Chương 56: Conversation with Zhang Jiao

Zhang Jiao trembled violently, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he stared at Liu Ce in disbelief, as if trying to confirm the truth of his words.

After a long while, he asked in a trembling voice:

"Then... then why... why do you still aid and abet the evildoers and stop my Yellow Turban Army?!"

Liu Ce sighed softly, his tone tinged with complexity:

"Zhang Jiao, don't you understand? Even without my intervention, Liu Ce, you and your Yellow Turban Army would still ultimately fail."

"You... were too hasty. The people's hearts are at your disposal, but you are not well prepared. Although you have a large number of believers, they are of mixed quality. The time is not right, and you have started this up in haste."

"If you could have endured for another four or five years, secretly accumulating strength, perfecting your organization, and waiting for the world to change, you and your Yellow Turban Army might... really have a chance to succeed."

"Unfortunately, as you just said, it was fate, someone leaked the secret, or perhaps the course of history hasn't reached that point yet."

After listening, Zhang Jiao was stunned for a long time. The expression on his face slowly changed from shock and confusion to relief and utter despair. He smiled bitterly and repeated:

"Yes... it's fate... fate is cruel..."

Then, Liu Ce asked a question he had always wanted to ask:

"Zhang Jiao, now that things have come to this, do you... regret it?"

"For a seemingly unattainable goal, he sacrificed himself, two brothers, and the lives of hundreds of thousands of believers... Was it all worth it?"

Zhang Jiao shook his head firmly without the slightest hesitation.

Suddenly, a final glimmer of light burst forth in his cloudy eyes—the flame of his lifelong belief burning brightly.

He addressed Liu Ce, his voice weak yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"No regrets! Worth it! Absolutely worth it!"

His emotions became agitated, and his voice rose several decibels:

"General Liu! You are of royal lineage, perhaps unaware of the suffering of the common people! Do you know what state the Han dynasty has become?"

"The emperor is incompetent, only knowing how to enjoy himself and sell official positions! Eunuchs are in power, and their greed knows no bounds! Local officials are like tigers, and powerful landlords are like hungry wolves!"

"They exploit us at every level, imposing countless exorbitant taxes and levies! They stole our last grain of rice and took away the land we depended on for survival!"

"They've driven so many families to ruin and death, forcing them to sell their children! They haven't given us ordinary folks a single way to survive!"

He coughed violently a few times, his face flushed an unnatural red, took a breath, but his eyes grew even sharper, and continued:

"This world... it's rotten to the core! When people are sick, they know to see a doctor and take medicine! But this world is sick; it wants to devour people!"

"It eats the flesh of us ordinary people and drinks our blood! But... this world shouldn't be like this!"

He took a deep breath and, with his last strength, said:

"General! Do you really think those people who followed me in the rebellion don't know that my talisman water can't cure intractable diseases?"

Do they really believe I can conjure soldiers from beans? No! They know! They know better than anyone else!

"But... but that talismanic water can cure a disease called 'hunger'! The 'scattering beans to create soldiers' wasn't just scattering beans; it was the last glimmer of hope for these people driven to desperation to survive!"

"That yellow turban on their heads not only covered their hair, but also their identity as 'vagrants' and 'untouchables'!"

"Wearing it, they will no longer be lambs to the slaughter!"

"Therefore, I, Zhang Jiao, have rebelled! I have rebelled against this tyrannical Heaven! I have rebelled against this cannibalistic world!"

These words seemed to have exhausted the last bit of light and heat in his life.

After he finished speaking, he collapsed, coughing violently. His face turned ashen, and his breath became even weaker.

Liu Ce listened quietly, without interrupting from beginning to end.

Looking at the emaciated old man before him, who was nearing the end of his life, he felt a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe: pity, regret, and a deep respect.

After Zhang Jiao had caught his breath, Liu Ce looked at him and solemnly said:

"Zhang Jiao, I heard your words... I... admire you very much, not for your Taoist arts, nor for your power, but for your original intention... to establish a life for the people."

He changed the subject and returned to reality:

"Alright, let's put aside our sentimentalities for now. Let's get down to business. You took the risk of inviting me here; you couldn't have come just to pour out your heart to me, could you?"

It took Zhang Jiao a while to finally lift his head and look at Liu Ce. His eyes regained their previous calm, and he slowly said:

"Indeed, I... wish to make a deal with the general."

"trade?"

Liu Ce raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of deal?"

Zhang Jiao said, slowly and deliberately:

"I want to use my head, and... everything I can control after my death, in exchange for General Liu... to agree to one condition."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ce couldn't help but laugh, a hint of amusement in his eyes:

"Zhang Jiao, you are a smart man. You should know that you are about to die. Your head is just a matter of time for me, and I can get it easily."

"Why should I grant you any of your requests just because you're a dying man? This deal doesn't appeal to me at all."

Zhang Jiao also smiled, a smile that carried a certainty that seemed to see right through people. His voice was weak but exceptionally clear:

"You will agree... General Liu, because... I can see that you and I... are the same kind of people in some ways."

"Moreover... my conditions are not a burden to you, but perhaps... even an asset."

A brief silence fell between them again, broken only by the rustling of the night wind through the trees.

After a while, Liu Ce suddenly laughed. His laugh carried a mixture of helplessness, admiration, and a certain composure at being seen through. He said:

"Heh... you've got a good eye for people. Alright, tell me, what are your conditions?"

Seeing Liu Ce relent, a glimmer of hope flashed in Zhang Jiao's eyes. He took a deep breath and said:

"My conditions are: First, I ask General Liu to take my daughter Zhang Ning as a concubine after my death. She will not be my legal wife, but I only ask for a title so that she can have someone to rely on."

Secondly, General, please ensure her safety and well-being, and protect her from being bullied or bullied throughout her life.

Third, General, please... give my remaining Yellow Turban brothers in Guangzong City a way to live after my death.

Most of them are poor people forced into this situation. Give them a chance—either recruit them or disperse them—but don't... wipe them out completely.

Liu Ce exclaimed excitedly: "This is a condition?!"

Zhang Jiao smiled faintly: Is there a difference?

Afterwards, Liu Ce paused, not answering immediately, but instead asking in return:

"Your daughter Zhang Ning... she should know that her second uncle Zhang Bao and third uncle Zhang Liang both died at my hands, right?"

Are you sure... she would be willing to marry me, the man who killed her uncle?

Even if she reluctantly agreed to save her life, how could she not harbor resentment? Keeping someone who hates me to the core by my side is just asking for trouble.