“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page, from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is the Great Wall of China.
Great Wall of China, © Sébastien Laading, Google Maps
The Perfectionist
Meng Li slipped a slice of bark between the stones of the wall and scowled at the craftsmen who had laid them.
“Look here!” he hissed. “Gaps! There must be no gaps. Put it right, or I shall have you flogged.”
Wang Chao and Chen Susu bowed repeatedly. They knew that the wall was built on the bones of its builders.
Meng Li rolled a pottery ball along each drainage channel to check the gradient. He measured the pitch of each of the many steps with his graduated rod. Where mortar had been used, he probed its strength with a dagger point.
Everywhere he left men pale-faced, struggling to correct tiny errors.
That night, the Emperor sent for him.
“You are too demanding,” said the Emperor. “You are delaying completion of my wall.”
“But, my Lord…”
Quality, in the person of Meng Li, became a part of the wall’s foundations.
Autumn Leaves 
Oh yowsa–his dedication cost him dearly. And all these years later, he’s still at his task.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Karen
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Sometimes we can try too hard for perfection, and build walls around ourselves in the process…
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Goodness, Penny, you out-did yourself on this one. I love how Meng Li measures things. Super clever. My story is also about those who built the wall. Our muses collided.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Alicia
Thank you for reading and commenting.
The measurement techniques are all still used today, in one form or another, even the ball to determine drainage from a surface. And I believe they were available to the Chinese builders, although I confess I haven’t researched that.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Wow! Thanks for the info. Sometimes the old ways win out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunningly written.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Lisa
Thank you for reading and for your most kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the writing.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely enthralled by your story, now I can’t wait to see the wall when I travel to china in October.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Ivor
Thank you for reading and for your very kind comment. I’m sure you’ll find the Wall itself much more enthralling than the story. I’m always astonished by the technological feats that were possible many hundreds of years ago.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m looking forward to putting my feet on the Wall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story Penny. I could imagine being there, alongside the ashen faced workers, meeting the Perfectionist. Also a timeless theme, speed v standards isn’t it. perhaps we still have the Great Wall because of Meng-Li’s efforts ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Francine
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m very glad that you were able to imagine yourself there meeting Meng Li. He would have been rather a scary person to meet if you were a wall builder!
I’m sure you’re right that the way the wall has lasted shows that it was built to a high standard.
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Excellent take on the prompt. It almost serves as a morality tale about perfectionism.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Josh
Thank you for reading and commenting. A morality tale about perfectionism was one of the threads that was in my mind. I’ve known a few quality managers like Meng Li! But even more I was thinking about the metaphorical walls that we build around ourselves. If they’re too perfect, we die spiritually.
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
But then again, it could be the reason why the thing still stands! A great character piece, Penny – a demanding man, a particular man to work for. Great stuff
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and commenting. As a character piece, isn’t it amazing how a twentieth century native of Plymouth can morph in a writer’s imagination into a Chinese noble of 2000 years ago!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our imaginations know no bounds, Penny – you’ve proved that here 🙂
LikeLike
Oh what a cool take on the prompt… For this thing to be standing still, there had to be some very careful calculations. Crikey… we have a bloody bridge that didn’t even last 50 years in Montreal…
Too much perfection could be costly, not enough could be costlier…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dale
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad you thought it was a cool take on the prompt. All sorts of strands came together in my mind; historical, technical, character, psychological, the nature of power; so it was an excellent prompt for me!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
Dear Penny,
Brilliant piece of historical fiction. Oddly enough you and Dale went where I usually go. 😉 Love it. I felt the sweat on their brows and the aches on their backs. Good job!
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rochelle
Thank you for reading and your very kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my attempt at historical fiction.
Shalom,
Penny
LikeLike
ouuu, ouch, what a way to go! Killed by perfection….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jelli
Thank you for reading and commenting. They were brutal times, and you didn’t argue with the emperor! Even when you were right!
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to see that you dedicated this story to people who were involved in building the wall. Nothing so massive can be build successfully without some who strive for perfection.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Shivam
Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree that it is necessary to aspire to perfection when building such a structure. Meng Li took it a little too far though – and, far more fatal – he contradicted the emperor!
With best wishes
Penny
LikeLike
The search for perfectionism is a fruitless one. Love how you remind us of this, Penny. Better to care for one another and show kindness. Did you know the secret ingredient to the bricks why they are so big strong and have lasted so long was rice starch??
Best of best wishes
Kelvin
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Kelvin
Thank you for reading and commenting.
You’ve read with subtle insight, and seen the deeper meaning of my story which is that walls are built to keep things out and if we make the walls of our personality too perfect then we die spiritually. So yes, care for one another and show kindness – indeed, just be open and communicate honestly; it’s a start, right?
However, when we’re thinking of actual physical walls, like the Great Wall, a bit of perfectionism is essential! Meng Li took it a bit far, though!
With very best wishes
Penny
LikeLike