I was watching short videos and historical figures were collectively vomiting blood!

Chapter 3 Ranking of Historical Dynasties by Territory – Why Is My Great Qin at the Bottom?

The videos of the four young actresses were like fleeting clouds, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Thanks to algorithmic recommendations, Lin Ming kept coming across more videos of Liu Yifei and Angelababy, indulging in them over and over again.

People from different dynasties had feasted their eyes on these beauties. The “fragrance theorem”—where one initially rejects something only to become addicted to it later—remained timeless.

Everyone criticized while secretly enjoying it. Meanwhile, in the modern world, Lin Ming’s phone was flooded with notifications—some from the Eternal Connection app, others from bank deposit messages.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

…

In a short period, he had accumulated over a thousand points!

Lin Ming’s face flushed with excitement.

“One point equals 1,000 yuan. I now have 1,290 points—that’s 1.29 million yuan!”

“I’m rich!”

He immediately clicked redeem now!

Your bank account ending in 1890 has been credited with 1,290,000 yuan. Current balance: 1,294,600.00 yuan.

Seeing the deposit confirmation, Lin Ming straightened up in his seat. He barely had time to consider why ancient emperors were rewarding him.

Without hesitation, he continued scrolling through videos.

_____

Ying Zheng’s expression darkened when the beautiful women on the screen vanished. However, when he saw the title “Ranking of Historical Dynasties”, he furrowed his brows.

“What is this ‘ranking of dynasties’? What exactly is this sky screen?”

Beside him, Li Si stared at the sky screen in deep thought before suddenly coming to a realization.

“Your Majesty, I understand now! This sky screen comes from the future! It must be a record of history, projected back into our time by celestial powers!”

Ying Zheng’s body trembled, his eyes filled with excitement. He grabbed Li Si’s arm, momentarily losing his composure.

“Are you saying this is the power of the immortals? That the immortals are guiding me?”

Zhao Gao stepped forward, ingratiatingly adding,

“Your Majesty is destined by Heaven, your unification of the empire is unparalleled in history. Surely, this is the immortals preparing to welcome you! Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

As he spoke, he knelt down.

The officials behind him also fell to their knees in unison.

“Long live His Majesty! May Great Qin prosper for eternity!”

“Long live His Majesty! May Great Qin prosper for eternity!”

Similar scenes unfolded in other dimensions. The rulers across time quickly reached a common understanding—This sky screen likely came from the future, and everything displayed on it was a historical record!

_____

The video officially began. Accompanied by a majestic soundtrack, a deep and powerful voice echoed through time.

“China’s history has been a cycle of division and unification, giving rise to countless glorious eras. Many powerful unified dynasties have emerged, each leaving its mark on history.”

“But how did these dynasties compare in terms of territory? Which ranked the highest?”

“Now, let’s take a look at the peak territorial sizes of China’s great dynasties.”

“9th Place: Qin Dynasty.”

“As China’s first unified dynasty, Qin’s territory was not vast compared to later empires. It stretched from the East China Sea in the east to Longxi in the west, from the Great Wall in the north to the South China Sea in the south. The total land area was approximately 3.55 million square kilometers, setting the foundation for all future unified dynasties.”

______

Dressed in a black dragon robe, Ying Zheng’s expression turned cold.

Ranking… ninth?

Did this mean his Qin Dynasty was at the bottom of the list!?

His veins bulged in anger—he was about to explode!

“Impossible! My Qin State fought for six generations, using the strategies of diplomacy and war to annihilate six kingdoms and unify the world! Our land stretches endlessly, and we shall last for eternity!”

Zhao Gao hurriedly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, please look at the wording—‘the first unified dynasty’—this means only unified dynasties are ranked!”

“The sky screen states that the territory conquered by our Qin is the baseline for all future unified dynasties!”

“Your Majesty, through generations of struggle, our Qin has ended the Warring States chaos and achieved unification—a merit that will last forever! This is as significant as Pangu creating the world itself!”

“Surely, in future history books, Your Majesty’s achievements will shine the brightest!”

Zhao Gao’s flattery was smooth, but Ying Zheng’s frown remained.

“No… Future unified dynasties? Does that mean my Qin Dynasty… perished!?”

Li Si, who was about to speak, paused. He and Zhao Gao exchanged glances but remained silent.

Everyone understood the truth—no dynasty could last forever, and no emperor could be immortal.

“I was chosen by Heaven! My rule should last eternally! Great Qin should never fall!”

“It seems the search for the elixir of life cannot be delayed!”

Ying Zheng’s heart surged with urgency. A deep sense of crisis overwhelmed him. Since this sky screen came from the future and appeared above Qin, it must be a warning!

Unifying the six states was only the beginning. Expanding Qin’s territory and making all nations bow before him—that was his true goal!

_____

Meanwhile, in other dimensions, rulers also realized that the sky screen was a projection from the future, documenting past dynasties.

Li Shimin sighed, “Even a mighty state like Qin ranks so low in history. But that does not diminish Ying Zheng’s title as the ‘First Emperor of All Time.’”

“The prosperity of our Tang Dynasty was built upon the foundation laid by Qin’s unification.”

“In truth, Qin’s unification was a lasting contribution to the ages!”

“But… where does my Tang Dynasty rank on this list?”

Zhu Yuanzhang murmured, “No dynasty is eternal… Will my Ming Dynasty be on the list?”

Aging Kangxi, watching closely, clenched his fists. He had spent his life waging wars for the Qing Dynasty—pacifying the Three Feudatories, defeating the Dzungars, reclaiming Taiwan.

Would the Qing Dynasty dominate the rankings?

____

“8th Place: Sui Dynasty.”

“The Sui Dynasty unified China after 200 years of division during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. At its peak, its land area was 4.67 million square kilometers.”

Amidst the rippling waters of a luxurious hot spring, Yang Guang lounged, his face flushed from wine.

A dozen graceful women surrounded him, feeding him grapes and massaging his shoulders, creating a scene of indulgence.

Seeing the ranking, he chuckled wickedly.

“With such great achievements, shouldn’t you all serve me even more attentively?”

He pulled a slender waist closer.

Outside the chamber, Prime Minister Yuwen Shu held a memorial in his hands, his face grim as he listened to the debauchery inside.

After a long sigh, he muttered, “A doomed dynasty… A doomed dynasty indeed…”

_____

Li Shimin angrily flicked his sleeve.

“Hmph!”

“The Sui Dynasty made it on the list!? That tyrant Yang Guang must have had great fortune!”

Wei Zheng and Cheng Yaojin quickly reassured him.

“Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your health!”

_____

“7th Place: Western Jin Dynasty.”

“At its peak, the Western Jin controlled 6.16 million square kilometers. However, its territory drastically shrank, and it eventually lost the Central Plains.”

Seated on his throne, Emperor Sima Yan initially beamed at the sight of the ranking. However, as he read further, his face darkened.

“The Western Jin fell? The Central Plains were lost?”

“What a disgrace! How can I face my ancestors?”

Furious, he smashed his teacup, and the court fell into dead silence.