After several encounters with the light screen, the group had gradually formed an unspoken understanding.
Without anyone saying a word, they each offered their "likes" silently from the heart.
Sure enough, new words surfaced.
[Next video update in three months.]
Then came the familiar second question.
What should be sent as the offering this time?
Zhuge Liang smiled faintly and rose to his feet.
"This time, why don't I—"
"Military Counselor."
Guan Yu stepped forward, positioning himself squarely in front of Kongming.
"Oh?" Zhuge Liang paused, then smiled knowingly. "Yunchang, by all means."
He understood at once.
The information revealed by the light screen this time concerned Guan Yu more deeply than anyone else present.
The green mountains remain—how many sunsets have passed?
Guan Yu's fate after death was now clear. Even in the afterlife, he would likely continue to shoulder the Han House without worry.
But what of the others?
How would history judge their lives?
For a brief moment, Zhuge Liang's thoughts drifted far away.
Guan Yu requested a sheet of paper.
He spread it flat, straightened the edges, prepared the ink, then held his brush suspended in midair for a long time—so long that no one dared to interrupt.
Only after steadying his breath did he finally lower the brush.
A few short lines.
No embellishment.
No flourish.
He gently blew on the ink until it dried.
Then, from his waist, he unfastened two items and placed them carefully atop the paper.
Stepping forward, Guan Yu set them beneath the light screen, lifted his gaze, and spoke solemnly:
"My thanks."
A flash of light.
The items vanished.
Ma Liang stared, dumbfounded.
…It could do that too?
Jiang Wan stretched his wrists leisurely and smiled.
"Superintendent Ma—or should I say, Military Overseer Ma? Prepare yourself. There will be plenty more to transcribe."
He glanced around.
Indeed, although General Guan had completed the offering, neither the Lord nor the others showed any intention of dispersing.
Liu Bei spread out his own sheet of paper.
He sighed inwardly at how wonderful it was to enjoy such paper freedom these days—especially considering his recent visits to the latrine.
His brush moved swiftly as he recorded the names and posthumous titles of the emperors shown earlier on the screen. He then handed the paper to Kongming.
"Kongming, is this Zhao Ji truly the Emperor of Song?"
"It is most likely correct," Kongming replied with a quiet sigh—for the people who had lived under that reign.
"'Hun'—Fainting—means the sun setting. It refers to a ruler who has lost both his way and his position."
"The light screen mentioned earlier that the Song was destroyed by the Mongols. Zhao Ji was likely captured by them. Hence this infamous title."
"A ruler who lost his country…" Liu Bei shook his head.
"And yet he hoped to command ghosts and gods by invoking my second brother's name?"
"What's strange about that?" Zhang Fei snorted. "Even if Second Brother goes down to Mount Tai's underworld halls, he'd still be the best fighter there!"
He gave Guan Yu an emphatic look of support.
Guan Yu seriously considered whether he should request permission from the Lord next time—to bring his weapons along when entering the underworld.
Kongming continued reading and frowned slightly.
"Why did later Song emperors change their surname to Wanyan? And what of these Ming posthumous titles—'Slacker' (Baizong) and 'Tree-Hanging' (Huaizong)?"
"Military Counselor, you're overthinking it!" Zhang Fei waved dismissively. "The screen's words are simple."
"That 'Slacker' title obviously means he was just a decorative set piece—bai she!"
"As for 'Tree-Hanging'? Locust trees symbolize wealth and fortune. That emperor must have enriched the state and brought peace. A real money-maker!"
"And that Wanyan Gou—didn't the screen say to add 'Nine Sister' in front? Clearly a valiant emperor on horseback, just like our Yun-mei!"
Zhao Yun blinked. "…Me?"
"He must've repelled the Mongols and restored the Song, just like Emperor Guangwu restored Han! It's just that his descendants were useless and got beaten again."
"But the surname?" Zhao Yun asked cautiously.
"Guangwu was descended from the High Ancestor. How did Zhao-Song become Wanyan-Song?"
Zhang Fei crossed his arms confidently.
"Easy! 'Wanyan' means finished and shameless. He restored the Song but felt too ashamed to face his ancestors!"
"Later generations mispronounced it, that's all!"
Liu Bei felt every word was wrong.
Yet somehow… Zhang Fei's logic formed a complete circle.
He decided to drop the matter—for now.
Jiang Wan flipped through his notes.
"The screen previously praised the Tang's strength. Yet Buddhism became the trigger for its downfall?"
They were not unfamiliar with Buddhism—but they were hardly experts.
"During Emperor Xiaoming's reign," Kongming recalled,
"the masters Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna were welcomed. The White Horse Temple was built."
"Over the next century, people from foreign lands—Parthians, Yuezhi—came to Han to spread sutras."
"By Emperor Xiaoling's time, hundreds of Yuezhi crossed the borders to live in Luoyang, translating Sanskrit texts and chanting daily. Many remain there even now."
"Chanting all day?" Zhang Fei scratched his head.
"How does that bring down an empire? They didn't chant the Tang Emperor to death, did they?"
"Impossible," Kongming shook his head.
"The Tang clearly favored Buddhism. But once Buddhist institutions grew too powerful…"
"They seized land."
Just like the great clans.
Everyone understood at once.
Replace gentry with Buddhists, and the result was identical:
The poor lost their land.
Chaos followed.
"Oh!" Zhang Fei exclaimed. "So instead of farming or fighting, they just chanted Buddha?"
"No wonder they came to Great Han begging for food!"
"But begging wasn't enough—they had to seize land too?"
The hall fell heavy with silence.
Liu Bei clapped his hands sharply, breaking the mood.
"The Great Tang loved Buddhism and suffered for it. That era is too distant from us, with complexities we cannot fully grasp."
He smiled warmly.
"Let us discuss such matters after we defeat Sun and Cao."
A thunderous roar of agreement followed.
Ma Liang recorded everything silently.
He marveled at the unity between ruler and ministers.
They controlled only four commanderies in Jing Province—yet not a trace of inferiority could be found in their words.
An invisible flame was rising from this side hall, quietly illuminating Jingzhou.
At that moment—
The light screen brightened again.
Wen Mang's familiar style appeared: images paired with text.
They leaned in.
…Weren't those General Guan's items?
[Wen Mang — Voiceover]
"Thanks to the buddy who sent the Blue Jade Zhang and the command token! Much appreciated. Incredible craftsmanship."
"But I have one question—didn't the Han Dynasty use Tiger Tallies?"
"Oh, and for the next video, I went to see Huahua again! Sadly, only a few minutes allowed. So annoying."
The image displayed a rectangular jade plate with tooth-like ridges.
Front inscription:
'Han General Who Crushes Bandits — Guan.'
On the back, faint characters:
'Marquis of Hanshou Village.'
The jade gleamed softly, carved with animal motifs.
The second item was a long bronze strip.
A single large character dominated it:
'Command.'
Below:
'Dispatch Token of the Crushing Bandits General.'
A third image showed a sheet of paper with neat handwriting:
"Guan Yu of Hedong offers this as a token of gratitude."Guan Yu of Hedong offers this as a token of gratitude.
Yunchang of Jieling."
The comments flooded in.
Jiang Wan shot Ma Liang a look.
Ma Liang's brush flew.
[Live Comment Barrage]
Artifact_Hunter_88: LOL, the uploader's name really fits. Tiger Tallies were for major mobilizations. You don't issue one just to send scouts. Those used fupai tally-tokens. These look like an Identity Jade Tally and a Bronze Dispatch Token.
Lore_Master_XP: +1. Since an expert's here, explain more!
Artifact_Hunter_88: Fine, I'll explain. The jade one is a Qingyu Zhang. Civil and military officials used them to enter palaces or camps. Gold, jade, iron, wood, bronze—jade was top-tier. This craftsmanship is insane.
Whale_Watcher_Alpha: Bronze tokens were usually for commanders or personal aides on campaign. Tiger Tallies aren't universal tools. These are standard. If the uploader's selling, DM me first. I'll take the set at a great price.
Gamer_Girl_Yuna: This whale really does sponsor the uploader. Every time, it's a handcrafted item perfectly on theme.
Meme_Lord_Zero: Kinda disappointed. He should've forged Second Lord's handwriting to say: "I am the Great Demon-Subduing Emperor of the Three Realms."
Temple_Run_Pro: LMAO if he did that, I'd set up an altar immediately.
Stonk_Market_Guan: Honestly, worshiping Second Lord is insane value. God of War, God of Wealth, Martial Saint, Buddhist Guardian—whatever you believe in, he covers it.
Cthulhu_Fhtagn: Fair point. But what if my faith is in tentacle monsters?
Deep_Sea_Cultist: Then, sir, may I interest you in our Father and Savior—Cthulhu?