Bai Pu listened and quickly looked at the person next to him. That person hastily stepped forward and said, "Reporting to General, Song is the first great household in True State, I fear that others may not convey the message clearly, so I personally went to deliver it. The general's words were that those who do not arrive by 11:45 will be killed without pardon. I repeated it three times, and conveyed it very clearly."

  In the year 184 AD, Emperor Ling of Han Liu Hong indulged in eunuchs, and ten attendants including Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong dominated the court, imposing heavy taxes, selling official positions and titles, making the already unstable Eastern Han dynasty even more turbulent.

  In February, Ji Nan Tang Zhou reported that his teacher, Zhang Jiao of the Taiping Teachings, planned to rebel and had sent Ma Yuan Yi to Luoyang to win over the eunuchs Feng Xu and Xu Gong. The plan was for an internal uprising on March 5th. Emperor Ling Liu Hong was terrified and issued a decree to the Three Dukes and the Governor of Henan to investigate this matter thoroughly. He ordered Zhou Bin, the Commandant of the Capital District, to arrest over a thousand people suspected of being members of the Taiping Teachings and behead them. Ma Yuan Yi was also arrested and torn apart by carts as an example to the public. Later, another decree was issued to capture Zhang Jiao in Ji Province.

  Zhang Jue knew that the matter had been exposed, and he fled overnight. He informed his followers and disciples in various places to use yellow scarves as a symbol, gather crowds and rebel. At one time, the eight states of Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Yu responded with more than 1 million people.

  April. The imperial court changed the first year of Ping to Yuan, and ordered each state and county to recruit elite soldiers to defend their cities. Liu Xiu set up eight passes in Luoyang: Hangu Pass, Tong Pass, Guangcheng, Yiguan, Zhenying Gate, Xuanmen, Mengjin, and Xiaopingjin, and appointed a chief commander for each pass. He summoned all officials to discuss the matter.

  At this time, Bei Di Taishou Huangfu Song presented a memorial to the emperor, requesting that the party prohibition be lifted and that the imperial palace's treasury and the fine horses from the Western Garden be given to the soldiers to boost their morale.

  Also, Zhong Changshi Lü Qián advised Emperor Ling Liu Hong: "The Party's imprisonment has been accumulating for a long time. If you join forces with the Yellow Turbans, it will be too late to regret."

  Liu Hong also knew that the matter was serious, so he accepted the proposal, granted a general amnesty to the party members, released the imprisoned party members, and Lü Bu's father-in-law Cai Yong was also among them. He also required various officials to donate war horses and weapons, and to recommend generals to lead troops to suppress the Yellow Turban bandits.

  At this time, Beizhonglang General Lu Zhi petitioned: "Your Majesty, it is possible to dispatch Lü Bu from the northern border to the south to suppress the Yellow Turbans."

  Liu Hong was about to respond when Si Kong Yuan interrupted, "It's not possible, Your Majesty. I've heard that Lü Bu has been raiding the Xianbei tribes in the north, and his methods are extremely brutal. His troops kill hundreds of people every day, sparing no one, regardless of age. Although Lü Bu is brave and fierce, he is also cruel and unscrupulous. This kind of person is only suitable for guarding the borders. I fear that if we were to deploy Lü Bu to the south, the central plains would be thrown into chaos."

  Lu Zhi refuted: "Lü Bu's brutality is only hearsay, now the Yellow Turbans are causing chaos in the country and the world is not at peace. Lü Bu is good at fighting, can we abandon him because of a temporary rumor? This is biased. Your Majesty, this is the time to use people, it's not appropriate to doubt good generals."

  Taifu Ma Rong said: "I think it would be better to have the Northern Zhonglang General Lu Zhi lead the five battalions of the Northern Army to suppress and transfer the good generals from various places to assist. With a unified command, controlling the good generals in each place, this will provide security."

  Yi Lang He Yong recommended: "I agree with Taifu's words, I recommend that the governor of Beidi, Huangfu Song, can lead troops to suppress."

  Shangshu Lang Zhang Wen also said: "I think You Zhonglang Jiang Zhu Yun can also lead troops."

  He Jin said, "The Governor of Hedong, Dong Zhuo, can also lead troops."

  Thus, Liu Hong appointed the Northern Central Lang General Lu Zhi as the commander-in-chief of the official army, transferred Huangfu Song to Left Central Lang General, Dong Zhuo to Eastern Central Lang General, combined with Right Central Lang General Zhu Huan, and Beijiang Huwei Central Lang General Lü Bu each holding a seal, each leading the official army to suppress the Yellow Turbans.

  But Lü Bu was defeated by the Xianbei in the north, and Hanchen was consolidating his position as king of the Xianbei, so he had no time to invade the south for the time being. Lü Bu also obtained the help of Yu Qizi, and was diligently governing and reforming various attack and defense equipment and armor, and was busy with joy. Unexpectedly, the Imperial Secretary Xun Yue led the imperial edict and the symbol of authority to replace Liu Hong as the governor of Pingyuan. When Lü Bu learned that Zhang Jiao had rebelled, he was worried in his heart, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion could not be avoided after all. The civil war in China seemed imminent.

  Lü Bu had several exchanges with Xun Yue, and they were both familiar with each other. Now Lü Bu saw that Xun Yue still looked worried, so he invited Xun Yue to come to Daijun again to work together and resist the northern Xianbei. Xun Yue was already tired of the eunuchs' control of politics, so he replied that after returning to report back, he would resign from his official position in the capital and come to Daijun to join Lü Bu. Lü Bu was overjoyed and talked with Xun Yue all night.

  Lü Bu was reluctant to fight against his fellow Han people, but he could not disobey the Emperor's order. So Lü Bu wrote a memorial stating that the north was impoverished and had no surplus funds or food, and if they were only defending against the Xianbei in the northern border, their strength would be sufficient. However, if the northern army were to march south to suppress the Yellow Turbans, unless the court allocated funds or allowed Lü Bu's army to requisition supplies along the way, they would have no choice but to retreat.

  Xun Yue then took Lü Bu's memorial and returned to the capital to report. Lü Bu also thought that going south might be unavoidable, so he adjusted his troops in various places and made preparations. Once the imperial edict arrived, he would go south to suppress the Yellow Turbans.

  In mid-April, the government army was outnumbered and suffered a defeat in the first battle. Lu Zhi led his deputy general Zong Yuan to lead the northern army's five battalions to fight against Zhang Jue's main force, while Zhu Huan's army was defeated by Huangjin general Bo Cai and retreated to join Huangfu Song in defending Changsha, which was then besieged by Bo Cai's large army. Zhu Huan then submitted a memorial to recruit Sun Jian from Xiapi as a military advisor. Sun Jian brought with him young men from his hometown, as well as elite soldiers recruited from merchants and travelers along the Huai and Si rivers, totaling over 1,000 men, to reinforce the government army. Unfortunately, the government army was still outnumbered, and morale was low. Meanwhile, the Yellow Turbans in Runan defeated and killed the governor of Yicheng, Zhao Qian, while the Yellow Turban rebels in Guangyang killed the governor Liu Wei, and Zhang Mancheng attacked and killed the governor of Nanyang, Chu Gong.

  A wave of unfavorable news arrived in Luoyang, and Liu Hong was anxious. He hastily issued an edict allowing Lü Bu's army to requisition money and grain along the way, and quickly marched south to suppress the Yellow Turbans. Upon receiving the edict, Lü Bu ordered Gao Shun to return to Gaoliu to take charge of military affairs, with Jia Xu assisting him. He also ordered Yan Rou and his brother to go to Yanguan Pass to replace Gao Shun. Lü Bu personally led Zhang Liao with 3,000 elite cavalry, and Xu Huang with 2,000 northern border cavalry, totaling 5,000 cavalrymen. They were only equipped with weapons and one day's worth of dry rations, without bringing any heavy baggage, and marched lightly to suppress the Yellow Turbans.

  Lü Bu plundered the Xianbei nomads and built pastures, with many good horses. To achieve surprise, Lü Bu's 5,000 cavalry each brought an extra warhorse to alternate riding. Every hour they would change horses and ride for another hour, then rest for an hour. In this way, they could march over 300 miles in a day, with both soldiers and horses still having extraordinary combat strength.

  The army marched south and soon left the border of Dai Commandery, entering Ji Province and Zhongshan State. They passed through Zhongshan State and entered Changshan Commandery in a single day, arriving at the county seat of Dingzhou by nightfall. When Lü Bu's army arrived at Dingzhou, they found the city gates closed. Lü Bu ordered Xu Huang to lead the soldiers to set up camp outside the city while he ordered Zhang Liao to summon the gatekeepers to open the gates. The gatekeepers, seeing the arrival of the army, did not dare to be slow and quickly invited the Magistrate of Dingzhou, Bai Pu. Magistrate Bai saw that the arriving troops were those of General Lü Bu, Protector of the Northern Border of Han, who had come to suppress the Yellow Turbans, and hastily ordered his men to open the gates and welcome them. Lü Bu entered the city with Zhang Liao and fifty guardsmen, following Magistrate Bai into the government office. As soon as they entered the main hall, Lü Bu took out Emperor Liu's edict and handed it over to Magistrate Bai to read.

  Bai Pu finished reading and then Lu Bu withdrew the imperial edict, saying: "Can the county magistrate of Bai see clearly the imperial edict?"

  Bai Pu hastily said: "This official has already understood, I don't know what task General Lü has entrusted?"

  Lü Bu said, "Now that the Yellow Turbans are rebelling, I have received an imperial edict to lead a campaign against them. The Emperor has already granted me permission to requisition grain and fodder along the way. You, White County Magistrate, should cooperate with me. If my army does not have enough grain and fodder, we will be unable to fight the Yellow Turban bandits. Therefore, this matter of requisitioning grain is a very important one. I want you to go now and summon all the wealthy households in the city to come to the yamen for discussion."

  Bai Pu did not dare to disobey, and seeing that the sky had already darkened, he asked again: "Are you going to gather the wealthy households in the city now?"

  Lü Bu disliked idle chatter and said loudly, "Enough nonsense. Our army's dry rations have been used up, tomorrow at dawn we will set out again. White County Magistrate, come and go quickly, I still have questions to ask."

  Bai Pu hurriedly walked towards the door, then turned back halfway and said: "However, General, there are some wealthy families in the city with considerable influence, I'm afraid it will be difficult to gather them all at once."

  Lü Bu heard this and slapped his palm on the table, saying: "Military needs are urgent, who dares to be slow? Those who do not arrive by three o'clock will be killed without pardon."

  Bai Pu was so frightened by the killing that he didn't dare make another sound, and hastily ordered the county official Yuan to quickly dispatch people to summon the masters of the large households in the city.

  At three quarters past the hour of Xu, many wealthy families had arrived at the county office. Lü Bu sat on his knees behind a desk, with Zhang Liao standing beside him, while the county officials and wealthy families stood in two rows.

  In the grand hall, no one knew what this general was about to do, and they all whispered among themselves. At three quarters past midnight, Lü Bu asked: "Prefect of Baima, is there anyone who has not arrived?"

  "General Hui, there is still a large Song family that has not arrived."

  Lü Bu's eyes gleamed with a murderous intent as he coldly asked: "Can the White County Magistrate convey my words without omission?"

  Bai Pu listened and quickly looked at the person beside him. That person hastily stepped forward, saying: "Reporting to General, Song is the first great household in True Prefecture. I was afraid that others would not convey the message clearly, so I personally went to deliver it. The general's words were that anyone who had not arrived by three o'clock would be killed without pardon. I repeated this three times and conveyed it very clearly."

  Lü Bu nodded in approval and asked the county magistrate: "What is the origin of Song Dahu, dare to be so contemptuous of our military order?"

  Bai Pu replied: "Song Dahou is a palace attendant from the imperial family of Song Dian. His family is quite wealthy..."

  Lü Bu understood at once, so it was a relative of the eunuchs, no wonder they were so bold. Just as he was speaking, a lazy voice came: "Which general is in such a hurry, it's dark and still recruiting people to discuss matters?" As soon as the words were spoken, a lump of fat appeared at the gate of the county government office.

  Lü Bu didn't say much and asked: "Is the visitor from the wealthy Song family of Zhending?"

  That fatty still lazily replied: "Indeed it's Song Jun, but I don't know who this general is?"

  Lü Bu ignored him and said: "Since everyone is here, Zhang Liao, read out the imperial edict."

  Zhang Liao took the order and read it from Lü Bu's hand. After Zhang Liao finished reading the imperial edict, Lü Bu said: "Can you all hear clearly? Now that the Yellow Turbans are rebelling, I, Lü Bu, have received the emperor's decree to lead an expedition south to quell the rebels. Currently, our army lacks provisions and must requisition grain along the way. As we pass through Zhending, I hope that you great families will lend us a hand. Once the Yellow Turban rebellion is put down, all of you will have meritorious service."

  One of them stepped forward and said: "What the general has said is reasonable. Our family is willing to contribute 50 stones of military rations."

  Lü Bu nodded in approval. But then Song Xian spoke with a sarcastic tone: "Oh, the lord of Xiahou's family is indeed generous. Why don't you also contribute more on behalf of my family? My family is poor and may not have enough grain to support the government army."

  Lü Bu's face turned red with rage. He strode forward, his left hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and glared straight at Song Xian, saying: "Now that the Yellow Turbans are rebelling and plundering the counties, you, a wealthy family in Qingzhou, claim to have no grain to assist the government troops. Could it be that you intentionally hoard grain to support the Yellow Turban bandits?"

  Song Jun saw Lü Bu's fierce killing intent and was so frightened that he retreated backwards, saying in a terrified tone: "You... you want to do what? My family... my family is the imperial court's Song Changshi's relatives, you... you dare to bully me?"

  Lü Bu sneered: "First, you defied the military order, and now you refuse to provide supplies for the imperial army. It's clear that you are in league with the rebels. Today, I'll let you experience Lü Bu's methods."

  Lü Bu's words were cut off before he could finish, his right hand rose and a bright light flashed by, the fish intestine came out and went back in, without any bloodstains.

  Song Jun pointed at Lü Bu, his mouth open but unable to speak. After a short while, a blood stain appeared on Song Jun's throat. Lü Bu sat back in his chair, only then seeing that Song Jun's neck was spurting blood and his head had fallen to the ground.

  The wealthy families of Zhending were all frightened and dared not speak. Lü Bu said, "Song Xian's rebellion is punishable by death, and he has committed a heinous crime. You don't have to be afraid. Our army will only collect one day's rations and leave Zhending early tomorrow to attack the Yellow Turbans."

  The wealthy households of Zhen Ding all competed to donate grain, and everyone had a surplus. Bai Pu was busy recording the donations, and soon they had collected over 1,000 dan of grain. Lü Bu said that he only needed one day's worth of rations, which would be enough for 5,000 people and 10,000 horses, and that they could eat 600 dan in a day. Therefore, Lü Bu reduced the amount of grain donated by the wealthy households by half, and ordered a nearby guard to go outside the city to meet Xu Huan's army and bring them into the city to collect the grain.

  Lü Bu loved horses, so today he mixed more millet into the fodder to feed them with fine food. Later, Lü Bu also learned from Bai Pu that the Yellow Turbans in Ji Province were rampant and many cities had been attacked by the Yellow Turbans. The county seat of Julu Commandery in southern Zhending was taken over by Zhang Jiao's followers led by Zhang Niujue, and later the mountain bandit Chu Feiyan led his gang to surrender. There were more than 200,000 Yellow Turbans in Julu, who were attacking and plundering counties everywhere.

  Lü Bu, having obtained the military information, did not dare to slack off. He led the troops out of the city and ordered them to cook meals at three o'clock in the morning and set up camp at four o'clock. When they left the city, Lü Bu saw the head of the Xiahou family who had donated grain earlier.

  Xiahou's master bowed to Lü Bu from a distance at the city gate, and Lü Bu returned the courtesy on horseback, saying: "Master Xiahou did not sleep all night, what is the matter?"

  Xiahou's family head hastily pulled a young man beside him to Lü Bu and said: "This son is Xiahou Lan, the son of a commoner. Now that the commoner has seen General's military might and divine power, he wants to ask General to take in his son and serve in the army. His son has studied in private school, knows law and reason, and also understands some martial arts. I hope General will not be stingy and accept him, even if it is just as a runner or an errand boy."

  Lü Bu laughed and said: "Haha... A man should not be content with being a mere foot soldier. I observe that this young man has a heroic air about him, and is sharp and clever. He can certainly serve as a general's assistant. But my army's discipline is very strict, and military life is hard and dull - I don't know if you can endure hardship?" Lü Bu finally turned to Xia Houlan and asked.

  Xiahou Lan hastily returned the courtesy and said: "General, your divine military prowess is renowned in the northern borders. I am also aware of it, and have long had the intention to surrender. Now that you are passing by my doorstep, this is exactly the opportunity. I hope General will accept me, and I will certainly exert myself to the death."

  Lü Bu nodded and said: "Very well, our army will set out at dawn, you can follow me out of the city then."

  Xiahou Lan hastily thanked him, and the master of the Xiahou household urgently took a horse's reins from a servant and handed them over to Xiahou Lan, giving him some instructions. Xiahou Lan followed Lv Bu out of the city, and Lv Bu ordered him to assist Zhang Liao.

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