In this intellectual voyage, he has discovered both fame and fortune. Though critics on all sides are drilling holes in his framework, he himself remains much like the sailors he depicts-his own adventurous journey has much the same "death or glory" feel as theirs.
在這一趟學術航行中，他名利雙收，即使各方詰難蜂擁而至，但就如自己筆下六百年前為中國皇帝冒險犯難的水手，他航行多少也帶著一點「成者為王，敗者為寇」的意味。遙想明成祖要檢驗《1421：中國發現世界》的成就與爭議，必須從書的內容說起。