Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

After the uprising began in Chapter 84, only the commander was able to follow us eastward!
Along the banks of the Ying River, where fallen petals carpeted the grounds, were the peach groves and bamboo mats where aristocratic families gathered for spring outings and literary gatherings. The crisscrossing fields along the riverbank were the prosperous estates of powerful clans. But the small, parched plots of land far from the riverbank, dotted with simple, dilapidated thatched huts, were the desolate villages of Yingchuan. Those impoverished farmers, barely clothed, and those tenant farmers toiling under the whip—these were the millions of ordinary people of Yingchuan struggling amidst the natural disasters, taxes, and land annexations of the late Han Dynasty!

"Phew! We've arrived at Yingyin County!"

Yingyin was a large city, much larger than Xu County. During the Western Han Dynasty, it was the fiefdom of Marquis Guan Ying of Yingyin. After three generations of the Marquisate, the fiefdom was reclaimed by the imperial court and returned to Yingyin County of Yingchuan Commandery. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was the location of the powerful Xun clan of Yingyin. The Xun clan of Yingyin was numerous and prosperous, with thousands of members in each branch, "thousands of slaves and tens of thousands of followers," and thus Yingyin County became known as "Xun."

"The Xun family was known for its strict family traditions and skill in managing the estate. Xun Shu and Xun Jihe were renowned throughout the land and enjoyed great prestige. He had close ties with the partisans and was called 'teacher' by the partisan scholars Li Gu and Li Ying. Xun Jihe had eight sons, all of whom were talented individuals and were praised by the gentry and partisans as the 'Eight Dragons,' thus forming eight direct descendants."

"It is said that the old village where the direct descendants of the Xun clan lived was once called 'Xihao Village'. However, because Xun Shu had eight outstanding sons, and Emperor Zhuanxu of the Gaoyang clan, grandson of the Yellow Emperor, also had eight sons, Yuan Kang, the former magistrate of Yingyin, personally praised them and renamed the village where the Xun clan lived, 'Xihao Village', to 'Gaoyang Village'. This was to praise Xun Shu's virtue and reputation, just like that of Emperor Zhuanxu of the Gaoyang clan, a descendant of the ancient emperors!"

Upon hearing this description, Zhang Chengfu gazed at the distant, sprawling Xun clan neighborhoods, his brows gradually furrowing. Without a doubt, the Xun clan of Yingchuan was the most prestigious clan of this era, a powerful family in Yuzhou capable of maintaining its renowned reputation even while simultaneously hedging its bets against both the partisans and the powerful officials!
With such a massive clan size, the Xun clan controlled at least 100,000 to 200,000 mu of land and people! The number of tenant farmers who submitted to the Xun clan was also in the tens of thousands. At this time, before the collapse of the Han dynasty's order, the Xun clan's power far surpassed that of the Cui clan of Qinghe in Ji Province, the Cheng clan of Dong'e in Yan Province, and even the Duan clan of Chengwu, the family of the Ten Attendants, could not compare!

Since such a prestigious and powerful family had established itself in Yingyin and firmly controlled the county, it meant that the imperial court could not collect taxes from Yingyin at all. The tax base of the local people had completely belonged to the family.

"Let's go! We won't enter the city; we'll go outside. Hmm, the Yingchuan area is the hometown of Yu the Great. There are relatively few temples dedicated to the Eastern Peak Heavenly Emperor, but more temples dedicated to Yu the Great. Your third uncle is waiting for us at the Yu the Great Temple outside the city!"

"promise!"

The group continued their journey, bypassing Yingyin City and traveling several miles southwest until they reached the Yuwang Temple on the outskirts of the city. Yuzhou, the birthplace of Yu the Great, was located in Yingchuan County, and the worship of Yu the Great in this area was ancient and flourishing. The Yuwang Temple in Yingyin, with its long history, stood solemnly and majestically on a high hill by the Pu River. The entire temple faced south and backed north, its roof soaring high. Though the red tiles were old, they still retained their imposing presence. The wind blew through the bronze bells, each sound like a warning to the world—truly a magnificent and ancient ancestral temple!
"Peace and prosperity reign!"

As soon as the group entered the temple, disciples of the Way of Peace joyfully came out to greet them, calling out to them repeatedly.

"The Great Teacher! The Great Teacher has arrived!"

"Quickly! Go and inform the chief physician in the backyard!"

"Please come in, esteemed teacher!"

Zhang Chengfu followed the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao into the Yuwang Temple. He immediately noticed two banners hanging from the temple eaves. One was old and worn, inscribed with "Earth is level, Heaven is complete," from the *Book of Documents*, specifically the "Great Plan of Yu." The other was bright and new, inscribed with "Peaceful Yellow Heaven," naturally from the *Taiping Jing*. Clearly, this Yuwang Temple was already a Taoist temple of the Way of Great Peace, and one of the most important ones in Yingchuan.

Upon entering the temple, one is immediately greeted by the statues of deities in the main hall. The clay statue of Yu the Great, about ten feet tall, stands with disheveled hair and bare feet, holding a jade tablet in the center, his face stern, his gaze seemingly fixed on the suffering of humankind. On either side are attendant statues of ancient ministers such as Yi and Houji, their expressions solemn, holding bamboo slips and plows. On the altar at the head of the hall are several carefully placed ceramic bowls, offering millet, beans, and wild yarrow, and behind them is a tablet inscribed with the words "Yellow Heaven."

At the entrance of the main hall, there is a stone tablet inscribed with the "Yu Gong" chapter of the Book of Documents. On the other side of the wall, there is a rough map of the Nine Provinces of Yu Gong, which appears to have some simple markings.

"Yingchuan in Yuzhou, Nanyang in Jingzhou"

Zhang Chengfu stared thoughtfully at the red dot representing Yuzhou on the map of the Nine Provinces. Soon, an elderly Taoist priest carrying a peach wood sword strode over. He was tall, with a slightly dark complexion, sharp eyes, and powerful strides. In just a moment, he reached the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao, grabbed Zhang Jiao's arm, and smiled joyfully.

"Brother! You've finally arrived!"

"Uncle, I'm late!"

"Not too late, not too late! Perfect, perfect!"

The great physician Zhang Liang was very pleased. He pulled his elder brother Zhang Jiao along and examined him carefully. Although he appeared tall and robust, he was extremely meticulous. After only a moment, he shook his head and said...

"Brother! You've lost a lot of weight, you need to take good care of yourself!"

"Ah."

Zhang Jiao smiled and nodded without saying a word. The great physician Zhang Liang then looked behind Zhang Jiao, where a group of disciples bowed to him.

"Meet Uncle Master!"

"Good! Dao Nu has a good physique and can bear great burdens. Hmm, and there are two unfamiliar, brave and valiant warriors?"

“Uncle, the one on the right with a resolute face is Taishan Yu Wenze, and the one on the left with a simple and powerful demeanor is Jiwu Dianwei. They are both newly recruited protectors of our Taiping Dao, discovered by Chengfu.”

"Oh?! It's a bearing excavation? Excellent, excellent!"

The great physician Zhang Liang showed surprise on his face. He first greeted the two "protectors" and accepted their greetings. Then, he turned to look at Zhang Chengfu and asked solemnly.

"Chengfu, is your headache gone?"

"Reporting to Uncle-Master, I'm completely healed!"

Zhang Chengfu nodded respectfully, showing great affection for his third martial uncle, Zhang Liang. It was Zhang Liang who had taught him and Gao Daonu their staff fighting skills. This third martial uncle was a forthright and generous man, fond of his two robust junior disciples, and had ensured they both had excellent physiques. He was a martial arts enthusiast, not only skilled in combat but also possessing outstanding leadership abilities. His thousands of elite disciples were all well-trained, familiar with formations and arrays, and were trained to the standards of the imperial army.

"Brother! It seems you've had quite a journey through Yanzhou and Yuzhou! Come, let's gather in the side hall behind the temple, have some herbal tea, and have a good chat!"

Soon, the Taiping Dao members settled down inside and outside the temple. Zhang Jiao, along with two disciples, followed Zhang Liang to the back of the temple. The four sat down, and Zhang Liang personally brewed some herbal tea, distributing a jar to each person. Then, he smiled and said to Zhang Jiao...

"Brother! Have some of the herbal tea I've prepared! Chrysanthemum brightens the eyes, and long-term consumption benefits blood circulation, making one feel light and resistant to aging. Ginger can dispel evil spirits and cold. Cornus officinalis strengthens yin and benefits essence, nourishing the body. I imagine you've seen and encountered a lot on your journey, and thought about even more; you need to rest well!"

"call!"

After downing a steaming cup of medicinal drink, the Great Master of Virtue let out a sigh of relief, and Zhang Chengfu also felt warm all over. In the sweltering summer heat, both inside and out, all four were sweating. Zhang Chengfu, being young, possessed abundant Yang energy, so he sweated profusely, yet his face remained rosy. Zhang Jiao, being older, also sweated a lot, but his face wasn't red; his lips, however, were somewhat pale. As for Gao Daonu, he was the most robust, like a brown bear, with a ruddy complexion, but he didn't sweat much.

Seeing the reactions of the three after drinking the medicine, the great physician Zhang Liang frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on his elder brother. The two young, robust boys were naturally sturdy, each more robust than the other. But his elder brother's sweating and weakness indicated signs of declining health and vitality.

"If the Wei Yang (defensive Qi) is not secure, the Mingmen fire (vital energy) will weaken."

The great physician Zhang Liang's expression changed, as if he wanted to say something. But Zhang Jiao, as if anticipating his words, waved his hand and said with a smile.

"I'm tired from the journey and a little weak, but it's nothing to worry about! This time, we crossed the Yangtze River south from Ji Province last winter. We first went to Yan Province, met your elder brother, and discussed some important matters before heading west to Yu Province, passing through Chen State and entering Yingchuan Commandery. That's a long story."

This long conversation lasted from afternoon until midnight. During the conversation, everyone ate some millet for dinner, and Zhang Liang prepared some blood-nourishing mulberries for Zhang Jiao. He also replaced the medicinal soup that was being cooked with wolfberries and rehmannia root, both of which are nourishing medicinal herbs.

"Brother Uncle, your elder brother and I have discussed it. The original plan for the uprising needs to be changed. Don't rush to attack Luoyang! The imperial army is stationed in Luoyang, and the surrounding passes are treacherous and difficult to conquer. It's not something that can be taken hastily. Your elder brother will focus on developing the area from Dayeze to Mount Tai, making it the long-term base for our Taiping Dao, the core of the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou, and coordinating with the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou further east! As for you in Yingchuan, you also need to adjust your direction! Perhaps you should lead the Yellow Turbans of Yingchuan to retreat east or north, or even cross the Yellow River to Jizhou."

Upon hearing Zhang Jiao's account of the strategic changes, the great physician Zhang Liang's expression shifted several times, his face showing shock. He stared intently at the young Zhang Chengfu for a while, realizing that his elder brother's Taiping Dao strategy was likely influenced by the boy's "soul-possessed prophecy."

However, the three brothers had been preaching for many years and had been planning for many years, involving so many believers and even colluding with many party members, nobles, and some officials! If the strategy of the Taiping Rebellion really changed so completely, it would have changed from "connecting with nobles and officials and launching a three-pronged attack on Luoyang" to "holding Jizhou, managing Yanzhou, and penetrating deep into Bingzhou"!
This transformed from a short-term, swift victory, like King Wu's surprise attack on King Zhou, into a long-term stalemate for survival, and into the management of the restoration of the Shang dynasty by Emperor Guangwu!
“Brother, do you really intend to do this? If we cannot quickly capture Luoyang, and the stalemate continues, government troops will keep arriving from all the border counties. Although my Taiping Dao has many disciples, I'm afraid we won't be able to withstand them!”

"Brother, Luoyang cannot be captured. A surprise attack on Luoyang is a risky gamble, betting the lives of millions of my Taiping Dao followers! And the success or failure of Luoyang is not in our control. It depends on the reactions of the party members, the inside help of the eunuchs, and Yuan Yi's assassination attempt."

At this point, Zhang Jiao, the Great Teacher of Virtue, shook his head and sighed.

“I originally thought that attacking Luoyang was the only way to succeed and change the world. But Chengfu showed me a new path, which is more difficult, but feasible and has a greater chance of success! As long as we can control Dayeze-Mount Tai and enter Bingzhou, even if the million Yellow Turbans on both sides of the Yellow River are defeated and we all die in the mountains of Bingzhou and Dayeze-Mount Tai, we can still leave behind the spark of Taiping Dao!”

“Brother Uncle, the Emperor’s lifespan is nearing its end, and the balance between the gentry and the eunuchs rests entirely on his shoulders. As long as our Taiping Dao can be passed down and survive until the Emperor’s death, even if the Han Dynasty falls apart, there is still much we can do! Our ambition, the Yellow Heaven of Peace, may one day come!”

Hearing these words, which sounded like "martyrdom," and seeing the resolute expression on his brother's face, the great physician Zhang Liang remained silent for a long time before finally brewing another cup of medicine for his brother. Then, he looked at Zhang Chengfu and Gao Daonu, who were kneeling and listening attentively with solemn expressions, and sighed for the first time.

“Brother, since you have made up your mind, I can only listen to you! However, the plans of the Taiping Dao in Yingchuan, and in the whole of Yuzhou and Jingzhou, are closely related to the gentry party! Although those local leaders and chieftains are outwardly Yellow Turbans who believe in the Taiping Dao, and their followers are also the Taiping Dao’s followers, I’m afraid that I can’t just order them to move to Jizhou and Yanzhou!”

"If we start an uprising next year and attack Luoyang, with the cooperation of the aristocratic factions, the rebellion will surely flourish! But if we lead the Yellow Turbans of Yingchuan to retreat and compete with the powerful clans and the imperial court for the countryside of Ji and Yan provinces, the resistance we will encounter will probably be much greater!"

Upon hearing this, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao looked solemn and asked in a deep voice, staring into the eyes of the Great Physician Zhang Liang.

“Brother, if the leader of the Taiping Dao were to give the order, and you were to personally command it, which Yellow Turban leaders in Yuzhou would follow you across the river to Jizhou to the north, or retreat eastward into Yanzhou?”

"Cross the river into Ji Province, then retreat into Yan Province?"

The renowned physician Zhang Liang pondered for a long time, his eyes flashing with the familiar faces of the tribal chiefs, and also with the backgrounds of these faces—the party members and their families behind them. None of this could escape his notice. After a long while, he finally answered slowly and solemnly.

"The chieftains of Yuzhou, namely Bo Cai of Yingchuan, Peng Tuo of Runan, He Yi of Ruxi, Huang Shao of Yingnan, He Man of Runan, and Liu Pi of Runan, each have tens of thousands of followers. They have gathered their people and occupied a piece of land, wearing yellow turbans to worship the Yellow Heaven!"

"But most of these Yellow Turban leaders came from powerful families and had close ties with the aristocratic factions, especially the Yuan family of Runan!"

"If we were to raise an army, we would not march west to attack Luoyang, but instead retreat eastward and northward."

"Of all these chieftains, only one group will likely leave Yuzhou with us!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu was startled. He opened his eyes wide and looked at his third uncle's solemn face, then heard a familiar name.

"That disciple of the chieftain was personally taught, promoted, and nurtured by the two of us! Only Bo Cai from this county!"

(End of this chapter)