A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Zhang Jiao left the place to Ma Yuanyi and went to check the side room, where he found two corpses that had been completely eaten.

He also found maggots around the two bodies, proving that the two men had died much earlier than Ma Zhengxin.

Moreover, their height and bone structure suggest they are the village chief and his wife.

Zhang Jiao went to the kitchen again and found that there was no food left.

Ma Yuanyi sometimes sends food over, but why is there nothing here?

When he came out, Ma Yuanyi had already dug a pit and placed his younger brother inside.

Zhang Jiao also collected the remains of the old village chief and his wife and buried them together.

The two left the room in silence and walked towards other houses, all of which were filled with skeletons. There wasn't a single living person left in the entire village.

The two of them spent several days burying everyone in the village.

That night, a torrential downpour began in Shanyang County. Zhang Jiao stood in the rain with Ma Yuanyi, their eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Master, why? Why did my brother die!"

"Why can those high-ranking officials and nobles indulge in revelry day and night, with endless feasts and wine, while we ordinary people have to starve to death!"

"Why?!"

Ma Yuanyi wailed in agony amidst the wind and rain, but Zhang Jiao couldn't utter a single word of comfort.

Even though he was extremely learned and talented, he couldn't find a reason to answer his disciple's questions.

Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a deafening roar of thunder.

The bewilderment in Zhang Jiao's eyes was gradually replaced by a calm, still expression.

"Because the world is sick, and the disease has reached its terminal stage, beyond cure."

"Only by overthrowing it, destroying it and then building a new one, establishing a world that truly belongs to the people, can we usher in a time of peace and prosperity, a time of great harmony!"

"This disciple is willing to follow Master and build a peaceful and prosperous world together. Even if swords and axes come at me, I will die ten thousand times without regret!"

The seed in Zhang Jiao's heart began to take root and sprout.

"I, Zhang Jiao, humbly beseech you, great man, to meet your death!"

He took Ma Yuanyi away and came to the mountain where he had met Wei Fu. The mountain was no longer inhabited, only the thatched hut remained.

As Zhang Jiao approached, he discovered that the door was unlocked.

He pushed open the door and went inside, where he found a letter on the table facing the door. The letter was addressed to Zhang Jiao, the Great Teacher of Virtue.

"When you come here again, I'm sure you've made up your mind."

"The Wei family never gets involved in the struggle for the crown prince, let alone directly participate in the change of dynasties."

"However, what you have done, Brother Dao, is a great thing that benefits the country and the people, and it is unprecedented in history. The Wei family is also willing to contribute to this cause."

"The letter contains a jade token, which can be used to mobilize the Wei family's power and provide you with some resources and connections."

"Furthermore, I would like to remind you, fellow Daoist, that foreign countries may also be of assistance to you."

"This humble Taoist wishes you, my fellow Taoist, all the best."

Zhang Jiao burned the letter over the lamp and accepted the jade tablet inside. This jade tablet could play a very important role.

Even if the Wei family can't personally intervene or openly show their support for him, they are still the Wei family. Even if it's just some of their connections, it can still be of great help to him.

In particular, Zhang Jiao understood the deeper meaning hidden in the letter after being reminded of the foreign countries mentioned in it.

Foreign countries, being subject to the Han Dynasty, naturally did not want to have an emperor emeritus above them.

Once the Han Dynasty is destroyed and a new dynasty is established, there will be no longer a hierarchical relationship of etiquette between the new court and them.

You can even ignore him.

Even if one is intimidated by the military power of a new dynasty and submits to it as a suzerain state, it is not against the law to overthrow it once it becomes powerful.

Unlike the Han Dynasty, who were naturally superior to them.

If they want to establish contact with these countries, the Wei family's approach is the most efficient way.

"Brother Dao, your righteousness is truly admirable."

Zhang Jiao knew that such a promise must have been made with the help of this fellow Daoist who had put in a lot of effort to make arrangements.

They couldn't even inform him personally, and they paid a price for it.

And that is indeed the case. Wei Fu has now been taken back to the gourd world and deprived of his right to travel outside for the past century.

This punishment is better than nothing. Since there are no familiar people in the outside world, the feeling of loneliness and isolation is a great test of one's will and spirit.

If you don't want to go, then you don't have to go.

A haughty, arrogant face.

But Zhang Jiao, can you really defy fate?

Before entering the gourd world, Wei Fu gazed deeply in the direction of the thatched hut, his eyes seemingly reflecting the burning candlelight, the same flame that Zhang Jiao had spontaneously combusted.

"Yuanyi, let's go beyond the Han Dynasty and find allies to overthrow it."

……

In the twelfth year of Emperor Ling of Han, Cao Cao was summoned by the court again and appointed as a consultant.

On his way to Chang'an, Cao Cao met Zhang Jiao.

Zhang Jiao was extremely famous among the people for his ability to cure diseases and save lives.

Cao Cao had naturally heard of Zhang Jiao's reputation and had studied the classics of the Way of Great Peace, and was deeply impressed by the ideas expressed therein.

"Cao Cao, Cao Mengde greets the Lord of Taiping Dao."

At this time, Cao Cao was almost no different from later generations of star-struck fans, lacking any future or the grandeur of the Great Emperor of Wei.

"This humble Taoist has met Layman Cao."

When Zhang Jiao saw Cao Cao, he immediately recognized Cao Cao's extraordinary talent, as he was skilled at judging character.

However, he did not show it at all, because he could see that Cao Cao also came from an official family and it would be difficult for him to be on the same path.

"Master, I have read your classics and I strongly agree with your ideas on serving the people as an official."

"As the saying goes, if an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and grow mulberry and millet."

"I came to understand the Taoist priest's deep concern for the people. When I was the magistrate of Dunqiu, I went deep into the grassroots and felt the hardships of ordinary people's lives."

"For them, all they ask for is a full meal, a well of water, and a single layer of clothing."

"Such a simple request, yet it is something they desperately want but cannot obtain."

Zhang Jiao was very satisfied with Cao Cao's insights. He never expected that this young master from a noble family would have such a heart for the people.

Having traveled the world, he had seen all kinds of people and situations, and could easily tell that Cao Cao's words came from the heart.

This made him appreciate talent. A young man like Cao Cao, who was clearly of noble birth, well-educated, and concerned about the country and its people, would surely become his most powerful assistant if he could join his great cause.

However, this matter is of great importance and cannot be easily revealed; further probing is needed.

"What do you think is the most important reason for this?"

Zhang Jiao stroked his beard and asked Cao Cao with a smile.