As the jade scroll unfurled, accompanied by the melodious notes of an ancient zither, it slowly revealed its contents to the world.
The first image to appear was a massive map of the Central Continent, clearly marking the territorial divisions of the Central Plains and using distinct colors to distinguish the various factions.
Most striking was the vast expanse of land controlled by the Xiongnu Beyond the Border, which dwarfed all other powers.
Accompanying the map were descriptive texts.
"In the final years of the First Qin Dynasty, the realm descended into chaos, and the common people suffered greatly. The rebellions of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang hastened the dynasty's collapse, ushering in an era of warlord conflict."
Simultaneously, the scroll displayed scenes of bloody warfare and the desperate struggles of the populace, the tragic music enhancing the somber atmosphere.
The city's inhabitants stood in silent awe, most of them completely unaware of this history.
Then, the scene shifted. The black banner bearing the character "Qin" was reduced to ashes in a raging inferno.
On the ground, the blackness representing the First Qin gradually faded, replaced by a riot of colorful banners, which now dotted the former territory of the First Qin.
In this way, even the overlooked territories of the Central Plains were usurped by various factions. Hundreds of powers now coexisted across the Central Continent, a bewildering and almost unbelievable sight.
"How could this happen? It's impossible! Weren't the Central Plains always our Dragon Han territory?"
The common people watched in shock.
The next moment, crimson characters appeared on the scroll: *Dragon Han*.
"What? Our Dragon Han territory is only this small? This must be fake!"
"I don't believe it! This is some kind of sorcery!"
When the map of Dragon Han appeared no larger than a palm, everyone erupted in doubt.
Only Song Yanran remained silent, for she knew it was all true.
Then, subtitles appeared again:
"Emperor Ji, inheriting the legacy of the First Dragon, united the surrounding nations and defeated Male Chu to establish the Dragon Han Empire."
An old man in a black dragon robe materialized on the screen. Under the gaze of the masses, he strode step by step toward the summit of Weiyang Palace.
As he turned back, the air thundered with "Long live the Emperor!"
"That's Emperor Gaozu."
"My heavens, I'm actually witnessing Emperor Gaozu's true countenance!"
"The emperor's majestic aura is truly awe-inspiring."
Many shed tears of excitement, while others prostrated themselves before the 3D projection in worship.
Suddenly, the music shifted to a Hu-style melody, accompanied by a booming, rhythmic chant, and the scene transitioned to the vast grasslands beyond the border.
"The nomadic peoples, who have inhabited the grasslands and deserts since ancient times, were fierce and warlike. During the First Qin dynasty, the first Xiongnu King united the grasslands and founded the Xiongnu nation. From that time onward, the borders of the Central Plains dynasties were constantly under severe threat."
Images of Xiongnu cavalry thundering across the plains, breaching border cities, and engaging in burning, killing, and plundering flashed across the screen.
The crowd fell silent.
Even the Xiongnu soldiers in the city looked bewildered. *Were our ancestors really this formidable?*
Just then, the scene returned to Emperor Gaozu.
"At the dawn of the Dragon Han Empire, the Xiongnu once again threatened the border. To permanently resolve this threat, Emperor Gaozu personally led a 400,000-strong army north to crush the Xiongnu royal court."
The music swelled into a thunderous, martial rhythm.
"The great wind rises, and the clouds fly high! Where shall I find fierce warriors to guard our four corners?"
Clad in armor, Emperor Gaozu raised his White Serpent Sword and roared with all his might.
At once, four hundred thousand Han soldiers, without hesitation, embarked on the northern expedition.
The common folk watching this scene, moved by the music and imagery, felt their blood boil with fervor.
"Wonderful! With Emperor Gaozu leading the charge, the Xiongnu are doomed!"
"May Emperor Gaozu achieve victory and lay the foundation for the Dragon Han Empire's glorious future!"
"Emperor Gaozu truly is the god of our Dragon Han!"
Only Song Yanran remained silent, for she knew this war would mark the beginning of centuries of humiliation for the Dragon Han Empire.
Indeed, the next moment the scroll's scene shifted abruptly.
Xiongnu cavalry surged across the land like a tidal wave, trampling Han soldiers like autumn leaves under their iron hooves.
The music changed once more to a wild Xiongnu melody.
"Emperor Gaozu, unable to defeat the Xiongnu army, was forced to retreat to White Mountain. The Xiongnu King, leading three hundred thousand cavalry, besieged the mountain. Despite repeated attempts to break through, Emperor Gaozu found himself trapped in a desperate situation."
At this, everyone felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over their heads, leaving them trembling with cold.
"Impossible! How could Emperor Gaozu possibly lose? I don't believe it!"
"That was Emperor Gaozu!"
Many could not accept this reality. Those deeply immersed in the performance beat their chests and wailed, their grief overwhelming.
The music turned even more desolate as the subtitles rolled across the screen, gradually revealing a humiliating chapter of history.
"Trapped, Emperor Gaozu was forced to sue for peace with the Xiongnu. He offered vast quantities of spirit stones and spirit wine, and promised a royal princess in marriage.
The Xiongnu King was greatly pleased. He signed a treaty of brotherhood, withdrew his troops north, and thus began the Dragon Han Empire's centuries-long journey of humiliating appeasement.
Each year, the empire sent vast wealth and royal women to the Xiongnu, praying for peaceful coexistence.
Yet even so, the Xiongnu continued to raid south periodically, bringing untold suffering to the Central Plains citizens living on the borders."
The hall fell silent. Many, unable to accept that their nation had once endured such a humiliating history, collapsed in a swoon as their faith shattered.
"Not long after the Siege of Baideng, Emperor Gaozu passed away, and a new emperor ascended the throne. Humiliated by the failed northern expedition, the surrounding nations broke away from the Dragon Han Empire's control, each establishing its own independent state."
In the image, the Dragon Han territory, once the size of two palms, immediately fractured into over a dozen factions, its borders visibly shrinking.
Song Yanran sighed helplessly. This was the history of the Dragon Han Empire—a humiliating chapter long forgotten by the world.
Then, the Central Continent erupted in war, while the Dragon Han Empire remained conspicuously still.
The scene fast-forwarded through centuries, finally settling on "the late years of Emperor Jing's reign."
Song Yanran's pupils constricted, her breathing quickening.
That period was a history she dared not even mention in her dreams.
"In Emperor Jing's twilight years, internal court factions clashed over policy, sparking endless conflicts among the princes. This ultimately ignited a succession struggle that threatened to shake the empire to its core."
The image filled with slaughter, dripping with the bloodshed and brutality of imperial power struggles.
As banners fell one after another, the vision showed a striking woman in black armor standing proudly atop a mountain of bleached bones.
A sharp-eyed person immediately recognized her and shouted, "It's her! It's the Empress!"
All eyes in the square turned to Song Yanran on the high platform.
The title on the screen changed from "Emperor Jing" to "The Empress."
"At the dawn of her reign, the nation was weak and impoverished. War and chaos had displaced the people, while the Xiongnu loomed on the northern border and neighboring states nibbled away at the territory. The empire faced both internal turmoil and external threats."
"In the autumn of the third year, the Empress established the Feathered Forest Guard, purging traitors from the court, reforming the government, and sweeping away the abuses of the previous dynasty."
"In the summer of the fifth year, facing the Xiongnu envoy seeking a marriage alliance, the Empress tore up the humiliating treaty and prepared for war."
"In the autumn of the sixth year, the Empress personally led her troops north to strike the Xiongnu."
The image froze, and the music fell silent.
"Today, I will show the Xiongnu that the tables have turned! If they can invade, so can we!"
Then, the majestic "Nine Dragon Praise Divine Anthem" resounded through the heavens.
In that moment, something seemed to ignite in the hearts of the city's people. They stood in awe, struck speechless.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)