Three Kingdoms: Conquer Wu from Maicheng with Cavalry and Swords, Don't Fall Behind

Qi Ye couldn't help but think of the saying, "A thousand years of true cultivation, but only death." The chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty was truly suffocating, with corpses of the starving everywhere. The dead people were as insignificant as the yellow sand flowing through the hands of ordinary princes and nobles.

When Zhuge Liang sang his final lines, "Oh, heavens, how cruel you are to me," he couldn't help but recall the great fire in Shangfang Valley.

A phantom of a Taoist priest seemed to appear in the void, and Wolong suddenly understood, but there was nothing he could do.

Great Teacher: I have risked my life and the very fate of the Taiping Sect to sever the dragon vein of the Han Dynasty. How can you alone reverse this? I, Zhang Jiao, beg the Han people to die!

Of course, these were all fan-made creations that Qi Ye had seen. Staring at the three brothers of the Great Teacher on the screen, he typed a few words with great emotion:

"I've heard so much about you."

Seeing the Martial Saint's admiring expression, Zhang Bao's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he laughed heartily:

"My two brothers and I provide free medical care in the countryside, but we're really not well-known in the neighboring counties. Where did you hear about us, sir?"

Qi Ye was stunned. He couldn't very well say it came from the game Romance of the Three Kingdoms, could he? The three brothers were definitely villains, easy targets for experience points. It wasn't until Dynasty Warriors Origins that the image of the Great Teacher became somewhat more righteous.

Zhang Jiao shook his head helplessly: "Second brother, second brother, Yun Chang was just being polite. Why do you have to pry so deeply? Don't you have any self-respect?"

Zhang Bao looked enlightened, raised his wine cup, and said, "I admit my mistake, I admit my mistake. How about I punish myself with three cups?"

Zhang Liang snorted, "Second Brother is shameless! He tries this trick again when he wants to drink!"

Zhang Jiao laughed heartily, boldly drinking down a cup first, his spirits soaring.

The brothers sang and harmonized, speaking frankly and humorously.

[You lingered in the mountain dwelling for ten days, amidst distant peaks shrouded in clouds, nearby pines dripping with verdant green, and mountain birds singing in the streams. The three brothers, Jiao, Bao, and Liang, prepared firewood for cooking in the morning and inquired about medicine in the evening, treating you like a brother, and even replacing your prosthetic limb.]

Qi Ye manipulated the mouse to make the Martial Saint get up and stretch his muscles.

It's so windy when I stand up, I'm not used to it.

A moment later, the Martial Saint walked swiftly along the mountain path, his momentum gradually becoming like thunder.

At this speed, if they were delivering food, they'd be getting five-star reviews every time.

A strong wind gradually picked up on the mountain. Although it was afternoon, the sky gradually turned from bright to dim. Before long, the strong wind brought a few raindrops, which quickly turned into a torrential downpour, with gusts of wind coming one after another.

The Martial Saint returned to his mountain dwelling in the rain and saw the three brothers looking at each other with unprecedented peace and tranquility, which gave him a strong sense of destiny.

A thunderous boom broke the silence as Zhang Liang coldly snorted, "The government won't let us distribute porridge anymore, and they've called us demons."

The wind howled fiercely, and Zhang Bao chuckled coldly, "This world is indeed seriously ill."

Zhang Jiao poured himself a cup, smiled slightly, and said, "Isn't a great Confucian scholar coming to Ji Province? Let's all ask him for guidance."

During the reign of Emperor Xiping of the Han Dynasty, the imperial court revised the standard Confucian classics, and had the seven classics, including the Book of Changes, engraved on forty-six stone tablets, which were erected outside the gate of the Imperial Academy in Luoyang. When the stone classics were completed, it attracted a great number of visitors, with "more than a thousand carriages coming to view them every day."

[Born with a seven-foot frame, dying only in a coffin and earth, only by establishing virtue and spreading fame can one achieve immortality. Plagues and epidemics have repeatedly struck, and scholars have perished. The great Confucian scholar Lu Zhi wishes to gather other scholars in Ye City to discuss profound principles, hoping to transform the people with virtue and embody the spirit of a sage.]

At the beginning of the day, the Martial Saint and his entourage arrived in Ye City. Scholars from within the city rushed out from the side alleys, already waiting before the Dragon Pavilion. The scholars lined up in order, and the master of rites loudly announced the salutes. The number of scholars, soldiers, and servants following them far exceeded ten thousand.

The Confucian scholars present were transformed, each speaking fluently and confidently. The great Confucian scholar Lu Zhi, renowned throughout the land for his magnanimous demeanor and imposing presence, was a paragon of Confucian learning, a model for scholars, and a pillar of the nation.

After reciting the rites, Zhang Jiao, brimming with righteous indignation, declared: "In this world, the emperor is incompetent, eunuchs and imperial relatives wield power, officials hold their positions in vain, and the common people have no hope of survival. The Han dynasty's fate is sealed!"

Is there any risk of living if one speaks like that in front of a room full of Confucian scholars?

The Confucian scholars lost their composure and became agitated. Some shouted, "Outrageous!" and "Who is it? Who is it?" They searched everywhere, their eyes filled with malice.

Lu Zhi's gaze was clear and upright. He raised his sleeve and gently pressed it forward: "Sit down, everyone."

The restless Confucian scholars gradually quieted down and maintained their standard etiquette.

Lu Zhi sipped his tea, his demeanor elegant and serene, his temperament bold and refined: "You may all leave now, come again tomorrow."

Fearing to offend the great Confucian scholar, the scholars ended their lectures early and slipped away in small groups. They whispered among themselves, discussing who had dared to act so recklessly.

Lu Zhi picked up the ruler and rhythmically tapped the short table a few times before leaving amidst the adulation of the crowd.

The group led by the Martial Saint looked at each other, pondered for a moment, and then decided to keep the appointment.

The soft, slanting sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns of light onto the finely woven reed mat on the ground, arranged in a series of small, diamond-shaped spots. The great scholar Lu Zhi stood with a serene expression, lost in thought, his deep eyes holding unspoken words.

"sit."

The Martial Saint took off his shoes and put on his socks before taking his seat. He straightened his back and sat up straight.

The three Zhang brothers all stood tall and proud.

Lu Zhi felt both heartbroken and relieved: "What do you want to ask?"

Zhang Jiao sarcastically remarked, "I heard that you, sir, oversaw the inscription of the Seven Classics on stone in Luoyang for eight long years, spending countless sums of money and grain, quite the spectacle. Yet, upon completion, a great plague struck the land, and the court did nothing. Are words and principles more important than human lives?"

Lu Zhi rose, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes deep and unfathomable: "I've heard of you, practicing medicine in Ji Province and saving many people afflicted by the plague. Do you know why the world has become so wretched?"

Zhang Jiao, without hesitation, declared: "Land is being annexed, eunuchs and imperial relatives hold power, and officials are merely figureheads. The mansions of the wealthy stretch for hundreds of buildings, their fields are overflowing with fertile land, and they have thousands of slaves! The poor have nowhere to even stand!"

Lu Zhi asked, "Why are the officials occupying their positions without fulfilling their duties?"

Zhang Jiao replied, "We did not select anyone who possessed both virtue and moral character!"

Lu Zhi sighed, "The court spent eight years creating the inscriptions for the Seven Classics on stone, which were then placed outside the Imperial Academy. Was this truly to sing praises and extol the emperor's virtues?"

Qi Ye was slightly taken aback. Forgive him for his lack of education, but that was indeed his opinion.

Lu Zhi stroked a scroll of silk, the scripture on it flowing and elegant:

"Since the suppression of all other schools of thought and the exclusive veneration of Confucianism, Confucian classics have been revered as scriptures, designated as official teaching materials by the imperial court, and the position of Doctor of Literature has been established to specifically teach them. As a result, these classics have become the highest standard for judging right and wrong and for formulating policies and laws."

"You all know that there are problems with the selection of officials in the imperial court. But how exactly should they be selected? Can you come up with any ideas? Are you just making assumptions based on your words or your own judgment? They can pretend, they can lie, they can gang up to fool people, only the classics cannot."

Zhang Jiao fell silent, his long sleeves draped over his shoulders.

Lu Zhi was refined and courteous, and spoke with clarity and articulation.

"The Han Dynasty's exclusive promotion of Confucianism gave rise to scholarly families who specialized in one classic text for generations. Through the transmission of knowledge from father to son and from teacher to student, they strictly adhered to the rules of their teachers and families, monopolized the right to interpret the classics, and used this to enter officialdom, becoming high-ranking officials for generations."

"Am I wrong to have the scriptures engraved outside the Imperial Academy for scholars from all over the world to study and copy? I admire you for healing the sick and saving lives, and for curing the chronic diseases of the prefectures and counties. But the disease that has plagued the Han Dynasty for four hundred years still requires my intervention."

"What I have done is to save the nation for generations to come, as evidenced by the inscription of the scriptures and the transmission of this knowledge today. Young people, you must strive to improve yourselves."

The last rays of the setting sun shone on Zhang Jiao's face, and suddenly, the direction in his heart seemed clear. The imperial court remained inactive. Was the Han dynasty more important, or the survival of the common people?

Qi Ye's thoughts surged like a tide, and he couldn't calm down for a long time. Indeed, one should never listen to only one side of the story when doing anything.

Breaking the monopoly on classical studies and culture requires extraordinary talent.