It seemed that all three hundred Red Star villagers had gathered at the site, along with many visitors. Ming recognized kids and adults from neighboring villages. They were sitting, squatting, or standing on the packed dirt around a temporary wooden stage. Some wore broad straw hats to block the burning sun, while others held their hands over their eyes or squinted against the harsh light. Despite the perspiration glinting on their foreheads, they talked and bustled with the energy of a village market before New Year.
Teacher Panda led her awestruck and excited students through the crowd. Ming and his classmates gathered around her in the shade of a large cottonwood tree.
“Ming, I have a new slingshot. Would you like me to show you after school?” asked a boy.
“No, he can’t,” replied the boy with glasses. “Ming is going to show me his new radio.”
“Ming, you’re so smart!” The red-cheeked girl smiled eagerly at him.
“And so brave!” a pretty girl with two ponytails chipped in.
Ming looked uneasily at Teacher Panda, remembering how she had often yelled at him for talking to his classmates. Instead, she smiled benevolently at them.
On the stage, a group of young men were following the rhythm of the èr hú player, clapping cymbals and banging drums. The singer stood in the middle of the stage, pantomiming climbing a mountain, riding a horse, and swimming in a river. He raised both his hands and one of his legs as he finished his song.
We would climb a thousand mountains
And cross a thousand rivers
To follow our dear Chairman Mao.
The three Gee brothers lit a long string of firecrackers, biān pào, 鞭炮, sending fountains of sparks rising into the air and bits of burned paper fluttering down on the cheering crowd. Never before had Red Star seen a celebration like this!
When the Regional Secretary, a young woman, moved onto the stage, the musicians quickly retreated. She was accompanied by a stout, stocky man. The noise died down, and all eyes focused on them.
“Allow me to introduce Red Star’s new Political Officer, Comrade Ding!” the woman said in a high, sweet voice. “He will guide us in adhering to dear Chairman Mao’s teachings.”
Comrade Ding was dressed in a new Mao-style uniform. He raised his hand and waited until the clapping had quieted down. “Dear villagers of Red Star! Today we are here to celebrate the ground breaking of the Terra-Cotta Museum. The central government in Beijing plans to turn Red Star into a city to rival the metropolis of Xi’an! Not only are we going to have a forest of high-rise apartment buildings—complete with indoor bathrooms!—but we will also have two large movie theaters and a boulevard broad enough for four large trucks to drive abreast, lined with modern shops and hotels. When that day comes, darkness will never fall over Red Star. At night, neon signs and lights hanging like melons from lampposts will light the city as bright as day. Your lives will be as sweet as a jar of honey.”
His speech was like a drop of water in a pot of hot oil; the crowd bubbled and sizzled with excitement.
The new Political Officer waited a moment before resuming his speech. “Now, let me introduce you to the director of the new Terra-Cotta Museum. He and his brave son single-handedly lifted the veil of mystery from Emperor Qin’s tomb and captured the tomb robbers!”
Whispers broke out in the crowd.
“I heard those robbers all went insane in the city jail,” said an old woman.
“I heard they each tried to outdo the other in telling crazy stories about living terra-cotta soldiers, fishermen who shoot poison, and magic lanterns!” Teacher Panda piped up.
“It must be the mercury in the tomb that drove them mad,” said a toothless old man.
Ming’s bā ba stood up from beneath a gingko tree. The villagers chattered and clapped excitedly. All eyes followed the Regional Secretary as she hurried off the stage with a red cloth that had been folded and twisted into the shape of a flower. She pinned the flower on Ming’s bā ba’s chest.
The villagers’ cheers echoed the squawks of the happy geese in the sky.
“I have an announcement too,” Teacher Panda said in a voice loud enough for the Political Officer to hear. He waved her onto the stage.
Teacher Panda looked at Ming, her lips curled back like dry bean pods into a smile. “I am pleased to declare Ming a model Young Pioneer, so that other children can follow his example of bravery and dedication to the Revolution! He is the pride of our school and Red Star!”
Everyone clapped and cheered.
Ming was caught off guard, and a blush rose to his cheeks. He suddenly thought of his mother and fought to hold back his tears. How proud and happy she would have been.
“With that,” declared Comrade Ding, “let the celebration continue!”
“Ming, please show us where the tomb robbers broke in!” The ponytail girl’s plea interrupted Ming’s bittersweet thoughts.
“Who else wants to see?” Ming asked.
“Me! Me! Me!” His classmates pushed one another to get closer to him.
Ming led the way along the narrow ridge that divided large pits filled with rows of excavated soldiers, some still half buried, others missing heads, arms, or legs. Archaeologists scurried around in the trenches like ants.
He stopped in front of a column of soldiers led by General Wang. His classmates gaped in awe at the statues and their armor.
“Ahead is where the secret traps captured the robbers.” Ming pointed.
“I want to see it!” several of his classmates exclaimed. They rushed passed Ming. General Wang winked at him. Ming bowed his head and exchanged smiles with Feng and Si Ji.
Ming’s eyes were suddenly drawn to a nearby archaeologist. The man was squatting in a pit, holding a small clay square up to the sunlight, examining it with a magnifying glass. Ming saw the familiar character and raced down into the pit. He apologized and swiftly snatched the square out of the man’s hands. Ignoring the cries of the archaeologist and his startled classmates, he dashed back up the steep path and into a large tent next to the pit.
Soldiers with missing arms or heads were lined up. In one corner of the tent, a soldier stood with his back to the entrance, whole except for a gap at the nape of his neck. Ming ran over and carefully fit the chip into the opening.
A bright light blinded him.
“What took you so long, Ming?” Shí’s voice boomed.
Terra-cotta soldiers and horses in the tomb of Emperor Qin.
GLOSSARY
father
bā ba
爸爸
field
tián
田
“Serve the People”
wèi rén mín fú wù
为人民服务
stone
Shí
石
China
Zhōng Gúo
中国
History of Qin
Qín Shi
秦史
Great Wall
Cháng Chéng
长城
teahouse
Chá Guăn
茶馆
unit of money
yuán
元
dumplings
jiăo zi
饺子
vital energy
yuán qì
元气
awl
zhuī zi
锥子
dragon
lóng
龙
phoenix
fèng
凤
wood
mù
木
fire
huŏ
火
earth
tŭ
土
metal
jīn
金
water
shuĭ
水
emperor
huáng
皇
bravery
dăn
胆
discipline
/>
lῢ
律
loyalty
zhōng
忠
glory
róng
荣
name of a dynasty
Qín
秦
“double happiness”
xĭ
囍
firecracker
biān pào
鞭炮
a surname meaning “ocean” or “victory”
Ying
瀛
Authors Ying and Vinson Compestine with one of the three farmers who discovered the first terra-cotta soldier. Vinson is holding the hoe that struck the terra-cotta head.
The authors pose with contemporary replicas of the sculptures meant for tourists.
AUTHORS’ NOTE
FOR YEARS, WE TALKED ABOUT WRITING A BOOK together, but we couldn’t find a project that interested both of us—that is, until we visited Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum.
In Xian, we were introduced to one of the three farmers who unearthed the first terra-cotta soldier. He invited us to his home, where we interviewed him and listened to his account of the discovery in 1974. Afterwards, we visited the Xian Terra-cotta Museum and witnessed how craftsmen use ancient methods in their workshop to mass-produce terra-cotta replicas for tourists. Later on, as we explored the surrounding countryside and the unearthed portions of Emperor Qin’s tomb in Li Mountain, we heard more fascinating stories.
Upon returning to the United States, we read every book we could find about Emperor Qin and his terra-cotta army. The historical facts intensified our interest and stirred our imaginations. What secrets were still locked away in the Emperor’s tomb—and what would it be like to “stand guard” for thousands of years?
Vinson was captivated by the stories of ancient battles, the paraphernalia of warfare, the rumors of secret traps in the tomb, and, particularly, the terra-cotta soldiers. As we plotted out the story, he developed a strong affinity for the characters Ming and Shí—who in the book are only slightly younger than he was at that time.
Ying, nine years old, dressed in Mao’s uniform, in Wuhan, China. 1972.
Ever since Ying was young, she has been fascinated by Emperor Qin because they share an uncommon bond. In China, all names have meanings. For example, Tian, 田, the name of the sculptor who created Shí, means “field.” Before the emperor titled himself Qin Shi Huang—literally, “first Emperor Qin”—his surname was also 瀛 Ying. It is one of the most difficult written Chinese words, a combination of six different characters: water, perish, mouth, month, female, and ordinary; together, the characters can mean either “ocean” or “victory.” In this book, Ying wanted to portray what life was like during Mao’s regime. When the first terra-cotta soldiers were discovered, toward the end of the Cultural Revolution (1966–76), she was about the same age as Ming. Like him, she was singled out at school by her classmates and criticized by her teacher for being from an intellectual family, and had to endure endless political study.
Our combined interests led us to write this historical novel based on true events that took place under two ruthless dictators from modern and ancient times: Mao Zedong and Ying Zheng.
Mao Zedong ruled China from 1949 to 1976. In 1958, he launched the Great Leap Forward, an ill-conceived campaign to modernize China. It resulted in a famine that claimed millions of lives. The modernization campaign’s failure severely weakened Mao’s grip on power. In 1966, he started a movement called the Cultural Revolution, in a bid to eliminate his political rivals and regain absolute control over China. His followers elevated him to an object of worship. Each day, citizens had to sing revolutionary songs and read Mao’s teachings. Class time was reserved for studying Communist revolutionary history and political dogma. Pins with Mao’s portrait were popular accessories, and it was fashionable to wear Mao-style uniforms and hats.
Mao Zedong. The slogan on top reads, “All anti-revolutionaries are paper tigers.”
Mao banned—and burned—many books. Those who opposed his policies, namely teachers and intellectuals, were killed or exiled to labor camps or remote villages. Mao often compared himself to Emperor Qin, emulating Qin Shi Huang’s aggressive use of censorship and indoctrination to maintain his power. In one of his speeches, Mao stated that he had far outdone Qin Shi Huang in his attack on intellectuals: “He buried 460 scholars alive; we have buried 46,000 scholars alive …. You [intellectuals] revile us for being Qin Shi Huangs. You are wrong. We have surpassed Qin Shi Huang a hundredfold.”
Ying Zheng became king of Qin at the age of thirteen. Qin was one of seven kingdoms during the Warring States period (from about 475 to 221 BCE). By the time he was twenty-five, King Qin had defeated the other six states, unifying China. He divided the new country into thirty-six prefectures and proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of Qin.
During the Warring States period, Sun Tzu, a prominent general from the state of Wu, wrote The Art of War, a book about military strategy and discipline. The book’s tactics guided many rulers of ancient China, and still influences military and political leaders today.
The Qin army was famous for its brilliant strategies and strict discipline. It was also renowned for its courageous soldiers and generous incentive system. It’s hard to believe, but it actually was standard practice for Emperors and generals in ancient China to reward brave soldiers who brought them enemy heads.
Emperor Qin is a controversial historical figure. He standardized the systems of weights, measurements, and currency, as well as the Chinese written language; he built roads and canals to facilitate trade throughout the empire; and he constructed the Great Wall to secure the northern border against pillaging Mongols—nomadic tribes led by rulers called khans. However, during the construction of the Great Wall, strict quotas and harsh working conditions resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. To strengthen his regime, Emperor Qin buried alive Confucian scholars, or “intellectuals,” and burned writings that he believed threatened or challenged his imperial power.
Obsessed with immortality, Emperor Qin took mercury potions, which his physicians believed would extend his life. On the contrary, he suffered the painful effects of mercury poisoning, becoming irrational and paranoid.
To prepare for his eternal life, he commanded that a massive, elaborate mausoleum be built beneath a burial mound 377 feet (115 meters) in height and measuring 1,132 feet (345 meters) from east to west, and 1,148 feet (350 meters) from north to south. The mound later became known as Li Mountain. There are one hundred pits and tombs surrounding the burial chamber, and the construction took thirty-nine years, from 247 to 208 BCE.
Emperor Qin died at the age of forty-nine. In 206 BCE, four years after his death, his dynasty was overthrown by General Xi’ang Yu, whose army destroyed all of the aboveground structures and looted part of the outer mound of the underground palace. According to historian Sima Qian’s record from the Han dynasty, written about a hundred years after Qin’s death, Xi’ang Yu’s army stole treasure and weapons from the terra-cotta soldiers and set a fire that burned for three months.
Sima Qian wrote, “The tomb was filled with models of palaces, pavilions, and offices as well as fine vessels, precious stones, and rarities.” Deadly traps like hidden crossbows, poisonous powders, and a massive terra-cotta army of life-size soldiers armed with real bronze weapons, guarded the tomb.
In 1974, while digging a well near Xi Yang Village, east of Xi’an, three farmers unearthed a terra-cotta soldier. Since then, over eight thousand terra-cotta soldiers and many other artifacts have been uncovered. Because each soldier’s face is unique, many historians believe that actual soldiers modeled for the statues.
To this day, the emperor’s main tomb is still shrouded in mystery and remains unexcavated. Geological surveys have found high levels of mercury where the main chamber is believed to be located. For years, archaeologists have debated as to why, unlike other ancient tombs in China, Emperor Qin’s mausoleum hasn’t suffe
red further plundering. Perhaps it’s because the intruders fear the mercury, the Emperor’s curses, or the rumored traps and self-destruct mechanism. Or perhaps the burial mound was simply too thick for anyone to break through until modern times, after farmers had cut down the trees on Li Mountain, resulting in massive soil loss from erosion.
According to the Chinese government, there is no plan to open the main burial chamber for fear of mercury leaking into the surrounding area or triggering a trap that would cause the entire mausoleum to self-destruct. There are additional apprehensions about preserving the contents of the tomb once opened. “It is best to keep the ancient tomb untouched, because of the complex conditions inside,” Duan Qinbao, a researcher with the Shaanxi Provincial Archaeology Institute, said in 2006.
We hope this book will pique your interest in China and fuel your fascination about the secrets of Emperor Qin’s mausoleum!
MING’S FAVORITE STIR-FRIED NOODLES, WITH WORMS
If you have difficulty obtaining Giant Carnivorous Li Mountain Worms, substitute chicken, beef, or tofu for protein. We do not advise using the variety of worms found in most household backyards or parks, as they do not taste very good.
When cooking for good friends and on special occasions, top the noodles with crispy pan-fried eggs, as Shí did for Ming.
YIELD: 4 SERVINGS
• 8 ounces Giant Carnivorous Li Mountain Worms, or precut stir-fry chicken or beef, or thin-sliced tofu
Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier Page 11
