The saga of a simple peasant girl sold into slavery to become one of the most powerful buccaneer leaders in the annals of history was the legacy of Cheng I Sao (Shi Yang), the pirate queen. Her life began as a simple child of a local fisherman in 1775 but he offered her for sale to a ship that contained women of ill repute and she was later shanghaied by a pirate captain Zheng Yi and given the choice of marriage or death. This upset her and her choice was to duel the captain in a rage with her particulars of marriage for a share in the plunder to which after he was impressed with her determination agreed to the terms. The marriage was made final in 1801 when she was only 26 years old and after his passing in 1807 Cheng I Sao ascended to the position of a pirate cartel. She had the backing of Zhang Bao who she not only adopted earlier but after a prolonged affiliation also married him.

Her rule led to the acquisition by 1805 of more than 400 ships and a total crew of approximately 50 thousand strong. She later gave birth Zheng Yi Sao two sons and one of her many accomplishments included a code of conduct for those under her command which include harsh punishment or even death for infractions such as stealing from the local people. The act of forcing advance on women meant certain death and desertion were frowned upon and ranged from the loss of an ear to beheading. She was able to obtain a pardon in 1810 in which part of her surrender was the retention of some ships for her and Zhang Bao. The life of piracy was not over for her and all that was left was to retire with wealth and peace until she died in 1844.