Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 40

Reconstructed
Dulwich College Beijing, Zhu, Kaleo - 14
Voyage 1: 序
Zheng He stirred swiftly, dredged from the void of a dreamless sleep and shunted into reality, and stridently walked to
the window, unable to remove the thought of the assigned edict he had received the previous day from his thought.
The construction of over 200 transport ships? And for what purpose? However, before he could ponder over the events
that occurred over the previous night and their purpose, he was then alerted by a quick knock on his door. Opening
the door, Zheng He found a courier (he surmised by the stranger’s clothing and the scroll clutched in his hand),
promptly taking the scroll and closing the door on the courier with a quick intonation of “Thank you very much”. As
he scanned the text, he ruled out the possibility of war, and was immediately further perplexed. Could it be for trade?
And if so, why not use existing routes like the Silk Road? Then, he decided to push aside skeptics after blindly inferring
for a week and decided to pay the Emperor a visit.
Just then, another courier scurried in front of him, declaring “The Emperor requires your presence”.
Months later, the later events passed in a blur; the sendoff-esque banquet on that fateful night having no alleviative
effect on the orders that rung in Zheng He’s ears hours earlier. No matter what doubts he had, the order was given, the
ships constructed. The voyage began the next day, with thousands assembled in Nanjing before Zheng He. As the
endless slews of vessels were unmoored and seen off, Zheng He looked ahead off the prow of the lead vessel with pride
and uncertainty to such an endeavor.
The surfacing kinetosis seemed to subside slowly, as the fleet sailed out of the coast towards its destinations, bearing
lavish gifts and letters set to forge the chains of trade between the motherland and the locations lying on pristine
horizons.
Following days of minimal report and views of infinite sea, the crew were alerted to the long-awaited sight of land.
Looking closer, Zheng He found a proto-metropolis of brick and ornate architecture past the shrouds of greenery on
the coast, eagerly anticipating the new sights and knowledge yet to entail this discovery. Making land on a worn dock
of partly-decayed wood, warped with the weight of crews upon crews of explorers and traders before now, the crew
debarked the lead vessel, bringing forth a scroll on the Emperor’s behalf and proceeded to head to the city that lay
beyond the verdant curtain in front of their eyes. After making it through the brief path (which cut through the forest),
Zheng he strode up to the decorated palace, where a guard-lined hallway waited, their goal just at the end of the
hallway, on the intricate (and quite noticeable) throne. Exchanging words, seals, and scrolls with the King, Zheng He
assured the King on the arrival of Chinese gifts to enlighten him on their native culture, which he jovially accepted.
Days later, the fleet, having given and received their share of items, bade farewell to the King, thanking him for his
hospitality, and continued the voyage. This process repeated, fascinating and exhausting Zheng He with the sheer
number of locations traveled to. Java, Malacca, Aru, Semadera, Lambri, Quilon, and Calicut passed in a wondrous blur,
imprinting the sights and experiences in Zheng He’s mind. However, on one occasion, they were forced to leave the
mountainous kingdom of Ceylon following the hostility by its rulers. That instance aside, the ships set a course to return
after reaching the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula, stocked with an abundance of never-before seen items from the
fruits of the crew’s dealings and labor.
One day, the homebound fleet encountered a motley fleet decorated with flags that seemed to send only one message
into the hearts of whoever approached: Pirates. Grabbing an eyepiece, Zheng He scanned the lines of ships for the lead
vessel, and instantly recognized the face of Chen Zuyi, ruler of the city of Palembang and pirate leader, infamous for
dominating the Malaccan Strait. After an exchange of message-bearing arrows in a final attempt to negotiate the pirates’
pacification, Zheng He unfolded the final note, deeming negotiation to be futile and preparing to attack.
Ordering his men to unleash a volley of flame-tipped arrows, Zheng He set his lead ship on a direct course towards the
enemy. The resulting crash shook the ship to its foundations, but the frame held firm. Zheng he, brandishing a sword,
valiantly led his troops onto the deck as his archers continued to pick off the minor vessels. Despite suffering injuries and
some casualties, Zheng He’s forces sunk 10 enemy ships and captured 7, along with Chen Ziyi for execution, restoring
peace to the Strait.