Inside Ganlu Hall, Emperor Taizong of Tang laughed with those at his side.
"This fierce Zhang Fei claims he seeks advice," Li Shimin said leisurely, "but why do I hear more boasting than humility?"
There was no doubt about it.
Even without seeing the man in person, Li Shimin could clearly taste the pride in that line.
If one opened the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the fates of those names that had appeared on the heavenly screen were all recorded plainly.
Baidi City.
Maicheng.
Wuzhang Plains.
Centuries later, people still composed elegies for them.
Those who were meant to die in fury, cough blood to death, succumb to illness, fall to stray arrows, or perish from grief were now very much alive.
And now Not only alive, but rallying armies, reclaiming Chang'an, gazing east toward Luoyang with the intent to restore the Han.
Compared to that, conquering Cao Cao, whose generalship Li Shimin privately judged as merely adequate, did not seem particularly daunting.
"Removing Cao is easy," Li Shimin sighed. "Uprooting powerful clans, restoring a strong Han, securing ten thousand li of peace, granting stability to countless millions, that is not easy."
Having already ruled from the highest seat, and having learned from the heavenly screen of the hidden corruption beneath the glittering façade of the High Tang, Li Shimin increasingly felt that governing the realm was far harder than defeating Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong at Hulao Pass.
Still, he had no intention of dousing cold water upon distant heroes.
Instead, he turned to Du Ruhui.
"Ke Ming, bring it."
Du Ruhui had long prepared something, but hesitated only because the heavenly screen had begun to dim. By now, the Tang court had grown familiar with its rhythm.
Just as Du Ruhui carefully presented a box, the screen flared to life again.
And what appeared within was strikingly familiar.
Red-gold greeting cards.
A pale yellow glazed bottle.
A silver incense pouch with grape-and-bird patterns.
The Illustration of Captives Presented at Chang'an.
The Huangji Calendar.
All items they themselves had sent.
Interspersed among them were objects from Han Chang'an: gold Wuzhu coins, horseshoe-shaped gold, a portrait of Zhang Fei, calligraphy by Zhuge Liang, Han tally tokens, even the Marquis Wu's feather fan.
Everything was neatly arranged inside transparent glass cases, categorized with meticulous order.
As the camera swept across them one by one, the familiar voice of the descendant returned.
[Lightscreen]
["Alright, one last thing.
"A friend informed me that there's an opportunity in Chengdu to establish a proper exhibition hall. We could officially open a gallery and display all these items as part of the permanent collection.
"However, since every piece here represents a tremendous effort from our esteemed big shots, we wanted to ask for your consent before proceeding.
"Unfortunately, the big shots never left private contact information, so this is the only way we can ask.
"Whether you agree or not, we completely understand and support your decision.
"That wraps up this episode. See you next time at the usual time."]
The screen finally went dark.
Ganlu Hall fell into immediate murmuring.
"An exhibition hall. How does it differ from a grand museum display?"
"Private contact information. Does that mean there is some method to speak directly with this descendant?"
Amid the growing clamor, Li Shimin felt his thoughts sharpen with rare clarity.
He turned to Du Ruhui, who still held the box somewhat awkwardly.
"Ke Ming, wait. Bring silk and seals."
The command was precise.
The hall fell silent at once.
Then chaos.
Because drafting an imperial edict was not simply writing a few lines and stamping a seal. It required the Three Departments and Six Ministries to participate.
Time, however, was short.
…
In the palace at Bianliang, Zhao Kuangyin stared thoughtfully at the array of Han and Tang artifacts displayed on the screen.
Zhao Pu grasped the situation immediately.
"If Han and Tang objects will share the same hall as ours, then the items we send must be chosen with care."
Zhao Kuangyin understood at once.
From the descendant's tone, when discussing the Two Songs, there was always a faint shortness of breath regarding territory and martial prowess. The strengths attributed to Song lay in civil governance.
And nothing showcased civil culture more elegantly than calligraphy and painting.
Many of the Han and Tang offerings included artworks. If judged strictly, the artistic standards of Song should far surpass those of late Han and early Tang.
A flicker of urgency rose within him.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
Zhang Fei had addressed Tang Taizong as General Tiance.
Zhao Kuangyin turned to the eunuchs.
"Fetch my bag of gilt coins."
As attendants hurried off, he sighed to Zhao Pu.
"It is a pity that we are only a little over a decade into founding Song. Figures like Fan Wenzheng or Wang Anshi have not yet risen to prominence. If we could send even one of their authentic works to the future, the descendant would surely be overjoyed."
Zhao Pu shook his head.
"Literati may earn posthumous fame. But Your Majesty's name is hardly lesser."
Zhao Kuangyin hesitated.
He was born a soldier. Though he had practiced diligently in later years and his handwriting was respectable, it was inferior even to his brother's. Compared to the calligraphy-obsessed Taizong of Tang or the upright strokes of Zhuge Liang, he dared not compete.
The thought lingered briefly before he waved it away.
"We shall discuss it later."
…
Back in the general's residence at Chang'an, although they had received no direct response from Tang Taizong regarding the campaign against Cao Cao, none felt disappointed.
Cao Cao had to be fought regardless.
Most in the hall had risen from humble origins. Now, as the grand design to restore the Han approached its most critical step, what filled them was not doubt but trembling excitement.
As for the items to send to the future, preparations had long been made.
Even upon hearing the descendant speak of establishing an exhibition hall, Zhuge Liang merely pulled a sheet of paper, wrote a brief note, stamped it with his seal, and sent it through with the objects, all with the effortless composure of a man accustomed to handling state affairs.
Afterward, he lowered his head and resumed discussion with Pang Tong and Lu Su about the coming campaign.
To march against Cao Cao, they would have to oversee the entire strategic picture. They might not rival the Marquis of Liu in deciding victory from a thousand li away, but they must ensure no errors in the expedition's arrangements.
Moreover, since Lu Su had formally pledged support, Zhuge Liang was already eager to delegate some administrative burdens to him. Every talent must be fully used.
As Liu Bei leaned close with his strategists in hushed consultation, Zhang Fei suddenly boomed:
"This Li Erfeng has some self-awareness."
Liu Bei looked up.
The heavenly screen had lit up again.
At its center was a scroll of silk.
Judging from the orderly array of seals at its end, Liu Bei could already guess what it was.
The descendant's voice rang out cheerfully.
[Lightscreen]
["Good news first. Overall, the big shots have agreed to let us proceed with the exhibition hall plan.
"If all goes smoothly, maybe in half a year, when you visit Chengdu, you can check in at the gallery.
"Now, as usual, let's see what the big shots have prepared this time."]