Zhao Guangyi's muttering was enough to irritate the Zhao Song ruler.
But he did not forget why he had paid out his treasured jade axe in the first place.
Fortunately, this time things went far more smoothly than before.
[Playback authorization confirmed.
Would you like to activate playback?]
Zhao Kuangyin glanced at the two people beside him.
Zhao Guangyi had stopped muttering. His eyes were wide, so wide that the wrinkles on his forehead were clearly visible. His curiosity was obvious.
Zhao Pu looked at him expectantly, then glanced at his right hand. The meaning could not have been clearer.
Is the Emperor going to write or not? If not, let this minister do it!
At this point, kicking them out was clearly unrealistic. Zhao Kuangyin could only sigh silently. Under Zhao Pu's disappointed gaze, he raised his finger and wrote the two characters.
"Activate."
After confirmation, what appeared before them was a dense list of neatly arranged titles.
Zhao Kuangyin thought carefully. What was the first content he had seen when the light screen appeared? An Lushan?
If so, there were many earlier ones he had not yet watched. Could this playback allow them to watch everything in one day?
Zhao Pu studied it briefly and realized that was impossible. From the layout of the text, it was clear they had to select one item at a time. Growing impatient, he urged:
"Your Majesty, as Marquis Zhuge once said, we should view the entry concerning powerful clans and great families."
Zhao Kuangyin nodded perfunctorily. As he tried to write the title name on the stone table, a thought suddenly struck him.
If what later generations meant by "killed by beheading" was literal, then it likely referred to rulers of the Sixteen Kingdoms before Sui and Tang.
But what exactly did "candle shadow and axe sound" mean?
...
"If we speak of murdered emperors, there are three after the late Jin."
Fang Xuanling was well versed in historical records.
"The King of Southern Yan, Murong Chao, and the King of Later Qin, Yao Hong. Both were killed by Liu Yu, Emperor Wu of Song."
"But neither fits the saying of candle shadow and axe sound."
"There is also Xiao Baojuan of Southern Qi, who brutalized the state and relied on eunuchs."
"When Xiao Yan broke into Jiankang at night, attendants beheaded him while he slept. That may be the origin of the candle shadow and axe sound."
His explanation was orderly and well reasoned, convincing Li Shimin.
So many outstanding talents in Zhenguan. Did later generations really think their ancestors knew nothing?
Li Shimin praised him at once.
"Xuanling's learning and memory are truly a treasure of Tang."
"Then today's viewing shall be chosen by Xuanling."
Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and exchanged a look with his old friend. Du Ruhui understood and stood up.
"In my opinion, everything from before the time we personally recorded the light screen must be rewatched."
Li Shimin was momentarily speechless. This was clearly because of the earlier panda incident, and they feared omissions in previous summaries. Still, he argued:
"I only saw a small portion in Records of the Search for the Supernatural. I am not like Xuanling with perfect recall. Some omissions are normal."
Normal, normal. Fang and Du, along with Zhangsun Wuji, all nodded perfunctorily.
Then Du Ruhui played the villain. He pulled Li Shimin over and compared notes with the earliest oral records, thoroughly filtering how many episodes the Tang emperor had actually watched alone.
After apologizing to the newly arrived Chu Suiliang, Du Ruhui took the light screen notes and corrected them.
It was only then that Du Ruhui suddenly realized how quiet Chu Suiliang had been.
But when he took the notes, Du Ruhui vaguely saw that Chu Suiliang had another booklet at hand. Judging by the format, it looked like the Court Diary.
No wonder he had said nothing. Chu Zuo Chi was recording the light screen and still had energy left to record the Emperor's daily conduct.
Du Ruhui clicked his tongue. How fortunate.
If Chu Suiliang had been present back when they watched the An Lushan Rebellion…
Thinking of it that way, why did it suddenly feel a little exciting?
After confirming that His Majesty's memory was not particularly reliable, the Zhenguan ministers chose the simplest method.
Start from the very first entry and watch slowly.
"Analyzing the Possibility of Shu Han Unifying the Realm from a Strategic Perspective." Activate.
...
Regarding the emperors later generations said were "beheaded," Liu Bei never believed it referred to Han rulers.
After all, whether it was Emperor Ping of Former Han or Emperor Shao of Later Han, or other Han emperors who met unnatural deaths, most were poisoned.
Wang Mang was indeed beheaded, but that was by rebel forces, his body even torn apart.
As for candle shadow and axe sound, it sounded far more like an assassination.
Thus, the matter was quickly set aside by the Han court in Chang'an. There were already too many worries. Why add another?
As for the present, seeing the curiosity on Lu Su's face, Zhuge Liang smiled before Liu Bei could speak.
"Zijing has long traveled by sea and river, drifting on boats, knowing the vastness of heaven and earth."
"Tell me then, Zijing. Which is greater, land or sea?"
Was land broader, or was the sea wider? This was a question the sages of Spring and Autumn had pondered without knowing the answer. Had Kongming and the others already figured it out?
Instinctively, Lu Su glanced at the map behind Zhuge Liang, stretching from Rome in the west to China in the east.
This map was no secret. Yet he also knew that no matter how vast the world, they must first reunify China.
From the map, land was clearly larger. But since Zhuge Liang asked, and recalling the earlier exchanges between the Song Emperor, Tang Emperor, and Zhuge Liang…
Lu Su smiled and did not answer. Instead, he tore off a strip of paper like Zhuge Liang had before and wrote in elegant script:
"From powerful clans to noble families to hereditary gate clans. The common people let you keep your dignity."
He stood and tossed it into the light screen.
The hall burst into laughter. Pang Tong even teased Zhuge Liang.
"Looks like Zijing does not wish to become your disciple."
Zhuge Liang waved his fan, looking relaxed.
"I have long wished to be Zijing's close friend."
Recalling their shared judgments during Red Cliffs and their measured correspondence afterward, Lu Su blurted out:
"How could Kongming and I not be close friends?"
The laughter grew even louder.
Amid it, Lu Su felt a trace of regret. After replaying the victory at Xiaoyao Ford, he had not yet seen the follow up of Flooding the Seven Armies and shaking China.
Now he had dug a new pit. If he wanted to know the full story of Jing and Xiang, he would have to wait another three months.
Even at sea, Lu Su had never felt time pass so slowly.
But since the choice was made, he could only steady himself and focus on what was before him.
He wanted to know why Lord Sun was lightly regarded by Lord Xuande.
But he also wanted to know what this vast world truly looked like.
And the topic of powerful clans and noble families made him think of the great houses of Jiangdong. He understood this far too well.
Seeing the smile at the corner of Zhuge Liang's mouth, Lu Su could not help but suspect that today's gains might far exceed his expectations.
Refocusing on the light screen, the bloody struggles between harsh officials and powerful clans of Former Han were not unfamiliar to him.
But soon, Lu Su's expression turned serious.
He knew many of the Twenty Eight Generals of the Cloud Terrace were powerful clan members. Yet he had never imagined that the powerful clans, which could not be cut off at the founding of Later Han, would ultimately become the thread that led to Zhang Jiao.
In the words of later generations, the great families so praised by pure talk scholars, Yuan, Yang, Cui, Chen, Xun, Cao and others, were not noble at all.
They were called parasites of the age.
Using wealth to gain reputation, using reputation to gain office, using power to gather wealth, then using achievements to gain more fame.
An endless cycle.
Seen this way, the chaos of the current age almost seemed inevitable.
"No wonder…" Lu Su murmured.
"In Jiangdong, I also heard great families complain, saying the Left General's methods toward them were harsh."
"How is it harsh?" Liu Bei objected.
"I only check their wealth, inspect their lands, and require them to protect the people and serve according to the law."
"I do not harm their bodies or take their lives. I act by Han law. I am not harming them. I am trying to save them."
Otherwise, one day they might be strung up on city walls by the people under the banner of Yellow Turbans. Liu Bei muttered this silently in his heart.
Lu Su cupped his hands. The light screen moved quickly, crossing centuries in a few sentences. Though Pang Tong had explained dynastic changes before, it was still difficult to fully digest.
Later generations comparing the Sun clan to Lü Bu and Ma Chao made Lu Su laugh bitterly. If Lord Sun were here, he would surely feel insulted.
The teasing of famous scholars like the Three Lords, Eight Talents, Eight Gu and Eight Chu also made Lu Su inwardly agree.
But when he heard about the Nine Rank System and the casual comment:
"Advantaged classes will destroy systems at any cost, even at the price of national regression, to secure hereditary monopolies."
These words struck Lu Su's mind like a great bell.
Having personally seen how great families in Jiangdong pursued private gain, Lu Su understood all too well. But through the mouth of later generations, the ugliness of great families was laid bare with brutal clarity.
"Parasites…" Lu Su drew in a breath and murmured.
Pang Tong grinned. This was only the beginning.
Wei and Jin dynasties built on farce.
Great families ruling the state, crushing it into the chaos of the Five Barbarians.
Gate clans competing in luxury, treating the people as money.
Extravagance destroying nations, chasing emptiness and metaphysics.
As Lu Su stared, mouth gradually hanging open, Pang Tong knew clearly.
Later generations' brief summary of Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties did not even reach one tenth of their chaos.
If a few great clans and warlords could destroy Han and expel the Son of Heaven, how chaotic would Jin, the Five Barbarians, Sixteen Kingdoms, and Northern and Southern Dynasties truly be?
Only when the light screen progressed to Tang did Lu Su's furrowed brows and open mouth finally settle.
Then his curiosity grew as Buddhism was mentioned.
"Is this like Zuo Rong, building obscene Buddha shrines, casting golden bodies, hanging copper disks nine layers deep?"
Zhuge Liang was genuinely curious.
"Zijing has seen this?"
"Jiangdong is close to Xuzhou," Lu Su explained.
"When the Buddha Bathing Festival was grand, Jiangdong also heard of it."
"After Zuo Rong died, many monk soldiers and dharma masters fled to Jiangdong. Many became retainers of great families, used at will. In idle times they preached Buddhism to pacify servants. They have quite a reputation among Jiangdong's great houses."
Zhuge Liang and the others exchanged looks. Liu Bei sighed.
"These Jiangdong people…" He recalled a term later generations used. "They are quite ahead of their time."
Lu Su did not understand, but nodded anyway. The light screen suddenly shifted again to later eras, overwhelming his eyes. He had no energy left to listen to what Lord Xuande was saying.
When Lu Su finally came back to himself, both his numb legs and the sun already leaning west outside the door told him that today's light screen session had ended long ago.
Turning his head to the right, the seat of honor was empty.
"Lord Xuande has gone to inspect the area. The weather is turning cold. He must ensure the candidates who came from afar in the west of the city do not suffer from cold or hunger."
The sudden voice startled Lu Su. His legs, numb from kneeling, had no feeling. In shock, he fell backward.
Luckily, someone caught him steadily before he could embarrass himself.
"Kongming?"
Zhuge Liang helped Lu Su shift from kneeling to reclining, laughing.
"Zijing has finally returned to himself."
Lu Su flushed slightly. He now remembered that ever since he saw the illuminated statues of Chang'an in later generations, his mind had completely drifted away.
In idle times, Pang Tong, his old colleague, had told him of a brief glimpse of a Lu Su Shrine in later ages.
Not heavily used. Died suddenly of illness. Jiangdong declined. In the end, though later generations wrote biographies and gave him a name, true fame still required achievements.
How many achievements of his were truly worth speaking of?
Thus, the envy he felt at seeing statue after statue carved to honor achievements felt entirely natural. He wished he could stand among them.
But the rapid changes of the light screen overwhelmed him.
The glorious Tang collapsed under a private salt dealer.
"When my flowers bloom, all other flowers shall wither."
"The fragrance storms into Chang'an. On Heaven Street, the bones of nobles are trampled."
The Son of Heaven fled west overnight. Women of Qin wept in the city.
Great families perished. The people were freed. Enlightenment and universal education opened a thousand years of new vision. Science advanced and paved the way for culture.
One astonishing scene after another left Lu Su's mind unable to keep up. The new interpretation of great families and the people made his heart tremble.
No wonder Lord Xuande turned against great clans in Jing and Yi.
No wonder old men in Hanzhong remembered Han favor and sent their sons to the army.
No wonder there were so many strange new things under Lord Xuande's banner.
The massive machines that could lift huge ships from the sea left Lu Su pale, unable to estimate their power.
But soon, the soaring spectacle on the light screen shattered his thoughts again.
Carrying achievements among the stars.
Recording names in the moon palace.
Building heavenly palaces to approach myth, then marching into the sea of stars.
From the people's own heavenly palace, looking back, he saw a vast blue and beautiful planet.
The debates of the Hundred Schools thundered in his mind. From drilling wood to make fire and creating characters, from the ancient to the future that explored sea and sky.
Did those ancestors whose names were carved into the classics ever imagine such a day?
From primitive survival to probing ocean and heavens, an unprecedented magnificent scroll slowly unfolded before Lu Su's eyes.
A powerful thought arose in his heart.
He wanted to write his name larger and brighter on this scroll.
"Zijing, why are you dazed again?"
A pair of hands waved before his eyes. Lu Su finally snapped back and urgently grabbed them.
"Kongming… Left General… no, Lord Xuande. When will he return? I request an audience."
Zhuge Liang smiled and patted Lu Su's shoulder.
"What Zijing thinks, I have thought. Shi Yuan has thought. Xiaozhi, Xianhe, who has not thought it? General Yun Chang and Yuan Zhi fought in Jingzhou for a year and also had these thoughts."
"The Way aligns, the will aligns. Zijing is truly my close friend."
With his mindset finally steady, Lu Su recalled more of Zhuge Liang's letters.
He smiled bitterly.
"All those unbelievable things Kongming wrote before turned out to be true. I even tried to judge Lord Xuande's intentions from them. Truly, I mistook the box for the pearl."
Zhuge Liang shook his head.
"How could you believe it then?"
"But now, if Zijing wishes to give his all, he should first do well in the imperial examination."
Lu Su understood.