Watering Horses at the Great Wall

He was a great emperor of his age, yet political motives cast a shadow over his name in the histories of later generations.

His cousin accused him of being “indulgent in women and neglectful of state affairs, and of allowing chaos to reign within and without.”

Historians portray him as persecuting his elder brothers, murdering his father, and forcibly marrying his stepmother.

Only a handful of people still remember that

he won countless victories and was invincible in battle;

he won over the world through benevolence, breaking down barriers;

he devoted himself to governing and worked tirelessly on reform;

he expanded the canals and promoted culture!

Thousands of years have passed, and it is now hard to imagine the fervor with which he once climbed the Great Wall to gaze out over the magnificent land.

His dynasty bore the weight of his dreams, and of the great achievements he hoped to accomplish:

The bleak autumn winds rise, and I journey far away. What lies ahead on this long journey? Across the desert, I build the Great Wall. Is this the wisdom of a mere upstart? No, it was planned by the sages of old. I lay this lasting foundation for generations to come, to bring peace to countless lives. How could I shrink from anxious toil, or rest easy in the capital? To the north, along the river, our banners of war appear; for a thousand miles, our military flags unfurl. Mountains and rivers rise and fall from view, while the plains stretch far beyond sight. The clash of cymbals halts the ranks; the drums summon the soldiers. A thousand chariots and countless banners move, and horses drink at the wells by the Great Wall. At autumn dusk, clouds gather beyond the frontier; mist obscures the moon over the mountain pass. We race along the steep roads on horseback, and signal fires blaze in the sky. Who is the guardian of the Great Wall? The Xiongnu chieftain has come to pay homage. The foul air clears above the Tianshan Mountains, and morning light shines on the lofty gates. We lay down our arms and regroup the troops; we have accomplished countless tasks in the frontier regions. We celebrate our victory and announce our return, offering our achievements before the ancestral temple.

This story imagines real historical figures and events, so please read with care!