Chapter 53

210 BC, Qin, Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng sat on the high imperial throne, a scroll of bamboo slips spread out before him, but he hadn't taken in a single word.

He was waiting, waiting for that so-called Sky Screen to appear again.

It had been three days, and he looked forward to being ranked every moment, to obtain the longevity reward, so he would have the confidence to conquer a vast territory in his lifetime.

"Your Majesty, it is the hour of the Rat."

Zhao Gao stepped forward cautiously, "You should rest."

Ying Zheng ignored him, his fingers tapping on the armrest, his gaze looking through the palace door toward the sky.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

It was coming.

A golden light spread rapidly, turning into a huge light screen spanning the entire horizon.

On the screen, the galaxy was brilliant, the flowing light colorful, even more spectacular and shocking than last time.

Ying Zheng stood up abruptly.

It was here! Finally here!

This time, it was ranking the "Greatest Emperors"!

Ying Zheng's heart beat wildly, an indescribable scorching heat burning from his chest to his throat.

Greatest Emperor... In this world, in this later age, if one speaks of the Greatest Emperor, who else but me?!

I unified the six states, standardized the script, unified the carriage tracks, built the Great Wall, repaired the imperial roads, and opened the foundation for ten thousand generations!

This top spot belongs to no one but me!

He stared fixedly at the Sky Screen, his fists clenched white.

On the Sky Screen, the galaxy slowly swirled, condensing into several ancient and vigorous characters:

【Ranking the Ten Greatest Emperors in History - Tenth Place】

It was here! Ying Zheng held his breath.

The characters dissipated, replaced by a dynamic scene:

A vast grassland, ten thousand horses galloping, a sturdy man wearing a sable hat and leather robe stood pulling his horse, his eyes like an eagle, looking toward the south. Below the scene, a line of small characters appeared:

【Yuan Shizu - Kublai Khan】

Ying Zheng: "???"

He was stunned for two seconds, then, furious.

"Scoundrel!!!"

Ying Zheng overturned the desk in front of him, the bamboo slips scattering all over the floor.

He pointed at the Sky Screen, his fingers shaking.

"Barbarian! Savage! Also worthy of being called the Greatest Emperor?!"

Zhao Gao was so scared he knelt on the ground, trembling all over: "Y-Your Majesty, calm your anger..."

"Calm my anger?! How can I calm my anger!"

Ying Zheng's chest heaved violently, his face livid.

"I swept across the six directions, unified the world, never expected that a mere barbarian could also be ranked, absurd! Ridiculous! The greatest absurdity in the world!!!"

He stared fixedly at the Sky Screen, wishing he could burn through the scene with his eyes.

And on the Sky Screen, the scene continued.

【I know what you are thinking: "A Mongol who invaded the Central Plains, this is also worthy of being called the Greatest Emperor?"】

【Hey, don't be in a hurry to throw eggs! Our criteria for judgment don't just look at bloodline, but also at contributions to history.】

【The one we are talking about today can be called the startup founder of the Great Yuan Dynasty, who opened up the Ren and Du meridians of the Asia-Europe continent; he is - Yuan Shizu, Kublai Khan.】

Before the voice fell, lines of small characters suddenly floated across the Sky Screen, colorful, moving slowly from right to left:

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): @Kublai Khan, you, a foreigner, also dare to call yourself the "Greatest Emperor"? I relied on the remaining strength of six generations to unify the Central Plains, and you, you just rode in on a horse? What about the later descendants? What about Liu Bang? What about Liu Che? How did you end up like this!】

Ying Zheng was stunned.

This... what is this thing? It can actually display my words?

And, Liu Bang? Liu Che? Who are they? My later descendants?

Before he could figure it out, another line of small characters floated by:

【Liu Bang (Han Gaozu): Let me say thank you, because of you... @Liu Che @Li Shimin, what do you think? Our Han territory was occupied by sheep herders.】

Liu Bang? Han Gaozu? Ying Zheng's pupils shrank.

Liu Bang... this name, could it be the rebel who replaced my Great Qin?!

He hadn't had time to be angry when another line floated across the Sky Screen:

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): I sealed the wolf at Juxu back then just to guard against these grassland brothers. As a result, I guarded against the Xiongnu, but didn't guard against you Mongols. @Kublai Khan, you do have a knack for fighting, but those two attempts at Japan were really trash; even my warships could float better than you.】

Ying Zheng: "???"

Liu Che? Han Wu Di? Guarding against Xiongnu? Mongols? Japan? What is all this?!

He was completely confused.

And on the Sky Screen, those small characters kept floating by, dense and numerous, making one's eyes dazzled:

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Since ancient times, all have valued the Central Plains and despised the barbarians, but I alone love them equally. But what I love is them coming to pay tribute, not letting them be the chairman! This... this world has changed.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Wuwuwu, my Bianliang, my Great Song! @Kublai Khan, compensate me! I heard the story about your prime minister Bayan not killing people; he's better than my descendants, but overall, bad review! My Great Song's literary grace!】

Ying Zheng looked at these inexplicable words, looked at those unfamiliar era names and names, and suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

He held onto the imperial throne and sat down slowly, his face pale.

This later age... what exactly happened?

1279 AD, Yuan, Dadu.

Kublai Khan stood at the high point of the imperial palace, looking up at the Sky Screen.

When he saw his image appear and saw the words "Yuan Shizu - Kublai Khan," he laughed loudly.

"Good! Good! This immortal actually has some vision!"

He turned to the ministers behind him and said,

"Did you see that? I, ranked among the Greatest Emperors! Although tenth, it is still eternal!"

The ministers knelt down one after another, shouting "Long live."

But immediately after, the Sky Screen began to play his "merits," and the teasing tone of those later people made Kublai Khan's smile gradually fade.

【Novice Village File: The "Mixed-Blood" Prince on the Grassland】

【Family Background: A descendant of the pure Mongol Empire's Golden Family, born on the Mobei grassland.】

【Educational Environment: On one side, the "hardcore survival rules on horseback" taught by his grandfather and father—how to kill, how to slaughter cities, how to grab territory; on the other side, his mother hired many Han teachers to teach him to read, study history, and lecture on Confucian governance.】

【Nickname: "Sechen Khan," which means "Wise Man" in Han language. In the eyes of conservative Mongol nobles, this nickname is equivalent to "Han-ized traitor."】

Kublai Khan's mouth twitched.

Kill? Slaughter cities? Grab territory? These later people, why is their speech so vulgar!

And "Han-ized traitor"... Hmph, those old stubborn fools, what do they know! If you don't learn from the Han, how can you govern this vast land!

He endured his displeasure and continued watching.

【Great Ambition: The man who "swallowed gold and destroyed Song"】

【In 1260 AD, Kublai Khan announced his succession to the Khan throne. His brother Ariq Böke refused to submit, and the two brothers fought a civil war. In the end, Kublai Khan won, but the price was that the vast Mongol Empire actually split, with the four khanates each governing themselves.】

【In 1271, he adopted the state name "Great Yuan." A few years later, he destroyed the Southern Song and unified the world.】

Seeing this, Kublai Khan's face cleared slightly.

The splitting of the empire was an eternal pain in his heart, but unifying the world was his life's work; this Sky Screen was still somewhat fair.

Then, the Sky Screen began to count his merits in detail:

【In politics, Kublai Khan established the provincial system; this thing is too awesome, and even now, we can still see the shadow of that time in our provincial system. The capital was set in Dadu (which is today's Beijing), and from then on, Beijing began to become the political center of the whole country.】

Kublai Khan nodded slightly.

The provincial system was indeed his proud work, and setting the capital in Dadu was also a wise decision.

【In economy, he issued paper currency; Old Kublai is a "financial innovator" who vigorously promoted paper currency (Zhongtong Yuanbao Jiaochao). In the early days, this paper currency was quite valuable; you could buy things with just a few pieces of paper, greatly promoting commercial circulation.】

Kublai Khan stroked his beard and laughed.

Paper currency was one of his great innovations, facilitating the people and benefiting future generations.

【In culture, he engaged in integration, reused Han strategists, believed in Buddhism, and at the same time allowed Taoism, Islam, and Christianity to exist; this open-mindedness is much broader than the old man at the entrance of our village who doesn't let outsiders in.】

Kublai Khan's smile grew wider; compatibility and inclusiveness show the demeanor of an emperor.

【In territory, it can be called the widest in history. The territory of the Yuan Dynasty, "North beyond the Yin Mountains, West to the quicksand, East to the Liaodong, South beyond the sea." The foundation of the current map was largely laid at that time. Yunnan and Tibet were officially incorporated into central jurisdiction. The territory was so large that Europeans at the time thought it was a myth.】

"Good!"

Kublai Khan couldn't help but cheer.

"Well said! My empire is unparalleled in history!"