Suddenly blurting out something perplexing, Zhang Liang turned his horse’s head around. “My words end here.” Zhang Liang, as if believing that I wouldn’t attack him, showed his defenseless back.
“…Before you leave, I have a question.” As I stopped Zhang Liang, who was departing, he turned his head and looked at me with one side of his face. “Do you have a question?” The words about the Yellow Turbans not being hostile to us. After hearing that, one question came to my mind. “Is it really Zhang Liang?”
Zhang Jue. Zhang Bao. Zhang Liang. According to reports, these three dress the same and are hard to distinguish because their body shapes are similar. Judging by Zhang Liang’s appearance now, it seems to match the report. The only difference is the color of the masks they wear. That’s why the government forces distinguish them by their masks. But I wonder about not knowing the faces of the leaders of the rebels stirring up the country. It’s said they have never shown their faces.
“Even though you hold a high position in the Yellow Turbans, this behavior seems like an overstepping.” The Yellow Turbans revolve around Zhang Jue. Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang are his accomplices. What is the Yellow Turbans’ banner? To overthrow the Han Dynasty and establish a new nation of harmony and prosperity. But not hostile to me? Zhang Liang says I’ve been diligent, but I am still an official receiving the Han’s stipend. I haven’t surrendered to the Yellow Turbans, and Zhang Liang’s current action undermines the Yellow Turbans’ cause.
Even as Zhang Jue’s brother, this wouldn’t be allowed. If such a thing was to be done, it should be done by the one in charge to minimize backlash. What if the person in front of me isn’t Zhang Liang? As previously mentioned, the only way to distinguish them is by their masks, so switching masks would easily allow for disguise. Zhang Liang seemed to smile faintly at my suspicion.
When Zhang Liang didn’t respond, I continued. “Fine. If you don’t want to answer, we have something to say too.” Their statement of not being hostile to us. It could be seen as a non-aggression pact. “We may not attack first in the current chaos, but if the court orders, we must fight you.” The tribes who keep attacking despite being beaten by Lü Bu. Similarly, the Black Mountain bandits keep blocking paths and looting, despite being beaten. The ineffective court, despite being aware of the desperate situation in Bing Province, hasn’t interfered much. The truth is, they have hardly any resources to focus on the Yellow Turbans.
But if the Yellow Turbans grow in power, the silent court will surely issue orders. “Yet, you say you won’t be hostile to me?” One day, surely, I will be attacked. Zhang Liang, behind his mask, calmly said, “It’s okay.” Suddenly, Zhang Liang looked up at the sky. “…When that time comes, whether it’s me or the Han Dynasty, it will be the final battle.” Looking at something unseen, Zhang Liang’s gaze was fixed. With a tone as if foreseeing the future, I didn’t speak.
Zhang Liang then left the camp with 150,000 Yellow Turbans and exited Bing Province. …Should I call him Zhang Jue instead of Zhang Liang? Afterwards, the battle between the Yellow Turbans and the Han Dynasty escalated. Hwangbo Seung, the Left General, led the central forces in Yeonju and Yeju. Ju Jun, the Right General, managed the southern forces in Hyeongju and Yangju. Lastly, Noh Sik, the North General, was in charge of the northern forces in Giju and Yuju, where Zhang Jue’s main force was. All of them suffered major defeats against the Yellow Turbans.
In the meantime, Noh Sik was demoted for not bribing the Ten Attendants, and Dong Zhuo was foolishly appointed as the North General. Eventually, Dong Zhuo was defeated by Zhang Jue’s Yellow Turbans, losing most of his forces and fleeing, which led to a strange atmosphere. The court hastily reappointed Hwangbo Seung, who had almost finished pacifying the central region, to clean up the mess. Those who burn themselves to eradicate a corrupt nation. Those who sacrifice everything to protect the nations…
