Zheng Qi (pirate)

Zheng Qi (Chinese: 鄭七; Wade–Giles: Cheng Ch'i; Vietnamese: Trịnh Thất, 1760 – September 1802) was a powerful Chinese pirate operating from Canton (Guangdong) and throughout the South China Sea in the late 1700s.

History

Zheng Qi was born in Xin'an County, Guangdong, China (modern Shenzhen and Hong Kong). His father Zheng Lianfu (鄭連福) was also a pirate. He 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 (梁文庚) and Fan Wencai (樊文才). The Qing navy of 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 (liang) to set up store for the pirate trade. He would later bestowed three ships under He Song's command.

Death

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 (mordern Hanoi) to aid the king. He was appointed as the Grand Marshal (Vietnamese: Đại Tư Mã, Han tu: 大司馬) by Nguyễn Quang Toản. Zheng Qi get 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 (Chinese: 鄭一) succeeded him as the chief.

See also

• Pirates of the South China Coast
• Zheng Yi
• Ching Shih
• Cheung Po Tsai

References

• Murray, Dian H. (1987). Pirates of the South China Coast, 1790-1810. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-1376-6.