Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 1 Talisman Water
In February of the fifth year of the Guanghe era of Emperor Ling of Han (182 AD), a major plague struck Luoyang, the capital region. Subsequently, the plague spread rapidly, killing countless people in the six provinces of Ji, Yan, Yu, Qing, Xu, and Jing. This was the third major plague in the five years since Emperor Ling changed the era name to Guanghe, and the fourth major disaster in Ji province.

"The year before last was a great plague, last year was a flood, and this year is another great plague! Not only are people dying everywhere from the disease, but there's also a lack of rain. Since the beginning of spring, not a single drop of rain has fallen on the fields for two months. The winter wheat has all withered and scorched, and who knows how much of this summer's harvest will be left? But the government has already sent people to collect next month's summer tax in advance, not a single penny less! Even the death penalty for those who have died from the disease will be charged to the entire village... God, there's no way to survive in this world, there's no way to survive!"

"Oh, Taiyi God! I've heard that the only way to survive is to go to the Dongyue Tianqi Temple in Pingxiang County... The Tianqi Temple has a Master Zhang who distributes talismanic water to drive away evil spirits and plagues, and I've also heard that he gives out wheat porridge... The Tianqi Temple offers a way to survive!..."

"Yes! Go to Tianqi Temple, go to the Great Virtuous Teacher's sacred site! Only the Great Virtuous Teacher can save us... only the Great Virtuous Teacher..."

The May wind was dry and hot, blowing against the face like burning ashes. In just two months, the plague had spread to all fifteen counties of Julu Prefecture. Corpses piled up in ditches, and the stench of cremation mingled with the stench of uncorrupted blood, attracting swarms of flies.

Major epidemics are often accompanied by major disasters, and this year's drought is already quite evident. The wheat in the fields is withered and yellow, and few farmers can be seen watering it. The wells are indeed dry and have no water to irrigate. The smoke from the village chimneys has ceased, and the barking of yellow dogs can no longer be heard. Only the intermittent cries from afar can be heard, causing passersby to cover their faces and keep their distance.

"Cough...cough!..."

On the country roads, the disaster victims from various counties of Julu dragged their families along, like swarms of wriggling ants, heading southeast. Most of them were dressed in rags, some wearing rags sewn from tattered mats, others wearing short tunics woven from coarse hemp. It was rare to see anyone wearing fine hemp clothing, let alone silk or headwear.

The plague, drought, and spring famine—the three most terrible things in the countryside—overlapped together like an invisible hand, driving the desperate victims toward Pingxiang County in Julu Prefecture. Infants were strapped to their mothers' backs, their cheeks swollen, coughing silently; the elderly were carried on stretchers, their eyes vacant and lifeless; strong men carried broken earthenware pots, hoes, and half-sacks of wheat chaff, struggling to drag the old and weak forward.

For these impoverished disaster victims, horse-drawn carts were out of the question, and oxcarts were extremely rare. This arduous journey of hundreds of miles was like a death trap; the elderly, weak, and sick collapsed frequently. The surviving relatives couldn't even shed a tear; after hastily burying the bodies, they continued onward. No one knew if the end of the journey would truly offer a path to survival. Perhaps this arduous journey was merely a hope for life, not for living long, but simply to avoid a hasty death!

"Oh, Taiyi God! This huge estate! This huge estate actually has water!"

"Ah! Such a high wall, it must belong to the lord of a powerful family..."

When people occasionally pass by the manors of powerful local families along the river, they can't help but swallow hard when they see the excellent irrigated land by the river and the lush wheat fields irrigated by the river.

The powerful families had dozens, even hundreds, of servants, each armed and carrying bows and arrows. They stared coldly at the refugees on the country roads, as if they were prey in a forest. They were the henchmen of the powerful families; as long as their masters were of high status, killing was no big deal. Moreover, the government would never intervene in killing these most lowly and impoverished refugees.

"Cough! Cough! Let's go, we can't get anything here... Let's go to Tianqi Temple... Let's go to Tianqi Temple!"

As the old man spoke weakly, the disheveled, hungry faces once again bowed obediently and staggered forward.

If there's anything in the countryside that villagers fear more than major epidemics and famines, it's the government's tax registers and the usury registers of powerful local tyrants. The former requires selling children to pay, and the latter can't be repaid even by selling land.

Especially after a major disaster, officials and powerful families colluded to seize "abandoned land" and take in "tenants," which became a "good time." As for ordinary people, they either died in the disaster or became tenants, destined to be devoured!
In the past five years, the world has suffered three major plagues, and Ji Province has been afflicted four times. Countless small, self-sufficient farmers have perished, while the estates of powerful clans and wealthy families have sprung up, becoming increasingly vast and sprawling. Yet, the court's taxes, corvée labor, and military service have never increased for the powerful clans and wealthy families, but have instead doubled the burden on these ordinary households. Year after year, this has led to the bankruptcy of more and more small households, leaving "the rich with vast tracts of land, and the poor with no place to stand." The world is thus rapidly collapsing, heading towards the desperate struggle for survival of the late Han Dynasty.

"Oh, Taiyi God! Tianqi Temple... Tianqi Temple is just ahead! Look... so many shacks outside the temple... there are talisman masters casting spells to save people... and the aroma of wheat porridge!..."

"Look! Those people holding yellow scrolls are the Yellow Scroll Talisman Masters under the Great Teacher of Virtue! We're saved... saved!..."

The hungry young men mustered their last strength to take a step forward, but they didn't even have the energy to run. The seriously ill old man breathed his last, a smile playing on his lips, and fell down silently. And the direction in which all those eyes were looking was none other than a brick and wood temple dedicated to the "Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak," the "Eastern Peak Tianqi Temple."

This ancient temple was built on a hill by the Ming River. Now it has been converted into the "Huangtian Divine Seat" and is the missionary site of the "Great Teacher of the Way of Peace".

Upon closer inspection, the area outside the temple was densely packed with numerous thatched huts and makeshift shelters, where thousands of disaster victims had gathered. Dozens, even hundreds, of Taiping Dao followers, dressed in yellow turbans and carrying yellow paper scrolls, moved among the crowd. Some chanted Taiping scriptures for blessings, some distributed talismans and water to exorcise evil spirits, some unrolled yellow scrolls and chanted incantations, and others carried straw mats to the mountain hollows. Wherever they passed, the disaster victims reached out to touch their rough hemp robes, hoping that the pure energy of the "immortal masters" would dispel the heavy evil and sickness that weighed on their bodies.

"May Heaven protect you! You are in good health, and the typhoid fever did not penetrate deeply. It was just that the onset of the illness was rapid, which is why you suddenly fainted. Now that you have sweated profusely for a few days, the cold has dissipated, and you are almost fully recovered... Next, use Ephedra and Cinnamon Twig Decoction... Hmm, if you can't find the herbs, just boil water and drink plenty of hot water. Calm your mind and stop getting angry, rest more, and don't overwork... Hmm, that's enough, try to avoid overexertion!... After resting for a month or two, you will be completely recovered."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Master Zhang... Thank you, Immortal Master Zhang!..."

The strong, muscular man knelt excitedly in the mud, repeatedly kowtowing to the young "Zhang Fu Master." This "Zhang Fu Master" looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, with a somewhat handsome face. But his solemn and stern expression, and his deep, insightful eyes, made one unconsciously forget his age. And when he reached out and grasped the kneeling man, his strength was astonishing. The strong, muscular man could no longer kneel.

"Ah? Master Zhang?... "

"You're feeling better now, so take good care of yourself. If you have the strength, help take care of the elderly around here and keep this camp from getting into trouble."

"Yes! I'll do whatever you say!"

The strong, muscular man nodded emphatically, his face filled with heartfelt devotion. He looked at the yellow scroll in "Master Zhang's" hand with a mixture of awe and longing, and prayed.

"Immortal Master, Immortal Master! Please draw a talisman on my forehead and recite the incantation for entering the Dao... Taiping Huangtian! I am willing to wear a yellow turban and join the Taiping Dao!..."

Upon hearing the request to join the Way of Peace, Zhang Chengfu's expression turned solemn as he stared at the robust man. He carefully observed the man's expression, his physique which was stronger than that of ordinary villagers, and the calluses under his hands. After a moment of silence, he finally replied.

"Burning yellow paper talismans guides those of pure spirit back to the righteous path of peace... This formal initiation ceremony is only qualified for great virtuous teachers, great physicians, and masters of divination. I am a talisman master, and can only draw you a benevolent talisman to encourage good deeds, thus making you a believer in the Yellow Heaven... What is your name?"

"My surname is Liu, and my given name is Gong."

"Alright! Come closer, lift your head a little, and repeat after me... 'Heaven above, peace in my heart. Drink my talismanic water, and you will be protected from the three calamities...'"

Zhang Cheng dipped his finger in the talisman water, recited several incantations, and drew a spiral "qi talisman" on Liu Gong's forehead, representing "pure qi entering the body, evil qi dispersing itself." Then, under the grateful gaze of the other party, he whispered two short prayer incantations before moving on to the next lying patient.

"Hmm? A swollen lower abdomen, profuse sweating, panting without speaking, and an extremely weak pulse… This is… the pulse of someone on the verge of death, their yang energy exhausted…"

Zhang Chengfu knelt in the mud, took the pulse for a while, then looked at the young, strong farmer lying before him, head bowed and silent. The farmer's breathing was shallow and rapid, but he was very weak. The skin on his wrists was dry and cracked, yet beads of sweat kept seeping from his forehead. His wide eyes were full of pleading, like a dying goldfish struggling to open its mouth.

"Immortal Master! Please... give me talisman water... save me..."

"Ah."

Zhang Chengfu nodded, took out a water pouch filled with talismanic water, and slowly fed the farmer some water. Then, he took out a linen towel he carried with him, dipped it in water, and carefully wiped the farmer's mouth and then his dusty face. Only when the white cloth turned gray did he see the farmer's clean and simple appearance. This farmer was probably only in his early twenties; his tanned face showed both the rustic simplicity of the countryside and the fear of facing death.

"Immortal Master... if I drink the talisman water, will I survive?"

"."

"These past few years have been filled with both pandemics and disasters... My family had over a dozen members, and in the end... I'm the only one left. If I die, my family line will end... Immortal Master, I'm sure I'll survive, right?..."

Looking into the farmer's pleading eyes and at his face that was regaining its light in the last moments, Zhang Chengfu remained silent for a moment, then nodded and smiled.

"Yes, you can. You drank the talisman water. You can live."

"Ah! I can live!...I can live...I...I can live..." the young farmer murmured to himself, a genuine joy on his face. He smiled and murmured like this, his voice growing softer and softer. Finally, his head tilted to the side, resting in Zhang Chengfu's arm, and with a final smile, he fell asleep forever.

"Heaven above, may your pure spirit endure forever. Today, we depart this world, our breath exhausted, our lives ending. Life is filled with suffering, may death be painless. May we part here in life, and find peace in our final moments."

Zhang Chengfu lowered his head and recited a calming sutra for the deceased young farmer. Then, he closed the man's wide-open eyes, wrapped the body in a straw mat, and carried it to a depression behind the hill.

Nestled in a hollow of the hills, facing the sun and backed by mountains, it was a good place for rest. Dozens of young and strong believers of the Taiping Dao were sweating profusely, digging large graves with wooden shovels. Upon closer inspection, there were at least a dozen such large graves. Each large pit could hold hundreds of corpses; some were already closed, some were waiting to be closed, and some had just been dug.

In this era, digging graves was a difficult task for ordinary farmers. They couldn't dig near soft riverbanks, as it would pollute the water. They couldn't dig in nearby fields, as the surrounding fields were owned and the landowners would dig them up. Therefore, graves could only be dug in rocky, uncultivable hills, and they had to be dug deep to prevent wild dogs from unearthing them. After covering the graves with soil, something would usually be planted, preferably pine, cypress, or catalpa trees, wishing the spirit to live on.

In such a year of great plague, it is not so easy for the poor to have a peaceful burial ground. They have to rely on the "immortal masters" of the Way of Peace to make it possible.

"Envoy Zhang, you've personally carried corpses again? What if you catch the plague..."

"May Heaven protect them! I'll see them off on their final journey. Don't worry! I've experienced many plagues since childhood; my body has developed resistance..."

"Ah! That's true. You are a disciple personally bestowed with talismans by the Great Virtuous Teacher, so naturally you are protected by pure energy and immune to evil and plague! Among the Great Virtuous Teacher's eight disciples, you and Gao Daonu are the most robust, as if possessed by the Yellow Turban Warrior of the Qingwei Heavenly Emperor..."

"Ah."

Zhang Chengfu nodded in agreement and knelt down to bury the farmer in the grave. When he returned, it was already evening. Liu Gong stepped forward and respectfully said a few words, only then learning that an old man surnamed Zhao, whom he had carefully cared for these past few days, was also failing, showing signs of his final moments. Upon hearing this news, he stopped for a moment, glanced at the stove where the wheat porridge was being cooked, and then returned to the camp he was responsible for.

"Grandpa Zhao, have some talisman water! Can you smell the aroma of wheat? The wheat porridge for dinner will be ready soon, it smells delicious!..."

"Cough...cough! Master Zhang...this old man pays his respects to you..."

"No! Sit down... sit down... this is boiled talisman water, drink it while it's still warm."

"Cough!... Thank you for the water, Master Fu."

Old Zhao took the talisman water, drank only one sip, thanked him, and didn't drink any more. He leaned against a large tree; the bark on the lower half of the tree had long been cut and eaten by the disaster victims, making it smooth and comfortable to lean against.

Zhang Chengfu also sat down next to Old Zhao, leaning against the tree side by side. He remained silent, seemingly unsure what to say. Old Zhao, however, smiled, looked into his eyes, and coughed lightly as he asked.

"Cough... Master Zhang..."

"Grandpa, just call me Chengfu."

"Ahem... Talisman Master... do you think that after a person dies, they can see their family members?"

"Separated by life and death, and by the difference between life and death... I'm afraid we won't be able to see it."

"Cough...They're all dead, all dead! I'll die too...Will the family be reunited then?"

"."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfu fell silent. After several breaths, he whispered.

Yes. You can see them.

"Great! Great!..."

Old Zhao nodded vigorously, a smile appearing on his old face. He took a few breaths, his cough gradually subsided, and his complexion became rosy. He then asked again.

"What about the Great Teacher of Wisdom? Did he ever say where people go after they die?"

“Grandpa, the Great Teacher’s teachings in the Taiping Jing say: After a person dies, the soul ascends to heaven and the spirit returns to earth. The soul enters the Yellow Heaven Paradise and resides in the heavenly realm filled with the energy of peace... From then on, there will be no illness or disaster, and one will enjoy eternal peace.”

"Great! Peace and tranquility are great! So, is there any food in Huang Tianle soil?"

"Yes, there is. The crops there are plentiful, and there is a bumper harvest every year. There are no floods, no droughts, and no major epidemics!"

"Great! A good harvest! That's wonderful!..."

Upon hearing this, Old Zhao's face lit up with a relieved smile, and he slowly closed his eyes. But a moment later, he suddenly became anxious again and struggled to open his eyes. His breath was already very weak, but he still used his last bit of strength to grab Zhang Chengfu's sleeve and asked anxiously.

“Chengfu, Immortal Master… In Huangtian Paradise, are there government offices? Are there taxes and corvée labor?”

Zhang Chengfu paused for a moment, looked into Old Zhao's pleading eyes, and immediately shook his head vigorously, answering affirmatively.

"No, none of that! In this paradise of the Yellow Heaven, there are no cannibalistic governments, only peace and tranquility!..."

"Wow! This is paradise, a land of peace and tranquility... How wonderful!..."

Old Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and closed his eyes peacefully. His clothes were tattered, he was emaciated, his hands and feet were cold, and his face was ashen. Only his smiling face, with its closed eyes, bore the marks of thirty years of wind and sun in the fields. Farmers in the countryside always looked old, unlike the noblemen in the manor. He called himself an old man, but he was actually only in his early forties.

"May Heaven grant us a land of joy and peace!..."

The setting sun shone in the west, and the scent of wheat rose in the east. Zhang Chengfu lowered his eyes, recited the Taiping Dao Jing for a while, then wrapped Old Man Zhao in a straw mat, carried him on his back, and headed towards the mountain hollow. The weight on his back felt light, not heavy for his exceptionally strong body. But the death he carried made his steps falter, one step at a time.

The setting sun was like blood, and a yellow turban was tied around his forehead. Zhang Chengfu, hunched over, carried the corpse of a commoner like himself, step by step up the hill until he disappeared from sight. His young, hoarse voice drifted from behind the hill, echoing across the plains of Julu.

"Heaven is dead, human life is like dust. When will peace return, and the suffering of the people be relieved?... When peace returns in the year of Jiazi, and the suffering of the people be relieved!~~"

Note: During the Han Dynasty, to avoid taboo names, the gentry preferred single-character names, while double-character names were mostly used by commoners. Emperor Xuan, when seeking refuge among the people, adopted the name Liu Bingyi. Huo Qubing was born out of wedlock, hence his double-character name. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, with the rise of Taoism, the use of double-character names by the gentry also carried connotations of Taoist practice and reclusion. For example, Zhang Ling, the founder of the Five Pecks of Rice sect, changed his name to Zhang Daoling after entering Taoism. Huang Chengyan, who lived a secluded life farming, also used a double-character name. When metaphysics flourished during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Taoism challenged the dominance of Confucianism, and double-character names became common among the gentry.

The protagonist's double name, "Chengfu," is taken from the *Taiping Jing*, meaning "Heaven bears the burdens," signifying the weight of the world. This symbolizes his humble origins, his upbringing within the Taoist community, and also the reformation of the world.

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(End of this chapter)