Our people have a history spanning five thousand years and stretching across ten thousand miles. The long river of history has surged and ebbed, vast and magnificent. From Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han to the rulers of the Tang dynasty, heroes and eminent figures have emerged in an endless stream, brilliant as the stars and beyond counting. There was once an era when our ancestors endured hardships greater than those of any other age in history, yet at last they were reborn like a phoenix rising from the flames. The Huaxia people also completed the largest-scale ethnic integration in their history. We must not praise suffering simply because it led to rebirth, nor deny ethnic integration because the process was painful. Still less should we stir up ethnic hatred and division over historical grievances. At the same time, we must take a nuanced view of history and always remember the heroes of every people who gave their lives for what was right and braved every danger. The tides of history are treacherous and unpredictable. Heroes contend for supremacy, yet none can know who will emerge victorious. The laws of Heaven are ever-changing, and destiny is impossible to discern. Those who wield overwhelming power may still lose their heads; those who run rampant may ultimately flee for their lives. When the great tide recedes and the truth is laid bare, when the world becomes one's home, only then can the true heroes be seen. But what are the laws of Heaven? Is Heaven's will truly always beyond our understanding? Heaven's will is, from the start, the will of the people.
Theme: The true history of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the great heroes of every people
