Tales of the Great Wall
Caterina Jacobelli, Group 2: Fiction, Chinese International School
ragons are real. Because Lung, the greatest dragon in the world, created the Great Wall of
China.
long
red,
Emperors
Lung is a powerful dragon. He was the first big dragon of the world. He was almost as
as China! His body shape was like a snake. Thin, long and red in color. If a dragon was
it meant it had royal blood or was very important. He was the dragon the Chinese
wore on their robes. He was the only dragon with five claws. So all of the
emperors respected him.
D
Qin Shihuang was China’s first emperor. In the days of his realm, he thought, “The dragon is
getting too powerful! I will banish it from the kingdom!” And so, the evil man banned all things related
to the dragon.
One day, Lung’s son, Xiaolung, heard about what Qin said! He quickly flew back to his father
and his cave, but he didn’t find his father there! As he left the cave, he saw his father. He breathlessly
said, “Father! Qin is banishing you from the kingdom!” When Lung heard this, he was very confused.
“
What? My People had always respected me!” Then the answer dawned on him. “It must be Qin is
getting too greedy!” He roared angrily. “I’ll go show him how powerful am I!” And so, as fast as a
beam of light, he flew towards the horizon, towards the capital.
When he got to Xi’an, he flew straight over the city, instead of going around the side. He flew
straight over the city so all people could see him, and know how powerful he was, for he was the king
of China. When the citizens of Xi’an saw him, they gasped, “Lung is real!”
When Lung got to the palace, the guards blocked the entrance. They said, “Lung, the emperor
cannot see you right now, and you are banished from China. We’re very sorry, but that’s the emperor’s
orders.” The guards actually wanted to let him in the palace, because, like all the Chinese citizens, they
did not like Qin because he treated them like slaves. But they had to follow his orders, or else they will
lose their job and money. Lung got even angrier. He roared, “Get out of here!” But the guards just
stood in their places, in the safety of the dragonproof rock huts. Even though it is rare, but it keeps out
any dragon. Fire cannot burn it, claws cannot scratch it, and force cannot crack it. Only a human-sized
pine wood axe can break dragonproof rock. So, Lung just flew back to his cave. He thought, “I am
going to enter Qin’s dream tonight!” And he did.
Lung’s spirit flew to Qin’s room in the palace, and went into his dream. He saw Qin’s spirit
sitting in his study room, counting his piles of money. All the time, he had a evil smile on his face.
Lung’s spirit crept up to him, and said, Qin! Step down! I appointed you emperor, not to let you be
greedy! It’s okay for you to be rich, but give some money to the poor! I am the creator of China! I
chose emperors because I am too busy to rule this kingdom! From now on, I curse every one of your
dreams to be a nightmare! You will die in thirty days! Lung’s spirit blew a fire so big and hot, all the
money evaporated! Qin’s spirit wailed, How can you do this? I’m just one innocent man! But it was
too late. Lung’s spirit already went out of Qin’s mind and flew back to Lung’s mind and curled up to
sleep.
Xiaolung’s spirit saw Lung’s spirit coming back. If his father’s spirit caught him spying on him,
then he would be in trouble. Xiaolung wondered if Lung’s spirit had gone to visit Qin.
The next morning, Qin woke up with a start. He asked his palace magicians to search for Lung’s
cave. When they found it, Xiaolung came out and said, “You have no permission to come here. This is
my warning to you. Next time I see you again, I will blow fire on your face. Now Scram!” They
quickly rushed back to the palace.
When the magician told Qin what happened, he was really angry. Lung has a son? He thought,
That will be harder, for Lung’s son must be stronger than him, for Lung is an old dragon now. I think
I’ll just go tomorrow myself.
Qin went to Lung’s cave. He shouted, “Lung! If you’re really so powerful, show me your
strength!” Lung came out. He replied, “I can fight a whole army. What about you?” Qin suddenly felt
scared inside. But he did not show it. Instead, he replied, “I’m an old man, but I can still fight a dragon
like you.” But Lung replied, “I can easily roast you, but I rather not do it. I will not fight you. I’ll
sacrifice myself but my son will get all my strength. Is that a deal?” he asked Qin. “Yes!” the emperor
gleefully replied. At least the old dragon is gone! Qin thought. Lung then turned into a big, long wall.
One as long as himself. Xiaolung thus became the greatest dragon in the world. Now everyone says the
great wall is like a big, long, snaky dragon. And this is also how everybody remembers the great
dragon Lung.