Pirates of the South China Coast

Giang Bình (present-day Jiangping town [zh] in Dongxing, Fangchenggang, Guangxi, China) was known as a pirate hotbed at that time.

They came to Giang Bình by boats to do business, though the private maritime trade was restricted by Chinese government.

Giang Bình located near China–Vietnam border; it belonged to Vietnam since Lý dynasty, later, it was ceded to China after the end of the Sino-French War.

Nguyễn Huệ, one of Tây Sơn leaders, crowned the Quang Trung Emperor, and defeated the invading Chinese army in 1789.

They were able to block sea routes, and harassed the coastlines of South China (Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu) frequently.

Three important pirates, Mo Guanfu, Liang Wengeng and Fan Wencai, were captured by Nguyễn lord.

Emperor Cảnh Thịnh fled to Thăng Long (present-day Hanoi), in there, he planned a counter-attack.

Most of pirates did not supported Tây Sơn dynasty, they fled back to China secretly.

Zheng Qi get involved in the siege of Đồng Hới, but his fleet was defeated in the mouth of Nhật Lệ River.

Unlike Tây Sơn emperors, the new crowned Gia Long started to suppress the pirates.

In September 1802, Nguyễn army destroyed the pirates' lair in Giang Bình, captured Zheng Qi and had him executed.

Not long after, Zheng Laotong surrendered to Chinese government, actually there were six gangs joined the alliance.

Ladrones Islands (present-day Wanshan Archipelago), Hong Kong and Leizhou Peninsula became pirate hotbeds.

Now Red Flag Fleet had 30,000 men and several hundred vessels, it became a big threat to Qing China and Portuguese Macau.