Ching Shih was born in 1775, in Canton (Guangdong), Guangzhou, China. Her birth name was either Shi Yang, Shil Xiang Gu or Shil Gang Xu. She was a infamous pirate lord, referred to as "the Terror of South China", during the height of her career. She rose to fame as a prostitute, working in a floating brothel, in her hometown of Canton. Shih was known for her sharp wits and business savvy, as well as her penchant for intrigue and skill in the trade of secret information. Her nickname while she was a prostitute was, Shi Guang. The name Ching Shih, literally means "widow of Cheng".
Ching Shih eventually caught the eye of the notorious pirate Cheng I (Zheng Yi), who came from a long line of pirates. They married in 1801, when Ching Shi was 26, but only on terms that Shih would receive control of half of his pirate fleet. At the time of their marriage, Zheng Yi had 200 ships and was one of the most successful pirates in the region. Using tact and military strategy, Zheng Yi allied himself with other pirates in the area around Canton, therefore creating a major pirate force by 1804. His fleet was called the "Red Flag Fleet". On November 16, 1807, Zheng Yi died in Vietnam. He was 39, but some sources say he was slightly older when he died, about 42.
After her husband's death, Shih promptly beguiled her way to the helm of Zheng Yi's force, becoming the undisputed leader. She formed an alliance with her husband's step-son, Cheung Po Tsai with whom she quickly developed an intimate relationship with. Shih proceeded to gain the trust of the most influential members of her husband's family including his two nephews, Ching Po-Yang & Ching C'hi, who helped her gain the loyalty of other members of the family. Next she had to gain the trust of the pirate syndicate that her husband had created around him, she won over the most prominent captains, eventually winning over others as well. Shih made her lover & late husband's second-in-command, Cheung Po Tsai, the captain of the entire Red Flag Fleet, though she still held all the real power.
She began her piracy career, at the head of the largest pirate fleet in the world at the time. Her fleet consisted of about 1800 ships of varying sizes and about 80,000 men. While she was in charge, Ching Shih laid out a strict code for the men, to maintain order and discipline within their ranks; the code was enforced rigorously. Anyone who tried to give their own orders, that went against those of their superiors, were beheaded on the spot. A collective fund was set up, so the loot could be evenly distributed to members of the collective. Anybody withholding booty was whipped and then beheaded, even first time offenders; especially if they tried to keep a large amount of stolen goods for themselves. Deserters had their ears cut off. No pirates were allowed to rob the common fund or villages who supplied the fleet. If women were captured during a raid, the ones deemed unattractive were released unharmed, the ones that were deemed attractive were ransomed. Pirates who raped women were beheaded. Any pirate wishing to take a captive woman as a wife was allowed. as long as he remained faithful to her for life.
Within a relatively short time period, Ching Shih established herself as a dominating force in the South China Sea as well as other locations in that vicinity. In 1808, the Qing Dynasty government dispatched a naval expedition to defeat the Red Flag Fleet but were crushed. Reportedly, the Qing government had no ships left after this, as Ching Shih had them all captured. From September 1809 through January 1810, the Red Flag Fleet suffered a series of defeats by the Portuguese, who were stationed on the island of Macau. This series of battles is known as " the Battle of the Tiger's Mouth". This crippled the fleet making it impossible for Shih to continue buccaneering.
Following her defeat in the Battle of the Tiger's Mouth, Ching Shih accepted an offer of pardon from the Qing government, that allowed her and Cheung Po Tsai, to retire and keep the wealth they had collected from pirating. Most of the pirates in the fleet were pardoned as well, only having to surrender their weapons to gain their freedom.
Ching Shi and Cheung Po Tsai returned to Guangzhou & asked the governor of Guangdong, Zhang Bailing, to dissolve their relationship as step-mother & son, so they could marry. Bailing granted their request and witnessed the wedding ceremony himself. Together they had 2 children, a son & daughter. Cheung Po Tsai died in 1822 & Ching Shih moved back to her hometown, opening a gambling house and brothel. She died in bed, in 1844, at age of 64, surrounded by family.
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ching-shih-41396.php
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