A.D. 192 — the third year of the Jianping era.
Late winter, at the end of the eleventh month.
The seasons had turned, and the Central Plains of Han China were now in the midst of a climatic cooling period.
Winter had arrived.
The northern winds howled.
A great snowstorm had persisted for over a month.
Goose-feather snow drifted endlessly from the sky.
Amid this frozen world, the fate of the Han Empire seemed as uncertain as the weather itself.
Beacon fires blazed continuously along the frontiers as the Qiang and Hu tribes launched repeated incursions.
In the Central Plains, warfare was rampant and rival warlords rose one after another.
The common people suffered greatly, and countless families were driven from their homes.
In the north, Yuan Shao, relying on the prestige of his lineage as a member of a family that had produced officials for four generations, seized the fertile lands of Ji Province and defeated the White Horse General of You Province, Gongsun Zan, at Jieqiao and Longcou.
In the south, the imperial clansman Liu Yan maintained a large army and ruled independently.
In the east, Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, stationed troops at Fagan in Yan Province and joined forces with Yuan Shu, the younger son of the Yuan clan, casting covetous eyes upon Yan Province.
In the west, Dong Zhuo, once at the height of his power, had perished in the old capital of Chang’an. His former subordinates, seeking only to preserve themselves, marched upon the city, while Minister of the Interior Wang Yun died for his country.
The Han Empire’s General of Inspiring Might, the Marquis of Wen, Lu Bu, fought desperately through encirclement and became a wanderer with no place to call home.
Meanwhile, in the Central Plains, a million Yellow Turbans ravaged Yan Province.
The Chancellor of Pingguo, Zheng Sui, the Governor of Yan Province, Liu Dai, and the Administrator of Jiyin, Bao Xin, all fell one after another to the Yellow Turbans.
The newly appointed Governor of Yan Province was Cao Cao.
Learning from the mistakes of his predecessors, he adopted a strategy of fortified defense and scorched earth, choosing to hold his ground, train his troops, and wait for the right opportunity.
For a time, all of Yan Province was gripped by fear and alarm.
Dong’e County, located in Dong Commandery of Yan Province.
Bordered by the Yellow River to the east and the Huzi River to the west, it lacked the imposing grandeur of a frontier fortress, yet within Yan Province it remained a strategically vital location, fiercely contested by military powers.
North of the city, outside a manor estate.
More than a hundred sturdy men dressed in coarse cloth garments stood guard with hands resting on their sabers.
Their eyes were sharp and vigilant, and passing civilians gave the place a wide berth.
Inside the manor’s main hall.
A middle-aged man in plain cloth robes sat opposite a young man clad in hemp garments.
The middle-aged man stood over eight chi tall. *roughly equates to 6 feet or 1.84 meters
His face was resolute, his eyes bright and spirited, and he wore a magnificent beard.
The young man possessed a steadfast expression and calm, composed eyes.
The middle-aged man spoke solemnly:
“Young Master, although you possess a weapon capable of breaching even the strongest fortresses, if that weapon is also the very foundation upon which you stand, then seeking to carve out and dominate Yan Province through it alone would, in my view, be little different from courting destruction.
You were born among the Yellow Turbans.
You should understand better than most how the world regards them.
To establish oneself as a ruler over a territory requires far more than mere military strength.
Great righteousness, disciplined armies, methods of governing the people and bringing them peace— not one of these can be lacking.
Otherwise, you will be no different from the Yellow Turbans of old.
Though they gathered millions of followers and fielded hundreds of thousands of soldiers, appearing mighty enough to shake the heavens, in truth they were like a tree without roots—one touch and they shattered.
Furthermore, although Gongsun Zan of You Province has suffered repeated defeats at Yuan Shao’s hands, he still controls several commanderies in Qing Province.
The fierce generals under his command, Liu Bei and Shan Jing, are stationed at Gaotang and Pingyuan respectively, blocking the Yellow Turbans’ route of retreat.
There is also Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, whose troops are camped at Fagan in Dong Commandery, less than a hundred li from here.
And then there is Ying Shao, Administrator of Taishan Commandery, son of a former Director of Retainers, a man well-versed in both law and military strategy.
Added to that is Governor Cao himself nearby.
I truly cannot fathom what method the Young Master possesses that could possibly break this deadlock.”
The middle-aged man was named Cheng Li.
He was a renowned scholar of Dong’e County, earning his living through teaching.
A man accomplished in both civil and military affairs, his reputation for talent was unmatched throughout Yan Province.
Though he held no official position, he was honored as a distinguished guest by the former Governor of Yan Province, Liu Dai.
Liu Dai had invited him to enter government service several times.
Each time, he declined.
Yet today, a group of unreasonable and uninvited guests had arrived at his estate.
The leader was the young man before him.
The youth had been born into the Yellow Turbans and was the son of Zhang Rao, one of the Qingzhou Yellow Turban commanders.
His name was Zhang Jing, courtesy name Yuheng.
He had come to Cheng Li’s estate for one purpose alone:
To invite him out of retirement.
“Hahaha!”
Hearing this, Zhang Jing laughed freely and replied:
“Master Zhongde, in my view, your words are nothing more than alarmist talk.
The situation in Yan Province may appear as you described, but the reality is quite different.”
“I would like to hear your lofty opinion, then,” Cheng Li said with a slight bow.
At the same time, he pondered inwardly.
He truly wanted to hear what unique perspective this young Yellow Turban leader possessed.
As for assisting the Yellow Turbans— That was something he had never considered.
It was not because he looked down upon them.
Rather, after all these years, he had completely lost faith in the movement, believing it had no possibility of achieving lasting success.
“Very well. Then let us begin with righteousness itself!”
Zhang Jing rose to his feet, lifted his bowl of tea, and drained it in one gulp.
Filled with confidence and vigor, he declared:
“In your view, Master, the Han Dynasty has nurtured scholars for four hundred years, and therefore righteousness belongs to Han.
Yet in my opinion, that is a shortsighted view. I believe that the true righteousness of the realm belongs to the people!”
“The people?”
Cheng Li frowned slightly, confusion appearing in his eyes.
“That’s right—the people!”
Zhang Jing said firmly:
“The Book of Documents states:
‘The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is secure, the state is at peace.’
Surely I need not explain the meaning of those words to a man of your learning.
It is true that the Han Dynasty has nurtured scholars for four hundred years.
Yet during that time there arose a Wang Mang.
Later, Liu Xiu united the empire once more by relying upon the great clans and powerful local families.
At the same time, governing the realm jointly with those powerful families became state policy.
The aristocratic clans praised this arrangement as:
‘The Sage Emperor governs through effortless rule.’
But as time passed, those great families grew ever more powerful.
They annexed fertile lands and concealed populations from government registers.
Their fortified estates spread across the empire.
Within those estates, the common people knew only their landlords and masters, not the Son of Heaven.
As for the remaining peasants, most possessed only two or three mu of farmland.
Not only did they have to pay poll taxes and countless other levies, but local officials constantly invented new pretexts to exploit them.
The people could no longer survive.
If they did not rebel, the only alternative was death.
Everyone says that Zhang Jue bewitched the masses and that the Way of Great Peace plunged the world into chaos.
Yet in my view, Zhang Jue was merely the forerunner of a greater cause, and the Taiping movement of old was the same.
Consider this, Master Zhongde:
When that so-called Sage Emperor Liu Xiu first rose in rebellion, did he possess Zhang Jue’s influence?
Did he have millions of common people willing to follow him unto death?
Therefore, righteousness does not belong to the Liu family alone.
Today, the Way of Great Peace takes the people’s hearts as its source of legitimacy.
Their support is as hard as iron.
In that regard, they are no less worthy than the Han court itself.”
Zhang Jing looked directly at Cheng Li.
Confidence filled his face as he calmly asked:
“What does the Master think of that?”
“An impressive argument, Young Master.”
Cheng Li frowned and pondered for a moment before replying:
“If matters are truly as you describe—if the millions of Qingzhou Yellow Turbans possess hearts as steadfast as iron, and if the people themselves constitute the source of righteousness— then such a claim may indeed have merit.”
From that moment onward, Cheng Li finally began to take Zhang Jing somewhat seriously.
He had originally assumed Zhang Jing was nothing more than the son of a bandit leader, but the young man’s words had exceeded his expectations.
“To govern an army, one must first establish military law.”
Zhang Jing spoke in a deep voice.
“So long as discipline is strictly enforced, reorganizing the army will take no more than a month.
I currently command three hundred thousand fierce soldiers.
If, after reorganization, only two hundred thousand remain, I would still be overjoyed.”
“An enlightened decision, General.”
Cheng Li’s heart stirred upon hearing this.
He had not expected the young man before him to possess such determination.
“As for bringing peace to the people?”
Zhang Jing grinned.
“The Qin and Han dynasties had their system of local elders; the Yellow Turbans can have one as well.
A village should contain no more than a hundred households.
Each village shall have a village chief, squad leaders, and respected elders.
Every ten villages shall form a ting, headed by a ting chief.
Every ten tings shall form a township, administered by a sefu and an assistant official, with patrol officers maintaining order.
Three townships may form a county.
Small counties shall be governed by a Chief, and large counties by a Magistrate.”
He continued:
“The people’s livelihood ultimately comes down to food, clothing, and protection from the cold.
Therefore, even if men of talent refuse to serve the Yellow Turbans, I can use my soldiers to serve the people.
As long as they farm in the spring, harvest in the autumn, and help develop local communities, that will be sufficient.
Even if this policy must be carried out for decades, I would gladly see it through.”
Having said this, Zhang Jing looked at Cheng Li and asked:
“What does Master Zhongde think? Is this policy for pacifying and nurturing the people feasible?”
Cheng Li’s expression shifted repeatedly as he listened.
The light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
At last, he rose and bowed.
“General, your talent is extraordinary. I am deeply impressed.”
He had never imagined that Zhang Jing would propose such a method for governing and supporting the people.
Not only was it simple and practical, but for the Yellow Turbans in their current situation, it was undoubtedly the best possible policy.
Then Cheng Li seemed to think of something.
His expression became solemn as he asked:
“If that is the case, Your Excellency’s territory will not require a great number of scholars and officials. But what of the powerful clans and local magnates under your rule? How do you intend to deal with them?”
“Hahaha!”
Seeing the change in Cheng Li’s attitude, Zhang Jing laughed heartily.
Then he looked at him meaningfully and said:
“I am but a humble commoner from Beihai; what more could all under Heaven possibly add to me?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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