Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 196

The Amazing Journey
Western Academy Beijing, Guo, Hayley -9
In 1405, I was 18 years old. I had experienced an amazing journey. I had joined the largest naval fleet in the
world. We are not PIRATES! We aimed to build new alliances with other countries and extend the
influence of China.
The emperor had appointed the remarkable commander to construct the treasure fleet. It was consisting of
many treasure ships, warships and support ships. Treasure ships had carried gold, silk and other precious
items, also the chief commander worked there; Grain ships carried rice and food for the crews and soldiers;
Support ships were very important as well, all diplomats, trade officers, medical staff, interpreters, financial
staff, administrators and other staffs were on these ships. Our expeditionary fleet had seven voyages over
three decades, from the coast of the Indian Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa. I was extremely excited to
go sailing with hundreds of ships and several thousands of people together in the floating city each time. I
worked on the Diplomatic boat; I was an envoy who had made relationships with other places. It was one of
the important positions in the fleet. I had attended the first voyage, the second voyage and the fourth
voyage.
My first voyage was beginning. It was a real challenge. We visited Champa, Siam, Aru, Melaka, Ceylon, the
island of Java and Calicut with 27,800 sailors, marines, interpreters and other crewmembers. We met many
friendly people and brought them a lot of valuable gifts. However, when we arrived at Java, there was the
Civil war and mistakenly killed more than 140 our soldiers. This situation was so sad and scary for me to see.
Unfamiliar geographical location, the variable weather and communication problems made us more
dangerous, we need to be more organized in the future. When we were returning homewards, the fleet
encountered evil pirates. They tried to snatch the precious objects from us, but our warships led the charge
in the battle and soldiers were super brave. They killed 5000 pirates and burned more than 10 pirate ships.
After back to China, the foreign envoys from some of these countries visited China to present their tributes.
Soon after, we departed for our second voyage. We sailed to Champa, Siam, Java and Calicut in India. This
time, we landed on Java again. We need to settle the enmity between our country and Java. Finally, the king
sent an envoy to the China court to admit guilty for killing our soldiers last time. When we stopped at the
coast of Siam, got out of our ship there were many very poor people and didn’t have enough food to eat
and some children had died with hunger. Then we went back to our grain ships and got them some rice and
meat to feed their family. They felt so happy. After that my colleagues and me got the permission to meet
their king to present with gifts to offer as a sign of friendship. Finally, the king had appointed their envoy to
China for making trade relationship.
The last time I went with the fleet was in 1413. This time was an unforgettable time for me. When we
docked our ships in India, I was extraordinary sick, my face was turning as green as a cucumber and my
body couldn’t hold itself as wobbly as a jellyfish. I felt weaker and weaker every day. I believe I was going to
die. Even the doctor in our fleet couldn’t make me well again. My friends were very worried about me and
went to the local doctor please come and see me. The brilliant doctor had given me a traditional medical
soup; I had to drink it twice a day for a week. After that, I was ready to go back sailing again, however I was
so sad to leave my new friends I had made during my sick days. They will always stay in my heart forever;
they gave me my second life.
After stopping at the principal ports of Asia, we went further west to Hormuz on the Persian Gulf. While
we were sailing, I saw the most amazing beautiful sights ever, the sea was golden only when the sunshines
on it, it was also glowing and charming delicate, besides there was a cave full of pixie dust that was like
magic. Then, we arrived at Malindi. At the first, our fleet had frightened the local people, as the largest
wooden ship had appeared, they thought we were pirates. They never saw the fleet as large as ours. I had to