Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 75

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voayages
Creative Primary School, Wong, Oliver - 11
In a cold and windy night in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, huddled in a dirty
backstreet corner, a thin and small boy with only one eye plotting to change his miserable life. This
young boy, nicknamed ‘one-eye’ had been roaming the streets of Nanjing, begging and stealing since his
family and the village that he lived in was burnt down by a group of thieves. He lost one of his eyes in that
raid and was probably the only survivor of that village. He was always hungry and people chased him away
and called him ‘dirty beggar’. One day, he heard the town people talking about the great sea captain Zheng
He, who was planning his second sea voyage after the success of the first one. One-eye decided this was his
chance to change his life and wanted to join this adventure at all costs.
One-eye found out the location where the ship was to set sail and the night before Zheng He began his
journey, One-eye emptied one of the fresh water barrels and hid himself inside it. This barrel and the rest of
the supplies were bought to the ship.
After the ship sailed for a few days, One-eye quietly came out of the barrel to explore the ship. He tried not
to get noticed but the minute he was on the deck he got pulled up by one of the sailors. The sailor shouted,
“Who on earth is this boy and how did he get here?” Another sailor said, “We must bring him to the
captain!” One-eye was dragged to the captain’s office.
Zheng He asked, “Who are you and why are you on my ship?” One-eye replied, “Sir, I heard so much
about you and I really wanted to become your servant!” One of the sailors said, “There is no place for a
small boy with just one eye to stay on this ship! You are no use to us!” Another sailor said, “Let’s throw this
boy into the waters and feed the sharks!” A fat man said, “Master Zheng, it will be too cruel to throw him
into the waters! Let me keep him and he can work in the kitchen!” Zheng He took pity and agreed.
The fat man said to One-eye, “I am the cook of this ship and now that I have saved your life, you’d better
start earning your living by working in the kitchen!” One-eye worked day and night in the kitchen but at
least he had food to eat and a place to sleep.
One day, the cook shouted, “What happened to this fresh water barrel? Why is it empty? I must inform
Master Zheng immediately!” The cook went to Zheng He’s office and told him that the ship would run out
of fresh water in a few days! One of the sailors said, “Sir, I saw a plot of land in front of us! Maybe we can
go there and see if we can find fresh water!” Zheng He said, “I know this area is occupied by a group of
very hostile natives but I guess we have no choice but to dock in one of these islands.”
After a few days of sailing they found an island. Zheng He ordered the ship to dock and his sailors to get on
the island. One-eye was ordered to stay in the ship but he felt so bad because he had emptied the water
barrel. He really wanted to help so he quietly followed the sailors and got on the island as well. Shortly after
they landed, a group of hostile natives rushed out with bows and arrows and deadly-looking weapons and
started attacking Zheng He and his sailors. One-eye hid behind a rock while the fierce fight raged on.
Zheng He and his sailors (who were also trained as soldiers) had much better weapons and captured most of
the natives.
Zheng He said to the natives, “My name is Zheng He and I come at the order of the Emperor of the great
Ming dynasty. We come with good will and would like to barter fresh water with gold and silk.” One of
the natives stood up and said, “I am the leader of this island. Show me your gold and silk and I might
believe you come with good will.” Zheng He ordered the sailors to bring the gold and silk to show the
leader. The leader was so pleased he invited Zheng He and his crew to a feast held in the evening.
One-eye overheard the entire conversation and did not trust the leader. He decided to quietly follow the
natives and saw the natives put some white powder in the wine they prepared for the feast.
At night, Zheng He and his crew joined the natives for the feast and the leader raised his mug and said to
Zheng He, “Let’s drink to our newly founded friendship!” Zheng He was about to drink his wine and
One-eye rushed out and shouted, “Don’t drink!! There is poison in the wine!” One of Zheng He’s sailors
drank and fell to the ground. Zheng He was so angry that he ordered his sailors to kill the leader. The rest of
the natives were so scared that they kneeled and begged Zheng He to spare them. Zheng He promoted one
of the natives to become the leader and asked him to supply fresh water to them. He asked One-eye to
supervise the natives’ preparation of the water and as a good will gesture he gave the natives the gold and
silk he had promised them.
Zheng He was so grateful for One-eye’s assistance. He decided to take on One-eye as his apprentice and
trained him to become a sailor. One-eye followed Zheng He on all of his future voyages and became a
great sailor.