Chapter 31

Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent.

He looked at the young man on the sky screen who was still blaming himself before he died, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

"Thirty-nine years old... too young."

He turned to look at Empress Ma.

"Meizi, tell me, if he had lived a few more decades, what would have happened?"

Empress Ma said softly: "Perhaps he could have recovered more lost territory, perhaps he could have established a more stable regime, perhaps... but history has no ifs."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said no more.

Qing Dynasty.

Kangxi looked at the sky screen and read slowly:

"The four garrisons had many double hearts, the two islands stationed troops, daring to contend for half the territory in the southeast; the princes had no inch of land, resisting with ambition in a corner, only then knowing there was lonely loyalty overseas."

He looked at the Grand Secretary beside him.

"This funeral couplet, did I write it?"

The Grand Secretary said hurriedly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, that is what the sky screen says."

Kangxi was silent for a moment: "I acknowledge this couplet."

【The influence of Zheng Chenggong's actions on later generations:】

【Positive influence:】

【First, territorial contribution: Recovered Taiwan, establishing China's sovereignty over Taiwan.】

【Second, maritime awareness: Established a powerful navy, controlling maritime power in East Asia.】

【Third, development of Taiwan: Brought advanced production technology, starting the process of Sinicization in Taiwan.】

【Fourth, spiritual symbol: The "Lord of the Imperial Surname belief" continues in Taiwan to this day.】

【Negative influence:】

【First, separation of the two sides: The Zheng regime occupied Taiwan for 22 years, burying the hidden danger of separation.】

【Second, coastal evacuation and sea ban: To guard against the Zheng family, the Qing court implemented the "Coastal Evacuation Order," turning thirty miles of coastline into ruins.】

【Third, no successor: His son Zheng Jing and grandson Zheng Keshuang lacked ability and were eventually destroyed by the Qing court.】

On the sky screen, these influences were listed one by one.

Positive influence and negative influence, clearly and distinctly.

Yuan Dynasty.

Kublai Khan saw the item "Territorial contribution, recovered Taiwan, established China's sovereignty over Taiwan" and nodded.

"Taiwan is indeed the land of China."

He looked at the historian beside him.

"Record it down; in the future history of the Yuan Dynasty, this point must also be clearly stated."

The historian hurriedly agreed.

Qing Dynasty.

Kangxi saw the item "Coastal evacuation and sea ban," and his expression was somewhat complex.

"Coastal Evacuation Order... thirty miles of coastline turned into ruins..."

He sighed: "This was to guard against the Zheng family, but it truly caused suffering for the people."

The Grand Secretary beside him said cautiously:

"Your Majesty, this... this is a matter of later generations, it hasn't happened yet."

Kangxi looked at him.

"I know. But since it is the action of my descendants, I also have responsibility."

【Historical evaluation:】

【Zheng Chenggong is a national hero; in the era of Western colonial expansion, he was the only Eastern general to defeat European colonialists.】

【At the same time, he is also a tragic hero, spending his life "loyal to the Ming Dynasty but unable to save it, recovering Taiwan but his ambition unfulfilled."】

【Cultural symbol: In Taiwan, he is the "Saint King who opened Taiwan"; in Japan, he is the "Son of Tang"; in the West, he is "Koxinga."】

【His life was just like the ultimatum he wrote to the Dutch:】

【"This land is not yours, it is the place where the former Grand Preceptor trained his troops. Now the feudal lord has come, it is to recover his ancestral land."】

【History will not forget: The 38 years from 1624 to 1662, a baby was born in Japan, a group of Dutch landed in Taiwan; 38 years later, that baby drove away the Dutch, proving with his life—Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times.】

On the sky screen, this final evaluation was exceptionally powerful.

That sentence, "Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times," echoed through the Heavens and Myriad Worlds.

Ming Dynasty.

Zheng Chenggong himself was also watching the sky screen.

He looked at his own life, his merits and faults, and the evaluations of later generations, his eyes filled with tears.

"I... did I do it?"

He muttered to himself.

The person beside him said hurriedly: "My Lord, you did it! You recovered Taiwan! You are called a national hero by later generations!"

Zheng Chenggong shook his head.

"I failed to resist the Qing and restore the Ming, failed to fulfill filial piety, family misfortune... how can I be called a hero?"

That person said anxiously: "My Lord, look at what the sky screen says, merits outweigh faults! Later generations all say you are a hero!"

Zheng Chenggong was silent for a moment and finally revealed a smile: "Good, good."

【The inventory of the fourth place on the Huaxia Hero List is complete.】

【List producer: Gu Shanhe.】

【Reward for the person on the list: 50 years of lifespan.】

On the sky screen, the final line of large golden characters slowly emerged.

Then, the golden light dissipated, and the sky screen disappeared.

Various dynasties and generations were in an uproar.

Qin Dynasty.

Ying Zheng stood up abruptly.

"What?! Reward of fifty years of lifespan?!"

He looked at Li Si beside him, his eyes full of shock.

"That person named Gu Shanhe can increase a person's lifespan?!"

Li Si was also stunned.

"Your Majesty, this... this power of an immortal is truly unimaginable."

Ying Zheng was silent for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Pass down the order, study the sky screen with all your might; no information can be missed."

Li Si hurriedly agreed.

Han Dynasty.

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was also shocked.

"Fifty years of lifespan?!"

He looked at Wei Qing beside him.

"Do you think this Gu Shanhe is an immortal?"

Wei Qing thought for a moment: "Your Majesty, being able to create the sky screen and increase a person's lifespan, if he is not an immortal, what is he?"

Liu Che nodded: "Pass down the order, from now on, every time the sky screen appears, it must be recorded in detail."

Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin looked in the direction where the sky screen disappeared, lost in thought.

"Gu Shanhe... this name is interesting."

He looked at Fang Xuanling beside him: "Do you think this Gu Shanhe is an immortal?"

Fang Xuanling said cautiously: "Your Majesty, being able to create the sky screen, increase a person's lifespan, and allow the Heavens and Myriad Worlds to see it simultaneously, this ability truly exceeds the power of a mortal."

Li Shimin nodded.

"Pass down the order, the Sky Screen Department must record more diligently in the future."

Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched the sky screen disappear and suddenly laughed.

"Fifty years of lifespan... that kid Zheng Chenggong made a huge profit."

He looked at Empress Ma beside him.

"Meizi, do you think if I could get on the list, I would also have a reward?"

Empress Ma laughed: "Chongba, you are the founding emperor, you will definitely be on the list."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, a glimmer of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

Late Ming Dynasty.

Zheng Chenggong himself was in his study.

Suddenly, he felt a warm current surge into his body.

His body, which had been exhausted from overwork, was instantly filled with vitality.

He looked down at his hands, unable to believe it.

"This... is this fifty years of lifespan?"

He muttered to himself.

The person beside him exclaimed: "My Lord! You look much younger!"

Zheng Chenggong walked to the bronze mirror and looked at himself in the mirror; he was indeed much younger.

He was silent for a moment and suddenly laughed.

"Good, good. With these fifty years, I can do more things."

He looked to the north, his gaze firm.

"Resisting the Qing and restoring the Ming, perhaps there is still a chance."