第一小说网

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第1部分（第2页）

One　of　them；　Zhang　Rang；　won　such　influence　that　he　became　the　Emperors　most　honored　and　trusted　adviser。　The　Emperor　even　called　him　〃Foster　Father〃。　So　the　corrupt　state　administration　went　quickly　from　bad　to　worse；　till　the　country　was　ripe　for　rebellion　and　buzzed　with　brigandage。

At　this　time　in　the　county　of　Julu　was　a　certain　Zhang　family；　of　whom　three　brothers　bore　the　name　of　Zhang　Jue；　Zhang　Ba；　and　Zhang　Lian；　respectively。　The　eldest　Zhang　Jue　was　an　unclassed　graduate；　who　devoted　himself　to　medicine。　One　day；　while　culling　simples　in　the　woods；　Zhang　Jue　met　a　venerable　old　gentleman　with　very　bright；　emerald　eyes　and　fresh　plexion；　who　walked　with　an　oak…wood　staff。　The　old　man　beckoned　Zhang　Jue　into　a　cave　and　there　gave　him　three　volumes　of　The　Book　of　Heaven　。

〃This　book；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　〃is　the　Essential　Arts　of　Peace　。　With　the　aid　of　these　volumes；　you　can　convert　the　world　and　rescue　humankind。　But　you　must　be　single…minded；　or；　rest　assured；　you　will　greatly　suffer。〃

With　a　humble　obeisance；　Zhang　Jue　took　the　book　and　asked　the　name　of　his　benefactor。

〃I　am　Saint　Hermit　of　the　Southern　Land；〃　was　the　reply；　as　the　old　gentleman　disappeared　in　thin　air。

Zhang　Jue　studied　the　wonderful　book　eagerly　and　strove　day　and　night　to　reduce　its　precepts　to　practice。　Before　long；　he　could　summon　the　winds　and　mand　the　rain；　and　he　became　known　as　the　Mystic　of　the　Way　of　Peace。

In　the　first　month　of　the　first　year　of　Central　Stability　（AD　184）；　there　was　a　terrible　pestilence　that　ran　throughout　the　land；　whereupon　Zhang　Jue　distributed　charmed　remedies　to　the　afflicted。　The　godly　medicines　brought　big　successes；　and　soon　he　gained　the　tittle　of　the　Wise　and　Worthy　Master。　He　began　to　have　a　following　of　disciples　whom　he　initiated　into　the　mysteries　and　sent　abroad　throughout　all　the　land。　They；　like　their　master；　could　write　charms　and　recite　formulas；　and　their　fame　increased　his　following。

Zhang　Jue　began　to　organize　his　disciples。　He　established　thirty…six　circuits；　the　larger　with　ten　thousand　or　more　members；　the　smaller　with　about　half　that　number。　Each　circuit　had　its　chief　who　took　the　military　title　of　General。　They　talked　wildly　of　the　death　of　the　blue　heaven　and　the　setting　up　of　the　golden　one；　they　said　a　new　cycle　was　beginning　and　would　bring　universal　good　fortune　to　all　members；　and　they　persuaded　people　to　chalk　the　symbols　for　the　first　year　of　the　new　cycle　on　the　main　door　of　their　dwellings。

With　the　growth　of　the　number　of　his　supporters　grew　also　the　ambition　of　Zhang　Jue。　The　Wise　and　Worthy　Master　dreamed　of　empire。　One　of　his　partisans；　Ma　Yuanyi；　was　sent　bearing　gifts　to　gain　the　support　of　the　eunuchs　within　the　Palace。

To　his　brothers　Zhang　Jue　said；　〃For　schemes　like　ours　always　the　most　difficult　part　is　to　gain　the　popular　favor。　But　that　is　already　ours。　Such　an　opportunity　must　not　pass。〃

＇e＇　One　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants

And　they　began　to　prepare。　Many　yellow　flags　and　banners　were　made；　and　a　day　was　chosen　for　the　uprising。　Then　Zhang　Jue　wrote　letters　to　Eunuch　Feng　Xu*　and　sent　them　by　one　of　his　followers；　Tang　Zhou；　who　alas！　betrayed　his　trust　and　reported　the　plot　to　the　court。　The　Emperor　summoned　the　trusty　Regent　Marshal　He　Jin　and　bade　him　look　to　the　issue。　Ma　Yuanyi　was　at　once　taken　and　beheaded。　Feng　Xu　and　many　others　were　cast　into　prison。

The　plot　having　thus　bee　known；　the　Zhang　brothers　were　forced　at　once　to　take　the　field。　They　took　up　grandiose　titles：　Zhang　Jue　the　Lord　of　Heaven；　Zhang　Ba　the　Lord　of　Earth；　and　Zhang　Lian　the　Lord　of　Human。　And　in　these　names　they　put　forth　this　manifesto：

〃The　good　fortune　of　the　Han　is　exhausted；　and　the　Wise　and　Worthy　Man　has　appeared。　Discern　the　will　of　Heaven；　O　ye　people；　and　walk　in　the　way　of　righteousness；　whereby　alone　ye　may　attain　to　peace。〃

Support　was　not　lacking。　On　every　side　people　bound　their　heads　with　yellow　scarves　and　joined　the　army　of　the　rebel　Zhang　Jue；　so　that　soon　his　strength　was　nearly　half　a　million　strong；　and　the　official　troops　melted　away　at　a　whisper　of　his　ing。

Regent　Marshal　and　Guardian　of　the　Throne；　He　Jin；　memorialized　for　general　preparations　against　the　Yellow　Scarves；　and　an　edict　called　upon　everyone　to　fight　against　the　rebels。　In　the　meantime；　three　Imperial　manders………Lu　Zhi；　Huangfu　Song；　and　Zhu　Jun………marched　against　them　in　three　directions　with　veteran　soldiers。

＇e＇　Ancient　China　was　divided　into　nine　administrative　regions　or　zhous　。　Each　region　had　a　capital　city；　often　of　the　same　name。　The　nine　regions　were　Bingzhou；　Jingzhou；　Jizhou；　Liangzhou；　Qingzhou；　Xuzhou；　Yizhou；　Youzhou；　and　Yuzhou。　Over　the　time　more　regions　were　created。　During　the　Three　Kingdoms　period；　there　were　already　more　than　nine　regions。　A　few　of　the　new　regions　were　Xizhou；　Yangzhou；　and　Yongzhou。　（see　map　）

＇e＇　Imperial　Protector　was　the　highest　office　in　an　administrative　region。

Meanwhile　Zhang　Jue　led　his　army　into　Youzhou；　the　northeastern　region　of　the　empire*。　The　Imperial　Protector*　of　Youzhou　was　Liu　Yan；　a　scion　of　the　Imperial　House。　Learning　of　the　approach　of　the　rebels；　Liu　Yan　called　in　mander　Zhou　Jing　to　consult　over　the　position。

Zhou　Jing　said；　〃They　are　many　and　we　few。　We　must　enlist　more　troops　to　oppose　them。〃

Liu　Yan　agreed；　and　he　put　out　notices　calling　for　volun