Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Upper and Lower)

Author: Luo Guanzhong (Ming) / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The saying goes, "As the saying goes, 'Divisions are bound to reunite, and reunions are bound to divide.' At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the seven states were divided and eventually conquered by Qin. After the fall of Qin, Chu and Han fought for supremacy, and Han eventually unified the realm. The Han Dynasty, starting from Emperor Gaozu's victory over the White Snake Rebellion, later saw the restoration of the Han under Emperor Guangwu, which lasted until the Xian Emperor when it split into the Three Kingdoms. The causes of this chaos can be traced back to the reigns of Emperors Huang and Ling. Emperor Huang imprisoned the virtuous and promoted eunuchs. After Emperor Huang's death, Emperor Ling ascended the throne, and General Dou Wu and Grand Tutor Chen Fan jointly ruled. However, eunuchs like Cao Jie seized power, and Dou Wu and Chen Fan plotted to eliminate them but failed due to insufficient secrecy, leading to their own demise. From then on, eunuchs grew even more powerful.
On the 15th day of the fourth month in the second year of the Jianning era, the emperor was presiding in the Warm Hall when a fierce wind suddenly arose at the corner of the hall. A large green snake descended from the rafters and coiled itself around the throne. The emperor fainted, and his attendants rushed him to the palace. Officials fled in panic. Shortly after, the snake vanished, and a sudden thunderstorm with hail raged until midnight, destroying countless buildings.
In the second year of the Jianning era, an earthquake struck Luoyang in the second month, and the sea surged, drowning coastal residents in towering waves. In the first year of the Guanghe era, a rooster transformed into a rooster. On the first day of the sixth month, a black vapor over ten feet long entered the Warm Hall. In the seventh month of autumn, a rainbow appeared in the Jade Hall, and the mountains of Wuyuan collapsed. These omens were numerous and dire. The emperor issued an edict asking his ministers for the cause of these disasters. Cai Yong, an Imperial Censor, submitted a memorial stating that the rainbow and the rooster's transformation were due to the interference of women and eunuchs in politics. His words were too blunt, and the emperor sighed, excusing himself to change clothes. Cao Jie, who was secretly watching, reported everything to his allies. Cai Yong was then framed for crimes and exiled to his hometown.
Later, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Feng Wei, Duan Gui, Cao Jie, Hou Lan, Jian Shuo, Cheng Kuang, Xia Yin, and Guo Sheng formed a corrupt alliance, known as the "Ten Eunuchs." The emperor trusted Zhang Rang, calling him "Father." As the court governance deteriorated, the people grew restless, and bandits rose in rebellion. In Julu County, there were three brothers named Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang. Zhang Jiao was an unsuccessful scholar who, while gathering herbs in the mountains, encountered an old man with green eyes and a youthful face, holding a rattan staff. The man summoned Zhang Jiao to a cave and gave him three volumes of celestial scriptures, saying, "This is the 'Taiping Yaoshu,' and with it, you shall spread divine teachings to save the people. If you harbor ill intentions, you will face dire consequences." Zhang Jiao asked for the old man's name. The man replied, "I am the South Huai Immortal." With that, he vanished in a gust of wind.
Zhang Jiao studied the scriptures day and night, learning to summon wind and rain, and was known as the "Taiping Taoist." In the first month of the Zhongping era, an epidemic broke out. Zhang Jiao distributed talismans and water to cure the sick, calling himself the "Great Worthy Teacher." He had over 500 disciples who traveled far and wide, all skilled in writing talismans and reciting incantations. As his followers grew, Zhang Jiao established thirty-six divisions, each with over 10,000 or 6,000 members, appointing leaders as generals. He spread the rumor, "The Blue Sky is dead, and the Yellow Sky shall rise. In the year Jiazi, great fortune will come to the world." He ordered his followers to write the characters "Jiazi" in white powder on the doors of their homes. People in the eight states of Qing, You, Xu, Yi, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu all worshipped Zhang Jiao as the Great Worthy Teacher.
Zhang Jiao sent his associate Ma Yuanyi to secretly deliver gold and silk to Cao Wei, a eunuch, to create an inside connection. Zhang Jiao discussed with his two brothers, saying, "The hardest thing to obtain is the people's hearts. Now that the people are receptive, if we do not seize the opportunity to take the world, it will be a great loss." He secretly made yellow flags and set a date for rebellion, while sending his disciple Tang Zhou to inform Cao Wei. Tang Zhou went directly to the capital to report the plot. The emperor summoned General He Jin to mobilize troops and capture Ma Yuanyi, who was executed. Cao Wei and his followers were then arrested and imprisoned.
Upon learning of the betrayal, Zhang Jiao raised an army in a hurry, declaring himself the "Heavenly General," with Zhang Bao as the "Earthly General" and Zhang Liang as the "Human General." He proclaimed to the people, "The Han Dynasty is nearing its end, and the Great Sage will appear. You must follow the heavens and uphold justice to enjoy peace." Over four hundred thousand people, wrapped in yellow robes, joined Zhang Jiao in rebellion. The rebel forces were overwhelming, and government troops fled at the mere sight of them. He Jin reported to the emperor, urging a swift imperial decree to prepare defenses and suppress the rebellion. He also dispatched Lu Ji, Huangfu Shi, and Zhu Jun with elite troops to attack the rebels from three routes.
As for Zhang Jiao's army, it advanced into the territory of Youzhou. Liu Yan, the governor of Youzhou, was a descendant of the Han Prince Lu Gong. Upon hearing of the approaching rebels, he summoned Colonel Zou Jing for counsel. Zou Jing said, "The rebels are numerous, while our forces are few. You should quickly recruit volunteers to defend against them." Liu Yan agreed and posted notices to recruit righteous soldiers.