Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 87 The Yellow Turbans' Long March in Yingchuan: North or East?
"Send Chengfu to Luoyang to replace Yuanyi and carry out the grand plan to assassinate the emperor?"

"Indeed! Brother, Crown Prince Liu Bian is only seven years old. The balance of power in Luoyang, and the suppression of the partisan clans by the eunuchs, all depend on the emperor! As soon as the emperor dies, the court will descend into chaos. The partisan clans will inevitably retaliate, and the eunuchs will fight to the death. Luoyang will be engulfed in bloodshed, and the empire will crumble in an instant! Only in this way can our Yellow Turban Rebellion have any chance of success! Therefore, leveraging the power of the partisans and conspiring with them to assassinate the emperor is the key to our Taiping Dao's uprising next year. And in my opinion, Chengfu will be a suitable candidate!"

“Uncle, Ke Chengfu is only fifteen years old.”

“Brother! Although Chengfu is young, he is sharper than Yuanyi. Youth is not a bad thing! Yuanyi is too conspicuous, while Chengfu is quiet and even has the opportunity to enter and leave the palace. His chances of succeeding in the assassination are perhaps greater than Yuanyi’s!”

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In a side room, the great teacher Zhang Jiao and the great physician Zhang Liang sat facing each other. Zhang Liang's expression was impassioned, his middle-aged face full of determination. Zhang Jiao, on the other hand, lowered his eyes and remained silent, his weathered old face full of thought.

The two were not only renowned physicians of the Taiping Dao, but also brothers. Although they were only five or six years apart in age, one devoted himself to his work and the other diligently practiced martial arts, resulting in a physical difference of about ten years, which led to a huge psychological gap between them.

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao is old and frail; he knows his own body well and knows he probably won't last much longer. The Great Physician Zhang Liang, on the other hand, is in much better shape. Having practiced martial arts for many years, with his iron staff in hand, he is virtually untouchable, and can even personally lead his followers into battle. Therefore, the two sides have drastically different attitudes and perspectives regarding next year's uprising.

“Brother! I know you value Chengfu and want to entrust the long-term future of our Taiping Dao to him. But we will start our uprising next year. With the support of all sides, it will be the best time. How can there be no hope at all? Each of us is prepared to die in battle. We should fight with all our might and seize every minute! I am like this, you are like this, my second brother is like this, Yuanyi is like this, and Chengfu should be like this too!”

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"Moreover, Chengfu is not well-known, his achievements and prestige are insufficient, and his seniority in our Taiping Dao is too shallow to win the hearts of those elders! Take Zhang Mancheng of Nanyang, for example. He is the most renowned leader of the Dafang tribe in Nanyang, Jingzhou. He has been preaching in Jingzhou for nearly ten years, and his status and prestige are second only to my three brothers. Even we cannot get him to obey our orders, and Yuanyi has to consult with him before acting. Let alone the unknown Chengfu!"

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"The accumulation of such qualifications and achievements is a slow and gradual process, taking years and making it difficult to surpass others. However, if Chengfu can assassinate the emperor alive and return, thus establishing the first merit of the uprising, he will naturally become famous throughout the land! Only extraordinary achievements can compensate for his greatest weakness, allowing him to stand tall and rightfully shoulder more responsibilities within our Taiping Dao! Although this is an extremely difficult plan, it is also his opportunity to stand out! Brother, the affairs of the world depend on human effort. To reform the world and establish a new Yellow Heaven, how can it be accomplished without bloodshed and sacrifice?"

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The torch flickered, its faint scent lingering around the statue of Yu the Great. The Great Teacher's face, like the statue, was solemn and silent. He knew that Zhang Liang's words were selfless, representing not just one person, but the Way of Peace in Yingchuan, and even the leaders and disciples of the Way of Peace in the surrounding areas of Sili, Luoyang, and Jingzhou, Nanyang. At this moment, he lowered his gaze for a long time, until a torch burned to its end, the last embers flickering and dying out, before finally letting out a long sigh and replying.

“Hmph! Uncle, the matter of Luoyang is a grand scheme, involving not only the core members of our Taiping Dao, but also the partisans and the Ten Attendants, and it is still in the planning stages. Right now, Luoyang cannot do without Yuan Yi. Just as you said, only Yuan Yi can connect all parties and push this matter forward.”

"As for sending Chengfu to Luoyang to replace Yuanyi as a weapon to assassinate the emperor, firstly, the time is not right; we must wait until next year. Secondly, this is a mission with a slim chance of survival, and he must agree to it himself. Thirdly, I cannot bear to see such a promising talent take such a great risk, like a fish-gut sword piercing Luoyang."

"Brother!"

"Alright. Let's not talk about this today! Let me think about it some more, and give Chengfu some time. Hmm, next, I want to see the chieftain of Yingchuan. Let Bo Cai come alone! Putting aside the other chieftains for now, Bo Cai is a disciple we both personally trained, and he is truly trustworthy! I want to see him, hear him tell me about the situation in the north of Yingchuan, and give him instructions on the arrangements for next year's uprising!"

As he spoke, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao waved his hand, stopping the Great Physician Zhang Liang from persuading him. Zhang Liang looked at the exhausted Zhang Jiao, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"Yes, brother! Let's wait and see! When you go north to Luoyang, you can talk to Yuanyi again. The situation in Luoyang is quite complicated, with information changing rapidly. Not long ago, in early March, the emperor granted another general amnesty. Except for those involved in the partisan movement, criminals, regardless of their crimes, could redeem themselves by paying money. Even Chen Dan, the Minister of Works who was dismissed for his crimes, now has the possibility of being reinstated. The eunuchs seem intent on eliminating him, but Grand Commandant Yang Ci secretly prevented it."

"Hmm? A general amnesty? Paying money to atone for one's sins? The brutal struggle between the eunuch clans and the partisan clans."

Upon arriving in Yingchuan, news from Luoyang became readily available and far clearer than before. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao stroked his short beard, pondered for a long time, and then spoke meaningfully.

"Grand Commandant Yang Ci and former Minister of Works Chen Dan are the two pillars of the partisan aristocracy in the court. However, Yang Ci is old and frail and will not live much longer. Chen Dan has repeatedly submitted memorials criticizing the partisans, which has made him deeply resented by the emperor and the eunuchs. Once Yang Ci is gone, Chen Dan will inevitably be unable to support the court alone and will be killed by the eunuchs. These two high-ranking officials who are biased towards the partisan aristocracy, along with their cronies in the court, probably don't have much time left. Sooner or later, they will be wiped out by the Ten Attendants! Seeing the unfavorable trend of the court, the partisans must be very eager to assassinate the emperor."

"Indeed! Yuan Yi's latest letter also says that the party members are very eager to contact him."

The night was long and dark, and discussions about the political situation in Luoyang faded into the rural temples. Although the Way of Peace was a folk religious society, its understanding of the Han Dynasty court and its involvement far surpassed any later peasant uprising. And now, with Emperor Ling still alive, all the warlords of the late Han Dynasty bowed to his command. The bloody struggle between the eunuchs and the gentry in the court was the true, fatal flaw in the Han Dynasty!

"Wow~~"

During the third phase of Grain Rain, the hoopoe alights on the mulberry tree. The hoopoe lands on the mulberry tree, listening to the scattered drizzle as it taps against the yellowing leaves. This year's rainfall is even less than last year's; this meager amount of rain will likely not be enough to support the newly sown millet, and will also significantly reduce the harvest of the winter wheat.

"This year's situation is very bad!"

Yingchuan Qu Shuai Bo, leading a dozen or so disciples, traveled south from Changshe and saw only sparse greenery and withered winter wheat in the fields. Meanwhile, the guards of the Zhong clan, a prominent family in Changshe, were already patrolling the riverbanks. They forbade any commoners from "stealing water" from the river; those caught would have their hands and feet cut off! Even in the tenant villages already belonging to the Zhong clan, many elderly, weak, women, and children were driven out, left to weep and die on the ground.

After last year's drought, the powerful clans in Yingchuan County, who had been aggressively acquiring land, were now keenly aware of the severe agricultural losses caused by the drought. They no longer accepted the elderly, weak, women, and children who "wasted grain," only absorbing the "valuable" young and strong. As for ordinary landlords and wealthy households, it goes without saying that they were even less likely to accept them. In those days, ordinary landlords had no surplus grain at all, and they couldn't even get much water for irrigation.

Therefore, if the severe drought continues this year, at least tens of thousands of the more than one million common people in Yingchuan will likely starve to death, including the elderly, women, and children! Of course, as long as the able-bodied men are conscripted, the elderly, women, and children will have no way to resist, and they will simply starve to death. For the governor of Yingchuan, this will still be a "peaceful year"!
“Great Teacher! Our Taiping Dao Society north of Yingchuan is running out of food! If this year brings another drought, our hundreds of thousands of followers will truly have no way to survive! At that time, we will have to eat everything we can for next year, even the mulberry leaves and elm bark!”

Inside the Temple of Yu the Great, the chieftain Bo Cai, filled with worry, knelt before the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao and the Great Physician Zhang Bao. When he raised his head, he revealed a rugged face, bearing scars, and appearing to be around forty years old. "Chieftain Bo Cai! Zhu Jun is trapped at Changshe!"

Zhang Chengfu, standing beside him, shrugged this rare military talent among the Yellow Turban Army with bright eyes. He had already learned from his other disciples that this "Senior Brother Bo Cai" was a deserter who had served as a border guard in the southwestern barbarian lands of Yizhou, possessing six or seven years of genuine military experience. However, the south was plagued by miasma, border defense was arduous, and the officers were exploitative and brutal. If he hadn't deserted, he would surely have died far from home!
After Bo Cai's arduous journey back to his hometown, he discovered that his land and house had long been seized by powerful clans. His wife and children were gone, he was wanted by the authorities, and he had no hope of ever returning to farming. It was in this moment of despair that the Great Teacher of Goodness came to Yingchuan to spread his teachings, taking in Bo Cai and other fleeing soldiers, thus developing the Taiping Dao (Way of Peace) in Yingchuan. Later, Bo Cai, one of the fleeing soldiers, donned the Yellow Turban and, after seven or eight years of hard work, gradually rose to become Dafang, the chieftain of Yingchuan, spreading his teachings to tens of thousands.
“Bo Cai! Next year, in the spring of the Jiazi year, our Taiping Dao will simultaneously launch an uprising in thirty-six directions north and south of the Yellow River. You are located north of Yingchuan. How many disciples and believers can you gather to join us in this uprising?”

"Your Excellency, it depends on the severity of this year's drought! If the drought is severe, both the summer and autumn harvests will be lost. If we, the Taiping Dao of Yingchuan, raise our arms and call upon our 100,000 followers, we will rise up with hoes, rakes, and plows! Because if we don't rise up, we will all starve to death, and we are just waiting for someone to lead the way!"

Commander Bo gritted his teeth, the fierce scar on his cheek trembling, but his eyes revealed pain and reluctance. He was a true commander from the bottom of society, acutely aware of the horrors of the severe drought. He knew very well that whether the Taiping Dao rose in rebellion or not, it meant that hundreds of thousands of common people's bones would inevitably lie scattered across the plains of Henan and Hebei! Forced by this natural and man-made disaster, the common people faced certain death whether they raised an army or not. Waiting to die was one option; the only way was to fight!
"Bo Cai, among the 100,000 believers in Yingchuan, how many able-bodied men and elite disciples are there who could be organized into an army?"

“Reporting to the Great Master! Yingchuan is a large prefecture with a huge population! If this year's drought is severe and the autumn harvest fails, and an uprising is launched next year, the entire prefecture can at least gather several thousand elite disciples and forty to fifty thousand able-bodied men. Among them are not only believers of the Way of Peace, but also starving people from various counties and villages! As for the elderly, weak, women and children, if relief can be provided, I'm afraid even hundreds of thousands would not be enough!”

Commander Bo Cai spoke with absolute certainty, clearly confident in the scale of the uprising. Hearing this, Zhang Chengfu raised an eyebrow, also taken aback by the sheer size of Yingchuan County's population. The population of this county was likely equivalent to several counties in Yangzhou. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao pondered for a moment, then looked into Bo Cai's eyes and solemnly asked again.

"Heaven bears witness! Bo Cai, what if you were to lead your followers northeastward? How many people could you take with you away from Yingchuan?"

"Huh? Heading northeast? Aren't you going to attack Yangdi, the county seat?"

Upon hearing this, Qu Shuaibo was startled, and surprise showed on his scarred face. He hesitated for a moment, then looked at the two renowned doctors and asked again.

"Master! North or east? Where do you want us to go?"

"Hmm, going north, from Chenliu County to Dong County, then through Yan County and across the Baima River to enter Ji Province. Or going east, passing through Chenliu to Jiyin County, and entering the Daye Marsh in Yan Province. Which route do you think is easier?"

"Our hundreds of thousands of believers, traversing counties and states? Impossible! Wise Master, this is impossible! The believers are traveling with their families, they can't move fast at all, and they can't get enough food for the migration! And hundreds of thousands of people stretching for tens or even hundreds of miles, with no formation whatsoever, the troops of the counties and states along the way can easily choose a place to break through! This is an impossible migration!"

Upon hearing this, Qu Shuaibo shook his head repeatedly. He had ample military experience and understood the difficulties of such a large-scale march. Especially with the elderly and weak among them, food scarce, and enemies along the way, this transfer was simply impossible!

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao remained silent for a moment, gave Zhang Chengfu a deep look, and then responded in a low, even somewhat strained voice.

“Bo Cai, this isn’t a relocation of tens of thousands of people, but at most twenty or thirty thousand able-bodied men! Don’t take the old and weak, just take a few thousand elite disciples, and then select twenty thousand able-bodied men who are willing to relocate. Then, march north or east. As long as you enter Dongjun or Jiyinjun, the Taiping Dao disciples from Yanzhou will come to meet you!”

"As for the elderly and weak believers in Yingchuan, before they are relocated, you should lead your men to attack and destroy the nearest Zhong family in Changshe, and then destroy the estates of several other aristocratic families, distributing their stored grain! Then, let the believers and the starving people scatter and seek their own survival!"

"Well, if that's the arrangement, do you think it's easier for the Yellow Turbans of Yingchuan to retreat north or east?"

"What?! They wiped out the Zhong family and other powerful clans, distributed the stored grain, and only took the core members, leaving the other believers to fend for themselves? This! This!! Wise Master, why did you go to such lengths?!"

Qu Shuaibo's eyes widened, his heart filled with unbearable shock! At that moment, he seemed to see countless bloody corpses, not only believers and disaster victims, but also members of powerful families! And these corpses, layered upon layered, numbered in the hundreds of thousands, or even more!

“Bo Cai, Yingchuan is a place of powerful and aristocratic families. It's too close to Luoyang. My Yellow Turban Army of the Way of Peace cannot hold out here. We must make a plan to relocate! Otherwise, the fate awaiting you will probably be total annihilation.”

"A wise teacher!"

Qu Shuaibo called out, clenching his teeth, his scarred face trembling. After a long while, he looked at the two solemn Taiping Dao physicians at the head of the table and answered with difficulty.

"Heaven bears witness! Wise teacher, if this is truly the case, then we, the main force of the Yellow Turbans from Yingchuan, are willing to choose the first route and head north to Jizhou!"

"Why go north to Ji Province? Wouldn't it be closer and easier to go east to Dayeze in Yan Province?"

“They are different, wise teacher! Yanzhou and Jizhou are not the same!”

Qu Shuaibo shook his head, took a deep breath, and devoutly prostrated himself in reply.

"Jizhou is the main center of our Taiping Dao, the place where the three great physicians first preached, and a sacred place in the hearts of our Taiping Dao believers! If the Yellow Turbans in Yingchuan must relocate and leave their hometown of Yingchuan, then they can only go to Jizhou, to the Taiping Dao center in Julu! That is where believers have the greatest hope, the hope of the Yellow Heaven descending, and the place closest to the Yellow Heaven after death!!"

"If tens of thousands of able-bodied believers abandon their families and leave their hometowns, it is both for the sake of living and for the sake of dying! And in our daily preaching, the only promise we give them after death is the Jizhou Dojo and the Yellow Heaven Paradise!"

Qu Shuaibo, his eyes red, spoke slowly and deliberately. His words, "I want to live, and I want to die," made Zhang Chengfu's eyes widen, and goosebumps rose on his neck. The two great physicians exchanged glances, speechless for a moment. After a few breaths, everyone gripped the talismans in their hands tightly, offering only devout prayers, for both life and death.

(End of this chapter)