Tolu Manatu Incident: Difference between revisions

Huang Mao attempted to convince his superiors at the company to fund the outfitting of an exploration party to corroborate the reports, but his request was denied on grounds of cost. He was also warned not to attempt to circumvent the company and go directly to court with his proposal, he would be forfeiting his employment and captain's license. Huang Mao was not deterred and decided then to carry out an unsanctioned expedition with his own ship, equipped at his own expense. In addition to his present crew, he recruited sixty men from his hometown and male members of his extended family. His group had forty muskets available to them, half of which were taken from a government armory after he bribed the quartermaster. Huang Mao's plan was simple: to sail north guided by the fishermen and claim the islands for [[Daxia]] and the governorship for himself (as was the custom of the time); should the islands be inhabited the locals would be enjoined to submit to his authority, or be destroyed if they refused. While Huang Mao lured a sizable complement of men with promises of riches, he did not disclose that in the case of returning empty handed, his insubordinate actions would likely see them all clapped in irons at best or facing a hangman's noose at worst.

[[Category:Daxia]]