Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 104

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voyages
St. Mary's Canossian School, Liu, Rachel - 11
Looking up to the bright blue sky, a young lad sat on the deck, taking a break. He was meeting with Zhou
Gong when…
“Land ahead! Throw the anchor, we are getting close!” the lad’s friend, Old Chan shouted. The lad woke
up in a fright. “L..a..n..d, finally…” He stammered with joy. He hadn’t smelt any dirt for 2 months and 18
days already! This was Leung’s first journey but had already been Old Chan’s fourth. Old Chan had been on
board the Treasure Fleet since Zheng He’s first expedition. “Are you slacking off again, Leung Yue?” “I’ve
finished all my work… And how many times have I told you not to call me by my full name, old man?”
Chan chuckled as the Treasure Fleet stopped rocking.
Leung and Old Chan were from the same village and he heard that Old Chan was going on for another
adventure. Old Chan had, by that time, risen to the rank heading the caretaking of livestock. Yes! Zheng
He took a lot of livestock on board before setting sail to ensure the dietary requirement for his crew could
be satisfied while they were at sea. Leung had thus begged Old Chan to take him on board. Old Chan,
unable to withstand Leung’s constant bombardment, gave him a job on the fleet --- assisting Chan to take
care of livestock on the ship. That’s how Leung became a shipmate for this voyage.
Leung, given his low rank, stood far behind Zheng He as he followed him off the ship. A man whose skin
was as dark as coal welcomed Zheng He with arms on his chest and spoke in an unknown language. “Do
you know what he is saying?” Leung whispered to Old Chan, who was examining the area in great
curiosity. “Of course….Not a clue…” Old Chan replied. Leung was amazed how Zheng He could
communicate with the man.
“Soldiers! This is the Patriarch of Malindi! Respect this man the same as you respect me. Take out our
finest silk and treasure!” Zheng He commanded. Old Chan and Leung both stared in awe as the soldiers
carrying fine china, stacks of jade, several coral trees, piles of silk and boxes of gold and silver stood in line.
The Patriarch’s eyes glinted a spark of excitement. After the soldiers had placed the goodies with care,
Leung watched as the Patriarch spoke to a servant. Moments later, the servant came back, leash in his hand.
Behind him was a creature whose neck was long and thin. Its skin had brown spots and on its head, was
something that seemed like two mini deer’s antlers. The crowd didn’t know what to make out of this exotic
being when suddenly Old Chan shouted, ”It’s the mythical Qilin!” Murmurings spread through the soldiers.
“Is it really THE Qilin?” “It doesn’t look like the Qilin my great-grandfather told me when I was young.”
“I have waited for this day for so long! People said that you will SURELY rise to heaven after you have
seen it!”
“SILENCE!” Zheng He yelled angrily. His attitude completely changed when he turned his back towards
the soldiers and thanked the Patriarch with a big grin on his face for such a great blessing to have a Qilin on
the fleet. A few days later, after they had replenished their supply, Zheng He bid farewell to the Patriarch
and the Treasure Fleet sailed away from the port.
Old Chan and Leung were put in charge of taking care of the ‘Qilin’ since Chan was the Head of livestock
and Leung was his personal assistant. At first, they thought it was an honour but…
“Its droppings smell so bad!” Leung complained as he cleared the dung. “Quit complaining and make sure
the Qilin stays healthy and happy before we reach Shuntianfu, young man! Or else, your head won’t be able
to smell anything after we reach home!” ‘Clever’ Chan had used two fingers to stick up his nose, trying to
block the stench while Leung stuck his tongue out in a silly face.
What seemed like years later, they arrived back home on the eighth day of the seventh lunar month in the
thirteen year of Yongle, almost two years since they first set sail under the imperial order. A crowd formed
when the fleet parked in the port and the soldiers marched off in different directions, meeting up with their
wives, parents and children. There were tears of joy but there were wails for the fallen during the journey.
Leung was one of the first people off the Treasure Fleet. He found his wife in the sea of people and learnt
that she had given birth to a healthy son. “Where’s Old Chan?” an old woman asked Leung. His face
darkened. The woman buried her face with her hands,” N-no… He promised… His daughter is still at
home waiting…” “Surprise!” Old Chan appeared behind her, “Did I scare you, old woman?” She looked
up and cried,” I thought I had lost you forever…” she punched him on his chest and cried as Old Chan’s
fingers ran through her silky white hair…