Liu Bang picked up the wine vessel and drained it in one gulp, laughing heartily:
"Zhang Liang, in my opinion, this thing likely comes from future generations! It is a relic of the future!"
Realizing the implications, Zhang Liang nodded involuntarily. "That would explain it! Your Majesty, if this thing truly comes from the future, then the world of the future must be incredibly advanced! Does that not mean it can foresee the past and the future?"
A tipsy look crossed Liu Bang's face as he nodded. "Yes! It can indeed foresee the past and the future. If this thing is utilized well, perhaps my Han Dynasty can extend its life by another 400 years!"
Zhang Liang gazed at the massive Sky Screen, his expression filled with disbelief. He whispered:
"The arrival of this Sky Screen perhaps heralds an unprecedented era of prosperity for our Han Dynasty! Your Majesty, you are the one chosen by the Sky Screen; you are the one destined to change history and glimpse into the future!"
Upon hearing this, a fire of ambition burned in Liu Bang's heart once more. He would ensure that wherever his gaze fell, it would be Huaxia!
***
In the Great Tang Plane.
Li Shimin watched the images on the video, his eyes flickering. He drew a sharp breath.
"Liu Bang rose from humble origins, yet he could level the world with a three-foot sword. Truly, he is a Qilin among men!"
Du Ruhui looked at the Sky Screen with eyes full of admiration, his voice impassioned.
"Liu Bang, who launched his uprising after slaying the white snake at Mount Mangdang—the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty! A true legendary figure. At forty-seven, he saw Qin Shi Huang and said, 'A real man ought to be just like that!' At forty-eight, he began his conquest; at fifty, he destroyed the Qin Dynasty; at fifty-four, he established the Han Dynasty!"
Fang Xuanling looked at the figure on the screen, his eyes filled with reverence as he spoke with fervor.
"Liu Bang, the most farsighted emperor in human history! The first person to go from a commoner to an emperor!"
Li Shimin gazed at the massive Sky Screen in the heavens and fell into deep contemplation. "I wonder how the people of the future will evaluate me."
***
In the Great Ming Plane.
Zhu Yuanzhang watched the distant screen, his eyes filled with admiration. He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.
"Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, rose from the grassroots yet possessed the capacity for tolerance. He was able to govern the heroes of his time with magnanimous policies and ultimately become their master. Remarkable, truly remarkable!"
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes were brimming with anticipation.
Liu Bowen bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and continued: "Your Majesty, if we speak of origins, Liu Bang was far beneath you! Liu Bang served as a head of the Sishui Pavilion; he ate the court's salary and was, at the very least, a minor official of the Qin Dynasty! But you, Your Majesty, were truly empty-handed. You begged for survival, yet you eventually won the world! You are the most remarkable emperor of all!"
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but burst into laughter. "Minister Liu, you truly have a silver tongue! Well said!"
***
In the Three Kingdoms Plane.
Cao Cao sat in his chair, staring intently at the Sky Screen before him, his reverence evident in his eyes. After a long silence, he sighed softly and spoke slowly:
"Liu Bang—compared to him, I am simply unworthy! In terms of talent, martial prowess, and status, Liu Bang did not possess even a tenth of Xiang Yu's, yet he was able to fight repeatedly against Xiang Yu, losing again and again, yet rising again and again! Ultimately, he defeated Xiang Yu and won the world."
Guo Jia, standing beside him, looked at Cao Cao and continued:
"My Lord, the key to Liu Bang was that he knew how to employ the right people! He always made the best choices and listened to advice. Furthermore, he never withheld his subordinates' wages; he was good to those who served him."
Guo Jia looked at Cao Cao again. "My Lord, you are a hero of your age; in truth, you are no less capable than Liu Bang."
Cao Cao shook his head. "No, how could I be mentioned in the same breath as Emperor Gaozu of Han?"
"I am unworthy."
The video continued to play:
"Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) ascended the throne, established Confucianism as the state ideology, and expanded the borders outward. During his reign, the Han Dynasty became the most powerful nation in the world. However, the Witchcraft Crisis in his later years remains an indelible stain."
In the Great Qin Plane, Qin Shi Huang stood upon a high platform, staring at the screen. He said slowly:
"Emperor Wu of Han, 'dismissing all schools of thought to honor only Confucianism'? That is somewhat similar to me. But to believe the words of outsiders in his later years, leading to the tragic deaths of his wife and son..."
Qin Shi Huang couldn't help but shake his head.
Li Si stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you are the First Emperor! How could this Emperor Wu of Han compare to you? No matter how brilliant he was in his early years, he committed such a tragedy against humanity in his later years!"
Just then, subtitles appeared on the screen:
"Emperor Wu of Han: Iron-fisted, grand strategy, expanding the borders!"
"Those who offend Huaxia shall be punished, no matter how far away!"
"The only iron-blooded emperor in history to be mentioned alongside Qin Shi Huang! The territory he governed was double that of the Qin Dynasty!"
Li Si stared at the text on the screen, frozen in place.
"Ranked alongside the First Emperor... Is his merit truly worthy of such high praise from future generations?"
Qin Shi Huang took two steps back. He looked at the text on the screen and spoke slowly:
"He is worthy! For the very fact that he expanded our borders and increased the living space for the descendants of Huaxia, and for his implementation of the 'Pushing Virtue Decree'."
"He is indeed worthy of being called an Emperor through the Ages!"
***
In the Great Han Plane.
Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) watched the information introducing him on the Sky Screen and couldn't help but draw the sword from his waist.
"I have expanded the borders, entrusted Wei Qing and Huo Qubing with authority, driven the Xiongnu so they dare not invade our Han again, elevated the prestige of our Han, and expanded the map of Huaxia once more!"
His eyes were filled with passion. "I am ranked alongside Qin Shi Huang!"
The courtiers knelt in succession, shouting loudly:
"Your Majesty is brilliant! May the Great Han last forever!"
Huo Guang stepped forward, looked at the final text on the screen, and said bluntly:
"Your Majesty, but you ultimately believed the words of others. The Witchcraft Crisis occurred, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands, and in the end, the Crown Prince and the Empress died!"
Huo Guang’s words struck deep into Emperor Wu of Han’s heart. He furrowed his brows, finding it hard to believe that his older self would be so muddled! To listen to an outsider and kill his own son and wife!
"This is impossible. How could I be like that in my later years? I am no mediocrity, and yet—"
He paused for a long while. "Minister Huo, what if I were to abdicate right now and let the Crown Prince ascend the throne? I truly do not want to be branded as a murderer of my own wife and children in my later years!"
Without waiting for the courtiers to react, Emperor Wu of Han immediately began drafting a decree of abdication.
Huo Guang had not expected the Emperor to make such a drastic change after seeing the text on the screen. He rushed forward and said:
"Your Majesty, you absolutely must not. The Great Han cannot do without you! Besides, have the events on the Sky Screen not yet happened?"
Emperor Wu of Han hesitated for a moment, as if he had made a decision. He continued:
"No, no, no! This Sky Screen comes from the future; what it says must be what has already transpired. I must not let such a trifle stain the glory of my lifetime!"