Chapter 189: with translation of chapter title

After capturing Shouzhou, the Southern Tang's Yangtze River defense line was wide open.

Translation: After capturing Longevity Prefecture, the Southern Tang's Yangtze River defense line was wide open.

After capturing Longevity Prefecture, the Southern Tang's Yangtze River defense line was wide open.

The Later Zhou army, like a flood breaking through a dam, swept across the entire Huainan region.

Translation: The Later Zhou army, like a flood breaking through a dam, swept across the whole South of the Huai.

The Later Zhou army, like a flood breaking through a dam, swept across the whole Huainan.

Guo Rong gave Li Jing no chance to catch his breath; he personally led the combined land and naval forces, advancing to the walls of Jinling.

Translation: Guo Rong gave Li Jing no chance to catch his breath; he personally led the water and land army, marching to the walls of Gold Hill.

Guo Rong gave Li Jing no chance to catch his breath; he personally led the water and land army, marching to the walls of Gold Hill.

Faced with the vigorous Later Zhou army and the endless Wang family grain ships outside the city, the Southern Tang ruler and his ministers completely lost the will to resist.

Translation: Facing the vigorous Later Zhou army and the endless Wang Family grain ships outside the city, the Southern Tang ruler and his ministers utterly lost the will to resist.

Facing the vigorous Later Zhou army and the endless Wang family grain ships outside the city, the Southern Tang ruler and his ministers utterly lost the will to resist.

Li Jing bound himself and surrendered, and the Southern Tang fell.

Translation: Li Jing bound himself and surrendered; the Southern Tang fell.

After pacifying the Southern Tang, Guo Rong did not rest, turning his sights westward to the Later Shu.

Translation: After pacifying the Southern Tang, Guo Rong, without stopping, turned his gaze westward to Later Shu.

At that time, the Later Shu was already plagued by internal troubles and external threats, trembling in the wind and rain.

Translation: At this time, Later Shu was already plagued by internal troubles and external threats, battered by wind and rain.

Guo Rong sent only a single general with fifty thousand elite troops, who marched straight in as if entering an uninhabited land.

Translation: Guo Rong only sent one general, leading fifty thousand elite troops, and he marched straight in, as if entering an uninhabited land.

The Later Shu ruler Meng Chang was even worse than Li Jing; he did not even wait for the Later Zhou army to reach the city walls before taking his concubines and all civil and military officials, marching thirty li out to kneel and welcome the royal army.

Translation: The Later Shu ruler Meng Chang was even worse than Li Jing. He didn't even wait for the Later Zhou army to reach the city walls before taking his concubines and all the civil and military officials, going out thirty li to kneel and welcome the royal army.

The Later Shu ruler Meng Chang was even worse than Li Jing. He didn't even wait for the Later Zhou army to reach the city walls before taking his concubines and all the civil and military officials, going out thirty li to kneel and welcome the royal army.

Thus, the two major separatist regimes that had dominated the south for decades were wholly incorporated into the Later Zhou's territory.

Translation: By this point, the two separatist regimes that had long held sway over the south were all incorporated into Later Zhou's territory.

Guo Rong's prestige reached an unprecedented peak.

Translation: Guo Rong's prestige had reached an unprecedented peak.

Everyone believed he would be, after Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi, another emperor who would unify all under heaven for eternity.

Translation: Everyone believed he would be, after Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, another emperor who would unify all under heaven for all ages.

Yet, beneath the glory of his magnificent military achievements, his body was rapidly deteriorating at a visible pace.

Translation: However, beneath the halo of his glorious military exploits, Guo Rong's body was rapidly collapsing at a visible speed.

Years of ceaseless campaigning and relentless labor had already exhausted his body.

Translation: Years of campaigning and relentless exertion had already drained his body.

In the fifth year of the Xian De era, autumn.

Translation: Year five of Xian De, autumn.

After finishing his inspection of Later Shu, Guo Rong returned to the court in triumph.

After finishing his inspection of Later Shu, Guo Rong returned to the court in triumph.

Translation: After concluding his inspection of Later Shu, Guo Rong returned triumphantly to the court.

The people of Kaifeng once again poured out of the city to welcome their invincible emperor.

Translation: The people of Kaifeng once again poured out of the city to welcome their invincible emperor.

But this time, they no longer saw the vigorous, spirited young man.

Translation: But this time, they no longer saw that vigorous, radiant young man.

But rather a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, emaciated frame, and even white hair at his temples.

Translation: But rather a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, gaunt figure, and even white hair at his temples.

He was on horseback, coughing violently without cease, as if he might fall from his saddle at any moment.

Translation: He was on horseback, coughing violently without cease, as if he might fall from his saddle at any moment.

That night, at the victory feast in the imperial palace.

Translation: That night, at the imperial palace's victory banquet.

Guo Rong showed his face only briefly before, weakened by fatigue, he withdrew early.

Translation: Guo Rong showed his face only once before withdrawing early due to lack of strength.

In the study, he coughed so violently it felt like his heart and lungs were tearing apart; he covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and when he unfolded it, he saw a shocking splash of bright red blood.

Translation: In the Imperial Study, he coughed so hard it felt like his heart was tearing; he covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and when he opened it, he saw a shocking splash of blood.

"Your Majesty!" the nearby eunuch exclaimed, his soul fleeing in terror, rushing to summon the imperial physician.

Translation: "Your Majesty!" the nearby eunuch exclaimed, his soul fleeing in fright, and he hurried to summon the imperial physician.

"No need." Guo Rong waved a weak hand, his voice feeble, saying, "My condition, I know it myself."

Translation: "No need." Guo Rong waved his hand weakly, "My body, I know it myself."

He knew his time was short.

Translation: He knew his time was short.

He leaned back on the dragon throne and wearily closed his eyes.

Translation: He leaned on the Dragon Throne, wearily closing his eyes.

He still had so much left undone.

Translation: He still had too much left undone.

Liu Chong of the Northern Han, holding onto Taiyuan, was still barely clinging to life.

Translation: Liu Chong of Northern Han, holding Taiyuan, was still clinging to life.

He had not yet paved a smooth path to the throne for his seven-year-old son, Chai Zongxun.

Translation: He had not yet paved a smooth path to the throne for his seven-year-old son, Chai Zongxun.

He recalled Li Chongjin, whom he had imprisoned in his mansion like a living dead man; after the Battle of Shouzhou, the first thing he did upon returning to the capital was to fling the evidence of Li Chongjin's treason in his face.

Translation: He thought of Li Zhongjin, whom he had confined to his mansion like a living dead man. After the Battle of Longevity Prefecture, the first thing he did upon returning to the capital was to fling the evidence of Li Zhongjin's collusion with the enemy in his face.

Li Chongjin offered no defense, merely laughing wildly and cursing, then he slammed his head against a pillar in the study and killed himself.

Translation: Li Zhongjin offered no excuse, merely laughing wildly and cursing, then he slammed his head into a pillar in the Imperial Study and killed himself.

Guo Rong did not kill his entire family, but he purged all of his followers.

Translation: Guo Rong did not kill his whole family, only purging all his followers.

He believed that by eliminating these internal threats, he could rest easy.

Translation: He thought that by eliminating these internal threats, he could rest easy.

But now, his greatest enemy had become himself.

Translation: But now, his greatest enemy had become himself.

At that moment, a eunuch entered holding a memorial.

Translation: Just then, a eunuch entered holding a memorial.

"Your Majesty, Minister Wang of the Temple of Heaven has a memorial to present."

Translation: "Your Majesty, Minister of Rites Mr. Wang has a memorial to present."

"Wang Hao?" Guo Rong's spirits lifted slightly.

Translation: "Wang Hao?" Guo Rong's spirits lifted a little.

In recent years, Wang Hao seemed to have vanished from the court.

Translation: These past years, Wang Hao seemed to have disappeared from the court.

He stayed quietly in his posts at the Temple of Heaven and the Ministry of Revenue, never participating in state affairs or fraternizing with officials.

Translation: He stayed put in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Agriculture, never participating in state affairs nor fraternizing with officials.

Even during his campaigns, when the Wang family's assistance and court officials were involved, they assumed he was communicating directly with the Wang family patriarch Wang Zhen, not through Wang Hao.

Translation: Even during his campaigns, the Wang Family's support and the court officials assumed he was in direct contact with the Head of the Wang Family, Wang Zhen, rather than going through Wang Hao.

Yet what Wang Hao accomplished could not be ignored by anyone.

Translation: Yet what Wang Hao had done made it impossible for anyone to ignore.

He collated ancient texts, restoring the lost "elegant music" of the former dynasty, allowing Guo Rong to shine at the heavenly sacrifice ceremony.

Translation: He collated ancient texts, restoring the lost "elegant music" of the previous dynasty, allowing Guo Rong to shine at the Heaven Worship Grand Ceremony.

According to ancient methods, he improved farming tools and promoted new cultivation techniques, causing the Later Zhou's grain output to rise year after year.

Translation: According to ancient methods, he improved farming tools and promoted new cultivation techniques, causing Later Zhou's grain output to rise year after year.

The calendar he compiled, the Xian De Calendar, was precise to the utmost degree and revered by scholars everywhere as a standard.

Translation: The Xian De Calendar he compiled was precise to the utmost, revered by all scholars as the standard.

In everyone's eyes, he was the perfect "pure minister": he did much, spoke little, sought no power, and took no profit.

Translation: In everyone's eyes, he was the perfect "loyal minister": doing much, speaking little, seeking neither power nor profit.

But Guo Rong knew these achievements came from his own synthesis and innovation based on the classics stored in the Temple of Heaven, and they were his contribution to the Later Zhou.

Translation: But Guo Rong knew these were all his summaries and innovations drawn from the classics stored in the Ministry of Rites, his contribution to Later Zhou.

Yet in the unseen corners, he did not know how much knowledge he had accumulated for the Wang family, or how much culture he had innovated.

Translation: But in the corners unseen by others, he did not know how much knowledge he had accumulated for the Wang Family, or how much culture he had innovated.

The more he did this, the more uneasy Guo Rong felt.

Translation: The more he did this, the more uneasy Guo Rong felt.

For he knew that while the Later Zhou gained these benefits, the Wang family was receiving even greater, unknown rewards.

Translation: For he knew that while Later Zhou gained these benefits, the Wang Family's gains were countless as well.

The role the Wang family played in these southern campaigns was clear to him better than anyone.

Translation: As for the role the Wang Family played in these years' southern campaigns, he knew better than anyone.

Without the Wang family's fleet, he could not have subdued the Southern Tang so quickly.

Translation: Without the Wang Family's fleet, he could not have pacified the Southern Tang so quickly.

Without the Wang family's endless material support, he could not have sustained the war for so long.

Translation: Without the Wang Family's endless material support, he could not have sustained the war for so long.

The Wang family bared no fangs, showed no form, yet you could constantly sense its presence and its power capable of overturning everything.

Translation: The Wang Family shows neither fang nor form, yet you can constantly feel its presence, feel its power capable of overturning everything.

Guo Rong took up the memorial and opened it.

Translation: Guo Rong took the memorial and opened it.

The memorial stated that Wang Hao requested to resign his post as Minister of Revenue in order to devote himself to researching the ancient texts in the Temple of Heaven.

Translation: On the memorial was Wang Hao's request to resign as Minister of Agriculture and devote himself to studying the ancient texts in the Ministry of Rites.

The reason was that the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue had already been put on track, requiring no further attention from him.

Translation: The reason being that the Ministry of Agriculture's affairs had already been set on track, needing no further attention from him.

Meanwhile, the task of collating the ancient texts in the Temple of Heaven was as vast as an ocean of smoke; with his limited energy, he hoped to focus wholeheartedly and contribute his share to the transmission of national learning.

Translation: While the work of collating the ancient texts in the Ministry of Rites was as vast as smoke and sea, with his limited energy he hoped to focus wholeheartedly, contributing his share to the transmission of national learning.

Guo Rong stared at the memorial for a long time without speaking.

Translation: Guo Rong stared at the memorial, silent for a long time.

He understood that Wang Hao was again actively withdrawing from the power center; he held two third‑rank official posts with no real authority, and, being exhausted to the point of illness, his voluntary relinquishment could be called a wise move.

This should have been what Guo Rong most hoped to see.

But for some reason, a trace of sorrow arose in his heart.

Throughout his life, after taking the throne he labored assiduously, yet he still failed to unify the nation; during that time, however, he lost a friend with whom he could speak on equal terms.

"Enough…" Guo Rong let out a long sigh, lifted his brush on the memorial, and stamped it with the character "Approved".

He handed the memorial back to the eunuch and began coughing violently again.

This time, the blood he coughed up was even more.

He truly was on the brink of collapse.

……

Imperial Music Temple, Forbidden Treasury.

Wang Hao looked at the reply, sealed with a jade seal, sent back from the palace, and his face showed no ripple at all.

He casually set that memorial aside, kept his head down, and continued studying the complex machine before him.

It was a model of a steam engine.

At the Wang Family Science Academy, with the "efforts" of Zheng Da and that group of Japanese apprentices, after countless failures and explosions, the first truly meaningful steam engine that could run continuously and stably was finally born in Yangzhou.

It was still very crude and bulky, and its efficiency was pitifully low.

But it truly did convert the "steam power" into kinetic energy visible to the naked eye.

The one before Wang Hao was the proportionally reduced model sent from Yangzhou.

He watched the piston, driven by steam, moving up and down tirelessly, and the look of astonishment on his face never faded.

Each tiny movement of that piston signified the arrival of a new era in which human labor would be replaced.

By contrast, what does the emperor in the palace, who is approaching the end of his life, amount to?

He is merely a fleeting splash in the tide of the ages.