Yang Feng tilted his head back, staring at the absurdly enormous screen in the sky, and unconsciously clicked his tongue in amazement!
What kind of divine power was this thing?
It was practically an IMAX screen hung across the entire sky, with outrageously high resolution to boot!
This was far more breathtaking than the so-called black technology of later ages!
Yang Feng could not help inwardly commenting that, back in his own era, this technology for creating things out of thin air alone would have had countries around the world fighting tooth and nail over it!
Yet now, it had appeared in plain sight in the sky over the late Eastern Han!
The greatest emperor of all time?
If I really had to judge, it would have to be Boss Cao!
Yang Feng silently gave his answer!
After all, although Old Cao had never proclaimed himself emperor in his entire life, he had actually done everything an emperor ought to do, and done it brilliantly!
Unifying the north, restoring production, appointing people solely on merit, breaking the aristocratic clans' monopoly-which of these was not an earth-shaking achievement?
As for the Sima Clan that came afterward, they were nothing but thieves!
At that thought, Yang Feng could not help curling his lip in disdain!
Hadn't the Jin Dynasty's realm simply been stolen from Cao Wei?
That was why the history books of later ages always spoke of "Wei" and "Jin" together. Wasn't that plainly telling future generations that these two dynasties were essentially one and the same-one was the victim of theft, and the other was the thief!
That old turtle Sima Yi had spent his entire life biding his time, only for his descendants to pluck the peaches in the end. Just thinking about it was stifling!
Just as Yang Feng was immersed in his thoughts, protesting the injustice done to Boss Cao, an extremely jarring voice suddenly thundered beside him!
"This greatest emperor of all time must be me!"
There stood Yuan Shu, sticking out his big belly, his face flushed and his whole body trembling with excitement!
"I just so happen to have proclaimed myself emperor!"
He pointed at the screen in the sky, spittle flying everywhere!
"I've also obtained the Heirloom Seal of the Realm!"
"Mandated by Heaven, may I enjoy long life and eternal prosperity!"
"Who else could it be but me!"
Yuan Shu's voice brimmed with overweening arrogance and conceit, as though that magnificent title on the heavenly screen were already in his pocket!
Yang Feng almost failed to catch his breath and burst out laughing!
Good heavens!
Are you serious?
Yang Feng forcibly kept his facial muscles in check, but deep down, he was already laughing so hard he could have rolled on the ground!
You?
The greatest emperor of all time?
It's still an open question whether you'll even make it through next winter!
How long can the little you have in Huainan last with you squandering it?
You dared proclaim yourself emperor on a whim-you really don't know how to write the word "death"!
Cao Cao wants to pound you, Lü Bu wants to pound you, Liu Bei wants to pound you, and even your so-called ally Sun Ce would love to stab you in the back!
Right now, you're the brightest target in the entire realm. Everyone wants to trade your head for prestige and territory!
And you're still standing here, pleased as punch, thinking you've received Heaven's mandate?
What you received was a summons to your death!
Long life and eternal prosperity, indeed!
In history, you couldn't even get a sip of honey water in the end, and died of thirst!
At that thought, Yang Feng looked at Yuan Shu's smug, petty face, his eyes filled with pity!
Poor fellow. You're being raised like a pig, yet you still think you're the true dragon, the Son of Heaven!
And at that very moment, across the vast lands of the late Han, Yang Feng and Yuan Shu were far from the only ones stunned by this heavenly screen!
Almost every warlord holding military power, every ambitious overlord, inevitably pictured himself in that role the instant he saw those eight characters!
Yan Province, inside the provincial headquarters!
Cao Cao sat upright in the seat of honor, his slightly narrowed eyes gleaming as he stared fixedly at the heavenly screen!
His fingers tapped lightly against the table, producing a rhythmic sound!
"The greatest emperor of all time..."
He quietly savored those words, an incomparable confidence radiating from him!
"My lord!"
Guo Jia rose from his seat below and bowed with clasped hands, a faintly fervent smile on his face. "I believe the person this heavenly screen speaks of can be none other than you, my lord!"
"Oh?
Why do you say that, Fengxiao?"
The corners of Cao Cao's mouth rose slightly, but he deliberately asked in a calm voice!
"My lord, you uphold the Son of Heaven to command those who refuse allegiance. Righteousness lies with you!"
Guo Jia declared in a ringing voice!
"My lord, you have established agricultural colonies to settle the people and appointed men solely on merit, sparing countless commoners from warfare and giving them a chance to live!"
"With such talent to order heaven and earth, such achievements dazzling past and present, who in all the realm can compare?"
"Who but you deserves the title of greatest emperor of all time!"
Beside him, Cheng Yu stroked his long beard and nodded emphatically. "Libationer Guo is absolutely right!"
"My lord's achievements are far beyond those of the mediocrities who have usurped control of provinces and commanderies!"
"Heaven's mandate rests with you, my lord!"
Listening to his subordinates' flattery, Cao Cao felt immensely pleased, but merely waved his hand and laughed. "Hahahaha, it's too early to say, too early!"
"Still, if this heavenly screen truly possesses intelligence, surely it wouldn't pick the wrong man!"
His gaze turned to the sky once more, the dominance and longing in his eyes almost taking tangible form!
Meanwhile, in Ye City, in the northern province of Ji!
Yuan Shao sat high in his General-in-Chief's residence, with a full assembly of civil officials and military officers gathered around him!
As the warlord who currently commanded the greatest power, Yuan Shao's face was filled with an arrogance he considered only natural!
He came from the Yuan Clan of Runan, which had produced holders of the Three Excellencies for four generations, with disciples and former subordinates throughout the realm. Now he occupied the four wealthiest provinces in the north, with elite soldiers, ample provisions, and a million armored troops!
In his eyes, this so-called greatest emperor of all time could be no one but Yuan Benchu!
The adviser Guo Tu immediately understood his thoughts, stepped forward, and announced loudly, "Congratulations, my lord!"
"Felicitations, my lord!"
"My lord, you are of noble birth, from a family that has held the Three Excellencies for four generations. Your fame fills the realm, and you are the alliance leader to whom all look!"
"Now you possess four provinces, crouching like a tiger over Hebei, with mighty soldiers and strong horses. Who in the realm dares contend with you?"
"This heavenly screen has descended upon the world, and the greatest emperor of all time it means to select must surely be you, my lord!"
On the other side, Shen Pei echoed him. "Precisely!"
"Cao Cao is merely the descendant of a eunuch, of lowly birth!"
"Liu Bei is nothing but a weaver of mats and seller of sandals, yet he dares presumptuously call himself a hero?"
"As for Sun Ce of Jiangdong, he's just a yellow-mouthed brat, not worth mentioning!"
"Only you, my lord, are truly the one chosen by Heaven!"
Hearing these words, Yuan Shao felt so comfortable that even his bones seemed a few ounces lighter. He burst into laughter and waved a hand in utter satisfaction!
"Well said!"
"Once I sweep away that scoundrel Cao and unite the Central Plains, this title of greatest emperor of all time will be tailor-made for me!"
Just as all the ambitious men across the Divine Land sank into a frenzy of self-intoxication, the heavenly screen stirred once more!
Golden light flowed, and the original words slowly faded away!
Yang Feng immediately stopped his inward commentary and focused all his attention on the sky!
Here it comes!
Are they about to announce the answer?
A new line of even clearer, large golden text slowly appeared before everyone's eyes!
[The greatest emperor of all time we will introduce on this occasion lived during the late Eastern Han.]