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

"Is the Stone Sutra really that important? Are the lives of all the people in the world so worthless?" Zhang Bao asked, puzzled.

"Without the cultural heritage of China, you are still living like animals, how could you possibly have the mind to protect and govern the people? The world is in turmoil, and the court has made mistakes in selecting officials. Only by establishing the cultural heritage can we turn the tide."

"If someone who is illiterate were to become the Minister of Personnel Selection, and he were incapable of employing people, the world would not only be in chaos, but the people would be plunged into misery. A heart full of enthusiasm cannot accomplish great things; everyone has selfish desires, and their methods of scheming are beyond your imagination."

"I spare no expense in doing these things because I hope that the family can prosper."

Lu Zhi walked with composure and remained calm. His silhouette, strikingly imaginative, created a static and sublime image. He seemed detached from the world, maintaining his purity under the moonlight.

This is a kind of self-confidence, and also a kind of self-expectation: my character is like the bright moon of all time, clear and open, and can withstand the test of time.

Qi Ye couldn't help but sigh, how could Lu Zhi, who had served as both general and prime minister, be the same as an ordinary pedantic scholar?

However, reading too much can often make one's temperament cold and indifferent. Rules, regulations, and laws—Confucian classics can save countless generations; they sacrifice the present for the sake of future generations, making it impossible to judge right or wrong.

After the day of seeking the Dao, Zhang Jiao proclaimed himself the Great Teacher of Virtue, wielding a nine-section staff, and preached in the wilderness of Ji Province, secretly proclaiming: "The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise! All who believe in me will attain the Dao and be forgiven of their sins!" Believers knelt and worshipped, offering grain and rice.

Several mysterious scholars visited late at night, claiming to be members of the "Pure Stream Party." They spoke of the corrupt eunuchs in the court and offered to provide food and medicinal herbs to help the Great Teacher of Virtue heal the people and win their hearts. Zhang Jiao understood their meaning and accepted the gold and silver. From then on, his methods of healing people with talismans and water became increasingly successful.

You advised: "We should not easily trust those who belong to the party. I have a brother who can restore the Han Dynasty. He is Liu Bei, a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Lu Zhi, and a hero indeed."

Zhang Jiao sent someone to investigate secretly, and half a month later the report came back: Liu Bei was a weaver of mats and a seller of shoes, who disliked reading and preferred dogs, horses, music, and fine clothes. He was greatly disappointed and sighed, "This is just a spoiled brat; how can he accomplish anything?"

Qi Ye's expression was slightly embarrassed. "Uncle, how could you be so cruel?"

He didn't like reading because he wasn't a person who liked Confucian classics.

Liking dogs and horses means liking riding horses and hunting, implying that this person practices martial arts.

Long hands and large ears are considered auspicious features in ancient Chinese physiognomy.

But saying these words to Zhang Jiao would be of no use at all.

A severe drought and rampant epidemic plagued the land. Zhang Jiao used talismanic water to heal the people, drawing talismans, chanting incantations, and burning incense to pray to Heaven. Those who recovered proclaimed the great and virtuous teacher's supernatural powers, while the families of the deceased dared not utter a word. The number of followers of the Way of Peace surged to one hundred thousand, spreading throughout the provinces of Qing, Xu, You, and Ji.

Zhang Jiao established thirty-six districts in various prefectures, with large districts having over ten thousand men and smaller districts having six or seven thousand, each with its own leader. A popular saying circulated among the people: "The Yellow Heaven is at peace, and the world is blessed." The officials of the prefectures and counties ignored this, considering it merely the foolish amusement of the common people.

The characters "甲子" (Jiazi) appeared on the city gates of Luoyang Palace, causing a stir in the court and among the people. Zhang Jiao ordered uprisings to be held simultaneously in various regions, all wearing yellow turbans as their symbol. The whole country responded, and within a few days, eight prefectures rose up simultaneously, shaking the capital.

[The number of believers grew daily, but their quality became uneven. Yellow Turban warriors in various regions, under the pretext of "eliminating corrupt officials," attacked and captured fortified villages and towns, gradually losing their control.]

The leaders of various tribes in Runan and Nanyang unleashed their troops to plunder, burn government offices, and open granaries. The chaotic army ran rampant, confiscating the people's millet as "righteous grain" and abducting women as "servants of Heaven." Those who refused were hung on high poles, a gesture hailed as "a demonstration of Heaven's might."

The imperial court in Luoyang was thrown into turmoil. The Han emperor issued an edict granting amnesty to all members of the partisan faction throughout the land to appease the scholars. In an instant, prison carts sped north, and envoys of the amnesty went south. Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun each led elite troops to suppress the rebels along separate routes.

The Yellow Turban followers are becoming increasingly mixed, and many leaders from various regions are committing illegal acts. The Martial Saint once again advised: "Now that the four directions are in turmoil, we should establish laws to restrain the masses and deal with them gradually. If we allow our troops to plunder the people, how are we any different from the cruel officials of the court and the lawless local tyrants?"

Zhang Jiao, burning incense and praying to Heaven at the main altar in Ji Province, loudly replied, "Those who achieve great things are not bound by petty righteousness. It is not too late to implement benevolent governance after the Han Dynasty has been destroyed." The Martial Saint's blade flashed, and the Azure Dragon roared angrily, "In that case, I, Guan Yu, can only ask my Great Teacher to die for me."

Facing the vast expanse of time and space, Zhang Jiao cried out hysterically, "Lei Gong, help me!!"

Dozens of bolts of lightning roared simultaneously—it was utterly unbelievable! In an instant, everything collapsed, and each bolt of divine lightning was enough to kill a hero.

The heavens and earth trembled, the wind and clouds changed color, and dozens of bolts of lightning surged and roared, like an ancient thunder pool overturning.

The Martial Saint spat out several mouthfuls of blood, and his health bar rapidly decreased.

"Yo ho, the boss battle has started." Qi Ye rubbed his hands together, quickly replenishing his health with a steamed bun.

Streams of lightning hovered in mid-air, shimmering with a destructive power.

The Martial Saint wielded the Green Dragon Crescent Blade forged by Zhang Liang, and with a powerful forward thrust at the start, he broke through the Great Teacher's stance with a series of thuds, seizing the initiative with a straight thrust, while the enemy's health bar remained completely unaffected.

"My God." Qi Ye exclaimed in surprise, how could he possibly fight with such a thick health bar?

Zhang Jiao reacted quickly, steadied himself, and brandished his nine-section staff, feigning a defensive counterattack. Unexpectedly, a domineering bolt of lightning struck first.

The Martial Saint was staggered and pushed back. By the time he regained his footing, the enemy's second heavenly thunderbolt was already poised to strike, and a large "Danger" appeared above his head.

"A familiar feeling."

Qi Ye couldn't help but think of Sekiro, a truly excellent game that he could play for a lifetime: "I can still beat the old man's ring by checking a guide, but checking a guide for Sekiro only makes me suffer more. I've played for two and a half years and only seen a few low-level enemies."

The Martial Saint said domineeringly, "Hmph, a mere trick." He braced his body against the heavenly lightning and pressed forward with the momentum.

Suddenly, a blade pierced Zhang Jiao's shoulder. With unparalleled bravery and overwhelming force, he followed up with a flurry of thrusts and a powerful horizontal shove. The immense impact shattered Zhang Jiao's stance, leaving him defenseless.

The Green Dragon Crescent Blade pierced through the clouds and sun, and he turned around to gather his strength.

"A sweeping attack that could cleave a thousand pounds in two, do you dare to face it with your life?"

"Sorry, my sweeping attack was just a trap."

"With that sudden movement, you've lost your footing. I'm determined to break your stance in one fell swoop!"

A flash of cold light appeared as Zhang Jiao thrust his nine-section staff straight at Zhang Jiao, forcefully parrying the attack. Zhang Jiao parried precisely with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and the nine-section staff was deflected with a resounding clang.

The Martial Saint defended with all his might, his cloak fluttering, his battle aura sweeping across the land.

"Zhang Jiao's nine-section staff was able to withstand Guan Yu's power. Was it due to internal energy?" Qi Ye became wary.

Zhang Jiao suddenly changed tactics; the straight thrust was merely a feint. His true intention was to use a forward push.

They broke through the Martial Saint's defensive stance in one fell swoop, then seized the opportunity to turn the tide of the battle.

All the thunderous power within Zhang Jiao's flesh and blood was revived, surging like a tide, bursting forth with one divine chain of order after another.

The two fought and killed each other, their weapons trembling, and countless lights dancing, depicting the ultimate loneliness and sorrow.