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Luo Maodeng: Sanbao taijian Xiyangji tongsu yanyi (The western sea cruises of the Eununch San Bao)
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The long paragraph comes from Philip Snow, The Star Raft.
Also called Hsi-yang-chi (from Xiyangji)
He published this work in 1597, as it however is a novel based on the voyages of Zheng He, and the records of his voyages are lost, this novel is among the few books retaining information. The novel is believed to have some historic reliability. It is mostly praised for its violence. Meaning that all other accounts are official accounts and talk about very peaceful trips. This with ten thousands of soldiers is very unlikely. Many believe that the wars talked about in this novel are at least partly true.
It states specifically that Zheng He used gunpowder explosives against a walled town called La'sa (Lamu?) thought to be near Mogadishu. Others place it more convincingly on the Arabian coast.
Chapter 73: In this confrontation with the opponents they sharpen their weapons, as it goes in war-art, but in vain, because Yun-mu-chen tries not, as hoped, to move the king to surrender his country, he rather went to report the magician Tara on what happened. This one comes as Tiger trainer camouflaged to the Chinese ships as spy. But Chang Shih-T'ien sees through the game and gives him a speech by which he disturbs Tara�s dressage demonstration.
Chapter 74: Once dressed, this time as a mendicant, Tara, now wants to spy on Chin Pi-Feng, who, in turn feigns ignorance and gives him a silver medallion. This item has an unpleasant characteristic: He jumps the respective owners at the slightest offense to the neck and establishes itself like a pillory under his neck by magnifying its own weight. So comes Tara back in his own country and anything but ready to make concessions. But he is brought under the burden of the magic money piece several times, whenever he shows resistance against the Chinese. But through mediation of Yun-mu-chen send by Chin-Pi Feng, as always stirred by compassion, the coin is brought back.
Chapter 75: Now free, the thankless Tara is not for a peaceful solution to the conflict, but he asks his own teacher, Fei-pa Shih-chan, for help. This one has two magical cymbals, which he hurls into the air as flying weapons, who in the first battle against Cheng Hos Force behead ten Chinese sailors. Only Chin Pi-feng can give live back to those affected. The following fights � in which both Chang Shih-T'ien as well as Tang Ying participate - end in a stalemate.
Chapter 76: The always of justice thinking war god Kuan Yu, who together with his companion Chou Ts'ang. intervenes in the events, puts Fei-pa in jail, however, allows him freedom again, when he declares that he earlier has given him a favor. And so the battle begins anew. Fei-pa brings now a nine-headed-monster, which is destroyed by one of the great transformation of the Rokh called King Stark (Ta-li-wang).
Chapter 77: Now has Wang Ching- hung a vision that eventually leads to the final victory of Cheng Ho: The Chinese puts up an army of straw soldiers that they smear with animal blood. When Fei-pa, which holds the dummies for real, with his cymbals attacks, they fall, by the blood, so to speak, "neutralized", ineffective on the ground. His arms are taken - the cymbals are quickly collected by Cheng Ho�s men � and Fei -pa is brought in captivity. Even Tara is taken, and the King, whose situation is now hopeless, subjugates himself. Chin Pi-feng forgives them, however, he transforms the magical cymbals in a bronze pillar, which henceforth marks the waters of Mogadishu, and gives Tara the title King of the pillar. So ends the episode Mogadishu.
Chapter 78: Next the fleet visits La'sa. In Lasa Wang Ching-hung, contrary to its usual cautious and diplomacy or trick-based approach, asks for a frontal attack to move the local government through intimidation to surrender.
At the arrival of the men of Zheng He, Lasa which is enclosed with a strong wall, closes itself. Opposite each gate, the Chinese prepare assault-towers with the help of ladders and three bombards are placed on those improvised towers. Then after several trials, start firing against the city walls. The effect of those 12 explosions was that the stones were blown in all directions. The earth trembles, the castle of the king shakes and the citizens panic till they lose courage and believe that the sky is falling. The king bewildered that his head is actually still on his shoulders hurries to let the sailors of Zheng He enter. Through a trick Wang Ming also succeeds to subjugate King Ali the ruler of Dhufar. Cheng Ho, Wang Ching-hung and the four eunuchs Ma, Hou, Wang Hung and the rest visit the local mosque, where they each write a poem.
Taken from: Robert Finlay: Portuguese and Chinese Maritime Imperialism:
(after returning)
The emperor asks about the seal, Zheng He replies: I never found it. I never heard anything about it. The emperor praises Zheng He for his labours and complains that the exotic animals brought back on the treasure ships cost to much to feed.
