New Tales of the Great Wall
Julie Zhang, Group 3: Fiction, Dulwich College, Beijing
he history of the Great Wall of China is as bloody and gruesome as any of the ancient Chinese
civilization itself. So many workers have died during its building so it is often referred to as “the
longest cemetery on Earth” I was one of those people in fact I was a soldier that spent most of my life
there. It was gruesome all right, I had to make hard and difficult decisions that bothered me and
changed my life completely. I was tortured into doing things I didn’t want but unlike any soldiers I
have a story to tell you…
It all happened on the third century I was born a healthy little baby. Although my family was very poor
but I was happier than ever because I could stay so close to my family. They gave me warmth and most
importantly I had freedom, to do everything I ever wanted but it was limited. As years past by life has
completely changed for me I had to work for emperor Qin building the great wall. Although I got a lot of money,
I was miserable and lonely. It cost me my freedom. Many of my fellow friends died during this session I cried
and cried until my tears ran out. I was tired. I dreamt that someday when the construction is complete I will be
free again and I can see my family. That has been the motivation to keep me living and working.
One sunny day the sun was smiling at me as if something good was going to happen. I was working
while I saw the most beautiful women ever. She had hair as dark as darkness and lips as red as roses. Her skin as
white as snow and when she smiles it reminds me of the sun. She offered me water but it was love at first sight
just looking at her. My heart was racing like a car. We became friends we were very alike we spent time
together. Memories with her were amazing and fabulous I was thinking of telling her I love her and asking to
marry me but she became a concubine of the emperor but who am I to blame? I can never win against the
emperor so this is how I lost my one true love. Not long after the other concubines of the emperor because of
jealousy murdered her. But before she died she wrote a letter to me saying that she was forced to marry the
emperor so if she had a choice she would rather choose me. Listening to that made me feel so relieved but sad.
She was one of the most important women in my life, my one true love. I cried until my tears ran out knowing
that we could have been together. But I can’t believe that I misunderstood her thinking she loved money and not
me but every time I look at a puddle after it rains or every time I look at the blue sky it will always remind me of
her beautiful face. She will forever remain in my heart.
As years past by I was lonelier than ever. I didn’t have any friends and every time I had a dream it
would be about her… One dark rainy day as I continued building the great wall I was killed. The emperor found
out about that letter and took me away. I was tortured badly. They tied me onto some rocks and whipped me
with a whip and would pour salt on my bruises and put bugs on it too. I was in pain, but this pain was nothing
compared to things I have been through. I died slowly thinking of her all the time I have never regretted loving
her. Weeks passed by, and I died. But I wasn’t afraid of death. I had nothing to think about here except for that I
am at last free from this death hole. I can finally see my loved ones and leave this place that makes me so sad. I
didn’t fear death. I even welcomed it.
Up here in the sky I am full of life, right beside my loved ones. I will be forever guarding the Great
Wall. I will be forever watching it. I had a beautiful life.
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