Moonlit: I thought this novel had a total of 382 chapters (ᗒᗜᗕ)՛̵̖ That’s why I said 3 more chapters to go in Chapter 379 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) But when I checked the advanced pages, I actually found a Chapter 383 ( ≖‿ ≖ ) Nothing really, just informing you about it >ᴗ< I don’t want you guys to think that I don’t know how to count (ᵕ—ᴗ—)
After returning home from work without even having time to remove her makeup, Ye Qian rushed to the TV and caught the opening of “Spring and Autumn of a Hundred Dynasties.” Luckily, luckily~ she patted her chest, leaned on the couch, and casually took out her phone. While listening to the theme song, she opened the chat group. At this moment, not many people were in the group, probably all glued to the TV. Today’s episode of “Spring and Autumn of a Hundred Dynasties” was about Emperor Zhao, and although the main speaker, Professor Song, was a die-hard supporter of the “loyalty to the monarch” party, his academic level was not bad, and they should be able to hear some gossip.
Logging in, Ye Qian sent a message first.
Ye Menghuang Liang: “The Hundred Dynasties has started, everyone, don’t forget to watch!!!!”
MeatlessMakesYouThin: “Has it started already? Damn, I got the time wrong!”
TooDirtyToSay: “Isn’t Professor Song Teng speaking today? Scum, he doesn’t even acknowledge my position as a member of the Ye family, I won’t watch!”
UnderTheCommandOfTheGreatGeneral: “Scum, don’t say that. Professor Song still has some level, I even bought his ‘Sixteen Years of Enlightenment’…”
TooDirtyToSay: “‘Great General is favored’ is written in the ‘Record of Zhao.’ Is he blind?! You tell me what ‘favored’ means?”
MeatlessMakesYouThin: “Straight male~ Haven’t we been shocked by the literary style of Princess Anyang and Xie Daoyun?”
TooDirtyToSay: “That’s fiction! ‘Record of Zhao’ is not a novel. Anyway, I’m not watching!”
UnderTheCommandOfTheGreatGeneral: “……weakly trembling”
Several people in the group started arguing like this, and Ye Qian didn’t care about the mouth cannons of these three old guys. She focused on watching TV.
“Professor Song, did Emperor Zhao really time travel? The use of the era name ‘Enlightenment’ and the style seems really different from the previous dynasty,” a live audience member stood up and asked.
“Haha, this is also a widely circulated topic on the internet. In fact, the development process of Great Zhao conforms to historical laws. Just like the term ‘Enlightenment,’ do you guys feel it’s trendy or modern? In fact, it already appeared in the ‘Records of the Grand Historian – Basic Annals of the Five Emperors.’ Yao said, ‘Who can carry on this matter?’ and Fang Qi said, ‘His son Danzhu will be enlightened.’ The term ‘Enlightenment’ here means wisdom. Han Yangxiong also mentioned it in ‘Fa Yan – Asking the Dao,’ saying ‘How can I be enlightened? Only the sage can be enlightened, and others are affected.’ It can be seen that this term has a long history. Emperor Zhao chose it as his era name, hoping that his country could be enlightened and wise, which perfectly aligns with his political methods. This is also the distinctive trait that sets Emperor Zhao apart from other emperors.”
“What about technological development and the revival of the Hundred Schools?” the audience persisted, asking.
“The revival of the Hundred Schools is just a superficial phenomenon. Emperor Zhao only went on a tour once in his life, and he visited the Confucius Mansion in Shandang. This is also a sign of his emphasis on Confucianism. As for Liang Feng, born in the late Jin Dynasty, what kind of era was that? Princes were in chaos, the Xiongnu disrupted the country, and all rituals and laws were destroyed. The oppression of ordinary people reached its peak. Born in such a time, Liang Feng must have yearned for peace and, more importantly, moral reconstruction. Therefore, after the establishment of Great Zhao, he first implemented the imperial examination system, selecting officials based on talent. Subsequently, he reconstructed Confucianism and established rules that aligned with the new dynasty’s moral system. It was this choice that allowed Great Zhao to enjoy a 400-year prosperous rule, becoming an unparalleled golden age.”
Song Teng pushed his glasses and continued, “As for emphasizing technology, it is closely related to the foundation of his reign. What did Liang Feng rely on to establish the country? One was gunpowder, and the other was porcelain.”
Laughter erupted from the audience.
Song Teng smiled and pressed his hands down, “This is not a joke~ As long as you carefully examine the historical materials before the establishment of Great Zhao, you will find that Emperor Zhao had mastered the formula for gunpowder a long time ago. Of course, this may be related to the alchemist Ge Hong, who served under him. Thanks to these advanced weapons, Liang Feng could win with few against many multiple times and gain the initiative on the battlefield. Porcelain, along with precious commodities like glassware, brought abundant financial support to Liang Feng. When Great Zhao was established, there were still formidable enemies all around, and the simplest way was to increase production, using the money and grain from the wealthy families in Jiangdong and the powerful forces in the north to support his own people. By the time gunpowder was used on the front lines, it was already in the twelfth year of the Enlightenment. At that time, Zhao had an absolute advantage over the Southern Jin, and gunpowder was no longer kept secret, becoming something even ordinary people could see.”
“And the improvement of people’s lives through technology is also evident. Perhaps influenced by religion—everyone knows that Emperor Zhao believed in Buddhism—Liang Feng’s ‘people-oriented’ thinking was very strong, and this goodwill prompted him to focus on technological means. But its essence is the ancient people’s exploration of the real world, not some light-hearted ‘time travel.'” Song Teng concluded.
A round of applause echoed in the audience, and a girl wearing glasses stood up, asking, “How does Professor Song view Emperor Zhao’s expansionist thinking? The territory of Zhao expanded nearly twice as much as during the Han Dynasty, and they even sailed far to occupy Yang County. How many wars occurred during this period? In the later years of the dynasty, it was also due to the central government losing control over the territory, leading to another major upheaval. I think the root cause lies in the reigns of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, right?”
Song Teng’s expression turned serious, “This classmate’s perspective is somewhat one-sided. Just talking about territory, the land area of Great Zhao is indeed vast, but its essence lies in maintaining stability. Expanding borders is merely a response to the threats posed by neighboring countries. In the era of the Zhao Dynasty, known as the Little Ice Age, temperatures plummeted, and natural disasters were frequent. Tribes in high latitudes, in order to survive, were bound to launch wars of invasion. However, Zhao’s territorial expansion solved this life-and-death problem. Drafting labor helped reduce the area of Yunmeng Lake by one-third, adding hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile land. Pacifying Annan addressed the issue of economic crop cultivation in the south. Reconquering Goguryeo even advanced Liaodong into the agricultural era… Every war ensured more people survived. Whether from the perspective of anthropology or Chinese civilization, these are achievements, not faults.”
The girl appeared dissatisfied, “What about the common people who died in vain when the dynasty collapsed? In the end, foreign wars were just the feudal kings’ pursuit of fame!”
“The pursuit of fame?” Song Teng’s smile carried a hint of sarcasm, “Perhaps this classmate hasn’t read history books? In China’s thousands of years of history, Emperor Taizu of the Zhao Dynasty can be considered one of the most restrained monarchs. Throughout his lifetime, he didn’t build a royal palace, didn’t consecrate Mount Tai, and didn’t construct his imperial tomb. With his literary and martial achievements, who would oppose such actions? It’s impossible. In contrast, in ‘Zhao Shu,’ there are seven instances where courtiers requested the emperor to change the reign era or perform a Fengshan ceremony, and Liang Feng never agreed. Morally, he resembled more of a sage willing to cut off his own flesh to feed the people. This is not something achievable by merely ‘seeking fame.’ It’s more like a noble sentiment born out of experiencing hardships and transcending the mundane world.”
Song Teng paused, “What’s even more rare is that Liang Feng was extremely restrained even in his only preference. Undoubtedly, he believed in Buddhism and even actively promoted its flourishing in China. However, he never extravagantly built Buddhist temples or recruited numerous monks. On the contrary, he established the ‘Five Precepts’ and formulated decrees for the clergy. His personal preferences never surpassed his duties as a king. This ideology permeated the entire history of the Zhao Dynasty. Besides Emperor Taizu, there are seven great emperors remembered in history, each governing for around twenty years. Do you understand what that concept means? With Emperor Taizu’s reign alone, the days of peace for the common people probably account for half of it. Can other dynasties achieve this? This essence lies in Emperor Liang Feng, the founding emperor!”
Ah~ Watching others praise their male idol is truly refreshing~
Ye Qian’s heart was filled with waves of joy, not to mention that feeling. She lowered her head to check her phone.
TooDirtyToSay: All victories were solely due to gunpowder? This person loves to apply “common sense” arbitrarily! Don’t they know that in the initial years of the establishment of Great Zhao, it was precisely the time when the Ancestor’s Comet was orbiting the Earth? “The sky is falling stars” is as normal as it gets! All emperors inevitably have their fortunes. Even if you are good at fighting, what’s the use if luck isn’t on your side? This kind of person loves to blabber based on ‘Zhao Shu’…
Damn, Little TooDirtyToSay is too extreme, right? She’s even ready to write an article crushing the gunpowder discourse. Wait a minute, Ye Qian suddenly realized and quickly sent a message.
Ye Menghuang Liang: Little TooDirtyToSay, did you sneak into the rival’s camp again?
TooDirtyToSay: …
Ye Menghuang Liang: What’s up with the rival’s camp? You should know better. Is there a need to get angry? Don’t bother reading their works.
TooDirtyToSay: …Who asked Liu Fei to release a new piece? I just couldn’t resist QAQ
MeatlessMakesYouThin: …
UnderTheCommandOfTheGreatGeneral: …
Ye Menghuang Liang: …
Understood! Ye Qian couldn’t help but cover her face. It’s not that she’s afraid the rival camp is brainless; she’s afraid they have a strong influence. “Liu Fei” is one of the top writers in the historical fiction community, with excellent writing, meticulous research, and a special talent for writing emotional scenes. Every time people read her work, they are moved to tears and can’t stop. Unfortunately, this influential author tends to pair the emperor with the general! How can the Emperor-submissive faction endure this?!
Look at how ‘Zhao Shu’ describes Taizu! Phrases like “as bright as pearls,” “clear skin and jade bones,” “graceful and extraordinary posture,” and “resembling a celestial being.” Such a beautiful, frail, and charming character, how can he be the aggressor?!
But then, Liu Fei, a fan of beauty and strength, appeared, and the originally dominant pairing of the Emperor and the General immediately switched allegiance countless times. It’s infuriating!
It’s okay, it’s okay, at least it’s a reversal, not a breakup… Ye Qian consoled herself.
Just as she was feeling stifled, Professor Song on the TV suddenly raised his voice: “General Yi and Emperor Taizu were naturally close as monarch and minister. If we attribute all of this to romantic love, what about Zhang Bin and Xie Kun? Zhang Bin is the first biography in ‘Zhao Shu.’ Not to mention marrying the emperor in his lifetime and being honored after death in the ancestral temple, he was the first! As for Xie Kun, let’s not even mention it. In his early years, he had conflicts with Taizu, but later, his distinguished family reconciled, and Xie An even married a princess. In ancient times, rulers and ministers often used the metaphor of husband and wife and referred to themselves as husband and concubine. It shouldn’t be taken literally…”
Oh my! Ye Qian shivered, almost smashing her phone onto the TV. She’s had enough of the twisted relationships in historical novels! Can’t those who love this kind of plot go and fawn over the Three Kingdoms?!
Enraged, she turned off the television, suppressed the anger in her heart, and opened the social media app. Upon logging in, she discovered that she had over thirty notifications. Upon checking, it turned out to be another fan of the rival camp. This time, they were supporting an unconventional pairing of Emperor Taizu and Taizong’s father and son. They claimed that Empress Zhang was just a cover, and the true love of Emperor Liang was the Crown Prince. Damn it! Empress Zhang enjoyed honor and favor throughout her life, giving birth to five children. Wasn’t that enough? How could someone come up with such fantasies?!
Blocking all the notifications, Ye Qian clutched her phone, caught in a dilemma. Should she use a secondary account to check out Liu Fei’s new work? Last time, when the Emperor died and the Great General was away at war, the scenes made her cry through two packs of tissues. However, Liu Fei excelled at writing explicit scenes. The rival’s explicit scenes were just too much to handle…
As she was wrestling with this dilemma, a small window suddenly started popping up like crazy.
What’s going on? Ye Qian quickly opened it. In the chat box, there was a row of huge red letters.
TooDirtyToSay: Oh my god!! They found Emperor Taizu’s tomb!!!
What?! Ye Qian jumped up, her fingers aggressively tapping on the link. A webpage popped up.
⌈…Recently discovered tomb in Mount Song, Henan, confirmed to be the imperial tomb of Zhao Taizu, Liang Feng. Emperor Taizu, during his lifetime, ordered no sealing or marking, making the location of his tomb a mystery. This protective excavation may further enrich historical records and restore the true appearance of this ‘Emperor for the Ages’…⌋
Ye Qian let out a cry. It really was Emperor Taizu’s tomb! It was Taizu’s tomb!
UnderTheCommandOfTheGreatGeneral: Quickly check the forum! Look at the forum!
In the group, someone threw out a link again. Trembling, Ye Qian clicked on it and found that there were already over three hundred replies and countless pieces of information.
###119###: I have a senior brother on-site! Heard that it’s really Emperor Taizu’s tomb, not looted!
###120###: What’s the inside story upstairs?! Quickly spill it!
###137###: #119 is telling the truth, Taizu’s tomb is intact. And there are two adjacent tombs for empresses in the underground palace!
###140###: Oh my god, is the wild history true?! Did the Great General and Emperor Taizu get buried together?
###141###: Damn, I’m in tears!
###142###: The official historical records are all true! It’s real!
…
The comments below were a chaotic mix of lamentations, but Ye Qian couldn’t bear to read anymore. Sobbing, she crouched on the ground. What she firmly believed was not a fantasy – those two had truly spent their lives together, sharing the same bed and resting in the same tomb!
No! She had to go and see it with her own eyes!
With a sniffle, Ye Qian rushed to the computer and quickly checked her travel plans.
Translator’s corner:
I suddenly remembered that Author’s note where it was a small theatre, I think. It was about how Yiyan was away at war and then Lian Feng just kept on recruiting talents which the author referred to as concubines for fun 🤣 It was that chapter where the two were still not together 😂
