Chapter Twenty-Nine: Liu Che’s Violent Rage

Upon hearing that the Crown Prince had escaped danger, the tense expressions of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao eased somewhat.

“Imperial Physician Dai, does the young prince still face any life-threatening risks?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it’s hard to say. Although the young prince’s fever has subsided, he still requires observation. As for whether there will be a relapse, I dare not draw any firm conclusions.”

Zhu Biao’s earlier relief was quickly replaced by concern once more. Now he understood what the innkeeper had meant before.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the Crown Prince, who was now sleeping peacefully, and let out a breath of relief.

At this stage, it seemed the young prince was out of danger, which was the best news they could hope for.

It appeared that the medicine Zhu Biao had brought back indeed had a certain efficacy.

“Biao’er, come with me.”

Father and son stepped out of the bedchamber.

“Biao’er, it seems the medicine you brought from outside truly has miraculous effects. Where did it come from?”

“Father, I received it from an innkeeper on my way back from Linggu Temple. The owner was quite young, about twenty years old. Looking back now, his demeanor and bearing were far from ordinary.”

“An innkeeper? A young man of about twenty?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes flickered with a hint of puzzlement.

None of these details seemed to fit the image of someone who could produce a cure for his grandson’s illness.

Of course, if the young prince fully recovered, he would certainly reward this person handsomely.

...

In the thirteenth year of the Jian’an era, at Liu Bei’s residence in Xinye.

In a private chamber within the mansion, Wei Qing knelt on a mat, listening intently as Zhuge Liang pointed to a map of Jingzhou and explained the situation, nodding repeatedly.

Wei Qing could tell that although this man named Zhuge Liang had never been to the battlefield, he possessed keen insight into military strategy and bore the potential to become a great commander.

Meanwhile, Huo Qubing was chatting animatedly with the brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

“Yunchang, Yide, I have brought back an incredible treasure this time.”

Though Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were initially somewhat reserved in front of Huo Qubing—the Champion Marquis famed for his valor—they soon warmed up, as all warriors had an instant camaraderie.

“Champion Marquis, what treasure have you brought back?” they asked.

Huo Qubing chuckled. “Do you remember the stirrups you recommended to me earlier?”

The two nodded.

That was Huo Qubing’s first time in the Eastern Han; naturally, they did their utmost to convince him that this was indeed the Eastern Han by showing him many things absent in the Western Han, such as stirrups and high-arched saddles.

But what exactly was the treasure Huo Qubing spoke of?

Could it be a small golden idol used by the Xiongnu in their rituals?

...

“Do you know that stirrups can be made not only as single-sided but also as double-sided?”

Double-sided stirrups?

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked up thoughtfully, pondering.

Double-sided stirrups—does that mean mounting the horse from both sides?

That seemed pointless.

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Huo Qubing did not keep them in suspense.

“Double stirrups allow the rider to place their feet inside on both sides, which provides better leverage.”

Indeed, upon hearing this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s eyes lit up immediately.

Why hadn’t they thought of this before?

Their minds conjured images of placing feet firmly in stirrups and fighting atop the horse.

This was a promising innovation!

Their weapons—the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and the Serpent Spear—were close-combat arms. Being able to apply greater force meant increased weapon power and a better chance of victory in battle.

Brilliant.

“Heh heh, there’s more! Horseshoes—these are shoes for horses that protect their hooves from wear and greatly extend a warhorse’s service life.”

Extending the lifespan of warhorses!

This alone caught Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s full attention.

They were both cavalrymen.

Their mounts—Dilu, Red Hare, and Wuzhui—were all top-quality horses that deserved the best care.

Moreover, their warhorses were scarce, mostly obtained through trade or spoils of war. Extending their useful lives would undoubtedly strengthen their force.

“The Champion Marquis truly lives up to his title, drawing lessons and inventing such marvelous things.”

“This wasn’t my idea, but what the innkeeper told me. Let’s have some made and test them ourselves.”

“Excellent! I’ll send for the craftsmen right away.”

Elsewhere, in the main residence, hundreds of bamboo slips were piled high—these were historical records about the Western Han that Liu Bei had gathered for Liu Che during this time.

Primarily the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han.

Liu Che reclined at his desk, reading a scroll of the Records of the Grand Historian.

Liu Bei knelt opposite him, sitting upright and attentive.

“Xuande, you say Sima Qian lived in the same era as me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. His father was Sima Tan.”

Sima Tan?

“May I ask why Your Majesty inquires?”

A sharp expression crossed Liu Che’s face.

“I shall kill that Sima Qian.”

Liu Bei was taken aback.

“Why are you so angry, Your Majesty?”

Liu Che suppressed his fury, striving to calm himself.

“Look here. Sima Qian calls Emperor Gaozu the Son of Heaven, praises Empress Lü for enriching the people, admires Emperor Xiaowen as a sage ruler, and credits Emperor Xiaojing for quelling the kings’ rebellion. But how does he describe me?”

“He simply records the sacrificial rites: ‘I followed the rituals to worship Heaven, Earth, gods, mountains, and rivers, performing the Feng and Shan ceremonies. Entering the Longevity Palace to attend the deities’ words, I carefully observed the officials and priests’ statements, then withdrew to narrate. Since ancient times, those who dealt with spirits reveal their true nature. Later, a gentleman was able to read this. As for the details of the ritual vessels, offerings, and ceremonies, officials preserved these records.’”

“So he only documents religious ceremonies? What about my achievements—my northern campaigns against the Xiongnu, the policy of distributing favors, the monopoly on salt and iron, the issuance of the five-coin currency?”

Seeing Liu Che’s anger, Liu Bei hurried to soothe him.

“Your Majesty, in fact, the chapter ‘Annals of Emperor Wu’ in the Records of the Grand Historian was personally edited by you.”

“Hm?”

Confusion flashed across Liu Che’s face.

“Edited? Then why does the ‘Annals of Emperor Wu’ still exist?”

“Your Majesty, it was supplemented and rewritten by the scholar Chu Shaosun during the reign of your great-grandson, Emperor Cheng of Han.”

Although Liu Bei spoke thus, Liu Che’s anger did not abate. He realized something important.

If the annals could be deleted by his future self, they must have been quite distasteful.

Moreover, that Sima Qian had the audacity to place Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in the chapter on notorious favorites—an unforgivable insult.

My Champion Marquis, how dare he?

“Your Majesty, please look at this volume. After all, the Records of the Grand Historian were personally compiled by Sima Qian, while this is the official history compiled by the Han court.”

Liu Bei said this as he picked up a bamboo slip from the table and handed it to Liu Che.

Liu Che took it and saw the title: Book of Han.