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 the Tay Son dynasty in 1788, and later became one of the most important subordinates under Chen Tianbao. From 1788 to 1799, Zheng frequently attacked the southern coast of Qing China together with Mo Guanfu, Liang Wengeng and Fan Wencai. The Qing navy feared them.
In 1795, Zheng Qi abducted a 12-year-old boy named He Song and raised him as his adopted son. A few years later, Zheng Qi gave him a captive female as his bride and seven hundred pieces of silver to set up store for the pirate trade. He would later bestow three ships under He Song's command.
Tay Son army was defeated by his rival the Nguyen lord in 1801, and his three comrades Mo Guanfu, Liang Wengeng and Fan Wencai were captured. Zheng Qi returned to his base in Quảng Ninh and did not want to get involved in the civil war. However, he was later persuaded by Chen Tianbao, heading his troops to Thăng Long to aid the king. He was appointed as the Grand Marshal by the Tay Son emperor 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 Nguyễn general Nguyễn Văn Trương, he had to flee back to his base area. In September 1802, he was captured and executed by the Nguyen dynasty.
His cousin Zheng Yi then took over.