Chapter 9: You Still Have a Home in Jiangzhou?
After the Space-Time Comment Section opened.
Golden light swirled, like a divine oracle.
But for a moment, no one spoke.
Clearly, everyone was observing.
Great Tang, Taiji Palace.
Empress Zhangsun smiled.
"Your Majesty, emperors from ancient times to the present, discussing the Way together in one hall."
"Such a marvel has never existed since the beginning of time."
Li Shimin nodded.
"Indeed."
"We can learn quite a bit from the emperors of later generations."
"Quite a bit of experience."
Li Shimin was rather curious.
But he didn't plan to be the first to speak.
He clearly preferred to observe.
Great Song, Kaifeng.
Zhao Guangyi's face was somewhat pale.
He was planning to usurp the throne, after all.
This Space-Time Comment Section could be seen by all emperors.
If the emperors of later generations exposed his plans to usurp the throne—
Wouldn't that be the end of him?
"Imperial Brother, regarding this Space-Time Comment Section, we'd best speak as little as possible. The more you say, the more you err."
Zhao Kuangyin nodded, not thinking much of it.
Because at this moment, he was considering a different question.
That is, in the Ranking video about the Qing Dynasty—
A foreign regime called the Yuan Dynasty was mentioned.
This Yuan Dynasty wasn't after the Ming, nor before the Song.
Could it be—right between Great Song and Great Ming?
Realizing this point.
And then considering the Liao and Western Xia to the north.
Zhao Kuangyin was actually somewhat worried.
Naturally, he had no mood to think about the Space-Time Comment Section.
Great Sui.
Yang Guang reclined on the dragon couch.
The jade cup in his hand swayed gently.
He looked at the empty comment section above the Celestial Screen.
A trace of mockery appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"A bunch of mediocrities."
"They don't even dare to speak."
"Fine, just as well—let all the emperors of the heavens welcome Our personal arrival!"
Yang Guang directly connected to the Celestial Screen's authority.
And posted the first comment.
[Yang Guang: The Celestial Screen Ranking is truly unworthy of its name.]
[Yang Guang: Ranking founding emperors?]
[Yang Guang: If you're going to rank, rank the strongest emperor.]
[Yang Guang: We campaigned three times against Goguryeo, expanding our territory.]
[Yang Guang: We personally campaigned against the Tuyuhun, overawing the western frontier.]
[Yang Guang: We built the Grand Canal, connecting north and south.]
[Yang Guang: We built the Eastern Capital Luoyang, and constructed the Western Garden and detached palaces.]
[Yang Guang: Such achievements—how can ordinary founding rulers compare?]
[Yang Guang: We alone are the Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages, the number one emperor!]
[Yang Guang: Our Great Sui—unprecedented, never to be equaled, glorious for ten thousand ages!]
[Yang Guang: Where is the Celestial Screen? Hurry and proclaim Our achievements! Let the heavens revere them!]
This barrage of words.
The comment section utterly exploded.
Emperors came pouring out one after another.
[Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han: Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages—first time I've heard that term. You didn't just make it up on the spot, did you?]
[Yang Guang, Emperor Yang of Sui: Liu Bang, you're nothing but a commoner, born a thug. Your gaining the realm was mere luck. Naturally you wouldn't understand what a true overlord is!]
[Liu Heng, Emperor Wen of Han: Reckless warmongering, massive construction projects—is that the conduct of a wise ruler?]
[Yang Guang, Emperor Yang of Sui: Liu Heng, you're even more pathetic. No martial achievements whatsoever—just a caretaker ruler. What We intend is eternal glory. The mere Rule of Wen and Jing—how does that qualify you to converse with Us?]
[Ying Zheng, Emperor of Qin: Nothing but a trifling bit of martial achievement and you boast. Why not look at your own posthumous title? We see you as nothing but a tyrant like Jie and Zhou. And you dare call yourself Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages before Us?]
Yang Guang grew even more disdainful.
[Yang Guang: Ying Zheng.]
[Yang Guang: No matter how nicely you put it.]
[Yang Guang: You can't change the fact that your dynasty died with the second generation.]
Ying Zheng flew into a rage.
"Insolent brat."
"How dare he."
[Ying Zheng: Our Qin Dynasty was meant to reign for ten thousand generations.]
[Ying Zheng: How could it perish with the second generation?]
Yang Guang laughed heartily.
[Yang Guang: Hahahaha, ten thousand generations?]
[Yang Guang: Ying Zheng, you're dreaming.]
[Yang Guang: Your Great Qin died the moment you did.]
[Yang Guang: Huhai took the throne, Zhao Gao monopolized power.]
[Yang Guang: Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the standard of rebellion.]
[Yang Guang: Xiang Yu and Liu Bang attacked from all sides.]
[Yang Guang: That dream of yours—ten thousand generations in one line.]
[Yang Guang: You won't be waking up from that in a pile of salted fish.]
Ying Zheng shuddered violently.
He whipped his head around.
Looking at Li Si and Zhao Gao.
"Dying with the second generation."
"What is the meaning of this."
"Tell Us!!!"
Li Si and Zhao Gao both dropped to their knees.
"Your Majesty, your subjects know nothing."
Ying Zheng raged.
"You know nothing."
"The words of the Celestial Screen—how could they be false."
"Huhai takes the throne, Zhao Gao monopolizes power!"
"Explain to Us what this means!"
Li Si's forehead dripped with sweat.
"Your Majesty, your subject truly knows nothing."
Zhao Gao trembled even harder, like sifting chaff.
"Your Majesty, this is slander from that Yang Guang!"
"Yang Guang is just spouting nonsense—it doesn't represent the Celestial Screen's meaning!"
Ying Zheng's gaze was like lightning.
"Is that so?"
"Guards!"
"Bring Huhai before Us!"
"You had best pray that Emperor Yang of Sui is talking nonsense."
"Otherwise..."
Ying Zheng's killing intent soared to the heavens.
He could accept the fall of Great Qin.
But he absolutely could not accept dying with the second generation.
At this moment.
Above the Celestial Screen.
Emperor Yang of Sui grew more and more arrogant.
And finally, the one who would sanction him arrived.
[Li Shimin: Yang Guang, stop jumping around.]
[Li Shimin: A tyrant like Jie and Zhou—you're not even as good as Chongzhen.]
[Li Shimin: Chongzhen may have been incompetent, but he had backbone.]
[Li Shimin: Hanging himself at Meishan—a Son of Heaven dying for his realm.]
[Li Shimin: What do you have, Yang Guang?]
[Li Shimin: You have the crushing defeats of three campaigns against Goguryeo.]
[Li Shimin: You have the bones of the common people across the realm.]
[Li Shimin: You're a damn beast!]
Yang Guang flew into a fury.
[Yang Guang: Li Shimin, what are you? How dare you insult Us so!]
Li Shimin sneered.
[Li Shimin: We took Sui's downfall as our mirror.]
[Li Shimin: Thus came the Rule of Zhenguan.]
[Li Shimin: You, Yang Guang, are Our greatest cautionary tale.]
[Li Shimin: Your atrocities surpass Jie, Zhou, and Huhai. Your incompetence far exceeds Huan, Ling, and Chongzhen!]
[Li Shimin: And you dare speak of Great Qin dying with the second generation? You had a hand in dying with the second generation too—Great Sui was ruined by your own doing!]
Yang Guang stamped with rage.
[Yang Guang: Li Shimin.]
[Yang Guang: You just wait.]
[Yang Guang: We will kill you.]
[Li Shimin: Survive your own imperial guards first.]
Great Han.
Liu Bang was thoroughly amused.
[Liu Bang: I get it now.]
[Liu Bang: There are actually two dynasties that died with the second generation.]
[Liu Bang: And this Sui Dynasty is even worse than Qin. Yang Guang was even killed by his own people. Holy crap, how does Emperor Guang have the nerve to boast?]
[Liu Bang: Oh, I get it again. The Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages' stubbornness is indeed number one for ten thousand ages.]
[Yang Guang: Insolence! Insolence!]
Sui Dynasty.
Chang'an.
Within Daxing Palace.
Yang Jian's face was ashen.
He had heard Yang Guang's wild words on the Celestial Screen.
And he had heard the news of dying with the second generation.
At this moment, he was utterly furious.
"Unfilial son."
"You deserve death!"
He turned to look at Yang Guang.
Yang Guang was standing in the hall.
His face already deathly pale.
"Imperial Father, your son is innocent."
"These are all slanders from later generations."
Yang Jian raged.
"Slander."
"The words of the Celestial Screen—how could they be slander."
"We ended three hundred years of chaos."
"And because of a thing like you."
"We've fallen to a state worse than the brutal Qin!"
"You deserve death! You truly deserve death!"
He strode toward Yang Guang.
And slapped him across the face.
Yang Guang staggered back from the blow.
"Imperial Father."
"Mother!"
Seeing Yang Guang's misery.
Dugu Jialuo couldn't help but feel pity in her heart.
"Your Majesty..."
Seeing that Dugu Jialuo was about to step forward and plead for him.
Yang Jian grew even more furious.
"Enough!"
"We made you Crown Prince."
"Deposed your elder brother Yang Yong."
"We thought you were capable."
"Never expected you'd be a dynasty-ending ruler."
"If We keep you alive, are We to let Great Sui be destroyed a second time?!"
"Guards."
"Throw this unfilial son into the imperial prison."
"Without Our decree, he is not to be released."
The guards stepped forward.
And seized Yang Guang.
Yang Guang struggled and shouted.
"Imperial Father, your son truly has been slandered."
"Please believe your son—I will be a good emperor in the future."
Yang Jian sneered.
"A good emperor."
"The Celestial Screen has already nailed you to the pillar of shame."
"And you still want to deceive Us."
"Take him away."
Yang Guang was dragged off.
Dugu Jialuo wept profusely.
"Your Majesty, Guang'er, he—"
Yang Jian waved his hand.
"Speak no more of him."
"We only want to know now."
"How to avoid dying with the second generation."
Yang Jian took a deep breath.
And spoke to the Celestial Screen.
[Yang Jian: The unfilial son Yang Guang has been apprehended by Us.]
[Yang Jian: My colleagues, forgive the spectacle.]
[Yang Jian: We ended three hundred years of chaos and founded the Kaihuang Era.]
[Yang Jian: We thought We had chosen a good heir.]
[Yang Jian: Never expected he'd be a dynasty-ending ruler.]
[Yang Jian: We are ashamed before the people of the realm.]
As soon as these words came out.
The emperors reacted in various ways.
Liu Bang laughed.
[Liu Bang: Old Yang, you've got some skill—ending three hundred years of chaos, you're a ruthless one. Pity you chose the wrong heir.]
[Liu Bang: Still, you're a bit better than Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng didn't even choose one, and you at least know to correct your mistake in time.]
Ying Zheng snorted coldly.
[Ying Zheng: We have also apprehended Huhai.]
[Ying Zheng: Our Great Qin will absolutely not die with the second generation.]
Li Shimin spoke.
[Li Shimin: Emperor Wen, a word of warning—apprehending is not enough. This Yang Guang cannot be left alive. Otherwise, beware for yourself.]
Yang Jian's expression changed drastically.
[Yang Jian: What do you mean? Would this beast dare to rebel?!]
[Yang Jian: Guards, throw Yang Guang into the water prison!]
Jiangdu.
Yang Guang was in the imperial prison.
Being pressed into the water prison by the jailers.
Yang Guang screamed while shouting at the top of his lungs!
"Imperial Father."
"You actually don't believe Us."
"We are the Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages."
"We are not a dynasty-ending ruler."
"Release Us! Release Us! Ah!!!"
Late Sui.
Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, saw his own experiences from when he was Crown Prince.
He was utterly furious, and even more deranged.
"That damned old dog Yang Jian! To treat Us like this!"
"And you, Li Shimin! We will never share the same sky with you."
"Guards! Send the army out!"
"We will kill every single person in the realm surnamed Li!"
But before Yang Guang could finish speaking.
The Celestial Screen suddenly changed color.
A majestic voice rang out.
[Detected: Yang Guang intends to harm the common people. Crimes reach the heavens.]
[Thunder warning descending. Simultaneously, all of Yang Guang's privileges on the Celestial Screen are revoked.]
As the words fell.
A bolt of purple lightning descended from the sky.
Striking directly at Jiangdu Palace.
With a thunderous crash.
Every Yang Guang in every space-time.
Was enveloped in lightning.
Their bodies charred black.
Collapsing to the ground, convulsing.
Above the Celestial Screen.
Golden light surfaced.
[Yang Guang has been punished.]
[If he commits evil again, thunder tribulation will strike. Utter annihilation.]
The Space-Time Comment Section immediately bustled with activity.
[Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han: Oh my god, the Celestial Screen is badass.]
[Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang: Muting Yang Guang—how satisfying.]
[Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of Song: The Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages has been silenced. Now he can't be stubborn anymore. Hmph, it's clearly Us who has the bearing of a sage ruler!]
[Liu Heng, Emperor Wen of Han: Harming the common people—truly the worst of tyrants. This kind of treatment, everyone has the right to kill him. But this Emperor Gaozong—looking at your temple name, you don't seem much like a sage ruler either. Could you be imitating Emperor Guang's self-praise?]
[Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of Song: Nonsense! Who gave Us this temple name! Get out here!]
[Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of Ming: Enough, Wanyan Gou. Talk less. Don't end up like Yang Guang and get struck by the Celestial Screen.]
[Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of Song: You—you bully Us too much! Just you wait!]
While the Celestial Screen was bustling,
Great Sui.
Yang Guang was in Jiangdu Palace.
When he woke up.
His hair was disheveled.
He looked like a madman.
"We refuse to accept this."
"We are the Emperor of Ten Thousand Ages!"
"Why does the Celestial Screen treat Us like this!"
"It's all because of Li Shimin!"
"It's all because of Li Shimin!"
Yang Guang was deranged.
Shouting toward outside the hall.
"Guards."
"Muster the troops for Us."
"We will personally lead the campaign."
"We will kill Li Shimin."
If We're not allowed to kill people surnamed Li.
Then killing Li Shimin's whole family shouldn't count as harming the common people, right!
While Yang Guang was going mad.
However, no one outside the hall responded.
Several trusted ministers had long been secretly discussing.
Yuwen Huaji said in a low voice.
"The Emperor has gone mad."
"The Celestial Screen even sent down lightning."
"Are we going to follow him to our deaths?"
Pei Ju sighed.
"Emperor Yang of Sui is tyrannical beyond measure."
"The realm is about to descend into chaos."
"If we continue to follow him."
"I fear we'll die with no burial place."
Yu Shiji also said.
"Better to seek a wise lord elsewhere."
"I wonder where that Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, is..."
"If we find him early, we can at least earn merit as followers of the dragon."
Blue Star.
In a rented apartment.
Lin Fan stared at the backend records.
Dumbfounded.
"Yang Guang got struck by lightning?"
"The Celestial Screen has this function too?"
Then, he looked at the surging data.
[Current popularity: Ten million.]
[Cash reward obtained: One million.]
"This is awesome—making money and fixing historical regrets at the same time!"
"Keep editing videos, keep editing!"
Across the various space-times.
Above the Celestial Screen.
The comment section slowly dimmed.
New video footage began to surface.
[Ranking of the Founding Difficulty of Huaxia's Dynasties.]
[Number Nine, about to be revealed.]
The emperors of each dynasty all looked up.
Ying Zheng said in surprise.
"Finally here."
"Who is number nine?"
Liu Bang laughed.
"Couldn't be that Great Sui from just now, could it?"
"If so, that'd be interesting."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly.
"It can only be Great Sui."
"Ending three hundred years of chaos—that's genuine merit."
"But bullying orphans and widows to rise to power—gaining the realm couldn't have been easier."
"And then dying with the second generation—you can see how pathetic the Sui Dynasty was. Only stronger than Western Jin and Qing."
Great Sui.
Yang Jian was in the Chang'an palace.
His expression complex.
"Finally here."
"Number nine is most likely Us."
"How will the people of later generations evaluate Us?"
Yang Jian's heart was uneasy.
He had originally been quite confident in his founding achievements.
But with Yang Guang's antics, he'd been humiliated across all the heavens and myriad worlds.
Naturally, he had no spirit left at all.
The Celestial Screen's voice continued.
[Number Nine: Sui Dynasty.]
[Founding Difficulty: Trash.]
[Founding Level: Top-tier.]
[581 AD, Yang Jian usurped the Zhou and founded Sui, ascending the throne as emperor.]
[589 AD, Sui armies marched south and destroyed Chen. Great Sui unified the entire realm.]
[From then on, after three hundred years of north-south division, Huaxia was reunified and possessed a central government.]
[Regarding the historical status of re-creating Huaxia, Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, could be called solid. But regarding the founding difficulty of the Sui Dynasty—]
[It can only be described in one word.]
[Completely trash.]
Bullet comments surged.
[Heavenly start, of course the difficulty is completely trash.]
[The easiest time gaining the realm was Yang Jian—this is public consensus.]
[Yang Jian: What kind of talk is that? Bullying orphans and widows wasn't easy for me either.]
Great Sui.
Yang Jian felt extremely dizzy.
He wished he could kill a few Yang Guangs on the spot to vent his hatred.
"Guards, come!"
"Increase Yang Guang's punishment!"