Zheng He — Admiral of the Treasure Fleet
At a Glance
- Name
- Zheng He (formerly Ma He; also called Sanbao)
- Present
- 1454 CE
- People
- Human, Ming Chinese
- Position
- Admiral, imperial envoy and adviser to the celestial fleet
- Base
- Nanjing shipyards and maritime offices; reports to the imperial palace in Beijing
- Allegiance
- The Great Ming and the court of Emperor Jingtai
- Famous journeys
- Seven imperial voyages, 1405–1433, from Southeast Asia to the Indian Ocean and East Africa
- Alignment
- Lawful Neutral; patient with negotiators, relentless about his responsibilities
- Languages
- Ming court Chinese, Yunnan dialect, Malay and Persian; interpreters support other missions
In Nanjing, the admiral places two copies of a star chart beside the morning tide tables. One was made aboard the aethership that returned yesterday; the other came through the court’s own courier network. Both bear his seal. The first records an arrival at an inhabited world, the second an empty stretch of space. Neither captain nor courier admits to altering a line. Zheng He orders the ship’s stores locked and postpones the next departure, though a seal from Beijing demands that it sail at once.
What Is Happening Right Now?
Zheng He has spent a lifetime learning what can happen when a great fleet trusts a boast, a merchant’s rumour or a false chart. The great voyages sent by the Yongle and Xuande emperors carried gifts, envoys and supplies across the Indian Ocean to the ports of Java, Sumatra, India, Hormuz, Arabia and the East African coast. Zheng He is still alive in 1454 and now advises the Imperial Celestial Fleet, whose captains must survive a far more unforgiving sea.
The Jingtai emperor rules in Beijing while his elder brother Yingzong remains captive to northern orc war hosts. Court factions demand control of ships, accounts and reports. Zheng He supports neither a senseless show of naval might nor a retreat from useful knowledge. He will back an expedition with competent officers, full stores, clear orders and a credible return route—even when its discoveries might embarrass a minister.
Game Statistics
Zheng He
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Neutral
AC 19 (enchanted lamellar); Initiative +3 (13)
HP 221 (26d8 + 104)
Speed 30 ft.
18 (+4)
16 (+3)
18 (+4)
20 (+5)
18 (+4)
22 (+6)
Saving Throws Str +9, Wis +9, Cha +11
Skills History +10, Insight +9, Perception +9, Persuasion +16, Survival +9
Senses Passive Perception 19
Languages Ming court Chinese, Yunnan dialect, Malay, Persian; interpreters assist with further languages
CR 13 (10,000 XP); PB +5
Traits
Seasoned Navigator. Zheng He has Advantage on checks involving maritime navigation, aethership logistics, provisioning and recognising false voyage records.
Astrolabe of Navigation. While carrying his enchanted astrolabe, Zheng He can’t become lost by nonmagical means and has Advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to plot or follow a course. The astrolabe doesn’t provide air, speed or protection from hazardous space.
Amulet of Accord. Zheng He has Advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks when negotiating a peaceful exchange with a creature that can understand him. It doesn’t compel agreement.
Actions
Multiattack. Zheng He makes three Admiral’s Dao attacks.
Admiral’s Dao. Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 5 ft. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) Slashing damage.
Boarding Dagger. Melee or Ranged Attack Roll: +8, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) Piercing damage.
Commanding Presence (Recharge 5–6). Up to three allied creatures within 60 feet that can hear Zheng He may each use their Reaction to move up to half their Speed and make one weapon attack. A creature can benefit from this action only once per use.
Reaction
Protective Ward. When Zheng He or an ally he can see within 30 feet takes damage, Zheng He may use his Reaction to grant that creature Resistance to the triggering damage. The ward comes from a protective charm he wears.
Legendary Actions (2 per Round)
At the end of another creature’s turn, Zheng He can take one of the following actions. He regains his two spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
Command Strike (Costs 1 Action). Zheng He makes one Admiral’s Dao attack.
Orderly Withdrawal (Costs 1 Action). Zheng He moves up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
Inspiring Words (Costs 2 Actions). One ally within 30 feet who can hear Zheng He has Advantage on the next saving throw or attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Equipment
Enchanted lamellar armour, +1 dao, boarding dagger, Astrolabe of Navigation, Amulet of Accord, diplomatic seals, voyage journals and a dispatch case containing letters of passage.
Zheng He
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
Armor Class 19 (enchanted lamellar armor)
Hit Points 221 (26d8 + 104)
Speed 30 ft.
18 (+4)
16 (+3)
18 (+4)
20 (+5)
18 (+4)
22 (+6)
Saving Throws Str +9, Wis +9, Cha +11
Skills History +10, Insight +9, Perception +9, Persuasion +16, Survival +9
Senses passive Perception 19
Languages Ming court Chinese, Yunnan dialect, Malay, Persian; interpreters for further languages
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP)
Traits
Seasoned Navigator. Zheng He has advantage on ability checks involving charts, maritime logistics, provisioning and detecting forged voyage records.
Astrolabe of Navigation. While he carries his enchanted astrolabe, he cannot become lost by nonmagical means and has advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to plot or follow a route; it does not protect a vessel from the void.
Amulet of Accord. He has advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks when negotiating with a creature that can understand him. The amulet cannot force a bargain.
Actions
Multiattack. Zheng He makes three admiral’s dao attacks.
Admiral’s Dao. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) slashing damage.
Boarding Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.
Commanding Presence (Recharge 5–6). Up to three allies within 60 feet able to hear him can each use their reaction to move up to half their speed and make one weapon attack.
Reactions
Protective Ward. When Zheng He or an ally he can see within 30 feet takes damage, Zheng He may use his Reaction to grant that creature Resistance to the triggering damage. The ward comes from a protective charm he wears.
Legendary Actions (2 per Round)
At the end of another creature’s turn, Zheng He can take one of the following actions. He regains his two spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
Command Strike (Costs 1 Action). Zheng He makes one Admiral’s Dao attack.
Orderly Withdrawal (Costs 1 Action). Zheng He moves up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
Inspiring Words (Costs 2 Actions). One ally within 30 feet who can hear Zheng He has Advantage on the next saving throw or attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Equipment
Enchanted lamellar armour, +1 dao, boarding dagger, Astrolabe of Navigation, Amulet of Accord, diplomatic seals, voyage journals and a dispatch case containing letters of passage.
Zheng He — CR 13
XP 25,600
LN Medium humanoid (human fighter 14)
Init +7; Senses Perception +20
Defense
AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 20 (+8 enchanted breastplate, +3 Dex, +2 deflection, +1 dodge)
hp 133 (14d10+56)
Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +12 (including cloak of resistance +2 and saving throw feats)
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 dao +25/+20/+15 (1d8+15/15–20)
Ranged dagger +17 (1d4+4/19–20)
Special Attacks command the crew, weapon training (heavy blades +3)
Statistics
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 22
Base Atk +14; CMB +18; CMD 34
Feats Alertness, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Greater Weapon Focus (scimitar), Greater Weapon Specialization (scimitar), Improved Critical (scimitar), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Leadership, Mobility, Power Attack, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Weapon Focus (scimitar), Weapon Specialization (scimitar)
Skills Diplomacy +26, Intimidate +23, Knowledge (engineering) +22, Knowledge (geography) +19, Linguistics +19, Perception +20, Profession (sailor) +21, Sense Motive +20
Languages Ming court Chinese, Yunnan dialect, Malay, Persian, other learned contact languages
Gear +2 breastplate, +2 dao (scimitar statistics), ring of protection +2, cloak of resistance +2, enchanted astrolabe, amulet of accord, dagger, papers and sea charts.
Special Abilities
Command the Crew (Ex). Once per round as a standard action, Zheng He allows one allied creature within 60 feet that sees and hears him to move up to half its speed as an immediate action and make one weapon attack; the ally must have an immediate action available.
Astrolabe of Navigation. This unique wondrous item grants a +4 competence bonus on Profession (sailor) and Survival checks used to navigate and a +4 bonus to identify forged charts; it provides no extraordinary protection from vacuum.
Amulet of Accord. This unique diplomatic charm grants a +4 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks when the creature understands the language of the negotiator; magical compulsion is not involved.
Ecology
Environment Nanjing naval yards, Ming court and imperial expeditions
Organization solitary with escort or flagship command
Treasure NPC gear
Zheng He
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Neutral
Hit Dice: 13d10+52 (123 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 22 (+7 +2 breastplate, +3 Dex, +2 deflection), touch 15, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +13/+17
Attack: +2 dao +21 melee (1d8+12/15–20) or dagger +16 ranged (1d4+4/19–20)
Full Attack: +2 dao +21/+16/+11 melee (1d8+12/15–20)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: command the crew
Special Qualities: astrolabe of navigation, amulet of accord
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +9, Will +10
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 22
Skills: Climb +17, Craft (shipbuilding) +21, Diplomacy +21, Intimidate +22, Knowledge (geography) +11, Listen +12, Profession (sailor) +12, Ride +19, Spot +12, Swim +14
Feats: Alertness, Combat Expertise, Greater Weapon Focus (scimitar), Greater Weapon Specialization (scimitar), Improved Critical (scimitar), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Leadership, Power Attack, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Weapon Focus (scimitar), Weapon Specialization (scimitar)
Environment: Imperial navy, Ming court, great ports
Organization: Solitary, escorted or flagship command
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: NPC gear
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: —
Special Abilities
Command the Crew (Ex): Once per round as a standard action, Zheng He can direct one ally within 60 ft. who can hear and understand him to move up to half its speed and make one weapon attack as an immediate action.
Astrolabe of Navigation: A magical instrument granting a +4 competence bonus on Profession (sailor) and Survival checks to navigate.
Amulet of Accord: A magical charm giving a +4 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks during negotiations with comprehending listeners.
On the Moon, Zheng He’s navigator Ma Wen commands the small Three-Marks Refuge. His eight-man Ming detachment must record every replenished jar, repaired seal and delayed departure. The admiral knows that an outpost surviving its first month is not yet a secure supply base and will not risk another crew on its uncertain stores.
The Man Who Commands the Ships
Born Ma He in Yunnan, Zheng He was taken into Ming service in his youth. He rose to become one of the most trusted imperial officers of Yongle’s reign. A eunuch, he moved between the palace and the fleet with unusual freedom and responsibility. His voyages were feats of organisation as much as daring: surveyors, pilots, interpreters, soldiers, surgeons, cooks, shipwrights and officials had to be paid, fed and brought home. He knows a captain must manage the people in the vessel before claiming to have mastered the sea outside it.
Zheng He is tall, broad-shouldered and older than most of the officers crowding his chart room. He dresses plainly while examining cargo accounts, but wears the court insignia of his rank when receiving foreign envoys. He hears a junior pilot’s objection without interruption and can recall which harbour supplied a particular rope decades ago. He gives no guarantee that a mission will be safe: he asks for evidence that its dangers have been counted.
Ships, Instruments and People
The admiral’s astrolabe is an old enchanted instrument, its marks repaired and annotated after many voyages. It assists with charting and prevents errors that can destroy a fleet, but does not replace air, hull integrity, food, water or the physics of the void. His amulet of accord lends weight to honest diplomacy without compelling any answer. Neither makes Zheng He a priest or the master of every ocean spirit. The crew’s diverse rites and patrons remain matters between individual sailors and the powers they honour; sailors often seek the protection of Tianfei, revered in many ports as a guardian of those at sea.
The returned captain, Lady Xu. She has brought her ship home with an impossible additional bearing written into its log. Her officers swear that she never made the entry. Zheng He believes her, but asks for evidence rather than sympathy.
Wu Jian, shipyard chief. He oversees the Ming shipwrights, coppersmiths and court instrument makers responsible for the pressure seals and propulsion fittings. An advanced engine is almost ready, although a cracked fitting was removed from the stores without recording its replacement.
Imperial dispatch officer Chen. Chen carries orders from Beijing and assumes an admiral should obey them immediately. Zheng He suspects the official is honourable but has not read the report that will put a crew at risk.
Rival navigators and the merchant houses of Majapahit. Zheng He knows the difference between a skilled seaman and a man who owns ships. He respects the independent ports that carried his fleets’ supplies and will negotiate rather than presume their rulers are bound to serve Ming interests.
Three Voyages Worth Taking
The Third Chart
A missing apprentice copied the returning aethership’s original readings before the chart was altered. Her family believes she fled towards the Nanjing docks, while the shipyard gate records show a second girl entered under her name. Zheng He asks for the apprentice alive and the original instrument untouched. He will protect an honest witness from court punishment, but he will not protect a saboteur merely because the saboteur speaks well.
The Interpreter Who Won’t Return
A sailor from the old Indian Ocean voyages sends Zheng He a request for help. A foreign navigator has arrived with a planetary gate key and refuses to cross the sea until an old debt is repaid. A Ming officer wants the key seized. Zheng He needs negotiators who can hear both sides, find the true owner and secure a passage without a massacre.
The Orders from Beijing
Two commissions arrive, each bearing the Jingtai emperor’s seal. One commands the fleet to remain at Nanjing, the other to take a newly completed vessel beyond Earth. Both may be real, issued to different factions on different days. The men who copied the orders have vanished, and Zheng He will not launch until the contradiction is resolved.
Travel, Reception and Favour
To find Zheng He, seek the shipyards of Nanjing, the maritime offices or the quarters where arriving captains report to their officers. Guards will not admit strangers carrying unsheathed weapons or demanding an audience on behalf of an unknown prince. A recommendation from a known sea captain, a trustworthy pilot or a court clerk opens more doors than a chest of silver.
Those who serve him well receive introductions, honest compensation, access to working charts or an escort across a dangerous frontier. Zheng He can provide supplies and ships only within the resources entrusted to him. He will not grant sovereignty over a foreign port or an inhabited world merely because a captain has arrived there. On the longest celestial journeys he insists that someone be responsible for those who stay behind.
History and Sources
Zheng He’s seven Indian Ocean voyages between 1405 and 1433 are recorded in Ming sources and studied in Columbia University’s Ming Voyages and Edward Dreyer’s China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty (Smithsonian Libraries). The present imperial struggle is described in the Great Ming and Forbidden City entries. The celestial voyages follow the Space Atlas and Outer Space Terrain.
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