Chapter 51: Qin Hui can be the Governor of Nanyang

  Luoyang, Deyang Hall.

  Emperor Ling of Han Liu Hong forced himself to cheer up and discuss state affairs with his officials.

  Since the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Emperor Ling has been more diligent in governance than before. However, his deteriorating physical condition made his mental state worse day by day. Especially after Zhang Rang presented him with Longyang wine, Emperor Ling became even more decadent and spent every night exhausting himself on his concubines, although he forced himself to be energetic, he still couldn't help yawning all the time.

  "Your Majesty!"

  General-in-Chief He Jin stepped out of the imperial court, and respectfully knelt down below the Danzhu, saying: "Now, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun are leading an army of 40,000 troops past Xingyang, going south from Hu Lao to Yingchuan. They have already defeated the vanguard of the Yellow Turbans in Yingchuan, recaptured Changsha, and will quell the rebellion in Yingchuan within ten days."

  All officials chorused in unison: "The great army's first battle has been won, it is indeed the Emperor's good fortune, and the good fortune of the state!"

  The Emperor was overjoyed and ordered: "Issue an edict, ordering Huangfu Song and Zhu Huan to lead the army out quickly and destroy the rebel forces within a specified time."

  "I obey your orders."

  He Jin hastily led the edict and said, "Your Majesty, the governor of Nanyang, Chu Gong, was killed by the rebels, and the city of Wan was lost. Now, the Yellow Turbans rebel leader Zhang Mancheng has more than a million followers, and the people are in danger of being overturned. We should quickly appoint an able minister to govern Nanyang and block the rebel army."

  Ling Emperor said: "Who is worthy of being the governor of Nanyang?"

  General-in-Chief He Jin fell to the ground and said: "The Imperial Secretary Zhong Yao has recommended that you be appointed as the Governor of Nanyang."

  The Emperor of Spiritual Void looked around at the officials below and asked: "What do you think, all of you?"

  Led by Sito Cui Lie, the civil officials and He Jin's former generals all agreed: "Your Majesty is wise, Qin Jie can be the Governor of Nanyang."

  The Emperor said: "Very well, We approve your request."

  "Thanks to Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

  He Jin was overjoyed and hastily led the edict to thank for the grace, secretly thinking that this time he had accepted Yuan Benchu's words and united with the party members, and indeed took the right path. As long as he got the support of the party members in the court, he would be able to reverse the situation where the eunuchs dominated alone, only by doing so could he confront the eunuchs on an equal footing.

  The Emperor Ling's head was lowered, and Zhang Rang's eyelid twitched violently.

  "This damned butcher, how dare he collude with the party people. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, if it weren't for the sake of the Empress, our family would have spoken up for him in front of the Emperor. This butcher was just a commoner, what merits or abilities did he have to move into the imperial court and become a great general? Now not only does he not think about our family's kindness, but he even dares to burn his bridges after crossing the river. Our family won't let you off."

  Zhang Rang cursed He Jin in his heart, and suddenly had an idea. He hastily memorialized to Emperor Ling: "Your Majesty, Lang Zhong Zhang Jun has submitted a petition stating that the demotions of He Guan and others were mistakes of the previous emperor, and all the chaos in the imperial court was caused by them. I, your humble servant, am willing to return home and reflect on my actions to avoid rumors."

  "Nonsense!"

  Emperor Ling was enraged upon hearing this matter. Previously, Lang Zhong Zhang Jun had submitted a memorial that severely criticized the eunuchs for meddling in politics and also mentioned that the eunuchs' power had grown due to the trust placed in them by Emperor He of Han and other emperors who were close relatives of Emperor Ling. Emperor Ling had already wanted to punish Zhang Jun, but after being instigated by Zhang Rang, he became even more furious. He slammed his fist on the table and angrily rebuked: "As a subject, you do not observe the rules of subordinates, presumptuously judging the virtues of the previous emperor. How can this be? Come, transmit my imperial decree, immediately throw Lang Zhong Zhang Jun into the heavenly prison, and order him to repent and plead guilty."

  "This old servant obeys your order."

  Zhang was overjoyed in his heart and hastily knelt down to receive the order.

  Your Highness, the civil and military officials looked at each other in shock, and for a moment, no one spoke.

  General-in-Chief He Jin's heart was filled with trepidation. The eunuchs' party had a strong influence, and many of their relatives and sons held official positions in various regions, or controlled the military power. Moreover, the Emperor trusted them excessively. If he didn't form an alliance with the party members, he feared it would be difficult to counterbalance the eunuchs' party.

  "Fall back!"

  The Ling Emperor's anger had not dissipated, he swung his large sleeves and stood up, taking big strides as he turned into the palace.

  Zhang Rang swept a glance at General-in-Chief He Jin below the steps, and a cold glint flashed in his small eyes. He immediately turned around and hastily followed Emperor Ling into the palace, leaving behind a hall full of civil and military officials who looked at each other in dismay.

  He Jin saw Zhang Rang's very unsavory face and couldn't help but start regretting it in his heart.

  Nanyang, Wancheng.

  After Zhang Mengcheng broke through Wan City, he let his rebellious army burn, kill and loot. The originally densely populated, prosperous and rich Wan almost became a slaughterhouse of Asura. Except for those who hid, the scholars and wealthy families in the city were almost wiped out.

  The rebels not only burned and looted the rich households, but these undisciplined mobs also robbed even the poor common people.

  Countless people who had their grain looted and houses burned down were left with no means of survival, and under duress, they too joined the ranks of the rioters.

  Within a few short days, Wan City was almost reduced to ruins.

  Evening

  In a dilapidated house in the south of the city, a well cover was pushed open from below, and a young scholar with disheveled clothes and a wretched expression struggled to climb out of a dry well, plopping down on the ground with a loud gasp.

  "Phew, I finally escaped unscathed."

  The young scholar gasped twice, muttering to himself in a low voice, "I don't know if I can escape from Nanyang this time. Alas, if I had known that the Taiping Sect would rebel so quickly, I wouldn't have come to Nanyang. If I can't get away, I'm afraid my life is over."

  Alas, after a sigh of relief, the young scholar finally regained some strength and crawled out carefully.

  The streets were in a state of utter chaos, with Yellow Turban bandits dashing about, chasing after women, and snatching chickens and domestic animals. There was not the slightest semblance of discipline or order, and the situation had descended into complete pandemonium, with cries and wails echoing through the air from time to time.

  "How bitter!"

  The young scholar hastily retreated, involuntarily crying out in distress and anxiously stamping his feet repeatedly.

  After waiting for a long time, a group of yellow-clad rioters finally chased after several women and disappeared into the distance, leaving the street quiet once again.

  The young scholar slipped out of the dilapidated mansion immediately and quietly, heading west along the city wall.

  They narrowly escaped several groups of Yellow Turbans, smoothly passing through three streets. The young scholar was quite familiar with the city of Wan, knowing that they were not far from the west gate. He had just gotten a little excited when another group of Yellow Turbans appeared in front of them.

  Zhou Wu Zheng led nine attendants and hundreds of soldiers to patrol the streets, when he saw a foot bag quickly withdrawing from the corner of the street not far away. He frowned immediately and shouted: "You ghostly and sinister ones, why don't you dare to show your faces? Take them down for me at once."

  An attendant immediately responded and ran straight to the street corner dozens of steps away.

  It's nothing to run into someone on the street, Zhou Wu had always been restraining his soldiers from disturbing the people, but this person saw him and turned around and ran away, which couldn't help but make Zhou Wu suspicious.

  The young scholar had just shrunk back into the street corner when he heard Zhou Wu's shout and was suddenly frightened, breaking out in a cold sweat.

  No time to think twice, he took off running.

  However, Wen Shi was originally weak and had been starving for several days, how could he outrun the twenty followers trained by Zhou Jian?

  Not even fifty steps had been taken when he was caught up by his followers and brought back like a chicken.

  The young scholar knew that resistance was futile. If they provoked the bandits, who knows when they would set fire and he would lose his life, so he didn't struggle.

  "He is just a bookworm."

  The attendant threw Wen Shi on the ground and reported to Zhou Wu.

  Zhou Wu glanced at Wen Shi and frowned, asking: "Who are you? Why did you run away when you saw him?"

  The young scholar struggled to get up, seeing that the gang of thieves didn't say a word and started chopping people with their knives, his heart slightly at ease. He also saw that the oldest among this group of thieves was only in his early twenties, each with an air of dignity, without any hint of villainy, and he couldn't help but secretly admire them.

  If they were to meet elsewhere, no one would ever believe that these few people would be Yellow Turban bandits.

  The young scholar adjusted his clothes and replied: "I am a humble man from Yangzhai, Yichang, Henan. I avoided the road to avoid offending you leaders and causing misunderstandings. Please enlighten me, esteemed leaders."

  "What's so funny?"

  Zhou Wu thought for a moment, the list of talents that Gongzi had listed did not have this person, nor was there anyone with the surname Xi. However, observing this person, although he was trapped in the bandit camp, he was only startled but not panicked, which showed that he had great courage. Unlike many scholars and gentlemen who were trapped in the bandit camp and became flustered and lost their composure, as if a great disaster was about to befall them. Having such courage, regardless of whether or not he had real abilities, made him a remarkable person.

  Chen Liang asked: "What about this guy? Should we kill him with one sword or let him go?"

  Xie Chang heard this and was shocked for a moment, but his face didn't change color or expression, remaining calm and composed.

  Zhou Wu took another glance at Xi Chang, nodded inwardly in approval, and after a moment's deliberation, said: "Xi Chang, do you want to live?"

  Ji Chang said: "Even ants cherish life, let alone humans?"

  Zhou Wu revealed a cold smile and said, "Alright, since you want to live, I'll spare your life. However, you must serve me well as the leader; otherwise, I will behead you immediately."

  "This..."

  Xie Chang's heart was burning with anxiety, and he humbled himself to serve the bandits. This was a great act of disloyalty and immorality. Especially as a scholar, he knew the consequences of serving the bandits. Once he entered the bandit camp, it would be difficult to wash away the name of a bandit, and if things went wrong, he might even bring disaster to his descendants.

  Zhou Wu said coldly: "What's wrong, sir? Is there something difficult for you?"

  Xie Chang's mind was racing, and he quickly changed his plan. Although it was not what he wanted to do, he had no choice but to surrender to the bandits. However, he was an extraordinary person, and even if he joined the bandit camp, there might still be opportunities for him to escape in the future. If he lost his life, then everything would be over. So, he said: "I am willing to serve as a leader."