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 17 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

Under Edward Kenway

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 Macau to drum up business from the locals, only to be turned down by everyone. They were eventually approached by a merchant, who revealed that Madam Lee, Master Sun and the Far East Company had blacklisted them, making it near impossible to find clients. 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 and back for a business endeavor.

Accepting the job, Edward, John and Zhang used Rupiya's ship to sail to the Philippines. Upon reaching Manila, John went to party with the locals, from whom he 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 this to be a sign that the Templars were preparing to begin their search for the lost city of Angkor, though he decided against doing the same, choosing to focus on building up their reputation first.

As they prepared to sail back to Macau to complete their contract, Edward and his crew spotted a pirate ship attacking a Dutch East India Company vessel. Unwilling to let such an opportunity go, Edward ordered Rupiya and his men to attack the pirates, intending to take their ship as a prize. In the ensuing fight, Edward managed to board the pirate vessel and kill its captain, forcing the crew to surrender. However, as the ship had been damaged during the battle, it quickly caught fire and began to sink.

Upon being informed of slaves held in the ship's hull, Edward rescued them and escaped from the sinking vessel before it was destroyed when its powder kegs detonated. One of the rescued prisoners, Yun Pyeong-Gyu, turned out to be a Korean scholar and engineer who had come to the Qing Empire as an aide to a Joseon envoy, and his skills came in handy when Edward decided to escort the damaged Dutch East India Company ship to Macau.

After Yun fixed the ship's broken wheel, Edward and his crew sailed to Macau, where the Assassin offered Yun, alongside every other liberated slave looking for work, a place in the Zhang Wei Union. Yun accepted the offer and, to celebrate the recruitment of their latest member, John suggested they all go drinking.

Edward's departure

Eventually, Edward left Macau, leaving the Zhang Wei Union under the leadership of Zhang. Before his departure, the Assassin met with Zhang at the latter's residence in the A-Ma Cultural Village, where he entrusted him with a book. Zhang then assured Edward that his organization would remain in good hands, and promised that they would find a way to continue helping him wherever he was in the world.

Modern times

By the 21st century, the Zhang Wei Union had grown far beyond its humble roots, holding influence throughout all of Southeast Asia. At some point 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. Unwilling to abandon its "family," the company sent two of its members to rescue Noa.

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