Returning once more to the Akashic Records, Brunhilde waved her hand, summoning countless holographic windows of historical figures.
Who should her next target be?
Both King Gilgash and King Solomon had been discovered through anomalies—though Solomon's case was deliberately guided.
Now, for the third candidate, Brunhilde would have to comb through seven million years of human history herself.
Since the first two had been legendary kings, she decided to narrow her search to the most renowned monarchs in history.
With another gesture, the holographic displays rearranged themselves, now showcasing only the most illustrious rulers of mankind.
Among them, one figure stood at the forefront—the first ruler to ever declare himself "Emperor": Qin Shi Huang.
In 221 BCE, after conquering the six warring states, Ying Zheng of Qin found the titles of "Lord" or "King" insufficient to reflect his supremacy. He ordered his ministers to devise a new honorific.
After deliberation, the ministers proclaid that his achievents—"raising righteous armies, executing tyrants, and unifying the realm"—were "unprecedented since antiquity, surpassing even the Five Emperors.Drawing from tradition, they suggested the title "Supre Sovereign," citing that "in ancient tis, there were the Celestial Sovereign, the Earthly Sovereign, and the Supre Sovereign—of which the Supre was the noblest."
Yet Ying Zheng remained unsatisfied. Believing his virtue eclipsed the Three Sovereigns and his rit surpassed the Five Emperors, he combined "Sovereign" and "Emperor" to forge a new title: "Huangdi"—the First Emperor.
It must be said that during this era, the scale of warfare in the East far surpassed that of any other region in the world.
In the contemporary West, battles involving tens of thousands were already considered massive and terrifying.
In the East, battles often involved tens or even hundreds of thousands of troops—completely on a different scale.
The differences weren't just in numbers. Military strategy and the advancent of weaponry far surpassed that of the West.
Honestly, if all the world's landmasses were connected without treacherous terrain as barriers, Brunhilde suspected that the First Emperor could have conquered the entire world.
Perhaps, had the First Emperor possessed a complete world map and known how vast the world truly was, he wouldn't have confined himself to the existing borders of his empire. Instead, he might have continued his campaigns beyond, expanding his dominion even further.
Such an extraordinary figure would naturally be among Brunhilde's chosen candidates.
It was a sha, really. A man like him should have led his nation to greater prosperity and longevity.
Yet, in his later years, the First Emperor, fearing the approach of death, sought immortality through alchemy and divine ans. His harsh governance, suppression of intellectual freedom, and oppression of the people ultimately weakened the Qin dynasty's foundation.
With his sudden death, the remnants of the noble families from the conquered six states—previously suppressed and silent—rose in rebellion, plunging the Qin dynasty into turmoil.
Moreover, the First Emperor's abrupt demise allowed Zhao Gao and Li Si to conspire, forging an imperial edict that nad Hu Hai as the successor. Under the guise of the First Emperor's will, they accused Fusu of filial impiety and ng Tian of disloyalty, forcing them to commit suicide without resistance.
Once enthroned, Hu Hai heavily relied on Zhao Gao, granting him imnse power over the court. Zhao Gao persecuted loyal officials, accelerating the Qin dynasty's downfall.
Finally, in 207 BCE, the Qin dynasty collapsed.
This unprecedented empire, having lasted barely over a decade, was as dazzling and fleeting as a firework—stunning yet epheral.
Of course, Brunhilde had heard so rumors about why the Qin dynasty t such a fate.
It was said that the First Emperor, in his pursuit of divinity—his attempt to ascend to godhood—drew the mockery of the gods. His arrogance and tyranny further provoked their wrath, leading them to secretly orchestrate the rapid collapse of his empire.
This was divine retribution!
Despite its brief existence, this great dynasty left a brilliant mark on humanity's seven-million-year history.
Yet, the man who built it—the First Emperor—remained a figure of controversy, particularly regarding his reputation as a tyrant.
Throughout history, he was condemned for his cruelty—burning books, burying scholars alive, and his extravagant projects like the Epang Palace, the Great Wall, and the Mausoleum at Mount Li.
It was precisely these reckless expenditures of human labor that sowed the seeds of the dynasty's destruction.
So, was this the truth?
If not, then what was?
As always, the answer lay within the historical records of Akasha.
"Um, Sister Brunhilde, this ti I'll stay behind..."
"Oh."
Brunhilde responded calmly, understanding Göll's hesitation.
On one hand, Göll was afraid—the two previous extraordinary experiences had shaken her deeply.
On the other, Göll feared causing another accident, potentially leading them into unforeseen trouble.
"Hmm? Randgriz, do you want to co along?"
Originally planning to enter alone, Brunhilde noticed her younger sister's hopeful gaze from the corner of her eye.
"I-I was just—is that okay?"
Randgriz had initially intended to stay behind to monitor the situation, but under her sister's intense stare, she decided to be honest.
Her sister preferred straightforward responses and disliked insincere behavior.
"No problem. Having you along might actually make things easier for , unlike Göll here who's completely useless."
"Oof!"
Göll clutched her chest in mock pain at her sister's words.
This elder sister never held back her sharp tongue, even with her own siblings.
"Let's start with this era!"
Brunhilde set the ti to 221 BC, the year the First Emperor established the title of Emperor.
The location, of course, was Xianyang.
And now—login!
In an instant, the sisters' surroundings twisted and warped before being engulfed by a dazzling rainbow light.
When the light faded and their vision cleared, they were no longer in the Akashic Records.
As their sight fully adjusted, both were stunned.
They weren't in Xianyang at all—they were on a battlefield.
Had there been a transmission error?
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan
Reviews
All reviews (0)