumbersome, just think how Juan feels."
That thought brought a smile to her face. She carefully put on the various accessories intended to protect a bride from baleful influences: the red veil over her face and a mirror hung around her neck.
Meanwhile at the Zheng family compound, Guan the Stork, the seventh oldest of the Zheng brothers, got on his steed with a bit of help from Zhilong the Dragon's Black Guard commander, Jelani. "Ready to meet your appointed bride?" he asked Juan, laughing. He was well aware that Juan and Mingyu had already spent much time together.
Juan had been required to abandon all outward semblance of European garb. He wore a red jacket with gold embroidery and a matching skull cap. However, he had a cross, hanging from his neck, hidden under his jacket.
Juan disdained any help as he mounted the horse that Zheng Zhilong had lent him; as a lieutenant, pardon, former lieutenant, in the Spanish army, he was comfortable on horseback. More comfortable on the back of a horse than on the deck of a ship, to be honest, although he expected that would change.
The other attendants, being junior to Guan, had waited patiently. Now they too saddled up. Even Big Tree, Zheng Zhilong's son, now almost twelve years old, was coming along on a pony.
"Don't forget this," said Jelani, handing a large closed basket to Juan.
Juan snorted. "How could I?"
They rode off as the Zheng family servants beat on drums, shouted, and generally made a great deal of noise.
It wasn't far to the Huang family house. The groom's party clattered to a halt in front of the gate, and Juan dismounted. Rather smartly, he thought, hoping that Mingyu was watching from somewhere inside.
Two bridesmaids stood at the gate. "Who seeks entry?" they demanded.
"Mingyu's prospective groom," Guan answered.
"We do not see his groom," one of the bridesmaid's answered. "He is supposed to be very tall, and you are a bunch of midgets."
'They are not all midgets," the other objected. "That one is very tall." She pointed at Big Tree. "Is he the groom, perhaps?"
Big Tree shook his head, then covered his face with one hand and pointed vaguely in Juan's direction with the other.
"This is a foreign vagabond! No doubt a pirate! We dare not admit him!"
Juan couldn't help but notice the irony that the bridesmaids of a pirate captain's daughter would refuse entry, even in jest, to a prospective groom on the ground that he looked like a pirate. But he waited patiently for Guan to handle the situation as custom demanded.
"A pirate? No, fair ladies, he is a respectable citizen!" Guan protested.
"If he is so respectable, then why does he look like he doesn't have two brass coins to string together?"
"Preposterous!" exclaimed Guan. "Why, here is a mere token of his wealth." He handed the first bridesmaid a red envelope. She opened it, to find there was paper money inside.
"What do you think?" the first bridesmaid asked the second.
"I still think they look like pirates," she said archly, "but they have lots of money, and a successful pirate is respectable."
The first bridesmaid gave a nod to the doorkeeper. "Please enter."
Since Mingyu's mother was dead, and she had no elder sisters, the wife of Huang Menglong, Mingyu's great-uncle, walked her to the inner door, saying "Be respectful. Morning to night, never deviate from the commands of your parents-in-law."
In the meantime, Captain Huang greeted Juan at the gate. Basket in hand, Juan followed him to the reception hall, the bridesmaids and groomsmen following.
Captain Huang went up the ceremonial steps and stood facing west. Then Juan went up the western steps and turned north.
"Now what?" he asked in a stage whisper.
From behind him, Guan the Stork muttered, "Kneel and take the offering out of the basket."
Juan kneeled reverently, put the basket on the floor, and opened it.
A live wild goose squawked indignantly from inside the basket then hopped out. It bit Juan on the shin. Juan grabbed his leg and howled.
"You didn't drug it?" asked Guan.
"No one fucking told me to do so!" Juan complained as he gingerly came back the way he had come. "I was just handed the basket and told that it was an offering. And that it was alive. No one told me that it was ready to do Satan's bidding at a moment's notice!"
By now the goose had mantled its wings at Captain Huang, forcing him back down too, and leaving the angry goose in possession of the dais.
"You were also supposed to decorate the goose with bright colored silk ribbons," added Guan.
"If you provide the ribbons, I will gladly do my best to tie them around the goose's goddamned neck and strangle it!"
"What's going on in there?" Mingyu asked her escort.
"It is perhaps best not to know," the older woman answered.
Mingyu thought about this for a moment. "No!" she declared, and thrust open the doors leading from the inner chambers to the reception hall.
It took a moment for the scene to sink in. The ship's captain and the garrison lieutenant, standing cautiously at the bottom of the stairs. The servants and attendants, with backs to the walls. And the Goose of Doom. Right now, it was pecking at every piece of furniture on the dais, apparently saying, "Mine! Mine! Mine!"
She started laughing. After a moment, Juan joined in. "What do we do about the goose?" It now was parading back and forth on the dais, like a ship's captain walking his own quarterdeck.
"Well, according to custom, we are supposed to take it to a nearby pond and leave it there."
"Really? I thought you were going to slaughter it and eat it."
Mingyu choked back more laughter. "The goose symbolizes the groom."
Guan added, "If the goose is quiet when presented, it means
the groom has a good personality. I guess this means you're a real hothead!"
"Father, have we observed the goose long enough?" asked Mingyu sweetly.
"More than enough. Show the bird the door and let it find its own pond," Captain Huang commanded the servants. They collected brooms and herded the goose out of the reception hall and into the courtyard. After a final critical squawk, it flew off.
"Let's get this ceremony back on course, shall we?" asked Captain Huang. "Juan, get back on the dais," he ordered, and did the same. "Mingyu, back behind the inner doors!" Then, "Madame Huang, bring in the bride."
Huang Menglong's wife brought Mingyu back into the reception hall, and Juan saluted her. All three then descended the western steps, Captain Huang remaining on the dais. Then they went out the outer doors and, after a glance around to make sure that the goose was not lurking in wait, Juan led Mingyu to her ceremonial conveyance.
Traditionally, the bride would have arrived at the groom's home in a red sedan chair. Thanks to the munificence of Admiral Zheng Zhilong, Mingyu was able to travel in even greater style: a red pedicab. The admiral had seen the one that the USE mission to China used and had bought one for himself, with seating for four passengers. Of course, it had to be specially decorated for the occasion.
He helped her, the two bridesmaids, and Madame Huang on board. One of the admiral's servants got off his horse, handed the leads to another, and clambered up to the cyclist's seat.
"Wait!" said Big Tree, "I want to do it!"
"Are your legs long enough?" asked Guan.
"Of course!" Big Tree protested.
They weren't, but at the sight of Big Tree's disappointment, Juan asked, "Is there any reason of propriety or safety why Big Tree can't sit in the servant's lap and hold the reins of the vehicle?"
"The handlebars, that's what the star-barbarians call them. And it is acceptable to me. Big Tree?"
The boy nodded vigorously, and the matters were arranged as Juan had suggested. Of course, the servant kept his hands on the handlebars, too.
Juan mounted his horse and led the way, followed by Mingyu and Big Tree's pedicab, then the rest of the groomsmen, and then Captain Huang and his attendants.
It was actually unusual by Chinese standards for the bride's father to attend the wedding. But that was hardly the only unusual aspect of this wedding. The bride and groom already knew each other, and the groom was a foreigner.
Since Zheng Zhilong had adopted Juan Cardona, the procession went to the Zheng family complex. However, it was understood by those who mattered that the bride's future home would be either the deck of the Golden Venture or one of the forts in Taiwan.
As they turned onto the side street leading to the Zheng family compound, the wedding party's way was blocked by people asking for coins or favors. Juan felt a sudden twinge of nostalgia as the commotion reminded him of Carnival back home.
Guan tossed out coins and beans, to the left, right and in front of the wedding party, and the crowd parted, leaving open the path to the gate.
Arriving at the gate, Mingyu was greeted by a fusillade of firecrackers. The Zheng servants stationed nearby laid out a green carpet for her to walk upon and helped her out of the pedicab. After she entered the outer yard, she was placed on the back of one of Zheng's female servants, who carried her over a small fire, to purify her.
Mingyu and Juan met again inside the Zheng family hall.
"How are you holding up?" she asked Juan.
"It's not much worse than enduring the siege of Manila."
"Wait until we're in private...." she threatened him.
"I am looking forward to it," said Juan smugly.
"Hmph," she said.
"So I'm the goose, huh? I certainly laid the golden egg for the admiral. Well, my miner did, at any rate."
"Just remember, a goose doesn't take a second mate," said Mingyu.
"I may have left Spanish service, but I remain a good Catholic."
It was time for the bride and groom to worship Heaven and Earth, the household gods, and the spirits of the groom's ancestors. That, of course, would have been rather awkward for Juan.
Zheng Zhilong coughed. "Since my adopted son is not sufficiently familiar with our language and customs, it has been agreed that I can stand in his stead for this part of the ceremony." Again, those who mattered understood that this was so the marriage would not force the Catholic Church to excommunicate Juan.
They drank wine served in porcelain cups tied together with a red cord, and then more firecrackers were set off.
While Mingyu was an only daughter, there were plenty of Zhengs and more distantly related Huangs, and those of Mingyu's generation were happy to escort Mingyu and Juan, with much teasing, to their new bedroom.
Mingyu and Juan knelt at the foot of the bed. Mingyu prayed to the Duke and Lady of the Bed, and Juan to his own God.
When time permitted, the two of them would go to Fuzhou so the Jesuit Father Aleni, who was well known to Zheng Zhilong, would marry them according to Catholic rites. But in the meantime....
They were married in the eyes of the Celestial Emperor, and the Duke and Lady of the Bed, which was good enough for Mingyu.
Cast of Characters
Abbreviations
CDT: Created down-timer
HDT: Historical down-timer
Zheng Family and their associates
ZHENG Zhilong (HDT)("Zhilong" means "Child-Dragon" and hence his brothers call him "Brother Dragon"), aka Nicholas Iquan)(1604-OTL 1661). Oldest of the Zheng brothers. Former pirate chieftain, now an admiral and head of a successful overseas trading family. Married to a Huang.
ZHENG Zhifeng ("Feng the Phoenix")(HDT)(-OTL 1657). Third oldest of the brothers.
ZHENG Zhihu ("Hu the Tiger")(HDT)(-OTL 1635). Fifth oldest of the brothers.
ZHENG Zhiyan ("Yan the Swallow")(HDT) Fourth oldest of the brothers.
ZHENG Zhibao ("Bao the Panther")(HDT)(-OTL 1661). Second oldest of the brothers.
ZHENG Zhiguan ("Guan the Stork")(HDT)(-OTL 1651). Seventh oldest of the brothers.
HUANG Mingyu (CDT), "niece" (actually more distant but not specified) of Zhilong, working as factor for her father in Manila.
Captain HUANG (CDT), Mingyu's father.
Cut-Nose (CDT), Captain Huang's "minder" for Mingyu.
Jelani (CDT), lieutenant in Zhilong's Black Guard.
Spanish in Asia
Sergeant Bautista (CDT), senior watchman on Corregidor.
Lucas de Vergara Gavira (HDT), castellan of Fort Santiago.
Alonzo (CDT), his aide.
Father Diaz (CDT), an Augustinian who speaks Japanese.
Juan Cerezo de Salamanca (HDT), Governor of Manila and Governor-General of the Philippines.
Juan Cardona (CDT), lieutenant in Manila garrison.
Francesco de Gallardo (CDT), fellow lieutenant in Manila garrison.
Hernando Gomez (CDT), fellow lieutenant in Manila garrison.
Alonso Garcia Romero (HDT), Sergeant-Major, Governor of Spanish Taiwan (Isla Hermosa)
Captain-General Mendoza of the galleon San Raimundo (CDT).
Captain Atondo of the galleon Concepción (CDT).
Domingo Aguilar, resident of Keelung in Spanish Taiwan (HDT).
Father Francisco Vaez (-OTL 1633 or 1636, see Mateo, Spaniards in Taiwan p. 241 n. 2), Dominican priest; arrived in Taiwan in 1626. (HDT).
Japanese-Dutch Invasion Force
ABE Masatsugu (HDT)(1569-OTL 1647), As of RoF, was judai (overseer) of Osaka castle and the city of Osaka. In OTL, was involved in the suppression of the Christian Shimabara Rebellion of 1637-38. In NTL, commander of Dutch-Japanese advance force in attack on Manila.
YOSIOKA Kuzaemon (HDT), spy sent to Manila in 1630, pretending to be a merchant.
HATTORI Momochi (CDT), ninja jonin (commander).
Norihiro (CDT), ninja chunin (officer).
Toshitsugu (CDT), ninja chunin.
Takino (CDT), ninja chunin.
Jak
ob Verhoeff (CDT), Dutch senior Captain, related to Admiral Pieter Verhoeff.
About the Author
Iver P. Cooper, an intellectual property law attorney, is married and lives in Arlington, Virginia . His two children have left the nest, but two cats rule the household with iron paws. Iver has received legal writing awards from the American Patent Law Association, the U.S. Trademark Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and is the sole author of Biotechnology and the Law, now in its twenty-something edition. He has frequently contributed both fiction and nonfiction to The Grantville Gazette. His braided short story anthology, 1636: Seas of Fortune, was published by Baen in 2014, and he has co-authored 1636: The China Venture with Eric Flint, expected to be published in late 2019. Iver is also an avid photographer, and a teacher of swing and international folk dancing.
The Chrysanthemum, the Cross, and the Dragon Page 16