Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 142

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voayages
Harrow International School Shanghai, Hui, Sabrinna - 10
“Grandpa! Grandpa! Please tell me another story!” pleaded 5 year- old Chang. “Alright, I will tell
you a story.” Said Grandpa. “ This story takes place in the Ming dynasty, where people ride on horses and
wheelbarrows for transport. People also travel by boat. Your ancestors were sailors, Chang. Only we know
this.” “Grandpa, can we please get on with the story?” said Chang impatiently. “Okay, okay. Be patient.”
THE MING TREASURE FLEET
Your Great-great-great-great Grandfather was a regular sailor. He went on many voyages. But
this voyage was like no other. During the autumn of 1405, he was selected to go on this maiden voyage led
by Zheng He. This voyage was to give gifts to other countries to make peace. Unfortunately in their time,
there were vicious pirates roaming the seas. But the most feared of all was Chen Zuyi and his ferocious
crew. So Zhu Di (the current emperor) demanded Zheng He to bring soldiers with him. On this voyage,
they brought a total of 4 ships. Your Great-great-great-great grandfather got a job to scrub the deck on
the leader’s ship.
They undocked the ships and set off on their journey. Their first destination was Champa,
Vietnam. They met the Vietnamese king, and handed them chests of gold and barrels of fine silk. Their
second destination was Java, Indonesia. They presented porcelain vases and priceless jewels. They saw
beaches with sand glimmering under the sun. They went to places around Southeast Asia like Malacca, Aru,
Semudera and Lambri. After leaving Lambri, one ship headed to the Nicobar Islands but the remaining three
ships continued to head to their seventh destination, Sri Lanka. The view was breathtaking. The ocean blue
skies were endless. The green plains were joined together, as if it were a carpet, smothering the land with its
bright colour. They soon embarked and set sail to their final and ultimate destination, Calicut. There, people
wore silk sarongs and turbans of different colours. Though they considered most foreigners to be barbarians,
they respected residents of Calicut for their honesty in trading. The fleet traded in the last of their vases, gold
and silk and finally headed back to China.
On the journey home, your Great-great-great-great grandfather saw a disturbing shadow come
towards them. The shadow came closer and gradually started to resemble a ship. He warned Zheng He
himself. After hearing this, Zheng He summoned a line of defence. As the fog cleared, the ship became
clearer. On the ship, a man with a cloak held a telescope scowling fiercely. “Shoot the arrows!” he barked.
This man was no other than the unmistakeable Chen Zuyi and his pirates. The pirate ship started to sail
closer. The arrows injured some of the sailors. The soldiers climbed on Chen Zuyi’s ship. The soldiers
battled with swords. The pirates lost miserably. And Chen Zuyi was ordered to walk the plank.
“After arriving back in china, the sailors went back to their families and friends. Your Great-great-
great-great Grandfather shared his tale with your Great-great-great Grandfather and he passed it on to
your Great-great Grandfather and he passed it on to your Great grandfather and he passed it on to me and I
passed it on to you.” Grandpa smiled. Chang stared in awe. “Chang, someday when you grow up and
become an old grandpa like me, hopefully you could share this story with your grandchildren and think of
me. Goodnight, Chang.” “Goodnight Grandpa.”