Author
RED SPIRIT is the haunting story of what lies beneath China's modern
face. As the eyes of the world was on China in 2008 for the Beijing
Olympics, so they were also watching in 1989 when troops massacred students
around Tiananmen Square.
But little known to anyone, an extradordinary was battle was going
on around the city of Xian, home to the famous Terracotta Warriors that
protect the tomb of China's first emporer Qin Shi Huang.
Dr Sally Parsons, a brilliant, but stubborn archeologist, has a dream
to excavate the tomb. It's thought that no one has ever seen the lavish
decodrills through the mound, she sees something that puts her life
in extreme danger - and is about to create a nightmare for millions.
In early 1989, Soviet communism is about to collapse. In China civil
war is brewing, and a secret is about to be uncovered that could change
the course of history.
Extract from the Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji)
by Sima Qian 104 - 92 B.C
AS SOON as the First Emperor became king of Chin, excavations
and building had been started at Mount Li, while after he won the empire
more than seven hundred thousand conscripts from all parts of the country
worked there. They dug through three subterranean streams and poured
molten copper for the outer coffin, and the tomb was filled with models
of palaces, pavilions and offices, as well as fine vessels, precious
stones and rarities. Artisans were ordered to fix up crossbows so that
any thief breaking in would be shot. All the country's streams, the
Yellow River and the Yangtse were reproduced in quicksilver and by some
mechanical means made to flow in an miniature ocean. The heavenly constellations
were shown above and the regions on the earth below. The candles were
made of whale oil to ensure their burning for the longest possible time.
The Second Emperor decreed: It is not right to send away
those of my father's ladies who had no sons. Accordingly, all these
were ordered to follow the First Emperor to the grave. After the internment,
someone pointed out that the artisans who had made the mechanical contrivances
might disclose all the treasure that was in the tomb; therefore after
the burial and sealing up of the treasures, the middle gate was shut
and the outer gate closed to imprison all the artisans and labourers,
so that no one came out. Trees and grass were planted over the mausoleum
to make it seem like a hill.
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