Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 1 | Page 37

The Ming Treasure Voyages
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Puhar, Aaron - 8
A long long time ago, in the 14 th century, Zheng He commanded a colossal fleet of ships which set sail for
India, looking for a famous palace which housed fine supplies such as silk, gold, silver and other fine items.
Near the Indian coast, whilst looking into his telescope, the Captain spotted a mud-brown wooden ship,
with ten sleek while sails, just ten kilometres away. “That merchant must be affluent and ripe for the
picking.” Zheng He muttered to himself. He ordered his sailors to disguise themselves as merchants and
then, when they were close enough, they would put a heavy cannonball inside the old, bronze cannon and,
with an ear-splitting BANG, the merchant ship would crumple, allowing Zheng He’s sailors to steal all the
glittering gold.
As they neared their target, the sailors were as busy as beavers, one aiming a cannon at the merchant ship,
one colouring the sails in beautiful colours and changing the name of the ship, and one looking out to sea
with his telescope, checking for other merchant ships to steal.
Coming silently alongside, suddenly Zheng He signalled his men to halt the boat and ready themselves.
They loaded their guns, polished their swords and sharpened their arrows; they were ready. They all then
clambered carefully and quietly onto the merchant ship. A few seconds later, the captain of their target
vessel looked around and was astounded to see such a devastating sight. He Zheng He and his burly crew,
with mighty guns, swords, bayonets, and sticks, ready to charge. The sailors of the merchant ship were
frozen to the spot and all Zheng He’s men had to do was to tie them up.
After that easy battle, Zheng He told four of his sailors to keep guard whilst the others gathered all the fine
goods and supplies they desired. Hauling them from the merchant’s ship deck was not easy, but they finally
managed it. Drenched in sweat, they hauled all of the divine goods, food and other supplies onto their own
marvellously decorated ship, where some of the crew had already started celebrating with rum and a huge
feast at the grand table. Delicious smells of roast pork and rice wafted from the steamy kitchen, as they
wolfed down the sumptuous food in a trice.
A month later, upon arriving back at the lavish palace of the Chinese king, Zheng He and his men were all
awarded a gold bar each as a reward for finding such bountiful treasure. They were rapturously happy to
receive a compact, sparkling and extremely expensive 24 carat gold bar each – and so ended Zheng He’s
successful plundering voyage to India.