Author: On Zi Rui
Titled: Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu
(20,000 men of Xiang Yu defeated 200,000 men of the Qin Army at the Battle of Julu, who could say that Heavens’ Will was never his ? The Heavens never did defy men like us. It’s when it’s getting darker, not fully dark yet, that hopes and egos they still burn, those glories were never entrapped by birthrights, this I was never taught of, but I knew I wanted to break every strain of those nets laid upon upon birth, I knew I was once just but a taxi driver’s / mover’s and a run-down store’s cashier’s son, but a joke, I never did stop to pursue those grandiose dreams. I never did stop when the world laughed and ridiculed at me, maybe I am laughable. Maybe all I know now is that I want to exceed Xiang Yu. Yes, I want to ! May the Heavens not deny my will !)
Mao Zedong told of his soldiers not to achieve those fame and everlasting glories of Xiang Yu, but to reorganise, regroup and to strike the enemy again !
There was a point that I was willing to die like Xiang Yu, for that fame so everlasting, so rare ! Maybe, if the eagle soars to the Heavens but fearlessly and if this lamentable world asks again but for a hero that it knows it can’t but allow. I laugh at the world’s ignorance. Its pettiness was never worth what my heart can embrace ! I was never close to its petty pettiness. For that once, during those years, I was the proudest boy in this universe. I was never proud of myself, but I knew always, that the world’s pettiness shan’t contain me ! My ambitions were never muzzled by my parentage or birth ! Soar I shall ! Soar I shall ! May I eventually gain but those everlasting glories ! God is discerning ! And I shan’t disappoint !
Maybe those years
I saw the Heavens’ glorious will
Close it was, maybe even within grasps
But I saw it gone in the hands of those scheming greenish bastards !
The Heavens shall still have its plans
I never doubted then
Not now ! Not now !
Maybe I still have that furious magnificent fire burning in me
I think I still have the Will to be Xiang Yu if the world but denies me, in those very ends ! Maybe to be remembered like by all his glories in this sometimes but also fascinating and intoxicating world will be the last honour bestowed by the Heavens upon me, if that day comes !
He fought with those remaining men to the very end
And that meant something ! Really meant something, at least to me
He never saw those men as tools, a men with honour and dignity, those Jiangdong men he might have never knew how to show his remorse to but a final stand, would be his last dazzle to this world, for them !
Those remaining men who fought with him than to cower in hiding, and then after the storm to enjoy those seductions and enjoyments of this world, at least I know, there will be those who will rather fight for an extraordinary man’s Will and his irrevocable destiny than to betray him, those betrayals so filthy, because those ordinary men though ordinary but they still had that scarce sense of loyalty during those turbulent years, they just can’t bring himself to betray that extraordinary man, his Will ! Maybe because they have rode on those adventurous roads with him, and they just can’t forget those years where he was the Hegemon-King of Western Chu ! They must had admired him to the end, and this world shan’t ask for more !
I have seen this world, and this end is befitting of a hero ! I never did forget those years where my ambitions were ridiculed at, denied at due to my parentage. A heroic death to me later, was therefore but a sweet dream, I dreamt aimlessly during those early early years, the dream and Will during these years never did ever perish !
Will the world asks for another hero ?