Romance of the Three Kingdoms - Mao Zonggang's Critical Edition (2 Volumes)

Author: Luo Guanzhong (Ming) / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The saying goes, "All empires divide and unite in cycles." After the Zhou Dynasty's seven states were conquered by Qin, and Qin's collapse led to the Chu-Han contention, which was later unified by the Han Dynasty under Emperor Gaozu after slaying the white snake. Later, Emperor Guangwu restored the Han, which passed down to Emperor Xian and split into three factions. The root of this chaos likely began with Emperors Huan and Ling. The "Memorial to the Emperor" states, "I sigh in grief and regret over Emperors Huan and Ling." Thus, we begin with them. Had Emperor Huan not suppressed the virtuous and trusted the eunuchs, the Eastern Han would not have split into three factions; had Emperor Liu Shan not trusted Huang Hao, Shu Han would not have fallen to the Jin Dynasty. This great book has many interconnected threads. Emperor Huan imprisoned the virtuous and favored the eunuchs. After Emperor Huan's death, Emperor Ling ascended the throne, with Grand General Dou Wu and Grand Tutor Chen Fan assisting him. However, eunuchs like Cao Jie seized power, and Dou Wu and Chen Fan plotted to eliminate them but acted carelessly, leading to their own demise. Eunuchs grew even more powerful from then on. To introduce He Jin, we first mention Chen Fan and Dou Wu.
On the 15th day of the fourth month in the second year of the Jianning era, the emperor held court in the Wende Hall. As he ascended the throne, a fierce wind arose at the corner of the hall, and a large green snake descended from the beam, coiling around his chair. "A white snake signifies the rise of the Han, while a green snake signifies its decline." The white and green snakes stood in stark contrast. "The serpent and the snake are omens of women." This omen specifically referred to women, hence the appearance of this sign. The emperor collapsed, and his attendants rushed him to the palace. Officials fled in panic. Soon, the snake vanished. A sudden thunderstorm with hail raged until midnight, destroying countless houses.
In the second month of the fourth year of the Jianning era, an earthquake struck Luoyang, and the sea surged, drowning coastal residents in massive waves. Water extinguishes fire. In the first year of the Guanghe era, a rooster transformed into a rooster. This omen directly targeted the eunuchs. A castrated man becomes a woman, and a eunuch engaging in politics turns a woman back into a man. On the first day of the sixth month, a black vapor over ten feet long flew into Wende Hall. In the seventh month of autumn, a rainbow appeared in the Jade Hall, and the mountains of Wuyuan collapsed. These omens were not isolated incidents. First, disasters and anomalies arose, then bandits and thieves. The emperor issued an edict asking his ministers about the cause of these omens. Cai Yong, a court counselor, submitted a memorial, stating that the falling comet and rooster transformation were due to the interference of women and eunuchs in politics. His words were blunt. The first scroll begins with Cai Yong and ends with Dong Zhuo, as Cai was indeed a literary figure of his generation. Had he not been compromised by Dong Zhuo, the Records of the Three Kingdoms might have been written by Cai rather than Chen Shou. The author likely mourned Cai's fate.
The emperor read the memorial and sighed, then went to change clothes. Cao Jie, who was hidden nearby, overheard and informed the eunuchs. They then framed Cai Yong for crimes and exiled him to his village. Later, ten eunuchs—Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Feng Wei, Duan Gui, Cao Jie, Hou Lan, Jian Shuo, Cheng Kuang, Xia Hui, and Guo Sheng—formed a corrupt alliance, known as the "Ten Eunuchs." The emperor trusted Zhang Rang, calling him "Father Zhang." With this "Father Zhang," it was inevitable that figures like Zhang Jiao and his brothers would emerge. The court's corruption led to widespread discontent, and bandits rose in rebellion. In Julu County, three brothers—this trio would introduce the (Three Brothers of the Peach Garden). Their names were Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang. Zhang Jiao was an unsuccessful scholar who discarded his Confucian headgear for a yellow turban, abandoning his scholarly title. While collecting herbs in the mountains, he encountered an old man with green eyes and a youthful face, holding a rattan staff. The old man summoned Zhang Jiao to a cave and gave him three volumes of celestial scriptures, saying, "This is the Manual of Peaceful Reunification. With this, you shall replace Heaven and spread enlightenment, saving the people. If you harbor ill intentions, you shall face dire consequences." Without this line, people would not believe it. Zhang Jiao bowed to ask the old man's name. The old man replied, "I am the South China Immortal." With that, he vanished in a gust of wind. Who witnessed this? Zhang Jiao himself spoke of it, and people believed him, just as with the foxes howling at night by the fire.
Zhang Jiao studied the scriptures day and night, mastering the ability to summon wind and rain, and was known as the "Peaceful Reunion Taoist." His title was extraordinary. In the first month of the first year of the Zhongping era, an epidemic broke out. Zhang Jiao distributed talismans and water to cure the sick, calling himself the "Great Worthy Teacher." His titles grew more bizarre. He had over 500 disciples who traveled far and wide, all skilled in writing talismans and reciting incantations. Later, his followers multiplied, and Zhang Jiao established thirty-six divisions, each with over 10,000 members and smaller divisions with 6,000 to 7,000, appointing leaders as generals. Talismans and incantations could only summon ghosts as generals—how could they appoint humans? He called himself a "Taoist," a "Leader," and a "General," titles growing increasingly bizarre. The rumor spread: "The Blue Sky is dead; the Yellow Sky shall rise." The wording was absurd. Such a scholar should have failed the imperial examinations. When the Han Dynasty was rising, there were omens of the Red and White Emperors; when it was falling, there were rumors of the Blue and Yellow Skies. The Red, White, Blue, and Yellow—two emperors and two skies—mirrored each other perfectly.
Another rumor spread: "In the year Jiazi, great fortune shall descend upon the world." People wrote the characters "Jiazi" in white powder on their front doors. In the eight states of Qing, You, Xu, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu, every household worshipped the Great Worthy Teacher Zhang Jiao. Since the emperor called Zhang Rang "Father," how could the world not follow Zhang Jiao as a teacher! Zhang Jiao sent his associate Ma Yuanyi to secretly deliver gold and silk to Feng Wei, an inner eunuch, to create an inside connection. External enemies must ally with internal ones. Zhang Jiao discussed with his two brothers, "The hardest thing to obtain is the people's hearts. Now that we have them, if we do not seize the world while the opportunity is ripe, it would be a pity." He secretly forged yellow flags and set a date for rebellion, while sending his disciple Tang Zhou to inform Feng Wei. Tang Zhou rushed to the court to report the plot. The inner eunuchs, instead of helping, acted as informants. Informants becoming the ringleaders shows that internal corruption was worse than external threats.
The emperor summoned Grand General He Jin, introducing him. He ordered troops to capture Ma Yuanyi and execute him, then arrested Feng Wei and others. Why not execute them immediately? Upon learning of the betrayal, Zhang Jiao raised his army in haste, declaring himself the "Heavenly General," Zhang Bao the "Earthly General," and Zhang Liang the "Human General," forming a tripartite alliance that would set the stage for the Three Kingdoms. He declared to the people, "The Han Dynasty is nearing its end, and the Great Sage shall appear. You must all follow Heaven's will and embrace righteousness to enjoy peace." Over four hundred thousand people wrapped yellow turbans and joined Zhang Jiao in rebellion. Worshipping the Yellow Sky while wearing yellow turbans—what a joke. The rebel forces were vast, and government troops fled at the mere sight of them. He Jin reported to the emperor, who issued an urgent edict ordering preparations to defend against the rebels. He also dispatched Middle Court Commanders Lu Shi, Huangfu Shang, and Zhu You, each leading elite troops to attack the rebels from three routes.
Good. P2-3