It was not only Zhu Biao. In truth, everyone was trying hard to observe what was said to be the environment of later generations.
First, the portion revealed on the light screen was quite limited. Second, the materials and objects visible were entirely incomprehensible.
As the youth of later generations adjusted the glowing cover to make the golden seal clearer pulling and tugging it directly, then slowly zoomed the image in so that the seal appeared nearly the height of a man within Huagai Hall, the hall filled with sounds of astonished disbelief.
[Lightscreen]
["Mm, like this you can tell at a glance it's a seal. Wait a moment while UP finds some seal paste. After all, the UP host's home has everything one might need.
"Alright, dip it in the paste, press it onto paper. Heh heh, can't quite make it out? But the UP has been cramming lately and can read it at a glance.
"The four characters printed here are 'Seal of the Marquis of Wuping.' Judging from the script and the style of the seal, it is basically imitating a Han marquis seal.
"If we limit the timeframe to the Two Han, identifying the owner is easy. Because in antiquity there was only one person recorded as being enfeoffed Marquis of Wuping, and that is our Boss Cao.
"According to the records, after Boss Cao followed his subordinates' advice and welcomed the unfortunate Emperor Xian to Xu Chang, he was enfeoffed as Grand General and promoted to Marquis of Wuping. This seal would be the insignia of that marquisate."
Text scrolled across the screen:
"I recall that official seals became fully developed during Western Han, though most were bronze. Only emperors, empresses, kings, marquises, and high ministers were qualified to use gold or jade.
"So in theory this Marquis of Wuping seal would be gold? But isn't it a bit too small?
"Because this thing is unlike modern official stamps. Originally it was meant to be worn. In our museums today we have Emperor Wen's traveling seal. You can clearly see that the knob is a coiled dragon, and at the dragon's waist there is a gap for threading it through and wearing it. If it really weighed half a jin, how would you hang it?
"Right. And according to the Old Rites of Han Officials, the Son of Heaven had six seals. That means at the highest ceremonial occasions the emperor would hang six of them. You can imagine that.
"But Boss Cao probably didn't value this much. After all, later came the Chancellor's seal in the thirteenth year of Jian'an, the Duke of Wei's seal in the seventeenth year, the King of Wei's seal in the twenty-first, and in the twenty-second year, imperial regalia. Which of those was not far more appealing?"]
---
Within the Xu Chang prefectural office, Cao Cao watched as those upon the light screen whom Zhang Fei claimed were all wise sovereigns of history, debated his life and death.
Then, in a blink, he saw the golden seal that Zhang Fei had earlier demanded now appear upon the screen. A profound sense of unreality overtook him.
In one respect, those words were mistaken. Whatever else, this was a marquis seal. It had been bestowed upon him for rescuing the Son of Heaven from peril. To him it bore special meaning. Moreover, the seal itself was not heavy; wearing it posed no inconvenience.
However…
"The Son of Heaven's posthumous title is Xian."
Cao Cao repeated this seemingly minor piece of information he had just obtained.
And as he saw the text speak of how he would gradually proclaim himself duke and king, and ultimately assume regalia equivalent to the emperor, he did not know how to respond. Instinctively, he glanced at Xun Yu.
Vaguely, he sensed that he and Xun Yu truly were destined to drift apart.
Others bore varied expressions. Dong Zhao shook his head and sighed. Xun You coughed quietly in silence. Liu Ye both laughed and wept, his demeanor showing signs of exhaustion.
The person on the light screen, however, did not display such melancholy.
[Lightscreen]
["The seal is nice, though a bit small. Let's open the second package. Another small parcel.
"Mm, a wooden box. Shake it lightly and you can hear something brittle inside. Oh? There's also a sheet of paper included.
'In the sixth year of Zhenguan, Tang's Liu Rengui destroyed traitors in Wa and restored the court. While touring the Wa king's city he saw this object of China and purchased it. Now I gift it onward again. Written by Li Shimin.'
"Hoh? In this setting it's an object of China that flowed into Wa? There were plenty of those. Let me see… This should be a dragonfly eye bead.
"It is generally believed that dragonfly eyes originated over three thousand years ago in the region of Egypt. The native peoples believed the 'evil eye' possessed power to ward off malevolence, so they made amulets. These were quickly favored by nomadic peoples and eventually, around the Warring States period, transmitted into the Yellow River and Yangtze regions.
"We previously talked about glass, and discussed how ancient China did not pursue transparent glass because of the unique jade culture. Liuli functioned as a lower substitute for jade, and dragonfly eyes are a typical liuli ornament.
"Because these were not difficult to fire and were inexpensive, after becoming popular during Qin and Han they also spread eastward to Southeast Asia through ancient China.
"So in theory, whether Liu Rengui of Tang went to attack Wa by order of Second Phoenix or under Li Zhi's command in a fit of madness, it would indeed be entirely plausible for him to see dragonfly eyes there.
"From another perspective, small objects like dragonfly eyes can be considered early witnesses of cultural exchange.
"But Tang conquering Wa? Not a bad script. Unfortunately, both the difficulty of execution and of control would be far too high."]
---
In Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin smiled, unconcerned.
Wa lay overseas; he was well aware of that. After all, Li Shiji and Liu Rengui had personally measured it on this expedition.
But in terms of Tang strategy, there had never been arrogance enough to swallow Wa outright. Whether Liu Rengui or Du Ruhui, who had earlier determined the policy toward Wa envoys, their intent had always been clear: drive the tiger to devour the wolf.
Encourage Wa to align with Silla, manage Baekje, and strike Goguryeo. That had been the original plan.
And once the Korean peninsula was pacified and the Bohai Sea became Tang's inland sea, rumors of Wa possessing mountains of gold and silver would naturally spread through Liaodong.
However, after observing the light screen today, Li Shimin made a small adjustment.
When Liu Rengui returned to Tang, he would be ordered to imitate that Marco Polo and write a Record of Eastern Travels. Would that not carry more credibility than mere rumors?
---
[Lightscreen]
["The dragonfly eye is nice. Later I'll string it into a bracelet. Quite practical.
"Next package… Mm, from the UP's experience, definitely calligraphy or painting. The packaging is unmistakable!"
As the parcel was carefully opened, inside indeed lay a scroll of paper. Slowly unrolled, elegant characters leapt vividly into view. The youth uttered a soft exclamation.
"It's Li Yu's 'Longing for Each Other.' As expected, the signature is also Li Yu.
"Historically, Li Yu's death was rather regrettable. This Later Lord of Southern Tang, in his early years, constrained by a narrow environment, wrote lyrics that were winding and remote.
"But after the fall of his state, his mentality changed drastically. And being taken from Jiangnan to Bianliang, his style transformed completely.
"There are gloomy, profound lines like 'Alone I ascend the western tower; the moon is like a hook. The lonely wutong in the deep courtyard locks away clear autumn.'
"There is also the grand, desolate boldness of 'Forty years of homeland; three thousand li of rivers and mountains.'
"And Li Yu's greatest strength is that whether early or late, his lyrics possess an exceptionally strong sense of imagery. Especially the opening of 'Gazing South of the River': 'How much hatred; last night within a dream.' It is practically cinematic expression.
"If he had not died so suddenly, Li Yu's literary achievement would certainly not be limited to founding the Graceful school. Perhaps he might even have become a master of both Graceful and Bold schools simultaneously."]
---
Within Guangzheng Hall, Li Yu listened to the youth's plain praise and watched the dense stream of text floating across the screen. Some said they had memorized his lyrics. Some lamented his fate together. But most praised the excellence of his writing.
He had not wept when his state fell. Yet now Li Yu could not help but kneel upon the ground, covering his face with both hands as tears poured down like rain.
In a few words he seemed to see another self, another self roaring defiance through words of diversion.
Qian Chu gestured to Zhao Kuangyin and the others, then gently helped Li Yu to his feet and guided him to a chair at the side, softly offering comfort.
---
[Lightscreen]
["Finally, of course, the most anticipated large box.
"Mm, this chair is really nice. Simple yet not simple. From craftsmanship and style alone, it's typical Ming-style woodworking. Big boss is impressive, even capable of this!
"Huh? There's a box on the chair too. Let me see. The workmanship of this box is also exquisite. Feels like a good item. Then what's inside must be—
"Huh? A stack of paper? Let me see the characters…
'Da Ming Circulating Treasure Note. Central Secretariat. One Guan.'
"Hah? Isn't this waste paper!"]