Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 134

Enraged, the man who had spoken up earlier, demanding death of the sick, questioned, “它们可能会冒险感染你和我
们其他人/They could risk infecting you, and the rest of us too.”
Zheng He turned back to the sick men in his care and said, “保持朋友，而不是在危机期间成为敌人，是对我们人
性的最终考验/To stay a friend, rather than turn into an enemy during a crisis is the ultimate test of our humanity.”
With his orders, the crew worked as one to move their sick friends from the howling underground of the ship’s lower
deck, to the lavish rooms of their captain.
Over the course of the few days while they sailed to a land we now know as Vietnam every one of the disease struck
crew fully recovered. This would prove important in the days to come for the future of the Ming Treasure Voyages.
2. Part two : 禮 Li - order to life, actions create consequences
Two months later, Captain Zheng He has travelled to Brunei, Java, and Thailand. Laden with gifts from kind
governments after presenting them with China’s greatest gold, silver, porcelain, and silk, Zheng He had accoutered the
Chen Zuyi pirates. After a strained peace agreement somewhere near Indonesia the ships had parted ways.
A while later, maps, compasses, and other navigational tools were strewn about the captain’s desk as he furiously
scribbled down recordings of past ports into an eroded leather bound book. Brush in hand, ink delicately wrapped in it’s
strands, he reached to write as the first mate stormed into the room.
The captain looked up as a droplet of ebony ink bloomed on the paper underneath. Flustered, the first mate, Wang
Jinghong, scurried backwards, over his own feet, and back out the door, closing it during his retreat. A second later,
two rapt knocks reverberated through the wood.
Zheng He allowed his entry, raising his eyebrows curiously at the blustering man.
After accepting and dismissing Jinghong’s fervent apologies, Zheng He was finally able to ask the problem
“先生，投降的海盗刚刚袭击了宝藏舰队！Sir, the pirates that surrendered just attacked the Treasure Fleet!”
His eyebrows furrowed, the objects on his table precariously rattling as he strode over to the window. Spying the
creeping sun on the horizon, he replied Jianhong.
“将这个词传播到兵船和福船。我们必须准备好洒血。帝国不会遭受这种叛国罪/Spread the word to the Troop
transports and Fuchuan warships. We must prepare for blood to be spilt. The Empire will not stand such treason.”
Light languidly spilled across the sea and ships that prowled closer and closer. It were almost as if TianFei herself was
blessing the day to come.
Masts raised, winds buffeting, palms locked on sword grips, men systematically working the ropes, the tension in the air
was palpable. Out of nowhere, a rope was slung onto the main hull of the ship, imbedding itself into the wood. With
the raise of his sword, the blade reverently glowing in the morning sun, the soldiers charged.
Surging like a tsunami, pirates flooded the deck. Hissing through gnashed teeth, they were vagrant rats, scattering into
the chaos. Heads were cut off if they boarded. Fingers were hacked off if they went for the ropes. Hearts were shot
through by arrows if they survived the previous. For a fragile second, the violence was satiated, their bodies going limp
on the sharp end of a sword. But the pirates were nothing if not bloody determined. Hyena like, their movements
erratic, drunken almost, for they abhorrently tripped up soldiers before plunging a steel dagger into their backs. They
heinously spat globs of spittle into faces before knocking teeth out into a puddle of crimson waste on the deck. They
carelessly used fallen bodies as shields before throwing said body onto their foes, who gasped for a breath that rankled
with the taste of their crewmate’s coppery blood. The ocean was washed as read as a setting sun while the battle wore
on.
On the starboard side, the Captain was fighting off two malicious looking pirates who circled the captain with
contempt. Adjusting his stance, Zheng He attacked. Glinting metal scraped his opponent’s abdomen, drawing scarlet,
just as the second pirate went down for a stab at his calf which he quickly parried, throwing the man off. Snarling, his
first opponent kicked him from behind, to which he rolled over, catching a salty breath that stung his parched lips.