On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, Liu Bei stood before the newly expanded, rather unsightly side hall. He breathed into his hands and rubbed them together for warmth, then looked up at the door.
Upon the two panels were carved Shentu and Yulei, the divine wardens of the gates.
The two ghost-subduing deities stood imposing and majestic, yet Liu Bei could not help but frown slightly, wondering whether this auspicious sign might find them unwelcome.
"My lord, is something amiss?"
A thin scholar approached and spoke. "As we have only recently settled here, repairs were necessary. Yesterday, after the carpenters fixed the doors and windows, they saw the new hall door was bare, so they took the liberty of carving these two door gods to welcome the New Year. Was that improper?"
Liu Bei looked up and smiled.
"Gongyou, you are early. There is no real issue. Come, wait with me inside."
Sun Qian followed half a step behind into the now rather famous side hall.
The room was bright and clean, simply furnished with no unnecessary decoration. To the left, Kongming sat at his desk, writing and sketching without pause.
He always seemed this diligent.
Few had ever seen when he rested, and even fewer knew when he began his duties each day.
Sun Qian could not help but admire him.
More capable than others, and more tireless as well.
There was simply no competing.
After finishing a cup of tea, Sun Qian could no longer sit still.
"My lord, I still need to verify…"
"Gongyou."
Liu Bei gently interrupted him.
"From the first year of Xingping until now, it has been fifteen years."
His gaze drifted with memory.
"We were first beaten by Lü Bu. Then you went to Yuan Shao on my behalf, securing us a place to stand. Later, we were sheltered by Brother Jingsheng, yet could only watch as Jing Province fell into internal strife and was taken advantage of by Cao Cao. Only after the great victory at Red Cliffs, after fifteen long years, do we now have this modest foundation where you may find a place to belong."
"I have failed you."
Even Sun Qian, usually composed, could not hold back his tears as he knelt.
"My lord treats me as a man of the realm…"
"Gongyou, why are you kneeling? Did my elder brother punish you? That will not do. If Gongyou has committed any fault, I, Zhang Fei, will bear it all."
Such a booming voice, and that self-introduction, could only belong to Zhang Yide.
Behind him came Guan Yunchang, Zhao Zilong, Huang Hansheng, and also Jian Yong and Mi Zhu, who were still glancing around curiously.
Liu Bei sighed.
"I was merely speaking of the past with Gongyou. Gongyou, rise. And if he had committed some grave offense, what could you possibly bear?"
Zhang Fei snorted.
"Gongyou has long stood by your side. I know him well. He is not such a man."
Kongming set down his brush, placing the completed documents into a basket behind him, and smiled.
"My lord was only reminiscing. Xianhe, Zizhong, it has been a while. Why are you both standing like that?"
All present were core members under Liu Bei. Even Huang Hansheng was no stranger after their time in Jing Province.
Jian Yong stepped forward openly, placing the wooden tablet he had hidden in his sleeve onto the table.
"We had only just returned from Jiaozhou when my lord spoke of auspicious signs. I feared some petty schemer was misleading him, so Zizhong and I prepared a joint remonstration."
"Now it seems we were mistaken. I am willing to accept punishment for this breach of decorum."
Mi Zhu also produced his memorial, standing beside Jian Yong with lowered eyes.
Zhao Zilong stepped forward, collected both documents, and handed them to Liu Bei.
Reading through them swiftly, Liu Bei burst into laughter.
"No matter. This too comes from your sincere loyalty. However, the auspicious sign is indeed real."
At that moment, the light screen slowly unfolded in midair, accompanied by music.
[Lightscreen]
[Hello everyone, I'm Wen Mang. Today, as promised, we will talk about Shu Han. Since we have already discussed why Cao Wei and Sun Wu lost the realm, it is only fair we cover Shu Han as well.
The Shu Han segment is a bit longer, so today we will start with the Battle of Hanzhong, the founding war of Shu Han, an all-star clash, and the battle that earned them the right to contend for the realm.
Since it is a founding war, its significance goes without saying. After this battle, Liu Bei declared himself King of Hanzhong. The following year, Cao Pi usurped the Han, and Liu Bei proclaimed himself successor to the two forebears, ascending the throne with the era name Zhangwu.
Of course, what happened afterward is well known. Lu Xun burned away Shu Han's fortunes in a single blaze. The Zhangwu era lasted only three years before Liu Shan ascended and changed the era name to Jianxing. But that is for later. For now, let us return to Hanzhong.]
Jian Yong and Mi Zhu stood stunned.
The screen floated unsupported in midair, with sound and image so vivid it defied reason.
Within it, a dignified middle-aged man in splendid robes performed rituals with civil and military officials before ascending the throne.
A divine miracle.
There was no other explanation.
"Is this the manifestation of Gaozu?" Jian Yong murmured in shock.
"Xianhe, do not be ridiculous," Zhang Fei said, trying hard to suppress his excitement. "The screen already said elder brother would be posthumously titled Emperor Zhaolie. That means this comes from the future. How can you not see that?"
"Sit and watch. It is merely a light screen," Liu Bei said, though his hands hidden within his sleeves were tightly clenched.
Mi Zhu was still shaken, but joy filled his heart.
Liu Bei would become Emperor.
He had invested in the right man.
History would remember this.
Jian Yong, however, quickly regained composure. As a seasoned envoy, he was adept at steadying himself, especially with several generals clearly watching for his reaction.
Thus he relaxed and grasped the key point.
"My lord succeeding the two forebears is truly ambitious. Yet he reigns for only three years. And who is this Lu Xun?"
"I know of Lu Xun," Zhang Fei began, only to have his mouth covered by Guan Yunchang.
The meaning of succeeding the two forebears was clear.
Gaozu Liu Bang founded the Former Han. Emperor Guangwu restored the Later Han.
To succeed them both was to declare the rise of a third Han.
A grand ambition indeed.
Liu Bei no longer minded.
After hearing Zhang Fei mention it so often, he could not even bring himself to resent Lu Xun.
Such a capable man should not remain in Jiangdong. He should help restore the Han.
"Xianhe, continue watching."
Sun Qian quietly moved beside Kongming, grinding ink and assisting, earning a nod of approval.
"What does all-star mean?" Mi Zhu asked.
"Stars are Taibai Jinxing. All-star means all Taibai?" Zhang Fei muttered, straining to recall his old lessons.
Zhao Zilong said, "Taibai governs war and killing. Perhaps this is a manner of speech from the future, meaning all of us are stars of war. Calling Hanzhong the founding war implies my lord gained the favor of such stars."
[Lightscreen]
[Though historical records on the Battle of Hanzhong are sparse, later generations hold it in high regard. For us, the highlights are plentiful.
For instance, old Cao once again encounters the Yunmei he could never obtain.
And Yunmei enters god-of-war mode once more at Changban, performing another seven charges through the enemy ranks.]
Everyone in the hall widened their eyes.
Yunmei?