《Dolphin Boy》5
V. THE STORM OVER THE GOLDEN TREASURE
- 1. The News of the Treasure
The news of the golden treasure began as nothing more than a whispered rumor exchanged by several foreign merchants over drinks at Hualien Harbor.
That evening, the setting sun was sinking toward the horizon. One by one, the sailing ships in the harbor lowered their sails, while the wooden planks along the pier were dyed dark red by the fading sunlight. Several foreign merchants from different countries had gathered inside a modest tavern. Rum, dried meat, and freshly caught fish were spread across the table.
On the surface, they were discussing recent shipping routes, spices, and the prices of goods. But as the alcohol took hold, one of the Dutch merchants lowered his voice.
"Have you heard?"
He glanced from side to side before covering the corner of his mouth with his hand.
"There is... a cache of gold hidden somewhere near Hualien."
The noisy table suddenly fell silent for a moment.
The British merchant sitting across from him raised an eyebrow and deliberately laughed.
"Gold? Ive heard stories like that in every port Ive ever visited. Some people say theres a sunken ship beneath the sea. Others say theres a gold mine in the mountains. In the end, theyre nothing more than stories made up by drunkards."
"If it were only a rumor, why would I tell you about it?"
The Dutch merchant set down his glass, his expression suddenly becoming unusually serious.
"This isnt ordinary gold. Its a treasure of unknown origin. Someone has actually seen part of it, and... the people who know where it is are now in Hualien."
"Who?"
The man did not answer immediately. He merely tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
After a moment, he finally spoke two names.
"Risheng and Yue Niang."
Those two names were like stones dropped into still water, immediately sending silent ripples through the group of foreign merchants.
The news was never openly announced, yet it spread quietly like a snake hidden in the shadows, moving along the harbor, merchant ships, and sea routes. Before long, the information reached the Dutch East India Company at Pattaya Port.
On the day the companys senior officials received the secret report, the council chamber was brightly illuminated by candlelight. A huge nautical chart lay spread across the center of a long table, with Hualien circled in red ink. Several senior officers stood around the table, each wearing a different expression.
"Is the information reliable?" one of them asked.
The merchant responsible for delivering the intelligence lowered his head and answered, "At least three merchants have given the same account, and none of them knew that the others had received the same information."
The officer seated at the head of the table remained silent for a moment before placing his hand over Hualien on the map.
"Then this is no ordinary rumor."
Another official frowned.
"If we send out a fleet, the movement will be too conspicuous. Merchants from other countries will certainly notice."
"That is why they must not know that we are going there for the gold."
The man at the head of the table raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as a blade.
"And we certainly cannot let the people of Hualien know our true purpose."
In the end, a secret order was issued immediately.
An armed fleet commanded by General Welling quietly departed from Pattaya Port. The cannons aboard the ships were deliberately concealed beneath canvas and wooden boards, and the Dutch flags were not raised high in the manner customary for warships. From a distance, the fleet looked more like an ordinary convoy of merchant vessels.
But the cannons hidden inside the ships had already been loaded.
Welling stood at the bow, gazing at the gray-blue sea in the distance with his hands clasped behind his back.
"This time," he said quietly, "we are not here to do business."
The sea breeze swept across his face, carrying the salty scent of the ocean. Welling looked up at the darkening sky, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes.
"Find Risheng and Yue Niang."
"What if they refuse to tell us?"
The adjutant behind him asked cautiously.
Welling remained silent for a moment before answering coldly.
"Then make them remember."
The fleet headed north toward Hualien.
However, just as the Dutch fleet was gradually approaching Meilun Villages commercial harbor, a group of dolphins had already detected something unusual beneath the surface.
That morning, Risheng was inspecting the condition of the fishing nets along the shore. The seawater shimmered silver-white beneath the morning light, while a flock of seabirds circled back and forth above the rocks.
Risheng crouched down and was about to reach out to untangle a fishing net caught around a reef when he suddenly heard a series of urgent bird calls in the distance.
He looked up.
A tern plunged down from the sky, circled twice above his head, and then landed on a nearby rock.
Risheng frowned.
"What happened?"
The tern did not fly away. Instead, it repeatedly flapped its wings and called toward the sea.
At that very moment, a sudden splash broke across the surface.
Huanhuan appeared with several dolphins, leaping from the water before quickly diving back beneath the waves. They swam back and forth, displaying an unusual sense of agitation.
Risheng stood up, and an ominous feeling immediately rose in his heart.
"What did you see?"
Risheng was already familiar with their habits and calls. He watched as Huanhuan repeatedly swam toward the distant sea and then returned, making a series of intermittent squeaking sounds.
At last, he understood what she was trying to tell him.
There were ships.
And they were not ordinary merchant ships.
Rishengs expression gradually darkened.
"The Dutch?"
Huanhuan suddenly leaped out of the water and nodded.
Rishengs heart felt as though something had seized it in a crushing grip.
He knew that what was destined to come would eventually come.
The secret of the golden treasure could not remain hidden forever among the sea breeze and crashing waves.
"Go notify the other chiefs."
Risheng turned to the tribesman beside him.
"Call an emergency meeting of the village chiefs immediately."
Two hours later, the chiefs meeting was urgently convened in a wooden house beside the sea in Meilun Village.
Outside, the sea breeze stirred the grass curtains beneath the eaves, producing a soft rustling sound. Inside, the chiefs of the various villages filled the room. Some sat with their arms crossed and their brows tightly furrowed; others whispered among themselves, their expressions anxious.
In the end, everyones eyes fell upon Risheng.
Standing beside a wooden table, Risheng spread out a simply drawn map of the coastline.
"The dolphins have already detected that the Dutch fleet is approaching Hualien," he said gravely. "They have not entered the harbor directly. Instead, they are keeping their distance offshore."
An elderly chief immediately asked, "How many ships are there?"
"We cannot determine that yet. But according to the reports, several of the ships have unusually deep drafts. They do not appear to be ordinary merchant vessels."
A low murmur of discussion immediately filled the room.
A chief sitting on the other side slowly stood.
"If they really are Dutch warships, we cannot meet them head-on."
He looked at everyone. His voice was calm, but his concern was unmistakable.
"They have cannons. We dont. If fighting really breaks out, the first people to suffer will not be the Dutch. It will be our own people."
"So youre saying we should surrender?"
Ali suddenly raised his head.
"I didnt say surrender."
The chief shook his head.
"I mean that we should show weakness. Since they have come with hostile intentions, we should avoid provoking them for now. Hualien now has merchants from many countries coming and going, and none of them wants a war to break out here. We can ask the foreign merchants to intervene and arrange a three-way meeting."
"And then what?"
Ali let out a cold laugh.
"Whatever the Dutch demand, we simply give it to them?"
"If doing so can prevent a war, why not?"
"And if they demand the gold today, what will they demand tomorrow?"
Ali slammed his palm against the table, producing a heavy thud.
"They dare to bring a fleet here today and force us to hand over the gold. Tomorrow, they will dare to demand our land, our harbor, and even our people! Do you really think that if we give them an inch, they wont keep pressing us for more?"
The room suddenly fell silent. Alis chest heaved, clearly showing that he was angry.
“We are not without choices,” he said, staring at everyone and speaking word by word. “We can negotiate, but we cannot do so without preparation. Hide whatever needs to be hidden first. Move out any members of the tribe who need to be evacuated. Set up lookout posts along the coast, and have all the warriors prepare themselves. If the Dutch are willing to negotiate, then we negotiate. But if they truly intend to use their cannons to force us to surrender everything…”
Ali clenched his fist tightly.
“Then at least we must have a chance to survive.”
His words plunged the room into an even deeper silence.
For the first time, the voices calling for peace and those calling for resistance had become so clearly divided. Some feared that war would destroy the prosperity Huilan had built over the years, while others believed that once they bowed their heads, they would be placing their fate in someone elses hands.
Risheng remained silent throughout. As he watched the tribal chiefs arguing endlessly before him, he understood better than anyone what the Dutch fleet truly wanted.
Gold.
That batch of gold was like an invisible spark. It had originally been nothing more than a secret buried beneath the sea and deep within the passage of time. But now, because of greed and rumors, it had become a storm about to sweep across Huilan. And he and Yue Niang were standing at the very center of that storm.
Risheng slowly raised his head.
“Enough.”
His voice was not loud, yet everyone stopped speaking.
Ali looked at him, still unwilling to give in.
“Chief, what are you planning to do?”
Risheng did not answer immediately. He walked to the doorway of the wooden house and lifted the reed curtain. Outside stretched the vast sea. At the distant horizon, a mass of dark gray shadows was slowly emerging.
It was not a storm.
It was the Dutch fleet.
Risheng stared at the silhouettes of the ships. Suddenly, he remembered the time when he and Yue Niang had first arrived in Huilan. Back then, this land had been nothing more than an unfamiliar coastline to them. Now, however, it had become their true home.
He thought of the children running along the beach. He thought of the elderly sitting beneath the setting sun, mending fishing nets. He also thought of the tribespeople working hard in the fields and fishing at sea, asking for nothing more than peace and safety for their families.
He did not want all of this destroyed over a batch of gold. Even less did he want the various Amis communities dragged into war because of him.
Risheng turned around, his eyes sweeping across the familiar faces.
“We will accept the meeting.”
Alis brows immediately tightened.
“Chief…”
Risheng raised a hand, signaling for him to listen until he had finished.
“I will personally meet with the Dutch military representatives.”
“Youre going yourself?” Ali stood up. “No! If they came here specifically because of you and Yue Niang, wouldnt going to meet them be like handing yourself over to them?”
Risheng looked at Ali, without the slightest sign of retreat.
“That is precisely why representatives from the various foreign trading communities must be present.”
He pointed at the map of the sea.
“We will invite the British, French, German, and other foreign merchants doing business in Huilan to witness the meeting. The negotiations will be conducted openly, so they can serve as a restraint on the Dutch military representatives.”
“What if they refuse?” someone asked.
Risheng remained silent for a moment.
“Then we will prepare for the worst.”
The room fell silent again. Ali continued staring at Risheng, as though trying to find a trace of hesitation in his expression, but in the end, he found nothing.
Risheng had already made another decision in his heart.
If what the Dutch truly wanted was only the gold, then he was willing to hand it over.
The thought had been circling in his mind for a long time. No matter how precious gold was, it was nothing more than metal buried underground or sleeping beneath the sea. It could be exchanged for wealth, provoke greed, and even cause people to shed blood for it, but in the end, it was not life.
Huilan was what he truly wanted to protect.
The Amis people who trusted him and had lived along this coast for generations, as well as the home he and Yue Niang had worked so hard to build, were the true treasures he could not afford to lose.
Risheng lowered his head and gently ran his finger over Huilans location on the map. A clear thought emerged in his mind.
If surrendering the gold could calm the Dutch anger, keep the various Amis communities from being dragged into war, and allow Huilan to maintain its prosperity, then what did this batch of gold really matter?
It was ultimately only something outside himself.
“I have made my decision.”
Risheng raised his head again, his voice calm and firm.
“We are willing to negotiate.”
He paused and looked at everyone.
“But not because we are afraid of the Dutch. It is because we value the lives of the people on this land.”
Alis expression shifted slightly.
Risheng continued.
“If the Dutch military only wants the gold, I am willing to return it to them.”
A wave of startled cries immediately erupted throughout the room.
“Chief!”
“We cant do that!”
“That is gold!”
Someone even stood up.
Risheng did not yield. He simply looked at them quietly.
“Everyone, what we truly need to protect has never been gold.”
His voice was low, yet carried a force that made it impossible to argue with him.
“It is people.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the wooden house.
The sea wind swept over him, lifting the hem of his clothes. In the distance, the Dutch fleet was drawing closer and closer, its hulls appearing and disappearing through the sea mist like a group of black beasts closing in on Huilan.
Risheng stood on the shore, gazing at the approaching shadows, yet his heart was remarkably calm.
He knew that the real storm had only just begun.
And this time, he had to use his own choice to protect all of Huilan.
- 2. The Three-Party Meeting
In the afternoon, the sea breeze swept from the harbor all the way into the Meilun port district, carrying the salty taste of seawater and the heavy, damp scent of sails stirred by the wind. One foreign merchant ship after another lay anchored on the water. Thick mooring ropes tightened slightly with the changing tide, while the ship masts cast long, slender shadows beneath the setting sun. Several sailors were busy gathering ropes on the decks, and the occasional sound of wooden crates colliding could be heard, keeping the entire port district in an atmosphere that appeared peaceful on the surface but was actually filled with tension and hidden vigilance.
The Meilun Foreign Merchants Association was housed in a stone building just behind the docks, constructed with funds jointly provided by foreign merchants. Tall arched windows faced the harbor, and the flags of various countries hung along the walls. The corridors still carried the dampness brought in by the sea breeze.
Today, the entrance to the building was more heavily guarded than usual. Several foreign merchant guards stood outside, and no unrelated persons were allowed to approach.
On the surface, this three-party meeting had been convened and coordinated by the Foreign Merchants Association. In reality, everyone understood that this was a negotiation that would determine the future situation of Huilan.
A heavy wooden table stood in the center of the meeting room. The French representative, Mitterrand, sat in the chairmans seat, with the British merchant William and the German merchant Trudeau seated on either side. Several attendants stood behind each of them.
Mitterrands expression appeared calm. His hands were clasped together on the tabletop, but from time to time he raised his eyes toward the Dutch military representatives, clearly observing where the negotiations might lead.
The Dutch military was represented by General Welling, who sat at the front. He wore a neatly pressed military uniform, and his shoulder insignia glimmered coldly in the sunlight outside the window. Staff Officer Clay sat to his right, with a stack of documents beside him. His adjutant, Asberg, and operations officer, Donkonov, sat on either side, their expressions stern and their postures rigid with military discipline.
On the other side of the table, Chen Dongping represented the Amis people. Father Lester and Chief Ali sat beside him.
Chen Dongping wore no elaborate clothing, only a simple outfit. Sitting there, he appeared exceptionally calm. His hands rested naturally on his knees, and he showed neither deliberate hostility nor the slightest trace of fear.
But only he knew that this calm was something he was deliberately maintaining.
He understood clearly that not a single person sitting around this table had truly come for peace.
Especially General Welling.
The mans eyes were like a blade hidden inside its sheath. On the surface, he made no move, yet at any moment, that blade could be drawn.
Chen Dongping took a deep breath and shifted his gaze away from Wellings face. He understood that what they were truly negotiating today was not the gold itself, but who would still control their own fate after the gold was handed over.
Chairman Mitterrand raised his hand and looked at the representatives seated on both sides. After confirming that everyone had arrived, he slowly began to speak.
“Gentlemen, the Meilun Foreign Merchants Association has convened this three-party meeting in the hope that the dispute currently facing the Huilan region can be resolved without armed conflict.”
His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly throughout the meeting room.
“We are all engaged in trade in Huilan. No one wants this port to be consumed by war. Regardless of the final outcome of these negotiations, I hope that every representative here today will exercise restraint.”
With that, Mitterrand turned slightly toward General Welling.
“First, I would like General Welling, representing the Dutch military, to state his demands.”
General Welling did not speak immediately. He picked up the documents on the table, opened them to a particular page, and quickly scanned the contents before raising his head.
“The position of the Dutch military is very clear.”
His voice was deep and forceful, carrying the commanding tone characteristic of a military officer.
“We have not come to Huilan to interfere with the lives of the local tribes, nor have we come to disrupt normal commercial trade. The only matter that concerns us is the batch of gold.”
The meeting room immediately fell silent.
William and Trudeau exchanged a glance. Father Lester lowered his head and gently touched the cross hanging against his chest.
General Welling continued.
“The Dutch military has two demands. First, Chief Risheng must reveal the location where the gold is hidden. Second, Chief Risheng must accompany the Dutch military to the location of the treasure and personally lead us to recover the gold.”
When he finished speaking, the entire meeting room fell into a brief silence.
Chief Ali instinctively clenched his fists. He knew that once the gold was handed over, the Amis people would effectively lose their most important bargaining chip.
He turned to look at Chief Risheng, his eyes questioning.
Risheng did not answer immediately. He simply raised his head and quietly looked at General Welling across the table.
At that moment, the faces of Yunying, Ali, and the other tribespeople flashed rapidly through his mind.
If they refused, the Dutch warships might open fire immediately.
What could the Amis people use to resist them?
But if they agreed, the gold would fall into the hands of the Dutch military.
He knew that this was a negotiation with no true winner.
The only thing they could do was, when forced to make concessions, preserve as much of a chance for survival for the Amis people as possible.
Chen Dongping finally raised his head.
“I can agree.”
General Wellings eyebrows moved slightly. Even Mitterrand showed a hint of surprise.
Chen Dongping spoke calmly.
“I can tell you where the gold is hidden, and I can personally lead you there to retrieve it.”
Chief Ali suddenly turned toward him.
“Chief Risheng!”
Chen Dongping raised his hand and gently pressed down on Alis arm.
“Chief Ali, listen to me first.”
His voice was not loud, yet it carried a reassuring strength.
Chen Dongping turned back toward General Welling.
“However, since the Dutch military has put forward conditions, we also have corresponding demands.”
General Welling leaned back in his chair, folding his hands across his chest.
“Go ahead.”
Chen Dongping straightened his body, his expression becoming even more serious than before.
“First, whatever amount of gold remains must be counted and handed over according to the quantity currently in existence. No additional demands may be made afterward.”
Staff Officer Clay immediately lowered his head and began recording the statement rapidly in the document.
Chen Dongping continued.
“Second, once the gold has been handed over and counted, the Dutch military must not restrict the personal freedom of me or any of my people.”
General Welling did not answer. He simply stared at Chen Dongping.
Chen Dongping met his gaze without backing down.
“Third, and most importantly, once the gold has been handed over, the entire Dutch fleet must withdraw from Huilan. They may not remain here, nor may they obstruct the normal trade of Huilans port for any reason.”
After he finished speaking, the meeting room once again fell silent.
British merchant William gently stroked his chin, while Trudeau lowered his head and examined the documents on the table.
Mitterrands eyes moved back and forth between the two sides.
He knew that this was the real negotiation.
General Welling remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
“If the gold is indeed delivered, I can accept these three demands.”
Chen Dongpings eyes narrowed slightly.
“Does the general mean that you agree to all three conditions?”
General Welling looked at him and replied in a deep voice.
“The Dutch military accepts them.”
Clay immediately prepared the agreement in writing. Mitterrand also motioned for the two observers to step forward and verify the terms. William and Trudeau carefully reviewed the agreement and then nodded.
“The British merchants association is willing to serve as a witness,” William said.
Trudeau followed.
“The German merchants association is likewise willing to serve as a witness.”
Mitterrand picked up the document from the table and stood.
“Since both sides have reached an understanding, I hereby announce, on behalf of the Meilun Foreign Merchants Association, that this agreement is officially established.”
He pushed the document toward the center of the table.
General Welling reached for the pen and signed his name on the agreement.
Then Chen Dongping picked up the pen.
At the moment the tip touched the paper, his fingers paused for half a second.
No one knew how many thoughts had passed through his mind during that brief hesitation.
He knew that from this moment onward, he and the Amis people had temporarily avoided a war.
But he also knew that the real struggle over the gold had only just begun.
Chen Dongping finally signed his name.
When their signatures appeared side by side on the same agreement, Mitterrand quietly let out a breath.
“Then todays three-party meeting is concluded.”
The sound of chair legs scraping against the floor rang out one after another.
General Welling rose first, straightened his uniform, and left the meeting room with Clay, Asberg, and Donkonov.
Chen Dongping also stood with Father Lester and Chief Ali beside him.
However, just before leaving the meeting room, Chen Dongping turned back and glanced at the agreement on the table.
A difficult-to-describe sense of unease suddenly passed through his heart.
The agreement had been signed.
But in the Huilan port, a place filled with competing interests and ambitions, how long could promises written on paper truly last?
He did not know.
- 3. Yalati Strikes First
Less than two days after the three-party meeting ended, the news spread rapidly along the Huilan coast like a rising tide.
Tribal chiefs, Han Chinese merchants, and foreign merchants passing through the harbor were all privately discussing the meeting that had affected the situation in Huilan.
Some said that Chief Risheng had already agreed to the Dutch conditions. Others said that the Dutch military would temporarily refrain from using force against the Amis communities led by Risheng. Still others speculated that the gold treasure hidden deep in the mountains and forests of Huilan was likely the true prize everyone was fighting over.
By the time the news reached the foreign merchants inn, darkness had already fallen.
The sea breeze outside the inn carried a damp, salty scent through the half-open window. It made the candle on the table flicker constantly. The dim yellow light cast shadows across the walls, making them stretch and shrink, as though several invisible people were lurking in the corners, watching their every move.
Yalati sat near the window, his elbows resting on the table and his two rough hands clasped together in front of his chest.
After listening to the report brought by one of his men, he remained silent for a long time before finally raising his head and looking at Guangnan, who stood nearby.
“I never expected Chen Dongping to agree so readily.”
His voice was deep, and there was not the slightest trace of relief in it. Instead, it carried an unmistakable gloom.
Guangnan stood beside the table and pushed the window open a little farther, looking outside.
Several scattered lights could still be seen in the direction of the harbor. From time to time, the shouts of sailors carrying cargo could be heard, along with the sound of wooden boats striking against the dock as they rose and fell with the waves.
“Father, isnt this a good thing?” Guangnan turned back, his brows slightly furrowed. “Since the Dutch havent sent troops immediately, and Chen Dongping has agreed to their demands, at least no one is going to move against us for now.”
Yalati gave his son a cold look.
He picked up the wine glass on the table but did not drink from it. Instead, he slowly turned it in his hand.
“You still dont understand.”
Guangnan said nothing.
“We have been waiting for the situation to descend into chaos.”
Yalati placed the wine glass back on the table and gently tapped his fingers against the surface. His gaze grew deeper.
“As long as the Dutch army and Rishengs people start fighting, Huilan will fall into chaos, and then we will have a chance to find the gold in the confusion. But what about now? Chen Dongping actually agreed to negotiate, and the Dutch military has not put the pressure on the tribes that we expected.”
He suddenly stopped.
The candlelight flickered in his eyes.
“The water hasnt been muddied.”
Guangnans expression gradually darkened as well.
Yalati leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.
“If the water isnt muddied, we have no chance to fish in troubled waters.”
Guangnan looked at his father. After a moment, he finally asked,
“Then what do we do now?”
Yalati did not answer immediately.
He slowly stood up and walked to the window, pushing it farther open.
The Huilan coastline lay quietly in the distance beneath the night sky. Occasionally, the silhouette of a ship rose and fell with the waves.
To him, however, the dark sea beyond the window concealed not waves and wind, but a fortune in gold capable of changing his fate.
He had sacrificed too much over the years searching for that treasure.
He would never allow it to fall into someone elses hands in the end.
Nor could he simply stand by and watch Dongping and Yunying disappear before his eyes with the secret of the treasure.
“We cant wait any longer.”
Yalati finally spoke.
Guangnan stared at his fathers back, and a sudden sense of unease rose within him.
“Father, what are you planning to do?”
Yalati turned around, his eyes fixed directly on his sons face.
“We strike first.”
Guangnan froze for a moment.
Yalati returned to the table and placed both hands on its surface, leaning slightly forward. His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Chen Dongping will soon board the Dutch warship. Once he leaves Huilan, it will be nearly impossible for us to capture him. So before he boards the ship, we must take both him and Yunying.”
Guangnans eyes flickered.
“Both of them?”
“Yes. Not a single one can be left behind.”
There was not the slightest hesitation in Yalatis voice.
Guangnan remained silent for a moment, as if he had finally understood his fathers true plan.
He slowly walked to the table and placed both hands on its surface.
“But Chen Dongping has people protecting him. Taking both of them away wont be easy.”
“That is precisely why we have to act now.” Yalati straightened up, a cold smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. “They think the three-party meeting has calmed things down. They think the Dutch will not make a move for the time being. The more they believe that, the lower Dongping’s guard will be.”
He paused, and his eyes grew even more sinister.
“What we want is to keep them alive and make them lead us to the gold.”
Guangnan looked at his father and finally asked the most crucial question.
“What if Chen Dongping refuses to tell us?”
The room suddenly fell silent. Outside the window, the waves struck the shore again and again, like some heavy, slow drumbeat. Yalati picked up his wine glass once more and gently swirled the liquor inside.
“Then make him talk.”
“How?”
Yalati raised his head, his eyes as cold as a blade.
“Yunying will be in our hands. Dongping will have no choice but to tell us.”
Guangnan’s fingers tightened slightly. He understood what his father meant.
Yalati watched his son’s expression and slowly continued, “Chen Dongping may not be afraid of death, but he may not be able to stand by and watch Yunying die in front of him. As long as Yunying falls into our hands, he will know that he has no choice.”
Guangnan’s brow furrowed even more deeply.
“Father, are you going to threaten him with Yunying’s life?”
“Not threaten.” Yalati put down his wine glass, his calm voice making the words all the more chilling.
“We are simply making him understand that if he wants Yunying to live, he must tell us where the gold is hidden.”
Guangnan said nothing more. He knew that once his father made up his mind, he rarely changed it. Yet at that moment, he could not shake a faint sense of unease. If everything went smoothly, they might obtain the gold. But if they failed, they would not only anger the Dutch; they would also completely turn against Chen Dongping and the entire Amis community. However, when he thought of the legendary gold, his hesitation was quickly overwhelmed by greed.
“When do we make our move?” he asked.
Yalati looked at his son.
“Tonight.”
Guangnan froze.
“Tonight?”
“The sooner, the better,” Yalati said. “Tomorrow morning, Chen Dongping may board the Dutch warship. Once he gets on that ship, we will never have another chance.”
As he spoke, he walked to the wall, took several dark-colored garments and cloths from a wooden chest, and placed them on the table.
“Choose a few of your most trusted men. We cannot let unreliable people know our real purpose. Tell them that tonight we are simply going to capture two people. Anyone who acts without orders will answer to me first when we return.”
Guangnan picked up one of the black cloths and weighed it in his palm. His expression gradually became resolute.
“What about the ship?”
“It is ready.”
Yalati walked back to the table and spread out a rough map of the Huilan coastline. He lightly tapped the harbor with his finger.
“Once we have them, do not take the main road. Go through the alleys behind it, then circle around to the pier. The merchant ship is already waiting there. The men aboard will meet us. Once we are on board, head north immediately.”
“And after we head north?”
Yalati raised his head. His eyes passed through the dim candlelight, as though he could already see the merchant ship sailing away from Huilan with the wind behind it.
“Once we are out at sea, Dongping and Yunying will be entirely at our mercy.” A cold smile slowly spread across his face. “By then, we will have all the time we need to make Chen Dongping tell us where the gold is.”
Guangnan tucked the cloth into his clothing and turned to leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
“Father, what if my sister Yunying really refuses to submit?”
Yalati stood with his back to him and remained silent for a moment.
“Then let Chen Dongping make the choice for her.”
Guangnan stood at the doorway, looking at his father’s tall figure. He asked no more questions.
He opened the door. A night wind carrying the smell of the sea immediately swept toward him. The lights in the corridor flickered in the wind, stretching the shadows of father and son into long, distorted shapes. Guangnan stepped through the doorway, and his figure soon disappeared at the end of the dim corridor.
Yalati remained alone in the room. He walked to the window and stared at the pitch-black sea in the distance, his hands gripping the window frame tightly. The waves continued to churn in the darkness, while only one thought remained in his mind—gold.
This time, he could not afford to fail again. As long as he captured Chen Dongping and Yunying, he believed that the treasure—the gold that had haunted the dreams of countless people—would finally fall into his hands. What he did not know was that beneath this seemingly peaceful night, an abduction that would change everyone’s fate was quietly beginning.
4. The Midnight Abduction
The night lay heavily over Huilan. The moon was hidden behind thick clouds, and the sea wind blew from the darkened ocean into the village, rustling the trees outside. The lights at Dongsheng’s home had already been extinguished, and the interior was completely silent.
Dongsheng and Yunniang lay side by side on the bed, but neither of them was truly asleep. Yunniang turned over and looked at her husband in the darkness.
“Dongsheng, have you really decided to take the Dutch troops to Guishan Island tomorrow?”
Dongsheng remained silent for a moment before reaching out and taking her hand.
“This is the only way, for now, to keep the tribespeople safe. If we refuse, the cannons of the Dutch warships will be aimed at Huilan. Then it will not just be the two of us who suffer. The entire village will be caught up in it.”
Yunniang gently tightened her fingers around his hand, her eyes filled with concern.
“But I have a feeling things are not that simple. If those people truly believe the treasure is in our hands, they will not let you leave so easily.”
Dongsheng did not answer. In truth, Yunniang’s concern was precisely the deepest doubt in his own heart. He understood that the fact that General Willing was willing to suspend military action for the time being did not mean the Dutch truly trusted him. The agreement to go to Guishan Island was more like a mutually understood gamble.
He stared at the ceiling and thought silently that as long as he could protect the people of Huilan, even if he had to take a risk himself, it would be worth it.
However, while the two were speaking quietly, extremely faint footsteps suddenly came from outside.
Rustle—rustle—
The sound was broken and scattered by the sea wind. If the night had not been so quiet, it would have been almost impossible to notice.
Dongsheng suddenly opened his eyes.
“Who?”
He had just begun to sit up when the door was suddenly kicked open.
Several dark figures rushed inside like ghosts. The cloths in their hands were quickly pressed over Dongsheng and Yunniang’s mouths. Dongsheng struggled desperately, kicking the bed frame with both feet. Yunniang twisted and fought with all her strength, but the attackers had come prepared. Several strong men rushed forward and quickly bound the couple securely.
Yunniang stared at the men in black in terror, trying to cry out, but her mouth had already been gagged.
Dongsheng strained to make out their figures in the darkness. Then he suddenly saw a familiar face.
Yalati!
His heart sank.
“So it was you…”
Yalati stood beside the bed, staring coldly at him, a smug smile on his face.
“Dongping, I am sorry about this. You are taking the Dutch to retrieve the treasure tomorrow. How could I possibly let you leave?”
Dongsheng glared at him, fury burning in his eyes.
“You despicable bastard!”
Yalati was not angry. Instead, he laughed.
“History remembers the victor, not whether his methods were honorable or dishonorable.”
Guangnan stood behind his father, his expression somewhat complicated. As he looked at Dongsheng and Yunniang bound before him, a trace of unease suddenly passed through his heart. During these past few days, he had obeyed his father’s orders and watched Dongping and Yunying, but seeing this scene before him still filled him with an inexplicable heaviness.
Yet he did not stop his father.
Yalati waved his hand.
“Take them away!”
Several men immediately hoisted Dongsheng and Yunniang up and quietly carried them out of the house.
No one noticed that behind a cluster of trees not far away, a small figure was staring wide-eyed at everything that was happening.
It was Amida, the youngest son of Chief Ali.
He had simply gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the beach and check the fishing nets. He never expected to witness Dongsheng and Yunniang being dragged out of their home by a group of strangers.
Terrified, he quickly crouched down and covered his mouth with both hands, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Only after Yalati and his men had gone far away did he sprint toward his father’s home.
“Dad! Dad!”
Ali was awakened by the urgent cries. He threw on his outer garment and hurried outside.
“Amida, it is the middle of the night. Why are you so frightened? What happened?”
Amida was gasping for breath. He grabbed his father’s arm.
“Dad, I saw a group of men in black take Chief Dongsheng and Auntie Yunniang away!”
Ali’s face changed instantly.
“What did you say?”
“It’s true! I saw it with my own eyes!”
He immediately realized that something was terribly wrong.
“Gather the warriors!”
In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, more than a hundred Amis warriors had gathered outside the village. Torches flickered in the night wind, and every face was filled with anger and anxiety.
Ali stood at the front of the group and pointed toward the darkness to the north.
“Someone has taken our chief and Yunniang. They must be trying to take them somewhere else. Split into several groups and search along the coast and through the mountains. No matter what happens, we must bring our chief back!”
“Yes!”
The warriors answered in unison and immediately divided into several groups, pursuing different directions.
Ali watched the torches gradually disappear into the darkness. There was only one thought in his mind.
We must bring our chief back.
Meanwhile, Ali immediately sent someone to deliver the news to the Dutch fleet.
When General Willing learned that Dongsheng had been kidnapped, he immediately realized that the situation had completely spiraled out of control. He stood on the deck of the flagship, staring at the black sea, and gave a solemn order.
“All ships head north. Block the sea routes. Do not let them escape with Dongsheng and his wife!”
Twenty warships quickly turned their bows and headed north through the night.
At that moment, Yalati had already prepared an even more cunning plan.
He knew the Amis warriors would certainly pursue them. If they escaped on only one ship, they might be intercepted along the way. Therefore, he deliberately left several men behind, dressed them in Dongping and Yunying’s clothes, and had them sail another ship in the opposite direction.
“Remember, let them see you clearly,” Yalati ordered coldly. “As long as the Amis believe that you are Dongsheng and Yunniang, they will be fooled.”
The men nodded.
Guangnan stood nearby and could not help asking, “Father, what if they discover that they are impostors?”
Yalati gave a cold laugh.
“By the time they realize it, we will already be far away.”
The real Dongsheng and Yunniang were forced aboard a small sailboat. The night wind grew stronger and stronger. The sails billowed, and the boat shot northward like an arrow released from a bow.
The cabin was dark and cramped. Dongsheng and Yunniang were bound together, repeatedly thrown against the wooden boards as the boat rocked.
Yunniang whispered, “Dongsheng, what should we do now?”
Dongsheng gritted his teeth and struggled to remain calm.
“Don’t be afraid. We will find a way.”
Yet when he said those words, he himself was not certain.
Suddenly, a familiar figure flashed through his mind.
Huanhuan!
Dongsheng’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Along the journey, he and the dolphin Huanhuan had developed a special understanding. Those clever and lovable dolphins always appeared beside him at the most dangerous moments.
“Yunniang, I just thought of someone… No, I thought of a group of friends.”
Yunniang froze.
“You mean… Huanhuan?”
Dongsheng nodded.
“Only they can find us on this sea.”
He suddenly took a deep breath and began to sing loudly.
Yunniang stared at him in surprise.
“Dongsheng, what are you doing?”
“Don’t ask. Sing with me.”
Dongsheng deliberately twisted his body and sang inside the narrow cabin, even intentionally banging against the wooden boards and creating a series of loud noises.
Outside the cabin, Yalati heard the commotion and frowned.
“What is going on in there?”
One of his men laughed.
“That boy must have been scared out of his mind.”
Yalati walked toward the cabin door and was about to investigate when he suddenly heard a strange sound coming from the distant sea.
“Chirp—chirp—”
A dolphin leaped out of the water, drawing a silver-white arc beneath the moonlight.
Then a second one, a third…
Gradually, a large number of dark shapes appeared on the surface of the sea.
Huanhuan had arrived.
She heard Dongsheng’s singing and quickly recognized the familiar voice. She swam rapidly beside the boat, making a series of urgent calls, as though summoning her companions.
Dozens of dolphins quickly gathered.
Huanhuan turned at the front of the group and suddenly charged toward the small sailboat.
Bang!
The first group of dolphins slammed hard into the hull.
The entire boat shook violently.
Yalati staggered and grabbed the mast.
“What is happening?”
Before he could finish speaking, a second group of dolphins struck the other side.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The waves instantly surged, and the boat tilted violently.
“Steady the boat!” Guangnan shouted in panic.
But it was already too late.
Dozens of dolphins pushed forward from the same direction at once, like a well-trained force at sea, repeatedly ramming the hull.
The small sailboat could no longer withstand the violent impacts.
The entire vessel suddenly capsized.
Splash!
Everyone fell into the freezing seawater.
Dongping and Yunying were also thrown into the sea as the boat overturned.
Huanhuan quickly swam to the two of them.
Dongping surfaced and immediately grabbed Huanhuan’s dorsal fin, shouting excitedly, “Huanhuan! It really is you!”
Huanhuan let out a joyful cry and surrounded Dongping and Yunying with several companions.
Yunying finally breathed a sigh of relief. She reached out and stroked Huanhuan’s wet body, her eyes turning red.
“Huanhuan, thank you…”
As though she understood her words, Huanhuan affectionately touched Yunying’s hand with her snout.
Not far away, Yalati, Guangnan, and two of their men were struggling helplessly in the water.
“Help… Grab the wood!”
Yalati desperately clung to a floating piece of wood, his face pale.
He had believed that victory was already within his grasp. He had never imagined that in the end, he would be defeated by a group of dolphins.
Guangnan likewise clung to a piece of driftwood, soaked from head to toe. As he watched Huanhuan and the couple gradually disappear into the distance, he felt a deep fear for the first time.
“Dad… what do we do now?”
Yalati did not answer.
He simply clung tightly to the driftwood and stared at the dark sea.
In the distance, Huanhuan led dozens of dolphins as they surrounded Dongping and Yunying and sped southward across the sea. The waves shimmered silver beneath the moonlight, and the figures of the two gradually merged into the vast darkness of the night.
On the other side, Yalati, Guangnan, and the two men could only cling to pieces of driftwood, rising and falling with the cold waves.
The once-arrogant schemer no longer possessed even a trace of his former authority.
The darkness continued to cover the entire sea. Only the long, lingering cries of dolphins came from the distance, as though leaving the final echoes of this breathtaking pursuit.
Dongping knew that although they had temporarily escaped the storm surrounding the golden treasure, it was far from over.
~~The End~~
