Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 27: We shall seize the Handan armory, recruit the miners of Wu'an, and organize them into an army!
"Clang clang... clang clang!..."

The sound of blacksmithing echoed from the city of Handan, clearly audible even from the outskirts of the city. The evening breeze carried the smoky smell of burning charcoal and iron, and wisps of ash rose as dusk fell. These familiar scenes, strangely familiar, held Zhang Chengfu's gaze for a long time, leaving him somewhat dazed.

"clang…"

The sounds and atmosphere of such workshops are rarely felt in the vast and pristine fields of Ji Province. Even throughout the entire Han Dynasty, there are only a handful of places with this kind of workshop atmosphere. At this moment, the young man stood silently in the courtyard, gazing at the setting sun in the west, and murmured to himself.

"The furnace fire illuminates heaven and earth, red stars scatter amidst purple smoke... My white hair is three thousand feet long..."

Upon reaching this point, he paused, remaining silent and closing his eyes for a long time. When he opened his eyes again, his face had returned to normal, and he turned to go to the east wing. East is the direction of honor; this was the room for entertaining distinguished guests and also the resting place of the Great Teacher.

"teacher!"

"Hmm. How did the chat go?"

"Grandpa Zhao is quite talkative...I have received news about armor, which is very important."

"armor?"

Upon hearing this, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao paused, then slowly sat up from his sleeping couch. He lit a candle and placed it on the table beside the couch. In the flickering candlelight, Zhang Chengfu also knelt on the couch. With a solemn expression, he recounted in detail the news that "it is possible to privately purchase iron armor from the Handan armory."

"Heaven bears witness! One armored soldier is worth five strong men! If our Taiping Dao is to undertake a great undertaking, we must build a core elite force. And arming them requires spears, halberds, bows, crossbows, armor, and shields. Among these, armor is the most important, followed by crossbows!..."

"The ironclad armor of the Handan arsenal?... "

Zhang Jiao, the Great Teacher of Virtue, remained silent in thought. Although he had practiced medicine and preached for many years, he had never seen a large-scale armored army in the heartland of the Han Dynasty, including the provinces of Ji, Yu, Yan, Qing, and Jing. Moreover, it wasn't just him; the entire leadership of the Taiping Dao clearly lacked sufficient emphasis on weaponry and equipment.

"Hmm... Chengfu, what are your thoughts?...?"

"Master, the year is Jiazi! The time of Huangtian is not far off. This disciple believes that these armors and weapons privately sold in the Handan armory should be brought into the hands of our Taiping Dao as much as possible! And the channels and connections for these transactions, including the money spent, are inevitably inseparable from this local merchant Zhao Ye, who believes in Huangtian. This matter can only be entrusted to him; we must make him one of our own in Taiping Dao!..."

At this point, Zhang Chengfu lowered his head, bowed respectfully to his master, and said softly.

“Master, this wealthy merchant has something to ask of my Taiping Dao. He believes in fate and fortune, and he also needs protection and promises… What he wants, I cannot give him. But you, Master, can give him.”

"Handan is located west of the Taihang Mountains and south of Ye City. It has blacksmiths and armories, making its location extremely crucial! Our Taiping Dao definitely needs to make arrangements here. Once we launch an uprising, we must coordinate from within and without to capture Handan immediately! Otherwise, if the Jizhou government first arms its troops to defend the city, it will be much more difficult to conquer it!"

"Handan. Handan of the State of Zhao".

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao lowered his eyes, the flickering candlelight casting varying light on his face, yet revealing no change in his expression. After a long while, he nodded slightly and spoke calmly.

"Hmm! Then I will stay in Handan for two or three more days and invite this great merchant who believes in the Yellow Heaven to formally join my Way of Great Peace!"

“Chengfu, didn’t you want to go see Tieshan? Go tomorrow! Make it three days, and come back quickly. After you return, we will head south to Yecheng. I have made an appointment with Governor Li Shao to examine his illness again and discuss metaphysics for a few days. Our Taiping Dao is operating in Jizhou and cannot do without the goodwill of this Governor of Jizhou, so we cannot neglect him.”

"Yes, teacher!..."

Zhang Cheng nodded heavily, and the matter was settled. The next day, the great teacher Zhang Jiao took some time to speak warmly with the wealthy merchant Zhao Ye. As their conversation deepened, Zhang Jiao personally took out yarrow stalks to divine Zhao Ye's fate, observed the aura at his ancestral graves, and even took his pulse and diagnosed his illness, leaving the wealthy merchant deeply moved and moved to tears…

Meanwhile, Zhang Chengfu, accompanied by the steward of Zhao's residence, rode with Gao Daonu to the iron mine in Wu'an County, dozens of miles to the west.

Throughout Wu'an County, there are numerous mines of varying sizes, perhaps forty or fifty in total. The large mines are mainly state-run, with iron smelting furnaces and guarded by hundreds of soldiers from various prefectures and kingdoms, employing hundreds or even thousands of miners and prisoners. The smaller mines, on the other hand, are privately owned, with smaller but more sophisticated furnaces, and employ two to three hundred recruited miners.

"Young Master Zhang, in this Wu'an County, there are three large government-run mines. Each mine employs several hundred people, and the furnaces are over two zhang (5 meters) high. A single smelting in a large furnace requires several thousand jin of iron ore and several thousand jin of charcoal, yielding a thousand jin of iron! There are thirty small private mines, each employing anywhere from dozens to several hundred people, with furnaces over one zhang (3 meters) high. A single smelting in a small furnace can yield a hundred or two hundred jin of iron!..."

"With over thirty mines of varying sizes combined, there are probably more than eight thousand miners and craftsmen. In a single smelting operation, they can produce several thousand to tens of thousands of catties of iron! This is the iron industry of Handan, one of the five major cities! If there is a sufficient supply of ore, these large and small shaft furnaces can be used for continuous smelting, eliminating the need for slow heating with charcoal and greatly reducing fuel consumption..."

"Unfortunately, there are still not enough miners. If too much iron is produced, the price will drop. So the iron smelting furnace can't be kept running continuously."

As the steward of the Zhao family recounted the magnificent and astonishing scenes of mining and iron smelting, they came into Zhang Chengfu's view, leaving him in awe!

On the distant, rolling hills, large and small furnaces stood in rows, billowing black smoke. Everywhere were busy miners and blacksmiths, and piles of ore, iron, and charcoal lay everywhere!
"One round of smelting yields thousands upon thousands of kilograms of iron! And this is just in Handan..."

Zhang Chengfu's eyes widened in shock. Without a doubt, the scale of iron smelting in the Han Dynasty was unparalleled in the world at that time!
The Chinese people possess an iron will, forged through countless trials. It was precisely because of this continuous supply of iron that the Han Dynasty achieved unparalleled productivity and formidable fighting power, capable of "one Han soldier being worth five barbarian soldiers"!
But now, the ailment of the Han Dynasty, this four-hundred-year-old divine tree, has penetrated to its very core. Its decay is so profound that even the common people buried in the earth, the roots of this divine tree, cannot survive. Therefore, those who now seek to overthrow it are no longer the barbarian tribes of King You of Zhou, but rather the millions of ordinary people who have supported the Han Dynasty itself, and the hundreds of powerful clans that have long harbored rebellious intentions and ambitions…

"Hey! Yo! Throw in the ore!"

"Hey! Yo! Bellows!"

"Hey! Yo! Pour molten iron!"

"Hey! Yo! Hammered material!"

In the nearby Zhao family's forge, furnaces were built with dense bricks, billowing smoke and fire. The bellows roared, and the craftsmen shouted, like the sounds of thunder and ghostly whispers.

Teams of blacksmiths, wielding iron tools and shirtless, worked tirelessly before the furnace, sweating profusely as they performed various tasks. They were clearly divided into groups: feeding materials, blowing air, pouring iron, hammering… Each group used chants as a rhythm, working in perfect unison, demonstrating excellent teamwork and discipline!
Not far away, in the open-pit iron mine, miners were also working in groups, digging deep into the mine shaft. They bent over, taking turns carrying loads of iron ore. Even further away, the charcoal burners were doing the same arduous but orderly work. Teams of them smoldered in the kiln pits, their faces blackened by the charcoal fire, yet they kept a constant eye on the flames.

At this moment, whether they were blacksmiths, miners, or charcoal workers, the physique, discipline, and endurance they displayed, as well as their familiarity with iron tools, fire, and combat, all validated an experience summarized by later generations…

“Miners, salt workers, and mountain dwellers can all be trained into elite soldiers. This is because they are accustomed to hard work, can endure hunger and cold, and are both fierce and simple.”

"Not only that! These blacksmiths, miners, and charcoal workers also possess a level of discipline rarely seen among the villagers! They understand formations, can cooperate, and become the best soldiers after just a little fighting! My Taiping Dao must recruit them into our ranks!"

At this moment, Zhang Chengfu stared intently for a long time, his heart churning with turmoil, yet his face remained calm and composed. He gazed deeply at these miners and craftsmen for a long time before suddenly turning around and mounting his horse.

"Let's go! It's time to go back!..."

"Da da da!..."

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, and the mines of Wu'an disappeared into the hills and mountains. In the distance, only rising black smoke remained, vanishing into the blood-red sunset.

When Zhang Chengfu returned to the Zhao family manor, he saw that Zhao Ye of the Shang Dynasty had already put on a yellow turban, with red talismans on his forehead, and had changed into a yellow hemp robe.

“Chengfu, Daonu, come and meet Lord Zhao! From this day forward, Lord Zhao will be the Lord of the Taiping Dao in Xiaofang, Handan!”

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao, with a gentle expression, held a yellow scroll in one hand and made a gesture on Zhao Ye's forehead with the other. When the ceremony was complete, Zhao Ye was beaming with joy. He smiled happily and bowed to the two disciples of Zhang Jiao, saying, "Zhao Ye, the Lord of Handan, greets the two talisman masters! Haha! From now on, we are fellow disciples!..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and returned the greeting with a smile.

"Greetings, Lord Zhao!"

"Don't be so formal, just call me Grandpa! I'll call you Chengfu too..."

"Yes, pay your respects to Grandfather Zhao!"

"Haha! I accept the punishment!"

Lord Zhao Ye of Handan smiled and said a few words. Then, he waved his hand, dismissing his stewards and servants. Only when there were no outsiders around did he stroke his beard and speak in a deep voice.

"My esteemed teachers, my two master talismans, I'll take care of the weapons and armor being sold privately in the Handan armory! And with the protection of my Daoist sect, my Zhao family's ironworks can also forge some iron weapons on its own..."

"The private sale of this armory has always been going on. With the Chancellor of Handan away, the three main people I need to bribe are the Military Affairs Clerk, the Military Affairs Officer, and the Armory Clerk. I've always been on good terms with them, and by borrowing the title of 'Wise Teacher,' I don't need to worry about them taking advantage of me or extorting or threatening me... Leave this business to me!"

"As for my youngest son, Zhao Jun, who is thirteen years old this year, I entrust him to the Great Master. Please take him under your wing as a Daoist apprentice! So that he may absorb some of the immortal energy..."

As he spoke, Zhao Ye, the lord of Handan, summoned his youngest son, Zhao Jun, and personally handed him over to Zhang Jiao, the Great Teacher of Virtue. Zhang Jiao accepted the boy's bow, thus establishing his status as a member of the sect.

If this young Taoist novice can pass the test, memorize the sect's "Taiping Jing" and follow the Way of the Yellow Heaven, he can become another of Zhang Jiao's personal disciples. In order to subdue this Lord of Handan, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao indeed put in a lot of effort.

A year and a half before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Zhao family of the Shang Dynasty joined the Way of Peace. It is unknown whether this was a gift from fate or a price to pay.

After finishing discussing these important matters, Zhao Ye, the lord of Handan, turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhang Chengfu, and said in a friendly manner.

"Selling weapons and armor privately from Handan is both difficult and easy. Currently, none of the officials in Handan are capable; most are incompetent and only serve to amass wealth..."

"Previously, there was a capable clerk in the commandery, extremely upright in character, and also highly skilled in official duties. He was in charge of inspections and rigorously audited the treasury for several years, causing headaches for everyone. It wasn't until the officials secretly worked together to send him to Ye City in Wei Commandery that the Handan Kingdom returned to harmony..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu paused for a moment, then asked curiously.

"Oh? May I ask this formidable clerk, what his name is? And what position does he hold in Ye City?"

"He was born into the Yin'an Shen clan, with the surname Shen, given name Pei, and courtesy name Zhengnan."

"Shen Pei? Shen Zhengnan?!"

"Yes! There's no need to be nervous. Shen Pei has now arrived in Ye City and has been promoted one rank among the officials under Wei Commandery, from a junior clerk to a legal officer. However, the legal officer is in charge of postal routes and stations, which requires him to travel around all day, and he doesn't have much real power in the commandery, so it's hard to say whether it's a promotion or a demotion. In other words, he's still not being given important responsibilities in the Wei Commandery government..."

At this point, Zhao Ye, the master of Handan, smiled, bowed to the Great Teacher of Virtue, and kindly reminded him.

"This Shen Zhengnan is quite hostile towards our Taiping Dao! He has repeatedly reported the Grand Master of Virtue to the Prefect and Governor, and is not someone to be trifled with... If you encounter him in Wei Commandery, please be careful, Grand Master of Virtue!"

After giving these reminders, Zhao Ye, the lord of Handan, looked at the sky, waved his hand, and laughed generously.

"Come! Please, distinguished guests, enter the hall! Let us feast tonight to bid farewell to our esteemed teacher as he departs tomorrow!..."

That night, Gao Daonu ate two or three catties of meat and drank several jugs of wine, falling into a deep sleep like a bear that had eaten and drunk its fill. Zhang Chengfu also ate quite a bit, his best meal in recent years. Zhang Jiao, however, only ate a little food and drank a couple of sips of wine before returning to his room.

"Over the past two years...it seems like the teacher is eating less and less?"

Zhang Chengfu pondered for a moment, then left the banquet and returned to his room. The master and disciple lit candles and knelt on the couch, both equally solemn and serious, as if they were cut from the same mold.

"how?"

"The Wu'an mines have eight thousand miners, all of whom are excellent recruits! They are physically strong, disciplined, and fierce, far superior to ordinary farmers, and more suitable for forming an elite force..."

"Our Taiping Dao should send some people to stay in Handan. Firstly, to participate in the preparation of weapons and armor; secondly, to spread our teachings to the miners and craftsmen; and thirdly, to act as inside agents in Handan!"

Zhang Chengfu spoke with a serious expression, proposing the suggestion word by word.

"Teacher, when the time is right... we must take Handan first! Seize all of Handan's armory, recruit the miners from Wu'an, and organize them into an army! Equip this group of miners with the best weapons and armor from the armory... They will surely become the most reliable elite troops of our Taiping Dao, and the mainstay against the government army!"

"To organize miners into an army to fight against government troops?..."

Upon hearing this advice, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. Then, he looked at his murderous young disciple for a while, his expression complex, and sighed softly.

"A harbinger of impending doom, a time of widespread slaughter. Chengfu, all you think about is how to amass troops and launch an uprising. Your murderous aura is far too intense..."

"Teacher! Time waits for no one, we must seize every moment! War is dangerous and perilous, if we want to succeed, we must always remember to use the swords and spears in our hands to defend the land!..."

"Um…"

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao remained silent for a few breaths, first shaking his head, then nodding. Finally, he simply said...

"In this light, Handan is a place we must take. And Ye City, being an important town in Ji Province, must also be taken. We need to make careful arrangements."

"Go to sleep early. Tomorrow morning, head south to Ye City. First, visit the Twelve Canals of the Zhang River, hoping the harmony of the people will wash away the murderous aura emanating from you."

"promise!…"

Zhang Cheng bowed respectfully and then rose to leave. Flickering candlelight filled the room. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao sat for a long time, then suddenly rose and took out yarrow stalks. He gazed at the starry sky and full moon outside the window, softly reciting a divination for his future.

"Old Yang, Young Yang, and Young Yin correspond to Dui (兑) Metal. Young Yang, Young Yin, and Young Yang correspond to Li (离) Fire. Li above Dui below, that is, fire above and lake below, fire and lake form the Kui hexagram. Kui hexagram?"

"The hexagram Kui (睽), line 1, changing line. The text reads: 'Regret disappears; if a horse is lost, do not pursue it, it will return on its own. Seeing an wicked person, there is no blame.' The image says: 'Seeing an wicked person is to avoid blame…'"

"To encounter an wicked person is to avert misfortune... But does encountering an wicked person eliminate malice? And how is this malice eliminated?..."

Gazing at the profound hexagram, the Great Teacher lowered his eyes for a long time before returning to his bed. Then, the candlelight went out, leaving only the clear moonlight, like a jade plate hanging high in the sky.
(End of this chapter)