The light-screen pulsed, then erupted into a sharp, indignant monologue.
[Light-Screen]
"The giant panda lived peacefully in the Sichuan Basin for eight million years, yet human greed nearly drove them to extinction.
And then, in 2009, a British scholar announced to the world: 'Giant pandas have reached an evolutionary dead end. It would be better to let them exit history with dignity.'
I, Wen Mang, am not a learned man. But I can still say this clearly: I curse your Anglo-Saxon ancestors.
Do they really not know why panda numbers collapsed? Or are they pretending not to know? Shameless."
Silence filled the hall.
The officials did not understand every academic term—evolution, genetics, dead ends—but they understood arrogance when they heard it.
Jian Yong let out a dry laugh. "What a tongue. Soft as silk, sharp as a blade. And the skin—thicker than a city wall."
"Why didn't they just fight back?" Zhang Fei slammed his fist into his palm. "Didn't the descendant say they had those roaming iron fortresses? Their moving territories?"
Kongming folded his fan slowly, his voice calm but heavy.
"He said 'also.' Which means others had such power before them."
The hall quieted.
"Think of the reign of Emperor Wu of Han," Kongming continued. "Chasing the nomads north, sealing the mountain passes, unmatched strength under Heaven. And yet—later generations abandoned military preparedness. What followed was the chaos of the Five Barbarians."
Pang Tong nodded grimly. "It is always the same. When national strength wanes, wolves gather. History does not pity the weak."
The light-screen continued.
[Light-Screen]
"Fortunately, sixty-seven nature reserves have now been established. The wild panda population has exceeded eighteen hundred, and the species is no longer classified as endangered.
Academically, pandas are invaluable. Their genetic lineage is ancient. Even more remarkable, they are carnivores that chose a vegetarian path.
In conservation, they are both umbrella species and flagship species. Protect one panda, and countless other creatures survive under its shadow."
Zhang Fei stared.
"…That thing doesn't eat meat?"
He felt personally betrayed.
"I wrestled it with two men," he muttered. "Turns out it lives on bamboo."
Huang Yueying was already writing furiously. She paused only to underline a single word: Evolution.
Kongming leaned over and added notes beside it.
Why did the dinosaurs perish?
Why did the white bear endure?
The image shifted again, shaking slightly as Wen Mang walked into a massive, gleaming structure.
The entire building existed for one purpose alone.
Raising panda cubs.
Zhang Fei gasped. "Luxury! Absolute luxury! That bear lives better than half our officers!"
He immediately received a storm of glares.
Then the camera stopped.
A panda cub appeared on screen, round as a ball of rice dough. Above its enclosure hung a wooden plaque.
Xuande
"Come here, Xuande! Say hello to the uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters watching! From today onward, you're the official mascot of the channel!"
Liu Bei felt a chill crawl up his spine.
[Server Chat Log]
[V0id_Stalker]: This is illegal. Xuande is too cute. I'm melting.
[Nitro_Trigger]: Ten-year fan of Xuande checking in! Eat well and grow strong!
[Null_Vector]: A thousand years later, and the name Xuande trends again… because of a panda. History has a sense of humor.
[Static_Wraith]: I didn't believe it at first. The man actually found a cub.
[Apex_Shift]: You need two more. One Yunlong and one Yide to complete the set.
[Cipher_Blade]: Prime Minister: "Thank you for sparing me. I narrowly escaped becoming a panda."
Every head in the hall turned—slowly, deliberately—toward Liu Bei.
He laughed.
A full, open laugh.
"To have one's name remembered after a thousand years," he said warmly, "even as a panda… is that not a blessing?"
Zhang Fei scratched his head, struggling visibly with the idea.
"Well… Big Brother," he said at last, "since this bear is such a treasure… should I go back and, uh… capture Xuande's mother as well?"
The hall froze.
Liu Bei's smile shattered.
Elsewhere — Tang Dynasty, Chang'an
July heat smothered the capital like molten iron.
Inside Ganlu Hall, Fang Xuanling carefully transcribed the final line left by the light-screen:
Next video will play in three months.
He exchanged a glance with Du Ruhui.
Someone would have to calm the Emperor.
Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward smoothly, smiling.
"Your Majesty, why such anger? Last month Prince Zhi was born. Now the screen speaks of the Tang possessing ten thousand miles of territory. These are fortunate omens."
Li Shimin exhaled slowly.
"What use is ten thousand miles," he said coldly, "if unworthy descendants abandon Chang'an and flee to the southwest?"
His eyes sharpened.
"The screen speaks of internal rebellion. Of a woman seizing imperial power. Of the eastern islanders discarding the name granted by Emperor Guangwu and renaming themselves."
He sneered.
"By name alone, they are guilty."
Fang Xuanling bowed. "Disasters must be resolved one at a time."
Li Shimin nodded. His anger condensed—not vanished, but refined into steel.
"Begin purging the remnants of the Yuwen faction," he ordered.
"Niu Fangyu. Xue Shiliang. Strip their ranks. Exile them."
Then he lifted his gaze toward the future.
"Li Jing shall take the Ministry of War. Wei Zheng will join state deliberations. Zhang Gongjin is to quietly monitor all movements of the northern tribes."
Every name mentioned by the light-screen was now marked.
"Construction of the Martial Temple will begin," Li Shimin continued. "Those who erase the humiliation of the Wei River shall be the first enshrined."
As the court dispersed, Zhangsun Wuji lingered.
"Why do you think the light-screen shows two eras at once?"
Li Shimin answered without hesitation.
"It is not a play of the gods."
He looked into the distance.
"It is a window."
Zhangsun Wuji bowed deeply.
"Then we shall decipher its meaning. Stabilize the west. Subdue the east. And one day—knock upon the island gates."
Li Shimin's eyes burned.
"I will personally forge the ten thousand miles of Great Tang."
He turned.
"Let the world remember this name."
The Age of Tang has begun.