Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 17

The Truth of the Ming Voyages
Carmel School Association Elsa High School, Gangaramani, Diya - 15
My name is Zheng He, I am going to tell my story. My real story. The story begins in 1402. I was thirty-two
years old and I was in a good place, socially, emotionally and physically. I was one of my emperor’s favourite subjects,
because of my loyalty to him and our empire, as well as my work ethic. He trusted me, which is something of great
value because this trust is what acquired me the position to command the Seven Voyages of the Treasure Fleet.
However, the chances are, you can read about these affairs in history books. I am writing to tell my story. My true
story. One that you have not heard before.
I grew up with four younger sisters and my father. Regretfully, my mother had passed away when giving birth
to my younger brother. However, he couldn’t survive more than a few days without his mother’s milk. At least, that is
what my father had told us. I was too young to remember.
When I was thirty-two years old, my father passed away. He had a heart attack and was in the hospital when
he passed away. He was in the disheartening hospital for a few hours before he finally died, but, minutes before his
death, he muttered the last words he would ever say “Your brother is alive. Honour your mother and I. I don’t know
exactly where he is, but I do know that he is somewhere along the Indian ocean. Find him, and bring him home.” I
was beyond shocked when I heard those words, but I had to spend the last few seconds with my father, while I still
could. He died two minutes later. I would miss my father like anything, but I would focus my grief on living up to the
task he set me up with. I had to find my nameless brother, no matter what it took.
* * *
At thirty-two years old, I was close to the Emperor. I was definitely very lucky to be in this position because it
is the reason that these events took place. I had to come up with a reason to travel through the Indian ocean. I managed
to come up with a good idea. I knew how much the emperor valued respect from other nations, so I thought of
delivering gifts to other empires would be a good suggestion. Little did I know that the Emperor would love this idea so
much, he would make it one of the biggest voyages of the era. Nor did I know that it would make me one of the most
known mariners in the world. And it was all to bring my brother home.
You can read about the voyages in any other book, so I’m going to focus on telling my story. I didn’t have
very much information on my younger brother. In fact, I hardly had any. All I knew is where he came from and that he
left in 1376. His birth certificate didn’t have my father’s name on it, so he wouldn’t have known my brother’s legal
name. However, I did know that adoption wasn’t that common during that time, so that was something that would
help.
During the first six voyages, I always found a way to slip away from my troops. I would say that I wanted to go
exploring the area, or that I had a meeting with a general or something of the sort. I would walk around, starting
conversations with people, and asking casually if they knew anyone who was adopted, or if they had heard any rumours
about this. Not a single person had anything of value to me over the course of the first six voyages.
The seventh voyage, however, was a different story. We travelled to a beautiful island, it was as if the breeze
was hope itself. By this time, I was fifty-nine years old and my health was not in the best condition. Yet, I was
determined to find my brother. I had to find him, even if it would be the last thing that I would do. The seventh and
last voyage took three years, and we visited seventeen different ports. It was exhausting, but I still made sure to travel
around each and every area we went to and asked around. I was beginning to lose hope. I desperately wanted to find
my brother but my body was failing me.
One day, I was absolutely exhausted when walking. My vision began to blur, and knees started trembling, and
I collapsed. The last thing I remember from that day is a small boy yelling frantically to his father to get help. The next
day, I woke up in a hospital. I opened my eyes and saw my head troop speaking with a doctor at the foot of my bed.
“He’s going to be fine, but he needs a lot of rest. I want him to stay here for a while. He’s not quite fit enough
to travel yet.” The doctor was speaking quietly, so I knew he didn’t think I was awake. I wondered how long I’d been
there. I tried to sit up and the doctor and my troop walked over to me.
“How do you feel?” The doctor asked, concerned.
“I’m okay but a little bit sore.”
“You’re going to stay here for about a week, and then I think you should travel straight home and rest before
you do anymore travelling.”
“Alright, thank you so much, doctor.”
“Thank you,” my troop said. The doctor smiled and left the room.
“I couldn’t get you a private room, but you’re alone in here until another patient checks in. I’m going to go
sort out some paperwork and write to the Emperor.” He bowed and left the room.