“This spiritual water truly has the power to cure illness and strengthen the body!”
Tian Feng stared fixedly at the spiritual water in the bowl, his heart filled with disbelief.
He had always been more inclined to believe in gods and immortals than doubt them; otherwise, he would not have taken the risk of entering the city. Still, having never witnessed a miracle with his own eyes, he had never been able to be entirely certain.
Now, however, he was convinced that gods truly existed in this world!
That bowl of spiritual water was living proof!
Standing on the outer fringes of the crowd, Tian Feng watched person after person drink the spiritual water and gradually regain a healthy, ruddy complexion, lost in a daze for a long time.
“Mister Tian? Mister Tian!” Xiao Wu's voice called out.
Tian Feng came back to his senses.
Xiao Wu stepped forward and said, “If you are curious about the spiritual water, sir, you will have plenty of time to come see it in the future. For now, let us head to the Recruitment Bureau first.”
Tian Feng nodded in silence and climbed back into the ox cart. Following Xiao Wu through winding streets, they finally reached the county government compound; the Recruitment Bureau was located right inside.
Entering the compound and passing through the main gate, one arrived at the grand hall, which had traditionally served as the place where the county magistrate conducted official business. Tian Feng was ushered into a side wing, where he met the Yellow Turban qushuai, He Yi.
He Yi hailed originally from Runan. Of humble origins, he had been a tenant farmer before following Zhang Jiao, serving by his side day and night and learning to read and write.
When Zhang Jiao raised his banners in Yecheng, He Yi was appointed a qushuai under his command and achieved numerous battle honors. Even when Zhang Jiao suffered repeated defeats at the hands of Lu Zhi, He Yi remained steadfast and loyal, earning Zhang Jiao's deep trust.
This Yellow Turban talent recruitment was overseen directly by He Yi, who was upright in character, literate, and dependable.
Seeing Tian Feng enter with his tall, upright posture and resolute expression, He Yi felt an instinctive goodwill toward him. He rose to greet him: “May I ask your esteemed surname and courtesy name, sir?”
Tian Feng had initially intended to give his false name, “Tian Yuan.” But the scene of the spiritual water curing illness suddenly flashed through his mind, and the truth slipped out: “I am of the Tian clan of Julu. Tian Feng, courtesy name Yuanhao.”
Even if the Tian clan had fallen on hard times in recent years, it was still renowned throughout Julu Commandery—and Guangzong was part of Julu. How could He Yi not know the reputation of the Tian clan?
He exclaimed in delight, “I never imagined a gentleman of the Tian clan would grace us!”
Ever since the Talent Recruitment Decree was issued, most respondents had been commoners and scholars of modest birth. Only a dozen or so came from wealthy magnates or powerful merchant backgrounds, and not a single one hailed from a prominent aristocratic house.
Tian Feng was the very first son of an elite clan willing to join the Yellow Turbans!
“I have also heard of your renown, Master Tian—filial to your parents and possessed of extraordinary talent and intellect. To have your aid is truly our great fortune!” Beaming, He Yi took Tian Feng by the hand.
Now that Tian Feng had given his real name, he was committed to joining the Yellow Turbans. However, many of his clansmen still remained in Yecheng, so he said sincerely:
“I am willing to serve you all to the utmost of my ability. However, my kin still reside in Yecheng, so I hope you can conceal my true name and permit me to serve under the name Tian Yuan.”
“A minor matter indeed!” He Yi replied without hesitation.
Were he in Tian Feng's shoes, he too would worry for his family's safety. After all, though the Yellow Turban Army was powerful now, they had only secured Julu Commandery for the time being. Once all of Ji Province was brought under their fold, Tian Feng could naturally resume his true name.
“Master Tian, do you wish to enter the Court of Administration or the Court of Science?” He Yi asked.
“Please enlighten me on the distinction,” Tian Feng said.
He Yi explained the differences between the two courts, and also noted that if one achieved great merits, there would be opportunities in the future to enter the Court of the Dao and learn magical arts under the Yellow Sky God.
Tian Feng's heart burned with fervor.
Magical arts?
Immortal methods?
Could one even achieve immortality?
Suppressing his yearning for immortal arts, he spoke: “I have little understanding of mechanical contraptions; I had best enter the Court of Administration.”
He Yi nodded in understanding. “Then please wait here a moment while I report to the Great Virtuous Teacher.”
Tian Feng was the first scion of a prominent clan to turn to the Yellow Turban Army; he could not simply be brushed off with a trifling post. And granting an important office required Zhang Jiao's approval.
After He Yi left, Tian Feng sat kneeling peacefully on the mat. His mind turned to what the legendary Yellow Sky God truly looked like, whether he would have the chance to be taught immortal arts, and then to the four-hundred-year-old Han dynasty and his own clan.
To be sure, he felt a measure of loyalty toward the Han, but by comparison, his loyalty to his clan ran deeper. The survival and prosperity of his family was what concerned him most.
A change of dynasty was at hand; he needed to secure a proper place for his clan in the new order...
Before long, clad in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe and clutching a nine-section staff, Zhang Jiao walked into the room.
“Master Tian.”
Zhang Jiao's voice was surprisingly gentle, not rough and coarse as Tian Feng had imagined.
Tian Feng rose and bowed in greeting. “Tian Feng pays his respects to the Great Virtuous Teacher.”
Zhang Jiao offered an amicable smile. “I hail from Ji Province and have long heard of your renowned name, Master Tian. Now that you have joined our Yellow Sky Way of Peace, I am overjoyed. I wish to appoint you as Chief Clerk—please do not decline.”
Presently, the Yellow Turban Army was in control of nearly all of Julu Commandery. As Great Virtuous Teacher, Zhang Jiao effectively served as Grand Administrator of Julu. The Chief Clerk was responsible for managing official documents, registers, and seals—essentially the Grand Administrator's confidential secretary—a position of great honor and authority.
Offering such a post demonstrated Zhang Jiao's sincerity. Tian Feng was delighted as well and bowed low to the ground. “To receive such esteem from the Great Virtuous Teacher, how could I dare not serve unto death?”
Zhang Jiao helped Tian Feng up and said warmly, “From now on, we are fellow travelers of the Yellow Sky. There is no need for such formality.”
Turning to He Yi, he instructed, “Go prepare a new residence for Yuanhao. Do not neglect anything.”
“Understood!” He Yi took his orders and departed.
Zhang Jiao then spoke with Tian Feng a while longer before excusing himself on the grounds of pressing affairs.
From start to finish, Zhang Jiao displayed absolute trust in Tian Feng, seemingly not in the least concerned about whether Tian Feng might be a spy for the Han army.
In truth, that was indeed the case.
So long as Tian Feng could be put to use by the Yellow Turban Army, what did it matter what thoughts he harbored?
As for concerns that Tian Feng might leak intelligence to the outside, that was an utterly meaningless worry.
For anyone who had never witnessed the heavenly majesty and divine might could never conceive of His greatness!
With the Yellow Sky Holy Venerable present, with vast, boundless immortal arts at hand, those who complied would flourish, and those who resisted would perish!
Before absolute power, all schemes and machinations were nothing more than a joke...
……
……
“General Huangfu has arrived, and our heavenly Han army now numbers forty thousand strong! Gazing out, our ranks stretch from earth to sky, mighty and magnificent! It is time to march on Guangzong, retake the city, and exterminate the rebels!”
In the grand hall of the Lieren County government office, Cao Cao spoke with impassioned fervor before Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi, Dong Zhuo, Zong Yuan, and the others sitting kneeling around him, gesturing boldly as he surveyed the grand strategic picture.
Lu Zhi said not a word, only shaking his head.
Cao Cao's thick, dark brows knitted together. “Lord Lu, earlier you did not agree to my launching an attack because our forces were few. But now our troops number a full forty thousand, strong in arms, robust in horses, and high in morale. Why do you still maintain that we cannot take the field?”
Lu Zhi replied stubbornly, “Without discerning the truth behind the Yellow Sky God, taking the field invites defeat.”
Cao Cao let out an exasperated laugh. “Then when will we ever discern it? You have sent quite a few spies into Guangzong as well—have you still not figured it out?”
Lu Zhi sighed.
Even he did not understand why none of the spies sent into Guangzong had relayed any word back. Could they all have been uncovered and slain?
Just then, Huangfu Song suddenly spoke: “Regardless of what this so-called Yellow Sky God is, we must march. His Majesty has issued two imperial decrees in succession, ordering us to eliminate the Ji Province Yellow Turbans as swiftly as possible.”
Once Huangfu Song, the commander-in-chief, had spoken, Dong Zhuo had no choice but to chime in: “This subordinate also believes we should march at the earliest possible date. Otherwise, if we drag our feet and the Yellow Turban rebels finish drilling their troops, the battle will only be harder to fight.”
Huangfu Song nodded, then turned a piercing gaze upon Lu Zhi. “Lord Lu, what do you say?”
What more could Lu Zhi say? He could only acquiesce.
The corner of Huangfu Song's mouth curled slightly. Rising to his full height, he drew the precious sword at his waist with a sharp clang and slashed off a corner of the low table with forceful vigor:
“Pass down my military command: march on Guangzong, and exterminate the moth rebels!!”
Chapter 20