Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 295

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voyages
Ying Wa College, Chan, Ho Ming Oscar - 13
Year 1407
Dear Diary,
You know I only write exciting new tales in you, and so it’s been quite a long time since my last
writing. It’s the 2 nd of October now, we’ve just returned, finally, safe and sound to Nanjing, after my
journey with Admiral Zhenghe. I’ve grown a moustache you see. I couldn’t help it – I’ve been so busy
every day on the seas that I no longer have the heart or time to shave my face.
Still, you would have never experienced what I did in the returning journey weeks ago. It was a
gripping tale, Diary.
In an absolutely silent, pitch-dark night, with only the slightly falling of the waves against the
hull of our ships docked beside the land to be heard, twenty-seven thousand people on the ships, chosen
specifically by Admiral Zhenghe, were patrolling every single spot on the ships. In fact, I was one of them. I
was told that a pirate, Chen Zuyi and his fleet were to launch a sneak attack on our treasure fleet. As I was
just starting to enjoy the fresh, salty atmosphere on the coastline, I could just make out a faint figure of ships
approaching extremely slowly on the horizon. Alarms were immediately raised under my command, and
everyone was instantly alert. The pirates might be thinking they already succeeded in their attack, but then
came a roar of command from Admiral Zhenghe. Our ships suddenly blazed with light, and I could just
make out the shocked faces of the pirates. Then shock turned to fury. Their leader Chen Zuyi gave out a
scream of frustration, then commanded his fleet to retreat. It was too late for that, though. We never back
up, as Admiral Zhenghe had said, and so we proceeded forward, with the beats of the drums supporting us
through the night.
Before they could turn their ships around, we’d already leaped onto their ships, and started a
ferocious battle, much more brutal than what I had imagined to be. Lashing here and there with my
sharpened spear, I had killed no less than twenty pirates. After the tiring battle, we’d killed over five
thousand pirates, and captured the three heads of the attack, soon to be beheaded, I overheard back in
Nanjing.
It was my first battle in years, far bloodier than I had ever imagined. I’m just happy to be safe and
sound back in my homeland!
Relaxed,
Li Mingxun
Year 1410
Dear Diary,
It’s been years since I’ve written to you, but I’m still on my third journey on the seas with
Admiral Zhenghe. The experience I’m going to introduce today was finally, a fruitful and joyful one. As
proclaimed the Commander of Diplomacy, my role was fully highlighted throughout this experience.
We landed on Manchuria, in the South Sea. We established an official warehouse there as a
transit base for the fleet materials, and I must say, Diary, it looked genuinely impressive after all the hard
labouring work from the workers. Of course, we were trespassing on other’s land. We were sure to give
away something return, in order to repay them for the land they had so willingly provided. And so we
presented a double silver seal and a crown gown to the king. Not to mention other gifts like silk-made
objects, a golden phase jade belt, the ceremonial plaque, the pommel horse and much more precious objects
that were under my personal care during the whole journey. As I handed them over to Zhenghe to present
to the Manchuga king, I couldn’t help feeling proud of keeping it intact during the truly wobbly journey. I
am the key of the maintenance of the friendship between China and Manchuria!
We’d finished our massive construction at the end. Admiral Zhenghe, always with sharp eyes, a
flat chin and a pointed nose, along with the long red cloak that always billowed behind him, glanced down
at our work from our guarding drum tower with apparent please and satisfaction.
It’s been such an exhausting month, Diary, but I’m always happy to assist our country. It’s late; I
should get to sleep…
Yawning,
Li Mingxun