He was born Zheng Yaohuang in
Xin'an County,
Guangdong,
Qing China (modern
Shenzhen and
Hong Kong), in 1760. He was the seventh son of his pirate father Zheng Lianfu (鄭連福) and his wife Lin Xiu (林秀), hence the nickname Zheng Qi. Zheng Qi was recruited by the
Tay Son dynasty in 1788, and later became one of the most important subordinates under
Chen Tianbao. From 1788 to 1799, Zheng frequently attacked the southern coast of
Qing China together with
Mo Guanfu,
Liang Wengeng (梁文庚) and
Fan Wencai (樊文才). The Qing navy feared them. In 1795, Zheng Qi abducted a 12-year-old boy named He Song (何送) and raised him as his adopted son. A few years later, Zheng Qi gave him a captive female as his bride and seven hundred pieces of silver (
liang) to set up store for the pirate trade. He would later bestow three ships under He Song's command. Tay Son army was defeated by his rival the
Nguyen lord in 1801, and his three comrades Mo Guanfu, Liang Wengeng and Fan Wencai were captured. Zheng Qi returned to his base in
Quảng Ninh and did not want to get involved in the civil war. However, he was later persuaded by Chen Tianbao, heading his troops to
Thăng Long (modern
Hanoi) to aid the king. He was appointed as the Grand Marshal (Vietnamese:
Đại Tư Mã,
chữ Hán: 大司馬) by the Tay Son emperor
Nguyễn Quang Toản. ==Death==