Chapter Seventeen: Spoilers for the Western Han Dynasty
Upon hearing Zhang Bo address him, Liu Che’s face suddenly darkened.
Wei Qing and Huo Qubing exchanged glances; to them, the title “Martial Emperor” sounded more like a posthumous name.
Liu Ju, following closely behind Zhang Bo, wore an expression of shock.
“My elder brother really dares to say anything,” he thought. Their father was still alive, yet he was already using a posthumous title to address him—no wonder their father looked displeased.
“Um, elder brother, 'Martial Emperor' is a posthumous title; it shouldn’t be used so casually.”
Damn. Zhang Bo suddenly recalled.
Indeed, “Martial Emperor” was a posthumous title.
The problem was that everyone in later generations used it, and Zhang Bo, speaking too quickly, had blurted it out.
At first, Zhang Bo was puzzled why the Martial Emperor seemed unhappy when he greeted him, thinking the emperor was aloof, but now he understood the true reason.
In hindsight, Liu Che not taking offense was already quite fortunate.
Zhang Bo gave a sheepish smile to cover his embarrassment.
Behind Liu Che, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing both looked somewhat elated.
The posthumous title “Martial” was indeed a fine one.
Though Liu Che’s face was still dark, he waved his hand, signaling that he did not wish to dwell on the matter.
“You are Zhang Bo?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You are a man from a thousand years after the Great Han.”
“Uh, more precisely, two thousand years later.”
Two thousand years!
Liu Che furrowed his brow slightly.
Two thousand years before the Great Han, the Xia Dynasty had not even been founded. To think this man came from such a distant future.
Watching Liu Che fall silent, Zhang Bo wondered about the purpose of his visit to this humble farmhouse.
He glanced at Liu Ju beside him and at Huo Qubing behind Liu Che.
A bold thought crossed Zhang Bo’s mind.
Could it be that Liu Che had come to restore the Han dynasty?
Good heavens.
Zhang Bo suddenly found himself silently mourning for Boss Cao and Boss Sun.
“Your Majesty, have you come to meet Liu Bei this time?”
“Yes, but not entirely.”
Zhang Bo’s curiosity was piqued. From Liu Che’s words, it seemed there was another purpose to his visit besides meeting Liu Bei.
---
“I wonder what business the Martial Emperor has here.”
“I wish to inquire about how many years remain in my life, according to historical records.”
Tsk tsk, as expected.
Concern over lifespan was a hurdle every emperor faced.
Although Zhang Bo did not know Liu Che’s actual lifespan, he had a smartphone.
He promptly retrieved it and began looking up the information.
Liu Che’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he observed the device in Zhang Bo’s hands.
“Your Majesty, you are currently in the fifth year of the Yuanshou era, which corresponds to 118 BCE. The records say you lived until 87 BCE, so you have about 31 years left.”
Although Liu Che did not understand what “BCE” meant, he grasped that he had 31 years remaining.
A faint smile returned to his previously gloomy face.
Thirty-one more years meant he could live to 69.
This was unprecedented; even the revered Emperor Gaozu lived only to 62.
With this thought, Liu Che felt a weight lift from his heart.
With 31 years left, he would have enough time to elevate the Han dynasty to new heights.
“How long did Zhongqing live?”
“The Grand General passed away in 106 BCE due to illness, so he only had 12 years left.”
Twelve years!
Liu Ju glanced at Wei Qing in disbelief.
Wei Qing was barely in his thirties; to think he would die just over a decade later, barely reaching his forties—how could Liu Che accept this?
Wei Qing’s contribution to turning the tide against the Xiongnu from repeated defeats to victories was immense.
Wei Qing’s reaction was more subdued than Liu Che’s, showing only some disappointment.
After all, who would be happy knowing they had only ten years left?
Still, Wei Qing bore no other emotions. Life and death were natural.
Moreover, even if he died, the Han still had Huo Qubing.
He just had to cherish the time left, striving to nurture Huo Qubing into a great commander.
“As for me, the shopkeeper?”
Huo Qubing was eager.
This time, Zhang Bo didn’t check his phone but stared at Huo Qubing, remaining silent for a moment.
“Well, Marquis Champion, if this is the fifth year of Yuanshou, you die in the sixth year of Yuanshou.”
?
Upon hearing this, the biggest reaction was not from Huo Qubing, but from Liu Che and Wei Qing.
Their faces instantly drained of color, turning pale as paper, eyes wide with disbelief.
Huo Qubing was only twenty-three years old now.
---
Huo Qubing seemed stunned, clearly not quite having processed the news.
“Shopkeeper, you said I die in the sixth year of Yuanshou?”
He repeated uncertainly.
Zhang Bo’s nod was the only reply.
Unlike Liu Che and Wei Qing’s emotional turmoil, Huo Qubing scratched his head calmly and asked,
“Shopkeeper, do the records say how I died?”
“The history books do not specify, but some speculate you drank water contaminated by dead cattle and sheep, contracting a plague.”
“So, if I am careful during the march, I can avoid this? Could I change my premature death?”
“Uh, it seems possible.”
Since Huo Qubing had come to this farmhouse, Zhang Bo certainly would not let harm befall him.
Otherwise, who would Liu Ju rely on later?
“If Zhongqing comes as well, could his lifespan be extended too?”
“Theoretically, yes.”
“Elder brother, what about me? What about me?”
Zhang Bo glanced at Liu Ju, unsure how to break the news.
What to say about the witchcraft calamity?
“Um, Ju, you should see for yourself.”
Liu Che looked at the phone Zhang Bo handed to Liu Ju, a troubling thought surfacing in the Martial Emperor’s heart.
Liu Ju took the phone puzzled; he didn’t understand why Zhang Bo told their father’s, uncle’s, and elder brother’s lifespans, but not his own.
However, after reading the contents, his expression darkened.
He would die at thirty-seven.
Not of natural causes like their father, nor suddenly like their uncle and elder brother, but by suicide after a failed rebellion.
The words “witchcraft calamity” were deeply etched in Liu Ju’s mind.
“Ju, I don’t know if you…”
“Father, I…”
Seeing Liu Ju’s reluctance to speak, Liu Che stopped him.
He could tell the situation was delicate; if Liu Ju revealed everything, it might shake the foundations of the Han dynasty. So he chose to halt the conversation.
When their father did not press further, Liu Ju sighed in relief.
But now, the pressing issue was how to handle the witchcraft calamity.
Silence fell over the room.
“Shopkeeper, has Liu Bei ever come here?”