[Server Chat Log]
[Ghost_Glaive88: Just seeing the word "Chengdu" makes me hungry…
Steel_Dragon: J-20s, J-10s, FC-1 Xiaolong, those are Chengdu too!
City_Wanderer: Can I get to Erxian Bridge via Chenghua Avenue?
History_Buff: Chengdu to Chang'an is six hours by high-speed rail, but the Prime Minister spent his whole life walking that road.
Romance_Fan: Zhuge Liang's Chang'an, Sun Quan's Hefei, and Cao Cao's black silk stockings, the Three Kingdoms' three great regrets. Wait, did something weird just slip in there?
Scholar_Path: I only wish to one day climb the roads of Shu and finish The Proclamation on Starting the Expedition.
Northern_Expedition: "'Chancellor, how about this year?'
'Command the army, Northward Expedition!'"
Li Shimin: Is this heaven or the mortal world!?]
---
For a moment, everyone in the hall fell silent.
They stared greedily at everything within the Light Screen.
The people there dressed differently, their customs unfamiliar, yet they spoke the same language, used writing of the same origin, and had built a Chengdu beyond imagination.
Broad avenues ran north to south and east to west.
Great bridges leapt across rivers.
Towering buildings rose like forests.
Bustling markets overflowed with life.
In fleeting glimpses alone, there were hundreds, thousands of strange wonders that defied understanding, yet still carved themselves deeply into the hearts of all who saw them.
Not only the scenery, even the text was difficult to comprehend.
Everyone understood the meaning of "jian" as annihilation, but what did it mean when paired with numbers? And placed alongside "Fierce Dragon," what connection did it have to Chengdu?
For the first time, Kongming felt a deep sense of confusion.
The mention of the Zhuge Liang and Chang'an could be guessed.
Sun Quan and Hefei were clear enough.
But Cao Cao's black silk stockings,… what exactly was that supposed to be?
As for the Northern Expedition, that caused no surprise.
If one held Yi Province and Hanzhong, then restoring the Han could only mean marching north.
The Light Screen had said it well.
The Han and traitors cannot coexist. The kingly path cannot remain confined.
---
Ma Liang and Jiang Wan, who were copying things down, whispered quietly.
"This time, that man called Li Shimin is finally not as offensive."
"Previously, he even dared to assume the imperial title. Truly no sense of propriety."
---
Kongming glanced again at the first line of text.
In his mind, the image of those red-oil crayfish surfaced once more.
Were they truly that delicious?
---
[Lightscreen]
[The Three Kingdoms left quite a few memories in Chengdu. Today we'll follow a path from the outskirts to the center. First stop: Huang Zhong Village!]
---
Huang Zhong raised his head.
He had never expected this.
Even "Old Huang" had a spot in the future?How did this good fortune fall on him?
He had done little besides helping seize Hanzhong for his lord.
Yet the smile on his face could not be suppressed.
---
[Lightscreen]
[In 1825, villagers in western Chengdu discovered Huang Zhong's tombstone, and the village was renamed Huangzhong Village.
Liu Yuan, founder of the Huaixuan School, built a memorial shrine for him. Later, his son Liu Guijiu wrote a couplet for the Old General:
"Through northern campaigns across the Central Plains, tracing the foundation of the King of Hanzhong's enterprise, your merit stands foremost.
In the west, your tomb path remains, gazing toward Zhaolie's shrine. With such a temple, your honor stands tall."
It was an extremely high evaluation of the old general.]
---
Huang Zhong tried his best to suppress the upward curl of his lips.
In the end, he gave up entirely and burst into hearty laughter, cupping his hands to all sides.
Liu Bei spoke sincerely.
"The one who built the shrine is also of the Liu clan. Old General, to stand facing my shrine, you are truly a pillar of the state."
---
For a time, lord and minister shared mutual understanding, all raising their heads to see whether the shrine still flourished with incense.
But within the Light Screen, there were only green trees and rows of small buildings.
No shrine could be seen.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Unfortunately, Huang Zhong Shrine was later demolished and no longer exists today.
However, the people still remember him. Chengdu's planned Metro Line 27 passes through this area, and the station at the old site is named Huangzhong Station. In a way, he still remains.
Additionally, there is another Huang Zhong shrine in Nanyang, his place of origin, where locals still offer sacrifices and maintain it.]
Such twists of fate.
Huang Zhong felt mixed emotions, but in the end he sighed lightly.
"As long as future generations remember Huang Zhong, this old general is content."
Liu Bei clasped Huang Zhong's hand in comfort.
Zhang Fei squeezed in as well.
"Old General, when my shrine is built, there'll definitely be a place for you!"
Seeing Zhang Fei thumping his chest confidently, Huang Zhong felt a little better.
Liu Bei, however, had already shifted his attention.
"This 'metro'… is it related to that 'high-speed rail, right'?"
---
[Lightscreen]
[Five kilometers northeast of Huangzhong Village lies the Jiuli Embankment ruins.
Though Dujiangyan has benefited Chengdu for millennia, minor floods still occurred.
During his governance of Shu, the Chancellor oversaw construction of a flood-control embankment, nine li in length, hence the name Jiuli Embankment.
In later dynasties, it was repaired multiple times. A shrine was even built to commemorate a local official, Liu Xigu.
But over time, people came to call it Zhuge Shrine instead, to honor the Chancellor.
Today, it has been transformed into Jiuli Embankment Park, open freely to the public.
He would probably be amused to know that]
Thank you, that is both amusing and exasperating.
Kongming shook his head, yet inwardly admired that later official. Flood control was true merit.
Liu Bei, on the other hand, looked pleased.
"Another descendant of the Liu clan. To think later generations would produce such fine deeds."
Seeing people strolling and resting peacefully in that place called a park, Liu Bei felt a faint sense of goodwill toward that future dynasty.
A ruler that knew how to care for the people.
If he were to restore the Han, this must be remembered.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Three kilometers south of Jiuli Embankment lies Wudan Mountain.]
Unlike before, this time only a distant view was shown.
[Lightscreen]
[According to Records of the Three Kingdoms, in 223, Liu Bei ascended the throne south of Wudan Mountain in Chengdu.
This not only made the mountain more well known, but also helped determine the location of the Shu Han palace.
However, Wudan Mountain is no longer open to the public, so it can only be viewed from afar.]
Aside from Liu Bei, few paid attention to the mountain itself.
Instead, their eyes were drawn to the great bridge in the corner of the image.
"Why build such a massive bridge on flat ground?" Zhang Fei could not understand.
---
Kongming had some idea.
"The prosperity of that future age likely surpasses all past dynasties combined. There must be countless ingenious vehicles upon those roads. Such broad elevated bridges are likely for regulating their flow."
---
Silence fell once more.
Such grandeur was difficult to imagine.
Just days ago, they had rejoiced over securing Jiangling and dreamed of building twin fortified cities.
Yet now, the Chengdu of the future made them feel small.
How could human strength alone ever achieve this?
---
Seeing the low mood, Huang Yueying clapped lightly to draw attention.
"Though I do not understand these future techniques, the sage Xunzi once said:
'Pile earth to form a mountain, and wind and rain will arise; without gathering small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas.'
"If the future possesses such heavenly craftsmanship, it is built upon the efforts of countless generations, including ours. Why belittle yourselves?
"If we restore the Han and advance learning, perhaps we too may one day approach even a fraction of this."
"The waterwheel at Hudu River now benefits the people daily. A year ago, who here could have imagined such a scene?"
Kongming smiled at his wife.
The others showed signs of realization.
---
The Light Screen did not wait.
A street scene appeared.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Xiaoguanmiao Street originally had a small 'Guan Di Temple' dedicated to Guan Ping.
Unfortunately, it has since been demolished, though traces still remain along the street.]
Guan Ping blinked, stunned. "Me? I... I get a temple and sacrifices?"
"Big nephew," Zhang Fei said, his tone suddenly filled with sympathy.
"In ten years, you and your father will both fall at Maicheng. The people were so moved by your loyalty, how could they not build you a temple?"
Guan Ping: ?????