Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 226

The Adventures of Zheng He and His Army
Ying Wa Primary School, Tong, Colin - 11
An entourage of armada stood at the harbor, waiting for this extravagant journey to inaugurate. A drizzle fell
cloaking the raven black sky and the smell of gunfire enticed the soldiers’ nostrils followed by impending
rain. Zheng He strode forward without any qualms. The adventure would commence. I stood on the ship,
acutely feeling guilt in my heart. I would leave my hometown and my family, but it had happened and was
now water under the bridge. Farewells were bidden and the ship left. I would fight for China’s peace.
Other sailors reciprocated the same feeling. Homesick and seasick, we endured the onslaught of
intrepid storm. Nautical miles from home, we sat in terse silence every night, trying not to throw up.
Finally, one day, ‘Land Ahoy!’ there came the shrieks of the excited crew. Zheng was thrilled. Before I
could say anything, a gale ruffled the ship and I suddenly felt myself being torn up by a magnetic force.
I was inordinately shocked awake. It seemed that several doors of my dark side had opened. I suddenly
found that I was not in my own drab room, but in a commodious room full of maps! ‘Mr. Zheng, the ship
is almost ready for the sail!’ a voice said. Immobile as stone, I digested the crew’s words. I suddenly knew
what had happened. I had exchanged identities with Zheng He! I ran to my room and found a man in a
state of irreparable confusion, Zheng He. He was stark white with fear. Then he spoke. ‘Mister, we faced
terrible storm hours before. Now we have exchanged identities, I hope you can help me to be the leader. I
will be you. You are a brave warrior, and I know you can face adversities like this.’
We had arrived at the first port at Champa. We exchanged goods to the leaders there and got animals
(an ambitious sign) and silk, and we set sail again, every soldier filled with nourishment. This time, we went
to Java, Malacca, Aru, Calicut, and other places. I was crossing the Indonesia waters when we spotted Chen
Zuyi and his gang. Notorious and nefarious for their guns, tales said that their gunfire could practically
masticate a person in seconds by lack of blood.
We were out of luck when we crossed their way. They launched an attack. The discordant sound of
gunfire clashed. My forces fought back like a Tasmanian Devil unleashed, unbeknownst to Chen Zuyi who
was evading into a rowboat, I swung a sword at him. We won in our first battle.
Awaken, I found myself on the deck of the ship. I was a regular sailor again. The ship had boarded at
China.
I was on the fleets on the fourth voyage. Being an opportunist, I had a platoon of men following me.
63 ships and a myriad of 28000 men was commandeered to the Persian Gulf. I was on the deck of the ship
when I felt a foreboding sense. The same sense I had felt on the first journey! I fell into a deep sleep.
I was a doctor on the ship. I was in a daze as I looked at the uniform I was wearing. A doctor! I was
clearly on the lower deck of the fleet. Seasickness was the matter of debilitating illness. Every person lying
there was emaciated. I helped those who had severe injuries and were hapless.
The next day, I was back in my room.
What had caused me to turn into different people?
Years later, I found myself on the Ming treasure fleets for the last time. Embroiled in a dire matter, we
had to leave at once. The fifth time was most latterly due to exorbitant demands from the king. Fortuitously,
we were going to Africa. First to Aden at the mouth of the red sea, then onto the east coast of Africa.
Stopping at the city states of Mogadishu and Somalia and Kenya. There, I met my lover. She was the cream
of the crop. Impeccably dressed in traditional African clothes, I loved her with my heart. She boarded our
ship. Her smile that could rival the sun, her manicured fingers, her serenity, were all feigned. One stormy
night, when the onyx black waves splattered against the ship, her men she brought aboard attacked the crew.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing. She had been sent by the African king, who had appeared congenial and friendly
with our ambassadors, but when I saw my wife’s true colors, I knew what had happened. The mendacious
king must have wanted to usurp the rights of China and rule over China. Fortunately, we had exchanged
some silk for gun-fire but we lost the battle. Alas I had lost my beloved, who was buried at sea during the
sea. That night I prayed in bondage of the Africans, to let me win the battle one more time. Suddenly, a
gale ruffled myself and I was whisked away. Stupefied, I sat up and noticed that it was sunset, just like hours
ago. Time travel! Posse of man was alerted and men regurgitated the message to all people. Hence, we were
prepared when my wife and her men attacked. Imprudently, she pulled out a knife. ‘Die!’ Alas she was too
slow – I had killed her with sorrow. The others were consigned back to China and would be beheaded back
to China.