Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 4

Zheng He’s Bold Adventures Alliance Primary School, Kowloon Ton, Law, Joy In - 11 Spools of golden silk thread rolled back and forth in a wooden trunk as the ship rocked violently in the howling wind. In the stores, crewmen were busy tightening ropes to fasten the porcelain urns in place and covering other treasures with an extra layer of oilskin cloth. “Admiral Zheng, water is gushing into 285!” shouted General Wang as he scrambled onto the deck. “Do not fear. Abandon 285. Drop the sails and separate the ships,” replied Zheng He, the young leader appointed by Yongle Emperor. His steady command offered the only calmness at that turbulent moment. Wang, who was second in command, nodded trustfully and quickly got to work. By the time all the sails had been reefed, the crew was exhausted. While the men laid down to rest in their cabins, their nine-foot tall admiral stood alone under the mast, waiting for the first light of dawn. The fleet of nearly 300 treasure ships drifted about in the dark for another hour. The storm finally subsided. The sky turned from black to grey, then grey to gold. A while later, coconut trees along a coastline were spotted from a distance. “Land ahoy!” yelled the excited Zheng. The fleet sailed towards the shore. Anchors were dropped. Five ambassadors were sent to survey the island. Two came back, badly injured. “Admiral Zheng, Ma, Zhou and Hu were killed. The ruler and his men were fierce beasts. We were lucky to have escaped.” Zheng was shocked, saddened and angered by this report. He was still thinking over the next step when General Wang rushed in to report the fleet was by now confronted by a vast troop which hoisted a huge flag that read “Ceylon”. Zheng knew there was no choice but to rage a war. Bombs were fired from the Chinese ships. Twelve commanders then led eight thousand elite soldiers to fight the enemies on shore. The Ceylon soldiers had the fright of their lives. Vira Alakesvara, the ruler of the island, soon surrendered to the Ming army. Taken captive, the defeated ruler was sent to the Chinese Emperor along with some peacocks, Sambar deer, junglebowls and other exotic animals. The name of the Great Ming Empire began to reach far and wide. A few years later, another expedition took Zheng He and his crew to India. The local king there was amazed by the size of the ships. A splendid banquet was served to the visitors. Looking at bowls of brown and yellowish mixtures, one general whispered to Zheng, “How are we supposed to eat that?” “Not with a pinch of salt,” the Admiral joked lightheartedly. He liked this country very much, finding it a lot better than Ceylon. Towards the end of the feast, upon the command of the Indian King, barrels of herbs, spices and dyes were presented to the guests as gifts. In exchange, Zheng also offered the Indians stacks of delicate silk fabrics, barrels of tea leaves and a chest of golden coins. Drinking to the newly established friendship with the Indian ruler, the young diplomat had never felt more proud of his country. Zheng’s ships were on their way back to China when they were met by a fleet of four vessels carrying armed pirates. “We can smell treasures from miles away,” shouted the tallest of the pirates. “Now, tell me, shall we take the gifts or your lives?” To this, the Admiral replied, “You won’t take anything, but take care!” His generals promptly bombed all of the four pirate ships and captured the leader Pirate Chen. They tied him up and took him to Zheng. “I won’t allow you to keep on robbing ships anymore. You will be taken back to China and executed,” announced the great leader triumphantly. Back in the Captain’s cabin, Zheng was drinking a cup of hot tea. A map had been laid out on his desk. He dipped his writing brush in the black ink and put a circle around East Africa.