Cassie

It was divided into six fleets, each flying a different flag color and commanded by their own leader. Together, they ran the Red Flag Fleet, the largest in the confederation. While Cheng Yi led with authority and force, Cheng Yi Cao was the strategic mind behind their success.

It was divided into six fleets, each flying a different flag color and commanded by their own leader. Together, they ran the Red Flag Fleet, the largest in the confederation. While Cheng Yi led with authority and force, Cheng Yi Cao was the strategic mind behind their success.

The Qing government struggled to challenge their powerful confederation, which operated more like a floating empire than a criminal gang.

The Qing government struggled to challenge their powerful confederation, which operated more like a floating empire than a criminal gang.

The Qing government struggled to challenge their powerful confederation, which operated more like a floating empire than a criminal gang.

Yeah, that's a ton of people. That's a huge number, but it's also such a large number to control so well.

Yeah, that's a ton of people. That's a huge number, but it's also such a large number to control so well.

Yeah, that's a ton of people. That's a huge number, but it's also such a large number to control so well.

But yeah, part-time pirates don't give a crap. And also that's so funny, like part-time piracy. I just have always in my mind been like, okay, if you're a pirate, you're throwing your life away. And you're headed out to the high seas for the rest of your life, you know? And it's just like, no, actually, I do that at night. That's my nighttime job.

But yeah, part-time pirates don't give a crap. And also that's so funny, like part-time piracy. I just have always in my mind been like, okay, if you're a pirate, you're throwing your life away. And you're headed out to the high seas for the rest of your life, you know? And it's just like, no, actually, I do that at night. That's my nighttime job.

But yeah, part-time pirates don't give a crap. And also that's so funny, like part-time piracy. I just have always in my mind been like, okay, if you're a pirate, you're throwing your life away. And you're headed out to the high seas for the rest of your life, you know? And it's just like, no, actually, I do that at night. That's my nighttime job.

At night, I fly under a flag.

At night, I fly under a flag.

At night, I fly under a flag.

In China's patriarchal society, a woman in a position of power was extremely uncommon, especially for Cheng Yi Cao, who was suspected to have grown up lower class. Historians believe she was part of the Tonka people, an ethnic group who traditionally lived on boats, and therefore would have been exposed to piracy throughout her life.

In China's patriarchal society, a woman in a position of power was extremely uncommon, especially for Cheng Yi Cao, who was suspected to have grown up lower class. Historians believe she was part of the Tonka people, an ethnic group who traditionally lived on boats, and therefore would have been exposed to piracy throughout her life.

In China's patriarchal society, a woman in a position of power was extremely uncommon, especially for Cheng Yi Cao, who was suspected to have grown up lower class. Historians believe she was part of the Tonka people, an ethnic group who traditionally lived on boats, and therefore would have been exposed to piracy throughout her life.

She knew that being a woman in command of tens of thousands of pirates would make her vulnerable. So she solidified her authority by appointing Zheng Bao, Cheng Yi's adopted son, whom she later married, as commander of the Red Flag Fleet, while she oversaw the entire confederation from above. Again, playing chess. Or playing go. Playing chess. Whatever we want to say. Whichever, yeah.

She knew that being a woman in command of tens of thousands of pirates would make her vulnerable. So she solidified her authority by appointing Zheng Bao, Cheng Yi's adopted son, whom she later married, as commander of the Red Flag Fleet, while she oversaw the entire confederation from above. Again, playing chess. Or playing go. Playing chess. Whatever we want to say. Whichever, yeah.

She knew that being a woman in command of tens of thousands of pirates would make her vulnerable. So she solidified her authority by appointing Zheng Bao, Cheng Yi's adopted son, whom she later married, as commander of the Red Flag Fleet, while she oversaw the entire confederation from above. Again, playing chess. Or playing go. Playing chess. Whatever we want to say. Whichever, yeah.