A live-streamed Chinese language lesson under the sky—the ancients were taken aback.

Ying Zheng stared at the sky with a somber expression.

He didn't care much when he heard that a dynasty in later generations also perished after only two generations.

From the last time he saw the sky, he already knew from the fluttering small characters that the Qin Dynasty would perish after only two generations because of serious problems with its successor.

He called Fusu to his side, but after looking him over, he couldn't see that Fusu was the kind of person who could cause such a big disaster.

That means there might be other heirs.

He also ordered a nationwide search for Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, and other rebels mentioned in the celestial document.

This time, he heard from snippets of conversation that the Qin Dynasty itself had many problems.

Speak quickly then. Even if you call me a tyrant and launch into a long, eloquent critique, I will accept it.

"There's another important point I haven't mentioned, but some people probably already know it: the real Epang Palace was never actually built."

【what? 】

[Is it all a lie, after carrying this weight for so many years over 300 miles?]

[I've never seen anything written so realistically, but to write something that doesn't even exist and yet looks exactly like it is real is one thing.]

……

In 2002, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences archaeological team conducted archaeological excavations at the site of the Epang Palace.

The results showed that only the rammed earth foundation of the front hall of the Epang Palace was built, and there were no traces of Qin Dynasty palace buildings on it.

More importantly, archaeologists found no traces of a large-scale fire.

Therefore, the story of Xiang Yu burning down the Epang Palace is also false; he burned down the Xianyang Palace, not the Epang Palace.

Sima Qian recorded the entire process in the Records of the Grand Historian.

First, build the front hall, Epang, which is 500 paces from east to west and 50 zhang from north to south. It can seat 10,000 people and can also support a 5-zhang flag.

The plan is very ambitious.

"The Epang Palace was not yet completed; once completed, we wish to choose a more auspicious name for it."

It was made clear that the project was not completed yet, and a new official name would be given after its completion.

He continued talking, wanting to say more but unable to stop.

"As for how the misunderstanding arose, it was probably because the 'Rhapsody on the Epang Palace' had such a great influence."

The author vividly describes the splendor of the Epang Palace and its subsequent destruction by fire.

Because of its high literary value, the article was selected for textbooks, and this fictional scene was passed down through generations and became a historical fact in the minds of many.

However, in modern times, "The Rhapsody on the Epang Palace" would be displayed in some book as a warning.

Who knows? I read the travel guide and was planning to visit the Epang Palace, but when I got there, it was just a dilapidated foundation.

Hahaha, I got scammed!

[And that Little Stone Pool that Liu Zongyuan mentioned, I don't even want to talk about it. Family members, remember to avoid it.]

Do you understand literary works?

……

"Although the Epang Palace was never built, we cannot use this to whitewash the First Emperor."

Even though it was an unfinished project, the process of repairing the foundation of the front hall and planning and preparing materials was still a waste of manpower and resources.

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, more than 700,000 people were convicted of crimes and sentenced to live in seclusion. They were then divided up to build the Epang Palace or Mount Li, and a large number of laborers were transferred to prepare materials and carry out construction.

Although the project was not completed, the process of mobilizing manpower was still a heavy burden.

The Epang Palace was a planned super palace. Construction began in 212 BC, but was halted in 210 BC when Qin Shi Huang suddenly passed away, so the construction of the Lishan Mausoleum was rushed.

Although it was never actually built, this does not change its significance as a typical symbol of the Qin Dynasty's hasty and tyrannical policies. After all, the preliminary preparations alone caused immense suffering to the people.

Even if there's no Epang Palace, there's still the Lishan Mausoleum.

The Qin Dynasty had too many engineering projects.

Although I like Zheng Ge, it would be better if he were dead.

The people of Qin start working the moment they open their eyes every day.

……

"Let's talk about the third unrelated topic. Look at this sentence from the 'Ode to the Epang Palace'."

The tyrant's heart grew increasingly arrogant and stubborn, hence the use of the term "tyrant".

The term "tyrant" has been used since the pre-Qin period to refer to a ruler who has completely lost the support of the people and has become a lonely figure.

Mencius said, "I have heard of the execution of a tyrant named Zhou, but I have not heard of the killing of a ruler."

Du Mu's use of this phrase directly compares Qin Shi Huang to King Zhou of Shang, a very strong characterization.

It can't be that bad, can it?

The insults were extremely vulgar.

The First Emperor's crimes did not warrant such punishment.

……

"From our perspective today, this is an extremely harsh criticism."

However, in ancient times, Qin Shi Huang was the origin of the image of a tyrant.

For two thousand years, he has been the number one tyrant in the Confucian discourse system, and has always been used as a negative example to advise monarchs and warn future generations.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the great emperors of all time or the first feudal emperors we talk about today.

"Let's take a look at how Qin Shi Huang's reputation has changed throughout history."

"The first stage was the long period of tyranny in ancient times. Starting with Jia Yi's 'On the Faults of Qin' in the Han Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang was nailed to the pillar of shame for his lack of benevolence and righteousness, and became a synonym for tyrant."

The second stage, from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, saw the beginning of a reversal of the verdict.

People who went to the West to study and see the world discovered that what Qin Shi Huang did was very similar to the Roman Empire in Europe.

Zhang Taiyan, Liang Qichao, and others began to praise him for unifying China, establishing the prefecture-county system, and standardizing writing and cart tracks, believing that these were achievements that would benefit future generations.

At this point, the evaluation shifted from moral judgment to historical achievements.

The third stage is our current evaluation.

Today's evaluation is more comprehensive. People acknowledge him as a great emperor who laid the foundation for unification, but they also discuss whether he was a tyrant whose desires were excessively inflated.

Meanwhile, the discovery of the Terracotta Army and the Qin bamboo slips from Shuihudi has given his image a more human touch.

"The core logic behind this change is that each era uses it to express itself."

In ancient times, tyrants were used to emphasize benevolent governance; in modern times, unification was used to call for national salvation.

Qin Shi Huang has become a huge historical symbol. As for his true face, how could we, the later generations, know about a person from more than two thousand years ago?

His true face may only be hidden in the subtle meanings of the Records of the Grand Historian and in the Qin and Han dynasty bricks and tiles beneath our feet.

People can only see what they want to see.

When I was a child, I thought Qin Shi Huang was a tyrant, but I don't know when it started, everyone called him the greatest emperor of all time.

So we want unification now, and we want peaceful unification, right?

……

In Xianyang Palace, Li Si was the first to break the silence.

"Your Majesty, I congratulate you. Finally, someone in future generations will understand Your Majesty's good intentions."

Ying Zheng wanted to say, "What good intentions? I don't care. All I want is for the Qin Dynasty to last forever."

However, it is undeniable that he truly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard later generations call him the greatest emperor of all time.

Who doesn't want a good reputation?

At Weiyang Palace, Liu Che was displeased upon hearing the First Emperor's evaluation.

He turned to look at Wei Qing, "I can also be worthy of the title of Emperor of All Time."

Wei Qing cautiously replied, "I have heard that future generations will value achievements such as unifying China, establishing the prefecture-county system, and standardizing writing and cart axles."

"So I've been racking my brains every day fighting the Xiongnu, and yet, I don't even know how, when did the Heavenly Curtain start mentioning the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Che selectively omitted the matter of Shanglin Garden.

Huo Qubing stepped out from behind Wei Qing and said, "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu will definitely be destroyed. I know this without even needing the heavens."

"Good, go to the doctor, that's what a true man of the Han Dynasty should be like."

The curtain of light continues to fall.

"Alright, that's enough about the digression. Remember in the first episode we talked about how ancient dynasties fell? But the situation in each dynasty was complex and varied, and new problems often arose after learning from the lessons of the previous dynasty."

Let's start from the Qin Dynasty, following the "Rhapsody on the Epang Palace".

How did the Qin Empire, the first unified state in China, which was known for its "the Qin dynasty is destroyed by Qin" policy, collapse in just fifteen years?

And what about the Western Han Dynasty, which was "the only one that perished because of its strength"?

Why did the Tang Dynasty, the pinnacle of feudal dynasties, never return?

The richest yet most cowardly Song Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty, the most resolute of its kind, was ultimately impoverished and died.

and many more.

I'll talk about these things when I have the chance.

Please stay tuned.

Under the sky, the eyes of all those with ambition lit up.