Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 15 A Life-and-Death Struggle

In a side hall of the ancestral temple, the Taiping Dao masters and disciples knelt and discussed. The smoke from the incense burner swirled, revealing a glimpse into the affairs of the world. For the first time, Zhang Chengfu heard firsthand the stories of the gentry and heroes of the late Han Dynasty, traversing thousands of years of vicissitudes.

"Senior Brother Mao'an, does the Gao family of Bohai have any disciples who are skilled in archery and horsemanship and have outstanding martial arts skills?"

"Skilled in archery and horsemanship, and outstanding in martial arts?... Hmm, it seems that the Gao family does indeed have a remarkable member named Gao Lan, also known as Gao Yuanbo. He is probably in his early twenties. The Gao family seems to be trying to secure him an official position in Bohai County, but there are many gentry families in Bohai County, so he can probably only start as a county lieutenant with a salary of two hundred shi."

Xin Mao'an was erudite and had a remarkable memory; he could talk about the people of Ji Province as if he could read the lines on their palms. He smiled and looked at Zhang Chengfu, asking jokingly.

"Junior brother, why are you so interested in archery and horsemanship? Do you perhaps wish to learn a thing or two and serve in a region? However, this path depends on talent, birth, and wealth, making it extremely difficult. You are still young; you should focus on following your teacher and learning medicine, talismans, and witchcraft. After years of practice, if you can inherit some of your teacher's skills, you will be a guest of honor in a prominent family, enjoying a life of wealth and comfort!"

"...Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng paused for a moment, then smiled and agreed. He pondered to himself that it seemed their master, Zhang Jiao, hadn't revealed his determination to start a rebellion to this third senior brother, who came from a noble family. He wondered how many of his other senior brothers knew, how many had guessed, and what their stances were.

"Teacher, after discussing the eight prefectures, only Wei Prefecture remains. Wei Prefecture is located in Ye City, the main city of Ji Province, and is where the governor resides. The court is always watching it, so there are few prominent families. Therefore, although there are many aristocratic families in Wei Prefecture, no single family can hold the position of 'filial and incorruptible' for long."

At this point, Xin Maoan smiled knowingly. Zhang Chengfu pondered for a moment and understood the reason behind it.

As long as the prestige of the Eastern Han court remained, the commanderies and kingdoms where the inspectorates were located were close to being under direct control. The court had extremely deep control over the manpower and resources of these commanderies, naturally reducing the share available to powerful clans. For powerful clans to expand, they would inevitably have to annex land, accept those who surrendered, and evade taxes and corvée labor. This was not so easy to do in the commanderies and kingdoms that were the seat of a province.

"There are no prominent families in Wei Commandery, not even those that can be considered county-level prominent families. Only the Shen family of Yin'an, the Gao family of Wei Commandery, the Han family of Wei Commandery, and the Wang family of Wei Commandery barely come close to being county-level prominent families. These aristocratic families probably only own a few thousand acres of land, which is completely incomparable to the tens of thousands of acres owned by aristocratic families... And the two spots for the 'Filial and Incorrupt' in Wei Commandery are unusually allocated based on talent and learning. Well, of course, they have to be from the aristocratic families of Wei Commandery..."

This commentary and introduction vividly depicted the political situation and power structure of the nine prefectures of Ji Province. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke again.

"Mao'an, outside of Ji Province, within the imperial court... has anything significant happened recently?"

"Major events in the court?... Oh! Teacher, there was a major event in the court during the three months: Minister of Works Chen (Chen Dan) was dismissed from his position for submitting a memorial to the throne. And according to the latest news, last month Minister of Ceremonies Yuan (Yuan Wei) was promoted to the new Minister of Works!"

"Oh? Situ has been dismissed?"

Upon hearing the news of the "dismissal of the Three Dukes," Zhang Jiao raised an eyebrow. Such a high-ranking official reshuffle undoubtedly represented a dramatic shift in the power structure of the court.

The most significant political conflict within the Han Dynasty court was the power struggle between eunuchs and aristocratic families. This protracted struggle had lasted for decades, from Emperor Huan to Emperor Ling, undergoing two periods of purges and subsequent escalations, and was currently intensifying. The purges had even extended to implicating entire families, including five generations of aristocratic clans.

Situ Chen Dan's political stance was very clear: he stood with the gentry and opposed the eunuchs. His dismissal was inevitably related to the eunuchs and would further affect the power dynamics between the two sides in the court, exacerbating their conflicts and rendering the Han court ineffective. This, in turn, provided an opportunity for various local forces opposing the court, including the Taiping Dao (Way of Peace) in different regions, to grow and expand.

"Mao'an, why was Minister Chen dismissed from his post?"

"Alas! Teacher, this matter is a long story... Ultimately, it stems from Lord Chen's honest remonstrance against the corruption of the court. Lord Chen bluntly stated that the Grand Commandant and the Minister of Works in the court acted according to the whims of the eunuchs, 'releasing owls while imprisoning phoenixes,' allowing the sons of eunuchs to persecute honest scholars. Such honest words deeply angered the eunuchs, and the emperor was probably displeased as well..."

At this point, Xin Maoan's expression darkened, and he sighed deeply.

"At that time, Minister Chen, Grand Counselor Liu, several upright and fearless censors, and a young advisor Cao Cao, all jointly submitted a memorial to the emperor! Upon seeing this memorial, the emperor reprimanded Grand Commandant Xu Ji and Minister of Works Zhang Ji to their faces, but remained silent on the corruption and factionalism of the eunuchs' sons..."

"No more than a month after this incident, the eunuchs submitted a memorial falsely accusing Chen Gong of a crime. And the emperor actually believed them and dismissed Chen Gong from his post. Even the newly appointed Minister of Works, Yuan Gong, was recommended by the eunuchs and will likely collude with them. The Han court is probably in a state of utter darkness, never to see the light of day again!..."

After hearing these words, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao remained silent in deep thought. The eunuchs had ousted Chen Dan, the Minister of Works, who represented the scholar-officials, and replaced him with Yuan Wei, who appeared neutral, greatly increasing their power in the court. Therefore, the partisans' hopes of lifting the ban on partisan strife seemed even more hopeless.

These scholars, affected by the Party Prohibitions and harboring resentment towards the court and emperor, represented a shift in the hearts of the people. The power of these scholars opposing the court accumulated in various prefectures, like the waves rising in the East Sea. Riding this wave, the Way of Peace might be able to advance further, spreading the slogan of "the changing of the Mandate of Heaven" to more prefectures and counties, until the world changed...

On the other side, Zhang Chengfu seemed to understand something. He glanced at his other senior brothers who were not about to speak, thought for a moment, and then took the initiative to ask.

"Senior Brother Mao'an, who is this Consultant Cao Cao... and how old is he?"

"Cao Cao, Cao Mengde? Oh! He's a young, upright, and loyal man! He's probably around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, about my age. Hmm, but what he's done is far more impressive than mine!"

When Cao Cao was mentioned, Xin Mao'an looked admiring and spoke carefully.

"This Cao Cao, his ancestors were also from a family of eunuchs, descendants of Cao Teng, the Marquis of Feiting. Although the Marquis of Feiting was a eunuch, he was known for his integrity in selecting virtuous and capable officials, unlike the treacherous eunuchs like the Ten Attendants. So, in a way, Cao Cao was also one of the gentry..."

"As for Cao Cao's rise to fame, it was due to two major events. One was the comment of the famous scholar Xu Gong, 'You are a villain in times of peace, and a hero in times of chaos,' which amazed the scholars of the time. The other was that seven or eight years earlier, when he was the Northern Commandant of Luoyang, he used a five-colored rod to kill Jian Tu, the uncle of the eunuch Jian Shuo, in accordance with the law. From then on, he drew a line between himself and the eunuchs and became irreconcilable enemies."

"The struggle between eunuchs and scholars was a struggle between the wicked and the loyal, a fundamental conflict that allowed no room for wavering! A court advisor like Cao Cao, loyal and outspoken, risking his life for justice, was a true embodiment of loyalty and integrity for the Han Dynasty. But Yuan Shao, who rose to the position of one of the Three Dukes with the support of eunuchs, is difficult to judge..."

Hearing his senior brother Mao'an's heartfelt words on behalf of the gentry, Zhang Chengfu stroked his chin, finding it equally difficult to comment.

"Cao Cao?... "

The great teacher Zhang Jiao seemed to be deep in thought. He glanced at Zhang Chengfu and then comforted Xin Maoan.

"Mao'an, the partisans have always been friendly with my Taiping Dao. I am an expert in astrology, and I see that although the Ten Attendants currently wield great power, their lifespan is only seven or eight years. At that time, the situation in the court will inevitably undergo a major change..."

"Ah, teacher! Is this really true?!"

"Ah."

The Great Teacher smiled and nodded, then asked another question.

"Are there any other important matters in the imperial court?"

"Other major events?..." Xin Maoan fidgeted with his fingers, thought for a moment, and answered angrily.

"The emperor is dissolute. Last year, he opened shops in the palace, allowing palace maids to buy and sell, steal, and fight among themselves. Meanwhile, the emperor, dressed as a merchant, drank wine and watched plays for amusement. Then, he played with dogs in the West Garden, dressing them in the hats and ribbons of scholars, thus disgracing the scholars. Later, the emperor personally drove a carriage pulled by four donkeys around the palace, and the sons of eunuchs in the capital all followed suit..."

"The emperor's actions are utterly immoral! The hearts of scholars throughout the land have been completely lost!"

"... "

Upon hearing this description, Zhang Chengfu chuckled. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao was also speechless for a moment. After a long while, he shook his head and sighed.

"The emperor's moral failings have brought ruin upon the entire nation; the virtue of fire has waned, and the virtue of earth should rise... With such an emperor, the fate of the Han dynasty is clearly sealed!"

Upon hearing this, Xin Mao'an nodded. Most of the gentry in the land disliked and were dissatisfied with Emperor Ling. However, since the court held the Han army, even if the gentry were dissatisfied, they dared not rebel.

However, their reluctance to take the lead did not mean they did not want others to. The peasant uprisings and rebellions in various places, the revolts of the Qiang people, and the rapid expansion of the Taiping Dao were all happening behind the scenes, with countless powerful clans watching from the sidelines or even secretly fueling the flames.

"Mao'an, outside of Ji Province, are there any major events happening anywhere in the world?"

“Outside of Jizhou… well, at the end of last year, the Xianbei invaded Youzhou and Bingzhou, plundering a lot, and they are not far from our Jizhou.”

Xin Maoan recalled for a moment, looked at Zhang Chengfu, and said with a smile.

"By the way! When the Xianbei invaded Youzhou this time, there was a chief administrator of the Liaodong vassal state who was skilled in archery and horsemanship and had outstanding martial arts skills. At the age of twenty-something, he led only a few dozen cavalrymen and defeated hundreds of invading Xianbei cavalrymen. He can be described as a rare and brave general!"

"It is said that he came from a very humble background, merely the son of a concubine of a powerful family. He pleaded and begged his way into becoming the imperial carriage attendant of Prefect Liu. When Prefect Liu offended a eunuch and was punished by the court, exiled to Rinan in Jiaozhou, this imperial carriage attendant risked his life to escort him. During the journey, a general amnesty was declared, and Prefect Liu was spared punishment. Deeply moved, he secured a place for the attendant as a recommended candidate for the civil service examination. Only then was he able to become an official, serving as the Chief Administrator of the vassal state..."

"The merits this Chief Clerk has made this time have been appreciated by the Governor of Youzhou, who has directly appointed him as the Magistrate of Zhuo County, with a salary of 1,000 shi (a unit of grain). To rise from the position of a concubine's son in a powerful family to this point is truly a rare and extremely difficult feat!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu's heart stirred, and he spoke.

"Senior Brother Mao'an, is the magistrate of Zhuo County surnamed Gongsun?"

"Not bad!"

Xin Maoan was somewhat surprised. He nodded and replied.

"These are outstanding members of the Lingzhi Gongsun clan, named Gongsun Bogui and Gongsun Zan!..."

As the sun began to set and dusk gradually descended, the master and his disciples chatted for a while, mainly Xin Mao'an recounting his experiences, while the others listened. Apart from their eldest brother, Ma Yuanyi, no one else could get a word in edgewise about these aristocratic tales.

Then came the usual simple meal of wheat porridge, but with the addition of pickled sunflower leaves, fresh chives, spicy mustard greens, and two thin slices of mutton jerky. Needless to say, these were all brought back by Xin Mao'an. Thanks to this aristocratic senior brother, Zhang Chengfu was able to eat meat, a rare treat outside of the New Year holidays. In those days, apart from wealthy aristocratic families, ordinary people rarely saw meat.

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao did not eat the meat, but instead divided the dried meat in his bowl among his two youngest disciples, Gao Daonu and Zhang Chengfu. After everyone finished eating and it was time to disperse, Zhang Jiao gave further instructions.

"Chengfu, you stay here for a moment."

"Yes, teacher."

Zhang Chengfu sat at the table, waiting patiently. Only after all his fellow disciples had left did Zhang Jiao open his closed eyes and look at his youngest disciple.

"Chengfu, you've listened to so much from Mao'an today... have you gained anything?"

Sensing the test in his master's words, Zhang Chengfu pondered for a long time, the complex history flashing through his mind. After a while, he straightened his back and answered solemnly.

“Master, I believe the chaos in this world stems from the struggle between the emperor, the eunuchs, and the aristocratic families. Now, the conflict between the eunuchs and the aristocracy is irreconcilable! One side is bound to fall, and they will stop at nothing, even if it means shaking the very foundations of the Han dynasty! And this is the opportunity for all the people of the world…”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiao raised his eyes and glanced at his young disciple, who was only fourteen years old. His expression remained unchanged, and he simply said...

"go on!"

"Yes! Heaven above! The reason why the Han Dynasty can still be maintained and the situation in the court can still be balanced is only because the emperor is still alive and the Han border troops are still in force..."

At this point, Zhang Chengfu paused, his eyes sharpened, and he said in a deep voice.

"The key to the world's political situation lies with the emperor! If the emperor dies, the eunuchs and aristocratic families will immediately engage in a fierce infighting, a fight to the death!"

"Both eunuchs and aristocratic families wield power within the imperial army. If they were to fight each other and recklessly depose the emperor, the authority of the Han dynasty would crumble instantly, and the border armies of the Han would cease to be a unified force... Such a momentous undertaking is possible!"

"Heaven bears witness! The aristocratic factions are probably quite eager for the emperor's death. If there's anything that can be done in Sili Luoyang, it's assassinating the emperor. And my eldest brother, Ma Yuanyi, going to Sili Luoyang, will likely involve cooperation with the faction! However, I still feel that the faction cannot be trusted, and the aristocracy cannot be relied upon..."

Upon hearing these words, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao suddenly opened his eyes. He gazed intently at his youngest disciple for a long time before sighing softly.

"Without leaving home, one can know the world; without peeping through the window, one can see the Way of Heaven. The farther one goes, the less one knows... Chengfu, if you had been born ten years earlier, the position of Senior Brother of the Way of Peace would have been more suitable for you!"

Happy May Day!

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(End of this chapter)