The atmosphere in the room turned ice-cold. Three generals, all dead in the prime of their lives! And the worst part? These weren't just names on a screen anymore, they were colleagues, brothers-in-arms, and friends.
"Feng Xiuyuan! Zhang Wenjin!"
Liu Bei called out their courtesy names at once.
"Before Zhou Gongjin captured Nan Commandery last year, the two of them crossed the river together to join me. How could it come to this…"
Kongming's expression grew heavy.
"Back in Jing Province, Xiang Lang once told me he had a clansman named Xiang Chong, intelligent and courteous, not yet come of age."
Xiang Jida referred to Xiang Lang. When both had taken shelter under Liu Biao, they had crossed paths before. Now he served as County Magistrate at Linju, north of Jiangling.
Yunchang stroked his long beard, his brow furrowed as he connected the dots of the future.
"This must be related to the 'Battle of Jing Province' the Light Screen mentioned earlier. Once we recovered Linju, Xiang Lang likely defected to Lord Liu and, as any uncle would, recommended his talented nephew for service." It was a logical, seamless deduction, but it tasted like ash in their mouths.
"Dying in some chaotic skirmish?"
Yide exploded, his voice booming like thunder in the small hall. He slammed a fist into his palm.
"I don't buy it! The southern barbarians are soft, weak! How could they take down a battle-hardened general unless there was foul play? This smells like a conspiracy!"
Liu Bei shifted his gaze to his younger brother's massive, barrel-chested frame and sighed, a weary smile tugging at his lips. Honestly, Yide, is there anyone in this entire world who doesn't look 'soft' compared to you?
But the humor was fleeting. Knowing the fate of these three men, Liu Bei turned to Kongming with a look of profound sorrow.
"It is a bitter road ahead for you, Kongming. In that Yiling disaster, Yide, Feng Xi, and Zhang Nan are all taken from us. Even the young ones like Xiang Chong and Liao Hua are stained by defeat."
"These were all capable men of Han. To lose them in a single campaign… it's no wonder Liao Hua felt he had no choice but to strap on his armor and head to the front lines even when he was seventy years old.
"Which is exactly why My Lord must exercise ultimate caution,"
Kongming warned, his eyes sharp with the weight of the future.
"We must adapt, change our moves, and ensure we never walk into that slaughterhouse. We have been warned; we cannot afford to fail."
Liu Bei nodded, the weight of the crown feeling heavier than ever.
---
[Light Screen]
[Ma Zhong, who ranks eleventh, was actually much more of a civil official than a traditional frontline brawler.
Liu Bei was the first to recognize his administrative genius.
Later, during Kongming's era, he was the primary force that stabilized the Nanzhong region after the rebellions, assisting Kongming in managing the complex politics of the seven commanderies of Nanzhong.
Even during the later administrations of Jiang Wan and Fei Yi, Ma Zhong remained a key player in shaping national strategy. When Fei Yi led the army north to check Cao Shuang, Ma Zhong stayed behind in Chengdu to manage the entire government. He was a pillar of the state, a truly worthy minister who, for once, died peacefully of natural causes.]
---
At last, the tension in the hall eased slightly. Finally, someone who did not die violently.
Jiang Wan, feeling the sudden heat of everyone's expectant stares, scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He knew he was capable, sure, but the Light Screen's description made it sound like he'd be buried under a mountain of paperwork until the day he died. Do I really have to be that busy? he wondered. Honestly, I'd be perfectly happy if everyone just kept calling me 'Clerk Jiang' and let me nap once in a while.
Liu Bei, however, was astonished.
"This Ma Zhong actually harbors loyalty to Han! When I went to Dantu, I met him once. He was a subordinate of Pan Zhang. I never imagined he possessed such depth!" What a waste of talent!"
"Once Jiangling is stabilized, I shall send him a letter. A man with that kind of vision has no business playing second fiddle to someone like Pan Zhang!!! We're bringing him home."
Yide was grinning from ear to ear, slapping his thigh. "Big brother, I take it all back! I thought that trip to Dantu was a total waste of time, but you actually scouted a top-tier legend! You've got the eye, brother, you really do!"
Everyone shared in Liu Bei's delight, yet Kongming felt something was not quite right, Something about the timeline felt... off. A subtle ripple in the logic of the Light Screen, but he decided not to rain on the parade just yet.
---
[Light Screen]
[Next, we have Fu Qian and his father, Fu Rong. Both were career military men, but to keep the father-son duo from cluttering up the 'Generals' gallery, the historians moved Fu Rong over to the civil officials' side.
During the disastrous retreat at the Battle of Yiling, Fu Rong volunteered for the ultimate suicide mission: holding the rear so Liu Bei could escape. As the Wu forces closed in, they offered him a chance to surrender.
His response was a legendary roar that echoed through the ages:
'You Wu dogs! Since when does a General of the Han ever surrender?!'
He died fighting to the last breath. His son, Fu Qian, was just as impressive, a perfect blend of brains and brawn. Even the late-era commander Jiang Wei relied on him heavily. In the year 263, Fu Qian was tasked with defending the vital Yangping Pass against the massive Cao Wei invasion.
He could have held it, too. But his deputy, a man named Jiang Shu, betrayed him and opened the gates to the enemy.
Fu Qian, true to his father's blood, refused to surrender and died fighting in the ruins of the pass, just months before the Shu-Han fell.]
---
A household of unwavering loyalty.
Guan Ping stared at the flickering image of Fu Qian's statue, then glanced at his own father.
Guan Yunchang stood as silent and immovable as a mountain peak, but his eyes were burning.
Guan Ping couldn't help but go down a dark rabbit hole: In the timeline where Father and I were captured and killed... what was I thinking at the end? Was I scared? Or was I just angry?
And Fu Qian? His father had died covering Liu Bei's retreat, and he himself died in service to Adou. Did he think of his father in his final moments?
He looked back at the screen. This Fu Qian guy... his dad died saving the Lord, and the son died trying to save the A Dou.
It wasn't just about a job or a paycheck. It was about the soul of the Han Dynasty. It was the same fire that burned in his own family. Dying for brotherhood was one thing, but dying for the idea of Han... that was something else entirely.
"The traitor deserves death," Guan Yu voice was a low, dangerous growl. The killing intent rolling off him was physical, making the air in the room feel heavy.
Everyone knew exactly why he was so triggered. Fu Qian was sold out by a traitorous subordinate and lost a strategic stronghold. Guan Yu had been backstabbed by Sun Quan, lost Jiangling, and met his end at Maicheng. The parallels were too painful to ignore. It wasn't just history; it was a personal insult.
"I will not allow such a tragedy to befall this father and son again," Liu Bei said, comforting Guan Yu, and also reminding himself.
Fu Rong had only joined his ranks last year as an Inspector. Who would have thought he possessed such fierce resolve?
---
[Light Screen]
[If you want to understand the tragic arc of Shu Han, just look at the fate of its leaders.
Among the fourteen, only Zhao Yun, Ma Zhong, and Wang Ping actually died of old age in their beds.
Everyone else? Either killed in action, executed, or died of stress-related illnesses before their time. The rest either succumbed to illness or fell in battle.
And if you think the civil officials had it easier... think again.]
---
The scene shifted into the opposite corridor. Liu Bei immediately spotted the first name beneath a statue: Pang Tong.
I wonder how much time Gongjin has left in this world? A slightly cynical, uncharacteristic thought flashed through Xuande's mind. If his own people were dropping like flies, surely the enemy was too?
But the thought was quickly replaced by a cold dread. What does it mean, 'the civil officials didn't have it better'? Generals are supposed to die on the battlefield, that's the risk they sign up for.
But scholars? Ministers? Why did the Light Screen make it sound like they were all doomed to early graves?
---
[Light Screen]
[The fourteen civil officials are: Pang Tong, Jian Yong, Lü Kai, Fu Rong, Fei Yi, Dong He, Deng Zhi, Chen Zhen, Jiang Wan, Dong Yun, Qin Mi, Yang Hong, Ma Liang, and Cheng Ji.
Pang Tong needs no introduction, having died in battle aiding Liu Bei's conquest of Shu. The poor Lu Kai shared a fate similar to Xiang Chong, falling during the brutal southern barbarian uprisings.
Cheng Ji and Ma Liang both died in the battle of Yiling, Even Jiang Wan, who carried the state on his shoulders for years, eventually succumbed to illness.]
---
"That settles it," Xuande declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. "We need to fund Physician Zhang immediately. I want him training a hundred, no, a thousand, disciples. Modern medicine, traditional herbs, whatever it takes. This 'dying of illness' trend stops now!"
For once, everyone reached unanimous agreement.
Ma Liang and Jiang Wan both felt conflicted as they wrote down their own fates. They had just felt pleased to see their names listed among the fourteen, only to immediately learn of their deaths.
I wonder if my brothers will actually miss me? Ma Liang mused, his hand hovering over his brush. And for the love of the ancestors, I hope Youchang finally grows up and learns that reality doesn't work like a strategy board game.
Jiang Wan, meanwhile, thought of the mother he had brought back from Yiling. The gods better not let her see me into the ground first. That's just cruel.
Kongming silently made note of another matter. The southern barbarian issue isn't just a border dispute; it's a meat grinder for our best talent. It needs to be solved, permanently and soon.
---
[Light Screen]
[Among them, a particularly admirable pair is Dong He and Dong Yun.
Dong He governed frontier commanderies with distinction and was known for his incorruptibility.
At his death, his household possessed not even a single shi of grain, let alone private wealth.
Dong Yun is somewhat more renowned, as one of the Four Ministers of Shu Han. Unfortunately, none of the four met good ends.
The Chancellor died of illness at Wuzhang Plains, Jiang Wan died of illness, Fei Yi was assassinated by a surrendered Wei general, and Dong Yun also died of illness.]
---
"Cao Cao! To use such vile means against my ministers!" Liu Bei burst out in anger.
Death by illness could be attributed to fate, but assassination was despicable, especially against a civil official.
"Didn't Cao Cao pull something like this on our in-laws too?" Zhang Fei frowned. It sounded oddly familiar.
"Yin Fan," Kongming said calmly. "Feigning surrender to Wu, inciting rebellion, and driving Hao Pu to suicide."
"Disgusting methods," Zhao Yun added.
Such tactics were as revolting as Sun Quan's betrayal, earning the unanimous hatred of all present.
---
[Light Screen]
[We will not dwell too much on the civil officials, as many will be discussed in later videos. Next, let us proceed to the main hall.
You can't visit the Martial Marquis Shrine without paying your respects to the big boss, Liu Bei, right?
The Main Hall of the Zhaolie Temple is the centerpiece, flanked and protected by those two galleries of heroes we just saw.
In the dead center of the hall, you have the grand statue of the Zhaolie Emperor, Liu Bei. To his right sits the statue of the Prince of Beidi, Liu Chen.
And to his left... sits a literal piece of rotten wood]