Chapter 45: Dynasties Throughout History

Ying Zheng’s body stiffened abruptly, yet his expression remained unchanged as he spoke in a low, calm voice, "Tell me in detail!"

"Prince Jianglu and eleven other princes were executed at Duyou on charges of rebellion; ten princesses were subjected to death by dismemberment on the streets of Xianyang." Jiang Ye tried his best to control his tone, but a trace of unbearable pity could still be detected in his voice. "The youngest prince, Gao, to protect his family, voluntarily requested to be buried alive with Your Majesty."

Every time he read this part of history, he could not help but sigh with emotion, feeling a deep sense of regret for these imperial princes and princesses.

"My own flesh and blood, to think they..." Ying Zheng’s emotions fluctuated.

The grand hall fell into a dreadful silence, with only Ying Zheng’s heavy breathing echoing within.

"Now history has already changed," Jiang Ye said calmly. "From the very moment we stepped into the Xianyang Palace, the future ceased to be what it once was. Every decision Your Majesty makes from now on will forge a new history."

"Jiang Ye, tell me... if I had known all of this a decade earlier..."

"History has no ifs," Jiang Ye softly replied. "But the future rests in Your Majesty's hands."

Ying Zheng turned around, the expression on his face already returned to normal, save for a breathtaking, palpitating light dancing in his eyes.

Jiang Ye only informed Ying Zheng of the historical trajectory he knew. As for how Ying Zheng would deal with these individuals, that was no longer something he needed to worry about.

He was merely an ordinary, humble modern citizen. When it came to the machinations of the imperial court and the balance of power among ministers, how could he possibly compare with the First Emperor through the ages?

Therefore, it was best not to make a fool of oneself when unnecessary, lest it lead to embarrassment.

Jiang Ye still possessed a good amount of self-awareness.

"Jiang Ye, tell me about the various dynasties of later generations," Ying Zheng said in a low voice.

Jiang Ye greatly admired Ying Zheng's ability to recover his composure. Just a short moment had passed, yet he was already this calm and accepting of reality.

He actually still had the mood to care about the affairs of successive dynasties.

Since the Ancestral Dragon wished to know, Jiang Ye did not hold back.

Gathering his thoughts slightly in his mind, he slowly began: "Following Qin was Han. Liu Bang founded the Western Han Dynasty, which was later followed by the 'Rule of Wen and Jing'. By the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, national power reached its zenith, launching distant expeditions against the Xiongnu."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly: "This Liu Bang turns out to be a capable man."

Hearing this, Jiang Ye was filled with admiration for Ying Zheng’s broad-mindedness.

Had he been an emperor, knowing that this person had overthrown his dynasty, he would most likely have harbored a burning hatred deep in his heart.

As for praising the other person—pah!

This was probably the gulf between an ordinary person like him and the First Emperor through the ages.

Jiang Ye muttered inwardly, but it did not hinder his speech.

"Later, toward the end of the Western Han, Wang Mang usurped the throne and the realm plunged into great chaos. Emperor Guangwu, Liu Liu, founded the Eastern Han, but the monopoly of power by eunuchs and imperial relatives eventually led to the Three Kingdoms period."

"Three Kingdoms?" Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow.

"Wei, Shu, and Wu divided the realm into three, locked in endless warfare," Jiang Ye sighed. "Afterward, the Sima clan usurped Wei to establish Jin, but the 'Upheaval of the Five Barbarians' broke out shortly after."

At this point, Jiang Ye's voice grew heavy: "What follows is one of the darkest periods in history. The northern nomads pushed south, the Han people were referred to as 'two-legged sheep', and women and children were treated as military rations..."

His fists clenched involuntarily. "For a thousand miles no rooster crows, white bones lie exposed across the fields."

Ying Zheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, a terrifyingly cold glint flashing within them: "How dare these barbarians act so audaciously!"

Jiang Ye let out a heavy sigh. Every time he read the history of the Five Barbarians' rebellion, his heart ached; this could definitely be called the darkest moment for the descendants of Huaxia.

"It was not until Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, unified the realm, but the 'tyranny' of Emperor Yang of Sui led to the short-lived nature of the Sui Dynasty. As for whether his tyranny was truly real, later generations remain divided." Jiang Ye was not certain either, after all, he had not witnessed that history firsthand.

Not dwelling on this matter, Jiang Ye continued: "The dynasty I am about to mention next can be called the pinnacle of Huaxia civilization—the Great Tang."

Jiang Ye changed the subject: "Of course, it cannot compare to the institutional foundations laid by Your Majesty. Because your foundations were laid so well, later generations were able to endure for millennia without collapsing."

Ying Zheng gave a breezy laugh: "There is no need for such flattery."

Jiang Ye patted his chest with a sincere expression: "Truly, these are my honest thoughts."

Ying Zheng did not refute him and motioned for Jiang Ye to continue.

"Speaking of the Tang Dynasty, one cannot help but mention this monarch—Li Shimin."

"Li Shimin took up arms alongside his father at eighteen and pacified the realm at twenty-four," Jiang Ye recounted everything he knew. "The 'Reign of Zhenguan' he initiated was politically clear and enlightened, with all foreign tribes submitting in awe. The Khan of the Turks was captured and made to dance on the streets of Chang'an; the little island nation of Japan dispatched Tang envoys to study; the Silk Road teemed with endless caravans. In the city of Chang'an, there were envoys, merchants, and international students from all nations. It truly was 'the palace gates of the nine heavens open to reveal the court, while the caps and gowns of ten thousand nations pay homage to the crown.'"

A flash of surprise crossed Ying Zheng’s eyes: "Ten thousand nations coming to pay court?"

"Indeed. Because of this, Tang culture had a far-reaching influence, to the extent that overseas Chinese still refer to themselves as 'Tang people' to this day."

Hearing this, Ying Zheng’s brows relaxed slightly: "This Li Shimin is quite a figure."

"Unfortunately, after the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty transitioned from prosperity to decline," Jiang Ye continued. "Next came the turbulent era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, until Zhao Kuangyin established the Song Dynasty."

"Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, stripped military commanders of their power over a cup of wine and favored civil officials over military generals," Jiang Ye said with a hint of regret. "The economy and culture of the Song Dynasty reached extreme heights, but its military strength was feeble. In the end, it was breached by the Jurchens, and Emperors Huizong and Qinzong were captured—an event known in history as the 'Humiliation of Jingkang'."

Ying Zheng let out a light snort: "Favoring civil officials while neglecting military might? A recipe for disaster!"

"Afterward, the Mongols rose to prominence and established the Yuan Dynasty," Jiang Ye’s voice dropped again. "The Han people were classified as the lowest caste, forbidden from holding weapons, with ten households sharing a single kitchen knife."

"Fortunately, Zhu Yuanzhu raised arms to rebel against the Yuan and established the Ming Dynasty," Jiang Ye made a timely transition. "This emperor, who rose from being a beggar, expelled the Tartars, restored Chinese rule, and severely punished corrupt officials. He can truly be called a heroic monarch of an era."

Ying Zheng rarely showed a hint of approval: "He is indeed a figure."

"However, in its late period, the Ming Dynasty closed its doors to the world and enacted seclusion, ultimately being destroyed by the Manchus."

When Jiang Ye mentioned the Qing Dynasty, his voice changed, and his fingers clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white.

Ying Zheng acutely sensed the change in his emotions and narrowed his eyes slightly: "You seem to harbor a particular hatred for this 'Manchu Qing'?"

Jiang Ye took a deep breath, unable to suppress the anger in his eyes: "If the Upheaval of outer barbarians was Huaxia's first great calamity, then the Qing Dynasty was the chief culprit that dragged Huaxia into a century-long abyss!"

Ying Zheng’s expression grew stern: "Tell me in detail."

"After the Manchu court entered the passes, they issued the 'Queue and Costume' edict: 'Keep the hair and lose the head, or keep the head and lose the hair!'" Jiang Ye’s voice carried an unsuppressed fury. "The Ten Days of Yangzhou and the Three Massacres of Jiading slaughtered nearly a million Han people in those two places alone! They forced the Han people to refer to themselves as 'slaves', established the Manchu language as supreme within the court, and even Han ministers incurred crimes just for standing upright while speaking!"

Ying Zheng’s expression grew increasingly gloomy, his gaze beneath the beaded tassels as sharp as a knife.

"What is even more hateful..." Jiang Ye said through clenched teeth, "They burned and destroyed the transmitted classics of all previous dynasties to ashes, while locking the accumulated scientific treatises of past ages away in storehouses, causing our Huaxia civilization to stagnate! By the time the Western powers struck..."

Jiang Ye took out his smartphone and pulled up photographs he had taken while visiting a museum previously.

"Your Majesty, please look. These are the various humiliating treaties I saw in the museum—the 'Boxer Protocol', the 'Treaty of Shimonoseki', and so on. These foreign barbarians even erected signs in our Huaxia lands that read 'Chinese and dogs not allowed'! And all of this began with the Manchu court’s national policy of seclusion, ignorance, and weakening the people!"

Whenever these treaties were mentioned, Jiang Ye gnashed his teeth in hatred.

Ying Zheng’s voice was as cold as frost: "Such barbarians, how are they fit to rule Huaxia?!"