Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Yellow Turban Taoist

With the addition of these four men, Liu Yao’s ranks were now brimming with talent. For civil affairs, he had Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Cheng Yu, Chen Lin, and Tian Chou. On the martial side, there were Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Taishi Ci, Gao Shun, Zhang Bao, and Gao Lan. With such a foundation, Liu Yao had already laid solid groundwork for future struggles for supremacy, placing him leagues ahead of his rivals.

On this day, a new dilemma presented itself before Liu Yao.

Staring at the urgent report he had just received, Liu Yao sighed helplessly. He called out to his guards outside, “Someone, bring Zhongde and Gongyu to me.”

The guard acknowledged and, before long, Cheng Yu and Ju Shou arrived.

“My lord, what is it you have summoned us for?” Ju Shou inquired.

Liu Yao handed the urgent report to the pair. After reading it, both men frowned deeply.

“What are your thoughts on the outbreak of plague in a village outside Ji County?” Liu Yao asked.

Cheng Yu was the first to speak. “My lord, a plague is a grave matter. Countless lives have been lost to such outbreaks over the years. Fortunately, the epidemic is currently confined to a small village and has not spread. I suggest we execute all the villagers and cremate the bodies to prevent the plague from spreading any further.”

Cheng Yu’s words sent chills through Liu Yao. He himself might have been ruthless against foreign tribes, but Cheng Yu was equally merciless even toward Han civilians. No wonder this was the man infamous for using human flesh as army provisions.

“No, absolutely not, my lord!” Ju Shou cried out urgently. “Only a dozen or so villagers have contracted the disease; the rest are healthy. We need only summon physicians to treat those afflicted. There is no need to slaughter so many—these are our Han people!”

Ju Shou, steeped in the benevolence of Confucianism, stood in stark contrast to Cheng Yu’s Legalist ruthlessness. Ever since Cheng Yu had joined Liu Yao’s ranks, the two had often disagreed on policy, though they remained amicable in private.

“Indeed, I agree with Gongyu,” Liu Yao said. “I know, Zhongde, that your suggestion was for the greater good, but we must show greater compassion to the people of the Han.”

“Yes, my lord,” Cheng Yu replied quietly.

“Report—!” a herald suddenly burst into the council chamber.

“What is it!” Liu Yao called out in irritation, for nothing vexed him more than being interrupted during his deliberations.

The herald, intimidated by Liu Yao’s tone, stammered, “My lord, regarding the plague-stricken village you asked me to keep an eye on—there’s been an incident!”

Liu Yao was alarmed. “What! What happened? Has the plague spread?”

“No, no, my lord. It’s just that some Daoist priests and a wandering physician have gotten into an argument,” the herald finally managed to say.

Liu Yao let out a sigh of relief, though he was tempted to punish the messenger for causing him needless worry. Something occurred to him, and he asked, “Do you remember any details about these Daoist priests?”

The herald pondered for a moment. “My lord, the priests were all dressed in yellow robes, with yellow headbands tied around their heads.”

“You’re certain about the yellow headbands?” Liu Yao pressed urgently.

“I am certain, my lord. I could not have been mistaken,” the herald replied.

Liu Yao waved his hand dismissively. “You may go.” As the herald withdrew, Liu Yao thought to himself, “So, the Yellow Turbans have already made their way to Youzhou under my father’s indulgence. Hmph, though these Yellow Turbans are part of my plan, Youzhou is my territory. They will not be allowed to stir up trouble here.”

Ju Shou, observing Liu Yao lost in thought, asked worriedly, “My lord, is there something odd about these priests?”

Liu Yao nodded. “Gongyu, do you know when these Yellow Turban Daoists first appeared in Youzhou?”

“About two months ago, according to our covert reports,” Ju Shou replied. “They’ve mainly been giving out medicines and helping refugees, so I didn’t interfere.”

“Hmph,” Liu Yao snorted, his voice full of disdain. “Helping refugees, are they? Gongyu, come with me today. Let us go see these people for who they really are.”

“No, my lord! You are far too important. How can you risk visiting a plague-stricken place?” Cheng Yu protested.

“It’s nothing to worry about. The plague is not so fearsome, as long as proper precautions are taken,” Liu Yao replied resolutely.

Seeing Liu Yao so determined, the two could only comply.

Soon after, Liu Yao summoned Shi A and twenty guards to escort himself, Ju Shou, and Cheng Yu to the small village outside Ji County.

Upon arrival, they saw, as the herald had described, a white-haired but sprightly wandering physician with a medicine chest on his back, arguing with several Yellow Turban followers.

“You old fool, get out of here and stop interfering with the blessings I’m bestowing!” one of the Yellow Turbans shouted, shoving the physician aside. He then took a talisman, lit it, burned it to ash, and stirred it into a bowl of water, which he offered to a plague-stricken villager. “Here, drink this! The Great Virtuous Teacher will bless you, and your illness will vanish!”

“Thank you, master!” the villager exclaimed, eager to drink the talisman water.

“Don’t drink that!” the physician cried, lunging forward and knocking the bowl from the villager’s hands.

“You old wretch, what are you trying to do?” the Yellow Turbans, their scheme thwarted, flew into a rage and rushed at the physician.

“Stop!” Liu Yao shouted, but it was too late. To his astonishment, the physician, with swift and practiced movements, felled four or five Yellow Turbans with ease.

Liu Yao, unfamiliar with martial arts, could not judge, but Shi A recognized at once from the old man’s agile prowess that he was a master, likely the equal of his own teacher.

“Ah, it’s the Governor!” a villager who recognized Liu Yao called out. Instantly, all eyes were on him. The Yellow Turbans, realizing the situation was dire, tried to flee.

“Seize them!” Liu Yao ordered, and his guards rushed forward to apprehend the Yellow Turbans.

Liu Yao approached the assembled villagers and called out, “People of the village, do you trust me, Liu Yao?”

An elderly man stepped forward, his voice trembling. “My lord, you drove out the Wuwan raiders and reduced our taxes. Only this year have our lives improved. If you speak, I am the first to believe you.”

The other villagers echoed, “We believe! We believe!”

“Good. Since you trust me so, rest assured—I will see that you are cured of this plague,” Liu Yao said, moved by their faith.

“Thank you, my lord!” the villagers chorused.

“Now, let me deal with these men,” Liu Yao muttered as he strode toward the lead Yellow Turban. “Who are you, and why do you sow confusion in my Youzhou with your heresies?”

The Yellow Turban, having been strictly ordered by Zhang Jiao not to provoke the authorities, nevertheless had no choice but to answer stiffly, “We speak no heresy. The Great Virtuous Teacher will bless us all. If we believe in him, all illnesses will be healed.”