Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 872: Prophecy confuses the world, Jingxiang is in trouble

Li Ru's journey went smoothly. He finalized the surrender with Zhang Lu and then paid a visit to Zhen Mi. Once a date for their return to Chang'an was agreed upon, the Celestial Master's residence began furiously preparing the Saint's dowry. Though the 100,000 followers of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect were shocked by the change of leadership, the Celestial Master's declaration of "heaven's will" and the formidable reputation of the Western Liang cavalry gave them a sense of powerful support, and a sense of joy spread throughout the streets.

Zhang Qiying sat alone in the embroidery tower, her fingertips repeatedly caressing the window lattice. That day on the parade grounds, the silver-armored general, his horse wielding his spear, the sunlight weaving golden threads across his dark cloak, his graceful presence etched into her heart. She had thought it was just a fleeting glimpse, but it would ultimately lead to a marriage. The bridal veil in her hand wrinkled, and a blush tinged the tips of her ears.

In contrast, Zhang Fubao was unhappy all day. She leaned against Zhen Mi's dressing table, looking at her angry face in the mirror, and suddenly slammed her wooden comb down: "How can Sister Zhen's beloved become the one I have to marry?" Zhang Qiying smiled and tied up her hair, the silver bracelet on her wrist jingling softly: "Sister, the King of Liang has a broad mind, we..." Before she could finish her words, her sister grabbed her sleeve: "Sister, you say it so easily! Since Ma Chao is the lord of the world, why does he want to snatch two wives?"

But she was, after all, a saintly woman, adored by her followers since childhood. Despite repeated persuasion from her sister and Zhen Mi, she still pouted, but she didn't cry anymore. Inside the Heavenly Master's Mansion, the embroiderer's needlework flew, embroidering twin lotus flowers on the wedding gown with gold and silver threads. This wedding, more than any other, had a touch of the mystical and Taoist charm.

Li Ru's fingertips repeatedly stroked his trembling beard, which had been pulled so hard, and he looked at the gilded wedding lanterns swaying in the wind at the eaves of the Tianshi Mansion. The candlelight made his eyes gleam. Hua Xiong stood at the bottom of the steps and saw that although the corners of the master's lips were smiling, there was a hint of helplessness between his brows. "Are you worried that the mistress will blame you?"

"Bai'er's temper..." Li Ru sighed softly, his feather fan tapping unconsciously on his palm. "You think I want to get involved in this mess? Knowing that I was the one to welcome Miss Zhen Mi back to Chang'an, she pulled my beard before leaving." Thinking of the smile that could not be hidden in Dong Bai's almond-shaped eyes when she pulled his beard, he couldn't help but shake his head. "Originally, he said he would marry one princess, but through my hands, he brought back two more, making it three princesses at once. When Bai'er gets angry, my poor sparse beard may not be able to withstand her tossing and turning."

The night breeze carried distant sounds of joy into the courtyard, and the sound of bronze bells tinkled. Li Ru gazed toward Chang'an, his dark robe fluttering in the wind. The mountains and rivers of the Central Plains, once unconquered by Dong Zhuo, were now being annexed inch by inch by Ma Chao's cavalry. Whoever controlled Hanzhong would gain the gateway to Sichuan, and whoever conquered the Five Pecks of Rice Sect could spread the teachings of the Heavenly Master throughout the land.

Li Ru had already dispatched a swift horse, eight hundred miles away, to Chang'an, announcing the surrender of Hanzhong and the Prince of Liang's plan to take his two daughters as concubines, along with a detailed plan behind the surrender. The letter detailed the following: Hanzhong would secure the gateway to Sichuan; subjugating the Five Pecks of Rice Sect would allow him to use the name of "Heavenly Master" to reassure the people; and aligning the newly annexed territory with the Zhang sisters' marriages—every word betrayed a plot for world domination.

At that moment, he stood with his hands behind his back in front of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, watching the Xiliang soldiers standing in formation on the parade ground, calculating the timeline. Once the reinforcements from Chang'an arrived, the city defenses were handed over, and the treasury was inventoried, he would return to Chang'an with Zhang Qiying, Zhang Fubao, and the three consorts, Zhen Mi, who were already in Hanzhong. Thinking of Dong Bai's reaction after reading the letter, he stroked his beard and chuckled softly. While he expected the girl to resent him, he also knew she would see through the grand plan behind this marriage.

The Five Pecks of Rice sect, using the opportunity of preaching and distributing porridge, spread the legend of the "Liang King's Mandate of Heaven" throughout the streets of Hanzhong. Within a few months, the prophecy of "Purple Star Shines over Western Liang, and the Heavenly Master Returns to Ma Chao" spread like wildfire along the Jinniu Road and the Micang Road, accompanied by the sound of camel bells and the footsteps of refugees, to every prefecture and county.

The news spread like wildfire. Yuan Shao's advisers frowned as they held the secret report: "Hanzhong, Xiliang, is like a tiger with wings. My lord, you should make plans early." The most panicked was Cao Cao. He threw down his pen, looked at the newly expanded territory of Xiliang on the map, and said through gritted teeth: "Jin Ma Chao is indeed not to be underestimated."

The day the news reached Chengdu, Liu Zhang was cradling a fresh tribute of Mengding tea. Upon hearing Fei Yi and Qiao Zhou's distraught return to the camp, the teacup clattered to the ground. The civil and military officials in the palace erupted in an uproar. Yan Yan's iron fists pounded the pillars, making them vibrate. "My lord! Zhang Lu is ungrateful, and Xiliang has wicked ambitions. I am willing to lead 30,000 elite troops to crush Hanzhong!" Wu Yi's sword was already unsheathed, its cold glare turning Liu Zhang's face pale.

"Shut up!" Liu Zhang grabbed the secret report on the table, his knuckles trembling with the paper. "Western Liang cavalry has 300,000 soldiers. What can we use to defeat them?" He looked at the jagged border between Hanzhong and Yizhou on the map, his Adam's apple rolling twice. "General Yan, quickly bring 50,000 elite troops to reinforce Yangping Pass, add rolling logs and rocks, and dig three more trenches!"

Yan Yan's beard stood on end, and he wanted to argue, but he saw Liu Zhang slumped on the brocade couch, cold sweat oozing from his forehead. He suddenly grabbed Yan Yan's cloak and said, "We are lucky to be able to defend the pass!"

That night, the gates of Chengdu were sealed shut as Yan Yan led his army northward. Seeing the rumble of military chariots, the common people along the way whispered, "I've heard the Western Liang cavalry can march eight hundred miles a day across the desert. Even the Five Pecks of Rice Sect has surrendered. How can we in Yizhou..." Before they could finish their words, they were drowned out by the rebukes of patrolling soldiers. Meanwhile, at Yangping Pass, the newly replaced Shuzhong army flag fluttered in the wind, facing off against the Western Liang wolf flag atop Hanzhong City a hundred miles away.

Back in Chang'an, Xiliang, Dong Bai unfolded Li Ru's secret letter, her fingertips rubbing over the words "Double Pearls' Marriage," and suddenly she laughed. She turned to look at Ma Chao, who was practicing spearmanship in the courtyard. His silver armor reflected the setting sun, reminiscent of the young man who rode under the sunset in Longxi. "Looks like I need to prepare more wedding silk." She tucked the letter into her sleeve. Though a smile crossed her face, she secretly gritted her teeth. "Uncle, that old fox! Let's see how I'm going to deal with him when he returns this time."

Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, has been tossing and turning late into the night on his carved couch, his hands unconsciously clenching the brocade quilt as he listens to the sound of the night watch from the corner of the city. The upheaval in Chang'an seems like yesterday—the flames of the Weiyang Palace soaring to the sky, the emperor's death at the hands of the chaotic army, and the news that the Western Liang cavalry had crushed the Hangu Pass—even as a fine crack appeared on the celadon teacup on his desk. Even more alarming is the reappearance of Jin Ma Chao, rumored dead, like a ghost. Cao Cao and the aristocratic families have joined forces to usher in Liu Xie as emperor, who ascended the throne in Xudu, completely seizing the power of the Han Dynasty.

The incident involving Sun Ce of Jiangdong was a thing of the past. Sun Ce had once raised an army to avenge Ma Chao, targeting the imperial court, but was ambushed and severely wounded in Jingzhou. Though the attacker was Sun Quan, a young man, word of the ambush had already spread. Now that Ma Chao was entrenched in Guanzhong, how could he let it go?

What made Liu Biao even more uneasy was that Ma Chao had captured Hanzhong without a single bloodshed. Inside the Tianshi Mansion of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, Taoists struck bronze chimes and chanted the prophecy of "The Purple Star Shines on Xiliang." One hundred thousand believers cheered for Ma Chao, praising him as the chosen one. Liu Biao slammed the memorial onto the table, sending smoke billowing from the bronze Boshan censer in the corner. "I am a descendant of the Han Dynasty. By blood and territory, I am the most legitimate protector of this world!" He stared at the map on the wall, his fingertips tracing the jagged border between Jingzhou and Hanzhong. "How dare this scoundrel Ma Chao deceive the people with his lies, and disguise his usurpation of the Han Dynasty as the will of heaven!"

A sudden gust of wind blew outside the window, causing the vermilion lanterns in the corridor to sway from side to side. Liu Biao looked at the ghostly shadows cast by the lanterns on the blue brick floor, and suddenly recalled the nightmare of last night - Ma Chao, his silver armor stained with blood, rode a white horse straight into Xiangyang City, and the large "Liu" flag on the city wall was torn to pieces. He stood up suddenly and called his guards: "Quickly prepare fast horses, order Kuai Yue to draft a letter immediately, and then send eloquent men to rush to Jiangdong overnight." He paused and added: "Just say...just say that this province is willing to discuss the great plan of resisting Liang with Jiangdong, and if Sun Quan does not want to be disgraced, he must contribute manpower and manpower."

Upon hearing that Emperor Liu Bian had died in Chang'an, Liu Biao slammed his desk, the bamboo slips clattering on it. He stared toward Xuchang and sneered, "What merit or ability does Liu Xie possess? He's nothing more than a puppet in the hands of the aristocratic families!" Back then, he'd been confident that the Yuan and Cao clans would invite him to support the new emperor. However, the aristocratic families had bypassed him and established their own court. While his anger lingered, his worry suddenly turned to joy. Since Cao Cao was closely connected to the aristocratic families, Ma Chao, the fierce tiger of Xiliang, would sooner or later confront Xuchang, saving him the trouble of facing Ma Chao directly. But this hope hadn't taken root yet, as he remembered that Ma Chao would never let go of Sun Ce's death.

"Prepare the wine!" He stumbled back onto the couch, his wine cup clinking against the corner of the table. Outside the window, the sound of rain hitting the banana leaves, mixed with the night watchman's clappers, made his temples throb. Suddenly, he remembered the prophecy of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect when Ma Chao captured Hanzhong: "The Purple Star will fall in Chang'an, and the Sirius will shine in Xiliang." This was clearly a plan to take over the Han Dynasty! He clenched the wine cup tightly, his knuckles turning white - if Ma Chao really led his troops south, wouldn't Jingzhou be the first to be preyed upon?

It was already three o'clock in the morning, and Liu Biao was still pacing the hall. The blue bricks beneath his feet burned from his repeated steps, yet he couldn't think of a solution. Sun Quan's secret letter lay on the table, its ink glowing eerily in the candlelight, like Sun Ce's wet blood. The night wind, tinged with moisture from the Han River, blew into the hall. Liu Biao tugged at his fox fur coat, but still felt a chill on the back of his neck.

Liu Biao crumpled Sun Quan's secret letter, then fiercely unfolded it. The paper wrinkled in the candlelight, and the inscribed words, "Zhou Yu holds half of Wujun and is temporarily unable to fulfill his promise," stung his eyes. He recalled the previous year, when he and Jiangdong had conspired to eliminate Sun Ce, Zhang Hong had promised: "If you can help me secure Jiangdong, all the food, fodder, and military equipment needed by Jingxiang will be transferred from Jiangdong." But now that Sun Ce's former subordinates, such as Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, had repeatedly investigated the cause of his death, Sun Quan, using Zhou Yu's powerful army as an excuse, had reneged on his promise.

"You rascal, you're bullying me!" He grabbed the bronze paperweight from the table, but paused just as he was about to smash it against the table. The cold touch of the paperweight sobered him up. If he revealed the Jiangdong nobles' conspiracy with Sun Quan to murder Sun Ce, Jiangdong would surely turn against him. With Cao Cao lurking to the north and Ma Chao looming in the west, further hostility towards Jiangdong would be tantamount to a desperate situation.

What made him even more uneasy was that since the news of Ma Chao's reappearance spread, Jiangdong had become as quiet as a dead water. He had also sent envoys, but now there has been no news for half a month.

"Could it be that Sun Quan is changing sides?" Liu Biao gazed out the window at the darkening sky, feeling a chill run down his spine. If Sun Quan, seeking self-preservation, turned to Ma Chao, not only would the previous alliance be void, but Jingzhou would be plunged into a dangerous situation, threatened by attacks from both the east and the west.

The night watchman struck the second watch, and outside the hall, the sound of horse hooves suddenly approached from afar. Liu Biao abruptly jumped to his feet, only to find that the personal guards were still delivering military intelligence from Kuai Yue in Jiangxia, with no news from Jiangdong. He slumped back onto the couch, grabbed the wine jug, and gulped down a large gulp. The pungent liquor choked his eyes, making them red.

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