Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 115

After this battle, Admiral Zheng became so famous that his name was known as far as South
Africa. Many countries wanted to sign treaties with China because no one wanted to be their enemies! The
whole fleet returned to China and showed the head of the leader of the pirates to the emperor (which was
already kind of rotting), and gave him all the pirates’ treasure. In return, emperor Huang Jiang Ming Tong
elevated Zheng’s rank to second in command, only under himself.
Of course, there were more adventures, but those are stories for other days. China had
relationships with many foreign countries, states and cities, for instance: India, Arabia, East Africa and more!
(This was all written in Admiral Zheng’s diary and this is only one chapter in it). Here is another story
inside Zheng’s diary…
“This is our last journey, guys,” a navy soldier said. Admiral Zheng said this himself as he was getting
old and tired. On their way back from South Africa, they were running out of food supplies and they
needed food.
“Land ho!” someone shouted. Everybody looked. An island! But there were people on it! Admiral Zheng
was gambling because he didn’t know whether the islanders would be friends or foe. . And what a surprise
for them! They were extremely friendly and danced for the navy as well as served them drinks and fish. This
island would later be known as Hong Kong, but more on that later. The natives sang a song called “I Love
Dong Dong “which sounded like “I Love Hong Kong “so maybe that’s where the island got its name.
Some of the navy stayed and the others went back home. Sadly, on the way, Admiral Zheng died and the
whole of China wept and grieved for him. They built a statue and put a brass plaque that read “Zheng was a
hero. He lived well.”