The Era of Shanghai
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy , Picazo , Luca Kuok – 10
F
lowing through the ocean off the coast of Old Shanghai was a mighty ship dominated with cannons and a large band of heinous gruesome pirates . These horrid felons were the most feared pirates in all of China back then . They were on the coast of Old Shanghai for one reason , to take over a small part of China . The group of pirates was led by the most harsh of all , simply called Ping . He and his fellow mates tried to take over this city numerous times , failing every time because of the guards at the humongous moat that surrounded it .
Ping was only a boy , but his voice and the fire inside him was that of a strong man . When he was a little baby , his parents abandoned him on the street . A woman found him and taking pity on this poor young child named him Ping , meaning peace in Chinese . Although he was named Ping , he enjoyed playing with toy guns and pirates every day . When he grew older and found out he had parents that didn ’ t want him , he became angry . So Ping joined some pirates to cause chaos around the world , and went on to become a very bad pirate .
Old Shanghai was a small city on the coast of China , and the old town is where Shanghai stands today . The buildings were all different , some were houses that looked like they belonged in Europe , some were mud huts , and some were the styles of old Chinese buildings and temples . A big wall and moat surrounded the city on every side . The walls were up to ten meters high and all of the people who lived there always felt safe .
“ Ready the cannons !” Ping shouted , “ Yes , sir !” All the pirates croaked . “ Don ’ t call me sir !” Ping angrily shouted , “ Call me Ping .” The band of pirates had stolen ten diamonds worth of bombs and cannonballs during their past adventures , and they were the most penetrating and almighty cannonballs in the world . They were determined to take over Old Shanghai , and as the pirate band entered the clearing into Old Shanghai Bay , no one was guarding the gate . A thick mist lingered setting an eerie look over everything . “ Good , no one can see us due to this thick mist , and we have many cannonballs . The wall is so big , we can ’ t miss it !” Ping shouted in joy . “ Get ready for an adventure through Old Shanghai , we leave in exactly ten minutes , fire a few bombs at the wall . I don ’ t want to waste any precious cannonballs .”
Meanwhile , in the middle of the city , everyone was sleeping soundly . It was so early in the morning that no one even bothered to keep watch at the city wall gates , not even the guards , who were lazily slouched on the streets . Old Shanghai had just celebrated its 500 th birthday . The city ’ s stores still had the smell of food and it made some people want to go back in time and live the night of their lives again . This was not usual though , because everyday the guards and shopkeepers were awake at exactly five AM in the morning . This change had started after the colonization of China , when they had to make more money to pay taxes .
Out of nowhere came a loud Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Noise .
Everyone in the whole city immediately woke up . People were running all around the place , some were screaming , some were dizzily running left , then right , and then left again . The pirates emerged from the mist with their razor-sharp weapons , scanning the area with their sharp ink-black eyelids . They looked as though they were the most gruesome and unmerciful pirates in the whole world . A man with muscular arms and legs staggered a little bit , maybe because of the arsenal of weapons he was carrying . He mustered all of his will and walked up to the front , carrying his giant steel ball . As soon as he got to the front , all the women , men and children screamed and ran , they didn ’ t know where , all of them just ran with all of their might , they all just wanted to get away and tell the imperial army soldiers to protect their precious city .