Chapter 2: The Han Dynasty Ultimately Did Fall After All

“Do you know the Longzhong Plan by heart?” Liu Bei was momentarily unsure how to interpret this question, hesitating as he muttered to himself, “You must be a close friend of Kongming...”

“No, that’s not right. Kongming only devised the Longzhong Plan for me a few days ago. Such confidential matters would never be shared with others. Besides, you are a refugee from the north—how could you possibly recite it?”

Zhao Shaojie was quite pleased to see the bewildered expression on Liu Bei’s face. He stepped forward with a low chuckle and said, “Because I am a time traveler! Anyone who has studied even a little in the future can recite it!”

“Time traveler? A person from the future?” Liu Bei’s eyes suddenly widened. His normally impassive face betrayed a flicker of shock—his pupils dilated, nostrils flared, and mouth slightly agape—as he stared at Zhao Shaojie in disbelief. “Impossible. Absolutely impossible!”

“You, you...”

The more Liu Bei looked at him, the more satisfied Zhao Shaojie became. Without waiting to be invited, he sat down on his own accord.

“Are you one of the Yellow Turban demons?” Liu Bei suddenly shouted.

Zhao Shaojie frowned. “The Yellow Turbans were patriots! Our sense of right and wrong in the future is different from yours. In an era dominated by laborers, peasants have the right to resist, and that resistance is utterly just! Though the organization of the cult was flawed, that is irrelevant. What matters is that the majority of laborers should be the rulers of power!”

He reflected for a moment, then teased, “For example, slaves should overthrow the emperor, peasants should overthrow the king, workers should overthrow the president, and robots should overthrow humans...”

Liu Bei had barely recovered from the shock of hearing about people from the future when this radical, almost heretical statement left him utterly dumbfounded. He stared at Zhao Shaojie, frozen stiff.

Zhao Shaojie, being kind-hearted, poured a cup of water and placed it before Liu Bei, smiling faintly. “Sir Liu, according to historical records, you are a feudal ruler with a sense of loyalty and a certain moral code. I wish to share everything I know with you, hoping you will treat me well.”

Liu Bei was at a loss for words, stammering, “You, you... I, I...”

Zhao Shaojie found this amusing, took the cup, took a sip himself, and said casually, “Calm down, I’m not in a rush.”

Liu Bei was infuriated by this behavior. Having endured the carnage from Youzhou to Jingzhou, witnessed countless horrors, yet being looked down upon by a mere youth—he quickly regained composure and said coldly, “You claim to be from the future. What proof do you have?”

Zhao Shaojie thought for a moment and said, “Well... I came in a hurry. How about you take a look at my underwear?”

He had come dressed in refugee clothes, but only his underwear was original. He pulled down his outer garment to reveal underwear marked with a brand label.

Liu Bei noticed the strange symbols on it, frowned, and reached out as if to feel the texture, but ultimately restrained himself and shook his head. “Not enough proof.”

---

Zhao Shaojie pulled his trousers back up and said, “Then I’ll tell you about future events: Liu Biao will soon die. After his death, his second son will inherit the governorship of Jingzhou and surrender to Cao Cao. You will flee with a hundred thousand civilians, suffer a crushing defeat at Cao Cao’s hands, lose two daughters, one wife will die, and many others will perish...”

Liu Bei was stunned and muttered, “Another failure...”

Zhao Shaojie replied, “Hey, it’s not failure, at worst a setback. Ups and downs are normal. Besides, after this setback, your glorious moment will arrive. Soon, you will take control of Jingzhou and Yizhou, reaching the peak of your power!”

Liu Bei’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really?”

Zhao Shaojie nodded. “Of course. But soon after, you will lose Jingzhou again, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will die, and you yourself will be defeated by Eastern Wu, dying in despair!”

Liu Bei’s hopeful expression darkened, frowning. “Eastern Wu?!”

Zhao Shaojie continued, “Afterward, Zhuge Liang will protect your son Liu A Dou’s succession to the throne. For twenty years he will campaign north and south, followed by Jiang Wei’s continuous northern expeditions. In the end, limited by the small territory of Yizhou and lacking national strength, your dynasty will be swept away by the Wei and Jin dynasties. Liu A Dou will choose to surrender, and thus the Han dynasty founded by Liu Bang will vanish forever from the river of history.”

Hearing this, Liu Bei’s whole body stiffened like a statue. The man who was always calm and composed quietly shed tears.

The Han dynasty would ultimately perish!

Seeing Liu Bei so despondent, Zhao Shaojie softly comforted him, “It’s not such a big deal. Dynastic changes are inevitable. In the future, even world empires with advanced technology, abundant theories, and vast resources will eventually decline—let alone feudal dynasties.”

“Sir Liu...”

“The Han will not perish!” Liu Bei suddenly interrupted Zhao Shaojie, his gaze serious and face solemn. “This is merely your one-sided account. How can I believe it? Even if it is true, I shall revive the legacy of my ancestors!”

Zhao Shaojie looked at Liu Bei’s bold declaration and couldn’t help but say, “Exactly. History says you were indomitable and never bowed to others! Emperor Zhaolie, now that you know the history, create the future well!”

“I am counting on you for a happy life!”

“My demands are simple: a hereditary dukedom without end, a dozen beauties, millions of acres...”

Liu Bei abruptly stood, voice cold and hard. “Are all of you from the future as shameless as you?”

Zhao Shaojie awkwardly replied, “Don’t overthink it. Just trying to secure a family and a noble title for generations. Besides, you have to give to receive! I don’t see anything shameful about that.”

---

Liu Bei’s face grew expressionless and he ignored Zhao Shaojie. Though still full of questions, the weight of what he had just heard would take him weeks to digest. He walked out.

“Wenchang, take him with you and return to the city!” Liu Bei called to Wei Yan, who was on guard nearby.

Wei Yan approached and caught sight of tear marks on Liu Bei’s face. Shocked, he stared at Zhao Shaojie in disbelief—this guy actually made the usually stoic Liu Bei cry?!

Liu Bei mounted his horse and headed straight into the city.

Wei Yan found a horse for Zhao Shaojie, but since he couldn’t ride, the two shared one horse.

Sitting on the horse, Zhao Shaojie held onto Wei Yan’s shoulders, but before he could speak, Wei Yan raised his whip and galloped off, startling Zhao Shaojie, who quickly wrapped his arms around Wei Yan’s waist. Wei Yan laughed heartily.

Back in the city, Liu Bei took Zhao Shaojie straight to the government compound’s rear residence and instructed, “This is the son of an old friend. Treat him well and fulfill his every reasonable request!”

“First, have him wash up!”

Zhao Shaojie thought for a moment and then bowed slightly. “Thank you, uncle!”

Liu Bei nodded, watching as the maid led Zhao Shaojie away, then said, “Do not let him leave. Do not let him associate with anyone. Do not listen to his nonsense. Keep a close watch on him!”

Wei Yan looked puzzled at such precautions but quickly replied, “Understood!”

Liu Bei would not explain further to Wei Yan. After leaving the rear residence, he went to the government office. Though he remained skeptical of Zhao Shaojie’s identity and claims, his experience and insight told him that Zhao was not speaking nonsense but telling the truth.

Either Zhao Shaojie was having a psychotic episode, or what he said was true.

Regardless, with Cao Cao about to unify the north and Liu Biao’s health failing, Liu Bei had to prepare in advance.