Zhang Wei Union

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. This template should be removed from the article 03 January 2024.

The Zhang Wei Union is a merchant shipping company based in the city of Macau, China. It was established by the British Assassin Edward Kenway and his allies in the A-Ma Cultural Village in 1725. The company vowed to conduct business through ethical means, to bring people together and to protect its own members; as such, its unofficial motto was "We do not abandon our family."

By the 21st century, the company had extended its operations beyond Macau and established influence throughout all of Southeast Asia.

History

Establishment

In 1725, after inadvertently ending his partnership with Madam Lee, Edward Kenway decided to start his own organization in order to conduct his business in Macau and beyond without raising suspicion. Inspired by the the Pirate Republic he was once part of in the Caribbean, the Assassin vowed that his new organization would be an opportunity to unite people like a family, where they would be free to govern themselves and treat each other as equals.

Setting up his headquarters in the A-Ma Cultural Village, Edward decided that the organization would operate as a legitimate shipping company, naming it the Zhang Wei Union. He then began building it up by recruiting his various allies, including the Dutch navigator John Young, Zhang and his fellow villagers, and the former pirate Captain Rupiya and his crew.

First contract

Once the Zhang Wei Union had been fully established, Edward, John and Zhang traveled to the mainland to drum up business from the locals, but to no success. The three were eventually approached by a merchant, who revealed that Madam Lee, Master Sun and the Far East Company had all blacklisted them, making it near impossible to find customers. However, greateful to Edward for having previously defended his ship from pirates, the merchant decided to enlist his company's services to escort the same vessel to Manila within the Captaincy General of the Philippines.

Accepting the job, Edward, John and Zhang used Rupiya's ship to complete it, and the Assassin took the opportunity to train Rupiya's crew to be more effective with their weaponry. Upon reaching Manila, the merchant paid Zhang for a job well done while John went to party with the locals. In the process, the navigator learned that the Dutch East India Company and the Far East Company had recently begun recruiting people for an expedition in Southeast Asia.

Edward believed that this was a sign that the Templars were preparing to begin their search for the lost city of Angkor. However, he considered that they could not yet launch an expedition of their own, and instead chose to focus on building up their reputation. As they prepared to sail back to Macau, one of Rupiya's men spotted a pirate ship attacking a Dutch East India Company vessel nearby. Unwilling to let such an opportunity go, Edward ordered Rupiya to sail towards the pirate ship, intending to take the vessel as their prize.

Modern times

By the 21st century, the Zhang Wei Union had grown far beyond its humble roots, holding influence throughout all of Southeast Asia. In the 2020s, the company learned of Noa Kim, a descendant of Edward who had been kidnapped by the Templar company Abstergo Industries to explore Edward's genetic memories, and sent two of its members to rescue him.

Making use of a distraction in which the Abstergo security were blocked by several thugs, the two company members sought to convince Noa to leave with them. Wishing to uncover his family roots and history, however, Noa refused to leave with them, and was eventually let go after a brief scuffle. After the company members contacted their superior to let him know what had happened, he decided to respect Noa's decision and leave him be until he required their help.

Known members

• Edward Kenway (founder)
• John Young
• Rupiya
• Yun Pyeong-Gyu
• Zhang

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple