Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 273

My First Journey
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Stephens, Lauren - 11
It all started on the day I was called in to see the Emperor, from that day on, my life would be changed
forever. I walked into the grand palace, my whole body shivering with fear. I wasn’t sure why he had finally
called for me after all these years. I walked into the throne room and immediately bowed, and said, “Hello
Emperor.” He sat upon the grand throne, staring down at me while he boomed, “Come with me.” I was
surprised yet nervous at the same time as I stood up and followed behind him.
I gasped as I stepped into the royal treasure room. Thousands of porcelain vases and the finest
treasures and gems hidden away behind the palace. In the center, there lied a scroll, with thousands of boats
and a journey to far away. “My Emperor? What is this?” I asked, my voice filled with awe and sheer
amazement. “This, Zheng He, is my next project. The crowning jewel of my reign. This is The Ming
Treasure Voyages.” I stood there in awe, gaping at the ambitious plans. “My Emperor… These plans…
They are incredibly ambitious. What do you need me to do?” I said, getting down on my knees. He looked
down at me with great respect and replied, “ I need you, to help me build the boats and commandeer the
ships. It will be a job of hard work but a great honor. So what do you say Zheng He?” I thought about it
and after some very careful consideration and the fact that I probably shouldn’t disappoint my Emperor, I
replied “Of course, My Lord. I shall get started immediately.” He nodded and pointed towards the exit.
“You may leave.” I bowed and quickly walked out of the room.
“Well... I better start designing,” I thought, exiting the palace, questioning if I I had made the right
decision.
After years and years of hard work and exhilarating labor, the time had come. The mighty drums bonged as
we prepared our ships. They just as mighty and grand as the magnificent pictures and fantasies the Emperor
had planned, the boats were 135 meters by 55 meters. A giant compared to the boats of the past. ‘This is
it’ I thought as I stepped onto my home for the next 28 years. There was an extremely large number of
boats, some for storing materials, some for trade goods, some for soldiers and the largest was for me.
The day I set sail was a wonderful day, the wind was blowing and the sun was shining brighter than
ever before. My men and I waved goodbye as we journeyed off into the sunset. I stared into the dusk,
admiring the setting sun as we sailed off, leaving everything we knew behind, and into the unknown. A
single tear slid down my cheek as I stared at the world behind me one more time.
I yawned, opening my eyes. ‘Where am I?!’ I thought and immediately jumped up. I banged my head
against the top of the ship and muttered under my breath, “Oh yeah. I was shipped off on a boat with over 1000
smelly men..” “What was that?!” My irritating roommate replied, unsure of what I had said. “None of your
business, Fu Qi,” I said. ‘Oh okay then! I have a slice of bread and jam for you!” He said, handing me a strange
pastry. “Umm. Jam hasn’t been invented yet, genius” I commented sarcastically. “Oh.” He said, “But then what
is this?” He said, acting like he invented something magnificent while holding up a strange red sauce-like
substance. “Paint,” I replied in a monotone voice, as I slipped on my clothes. “Ohhhhhh!” He replied grinning
foolishly. “That makes sense!” I sighed and slipped out of our room before he asked me any more questions.
Finally, after many more irritating days of putting up with my irritating shipmate, we had finally arrived!
In the great lands of India. As soon as we docked I could smell the pungent spice China has longed for. Pepper.
Pepper in China was as rare as a blue moon on a cloudy night. I sat with the leader over tea while watching the
finest of China’s dancer wow and amaze our Indian friends.
Finally, after long hours of endless conversation and entertainment, the Indians had agreed to trade
us pepper. I stared into the sunset as we return back to my homeland, in my head forever acknowledging
this trip as we returned to our homeland, forever changed and forever reminded of our great travels from
here on out.