Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 137 Yellow Turban Rebellion
"In this humble Taoist's eyes, there is no concept of good or evil. You, Liu Bei, now know my heart... Is your heart good or evil?"

Zhang Jiao laughed: "You are both Chief Clerk Liu and Big-Eared Bandit, how could you not understand?"

Yes...yes.

Zhang Jiao belonged to the Huang-Lao school of thought and possessed the mindset of a Celestial Master. He valued the true nature of humanity and had no concept of good versus evil or friend versus foe. He didn't care if others saw him as a thief, nor did he care about treason or supporting a new ruler.

Liu Bei had no concept of good or evil in his heart, but he could not achieve the heart of a celestial master.

The problem is that if Huangtian ultimately fails to rise to power, no one will pass on Zhang Jiao's intentions to the world.

People only distinguish between good and evil, black and white.

People will say, how can a thief usurp the justice of Heaven?
People would say that the emperor was just a Son of Heaven.

People... always keep their heads down and never look up at the sky.

"I deeply admire the heart of this great and virtuous teacher."

Liu Bei sighed: "But what good is it if I understand? How can the teachings of people's hearts, which have been passed down for thousands of years, be reversed by one generation?"

"One generation cannot succeed another; as long as people live, there will be someone to carry on the tradition."

Zhang Jiao coughed with a smile and said softly, "One day, we will be able to see the Yellow Heaven."

“I have learned a lot. I have my own way and will not follow the methods of the Yellow Turbans, but I will respectfully emulate the Heavenly Master’s heart for saving lives.”

Liu Bei bowed to Zhang Jiao and said, "But when we meet again, I do not know whether we will be enemies or friends. Please do not blame me, Master."

In this era, perhaps no one understood Zhang Jiao better than Liu Bei.

Because Liu Bei had seen true peace.

At that time... indeed many people no longer regarded Zhang Jiao as a rebel, but regarded him as a great celestial master.

Although most people still refer to historical records and always mention the rebellion and its calamities, and do not understand what the Celestial Masters are, they at least call it an "uprising".

The instigator is the one who initiates the uprising.

"What does it matter if they are enemies or friends... As long as they have the will to live, what is there to be enemies or friends?"

Zhang Jiao smiled nonchalantly: "There are many epidemics here. If you have no further questions, Xuande, please leave quickly... Please convey my regards to your master, Le Shanren."

"It seems that the Great Teacher has sent someone to protect my master... I am extremely grateful."

Liu Bei bowed and took his leave. As he turned to walk to the door, he remembered something and turned back to ask, "Among the disciples of the Great Teacher of Virtue, is there a man from Jinan named Tang Zhou?"

“Everyone under my tutelage is a disciple, but Tang Zhou… I really can’t remember them all.”

Zhang Jiao shook his head: "What do you want to ask him?"

Clearly, Tang Zhou was not Zhang Jiao's core disciple or the one who truly received his teachings. Who would say that Zhang Jiao was plotting a rebellion?

The disciples who truly understood Zhang Jiao were probably his two younger brothers and a very few generous ones.

For example, Ma Yuanyi.

"Tang Zhou may have already reported the Taiping Dao's rebellion, and the court will soon send a large army to suppress them... The Prince of Anping and the Prince of Ganling may have been kidnapped by powerful figures and will surely be sent to the Great Master of Virtue to watch the battle between the Emperor and the Heavenly Master... If the Heavenly Master wants to save lives, he should take precautions as soon as possible."

At this time, Liu Bei had not received any imperial edict; he was merely reminding Zhang Jiao based on his memory of historical records.

"Let them rebel then... My grain reserves are exhausted, and I had already planned to take rice from the government treasury and the wealthy and powerful. My heart is already in rebellion. If the wealthy and powerful want to punish me, then so be it."

Zhang Jiao shook his head and chuckled softly: "The imperial army was bound to come... Thank you for your kindness, Xuande."

Liu Bei nodded and asked no more questions: "Take care, my great and wise teacher."

"Please, kind sir."

Zhang Jiao returned the greeting and watched Liu Bei leave Guangzong.

Then, he turned and went to the camp inside the city, looking at his many disciples: "Send orders to all sides... to bring weapons and armor to protect the Dharma, if it is time to fight... then fight!"

... February of the seventh year of Guanghe.

The Yellow Turban rebels attacked the cities and fortresses of various counties and prefectures in Ji Province, seizing all the grain stored in government treasuries and by powerful clans.

The Yellow Turbans were numerous and powerful, and no prefecture dared to oppose them. Officials fled, and even powerful clans dared not resist them.

On the same day that the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in Ji Province, Liu Xu, the Prince of Anping, and Liu Zhong, the Prince of Ganling, were taken to Guangzong by the "rebels" from the two places.

Zhang Jiao didn't kill the two kings, but he did kill the leader of the 'rebels' as a sacrifice to Heaven...

Since they were both rebelling, Zhang Jiao didn't care about being accused of crimes, but he also didn't believe in repaying evil with kindness. After being reminded by Liu Bei, he felt no psychological pressure to kill such a powerful and influential figure who was causing chaos in the country.

No more than ten days later, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in various prefectures and counties, and many bandits also rose up in response. The flames of war spread across eight prefectures, and the whole country was shaken.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Hong panicked and quickly appointed commanders at eight strategic passes around the capital, urging Lu Zhi to send troops immediately.

However, at this time, the five battalions of the Northern Army were not yet ready, and their military supplies and provisions were indeed insufficient.

Therefore, Liu Hong summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.

However, the officials did not mention a word about military supplies and provisions, but instead said that the Yellow Turban Rebellion was a civil unrest, which must have been caused by eunuchs selling official positions and their cronies exploiting the prefectures and counties, leading to the people's suffering.

It is said that the prefectures and counties of the world are suffering from a lack of virtuous and capable officials, to the point that bandits are rampant everywhere...

The officials requested that the emperor first punish the eunuchs, then lift the ban on the partisans, and widely recruit talented people (partisans) to be assigned to various prefectures and counties, then the Yellow Turban rebels would naturally be quelled.

Liu Hong was furious, but he did not express his opinion in court. Instead, he went to the West Garden and summoned the eunuch Lü Qiang for a private conversation.

Lü Qiang advised, "Your Majesty, the wicked Zhang Jiao has bewitched the people, and within a month, various bandits have risen up. This is certainly not a natural disaster, but a man-made one."

“The virtuous men of the world should be willing to die for the country, but they are held back by the censorship and dare not act on their own. Now the rebels are powerful. If the censorship is not lifted, I fear that the entire party members will join the rebels and become bandits, which will make the country even more difficult to govern!”

"There are indeed corrupt officials who have harmed the country, such as Jian Shuo and Zhao Zhong, whose families possess hundreds of millions of coins and countless grains. If Your Majesty were to execute these people and confiscate their wealth to fund the army, it would be sufficient to send troops to quell the rebellion."

"His Majesty is currently building palaces and collecting precious artifacts. If the construction of the palaces could be halted for a while, and if frugality could be observed, then funds and provisions could be raised to procure a large army."

"In this way, the officials will also recognize Your Majesty's wise and insightful advice, and will naturally be more inclined to work together with Your Majesty."

Liu Hong frowned in displeasure: "Minister Lü's words...are you saying that I was incompetent and misled the country in the past, leading to the current rebellion?"

Lü Qiang knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty had no such intention! Your Majesty has merely been deceived by a villain..."

"Shut up! Aren't you a despicable person too?"

Liu Hong was even more annoyed. He didn't let Lü Qiang get up and went to the West Garden Hall himself.

Zhao Zhong was inside the hall at that moment. Seeing Liu Hong's gloomy face, he didn't dare to speak.

"Mother Zhao, you all used to say that the partisans should be banned, but now the whole court is trying to find a way to exonerate them. What do you think?"

Liu Hong's eyes were filled with uncertainty, clearly indicating that he was hesitating about something.

Zhao Zhong bowed and said, “Your Majesty…is this not precisely the intention of forming a faction? That Lü Qiang and his cronies discuss the court, repeatedly reading the ‘Biography of Huo Guang.’ This traitor is close to the palace and is in league with the officials…”

The following day, the eunuch Lü Qiang was imprisoned and then "committed suicide" in prison, and his entire family was exterminated.

The Lü family also has a considerable amount of money and provisions... enough to support a large army's deployment.

But Liu Hong did indeed issue an edict to lift the shackles on the partisans throughout the land.

At the same time, Tang Zhou, a native of Jinan, was appointed as an advisor.

After all, what Lü Qiang said made sense. We couldn't let all the party members join the rebels; we had to make a show of it.

This move was widely praised by officials and scholars in the capital, and powerful clans in various regions raised the banner of "righteous army" and launched a campaign to punish the Yellow Turbans.

Just as Liu Bei brought Yue Yin to Xihe, he received a letter requesting reinforcements to Ji County.

(End of this chapter)