The Second Year of Jianning Fourth Month nth day, the Emperor was in the Wende House. Just as he was seated a wind started from the corner of the House, and a giant blue python jumped from the ceiling, and landed on the Emperor's seat. He was scared unconscious, and was helped into the Palace. All the ministers escaped. Soon the python disappeared, and a storm started, with hails, continued to midnight, destroyed numerous houses. The Fourth Year Second Month there was an earthquake at Luo Yang (the Capital). Then the ocean rose and the waves swept away all the people living along the coast. The First Year of Guanghe, a hen changed to a cock. During the Sixth Month a black cloud of a hundred feet floated into the Wende House. In the Fall (the Seventh Month), a rainbow appeared at Yutang, and the mountains at Wuyuan all cracked. All the bad omens cannot be listed here. The Emperor asked the ministers the cause of all these disasters, Minister Cai Ye wrote in his report to the Emperor, that a hen changed to a cock indicates that the eunuches are causing troubles for the country. The Emperor sighed after reading this. Cao Jie saw and told his assistants, and they found an excuse and demoted Cai Ye to the countryside. From then on, ten eunuches, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Feng Xu, Duan Gui, Cao Jie, Hou Lan, Qian Shuo, Cheng Kuang, Xia Hui, and Guo Sheng formed a powerful group, and were called "The Ten Eunuches". The Emperor referred to Zhang Rang as "The Father". The country went into decay, and rebellions were everywhere.
There were three brothers in the county of Julu. They were called Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang. One day Zhang Jiao went into the mountains to collect herbs, and he met an old man. The old man had green eyes and a face as fresh as a child. He called Jiao into a cave, and give him three volumes of Heaven's Book. He said,"This book is titled 'Recipe for Peace'. I give it to you, you should use it to spread the messages of the Heaven, and save those who suffer. If you do anything evil you will get your due." Jiao asked who he was, he said he was an old god in southern China. And he disappeared into the wind. Since then Jiao studied the Book day and night, and acquired the ability to change wind and rain. He named himself "Tao of Peace". During the First Month of the First Year of Zhongping, an epidemic started. Zhang Jiao distributed magic water and also cured diseases for people. He had more than five hundred students, and they all knew "Tao". His followers grew more and more, and he set up thirty-six divisions, a large division had ten thousand man, a small division had six thousand. Each division had a leader, called General. He also spread the words, "The White Sky is dead, and the Yellow Sky is born. The year is the First (Jia Zi), that's when Peace arrives." And ordered everyone write "Jia Zi" on their doors. Everyone in the eight provinces, Qing, You, Xu, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu, all revered the name Zhang Jiao. Jiao sent his student Ma Yuanyi to eunuch Feng Xu, bribed him and asked him as an inside connection. Jiao told his two brothers, "The most difficult is to get the support of the people. Now we have the support of the people, it would be a pity if we did not take over China." Then they started to make yellow flags and prepared for an uprising. They sent another student, Zhou Tang, to tell eunuch Feng Xu about the uprising. Zhou Tan went to the government instead, and told of the plans of rebellion. Emperor asked General He Jin to bring in troops. They first arrested and executed Ma Yuanyi, then arrested Feng Xu and associated people. Zhang Jiao learned that the plan was exposed, started the uprising immediately. People from everywhere came, with yellow turbans on their head, numbered more than four hundred thousand. The rebells were so powerful that the Han army surrendered as soon as they see the rebels. General He Jin immediately ordered the provinces gather the troops and put down the rebellion. He also send three generals, Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun, to head three armies fighting the rebels.
Now the rebels led by Zhang Jiao had advanced to the province of You. The Governor of You was Liu Yan. He was from Jiangxia, and the descedant of the King of Lugong. He got the report about the rebels, and asked Captain Zou Jing for a strategy. Jing said, "The rebels outnumber us, Governor needs to quickly call for volunteers to defend." Liu Yan agreed and published a call for volunteers. As the notice was sent to the Zhuo County, it leads to a hero of our story. This man did not like to read, was easygoing, did not speak much, and did not show his emotions. He always had ambitions, and liked to befriend brave man of the world. He was five feet tall, two ears reached his shoulders, two arms reached his knees, and his eyes can see his own ears. He was the descendent of the King of Zhongshan Liu Shen, the great great grandson of Emperor Jing, His name is Liu Bei. The son of Liu Shen was Liu Zhen. He was Duke of Zhuoluting, and was removed from his post for violating the law. And his descendents lived here ever since. Liu Bei's father died early. His family was very poor, and he make a living selling shoes. Where he lived there was a tree, it was about fifty feet tall. It looked like the Emperor's umbrella from afar. When he was a child, once he played with other children under the tree, he said, "I'm the Emperor." His uncle found it intriguing, and often helped his family financially. When he was fifteen, his mother sent him to study with the masters Zheng Xuan and Lu Zhi, and he befriended Gongsun Zan and others. By the time the call for volunteers came, he was already twenty-eight.
He sighed long as he was reading the notice. A man behind him yelled, "A man does not serve his country, how can he sigh like this?" Liu Bei looked behind, and saw a man six feet tall, with a unusual look. He asked his name, the man said, "I'm Zhang Fei. I own some land here. I sell wine and butcher pigs." Liu Bei said, "I and the descendent of an Han Emperor. I want to help put down the rebellion, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to." Zhang Fei said, " I have some money. We can gather some man and do it together." Liu Bei was very glad, and invited him to drink in the village bar. Just then, they saw a man pushing a cart came to the door. He entered the bar and said to the bartender, "Quick, I'll eat and go to join the army." The man was six and a half feet tall, his beard was two feet long, his face was red like dates. Liu Bei asked him to join them, and asked his name. He said, "I am Guan Yu. I'm from Jie Liang. I killed a bad guy in my hometown, and escaped. It's been more than five years now. Now I'm here to join the army." Liu Bei told him about their plan, and they went to Zhang Fei's home.
Zhang Fei said, "I have a peach orchard. The peaches are blossoming. Tomorrow at noon we will swear to the heaven and become brothers." Liu Bei and Guan Yu said "very good." Next day, they prepared black cows and white horses in the peach orchard. They burnt scent and knelt together and sworn, "We are now brothers. Together we serve the country and save the people. We were not born on the same day, same year, but we want to die on the same day, same year." After the ceremony they gathered the men in the village, about three hundred. The second day they prepared weapons, but they couldn't find any horses. Just as they were worrying, two merchants came to the village, with a herd of horses. They went to the north to buy horses and sell them in the south. This year because of the rebellion they weren't able to sell their horses. Liu Bei invited them to dinner and told them of their plan to fight the rebels. The merchants were glad to give them fifty horses. They also donated a pound of gold and silver, a thousand pounds of steel to make weapons. Liu Bei made a pair of swords, Guan Yu made a knife that weighed eighty pounds, and Zhang Fei made a spear that was ten feet long. They all made armor for themselves. They gathered total five hundred man, and went to see captain Zou Jing. Zou Jing brought them to the Governor Liu Yan. The three brothers all told their names. Liu Bei told of his ancestors, Liu Yan was very glad, and called Liu Bei his nephew.
A few days later, it was reported that the Yellow Turbans of fifty thousand man, headed by Cheng Yuanzhi, were coming. Liu Yan ordered Zou Jing and Liu Bei brothers, leading the five hundred man, to meet the rebel. Liu Bei led the army to the foot of Mount Daxing, and met the rebels there. The rebel sent Deng Mao to meet them. Deng Mao was killed by Zhang Fei. Cheng Yuanzhi was then killed by Guan Yu. The rebels lost their leader, and started to retreat. Liu Bei led his man pursuited the rebels, and many rebels surrendered.
When Liu and his men returned triumphantly, Governor Liu Yan greeted them himself. Next day, a letter from the Governor of Qing province asked for reinforcement, saying that the city was under siege and was about to fall. Liu Bei volunteered to go. Liu Yan then ordered Zou Jing to take five thousand troops to assist Liu bei. When the rebels saw reinforcement coming, they divided their forces to counter. Liu Bei was outnumbered and had to retreat ten miles and set up camps there. Liu told Guan and Zhang, "The enemy outnumber us. We need to surprise them to win." He ordered Guan to lead a thousand men to hide behind the left hill, and Zhang to lead a thousand men to hide behind the right hill. They were to attack on the signal of retreat. Next day, Liu Bei and Zou Jing led the army forward. When they met the rebels, they started to retreat. The rebels followed them. Just as they went over the hill, Liu Bei gave the retreating signal. The two hidden armies from two sides attacked, and Liu Bei's army turned around and charged forward. The rebels under the three way attack crumbled. Liu Bei's army pushed the enemy to outside the city of Qing, and the Governor Gong Jing led the militia charged out of the city. The rebels were completely defeated and the siege of Qing was broken.
Gong Jing thanked Liu Bei and Zou Jing for help. Liu Bei said, "I heard that my teacher, General Lu Zhi, is battling the rebel Zhang Jiao at Guang Zong. I want to help him." Zou Jing then led his men back to You and Liu Bei and Guan, Zhang led their five hundred men to Guang Zong. Lu Zhi was happy to see them, and kept them in his army.
Rebel Zhang Jiao had an army of a hundred fifty thousand, Lu Zhi had fifty thousand. They fought to a stalemate at Guang Zong. Lu Zhi said to Liu Bei, "It's a standstill here. You can take your men, plus a thousand men I will give you, to the province of Ying, to see what's happening there. Generals Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun are fighting Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao there." Liu Bei then left for Ying. At this time in Ying, Generals Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun just won a battle over the rebels. The rebels retreated to Changshe and set up camps on the grassland. Huangfu and Zhu studied and situation and decided to use fire as their weapon. They ordered each soldier to prepare a bunch of dry grass. One windy night they approached the enemy camp and set the fire. The rebels fled in confusion, and Huangfu and Zhu ordered the troops to attack.
By dawn, Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao and the remnant of the rebels were able to fight their way out. Just then, an army under red flags came in front of them. The head of this army, is a five feet tall, small eyed and long bearded captain, named Cao Cao. His father, Cao Song, original family name was Xiahou. Because Song was adapted son of eunuch Cao Teng, so he took the Cao name. When Cao Cao was young, he liked hunting and dancing, and he was quick witted. His uncle disliked him and often told his father of his bad deeds. That often got him into trouble with his father. One day Cao Cao had an idea. He suddenly fell to the ground in front of his uncle, as if he had a stroke. His uncle ran to his father for help. When his father came over Cao Cao was up as if nothing had happened. His father asked, "Your uncle said you had a stroke. Did you?" Cao Cao said, "You know he doesn't like me. That's why he made it up." From then on his father did not believe what his uncle said. Qiao Xuan once told Cao Cao, "There will be turmoil in this world. A great man is needed to save it. Will that man be you?" He Yu of Nanyang saw Cao Cao, and said, "The Han Dynasty will end. This will be the man who takes over." Xu Shao of Runan had a reputation for knowing a person's ability. Cao Cao asked him what he would become. Xu Shao wouldn't tell. Cao Cao insisted, Xu Shao finally said, "You can run a country, you can also destroy a world." Cao Cao was delighted. When he was twenty, he was appointed deputy of North Luoyang. He hung a dozen clubs on the gates of the city, and anyone caught violating the law was clubbed, whether he was rich or poor. The uncle of eunuch Qian Shuo was caught carrying a knife during the night, and was clubbed on site. Thus everyone feared him. He was later appointed mayor of Dunqiu. When the Yellow Turbans started he was promoted to captain and led five thousand men to the province of Ying. He intercepted Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, killed ten thousand rebels, and captured countless horses and equipments. Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao barely escaped.
By the time Liu Bei reached Ying, the battle was already over. Generals Huangfu and Zhu received Liu. Huangfu Song said, "Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao are defeated here, they will go to Zhang Jiao. You must immediately return to help Lu Zhi." Liu Bei then turned back. Halfway on the road, they saw a troop guarding a jail cart and the prisoner was Lu Zhi. Liu Bei asked what happened, Lu Zhi said, "Just as I was about to defeat Zhang Jiao, it was difficult because Zhang Jiao could use voodoo. The Emperor sent an eunuch Zuo Feng to see the front. He asked for a bribe, I answered that there wasn't even enough money for the food for soldiers, Zuo Feng therefore reported to the Emperor that I avoided battles and was hurting the morale. The Emperor sent General Dong Zhuo to replace me, and ordered me back to the Capital to face punishment." Zhang Fei was enraged, and wanted to kill the guards and free Lu Zhi. Liu Bei stopped him and said, "The Emperor will be able to decide the matter. Don't make trouble." And let them go.
Guan Yu said, "General Lu is gone. We won't be helpful under another man. Why don't we go back to Zhuo County." Liu Bei agreed. They turned north. Two days later, they heard a battle raging behind the hills. Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei went to the top and looked. The Han army were retreating, behind them were thousands and thousands of Yellow Turbans, extended as far as eye could reach. The yellow flags had the enscription, "General of the Heaven." Liu Bei knew this was Zhang Jiao. Liu Bei's men charged down the hill. The Yellow Turbans were chasing the beaten Dong Zhuo's army, and were totally surprised by Liu's attack. They broke ranks and fled. Liu Bei saved Dong Zhuo and they returned to Han army's camp. Dong Zhuo asked the ranks of the Liu Bei brothers, they answered, "No rank." Dong Zhuo was very disrespectful. When they came out of Dong's headquarter, Zhang Fei was angry, "We bathed in blood to save this guy's life, and he repays us like this. I'll kill him."
If you want to know whether Zhang Fei was able to take Dong Zhuo's life, Please read the next chapter.