Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 257

front of us was the most beautiful sky ever seen. The waves stopped pounding and the winds stopped
roaring, slowing radiating the faint sunlight, turning into a shimmering fairy tale. The silence was soon
interrupted by the cheers of the crew as we won another fight as a team.
Time turned into a blur, not long after we arrived at another land: Calicut. We got off the ship one by one
carrying causes of goods. “Calicut is one of the world’s major depots, we are sure to make some good trades
on the land!” Captain Zheng told us with a beam, I was more than excited to walk around this new place. It
was hectic, with curious local crowding around the ship in curiosity. We were welcomed with a feast and
excitement of the city, bathed in the full glory of Calicut. The servants led us to the garden of the palace,
where the ruler was waiting. Captain Zheng went ahead and sat across to the ruler of Calicut at a lavish table
surrounded by low chairs and cushions as I stumbled over carrying the crates. The first mate smacked my
head and glared, “Watch it, young boy, if you managed to drop them you are dead meat.” “It’s alright, you
guys must be tired carrying those all the way from the port, come on have a seat! I’ve prepared the best local
snacks!” the Calicut ruler smiled in generosity and clapped his hands as servants went in one by one carrying
dishes into the garden and placed them right in front of us. If I had a little bit less self-control I would have
pounced onto the table, but I decided against it as I still wanted to keep my head. We stayed there for
approximately four months trading crates of pottery silk and trinkets, and a place in the heart of Calicut.
When we left, the ruler of Calicut came to see us off himself bearing gifts. These tributes from foreign
emissaries increased China’s prestige in this Western Ocean.
I followed the others back on the ship as we started our journey back home. While travelling in Palembang,
Indonesia, I saw another boat not far away, not a few moments later the whole crew was alerted. “Chen
Zhuyi! It’s Chen Zhuyi!” I shouted. Captain Zheng drew his pistol and ordered, “We are confronting him
today, get ready!” I’ve heard tales about Chen Zhuyi back onshore. Apparently, he was a pirate leader who
had seized Palembang at Sumatra. We lowered our guns as a sailor waved a white flag frantically, Chen
Zhuyi was surrendering. Sailors wondered if it really meant victory, “Not yet.” said Chen Zhuyi before
turning upon our treasure fleet and aiming to plunder it. We fought bravely against the incoming attack,
slashing our swords in the air and blocking the attacks from our enemies as we fended off the
pirates. Months of working on a ship strengthened me as I managed to defend myself and the ship with my
little experience of martial arts. Captain Zheng gave orders as his forces attacked, Chen Zhuyi and two of his
top associates were finally captured and tied up, ready to be taken back to the motherland.
Sometime later, we returned in full glory, bringing back tributes and trades from foreign countries and the
victory in a fight with the infamous pirate Chen Zhuyi. The moment I got off the ship I was greeted by a
hug from my mother, “I’m so glad you’re safe!” I looked back at the vast Ocean and the ship and thought…
Sometimes our compass breaks, and our steady true North fades, but we’ll be fine, under the lead of Captain
Zheng, we will write this legacy. And one day they may tell our story, which would be told far and wide, to
generations and generations, of the glory of the Ming Treasure Voyages.