Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 52 We may share the same path, but we are not the same kind of people (Please continue reading)
The crescent moon, like a hook, was hidden behind the clouds.

Inside the main hall, candlelight flickered, and Zhang Jiao wore a coarse linen robe with his hair tied up and a crown on his head.

Zhang Xian sat steadily on the wooden chair with his arms crossed, his fingers holding an arrowhead, his fingertips constantly rubbing up and down the prismatic blade.

In a corner of the room, Huang Zhong and Zhang Liang stood with their hands on their swords, their shadows clearly distinguished in the firelight.

Zhang Bao looked around and, seeing that neither his elder brother nor Zhang Xian had spoken, he shook his head slightly and said, "Brother Liang, come with me."

On the wooden chair, Zhang Xian paused, his fingers stroking the arrowheads, and said, "Hansheng, go and have a drink with the two of you."

Huang Zhong glanced at Zhang Jiao, then bowed slightly to Zhang Xian and said, "Yes, sir!"

The three walked out, and the room fell silent.

"What does the leader wish to discuss with Zhang?" Zhang Xian asked Zhang Jiao.

As he broke the silence, the entire room seemed to come alive again.

Zhang Jiao's expression turned solemn, and he earnestly asked Zhang Xian, "What are your views on the current court, Mr. Zixu? What are your views on the people of the world?"

"I cannot answer your question, leader. You know what I mean, but please do not trouble my mind!"

Zhang Xian stared intently at Zhang Jiao. From the moment he learned the identities of the three of them, he knew Zhang Jiao's intentions. Choosing to come at night was simply to conceal their presence and prevent outsiders from knowing that Taiping Dao had been here.

"Mr. Zixu is indeed quick-witted. If you know the state of the world, why do you choose to remain in your own corner of the world?"

As Zhang Jiao spoke, his expression suddenly became slightly agitated: "Look at those starving corpses! The imperial court's taxes have led to the skinning and marrow-slaughtering of countless refugees. Look elsewhere, and you'll find that not one out of ten households survives. Corpses litter the roads and fields, and countless white bones represent the ants of the common people!"

"Your act of saving Changshan from smallpox is a great deed, so why not do something even better! Smallpox is terrible, but hunger and cold are even worse; it's just a matter of whether you die sooner or later!"

Having said all he could say, Zhang Jiao looked quietly at Zhang Xian, as if trying to discern something from his eyes.

Zhang Xian flicked the arrowhead with his fingers, which had been caressing it, and caught it in his palm: "If I save one person, then one person lives. That's all!"

"Hahaha, what a fine excuse of saving one person and keeping one alive!"

"Your paradise is a place for training in martial arts, stockpiling food and fodder, and rallying the hearts of the people. Tell me, what is your purpose?"

Zhang Jiao stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes shining as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"The leader's words are too certain. I am the master of this manor. I practice martial arts for my own protection, and stockpiling food is merely for the benefit of the people of Peach Blossom Spring. What's wrong with that?"

“Of course there’s no problem, but the magistrate of Zhen Ding County thinks there is a problem!”

"What do you mean?" Zhang Xian asked in surprise.

“There are at least five diners from the Guo family of Zhen Ding in the shack outside Taoyuan right now. You should understand that.”

Zhang Xian breathed a sigh of relief; it was just some eyes, so it wasn't too bad.

He sighed, and finally bowed to Zhang Jiao, saying, "Chief, do you know that rotten wood can burn if it is burned too quickly?"

"Hahaha." Zhang Jiao laughed loudly, stroking his beard: "Zixu truly knows what I want to do. I know your intentions."

After laughing, he let out a long sigh: "The arrow is already on the string, it has no choice but to be released."

"You're too hasty." Zhang Xian lowered his eyelids.

“The people can’t wait.” Zhang Jiao flicked his sleeve.

Zhang Xian gripped the arrowhead in his palm: "Birds leave their nests because of the approaching storm, but once they enter the high sky, they scatter and become difficult to control."

He looked up and stared directly at Zhang Jiao: "The people begging for survival are no match for that surging iron cavalry; countless 'firewood' will be buried in that earth."

"But I can decide the fate of the Han Dynasty!" Zhang Jiao's face was full of composure.

Zhang Xian: "The leader's heart is as hard as iron."

Zhang Jiao: "This matter is beyond human control; even without me, it will be someone else!"

Zhang Xian: "You and I are not on the same path."

Zhang Jiao: "But you and I are fellow travelers!"

The two men's words grew increasingly heated. Outside the main hall, three pairs of eyes were fixed on the surroundings, and all nearby guards were driven away.

The heated debate continued for a long time. Suddenly, the main hall fell silent.

After a while, Zhang Xian's voice rang out again.

"I couldn't persuade the leader, and the leader couldn't convince me either, so let's leave it at that for today's gathering!"

"Haha, who said that Zixu failed to convince me?"

No, you have already convinced me, but I can't stop now.

Zixu, you shall watch for now. Let this humble Taoist scout ahead and see how I bring this great man to his doom! If Heaven is unforgiving, then this humble Taoist...
"Recreate the Yellow Heaven!"

As dawn broke, Zhang Jiao left behind a bamboo scroll he carried with him and departed from Peach Blossom Spring with his brothers.

The bamboo slips contain few characters, with the words "Taiping Jing" on them.

Zhang Xian opened the scroll and found bloodstained fingerprints next to the three characters "致太平" (meaning "to bring peace"). He remained silent for a long time.

Huang Zhong brought over a bowl of hot soup and said, "Since the master knows that the world is about to fall into chaos, why not agree to his request?"

After taking the hot soup and placing it on the table, Zhang Xian got up and opened the window of the main hall. In the fields, some early risers were already tending to their fields.

“I’m teaching them how to stand firm in chaotic times, while he’s teaching people how to survive with weapons. We’re both trying to save lives, but our prescriptions are different.”

"I might have to teach them how to use weapons in the future."

With one hand behind his back and the other supporting the window frame, Zhang Xian gazed at the scenery outside the window for a long, long time.

"What will become of them?" Huang Zhong stood beside him, also looking out the window.

"Who knows."
-
"Brother, are we really leaving like this?"

On the road, Zhang Liang, who was the most impatient, asked.

"Yes, brother, what did he say in the end? Did he agree to your request?"

Zhang Bao also asked.

Zhang Jiao smiled, his steps still steady, and shook his head slightly: "We are fellow travelers, but we are not on the same path."

"Hmph! I told you he was no different from those big shots!"

Zhang Liang was indignant.

"No, Zixu has his own ideas and insights, which are even more complete than those of his elder brother. I have already given him that copy of the 'Taiping Jing'. As for how he chooses to proceed, that is his own choice."

“Brother Bao, Brother Liang, we must also return to Julu quickly. Zixu has taught me the whole smallpox inoculation method, and we also have the smallpox vaccine. In addition, we must inform Peng Tuobo, Cai Ma Yuanyi and others to hurry up and train the believers!”

"promise!"

The three brothers rode quickly along the road, and when they reached a fork in the road, they led their horses forward.

“Great wise teacher, the horses are ready, and there are boats waiting at the ferry.”

"it is good."

These people were clearly followers of the Way of Peace. They mounted their horses and headed towards the ferry crossing.
-
Life in Taoyuan remains peaceful; the visit of guests last night felt like a dream.

During the day, everyone continued doing what they were supposed to do.

However, the intensity and number of participants in the exercise were quietly increased slightly.

The 60-person drill team already looked quite impressive.

Huang Zhong rode his horse to Zhengding early in the morning to purchase timber and timber.

Xiahou Lan also returned from the small mountain village, bringing with him news that warhorses had begun to be transported to Changshan.

Now that he had a source of income, Zhang Xian simply asked for a hundred warhorses, including sixty of the cheapest Youzhou horses, twenty Bingzhou horses, and twenty Liangzhou horses.

The total cost was 1.3 million coins!
Moreover, when submitting the purchase list, Zhang Xian also requested several uncastrated male and female horses, for which an additional 200,000 yuan had to be paid.

Total expenditure: -150 million (unpaid).

(End of this chapter)