Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

February of the seventh year of the Guanghe era of the Eastern Han Dynasty, 184 AD.

That morning, in Luoyang.

No one expected that this seemingly peaceful day would become the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Eastern Han Dynasty, plunging the already tottering Eastern Han into the abyss.

Luoyang, as the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was a crucial part of the Taiping Dao's strategic layout.

The leader in charge of coordinating affairs in Luoyang was Ma Yuanyi, the core leader of the Taiping Dao.

This man had followed Zhang Jiao for many years, and possessed extraordinary courage and insight, earning Zhang Jiao's deep trust.

To ensure the success of the uprising in Luoyang, Ma Yuanyi secretly gathered tens of thousands of believers from Jing and Yang provinces and infiltrated Luoyang city in batches.

They also spent a lot of money to collude with eunuchs such as Feng Xu and Xu Feng in the palace as inside agents.

They were just waiting for the order to be given on the fifth day of the third month, so that they could coordinate from within and without to seize the palace and take control of the government.

Tang Zhou was one of Zhang Jiao's most trusted disciples. Seeing his companions around him eager to rebel, he gradually began to have second thoughts.

He couldn't sleep at night, always thinking about the majestic palace walls, the elite imperial guards, and the emperor who could mobilize thousands of troops at a single command.

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He felt that the Taiping Dao's actions were tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, and if they failed, it would be a heinous crime that would implicate nine generations of his family.

(Fang Xiaoru: You're afraid of nine generations? I haven't even blinked at ten generations.)

Tang Zhou thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and pulled out a map of the Taiping Dao's strongholds in Luoyang, a list of believers, and secret letters between Ma Yuanyi and the palace eunuchs from under the bed. He wrapped them in a piece of coarse cloth, put them in his pocket, and ran towards the palace.

Tang Zhou jogged all the way and finally arrived at the palace gate.

The imperial guards at the gate saw a civilian suddenly running towards them and immediately stepped forward to stop him.

"Halt! This is forbidden area of ​​the palace; unauthorized personnel are not permitted to approach!"

Tang Zhou ran over, panting, and said in a trembling voice.

"My lord, I have urgent business to report, which concerns the fate of the nation. Please inform me!"

Seeing that he looked flustered and his pockets were bulging, the Imperial Guards did not dare to delay and went to find the Imperial Guard Commander.

Upon hearing this, the commander of the Imperial Guards dared not delay and quickly sent someone to report it.

Before long, Zhang Rang's subordinates came out and led Tang Zhou inside.

As soon as Tang Zhou entered Zhang Rang's office, he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

"My lord, I am Tang Zhou, a disciple of Zhang Jiao of the Way of Peace. I have come today to inform on you!"

"The rebels of the Taiping Dao are plotting a rebellion on the fifth day of the third month, intending to capture Luoyang and overthrow the imperial court!"

Upon hearing the words "treason," Zhang Rang turned deathly pale with fright.

He had long heard of the Taiping Dao and knew it was a sect with many followers, but he never expected them to dare to plot such a thing.

Zhang Rang dared not delay. He immediately took Tang Zhou and the secret letter and list he had presented, and rushed to Deyang Palace to report to his son... no, I misspoke, it should be Emperor Liu Hong.

Tang Zhou followed Zhang Rang through the many palace gates, and the further they went in, the faster his heart beat.

He knew that once he revealed this secret, not only would his own life be in danger, but the entire Taiping Dao would also face annihilation.

But he knew even better that if he didn't inform on them, he, as a follower of the Way of Peace, would also face certain death once the uprising broke out.

Driven by his survival instinct, Tang Zhou ultimately chose to betray.

Inside the Deyang Hall of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, was engrossed in looking at a glass ball with dragon patterns that Zhang Rang had presented as tribute, while playing with several palace maids.

This emperor, who was only twenty-eight years old, had already been on the throne for more than ten years.

He was by nature playful, addicted to wine and women, and indulged in pleasure, paying little attention to state affairs. Power had long since fallen into the hands of eunuchs and imperial relatives. (Later years of Liu Hong's reign)

Upon hearing that there was something important to report, Liu Hong said impatiently.

"What's the rush? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Tang Zhou was led into the hall and saw the emperor sitting on the dragon throne. His legs went weak and he knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly and stumbling.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I... I have a momentous report! The Way of Peace is plotting a rebellion!"

"rebellion?"

Liu Hong was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"What can a religious organization possibly oppose? Do you know that false accusations are punishable by death?"

Seeing Tang Zhou's incoherent speech, Zhang Rang quickly recounted Tang Zhou's betrayal in detail and handed over the secret letter and the roster.

"Your Majesty, this is evidence of the Taiping Dao rebels' plot to overthrow the emperor. They have agreed to launch their uprising on the fifth day of the third month. Ma Yuanyi has already gathered tens of thousands of followers in and around Luoyang, and has also colluded with Feng Xu, Xu Feng, and others in the palace, intending to launch a coordinated attack on the imperial palace!"

Tang Zhou hurriedly added.

"Your Majesty, everything you say is true! They have developed followers throughout the country, and now there are hundreds of thousands of them!"

Liu Hong was initially nonchalant, but the more he listened, the paler his face became.

When he heard the words "capture the palace", "overthrow the court", and "hundreds of thousands of people", the glass ball in his hand fell to the ground with a "crack".

He suddenly stood up, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground. The eunuch next to him quickly helped him up.

"Rebellion...rebellion! Rebellion!"

Liu Hong's face was filled with terror, as if his soul had been scattered.

"The Way of Peace... How dare they plot rebellion!"

He picked up the list of believers, opened it, and saw that it was filled with names, numbering in the thousands.

Liu Hong was so frightened that he trembled all over, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

He could even imagine the tragic scene on the fifth day of the third month, when the rebels, armed with knives and spears, stormed into the palace and he became a prisoner.

"Arrest them! Arrest them for me!"

Liu Hong realized what was happening, and, enraged, pointed outside the hall and roared loudly.

"Immediately dispatch troops to arrest Ma Yuanyi! And all the traitors on the list—not a single one should escape! Investigate! Conduct a thorough investigation of everyone in the palace; anyone colluding with the Taiping Dao should be beheaded!"

The news quickly spread throughout the entire palace.

……

At this time, Ma Yuanyi was at home discussing the details of the uprising with several trusted confidants.

"Commander, according to plan, on March 5th, with our combined inside and outside forces, we will surely succeed in one fell swoop!"

"One of my trusted confidants said excitedly."

Ma Yuanyi nodded.

"The Great Teacher has already made preparations in various places. When uprisings break out simultaneously across the country, the imperial court will surely be unable to attend to both ends."

"Luoyang is the key. If we capture Luoyang and control the emperor, we'll be halfway there!"

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.

Ma Yuanyi's heart tightened. Just as he was about to send someone to check, the gate was smashed open, and a large number of imperial guards rushed in.

"Ma Yuanyi! Your treason has been exposed! Surrender at once!"

The commander of the Imperial Guards shouted loudly.

Ma Yuanyi's expression changed drastically, but he still pretended to be calm.

"Gentlemen, are you mistaken? I, Ma Yuanyi, have always been law-abiding and honest; how could I possibly be plotting a rebellion?"

"Enough with the nonsense! Someone tipped us off, and the evidence is irrefutable! Take them all away."

Ma Yuanyi and his group tried to resist, but they were no match for the fully armed Imperial Guards and were quickly subdued.

When he was dragged out of his home, Ma Yuanyi was filled with doubt and anger.