Chapter 1 Today I will tell you my story.

It all started when I was very very young thats when my mom died and my dad got taken away. I was an outcast from the beginning and I think thats why I have no problem when I kill someone with the sword because I have no feelings for them. Oh I almost forgot my name is Ynying (dark shadow) Ok lets go back to the present. I walked out of my house and at the moment I had no idea that today I would become a hero. I started the day like any other I woke up and got ready for the laboring day in the fields. But when I walked out of my house something wasnt right something in the air made me feel uneasy, at the time I didnt know what it was but I decided to meditate to ease myself. As I was meditating I heard a faint whooshing sound of in the distance my first instinct was its just another bad sign of today but then I heard a scream and I thought something bad is about to happen. The whooshing sound grew louder I decided I better tell the village that something was coming. I darted down the river and as I was running time started to slow down and I thought what in nature makes a whooshing sound Water I exclaimed. Ok so if theres water coming and I heard a scream theres only one thing this could mean a flood. At that same moment I started yelling Theres a flood coming, and I guess they didnt think I was kidding because I saw a bunch of people evacuating there homes with there kids. I screamed to them to spread the word down to the rest of the village. And then I saw it a big blue mass was moving toward me and I decided I should probably start running. As I was running I was wondering if this would be the last time I would see my village. I had never seen the village so empty the only sound was the rumbling of the water on its way down the river. I kept running until I found the villagers waiting and waiting next to them was a huge carriage and inside I could barely make out a golden robe. I guess the word had gotten to the emperor that I had saved the village. He stood up and slowly approached me he bellowed to me I am here to reward you for your valor you will be one of my Noble Foreman that will supervise labor on the Great Wall of China Thank You Sir I am quite honored. He told me to take a seat in his carriage, and he told me more about the responsibilities of my new job.

CHAPTER 2 We rolled up in the carriage and my mouth dropped and it looked like a sea of people picking up and moving bricks. And I thought to myself how am I going to lead all of these people. As I walked out of the carriage Emperor Chong Zhen said he wanted to come back here in five years and see a finished wall I responded Yes sir. In my opinion I dont think we need the wall we have a very strong army to protect our country. But its not my choice its the emperors. I walked to the watchtower to see if anyone was off task. When I got up to the top I noticed how long it was, I looked to either side of me and it looked like it went on forever. As I was admiring the wall someone yelped to me that we had no more bricks to use. So as a daoist I knew what kind of materials would make good bricks. Like clay, mud, and sandstone. So I ordered everyone to find all of the resources I had previously listed to them. And they knew if they didnt get moving there would be consequences. And in about an hour I saw a bunch of men coming toward the tower with all of the supplies. I commanded them to start forming the bricks with there hands. And as soon as they were done I didnt even need to say get back to work they just went back to work as normal. I guess there last Noble Forman was harsh and drilled into their mind that they had to get back to work or they would be punished. I thought to myself man this job is easy. As the days went pass I saw many men die working on the wall. But It steadily grew bigger and bigger by day. The biggest challenge I think is watching all of the men suffer in the backbreaking labor they have to go threw. Time started to move faster and months seemed to go by really fast. And then it was the final month leading up to the end of the 5th year now it was crunch time we had a month to finish the massive wall. I started questioning myself will I be able to finish? By the last week we were putting the finishing touches on the wall. You can probably imagine how relieved I was. And off in the sunset came that same golden carriage carrying none other than emperor Chong Zhen. He came out of the carriage and his face was in awe. He walked over to me and he said Very good job I am here once again to promote you to Interim General. I was so happy because I could finally let my combat skills shine. And it looks like Ill need it because off in the distance a hoard of Mongols were coming on horseback.

Chapter 3 The Mongols were still charging us so I had barely enough time to prepare, I started barking out orders to my men. Archers equip your quivers with arrows Swordsman get your swords. One man came up to me and asked me General come and mount your horse I replied No thank you ill fight on my feet. They rapidly approached us we needed a plan. Ok men so were going to have the archers in the crenellations. Cavalry and foot soldiers fight your own battles. But whatever you do leave the Khan to me. As we were talking an arrow flew past my head and I guess that meant war. Horses galloped, arrows flew, and men fell to the ground breathless. I only focused on one person and that was the enemy khan. I slowly approached him with my sword drawn. It smelt like blood and warfare. He dismounted his horse. I could here my feet crunching on the blood streaking gravel. We came face to face he struck first I deflected his sword with a loud clang. I countered with a slight movement. Time started to slow down because I was in my element fighting. We fought for hours, after a while the constant sounds of battle started to fade away I didnt know what happened did I go deaf or were my men dead. I looked at my surroundings and the ground was strewn with bodies. I now felt that I had to win the battle for my men. The Khan started to become weak and I knew this was my time to strike. I struck him in the thigh and he fell to the ground. I was so relieved yet so weak. My legs felt like jello. As I looked around I saw all the bodies of the men I had been with for the past five years. They were my brothers. And once again I started to laugh because I saw that same golden carriage off in the distance. He rode down into the valley. He bellowed to me You have saved your town from a flood, built a massive wall, and defeated a hoard of Mongols. The only reward I think I have for you now is to come live with me in the Forbidden City. That is quite an honor I accept your invitation. I replied.

Chapter 4 As we arrived in the Forbidden City, I could not believe my eyes. Buildings and Bazaars filled the streets although there were not very many people inhabiting the massive city. But there was one building that really stood out the emperors palace. And in the center of that building was the dragon throne and upon this throne sat emperor Chong Zhen who looked very worried. I approached him Emperor is everything alright? I asked News has been received that we are going to be attacked from both sides by another Mongol Hoard and a Peasant Mob. I need you to protect the Forbidden City from warfare. I will protect the city at all cost even if it means my life. I am very proud of all of your achievements. Thank you sir its been a pleasure serving you. I was still recovering from the last battle when it happened. I guess the soldiers in the forbidden city were very well trained because I didnt need to say anything before they went to there battle stations and I thought to myself this is going to be a piece of cake. And shortly after I ate my words because I saw the huge masses of warriors rushing in on the walls. And then war commenced once again I fought on my feet. This time we lost less people in combat because we had the best fighters in china including myself. I was blazing through people one by one with astonishing swordplay. I myself was fighting on the side were the Mongols were attacking I started thinking that I should check on the other side so I returned and I saw a mob of people surrounding the palace. I rushed over there to see a peasant mob member about to shoot an arrow at the emperor my first reaction was to save him. I heard the twang of him letting the arrow go. No I was too late I could not let the emperor die. I swung my sword out and the arrow split in half. I took out the archer and I looked towards the emperor and on either side of his throne were halves of the arrows. I swiftly moved on to find our right flank was being over powered by the peasant mobs. I took charge and ordered men to the weak spot. One by one enemy forces fell to the ground. We didnt show signs of stopping we werent going to lose this fight. And we didnt we pulled through and defeated two armies at once. We walked back into the Forbidden City like we were the coolest guys around. 1 day 2 armies 1 victor and that were we. Later that evening we had a humongous feast and at the head of the table was emperor Chong Zhen. He stood up and began to speak. Today was a great day we won a war against 2 armies. But we couldnt have won without one man Ynying would you please rise. This man right here has accomplished way more than anybody I know. He has saved his village from a flood; finished the great wall in 5 years, fought off a hoard of Mongols, led you guys to victory today, and saved my life. He will shortly be returning to his village to see his father. My heart stopped I hadnt seen my dad since I was 1 he got taken away by the army or at least thats what my neighbors said. I needed to rest I needed to think. I only spent one more week in the Forbidden City and I enjoyed it. I met a bunch of nice

funny people. I spent my final day with the emperor he told me that I was allowed anytime to come return to the forbidden city with my father. He went over again about how great an impact I was to saving china. Now came the time to leave I packed up and we got in that same carriage and rode off towards home. We rolled up and I could barely recognize the place it was so much different from when I left. I stepped out of the carriage and I saw my dad. I ran up to him and hugged him. Although he felt kind of like a stranger because I had never really met him but he is related to me and hes all I have left. I said my final good byes to the emperor and that was the last time I saw the emperor before his death and with that the fall of the Ming dynasty. And that is my story.