Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 29 Zhao Keman and Hu Ying (Thanks to reader "wyhJessica" for the generous donation!)
A light snowflake drifted across the outskirts of Ye City. The snowflakes seemed to appear and disappear, like drifting willow catkins or fine grains of salt. When they landed on the tip of his nose and melted into cold droplets, Zhang Chengfu felt a slight chill and couldn't help but squint.

"Hmm? Someone wants to harm the teacher? Please explain, Mr. Wang! Who is it and what is the matter?!"

"Ahem! It's Shen Pei Shen Zhengnan, a legal clerk from the powerful Shen clan of Yin'an in the Wei Commandery! He has always been hostile to our Taiping Dao, and has repeatedly reported to the governor and prefect of this state, saying that the Great Teacher of Virtue 'falsely claims the Mandate of Heaven and steals the name of Taiping,' 'spreads heresy and misleads the people,' 'ostensibly providing famine relief and medicine, but in reality inducing people to gather crowds, seemingly practicing benevolent teaching, but actually secretly raising henchmen,' and 'deceives the people's eyes and ears, and will surely disrupt the order of the world'!..."

"Of course, all the governors and prefects of this prefecture have been 'divinely enlightened and infallible,' knowing the relief and pacification efforts our Taiping Dao has provided to the people of Jizhou! No superior has believed Shen Zhengnan's slander and falsehoods..."

The middle-aged clerk, Wang He, lowered his voice and vividly described Shen Pei's words and actions. He went into great detail, thoroughly expounding on the legal officer's hostility towards the Way of Peace. Only then did he speak with a look of urgency.

"Yesterday, the Great Teacher of Virtue visited the prefectural government, and Governor Li personally came out to greet him. Afterwards, Governor Li announced a three-day holiday so he could discuss metaphysics and Daoist principles with the Great Teacher of Virtue. After Governor Li left, this Shen Zhengnan angrily rose and, addressing the officials around him, denounced the Great Teacher of Virtue, saying he was going to Luoyang to report on the Way of Peace! Besides Luoyang, he also wanted to report on the Great Teacher of Virtue in Yuzhou, requesting the Yuzhou government to arrest him after the Great Teacher of Virtue went south to Yuzhou!..."

"This man is no ordinary person; he acts on his words! This afternoon, he took four trusted members of his clan, borrowed several horses from the government office, and delegated the official duties for the next half month to his subordinates… He actually left the city and headed south! This trip will surely involve falsely accusing the Great Teacher of Virtue and harming my Taiping Dao, which is dedicated to helping the people of Jizhou!…"

"Heaven bears witness! I was truly worried about the safety of the Great Teacher, and considering myself a believer of the Way of Peace, I harbored a sense of justice... Therefore, I risked coming here to inform you of this matter! This Shen Zhengnan acts ruthlessly and decisively, please do not underestimate him!"

"... "

Hearing these words, and faced with such an urgent matter, Zhang Chengfu frowned and exchanged glances with Gao Daonu. After a few moments of contemplation, he did not immediately accept their words, but instead asked in a deep voice.

"My lord, this matter is of great importance. Do you have any evidence?"

"Yes! Yesterday, Shen Zhengnan vehemently criticized the Great Teacher of Virtue in the government office, and all the officials know about it. And today, when he borrowed a horse from the government office, it was immediately known!"

"Hmm... then how did you know that Shen Zhengnan left the city this afternoon? Could it be that you were watching his every move?"

"... "

Upon hearing this, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Wang He's weathered face. After a long while, he spoke in a low voice.

“I am but a lowly clerk in the Ministry of Justice, that is, the deputy of the clerk. Before Shen Zhengnan left, he delegated all the official duties of the Ministry of Justice to his subordinates... naturally including me.”

"Oh!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu nodded, and the situation became clear to him. He pondered for a moment, then stood up and said to Wang He.

"Please wait a moment in the front courtyard and have some tea. I'll go and arrange for someone to inquire at the prefectural government office!"

"Um!…"

The Way of Peace had many followers in Ye City, and news was not kept out of reach. Furthermore, with over a hundred minor officials in the prefectural government, inquiring about a public matter wouldn't be difficult. About four quarters of an hour later, a local follower who had gone to gather information returned and whispered a few words in Zhang Chengfu's ear.

"That's true! This legal clerk is known for his uprightness and harbors deep animosity towards the Taiping Dao. Several years ago, he handled a case involving my Taiping Dao followers, imprisoning dozens of believers who gathered to resist taxes, and sentencing them all to beheading..."

"He did indeed submit numerous memorials to the state and local authorities, accusing our Taiping Dao sect in rather vehement terms. He was skilled in official matters and frequently visited various counties and prefectures, gathering numerous 'false accusations,' including those concerning our estate in Julu..."

"Yesterday, he was at the government office, expressing his dissatisfaction with the meeting between Prefect Li and the Grand Master of Virtue, and uttered many complaints... This afternoon, someone saw him with four guards, riding out of the south city. There are also records in the government office that he borrowed three official horses..."

"As for this legal clerk, Wang He, he was a believer in the Yellow Heaven, but he had only donated two bushels of grain, so he couldn't be considered devout. It's said that he toiled in this deputy position for ten years, waiting to be promoted to a higher post. However, because of his low birth, he was directly stripped of his position by Shen Pei, who came from the Shen clan of Yin'an and was relocated from the Zhao state. Shen Pei was disliked by the officials in the prefecture and had virtually no chance of promotion; he would likely remain in this position. Being more than ten years younger than Wang He, he couldn't possibly be dismissed first and would have to endure as a deputy until his death..."

After hearing this intelligence, Zhang Cheng remained silent in thought. He was now certain that although Wang He's motives were impure, he was telling the truth.

This legal clerk, Shen Pei, was known for his "uprightness" and always stood firmly on the side of the powerful families, regarding the Way of Peace as their enemy. He would never join the Way of Peace; he would only be their foe!
Zhang Cheng recalled this with his eyes closed, and later history proved it. After becoming a trusted advisor to Yuan Shao, Shen Pei's methods in dealing with the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the Taihang Mountains were extremely cruel! Once captured, they were "buried alive" without any mercy.

When Cao Cao attacked Hebei, Shen Pei, in order to demonstrate his determination to defend Ye City to the death, even killed his own wives and concubines, as well as the entire Xin Pi clan!

A capable official like him, well-versed in the affairs of Ji Province and possessing a decisive and ruthless character, would pose a significant threat to the overall situation of the Yellow Turban Rebellion if he were to organize the defense of Ye City or Handan, or guide the Han border troops sent to quell the rebellion.

Moreover, who knows what serious consequences Shen Pei's trip south to report this will have? Will it really cause a stir in the imperial court in Luoyang? If left unchecked…

"Shen Pei, Shen Zheng Nan... You cannot make me die facing south..."

At this moment, a jumble of thoughts flashed through Zhang Chengfu's mind, making him feel as if he were carrying a thousand pounds on his shoulders.

With the Great Master absent, he couldn't interrupt his master's philosophical discussion with the governor and attract the governor's attention. Therefore, he had to make the decision as quickly as possible!

Amidst the fog, he must make decisive choices and devise solutions for every decision he makes, for the future of the Way of Peace! But how should he choose? What kind of choice will yield the best outcome for the Way of Peace?

"call!…"

After a moment, Zhang Chengfu let out a long breath and slowly lowered his head. Whether right or wrong, he already had the answer in his heart. He lowered his head, vigorously rubbed the snowflakes off his face, and forced a smile onto his cheek before returning to the front courtyard and smiling at Wang He.

"Your Majesty! Thank you for informing us. We will certainly repay you handsomely in the future!"

"Ah! We are all believers in the Way of Peace who believe in the Yellow Heaven... How can there be a distinction between you and me?"

"Yes! Lord Wang is indeed a member of my Taiping Dao! ...I wonder, if this legal clerk Shen Pei is no longer in office, will Lord Wang be the one to take over?"

"This! I, Wang, have served in the Cao Zhong administration for twenty years, rising from a minor clerk to a Cao Shi (a high-ranking official). In terms of expertise in administration and seniority within the Cao Zhong, I am indeed the most suitable candidate for Cao Yuan (another high-ranking official)!"

Upon hearing this explicit statement, Wang He was overjoyed. Wasn't he eagerly coming to deliver the message precisely for this promise?
Twenty years! He came from a very humble background, merely a member of a collateral branch of a poor family. He worked in the legal department for twenty years, finally managing to retire as a legal clerk!
In the end, a scion of a prominent family who had migrated there easily seized the official position! Taking it was one thing; scions of prominent families always rose quickly and didn't stay in one position for long. With further promotions, it would naturally be his turn. But the Yin'an Shen family behind Shen Pei wasn't considered a top-tier aristocratic family in the prefecture; otherwise, they wouldn't have started as a prefectural clerk, but directly entered officialdom with a salary starting at 200 or 600 shi (a unit of grain measure). Furthermore, he was disliked by his superiors and remained stagnant for several years…

Wang He couldn't hold on any longer, so he seized the opportunity, gritted his teeth, and made a tough decision to exert some effort on the Taiping Road side!

"Heaven above! If we could obtain a word from the Great Teacher of Virtue to the Prefect, then victory would be assured!"

"Yes! I will certainly report the king's righteousness to my master! But I wonder... does the king have a portrait of Shen Pei?"

"?!portrait?"

"Yes! The portrait, the more lifelike the better."

Upon hearing this, Wang He's expression shifted several times, from surprise and doubt to fear and then joy. His throat went dry, and looking at the smiling young man was like seeing a monstrous flood. After a few breaths, he finally spoke with difficulty.

“This… Shen Pei is not a criminal, and there is no portrait of him in the government office.”

"Wang Jun is a seasoned official in the prefecture, skilled in administrative matters; surely he can draw portraits for government officials?"

Zhang Chengfu smiled, took a piece of yellow paper and a fine brush, and put them into Wang He's hand.

"Please draw! If there are any difficult parts, just write a few lines to describe them as best you can!"

"."

Wang He hesitated, wavering. This stroke of the pen would implicate him, leaving no way out, truly binding him to the Way of Peace! However, seeing the young man's undeniable smile, and remembering that promise... he remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth.

"Alright! I'll draw it right away!"

The snowflakes fell and stopped, melting in the muddy courtyard like cold rain falling on the heart. When the snow finally melted, a portrait in ink appeared on the yellow paper, like a wanted poster displayed at the city gate.

"His face was like that of someone carved from stone, his eyebrows thick and reaching his temples. His eyes were piercing, his nose straight and prominent. His lips were thin and tightly pressed together, his expression solemn and rarely smiling..."

Zhang Chengfu watched calmly until Wang He wrote the words "Shen Pei" below the portrait. Only then did he take the yellow paper, nod and smile at Wang He.

"I will forever remember Your Majesty's kindness. Please return! Let no one know of today's events. Simply await good news! We are both on the path to peace..."

"Yes! Yes! Farewell! Farewell!"

Wang He bowed, hurriedly took his leave, and left as if fleeing. Zhang Chengfu closed the wooden door, the smile on his face vanished. Gao Daonu beside him watched him, as did the remaining disciples. He silently walked to the courtyard, sat down, took out the portrait of Shen Pei, and drew the fine iron dagger given to him by Zhao Ye, pressing it against the blowing yellow paper.

"Swish~ Swish~"

A cold wind blew, and the pine branches in the courtyard rustled. Snowflakes swirled from the branches, drifting onto the paper, onto his face, and even onto the dagger. Zhang Chengfu gazed at it for a long time before putting away the portrait and tucking it into his robes. He looked at the gleaming blade under the falling snow and sighed softly.

"Zhao's guest wears a silk tassel on his hat, his Wu hook sword gleams like frost and snow..."

Upon hearing him speak, Gao Daonu and his disciples all stepped forward and eagerly asked.

"Have you thought about what to do about Chengfu?"

"Master Zhang, what's the next step?"

"Yes! Our great teacher said we'll all listen to you!..."

Hearing the questions from the crowd, Zhang Chengfu paused for a moment, looking at the worried and anxious faces, many of whom were ordinary farmers. His gaze gradually sharpened, and when he spoke again, his voice was filled with a chilling, icy resolve!

"This group is going to plead with the Great Teacher of Virtue; we must stop them! The only way for them to cross the river to the south is via the official road at Liyang Ferry, which is accessible by horseback. We must not let them cross Liyang Ferry and head south into Yanzhou! Otherwise, once they cross the river, there are many roads, and they will be hard to find again!"

“We have five horses. Send three men who can ride to come with me and Dao Nu! The rest of you stay here and do not act strangely… Zhang Jia! You take charge of the rest of the men. After Master finishes his esoteric discourse, inform him of this matter and ask him to go directly to Liyang Ferry to meet us!”

"promise!"

Disciple Zhang Jia nodded in agreement. Among the other disciples, three men from Youzhou who could ride horses had already been chosen. Zhang Chengfu removed the yellow turban from his head, slung his hunting bow over his shoulder, grabbed a short sword, and shouted in a deep voice.

"Take off your yellow turbans, put on your straw hats... mount your horses, and set off now! We'll pursue them south along the official road tonight! Although this group has been traveling for most of the day, they won't be traveling day and night like we are. We'll definitely catch up with them in just two days! And once we catch up..."

"Alright! Everyone, take your iron-tipped staffs and hide your ring-pommel swords! Let's go!"

"promise!…"

Following Zhang Chengfu's decision, the disciples of the Way of Peace sprang into action. Soon, the five men mounted their horses, donned common straw hats, and donned snow-proof raincoats. Concealing their weapons, they discreetly set out and headed south along the official road.

"Da da da…"

The snowflakes fell softly once more. This time, the snow didn't stop; instead, it fell even heavier. A profound silence fell over the world, a stillness that ushered in winter, until even the hoofprints and the frozen bones of those who lay by the roadside were buried in the vast expanse of white snow.
Thank you so much to reader "wyhJessica" for the generous donation! I'm truly grateful! There will be bonus chapters for those who donate. Thank you everyone for your support!

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(End of this chapter)