This day felt unreal to Wang Xuance.
His eyesight was sharp, and he had clearly seen the questions drifting across the Light Screen—
things like "Wang Xuance just put up a question mark," or "Wang Xuance is furious at the Tang historians."
Combined with what he had already read, those few lines led him to a conclusion so astonishing he hardly dared believe it:
He would earn lasting fame in history through the destruction of an entire kingdom.
The small stool beneath him felt uncomfortable, yet Wang Xuance could not help but straighten his back.
Was it true?
It had to be.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain why the court would go to such lengths for a mere county deputy magistrate posted all the way in Rongzhou.
When he had first arrived in Rongzhou, the Huangshui County magistrate had told him plainly: since he was coming here, he should be prepared to serve at least five years.
He had prepared himself for that.
And yet, barely half a year later, a single transfer order summoned him back to the capital.
Thinking of the magistrate's expression when he left, Wang Xuance felt a flicker of guilt.
Only this explanation made sense of everything—why he had been singled out, why he had drawn such attention.
But that realization brought even greater pressure.
He was Wang Xuance, yes—but he had no idea what kind of encounter the Wang Xuance spoken of on the Light Screen would experience, nor how he would accomplish such a feat.
No wonder, at their very first meeting, His Majesty had spoken so expansively—eastward to Wa, westward to the Western Regions.
Thinking back, Wang Xuance could barely remember what answers he had given at the time. His mind must have been a blur. The thought made him want to knock his head against the ground.
In his turmoil, even the fact that Old General Li Jing's calligraphy had been sent into the Light Screen failed to stir much curiosity.
When the Light Screen faded, the most unsettled of all was still Li Shimin.
"So Hexi truly is a land of treasures."
The future generations' explanations were complex, but Li Shimin's understanding was straightforward:
Rich in ores, ideal for raising horses, and a gateway to the Western Regions—what more could one ask for?
Though he did not know how later dynasties divided their prefectures, he remembered clearly the detailed breakdown of Hexi he had seen in the account of Zhang Yichao. Those late-Tang descendants might have been disappointing, but their records were precise.
Ganzhou and Suzhou were both listed—enough to confirm where Gansu lay.
After all, they were all part of the same Huaxia civilization. Place names enduring across generations was hardly surprising.
"I am willing to open up Hexi for Your Majesty!" Li Ji was the first to step forward.
This was not only for the Tang—it was also to clear his own name.
He was a great general, not some so-called Dao Duke.
Su Dingfang refused to be outdone.
"Wherever Your Majesty's blade points, this minister will follow, even unto death!"
The two generals, both close in age to Li Shimin, radiated fighting spirit. Li Jing also cupped his hands in salute, his meaning obvious.
Li Shimin laughed loudly. Even if he could not personally lead the campaign, with three such commanders at hand—how could he lose?
Qin Qiong glanced at Yuchi Jingde, who was watching with interest, and felt a twinge of regret.
If only he had a body as strong as Yuchi Jingde's—he would have requested to go forth under the name of the Gate Guardian himself.
Guarding the Western Regions, defending the borders—nothing could be more fitting.
But alas…
He coughed softly and resolved to speak with this old comrade once they left the palace. He needed to consult more with General Li Jing on military matters, and to study the intelligence on the Western Regions more closely.
The Western Regions stretched ten thousand li. There was no shortage of opportunity to achieve merit. Since he was not yet completely spent, how could he live solely on imperial favor?
He would also have to visit this new Chief Imperial Physician, weak body or not.
He hoped the Medicine King's words were true—that he might still command troops in the field, rather than spending the rest of his days bedridden.
Li Shimin always acted decisively. With the Light Screen concluded, he waved for everyone to disperse.
Before they left, he added one more instruction:
"The matters of Hou Junji and Chengqian—do not let them spread."
Then, as if recalling the phrase "do not divulge" from Questions and Replies of Duke Li of Wei, he quickly added:
"Nor are they to appear in writing."
One was a senior minister, the other the crown prince. Even vague rumors could stir dangerous suspicion at court.
Everyone understood. At the same time, they all smiled toward Li Jing, whose only response was to shake his head and leave first.
Wang Xuance, looking bewildered, was asked by Li Shimin to stay behind.
Still seated on his small stool, he watched as Zhangsun Wuji left Ganlu Hall, turning back again and again with visible reluctance.
Then, before his very eyes, a monk with a serene expression emerged from behind the inner screen.
"Has Master Xuanzang made his decision?" Li Shimin asked.
The monk pressed his palms together and bowed.
"I am willing, for Great Tang, to open the Western Regions."
So he still intended to go.
Li Shimin was not surprised in the least. From the records of later generations, and from their conversations over the past month, it was clear—Xuanzang lacked neither resolve nor endurance.
"Wang Xuance," Li Shimin said, turning his head, "are you willing to accompany him?"
Wang Xuance jumped, shaking his head vigorously and answering in a low voice:
"This minister… is not yet willing to become a monk."
Li Shimin burst out laughing.
"I intend to assign eighteen elite guards to escort Master Xuanzang westward," he said.
"Record the customs of the Western Regions, observe the conditions of the many peoples and states. Once you reach Tianzhu, return."
"This journey will be fraught with danger. Are you willing to go?"
Wang Xuance fell silent.
The past three months already felt unreal beyond measure.
Yet all those thoughts eventually converged on a single answer.
"This minister is willing, for Great Tang and for Your Majesty, to emulate the old deeds of the Marquis of Bowang—
to open the Western Regions!"
…
Chengdu.
Zhuge Liang carefully selected items in the eastern kitchen.
Even if they pooled all the remaining cane sugar, there was not much. There was no need for elaborate preparation.
A bronze cauldron or large tripod was unnecessary; even a large clay jar would be excessive.
He lifted a small bronze pot. This size was just right.
Glancing around, Zhuge Liang smiled.
"Do we have any bamboo strips?"
The kitchen lacked nothing of the sort. Someone quickly fetched them.
Carrying everything into the small courtyard at the front of the yamen, Zhuge Liang handed the bronze pot to Pang Tong, asking him to arrange it.
He borrowed a small knife from their lord, cut the bamboo strips into short lengths, then sharpened one end of each.
Before long, a small stove had been set up in the courtyard.
The bronze pot sat atop it as Liu Bei carefully placed several chunks of cane sugar inside.
In addition to what Zhang Fei had brought earlier, Zhao Yun, Liu Ba, and Pang Tong each added one piece.
They craned their necks, watching as the sugar slowly melted—just as Zhang Fei returned from outside, face alight with excitement.
He ran up to Liu Bei as if presenting treasure, opening the front of his robe. Inside were fruits packed tightly together.
"Lychees?" Liu Bei said. "Not bad. These plums are plump. And these green ones must be the hawthorn?"
Zhao Yun nodded.
"I searched the nearby hills. Hawthorn ripens in the ninth month. It's still quite sour now, but Third Brother insisted on bringing it back."
Zhang Fei quickly shoved Zhao Yun aside.
"Brother, look—grapes! I wonder if we can make candied grapes. What kind of taste would that be?"
"Why would there be grapes…" Liu Bei said, puzzled.
Grapes were difficult to grow in Yizhou. As the Light Screen had said, the north—or rather, the Western Regions—were far more suitable.
Seeing Zhang Fei's exaggerated expression, Liu Bei immediately understood.
"Wu—"
Just then, Zhuge Liang wiped the thin sheen of sweat from his brow, having finished sharpening the last bamboo skewer.
"Yide, bring the fruit over. Let's skewer them."
"Yes!" Zhang Fei answered at once, carrying the fruit over in his robe.
Using a basin of clean water Zhao Yun brought, they washed the fruit and threaded them into small skewers.
On the other side, Pang Tong and Liu Ba carefully rolled the skewered fruit through the bronze pot, then quickly lifted them out. Mi Zhu and Zhang Song fanned them briskly to help the sugar set.
After looking around, Liu Bei decided to squat beside the stove. For the moment, he set aside all other concerns and quietly tended the fire.
Flames licked the bronze pot, bubbles rose in the molten sugar syrup, and with a firm sweep of Zhuge Liang's feather fan in Mi Zhu's hand, the distinctive sweetness of cane sugar drifted out of the courtyard on the breeze.
Recently dismissed from lessons, the young students of the academy followed the scent, crowding outside the courtyard gate.
When Liu Bei looked up and saw them, he was startled.
An idea rose in his mind. He glanced at Zhuge Liang and received an encouraging look in return.
So Liu Bei cheerfully waved toward the gate.
"Come, come—one for each person. Don't take more than one!"
The students were eager, but they still lined up and came forward in order.
Zhang Fei, having finished skewering fruit, came over to take over the fire, watching as his elder brother handed out the candied treats.
Liu Bei recognized most of these students. Even for those whose names escaped him, he usually knew where their families lived. Their fondness for this Governor of Yizhou only grew.
"I remember you—you're Hu Du, right?"
Liu Bei picked up a skewer of grapes and placed it in Hu Du's hand.
"Just the day before yesterday, I ran into your grandfather in West Alley. I told him then—Hu Du will surely become a pillar of Han."
"Don't let me break faith with your grandfather."
Hu Du held the skewer, looking at the Governor of Yizhou—who had just finished stoking the fire and was now winking at him.
His heart churned.
In terms of official authority, this imperial uncle was not even as imposing as the magistrate of Langzhong he had once seen. And yet, he made people want to believe in him.
Hu Du bowed deeply, resolve taking root in his heart.
Zhuge Liang had already moved a chair and was sitting to the side, smiling as he watched a few simple words from their lord stir the students' spirits.
Pang Tong wore an expression of quiet distress—because he saw that the candied hawthorns Mi Zhu had set aside were now all that remained.
His distress was for himself.
He still remembered Zhao Yun saying these were sour enough to numb the teeth. Yet not tasting them would only make his curiosity worse.
Watching their lord play the part of a children's king, Pang Tong was reminded of someone else.
"When Emperor Guangwu studied in Luoyang," he said, "he roamed with the sons of great families. It may well have looked much like this."
Even if, as the Light Screen suggested, those Nanyang clans had also been making an investment of sorts, Pang Tong believed that before all that, Guangwu must have won them over through sheer personal magnetism.
Zhuge Liang smiled faintly.
"It seems Shiyuan is aiming for a place in the Cloud Terrace."
The Twenty-Eight Generals of Cloud Terrace were well known to them all.
Pang Tong looked spirited and confident.
"With our assistance, our lord's achievements will surely surpass even Emperor Guangwu's!"
Zhuge Liang believed it. He said casually:
"What has Jiang Wei been reading lately?"
"The Six Secret Teachings… What Jiang Wei?" Pang Tong replied without thinking.
Meeting Zhuge Liang's half-smiling gaze, Pang Tong immediately averted his eyes, feeling guilty.
Zhuge Liang remained relaxed, even rocking slightly in his chair.
"According to the Light Screen, Jiang Wei will see those records sooner or later."
Pang Tong fell silent. That was exactly what worried him—when the time came, Jiang Wei would likely still gravitate toward Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang spoke calmly:
"Once his grounding in military texts is complete, send Jiang Wei to me."
"My own disciple is still young. Don't teach him too many unorthodox tricks."