Guan Yu shot Zhang Fei a sharp, warning glare.
Then he turned to his son.
Guan Ping stood there stiffly, his tiger-like eyes rimmed with tears, his lips trembling despite his effort to hold them still.
Guan Yu's voice came down hard and cold:
"Victory and defeat are the common lot of soldiers. To fall in battle and die for one's cause is all there is to it. What is there to cry about?"
The people of later ages allow you and me, father and son, to enjoy a thousand years of incense and remembrance, then all the more must we fulfill our duties without fail."
"From this day forward," Guan Yu said firmly,
"you are to regard the restoration of the Han as your sole responsibility."
Guan Ping wiped his tears and bowed deeply.
"This child understands."
---
Second Brother… that is not how you teach a child…
Zhang Fei sighed inwardly, then stepped forward and patted his nephew's shoulder.
"Now that we've been warned in advance," he said loudly, "there's no way I'll let Second Brother or you fall at Maicheng!"
He paused.
…Huh?
…Why did Second Brother's killing intent just get stronger?
---
[Lightscreen]
[North of Xiaoguan Temple Street is Dianjiangtai (General-Appointing Platform) Street. This was once the drilling ground for Shu-Han; it's said the Chancellor appointed his generals here for every Northern Expedition.
Heading southwest, we find Huanhou (Marquis Huan) Alley. After Zhang Fei's death in 221, he was posthumously titled Marquis Huan. A shrine was built for him here. Though later demolished, the name Huanhou Alley remains.]
---
"I... I died?"
"Only two years after Second Brother went to heaven? Even, I, Old Zhang couldn't escape it?"
Zhang Fei froze.
The Light Screen had never mentioned it before. He had thought he would live long.
Never had he expected to learn of his own death so abruptly.
"Yide…" Liu Bei looked at his third brother with concern.
"Heh!" Zhang Fei shook his head with a sudden, breezy smile
"Counting the years, I, Old Zhang, must have died during the Yiling campaign while avenging Second Brother.
Shame I did not get to chop down that Sun Quan!"
"But at least Second Brother would not be alone in the court of the Underworld, right?"
Guan Yu said nothing, only tightened his grip on Zhang Fei's hand.
"What a pity," Zhang Fei smacked his lips. "Judging by when I died, I never got to see that seven hundred li sea of flames at Yiling. Wonder what kind of sight that was?"
Guan Yu withdrew his hands.
Who is this Third Brother? I do not recognize this man.
Liu Bei felt the urge to smack Zhang Fei upside the head, yet knowing this brother would leave him first, his heart ached instead.
In the end, he could only sigh:
"Third Brother… you should really speak less."
---
[Lightscreen]
[South of Huanhou Alley is Wanli (Ten Thousand Li) Bridge. After the Yiling disaster, the Chancellor sent Fei Yi to the Sun Wu to restore the alliance so they could focus on the North.
This journey was certain to be met with endless difficulty, Fei Yi knew this well, and before departing, sighed: 'A journey of ten thousand li begins at this bridge.' Thus it was named Wanli Bridge.
Further south is Ximian (Face-Washing) Bridge. After Guan Yu and Guan Ping fell, Liu Bei was overcome with grief and built a ceremonial shrine for Guan Yu here.
Before each visit, he would burn incense and wash his face to cleanse away dust and sorrow. Thus the name Ximian Bridge.]
Looking at his own statue, Liu Bei smiled faintly.
He was grateful that later generations remembered the bond between brothers so deeply.
As for the ceremonial shrine, that was only fitting.
How could he not honor his own brother?
---
Kongming, however, shook his head softly at the mention of Fei Yi.
Between Shu and Wei, it was the Han and traitors at irreconcilable odds.
But Sun Wu did not see things the same way.
Combined with the loss of Jing Province and the defeat at Yiling, this mission would be exceedingly difficult.
Not merely difficult. It might well involve humiliation at every turn. I will not let such a fine official suffer that this time, he vowed.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Further west lies the most important site, the Temple of the Marquis Wu.
Though commonly called the Temple of Marquis Wu, it is actually composed of the Temple of Emperor Zhaolie, the Temple of Marquis Wu, the Temple of the Three Righteous Brothers, and Huiling Mausoleum.
It is both a historical site and the only place in the country where ruler and ministers are enshrined together alongside a mausoleum.]
---
Liu Bei did not know what expression to wear.
The Light Screen had long mentioned the Temple of Marquis Wu, and even said that it housed the loyal martyrs of Shu Han.
At the time, the name had already felt strange.
And now, after all this, it turned out that this was actually his own temple?
Only that Kongming's fame was so great that few bothered to mention his name?
---
Facing Liu Bei's resentful gaze, Kongming could only cough lightly.
Though he felt a trace of quiet satisfaction, he absolutely could not let his lord notice it.
---
"Elder Brother, think of it this way," Zhang Fei began, offering consolation.
"Your mausoleum is right here. When later generations come, they might just bow to the Chancellor, but for you, they are actually visiting your grave…
hey hey hey, Big Brother!!! why are you drawing your sword!!! Think about it, what emperor has your treatment? Thousands upon thousands people come every day to pay respects!"
After chasing Zhang Fei around the hall twice, Liu Bei finally sheathed his sword in frustration.
"Well… lying there and seeing so many Han descendants every day isn't such a bad fate," he muttered.
"At least you were buried in one piece, Big Brother... Second Brother, why are you looking at me like that?" Zhang Fei decided to drop the subject.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Entering through the gate, the first thing we see is the Stele of Three Excellences.
What are the Three Excellences?
First, excellence of writing. The text was composed by Pei Du, a statesman and writer of the late Tang, who praised the Chancellor's loyalty, talent in founding a state, personal virtue, and governance.
Second, excellence of calligraphy. The inscription was written by Liu Gongchuo, a master calligrapher whose style was dignified and profound.
Third, excellence of virtue. Later officials praised the Chancellor's merit as everlasting alongside the writing and calligraphy.
There is another interpretation, however, that the third excellence refers to the engraver, Master Lu Jian, whose carving skill was unmatched.]
---
"The third excellence must refer to the engraver!" Kongming declared quickly.
"To carve stone and yet preserve the spirit of a master's calligraphy, that requires true mastery. It deserves to be called an excellence!"
Seeing Kongming's rare embarrassment, the others burst into laughter.
Ma Liang grinned.
"Military Advisor, it seems not only these descendants, but even the future generations revere and worship you greatly."
Kongming sighed.
"Those who revere and worship do so for Zhuge Liang, Chancellor of Shu Han. As I am now, merely Zhuge Kongming, Military Advisor under the General of the Left, with not a single achievement to my name, how could I accept such praise?"
"And even that Chancellor Zhuge Liang, whatever merit he possessed would not be his alone, but the result of unity between ruler and ministers, civil and military alike."
Liu Bei smiled and took Kongming's hands.
"The words of later generations are not wrong. Kongming's way of conduct is indeed an excellence. It is something we should all learn from."
Kongming grew even more embarrassed, while the others smiled.
Their attention returned to the Light Screen.
The only regret was that the image was not clear enough to read the stele in detail.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Opposite the Stele of Three Excellences stands another stele, recording the changes to the temple over time.]
Liu Bei had realized something.
Even while standing beneath the plaque of the Temple of Emperor Zhaolie, this descendant still calmly referred to it as the Temple of Marquis Wu.
Was he, Liu Bei, actually the one borrowing his minister's incense offerings?
---
[Lightscreen]
[This Ming dynasty stele records how Zhu Chun, Prince of Shu, renovated the temple.
Disturbed that the Chancellor shrine overflowed with incense while the Emperor's temple was neglected, he abolished the flourishing Temple of Marquis Wu and moved Zhuge Liang into the less-visited Temple of Emperor Zhaolie, placing him beside Liu Bei.
Thus, the Temple of Marquis Wu ceased to exist, leaving only the Temple of Emperor Zhaolie.
Yet the people of Chengdu still called it the Temple of Marquis Wu, and those who came to worship Zhuge Liang never ceased.
Only later, in the Qing dynasty officials followed the public's will, and rebuilt the Temple of Marquis Wu behind Liu Bei's temple, forming the layout we see today.
Ah, pardon me !!! the layout of the Temple of Emperor Zhaolie.]
---
Enough! You clearly do not sincerely call it the Temple of Emperor Zhaolie!
Liu Bei wept silently within.
He even began blaming that Zhu Chun.
Though he understood that the man likely valued ritual propriety, believing one must honor ruler before minister, the result was that even he, Emperor Zhaolie, no longer had a proper name for his own mausoleum.
"It's fine, Elder Brother. At least you still have a temple," Zhang Fei said quickly, before Guan Yu's glare could land.
"Look at me. My temple's gone. I'll probably have to rely on your incense instead."
"And think about it, without the Military Advisor, would we even have such flourishing worship?"
---
[Lightscreen]
[Further inside are the familiar halls of civil and military officials.
The eastern hall honors fourteen civil officials led by Pang Tong.
The western hall honors fourteen generals led by Zhao Yun.]