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　Chapter　1
Three　Heroes　Swear　Brotherhood　In　The　Peach　Garden；
One　Victory　Shatters　The　Rebels　In　Battlegrounds。

＇e＇　Up　to　this　time　AD　168；　China　had　had　five　dynasties：　Mythology　（BC　5000…2200）；　Xia　Dynasty　（BC　2200…1700）；　Shang　Dynasty　（BC　1700…1050）；　Zhou　Dynasty　（BC　1050…221）；　Qin　Dynasty　（BC　221…206）；　and　Han　Dynasty　（BC　206…AD　220）。　The　Age　of　Seven　States　was　BC　475…221；　which　was　also　known　as　the　Warring　States　Period。　The　seven　main　states　were　Qin；　Chu；　Yan；　Qi；　Wei；　Zhao；　and　Han。　。。。。。
＇e＇　At　the　end　of　the　Warring　States　Period；　Qin　conquered　other　states；　and　consolidated　the　empire。　The　first　emperor　of　Qin　is　credited　with　the　building　of　the　Great　Wall　in　large　scale。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Qin　ruled　for　only　one　and　a　half　generations；　then　the　old　states　emerged　again。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Liu　Bang　（or　Gao　Zu）　（BC　256…195）　was　the　founder　of　Han　Dynasty；　aka　Western　Han　（capital　in　Changan）。　From　a　farmer　family。　His　first　office　was　assistant　to　a　magistrate　in　Pei。　Joined　peasant　rebellions　against　Qin　Dynasty。　Fought　under　Chu　banner。　Became　a　general；　then　ennobled　as　King　of　Han。　In　BC　206　Liu　Bang　defeated　Xiang　Yu　and　won　the　empire。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Wang　Mang　（BC　45…AD　23）　was　regent　and　a　nephew　of　the　empress　dowager　Wang。　He　assumed　the　throne　from　AD　9　to　23。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Liu　Xiu　（or　Guang　Wu）　（BC　5…AD　57）　（reigned　AD　25…57）　restored　Han　after　Wang　Mang's　usurpation。　The　dynasty　Liu　Xiu　restored　is　also　known　as　Eastern　Han　（capital　in　Luoyang）　or　Latter　Han。　。。。。。
＇e＇　From　remote　antiquity；　eunuchs　were　employed　in　China　in　two　main　functions：　As　guards　and　servants　in　harems　or　other　women's　quarters；　and　as　chamberlains　to　kings。　The　eunuchs'　confidential　position　frequently　enabled　them　to　exercise　an　important　influence　over　their　royal　masters　and　even　to　raise　themselves　to　stations　of　great　trust　and　power。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Regent　Marshal　was　the　highest　military　office；　while　Imperial　Guardian　highest　civilian　office。
Domains　under　heaven；　after　a　long　period　of　division；　tends　to　unite；　after　a　long　period　of　union；　tends　to　divide。　This　has　been　so　since　antiquity。　When　the　rule　of　the　Zhou　Dynasty　weakened；　seven　contending　kingdoms　sprang　up*；　warring　one　with　another　until　the　kingdom　of　Qin　prevailed　and　possessed　the　empire*。　But　when　Qin's　destiny　had　been　fulfilled；　arose　two　opposing　kingdoms；　Chu　and　Han；　to　fight　for　the　mastery。　And　Han　was　the　victor*。
The　rise　of　the　fortunes　of　Han　began　when　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor*　slew　a　white　serpent　to　raise　the　banners　of　uprising；　which　only　ended　when　the　whole　empire　belonged　to　Han　（BC　202）。　This　magnificent　heritage　was　handed　down　in　successive　Han　emperors　for　two　hundred　years；　till　the　rebellion　of　Wang　Mang　caused　a　disruption*。　But　soon　Liu　Xiu　the　Latter　Han　Founder　restored　the　empire*；　and　Han　emperors　continued　their　rule　for　another　two　hundred　years　till　the　days　of　Emperor　Xian；　which　were　doomed　to　see　the　beginning　of　the　empire's　division　into　three　parts；　known　to　history　as　The　Three　Kingdoms。
But　the　descent　into　misrule　hastened　in　the　reigns　of　the　two　predecessors　of　Emperor　Xian………Emperors　Huan　and　Ling………who　sat　in　the　Dragon　Throne　about　the　middle　of　the　second　century。
Emperor　Huan　paid　no　heed　to　the　good　people　of　his　court；　but　gave　his　confidence　to　the　Palace　eunuchs*。　He　lived　and　died；　leaving　the　scepter　to　Emperor　Ling；　whose　advisers　were　Regent　Marshal　Dou　Wu　and　Imperial　Guardian　Chen　Fan*。　Dou　Wu　and　Chen　Fan；　disgusted　with　the　abuses　of　the　eunuchs　in　the　affairs　of　the　state；　plotted　the　destruction　for　the　power…abusing　eunuchs。　But　Chief　Eunuch　Cao　Jie　was　not　to　be　disposed　of　easily。　The　plot　leaked　out；　and　the　honest　Dou　Wu　and　Chen　Fan　were　put　to　death；　leaving　the　eunuchs　stronger　than　before。
It　fell　upon　the　day　of　full　moon　of　the　fourth　month；　the　second　year；　in　the　era　of　Established　Calm　（AD　168）；　that　Emperor　Ling　went　in　state　to　the　Hall　of　Virtue。　As　he　drew　near　the　throne；　a　rushing　whirlwind　arose　in　the　corner　of　the　hall　and；　lo！　from　the　roof　beams　floated　down　a　monstrous　black　serpent　that　coiled　itself　up　on　the　very　seat　of　majesty。　The　Emperor　fell　in　a　swoon。　Those　nearest　him　hastily　raised　and　bore　him　to　his　palace；　while　the　courtiers　scattered　and　fled。　The　serpent　disappeared。
But　there　followed　a　terrific　tempest；　thunder；　hail；　and　torrents　of　rain；　lasting　till　midnight　and　working　havoc　on　all　sides。　Two　years　later　the　earth　quaked　in　Capital　Luoyang；　while　along　the　coast　a　huge　tidal　wave　rushed　in　which；　in　its　recoil；　swept　away　all　the　dwellers　by　the　sea。　Another　evil　omen　was　recorded　ten　years　later；　when　the　reign　title　was　changed　to　Radiant　Harmony　（AD　178）：　Certain　hens　suddenly　crowed。　At　the　new　moon　of　the　sixth　month；　a　long　wreath　of　murky　cloud　wound　its　way　into　the　Hall　of　Virtue；　while　in　the　following　month　a　rainbow　was　seen　in　the　Dragon　Chamber。　Away　from　the　capital；　a　part　of　the　Yuan　Mountains　collapsed；　leaving　a　mighty　rift　in　the　flank。
Such　were　some　of　various　omens。　Emperor　Ling；　greatly　moved　by　these　signs　of　the　displeasure　of　Heaven；　issued　an　edict　asking　his　ministers　for　an　explanation　of　the　calamities　and　marvels。
Court　Counselor　Cai　Yong　replied　bluntly：　〃Falling　rainbows　and　changes　of　fowls'　sexes　are　brought　about　by　the　interference　of　empresses　and　eunuchs　in　state　affairs。〃
The　Emperor　read　this　memorial　with　deep　sighs；　and　Chief　Eunuch　Cao　Jie；　from　his　place　behind　the　throne；　anxiously　noted　these　signs　of　grief。　An　opportunity　offering；　Cao　Jie　informed　his　fellows；　and　a　charge　was　trumped　up　against　Cai　Yong；　who　was　driven　from　the　court　and　forced　to　retire　to　his　country　house。
With　this　victory　the　eunuchs　grew　bolder。　Ten　of　them；　rivals　in　wickedness　and　associates　in　evil　deeds；　formed　a　powerful　party　known　as　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants………Zhang　Rang；　Zhao　Zhong；　Cheng　Kuang；　Duan　Gui；　Feng　Xu；　Guo　Sheng；　Hou　Lan；　Jian　Shuo；　Cao　Jie；　and　Xia　Yun。
One　of　them；　Zhang　Rang；　won　such　influence　that　he　became　the　Emperor's　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　zhou's　。　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　volunteers　to　serve　against　the　rebels。　One　of　these　notices　was　posted　up　in　the　county　of　Zhuo；　where　lived　one　man　of　high　spirit。
This　man　was　no　mere　bookish　scholar；　nor　found　he　any　pleasure　in　study。　But　he　was　liberal　and　amiable；　albeit　a　man　of　few　words；　hiding　all　feeling　under　a　calm　exterior。　He　had　always　cherished　a　yearning　for　high　enterprise　and　had　cultivated　the　friendship　of　humans　of　mark。　He　was　tall　of　stature。　His　ears　were　long；　the　lobes　touching　his　shoulders；　and　his　hands　hung　down　below　his　knees。　His　eyes　were　very　big　and　prominent　so　that　he　could　see　backward　past　his　ears。　His　plexion　was　as　clear　as　jade；　and　he　had　rich　red　lips。

＇e＇　Reigned　BC　157…141。
He　was　a　descendant　of　Prince　Sheng　of　Zhongshan　whose　father　was　the　Emperor　Jing*；　the　fourth　emperor　of　the　Han　Dynasty。　His　name　was　Liu　Bei。　Many　years　before；　one　of　his　forbears　had　been　the　governor　of　that　very　county；　but　had　lost　his　rank　for　remissness　in　ceremonial　offerings。　However；　that　branch　of　the　fami