Shortlisted
Descendants of the Dragon
Yuk Lam
n our transient life, we must visit The Great Wall of China at least once, especially Chinese people;
descendants of the dragon. Many Chinese people believe that China represented a dragon many years ago.
The Great Wall is one of the greatest wonders of the world and it is just like an enormous dragon. It was
used to protect the central Chinese plains and prevent the aggression of the Xiongnu people. The Xiongnu
people, who lived in the Gobi desert, were nomadic. They were powerful and full of ambition. They
wanted to invade China. The Great Wall protected the Hans for a very long time. However, this is not the main
reason that you should visit it. There is a marvelous and passionate tale about The Great Wall that will surely
prompt you to visit the Great Wall.
Cheung, Group 3: Fiction, St. Mark's School (Secondary)
I
''
I want to have an urgent meeting with the emperor, please!'' A man, who was wearing armor, was
kneeling before the eunuch to ask for permission.
''
General, I will notify the emperor of this message,'' the eunuch answered immediately and humbly.
The eunuch entered the palace, silently so as not to not disturb the emperor and noted that the emperor
looked peaky and gaunt. He looked wan and his face was sallow probably from the many affairs he needed to
deal with. He could almost feel, taste his fatigue. The eunuch saw the emperor was reading the memorial stone.
It was heavily inscribed and just reading the names of those who had sacrificed their lives was enough to give
you a headache. Patiently, he waited to be beckoned…
''
What has happened? Why have you come in, Xiao Guizi?'' The emperor asked without looking up
from his reading.
''
Our dear Emperor, General Cheung wants to have an urgent meeting with you now. He is waiting for
your reply, ''Xiao Guizi answered.
''
Let him come in,'' the Emperor replied.
While the emperor was speaking, Xiao Guizi realized that something was bothering him. Xiao Guizi felt
powerless; he didn't have the ability to fight in the war to protect his home as he was not strong enough. He
always hoped he could fight in the war. He sighed and went in search of the general. He told the general that the
emperor would meet with him now.
''
Our mighty emperor, it is with much sadness, I regret to inform you that Xiongnu is invading our
home. They are attacking and harming us. We need to come up with a strategy to prevent the aggression of
Xiongnu,''General Cheung said.
''
I know what is happening now. And I think of it every day, every hour, every minute, ever second. We
have no choice but to fight with Xiongnu. Blood will be spilt, I am sure, ''the emperor answered solemnly.
''
Why? Why? Why isn’t there a better method to solve the problem?'' the General yelled.
''
The deadly battle cannot be avoided. We need to face it. The war will start very soon,'' the emperor
muttered.
Many posters were pasted on the street walls to encourage the populace to be the valorous warriors and
protect their country. People knew that the Xiongnu were invading Chinese boundaries. They were very worried,
not worried about their life, but the country. Numerous young and brave men decided to become soldiers when
they saw the poster, regardless of their age. They thought that if they still have the ability to fight, walk, run,
they would protect their country. They returned home and told their families about their determination. Some of
them had children, wives, but they didn't fluctuate and their mind was as tough as stone.
''
Mum, I am leaving now. I don't know whether I can return a hero or not, I fear that I may not return,
''
one young man said.
''
Oh! My foolish son, you don't need to worry about me. All you need to do is to protect our country.
Go, my son .Be brave!'' an old woman, who was trying not to cry, said to her son.
The men were leaving their home, family. They were going to pick up their weapons and fight with the
enemies. The general was training them strictly and forced them to become stronger and more potent since they
needed to bear a very important duty .However, time never wait for anyone. Xiongnu was near and they needed
to have a deadly battle with Xiongnu.
That day was cloudy and humid, it seemed like some great things would be happened.
However, the weather didn't influence the soldiers of either side. The morale of soldiers was fervent. The
soldiers of both sides were nervous, waiting for the start of the war. They were fighting for their nation, their