Jurchen soldier climbed up, Xin quickly dragged out a dagger, and stabbed at the soldier’s face with no mercy.
He didn’t know how many strikes were made, he only stopped when he felt sure that the soldier was dead.
The Great Wall was enveloped in a thick blanket of sanguineous fog, the Ming’s army defensive line was
collapsing and the archers’ effort to stem the tide of attacks went to no avail. The Infantry Units, engaged in a
massacre rather than a battle, were being decimated. The Commander of the Ming’s Army, realizing there was
no chance of evacuating back inside the gates, declared this deadly statement.
‘
Close the gates and launched the “EAGLE”! Lads, I’m sorry that I could not lead you to taste the wine of
victory but I can guarantee you that we are both ascending to the pinnacle of honor forever!’ Liang, hearing this,
fought even harder, he lost control of his mind, all he knew was kill. An and Xin, felt a chill all over the body
upon hearing this, they knew their brother was there, on the way to the gates of Hades. An threw his weapon on
the ground, with his hands full of blood, he grabbed the senior officer’s chest,
‘
They are our brothers, we are killing them, what is this all about?’ he exclaimed with a dreadful tone, with
tears rolling down his face.
‘
This is an order.’ The senior officer replied calmly, trying his best to conceal his moroseness.
‘
What order, is order more important than lives?’ An retorted.
‘
The honor and the outcome behind the order surpass all,’ the senior officer replied with a tingle of tear
rolling down the edge of his eyes.
An, with his hands relieved, his head held low, he seemed to understand something, something that he
never wanted to accept.
The defender shot with arrows attached by a bag filled with oil, then they lit up torches, ‘Fire!’ and the
defender threw the torches towards their enemy, together with their fellow comrades.
‘
My Lord, My country, in your hands a commend my spirit!’ was the final cry heard by the defenders, then
the scene became to an inferno, the defenders together with the attackers were entirely burnt to ashes, their
corpses were never to be found but their spirit would live forever in the minds of their fellow comrades.
The two brothers stared at the spot where their brother had been
‘
I would never do this to my brothers if I am in charge’ muttered Xin.
‘
I agree,’ replied An, but the words did not quite reflect his thoughts.
The Ming’s Dynasty successfully held off the Jurchens’ assault but at a huge cost, their legendary general
Chu Jin died bravely for his country together with many departed souls.
News of the heroic death of the Infantry Unit was soon spread throughout the country, statues and temples
were built to commemorate the bravery of the soldiers.
In the small village where the three brothers came from, one day, the same soldier who had announced the
death of the village chief’s son came, his hands holding a badge and a sword, announced, ‘may the Lee family
come out,’ the brothers’ father and mother came out, somehow, they were prepared for this, ‘Dear Sir, your son
Lee Liang sacrificed his life for the sake of his people, the Emperor would like to express his deepest
condolences to you’ the soldier announced, again, with no emotion in his speech. The parents, when they heard
the official announcement of only the death one of their son, sobbed but the tears were not at all filled with grief
but in fact together with thankfulness, they were indeed grateful for the survival of the two of their sons that
survived. The village chief was heard saying ‘What an omen to the Lees.’
In the following twenty years, battles were still being fought but both armies failed to acquire a decisive
victory. By the year 1640, people had forgotten about Chu Jin, for now, they had a new legend, Lee An.
‘
Brother, the Jurchens were showing their ace this time, they purchased a cannon from the Turks, and is
expected to be on the move in 2 days’ time’ reported Lee Xin, the Senior Commander of the army.
‘
The time has come at last, brother, tell the soldiers to get prepared and to examine the fortification clearly’
the Chief Commander, Lee An replied.
Then the battle was being fought just as the same one it did twenty years ago, a conflagration engulfed the
lives of both the defenders and attackers, once more, it was a victory claimed by the defenders.
At night, a victory celebration was being held. The curtain of the crescent moon
and thousands of stars seemed to be strolling from the countless mountains, enfolding the Great Wall in its
great shadow. Amidst the joyous cries and songs, inside the Commander’s camp, a quarrel has begun.
‘
What was that all about?’ Xin spoke, his tone exuding vestige of anger.
‘
What do you mean, my dearest brother?’ An replied, and he poured wine into both of their cups.
‘
You know very well what I mean,’ Xin muttered while striking the table with a fist.
‘
Peace brother, can’t you see we are enjoying this victory?’ An drank his cup of wine.
‘
Don’t you remember what we said after our first fight?’
‘
Yes.’
‘
Then why on earth are you doing this?’ Xin blurted out at the top of his voice, he threw the cup on the floor