Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 76: If Dian Wei doesn't assassinate King Chen, he'll come to join him!
"Assassinate the Prince of Chen? Absolutely not! Assassinating a prince would involve too much and would shake the court and the world. Yuzhou is a place with many powerful families. If we act rashly, it will be difficult to hide from the eyes and ears of these powerful families, especially the Yuan family of Runan. We are going to do something big in the year of Jiazi. We cannot expose ourselves to the court at this time and carry out this murder for the powerful families."

Upon hearing Zhang Chengfu's words, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao shook his head, his face showing some solemnity. He looked into the eyes of the young disciple and solemnly instructed him.

"Chengfu, a gentleman is not a vessel, but waits for the right time to act. You can't always think of solving problems through assassination! There are many other ways to get rid of Prince Chen. Prince Chen once privately offered sacrifices to the Yellow Emperor to Heaven, which angered the current emperor, and the former prime minister was executed by the court for it. Prince Chen has secretly hoarded powerful crossbows and trained elite troops; everyone knows his ambitions are not small. If we mobilize our Taiping Dao and spread the prophetic nursery rhymes about Prince Chen among the people of various states, saying that Prince Chen has the 'aura of an emperor,' then cooperate with the partisans and eunuchs to report Prince Chen's secret hoarding of weapons and armor to the court, and add the prophetic sayings to bring up his previous private sacrifices, then given the emperor's fear, this Prince Chen, Liu Chong, will surely meet the same fate as the former Prince of Bohai, Liu Kui!"

"Eleven years ago, Liu Kui, the King of Bohai, was imprisoned by the emperor. Liu Kui committed suicide, and all eleven of his concubines and seventy of his children were executed. One hundred officials from the Bohai Kingdom, including the royal tutor and prime minister, were also executed. The Bohai Kingdom was abolished and became the Bohai Commandery. The emperor's intent to kill these princes and their brothers was no less than his intent to kill the scholars who were imprisoned, and perhaps even more cruel!"

"I know how to put King Chen to death. But my hesitation lies in whether I should do it at all. We who seek the Dao must act according to principles. Would assassinating King Chen be good for the common people of Chen?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu paused, then looked up at the great teacher Zhang Jiao. Looking into his teacher's deep eyes and the compassionate expression on his face, he hesitated.

"Teacher, do you mean that King Chen is a vassal king who benefits the people? In this great Han dynasty, are there still vassal kings like this?"

"Yes. I traveled south and heard many stories from the disciples of Chenliu. I also sent disciples to Chen to see for themselves and brought back reports on the situation in the countryside. Contrary to the image of the powerful clans that he was 'ambitious and strong,' according to the descriptions in the countryside of Chen, although the King of Chen was brave and fierce, he was a vassal king who could maintain order in the countryside, suppress powerful clans, and allow the people to survive."

The great teacher Zhang Jiao stroked his short beard, somewhat moved.

"Last year, despite the plague and drought, many prefectures, powerful families, and influential clans in Yanzhou and Yuzhou did not provide any real relief. At most, after the plague subsided and most of the displaced people died of illness and starvation, they would offer a little relief, annex the 'ownerless fields and houses,' and take in able-bodied men as tenants and servants. But this King Liu Chong of Chen provided relief in the State of Chen, enabling tens of thousands of people to survive the most difficult time!"

"Regardless of King Chen's motives—whether it's to win over the people or to cultivate popular support—he has at least ensured the safety of the local populace and suppressed the powerful clans in Chen's territory from annexing land. His actions have benefited the people of Chen! After hearing and learning this, my initial intention to intervene has diminished. If we keep King Chen alive, he will likely still provide disaster relief and distribute grain when the drought strikes next year, allowing more people to survive!"

At this point, the Great Master became very serious, looking solemnly at Zhang Chengfu, the young disciple who was inheriting the Daoist tradition.

“Bear the burden, we who seek the Way must have principles in our actions and a yardstick in our hearts! And this yardstick must not only be known to ourselves, but also to the people, the gentry, and the world! Since our Way of Great Peace encourages good and helps the world, then by using the life and death of the people as the yardstick, what can be done and what cannot be done will become clear!”

"Eliminating the Prince of Chen, who is willing to provide relief, will only benefit the powerful clans and plunge the Chen Kingdom into chaos. Our Taiping Dao cannot take over the Chen Kingdom; this is entirely different from our previous actions in eliminating the Cheng, Cheng, and Li clans of Dong'e! These powerful clans and wealthy families have committed many illegal acts. Eliminating them and having our people take over will be better for the people."

"After much thought, I believe that we, the Taiping Dao, should not take action against King Chen! If one day King Chen leads his troops out of his fiefdom and fights against us, then we can openly and fairly oppose him! Until then, my inner compass will be the standard that restrains my actions and prevents me from doing so."

"And Chengfu, what I'm saying all this is actually to warn you! In response to the evil deeds of the ferocious god Chiyou, you must have a great vow to save the people, and be bound by the moral compass within your own heart! You cannot condemn all powerful families, feudal lords, emperors, and officials of prefectures and kingdoms! There will always be individuals who do good, and there will always be powerful families, wealthy clans, and feudal lords who benefit the people. Even if their numbers are few, as long as they exist, they are not the enemies of our Way of Peace."

"Follow the principles of goodness, act only when it is morally just, and be known and recognized by the world. This is the high expectation I have for you, and it is also the credibility and reputation that a leader of the Way of Peace should have! An assassin who carries a three-foot sword, no matter how much blood is spilled and how accurate the kill is, cannot bear the hopes of the people of the world. Come and become the next great and virtuous teacher of the Way of Peace!"

"."

Hearing this profound teaching and feeling the high hopes placed in his teacher's eyes, Zhang Chengfu remained silent for a long time before bowing deeply in reverence. He was, in fact, just an ordinary person, and without the earnest guidance of his great and virtuous teacher, he could not have grown to where he is today, cultivated this heart that seeks the Way, understood the laws governing the operation of society, and forged his own "Way".

“Teacher, I understand! I will also have a yardstick in my heart to measure what I should and shouldn’t do. I will inherit your principles of seeking the Way and continue to move forward!”

"okay!"

Inside the thatched hut, the master and apprentice sat facing each other, genuine smiles on their faces. Outside, the sunset gradually faded, and the dark night enveloped the fields of Jiwu County. Meanwhile, a dozen miles away, in a secluded, deserted village temple, a bonfire burned, roasting field mice and simmering millet porridge.

A burly, tall man squatted before the campfire, silently staring at the flames. Behind him lay a heavy halberd, alongside two ring-pommel swords. Compared to his exceptionally robust physique, the campfire, halberd, and swords all appeared smaller, almost delicate. Beside this imposing man, a stout old woman, wearing a yellow turban, spoke incessantly with a worried expression. Her voice was rapid and loud, like the beating of a drum, making the man's expression shift and his unease palpable.

"Tiger! I'm not scolding you, what are you hesitating for?! What kind of status does the Great Virtuous Teacher have, what kind of immortal master is he? Those wealthy families in Jiwu County, the Wang, Liu, and Li families, who usually hold their heads high like colorful roosters, all turn into docile hens when they see the Great Virtuous Teacher, desperately trying to get close to him!"

"Mother has inquired carefully! Not to mention the wealthy families in the county, even the county magistrate and prefectural governor treat the Great Virtuous Teacher like a living god!"

"What a blessing it is to encounter such a celestial master! Moreover, he is kind and compassionate, far better than that so-called chivalrous Liu you sought refuge with before! The master himself came, distributing talismanic water and food to the villagers, holding a ritual, and bestowing talismans. Given his esteemed status, he personally conducted the ritual for your deceased father, dispelling the evil spirits and resentment—the ceremony lasted three days! The pomp and ceremony were unmatched, even by the wealthiest families in the county! What an immense favor this is!"

Aunt Dian's voice was loud and clear, full of energy, making Dian Wei frown. He remained silent, turning his back to his mother. But Aunt Dian wouldn't let him off the hook, walking around to his front and continuing to persuade him.

"The Great Master has been kind to our Dian family! He performed this ritual and said he had a connection with you, which means he intends to help you! Surely it's not for the sake of an old woman like me who's halfway to the grave, is it? The Immortal Master said that you are connected to a fierce god in heaven, carrying inherent malevolence and evil energy that hinders your life and death, diminishing your virtue and lifespan! Only by following the Immortal Master, seeking the Dao and cultivating yourself, can you resolve this! This is such a wonderful opportunity, one that so many people would love to ask for but couldn't obtain."

His head was throbbing from his mother's nagging, so Dian Wei turned to the side and mumbled half a sentence. "Mother! Stop with the nonsense. Let me think about it some more."

"Think about it! Think about it my ass! You idiot, all you can do is miss your brother Liu and your so-called brotherhood! How did I give birth to such a scoundrel? You're not even as clear-headed as an old woman like me!"

Upon hearing Dian Wei's refusal, Dian's mother immediately flew into a rage. She glared at the several of Dian Wei's attendants who were watching the scene and roared angrily.

"And you lot, what are you laughing at? You're all a bunch of scoundrels! You got into trouble with your Tiger brother and are on the government's wanted list. You don't even dare to show your faces in the county. You're all strong and healthy, but you're just a bunch of cowardly rats hiding their heads and tails. You can't even do farm work! What kind of chivalrous brother are you following? Chivalrous, my foot! You just freeload everywhere. Chivalrous my ass!"

"."

After being thoroughly scolded by Aunt Dian, Dian Wei's attendants were stunned. The words were true, and the men hung their heads, unable to laugh for a moment. After reprimanding them, Aunt Dian went around to Dian Wei and, both anxious and angry, tried to persuade him.

"Tiger! I'm doing all this for you! This isn't a solution, you've committed a crime and you're constantly on the run! Your wife and I still have to do the farm work. You can't live on the run forever, can you? Look at that so-called chivalrous Liu you've been following! You risked your life for him, killed his rival, and helped him seize business in the eastern prefecture. But what was the result? Your chivalrous brother drinks and eats meat every day, even rides in a carriage, and has to pay to become a village head! And you're on the government's wanted list!"

“Your elder brother Liu only cares about himself. He sent some grain and money home, but he didn’t mention anything about absolving you of your crimes! I’m old and have seen so many people. I’m not blind! Do you think I can’t see what he’s thinking? He just wants you to keep your status as a wanted criminal, to use you as a shield to intimidate others and pave the way for his own advancement!”

“Mother, I know perfectly well. By joining the Great Teacher of Virtue, I am becoming a tool for the Way of Peace.”

Dian Wei stood silently by the campfire for a long time before finally managing to utter a single sentence. But then his mother became furious, scolding him for his lack of ambition.

"You idiot! If you follow that Brother Liu, you'll be nothing but a knife until you die, a broken kitchen knife from the countryside!"

"But if you follow the Great Virtuous Teacher, it will be a completely different story! Putting aside the Great Virtuous Teacher's virtue and morality, just his reputation and status are known to everyone. That Liu woman you're following is no match for even a hair on the Great Virtuous Teacher's head! I've also inquired with Zhao Jin in the county. As long as you follow the Great Virtuous Teacher, you'll be successful. He can easily forgive your sins and your viciousness! Not only your sins in the government, but even your sins in the underworld can be forgiven!"

"But if you miss this opportunity today and don't receive the guidance of the Great Sage Teacher, then when the Immortal Master leaves tomorrow, you won't have this temple anymore! You'll have to hide for years, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

“My son, I would never harm you! This is the best way out for you, it is the protection of our ancestors’ accumulated virtue! Come back with me quickly and pay respects to the great and virtuous teacher! Once you pay respects, even if you are a chicken that flies up a tree, your few good-for-nothing companions will also have a way out!”

Upon hearing this, several of Dian Wei's fellow villagers finally spoke up to offer their advice.

"Yeah, Brother Tiger, we can't keep hiding like this forever!"

"Yes! The Way of Peace really does save people from illness and disease, and they even give out talismanic water and food. Everyone in the village believes in the Way of Peace; believing in the Way of Peace means paying less tax!"

"Brother Tiger, my dad sent me to bring Auntie here! Everyone in the village knows you have the fierce nature of a demon. The older generation of villagers have all advised you to seek out a wise and virtuous teacher, instead of staying in the village all the time."

"Excellent! Join the Great Teacher of Virtue and the Way of Peace! Isn't this much better than following Liu Da?"

The bonfire flickered in the temple, and the statue of the Yellow Emperor remained silent with its eyes lowered. Dian Wei, the old woman, muttered to herself, while her attendants tried to persuade her. Dian Wei, who had been standing before the bonfire with his eyes lowered for a long time, finally straightened up and answered loudly.

"Mother, stop talking! The Grand Master of Virtue values ​​my skill in killing and wants me to repay him with my life. Since he has been so kind to my Dian family, I won't say any more. I'll go see the Grand Master of Virtue and submit to him!"

Having said that, Dian Wei shouldered his halberd, tucked his ring-pommel sword into his waistband, and strode out of the temple gate like a tiger or bear. His attendants exchanged glances, then drew their swords and followed. As they chased after him, Dian's mother took out a yellow turban and called out urgently.

"Tiger, you must be respectful! Don't offend your wise teacher!"

"I know!"

"Come here and put this yellow turban on!"

(End of this chapter)