Free Ancient Emperors. Deathbed Memoir Essay Example

Many years ago, our country did not look the way it is now. It consisted of several other states that were constantly at war with each other. These wars were horrible and brutal. However among them was one of the most powerful. It was Qin state. We had the greatest military power that no one could overcome. I was born in a hostile country in the city Handan. My father was then a prisoner since he was a prince and thereby guarantee peace between Qin and Zhao. Over time, my father was able to return home. I came to power when I was only 14 years old (Tanner, 2009, p. 87). As you may know, my real name is Yin Zheng. I was just a little child, who was entrusted a powerful state into his hands. I was extremely scared. I was afraid that I could not meet the expectations of my family and my people. However, Lu Buwey, who became my regent, helped me. He leaded all the state affairs until I turned 20 (Tanner, 2009, p. 87).
I continued conquest of the lands and finally was able to eliminate the last enemy - Qi kingdom. I decided to develop administrative division and personally appointed officials who were directly responsible to the Emperor. On the basis of the former kingdom of Qin laws and borrowing some articles of the laws of the other six kingdoms, I developed and introduced a single law of the great Empire. New Law consists of statutes and regulations. It covers the right of family, war, agriculture, the system of punishments (Andrew, Rapp, 2000, p. 21). I completely centralized the power to create the most powerful Empire. I sent former aristocrats of six kingdoms to the capital, to avoid their struggle for the restoration of power and forbade the masses to have weapons and all of them were confiscated and destroyed (Tanner, 2009, p. 89). All of the scholars who did not approve my policy and try to prevent economic, political and cultural development and modernization of the Middle Kingdom, paid for this with their lives. All letters of traitors, which spoke of separatism were destroyed. While useful work on agricultural, forestry and medicine were safely hidden in the archives (Tanner, 2009, p. 90).
I ruled fairly and faithfully! I tried to create the most powerful Empire ever. Some people may say that I was a cruel ruler, perhaps so. However, if I had not have kept things under control, had not have been strict, my dream of such state would not come true!
Nevertheless, I made a lot of good for the Middle Kingdom! In the economic sphere, I carried out the development of agriculture and centralized trade, supported feudal land ownership. I ordered recognition and protection of the rights of land ownership for all farmers and peasant proprietors. I imposed taxes, thereby approved the system of private ownership of land. System of weights and balances and the monetary system were unified, and based unified network of state-owned roads and canals, which stretches over 6000 kilometers (Tanner, 2009, p. 89).
In cultural terms, during my government Chinese writings were unified. Unification of language helped to preserve the immutability of Chinese culture during the wars and all sorts of shocks. New characters were based on Zhou era. I forbade use of different writings that were invented by "feudal states". New official characters were engraved on the walls of palaces and even on Mount Tyan-Shan to witness the union of Empire and me - "The First Emperor". It was also the way to popularize a new writing among ordinary people (Tanner, 2009, p. 89).
During the war for the unification of the Empire, I decreed the construction of palaces along the lines of the best palaces of the lands that we conquered. There were more than 700 palaces in the empire, 300 of them were in the former kingdom of Qin. 270 palaces were only in the capital. I commanded to build all of them, because unfortunately, many of people did not understand me, and assaults were repeatedly committed on my life. I had to build a system of secret tunnels under the palaces that no one guessed where I would spend the night (Sullivan, 1999, p. 60). In order to decorate palaces I did not spare any money. All the most valuable and rare that was possible to find in the vast territory of the empire, precious stones and metals, trees fragrant wood, wood with staining liquid (pink and green) - all brought from distant places to decorate the imperial palaces.
Despite all my achievements and greatness of the state, I realized that Empire must be protected, because of lots invaders that can make an attempt to conquere such a treasure as the Middle Kingdom! In order to do this, I decided to create a significant thing! The construction, that can not only protect the whole Empire, but it will help descendants to remember me! I ordered the construction of the Great Wall, which should stretch in the mountains and in the valleys, and five riders could pass along on the top of the wall (Tanner, 2009, p. 89). What a pity that I am not able to wait for the completion of the building and see all the glory of one of the finest military installations in the history of mankind!
I thought that all these architectural masterpieces were not enough to perpetuate my name, and I began to dream of seeking immortality. Not so given, I sent ships to find the elixir of immortality (Tanner, 2009, p. 91). I tried different ways to become immortal. There was a liquid of silver color on which I was so optimistic. Unfortunately, I was not able to achieve the desired!
Despite the changes that I have made to my country, I am afraid that future generation will remember me as a tyrant, who made ruthless laws that made the life difficult and his people unhappy. I am afraid that my name will be synonymous with cruelty. However, I also look hopefully to the future. I believe that future generations will see that greatness in my actions, which unified the Middle Kingdom! Making it the most powerful state in the cultural, economic and military heyday!
Now, lying on my deathbed, I realize that I will not live forever in power - all will be compared by death. I devoted my life to the creation of the greatest empire of all time. I did everything possible to make my dream come true and I reached my goal, becoming the first emperor of the Middle Kingdom. According to all this achievements I will not command, I will ask you to build a tomb of incomparable splendor and beauty for me. This will be my last step to retain in the memory of our daughters and sons! To tell them about the grand history of the Middle Kingdom and the magnificent achievements of their ancestors!

References

Tanner H.M. (2009) China: A history. (pp. 87-92) Indianapolis, In: Hackett Publishing Company Ltd.
Andrew A.M., Rapp J.A. (2000) Autocracy and China's Rebel Founding Emperors. (pp. 20-22) Boston: Rowman&Littlefield Publishers, Ltd.
Sullivan M. (1999) The Arts of China. (pp. 60-88) London, GB: University of California Press, Ltd.