The First Battle
Emily Simiin Tan, Group
e have a composition due on Wednesday!? But it’s already Tuesday!” cried Steacy,
panicked. “Ooops! It is time to check on Willy too!” she recalled. She rushed up the stairs
and found her 6 year-old brother playing with Lego. “Play with me!” he shrieked. Steacy
examined what he had made and tried to figure out what it was.
2:
Fiction, Shanghai Singapore International School
A green board and on it were two groups of Lego people frozen in a fighting action.
One of the groups was behind several Lego blocks that looked a little like a wall. “Oh! Having a war at the
wall!” I figured. “Sorry…” she sighed. “I have a lot of homework and I can’t play with you Willy.” she
apologised. Then in a blink of an eye, she ran back to her room to complete her homework. Back to her desk,
Steacy wondered what she should write for the composition.
“
W
As she pondered, a bright light suddenly flashed in front of her eyes, the strong light forced her to shut her
eyes tightly. And as the light dimmed, a mysterious man appeared, wearing a suit of armour that had a dragon
symbol on his breastplate. He looked completely ancient, with a beard to make him look more like a picture
from her textbook.
The man in the armour examined Steacy from head to toe. Steacy was frightened yet curious to find out
what was happening. In less than a second after the man chanted some words, they were in a completely
different place. The mysterious man explained, “We are now in the year 211B.C. in a place called ‘Ji city’, now
known as Beijing. And you can call me general Chang!”
Steacy made a mental calculation and it was more than 2000 years ago! It took her a while to realise the
situation she was in. She asked General Chang, “Why did you bring me here?” “Well…” he explained, “you
have to ask the Emperor Qin.” Steacy realized it was an honour to meet the Emperor Qin as she had read a lot
about him.
As they approached his majesty, they bowed so low that her neck hurt. Finally the Emperor summoned
them to rise. In a stern tone, he commanded, “We need your help for war strategies against the Huns, our
enemy!” He uttered the last two words with hatred. The Emperor added, “In case General Chang did not tell
you,” he shot a look at the General who gulped as the Emperor signalled Stacey to come forward and whispered,
“
A prophecy passed down by our great ancestors predicted that there will be a young girl, young in age but wise
as a veteran. She comes from the future and will save all of us in China.” When the Emperor had finished,
Stacey was already frozen in shock. The Emperor continued, “You are the girl we have been waiting for! Now,
General Chang will escort you to your room.”
Steacy had completely forgotten about the situation as the magnificent view in the palace overwhelmed her.
She thought it was heaven!
Just as she thought she’d want to stay on, General Chang reminded her, “Tomorrow we will start planning.
Good night!” Poor Steacy was left alone, too worried to fall asleep.
The next morning as she slowly inched towards the Emperor’s palace, her legs were trembling with fear.
The emperor invited her in with a soothing voice, “We are just in the midst of discussion. Do you have any
strategy to help us?” Steacy blushed, her mind turning blank. Thinking of a way to get out of this, she wished
she was back home watching TV and had little Willy beside her.
Suddenly she remembered Willy’s Lego set. Gathering all her courage and said hesitantly, “Your Majesty,
if I remember there was a wall separating the enemies.” “Yes! It is only thirty-four thousand, and six hundred
kilometres long.” Emperor Qin replied, puzzled.
“
Good!” She exclaimed. Steacy carefully explained her strategies. After the meeting, the Emperor was
pleased and appointed her to be the chief commander of the upcoming war. Steacy, on the other hand, was
extremely nervous about her first and maybe her
last
battle.
Everyone in the country was busy preparing for the secret weapons for war according to Steacy’s plan.
Steacy had a heavy heart as everyone’s lives depended on her. But Emperor Qin reassured her, “We have
the one thousand soldiers and two thousand horses ready, food rations that can last the army for two years and
the Wall. Thousands of men worked desperately to build the wall, months of sweat and hard work. Many lives
sacrificed building the wall. And in their honour, we will have victory!”
The next day crept in. The fearless Emperor and brave General Chang leading the troops were ready to fight.
They all marched to the battlefield and climbed up the 12 meters high wall. They executed the grand plan. On
the wall, all their secret weapons laid out- bows and arrows, sword, stones, shields and their main defence.
Buckets filled with OIL!