Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 106

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voayages
International College Hong Kong, Chung, Adrienne - 11
One bright afternoon, Zheng-He observed the sailors as they hurried to complete their tasks as fast as
possible, desperate to avoid the beating of the searing sunlight. The sun looked like heaven just fell from
the sky. There were no clouds, and the air was dryer than sand. Their water supply was still plentiful,
which was a good thing. The water looked tempting as the surface gleamed with sunlight. The medics all
had their hands full because several members of the crew had all been knocked out by exhaustion. He
sighed, mildly exasperated at his crew’s laziness. They were heading back to the mainland, and everyone
was anxious to see their famalies again. He turned to his second-in-command. Even he was gazing
excitedly at the north side of the ship. “Alright, you can all have a break,” he shouted. The ship erupted
into cheers. “But,” he intergected, “You will have to send the message to the other ships first. Note that I
will tolerate absolutely NO slacking off after the break.” He shook his head. At least this trip was going to
be over soon.
Two days later, Zheng-He was straightening the regal robes the emperor gifted to him. He straightened his
back to show discipline, and walked into the room, bowing at the emperor’s feet. The room was hushed
instantly when the emperor raised his hand. “I, Xuan-De, award Commander Zheng-He the Medallion of
Light for his bravery, kindness and discipline. Let us see this as a parting gift as he sets off on an-” All of a
sudden, the emperor gasped and slumped over in his chair, before falling unconscious with a golden arrow
embedded in his neck. Instantly, Zheng-He was on his feet, sword in hand and alert. “The window was left
open!” he shouted. Just as he stuck his head out of the window, a glimpse of black cloth was whipped from
view. He looked around, then frustratedly tugged on his dark hair and asked, “Does anyone at least know
what the mission was supposed to be?” A shy messenger stepped forward.
“Um…excuse me Sir, I believe the Empress knows…”
Zheng-He watched silently as the Empress spilled out her secrets, staring at the floor, when something she
said caught his attention. “…He was so excited… he was planning to… it all happened so quickly -”
“Wait, what did you say?”
“Huh? I-I said that it all happened so quickly and that…”
“No, not that. He was planning…?”
The Empress laughed hollowly. “Oh, that. Yes, he wanted you to go to…uhh…um…Xushan. Yeah,
Xushan.” She laughed hollowly again. Zheng-He shivered and said his goodbyes, walking out the door.
As he prepared the ship for the trip, an uncomfortable messenger walked over to him with a strong-looking
man with long locks of dark-brown hair. “Commander Zheng-He, this is your new second-in-
command.”
“Why do I need a new second-in-command?” he asked, slightly curious.
“Second-in-command Yuan-Su is…err…not feeling very well.” Zheng-He straightened up and asked,
“How?”
“Um, he’s vomiting, sir.” Zheng-He cocked a brow.
“Vomiting?” That was slightly suspicious, as Yuan-Su never got sick.
“Yes, sir.”
Zheng-He sighed and dismissed the messenger.
Zheng-He was interviewing the new second-in-command, all the while thinking about his ailing friend.
He was going to visit him at noon, but this interview seemed to be taking ages. He switched his thoughts to
the assassination of the emperor. After the assassination, the area had been swept and no traces of the killer
had been found. The only clue they had about the murder was the assassin’s black Mongol robes. Angrily,
he clenched his fists, startling the new second-in-command. Zheng-He calmed himself down, then said
“Carry on.” The second-in-command, which he now knew as Bu-Liang, looked questionably at him, but
obliged. They continued to chat, every now and then eating snacks and drinking tea.
“Hello, Commander.” rasped the sick man on the bed. He looked like someone who had just been stripped
of their strength, like a dried up raisin. But Zheng-He refused to think of it that way. He often thought of
the situation as more like an obstacle, one that was difficult, one that they would pass eventually. “No need
to call me that, my friend. How are you doing?” Yuan-Su smiled up at him.
“Good, Zheng-He. I heard you have found a replacement for me?”