The news of Zhang Jiao and his two brothers' arrest reached the palace as soon as it was announced.

"Your Majesty, news has just arrived that the three Taoist priests have been arrested by the Sili Commandant's men!"

"Oh? What did they do?"

Upon hearing the news reported by Song Dian, Liu Hong couldn't help but feel curious.

"It is said that they used His Majesty's name to bewitch the Imperial Guard who was summoned by His Majesty..."

Song Dian then relayed the details of Zhang Jiao's encounter with Zhang Xiu to Liu Hong.

"Heh heh~ Interesting... When did I become their master??"

Hearing the end, Liu Hong couldn't help but laugh out loud. These three brothers were really bold. Coming to Luoyang was one thing, but they actually dared to use his name to do things? Were they really not afraid that he would wipe them out completely?

Liu Hong then asked, "Have they made any other moves recently?"

Song Dian shook his head. "No, ever since they came to Luoyang, they have been treating the sick and saving lives, as well as spreading their doctrines. They only keep a portion of the offerings given to them by their followers and give the rest to the poor. They also refuse to be followed by their followers and seem to be only focused on promoting their doctrines."

"Hmm~ I see!!"

Liu Hong pondered for a moment, then said, "Go and tell Yang Qiu to bring these three Taoist priests here. I want to see them!"

"promise!!"

Song Dian should agree, and then hurriedly ran outside.

Not long after the three Zhang brothers arrived in Luoyang, Liu Hong's spies had been keeping an eye on them. After learning their identities, Liu Hong initially considered eliminating them, as they would later destroy the foundation of the Han Dynasty.

However, Liu Hong later thought about it and gave up the idea. Although it seemed that the Yellow Turban Rebellion was the source of the downfall of the Han Dynasty, it was ultimately caused by the corruption of the government, natural disasters, man-made calamities, and the people's suffering.

Even without Zhang Jiao, there would have been Wang Jiao, Li Jiao, peasant uprisings, and the end of dynasties; it just gave those ambitious people the opportunity.

Ultimately, it's because the house is dilapidated and can no longer provide shelter from the wind and rain; there will always be a force that pushes it down and rebuilds it.

Furthermore, Liu Hong had also conducted research on Zhang Jiao's "Taiping Jing" (Scripture of Great Peace). In a prosperous and peaceful era, Zhang Jiao's doctrines did provide considerable benefits to people's livelihood and stability, and included some principles of governance.

Most importantly, their central doctrine is reverence for Heaven, which is quite similar to Confucian thought and does not offend people. As for which Heaven they revere, that is entirely up to the emperor to decide.

"Ha! Zhang Jiao... Yellow Heaven...! With me here, this sky will never fall...!!"

After Song Dian left, Liu Hong got up and went to the entrance of the main hall. He looked up at the blue sky above and couldn't help but chuckle.

......

At this time, the three Zhang brothers, with their hands bound, were escorted to the main hall of the Sili government office.

Looking at the upright and stern-faced constables on both sides of the hall, Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao couldn't help but feel extremely nervous.

They had heard that anyone who came here, whether guilty or innocent, would be beaten with a hundred strokes of the rod first. Seeing the thick, five-colored rod in the hands of the bailiff, they knew that if those hundred strokes hit them, they would be severely injured, if not killed.

Thinking of this, the Zhang brothers, Liang and Bao, turned pale and their bodies trembled slightly.

Zhang Jiao, however, stared calmly at the simple table in the hall and the empty chair behind it, lost in thought.

Zhang Jiao originally planned to establish a relationship with Zhang Xiu through some underhanded means, and then gradually gain the emperor's attention by using Zhang Xiu's status as a member of the Imperial Guard.

Although he had the idea of ​​using the emperor's name and had told his two brothers about it, they had not received official permission and had never dared to act in the emperor's name, for fear of causing trouble by saying something they shouldn't.

Today, however, he suffered this undeserved disaster because of his brother's loose tongue. He knew the reputation of the Sili government office; almost no one who entered ever left unscathed. But Zhang Jiao was completely unfazed by all of this.

Compared to the faith he held dear, some physical suffering was nothing.

"Second brother... do you think they're really going to attack us?"

Zhang Liang cautiously glanced at the five-colored rod in the constable's hand, his lips trembling slightly as he looked at Zhang Bao beside him with a worried expression.

"I don't know... but judging from this, I'm afraid I can't escape this beating!!"

Zhang Bao shook his head slightly, equally terrified.

"Sigh~ You two, after following me for so long, how come your wills are still so weak? A mere physical pain has frightened you??"

Noticing the two brothers' movements, Zhang Jiao couldn't help but sigh. It seemed their cultivation was still somewhat lacking.

"Elder brother...we..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang lowered their heads in shame.

Then Zhang Jiao said slowly, "Everything is ordained by Heaven. We are the Lord's most loyal servants. Believe that our Lord will surely protect us..."

No matter when or what happens, believe that this is a test from the One and the Lord for us. Only by accepting it with equanimity can we pass the test, gain the Lord's approval, and be qualified to assist the Lord in spreading His glory. Do you understand?

Zhang Jiao's lecture enlightened the two brothers, and they suddenly felt relieved.

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