The chilled cola was poured into a glass, and two thin slices of lemon were added. When the bubbling foam inside the cup gradually settled, Wen Mang lifted it and took a long, satisfying gulp.
"Refreshing!"
August in Luocheng was at the height of summer. Outside the window, the endless droning of cicadas, the wilted trees, and the rising waves of heat formed its unmistakable signature.
At a time like this, sitting in an air-conditioned room and drinking iced cola was without question the greatest pleasure in life.
Of course, it would be even better without the editor from Site 13 urging him to update.
After graduating, Wen Mang had thrown himself into the tides of Modu, only to be swept aside after several rounds of fierce competition.
Fortunately, the video editing skills he had learned over two years meant he would not starve on the streets. After his final resignation, he simply returned to his hometown to recuperate, editing videos on the side to earn enough for a few bottles of iced cola.
Wen Mang was no novice when it came to video editing. Within a week of returning home, he had polished his work:
"Analyzing the Possibility of Shu Han Unifying the Realm from a Strategic Perspective"
Producing historical and cultural content did not cost much. He was already familiar with the source materials, and the Three Kingdoms theme was a popular subject, perfect for testing the waters.
Now everything was ready, save for uploading.
"Whether I get to drink iced cola every day depends on this one shot."
After packaging the video, Wen Mang excitedly uploaded it to Site 13, his hands waving in enthusiasm.
Yet perhaps joy invites sorrow, for in that moment his swinging arm struck the glass. The lemon cola spilled everywhere, splashing across the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Wen Mang let out a cry and lunged forward. This was all he owned.
After a frantic cleanup and repeated checks to confirm the computer was still functioning, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that the video was still uploading, he wiped away the remaining stains and carried the glass to the kitchen.
What he did not see, after leaving the study, was a faint blue glow flashing across the computer screen.
[Coordinates locked…]
[Deviation device confirming…]
[Deviation device confirmed… anchoring time determined]
[Anchoring time: Year 209]
[Anchoring target: Zhuge Liang]
...
Winter, the fourteenth year of Jian'an. Gong'an County, Jingzhou.
After a long day of work, Zhuge Liang raised his head from the documents before him and asked:
"Zilong, are you hungry?"
General Zhao Zilong, bearing an extraordinary presence, held a military text in his hand and was reading at the side. Hearing this, he smiled.
"If the Military Advisor is hungry, I shall have someone bring some soup noodles at once."
Zhuge Liang, only twenty-eight years of age, smiled lightly and shook his head.
"It is not pressing. By my reckoning, my lord and the others should soon return. We may wait."
No sooner had Zhuge Liang spoken than a hearty laugh rang out from outside.
"Kongming!"
Liu Bei strode in, his tall frame stirring a gust of wind that caused the flame in the brazier to flicker wildly, nearly going out.
"Just as you predicted. My second brother has sent word that Nanjun will fall within days!"
"Military Advisor, you are truly a blessing to me!"
In his excitement, Liu Bei could not help recalling the past two years, which still felt like a dream.
Last year, Cao Cao's vast army had pressed down upon him, forcing him into desperate flight, and he had thought his end was near. Yet his third brother had stood at Changban Bridge and roared back the pursuing forces, Kongming had journeyed east and debated the scholars to forge an alliance, and in the end Zhou Yu had used a single blaze at Red Cliffs to shatter Cao Cao's ambitions.
Now, in the span of a single year, he held four commanderies in Jingzhou. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Zilong were famed across the realm, Kongming's brilliance resounded through Jiangdong, and Yi Ji had come to join him.
And today, he had received a letter from his second brother, Guan Yu, stating that Cao Ren, who defended Nanjun, was already showing signs of exhaustion, and that the city would soon be taken, driving Cao Cao's forces back north of the river.
The only concern was that Governor Zhou had recently been struck by a stray arrow while directing the siege.
"Have the kitchen prepare wine and dishes. Tonight, I will speak at length with the Military Advisor!"
Liu Bei waved his hand, full of excitement. Tonight, Kongming was his alone. They would share the same couch and speak through the night.
Gong'an County was but a temporary residence and not large. Once the three of them sat in the side hall, with a brazier and screen set in place, there was no room for others.
By custom, before a small banquet, a few words were always spoken.
Liu Bei was well practiced. Raising his cup, he addressed Kongming and Zilong.
"That I, Liu Bei, possess even this modest foundation is entirely due to the Military Advisor's wisdom and Zilong's prowess in both civil and martial matters. I only hope that in the days to come, we may act in unity of purpose and restore the Han."
At the very moment Liu Bei finished speaking, a rectangular light screen suddenly unfolded before the three of them, leaving them stunned.
"This… could it be that the former emperors of the Han, moved by our cause, have sent down an auspicious sign?" This was the only explanation Liu Bei could muster.
Yet the screen paid no heed to their thoughts. As its contents shifted, gentle music began to play, followed by a male voice.
[Lightscreen]
[Gentlemen, elders, and fair ladies, I am Wen Mang. You could say I am a fan of Shu Han. Today, let us have a chat and analyze, from a strategic perspective, the possibility of Shu Han unifying the realm.
As everyone knows, Shu Han began in the year 221 when Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in Chengdu, and ended in 263 when Liu Shan surrendered to the army of Cao Wei. Its duration was forty-three years.
Two years after Shu Han fell, Cao Wei also perished. Seventeen years later, Sun Wu followed. At that point, all three major players of the Three Kingdoms had become losers. The land of China then entered the Jin dynasty, an era infamous for indulgence in Five-Stone Powder, followed by the chaos of the Five Barbarians, the Sixteen Kingdoms, and the Northern and Southern dynasties. It was a disastrous period not worth recalling.]
Though the voice was not fast, and some parts were difficult to grasp, the changing maps on the screen allowed Liu Bei, Zhao Zilong, and Zhuge Liang to quickly understand the general truth:
Liu Bei would proclaim himself emperor. Liu Shan would lose the realm. And soon after, the clans of Cao, Liu, and Sun would all fall in succession.
Liu Bei's face was filled with confusion. I am Liu Bei, a loyal subject of the Han. How could I proclaim myself emperor? Who seeks to harm me?
The Son of Heaven still lived. Would he, in the future, become a traitor to the Han?
His thoughts tangled like an uncut knot, growing more chaotic the more he pondered.
Fortunately, Zhuge Liang remained composed. With a sweep of his sleeve, he cleared the table, then fetched paper and brush, swiftly grinding ink.
Though he could not fully understand or trust what the screen said, he could record it first and examine it later.
At the side, Zhao Zilong did the same, which filled Zhuge Liang with quiet satisfaction. The two could later compare notes and fill in any gaps.
But this Jin dynasty… from where had it arisen?
Zhuge Liang's mind raced.
After Red Cliffs, Sun Wu had already become a formidable power. The screen stated that his lord would proclaim himself emperor in Chengdu, which meant they would eventually take Yi Province as their base. His lord would hold Jing and Yi, Sun Wu would govern Jiangdong, and Cao Cao would dominate the north. The realm would thus be divided into three.
Then from where did this Jin dynasty emerge, and how did it so swiftly destroy all three?
Before Zhuge Liang could think further, the topic on the screen shifted back.
[Lightscreen]
[When discussing the possibility of Shu Han unifying the realm, most people believe that after Ma Su lost at Jieting, Shu Han's fate was sealed.
But in my view, from the moment Sun Quan sent Guan Yu's head to Cao Cao, Sun Wu had already lost its chance to unify China ahead of Shu Han.]
Liu Bei: !!!
He had expected that his own death would eventually be mentioned, but he had not expected that the first thing he would hear was the news of his second brother losing his head.
"My Second Brother Is Invincible Under Heaven…"
…is he not?