"First, we followed the old route of Srivijaya, through Zhan City and Zhenla, where the fields were filled with rhinoceroses and elephants, and spices covered the markets..."
He paused briefly, waiting for the translator to interpret the place names.
"Then we turned directly west, taking advantage of the trade winds to cross the vast ocean."
"Along the way, we encountered the Black Sea, with waves ten zhang high, the ship's bow plowing through the waves as if cleaving mountains."
"Fortunately, the helmsman used the water compass to determine our position, and the star chart to measure the celestial pole, never losing our course by an inch."
Tongmakani unconsciously leaned forward. Though he had never experienced the ocean, he knew how miraculous it was to maintain direction on the vast waters.
