Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 226

The Tale of a Soldier
Peak School (ESF), Yee, Ethan - 10
It was a weird day when I saw Zhang He become a eunuch and it was cruel type of punishment and they
still did it in public! It was so brutal since you could hear him literally wail as he get his private part cut off.
After the horrible sight I went back home and afterwards Yongle emperor, the leader of China at that time
was saying that everyone who was between 21 and 30 had to join Zhang He for treasure voyages around the
world and since I was 26 I joined and the first voyage was kind of weird. As I entered the huge boat on
Thursday 31st of May I felt shivers coming around because I wondered what am I doing as my part for
Zhang He? Then Zhang He came. He said. “Hello army soldier.” What soldier now I’m really scared.
“How could you say I’m an army soldier?” Zhang He replied. “Because of the badge your wearing.” I
looked at my badge I thought it was just a present from the Yongle emperor for joining but it was a badge
to address why and who I am and what I am doing. Then Zhang He gave me a longbow and I had literally
no fighting skills and I didn’t even know how to use a longbow. As the ship left I was just relaxing in the
underground bunker where soldiers were meant to be at. After a long few days of traveling Zhang He
shouted one thing I didn’t want to hear. “ATTACK! Everyone get into position!” I ran out not knowing
what I was doing and rushed out and saw people that were shooting are group with crazy longbows and
started hitting are ship with swords and axes. I hid behind a tree just because I didn’t know what was really
happening and the fact that I could hear hitting and shooting noises a mile away! Then I heard footsteps the
sound of that was making me afraid of what was going to happen then I took a look behind the tree and
there was someone probably trying to escape the war that was happening but he was coming straight at my
location so I shot one hit straight to the head and left him there and that was then I saw for the first time a
dead body and so I ran away in fear. As I ran away I saw a few warriors heading to me! I must run I thought
but then I saw one of my soldier buddies and he slice them and then the battle ended we won and they gave
us a pony? Well it has a long neck and it’s yellow with black spots. I then thought maybe it wasn’t but
Zhang He said. “This thing we have a unicorn!” A unicorn? Your out of your mind that’s a… uh what is it?
I didn’t really know what it is so I just said it was a unicorn. When we got back we also came back with
$1,000 that the warriors gave us and so we gave it to are people and rested until the next time we would
voyage. The next morning I woke up from a loud horn and I knew what that meant it was a gathering! For
what? I went into the courtyard and saw Zhang He standing beside the Yongle emperor who said. “I need
the people that was in the last voyage!” I came rushing towards them and said. “Why do you need us?” The
Yongle emperor replied. “Well because your going on another mission!” I asked. “Why though?” He said.
“Because if you brought $1,000 everytime I could get rich! RICH!”
“Aren’t you rich enough?” I asked. “No, I have the minimum that I can get but now I can get to the
maximum!” I thought wow he’s greedy alright and crazy too but I wasn’t going to say it or I would get
punished so I just kept it in my head. After the ship was ready we set off and I was ready but I was assigned
with a SWORD! I don’t know how to use that! I ran desperately to someone with a longbow and asked.
“Say, can I swap with you?” He replied. “No, or Zhang He would be very mad.” I gasped and realised it’s
hard to use a sword and it’s more easier to die since you have to go near them! I hid in fear instead of going
out and in 10 days we arrived at are destination. I looked out and Zhang He said. “Everyone are boat has
ran out of fuel and we made it here and now we’re stranded!” Then someone asked. “Where are we
anyway? Check your map.” Zhang He looked down at his map and he said. “We are in Europe.” Everyone
gasped and ran in circles in panic but I just hid in the same spot I was in until Zhang He said. “I see
something!” Then a boat arrived. Then the leader of the boat said. “We have came to the rescue.” Zhang
He then said. “We can’t have everyone on board with you.” Then the rescuers said. “Fine, we’ll take some
maybe we’ll leave the soldiers.” When I heard that I realised I should pose as a worker or crew member. I
took my sword and hit an unexpected crew member and so I took his suit and went on the boat and went
back to China. When we got back I knew I didn’t want to do it anymore so I said to Yongle emperor. “I
quit.”