Timeline 1500-1600 (Zheng China)

New Contacts
By 1450, China was larger and wealthier than ever before. She dominated the sea and the trade routes. She had subdued the Mongols, Manchus, and other tribes that had plagued her frontiers for centuries. Her conquests stretched from Manchuria and Inner Mongolia in the north to the coasts of Borneo and Sulawesi in the south and from the Philippines in the east to the Tamil Basin in the west. Her influence was sought by virtually every nation in the area, from Japan and Korea to Malacca and Majapahit, and she was paid off in tribute. For the first time in years, lasting peace seemed a real possibility, and the Emperor sought to realize it.

The first thing the Dazhu Emperor did was to establish forts and roads in the new territories to secure China's new holdings. These were followed by pioneers seeking greater opportunities and/or challenges. He also reduced the number of men on active military duty, hoping they would be able to enjoy their new peaceful lives. He expanded the fleet to facilitate greater trade with India and other nations, earning their respect and recognition. All in all, it was a good time for anyone in China.

That is news from abroad confirmed China's secured position. To the west, India and Persia were divided and locked in the grips of civil war. To the south, none of the local kingdoms had the manpower or resources to seriously threaten or even challenge China. Her colonies prospered and expanded.

In such a climate, the Emperor felt more than ready to launch another fleet, one of exploration. This fleet, commanded by Yishiha and his protege, a young man named Shen Jun, a descendant of the polymath Shen Kuo, sailed off to uncover new resources and trade routes. This fleet was built in the mold of the early Treasure Fleets, but along more practical and less grandiose designs. The fleet left Nanjing for Southeast Asia to explore the coasts of New Guinea and Africa. Within a month, the fleet had arrived at Java to resupply, where they divided into two groups, one heading east and one heading west. The westward fleet was commanded by Fei Xin, a man who sailed under Zheng He. Yishiha commanded the eastward fleet and within a month arrived at a string of islands off the coast of New Guinea. These islands (OTL Bismark Archipelago), dubbed Daoheiyidi (Island of Dark-Skinned Barbarians), proved to be a biological treasure trove and were listed for later exploration. Shen Jun compared it to the mystical island of Penglai, a place "without winter or pain, withouy hunger or need; the people dwell most simply, taking only what they need and wanting only what they lack". Attempts were made to communicate with the natives, albeit with little success, until Shen Jun realized that their language was similar to those on New Guinea, and managed to get the message across, and some moderate trade began. After a month of exchange, the Chinese departed, bringing some guides along in case of trouble further east.

Tongans and Maori
Through the year of 1451 and well into 1452, Yishiha travelled further east, using the islands as bases to resupply and survey. Shen Jun, the fleets chief genius, took it upon himself to transcribe and translate the local languages and within a year had become fluet enough that he could carry on a conversation.

His skills in language, however, would soon be put to the test upon the encounter with the Tongan Empire, a small but influential thalassocracy in Oceania, who had heard of pale visitors from the north. The king, a tyrannical ruler, refused to see the Chinese unless they bowed before him. Insulted, the Chinese refused, even upon threat of death. The king ordered his fleet to attack, prompting the Chinese to retaliate, leaving the Tongans awestruck at the size and power of their ships, especially their cannons. The Tongans, thinking the Chinese gods, willfully bowed before them and begged for mercy. Yishiha, deciding to punish the tyrant, sided with a rival who had more power and support by far and together they toppled the former king. The king attempted to flee but found himself at the mercy of the sharks as his navy pursued and stabbed him with spears and arrows. The new king opened talks with the Chinese regarding exchange, and allowed the Chinese to remain to resupply and study.

After a year and a half, the Chinese departed although a few, mainly missionaries remained. The fleet then sailed southward, using the wind and ocean currents to dictate their path. Within a month, they encountered a medium-sized island with high mountains and temperate forests, not unlike some places in China. This island, and its southern neighbor, housed a menagerie of animals stranger than any the Chinese ever encountered, including giant wingless birds (moa) and man-eating eagles (Haast's Eagle) ending the similarity to their homeland. The natives, early Maori, hesitantly greeted the Chinese, and even invited them to a feast. The feast was delicious, but the mood was tense as neither could comprehend the other, Even Shen Jun had a difficult time understanding them, as their language was very different from the islands further north. Fortunately, a local guide understood Samoan, which was similar enough to the Maori language to open communications, though not much else. Once Shen Jun mastered Maori, negotiations for trade began at once. The Chinese had many things the Maori desired, but the thing they wanted most was medicine and crops, as their crops struggled to grow while the Chinese thrived. The Chinese agreed to trade seedlings and medicine for local animals, namely the moa, thinking it would impress the Emperor. Over a year, the Chinese studied the ways and resources of the island, including the greenstone jade of the south island, which they acquired a ton of for more seeds and root cultures, along with people to teach them. Shen Jun transcribed the Maori language into Chinese writing, and dubbed their islands Daodainiao (Island of Large Birds), and even taught some to read and write.

Across the World Ocean
At the end of the year 1455, after exchanging missionaries for local navigators, the Chinese left, again travelling with the wind and currents, heading east across the Pacific. For the first time, the fleet sailed beyond any sight of land, a frightening new experience for many sailors. Fortunately, the Maori navigators proved highly adept and put the sailors at east. Unfortunately, within a month of their journey, most of the Maori fell sick from smallpox, having never been exposed to the disease before. The Chinese tried to treat them, but their poor health history worked against them and almost all of them died, leaving only two survivors, which only barely lived. Over the journey, as they slowly recovered, Shen Jun was their sole companion, taking in everything he could, such as navigation and language should the worst happen.

Within three months the fleet started to run low on food and supplies. Another three months, and tempers started to flare up. Disease, storms, and occasional fights took their toll. A particularly rough storm sunk one ship and force another two to be salvaged for parts. Blisters, sores, and scurvy left many men weak and miserable. Eventually, they had to butcher the moa to feed themselves. Yishiha prayed desperately for the gods to hear him. Shen Jun consulted the Maori survivors hoping to land nearby, but the Maori could not, for none they knew had ever gone this far east before.

Finally, after nearly seven months, a man cried that he saw land up ahead. The whole crew was elated as they looked and saw a long chain of mountains running north to south. Upon landing, the crew immediately ran to a local river (OTL Maule River) and started drinking, desperate to wet their thirst. Once they fill themselves, they began searching for food and other supplies. Through the day they collected fish, clams, local fruit, and other foodstuffs, boh to resupply and to hold a celebratory feast, all the while being watched from the forest.

The next day, the sailors began collecting wood and water for their ship, this time with greater care for fear, in hunger's absence, had returned.

In the West
In the meanwhile, Fei Xin travelled westward along the coast of the Indian Ocean toward Africa.