Ching Shih

What do you imagine, when you hear the word "pirate"? A one-eyed man with a parrot on his shoulder and a wooden leg? Now, pay attention to the picture: this is Ching Shih, the Chinese sea robber who is believed to be the most successful pirate in the history. She commanded a fleet of 2000 ships and more than 70000 sailors.

Ching Shih was 26 years old when, in 1801, Chinese pirates took her from a brothel in Guangzhou. The pirates' ringleader, Cheng I, proposed to her. She agreed, but, as the legend says, with the condition that she would participate in the operation's leadership and loot sharing. The pirate accepted her conditions.

In six years together, they demolished all their rivals in the South-China Sea and enlarged their fleet to 400 ships. When in 1807 Cheng I died, the widow took over and became the sole leader.

As the new captain, she made quite tough laws and managed to turn a bandit troop into a disciplined army. Some pirates tried to rebel, but a row of demonstrative executions made them to obey. Villages near the sea bowed to the will of Ching Shih (her authority guaranteed a calm life) and equipped her fleet with all that was necessary.

In January 1808, the whole Chinese fleet was used  to battle with pirates. Ching Shih lured them into a cunning trap, won the battle and took more than 60 ships. China also tried to use western adventurers to overtake her, but all in vain. In the end, the authorities offered her a peace treaty, which was accepted.

The pirates (estimated to be from 17 to 80 thousand people) got full amnesty. They kept their loot and were taken into the emperor's service. It was the end of pirates in Chinese waters.


Ching Shih lived to the age of 69. She became a hostess of a hotel (with a brothel and a gambling house) and had made the most glittering pirate career in the history.

Very interesting to read!  I did not know this.  
The yellow was for corrections that must be fixed.
The pink is for word choice that was not incorrect, but is easier to understand this way.
This was a good writing! I hope that I helped.

Duden is the standard. For online quick reference and as an app, I prefer Leo.de. It is very user friendly. My German students also use it ad find it easy.

Ich Suche ein Taxi

Hallo ! Wie geht es Ihnen ?! Ich suche ein Taxi , Wo is die nächste Taxihalstelle ? Können Sie mir helfen ?! Mein Großvater ist alt und er braucht Ihre Hilfe ?! Er braucht zum Arzt zu gehen . Danke!!

Gute Arbeit Ahmed!  
Großvater = Opa,  aber nicht Großopa
Opa - er,  Oma - sie

Einführung

Hallo!
Ich heiße Rute und ich lerne deutsch. Ich bin fünfundzwanzig Jahres alt. Ich komme aus Portugal und ich wohne in Porto.
Ich spreche portugiesisch (offensichtlich) und englisch. Deutsch scheint hart schwer aber schön. Es klingt cool. Aber ich weiß noch nicht viel ... Hilf mir besser zu werden, bitte! Danke. :)

Sehr gut Rute!  Das kann ich gut verstehen.  Ein Paar Tipps - Eine Sprache ist schwer.  Ein Stein ist hart.  :)  "Noch nicht" = not yet, still not.  

I don't think English speakers say this. We say - "What are you doing?" and "What is up?"