For the rulers and ministers of the Ming court, the scenes from the later ages that suddenly appeared before them were truly shocking beyond measure.
After all, although the clothing styles in the images differed greatly, it was still clear that more than half of the central figures were women. That alone left the entire hall momentarily speechless.
Then there were the vast cities stretching endlessly into the distance, and the celebrations whose meaning they could not fully grasp but whose unrestrained spirit was unmistakable. Inevitably, many began to compare them with the New Year festivities in Yingtian Prefecture just last month.
As for the strange figures that appeared at the end, and that blue-skinned, golden-bearded person who looked nearly naked, they left the court in complete silence. Even elders such as Li Shanchang were already stroking their beards quietly, attempting to steady their minds.
Thus Huagai Hall fell into a frightening stillness.
When Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke, his voice carried an oddly helpless tone as it echoed through the chamber.
Among the two princes seeing this spectacle for the first time, Zhu Shuang closed his eyes and tried hard to recall the objects he had just seen that resembled firearms, along with the complicated bow-like weapon.
Zhu Gang focused on something much simpler.
After cautiously glancing at their father, he tugged at Zhu Biao's sleeve with an expression that was difficult to describe.
"So our Ming in later generations… became like this?"
Zhu Biao curled his lips slightly and answered in a low voice.
"These are descendants of our Huaxia, the offspring of Ming. But it is not the Ming state itself. As for the place, it is most likely not within our lands either. Probably a foreign country."
After saying this, Zhu Biao left his brother alone to digest the answer.
For him, the more urgent matter was their father, who still had not spoken. According to Zhu Biao's understanding of his father, if no one responded soon, the next moment might bring the wrath of an enraged Son of Heaven.
In some strange way, Father's temper could resemble Xiongying's at times…
While such random thoughts ran through his mind, Zhu Biao lifted his head and saw lines of text drifting across the light screen.
[Li Shimin: This Paris should be the capital of a later state called France. It has had its share of grievances with our later Huaxia.]
[Zhao Kuangyin: Though I do not understand what this Olympic gathering means, judging simply from what we see, it seems similar to competitions of riding and archery held during foreign New Year festivals. Their system may even surpass those.]
Seeing the words left by the two former emperors, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression improved somewhat.
Zhu Biao quietly let out a breath of relief and silently offered thanks before stepping forward.
"Earlier, when we observed that vast map, I recall seeing that to the northeast of the Portuguese realm there was a kingdom named France."
"Though separated from our time by several centuries, the difference in name should not be too great. Most likely this France is the same as the later France."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with restrained approval. But another question soon followed.
"What you say is reasonable. But why would our descendants travel thousands of li to this foreign land to perform amusements for its people?"
His dissatisfaction was evident.
The reason was simple.
As Zhao Kuangyin had mentioned, since the Han dynasty it had been customary for tributary states to come to Huaxia bearing memorials and gifts.
In return, the Son of Heaven would host a banquet according to ritual propriety. At such banquets the tributary states often had their own warriors or skilled performers present demonstrations to entertain the Chinese emperor.
Zhu Yuanzhang was thoroughly familiar with this tradition, which had endured for over a thousand years.
So his first reaction was difficult to suppress.
Foreigners had always come to China.
How had it reversed several centuries later?
Had Huaxia become the subordinate instead?
At this moment Zhu Su stood up.
"Father. The later generations call this gathering the Olympics. Though we do not understand its full meaning, it is clearly different from tributary performances."
"In the commentary just now, the host spoke of numbered editions of the event."
"At the beginning it was also emphasized that this was the capital of France. That suggests such a grand ceremony is not permanently held in one place."
As Zhu Su spoke, he noticed Zhu Biao's encouraging gaze and continued after a brief pause.
"From the descriptions of later generations, it seems likely that the event rotates among different countries."
"From the foreign customs displayed, the host nation may use the opportunity to show its culture, display its national character, and proclaim its prestige."
"And this gathering may be one where athletes of many countries compete. Through victory and defeat, the relative strength of each state may also be glimpsed."
"In that sense, it can be called a form of contest among nations."
As Zhu Su reasoned aloud, Zhu Biao nodded repeatedly. It felt as if his younger brother had spoken the very thoughts in his own mind.
But Zhu Di gently bumped Zhu Su with his shoulder.
"Displaying their national character is certainly true. Even across centuries, I now have some impression of this France with its many Kunlun slaves."
"But proclaiming national prestige… where exactly was the prestige?"
Zhu Su fell silent.
He was not naive. He could easily guess the meaning behind the scene of three people closing the door together.
But the number of people. The mixture of genders.
And to present such a thing on such an occasion.
Was that truly appropriate?
Or was it simply another part of their national customs?
Some people in Huagai Hall silently agreed with Zhu Di's words.
Many others were still replaying the rare images of a foreign land from later ages in their minds. Though no one spoke aloud, it was clear that many would have difficulty sleeping tonight unless they wrote down their thoughts in a private record.
Luo Guanzhong, for instance, was practically shining with excitement. He looked as if he might immediately rush over to the Jin Yiwei artist recording the scenes to ask how many images had been captured.
Beside him, the monk Daoyan had stopped fingering his prayer beads. Sitting upright, he stared at the light screen with constantly shifting expressions.
After hearing Zhu Su's reasoning, Zhu Yuanzhang also began to grasp something.
"Whether competing with firearms, testing archery, or engaging in those unknown contests, these are all martial arts!"
"To compare such skills is to compare the strength of one's armies!"
"As for the swimming events, later generations often speak of maritime affairs. That alone shows their attention to naval power. A contest in the water is nothing surprising."
Once the Son of Heaven spoke, the others naturally nodded in agreement.
Only Zhu Di muttered quietly.
"But most of the competitors I saw were women. Could it be that women in later generations also go to the battlefield and win glory?"
Before he could finish, he suddenly cried out.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"I mean no disrespect to Mother. The peace in Hezhou and Jiangning relied greatly on her. How could I forget that?"
"Surely the women of later generations follow Mother's example, serving the nation and winning glory no less than men… Mother, please stop pulling. My ear is about to come off."
Zhu Yuanzhang kept his gaze forward.
Yet as the Son of Heaven of the present age, he could still perceive the potential value in all this.
So he cleared his throat lightly and asked the question that concerned him most.
"If such a grand contest of skill exists, could our Ming imitate it?"
The question hardly required an answer.
Zhu Biao knew well that his father had long been troubled by the desire to find a better way than traditional tribute audiences to proclaim to the world that Ming had defeated the Mongol Yuan and restored Huaxia.
So he stepped forward without hesitation.
"This matter, please entrust it to your son."
At the same time, in the former prime minister's residence at Ye City, Zhuge Liang had already committed the scenes of the later world to memory and quickly grasped their significance.
Since the Yellow Turban uprising, the Han empire had been consumed by internal strife for more than thirty years.
Although it could still awe the surrounding tribes, many foreign states no longer knew whether they should honor the Chancellor or the Son of Heaven.
The dignity of the Han dynasty had weakened.
Now, seeing this celebration of later generations, Zhuge Liang exchanged a glance with Liu Bei and reached a decision.
"Your Majesty."
"Your servant requests that we follow the example of later generations and command the surrounding states to hold a grand festival of contests."
"Let the revival of Han be proclaimed, and let the glory of Huaxia be displayed to all."