The Peach Garden Oath of Brotherhood among Heroes (part 2)

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At that time, in Julu Commandery, there were three brothers: Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang. Zhang Jiao was a failed scholar. While collecting herbs in the mountains, he met an old man with blue eyes and a youthful face, holding a cane. The old man called Zhang Jiao to a cave and gave him three volumes of heavenly books, saying, "These are the 'Essential Techniques for Peace.' With them, you can act as a messenger of heaven and save the people. If you harbor any evil intentions, you will suffer retribution." Zhang Jiao asked for the old man's name, and he replied, "I am the immortal Nan Hua." After speaking, he transformed into a gust of wind and disappeared. Zhang Jiao diligently studied the books day and night, gaining the ability to summon wind and rain, and became known as the "Great Peace Daoist."

In the first year of Zhongping, a plague spread. Zhang Jiao distributed talismans and water to cure people and called himself the "Great Virtuous Teacher." He had over 500 disciples who traveled far and wide, all capable of writing talismans and chanting spells. As his followers grew, Zhang Jiao established 36 divisions, each led by a commander, with the largest division having over 10,000 people and the smallest having 6,000 to 7,000. They spread the rumor, "The Blue Sky is dead, the Yellow Sky will rise." They also said, "The year is Jiazi, the world will be prosperous." They wrote the characters "Jiazi" on the doors of their homes with white clay. People in the eight provinces of Qing, You, Xu, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu all revered Zhang Jiao as the "Great Virtuous Teacher."

Zhang Jiao sent his follower Ma Yuanyi to secretly bribe the eunuch Feng Xu to act as an internal agent. Zhang Jiao discussed with his brothers, saying, "The hardest thing to gain is the people's hearts. Now that we have the people's support, if we do not seize the opportunity to take the world, it would be a great pity." They secretly made yellow flags and set a date for the uprising. Zhang Jiao sent his disciple Tang Zhou to inform Feng Xu. However, Tang Zhou went straight to the authorities and reported the plot. The emperor ordered Grand General He Jin to arrest Ma Yuanyi and execute him. Feng Xu and others were also imprisoned. Zhang Jiao, realizing their plan was exposed, immediately raised an army, calling himself the "General of Heavenly Justice," Zhang Bao the "General of Earthly Justice," and Zhang Liang the "General of Human Justice." They declared to the people, "The Han dynasty's fate is over, a great sage has emerged. You should all follow the will of heaven and enjoy peace." Over 400,000 people, wearing yellow turbans, followed Zhang Jiao in rebellion. The rebel forces were immense, and the government troops were defeated wherever they went. He Jin advised the emperor to quickly issue an edict for defense and to reward those who defeated the rebels. He also sent commanders Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun with elite troops to suppress the rebellion.

Zhang Jiao's army first invaded the borders of Youzhou. The governor of Youzhou, Liu Yan, was from Jiangxia, a descendant of King Jing of Han. Hearing of the approaching rebel forces, he consulted with Colonel Zou Jing. Jing said, "The rebels are many, and our troops are few. The governor should quickly recruit soldiers to resist." Liu Yan agreed and immediately issued a proclamation to recruit volunteers.

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