Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 200

The Chinese army were armed with fearless men, and protected their city like an unbreakable shield. But as
many men were attacking from either side, our Chinese soldiers were taken aback, and were destroyed as
the soldiers fell, like rain from the rolling seas above.
“All they wanted, was for us to repay them with acts of kindness.” I advised the troubled emperor. So as the
battle raged on on the battlefield, we steered our way through the crowd, fulfilling their needs. Cries of
happiness erupted as the smiling faces of the soldiers merged into one. As I was the one who sailed the seas, I
knew their deepest needs, it wasn’t greed, it was a matter between hunger and death. We didn’t sail off
giving them gifts, we gave them to the needy, so they could survive to see another day.
The following day, a huge ocean of people gathered around The Royal Stage. The air was still, silence was
all around. My heart thumped heavily against my chest, to every word the emperor said. Finally, as the
emperor agreed to continue the mission of the Ming Treasure Fleet, the silence was shattered by a joyful
atmosphere.
My chest swelled with pride like the billowing masts as the ship glided on the smooth steady waves into the
adventure waiting ahead.