Chapter 629: Taiping Army
All the high-ranking officials and nobles of the Han court knelt under the high platform, and the emperor's head was placed on the top of the offerings.
A ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven is being held in the imperial palace.
"Most High and Holy Emperor:
The country was in decline and the people were fleeing for their lives. Jiao Zun was born into the world in compliance with your order to save the Han Dynasty from defeat and continue its destiny.
However, the Han emperors were no less incompetent than Jie, Zhou, You and Li, and they also formed factions throughout the country, causing loyal ministers to disappear from the government.
The nobles of the Han Dynasty were even more greedy and brutal than tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves. They formed cliques to attack those who were different and excluded loyal and good people.
Under these two circumstances, the destiny of the Han Dynasty seemed to be declining day by day and it was irreversible.
I was in a difficult situation in the human world, but I received this mission from heaven, so I cheered myself up.
It is difficult to save the Han court, but easy to destroy it. It will be accomplished after conquering it.
Today, I present the head of the Emperor of Han Dynasty, sealed here as a sacrifice.
I dare not take credit for anything, I can only respectfully carry out the Emperor's order. I only hope that the Emperor will send down a new Lord of Heaven as soon as possible, and that the world will be peaceful and unified as soon as possible."
Luo Xiao stood very high, so his voice could be heard from far away.
Now he stood at the highest place in the world, so the whole world could hear his voice.
Luo Xiao followed each step step by step.
From breaking the Mandate of the Han Dynasty from the Ninth Heaven to failing in one war after another, which made the entire ruling class of the Han court fall into self-doubt, to using the emperor's head to sacrifice to the heaven, exposing the sense of sacredness attached to the emperor, and finally announcing it to the world.
Never underestimate the power of words.
This sacrificial text has a great impact. Those who are loyal to the Han Dynasty will always continue to be loyal.
However, those who already have doubts in their hearts, or even have other ambitions but are bound by them, can break free from the constraints and do whatever they want through these things.
…
In Luoyang City, teams of Taiping Army soldiers were holding the heads of officials high in the air and parading through the streets, while also reporting in real time who the heads belonged to.
Not all ministers were beheaded and paraded through the streets. Han officials such as Lu Zhi who committed suicide were sent back to their mansions that night and their families were well taken care of.
Some ministers survived, some committed suicide, and some were beheaded. This obvious difference in treatment caused all kinds of gossip to spread all over Luoyang City.
"I heard that the Taiping Army was acting on behalf of Heaven, so those officials who were beheaded must be the treacherous officials who brought disaster to the country and the people."
"Didn't you hear the Taiping Army say that the emperor was also beheaded and was being offered sacrifices to the gods in the palace? The sound just now was made during the sacrifice."
"These ministers and officials are treated the same as the emperor, so they are definitely not good people. After all, the emperor is a tyrant."
These remarks spread wildly among the people, especially among the ministers. After the death of the emperor, the emperor's terrible reputation was immediately tainted on these ministers.
"The heads of the Ten Eunuchs have arrived!"
Someone shouted loudly, and the city fell silent for a moment, then burst into endless curses, "These traitors are finally dead.
My dear, you can finally rest in peace. "
This was a scene that had never appeared before when the heads of nobles were paraded through the streets. From scholars to the most ordinary people, all of them wanted to eat their flesh and blood alive. The Ten Attendants had such a bad reputation and had committed so many evil deeds that it would be impossible to wash them clean even if all the water of the Luo River was poured out.
"The Taiping Army must be acting on behalf of Heaven."
The common people's simple sense of justice killed the incompetent emperor, treacherous ministers, and the Ten Attendants, but spared those ministers who had always had a good reputation and good reputation. Isn't this acting in the name of justice?
More importantly, since the Taiping Army entered Luoyang City, everyone thought that the Taiping Army would search the entire city, burning, killing and looting. Countless families had even prepared to perish together with the enemy.
However, it was unexpected that after the Taiping Army entered the city, they did not commit any crimes, but they basically had no contact with the people in the city. They just followed the orders from their superiors and let the people go out to watch the parade on time.
These actions of the Taiping Army not only put the people of Luoyang at ease, but also completely changed the views of some scholars, who believed that the Taiping Army was not bandits, but was truly here to carry out the will of heaven.
In fact, the Taiping Army was certainly not an army of high moral character. The soldiers under it had long wanted to start looting, but were strongly suppressed by their leaders, and their minds were blocked by Luo Xiao.
But this was not something Luo Xiao did on his own initiative. Instead, the Taiping Army commanders figured out Luo Xiao's thoughts and did it on their own. Of course, it was very much in line with Luo Xiao's thoughts.
In the streets and alleys of Luoyang, the Taiping Army was recording the reactions in the city and then reporting them to Luo Xiao.
In the imperial palace, after the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the emperor was completed, large groups of Taiping troops began to move in and take over the government offices in Luoyang. How could it be enough to just kill a few officials?
Each of the Ten Eunuchs, ministers, and royal relatives is the leader of a force. They have many people under their command who are not qualified to enter the palace but have done all kinds of bad things. They are all targets that the Taiping Army wants to eliminate.
The people in Luoyang City watched helplessly as the powerful and wealthy were arrested and taken to the palace. The Taiping Army also accepted reports on those hooligans who worked for the powerful and wealthy and oppressed the good people.
…
There was chaos outside the palace, but life was peaceful inside.
The generals gathered around Luo Xiao, looking at each other. Finally, Zhang Yan, who was the most respected, stepped forward and asked a question that everyone was very concerned about.
“Master Dao, the Han court has been destroyed, and those princes who fled are just waiting to die in front of you.
As the saying goes, the world cannot be without a ruler for a day. When are you going to ascend the throne and become emperor?"
As soon as Zhang Yan said this, all the Taiping Army commanders looked at Luo Xiao excitedly.
When the uprising first started, no one thought that this day would come. However, as Luoyang City was captured, this idea suddenly burned in everyone's hearts like a flame.
If the Taiping Dao could really take over the world, then these people would be the founding heroes.
Among the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty, the worst ones enjoyed a hundred years of wealth and prosperity, while those who were not too dishonest enjoyed it for two hundred years. If it were not for Wang Mang's rebellious rule and Emperor Guangwu's restoration of the empire, it would have continued even longer.
Look at the Five Surnames and Seven Families in Guandong, they have been great aristocrats for three hundred years!
Who wouldn't want their family to be a part of it?
Then the excited Taiping Army Commander Qu felt that the Taoist's expression was very strange, because there was not a trace of excitement.
This made them all a little uneasy. Although the Taoist Master had always been calm except when he was commanding the army, this was a chance to become the master of the world!
Why does the Taoist master seem to have no interest at all?
"Master, you..."
Someone else asked in a low voice, opening his mouth but not knowing what to ask.
Luo Xiao stood up from the hall and walked to the front of the hall door, looking at the clear sky and white clouds. There was a faint smell of blood in the air. The settlement in Luoyang City had not yet ended, but the leader of the Taiping Army was already impatient to let him ascend the throne.
Luo Xiao didn't blame them. They were just a group of normal people. They fought hard to conquer the world just to enjoy themselves.
"After I ascend the throne, what do you want?
Beauty?
There are countless noble ladies in the city of Luoyang, each of whom was once beyond your reach. There are many palace maids and concubines in this imperial palace.
money?
After the liquidation in the city is completed, I will open the national treasury and distribute all the property of the nobles to you and the soldiers of the Taiping Army. There is no need to search the ordinary people in the whole city.
If these are all you want, I can give them to you now. You have accompanied me all the way from Jizhou and have made contributions to the world. This is what you deserve."
Something is wrong!
Something is really wrong!
Now even the most slow-witted Qu Shuai realized that the Taoist master's condition was not right. It did not look like he was about to ascend the throne and become emperor.
Why is it that not only am I not excited at all, but I also feel like I'm making arrangements for my final affairs?
"Master Dao, don't you want to be emperor?"
This was the only reason everyone could think of, but as soon as they said it they wanted to hit themselves. How could there be someone in this world who didn't want to be an emperor?
The last person who didn’t want to be an emperor was the King of Su?
There is only one example in history of someone who actually refused the throne that was within his grasp.
"It seems that even you do not believe that we, the Taiping Dao, are following the will of heaven to attack the Han court."
Luo Xiao turned around and looked at the Taiping Army commanders with confused faces. "I told you a long time ago that the fate of the Taiping Dao is to crush the destiny of the Han Dynasty. Now this fate has been fulfilled, and my mission is over. Didn't you guys ever believe it?"
Luo Xiao's words made all the Taiping Army leaders feel a little confused. Could something as illusory as destiny be real?
Along the way, I haven't seen you calling the wind and rain like King Zhaosheng, nor have I seen you have rain from heaven to help like Emperor Guangwu. How can you obey the command of heaven?
Guan Hai, a majestic man, had red eyes and said loudly: "Master, the doctrine of destiny is so illusory. A journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step. Now that we have come to this point, if you do not ascend the throne, are you going to retire?
We don't mind, but how can you?
Did the destiny only allow us to defeat the Han court, but did not give us the destiny to rule the world?
Then what is the purpose of such a destiny?
Man can conquer nature. As long as you are the emperor, if God blames you for anything, I will bear it all.
For you, I am willing to die right here in this palace."
When the leaders of the various factions heard what Guan Hai said, they immediately became excited and said, "Master Dao, I am willing to do the same. Please ascend the throne. How can the world be without you?
If you ask around the world, wherever our Taiping Army passes, who would not want you to ascend the throne?
Are the hearts of the people in the world inferior to the will of heaven?"
There was an unspeakable emotion in Luo Xiao's eyes. He had a heart for all people. He felt his heart beating and looked at the leaders.
The generals fell silent because they all felt that the Taoist master had something to say.
"I'm going to die!"
Boom boom boom!
In the clear sky, suddenly a few thunders rang out over the palace!
The people of the entire Luoyang city were startled by the sudden sound of thunder, but no matter how loud the thunder was, it was not even one-tenth as loud as the thunder in the minds of these generals.
They couldn't believe what they just heard. Zhang Yan turned around with difficulty and looked at Guan Hai stiffly, "Did I hear it wrongly just now?"
Guan Hai knelt on the ground. Although he was a big and majestic man, he burst into tears immediately. "Master, you must have lied just now. How could you die suddenly?"
A group of people knelt down in front of Luo Xiao with a thud. No one wanted to hear what they heard. Although the lifespan of a martial arts expert is indeed shorter than that of an ordinary person, the Taoist master is not old. How could he die?
"This is the price of breaking the Mandate of Heaven of the Han Dynasty. How could it be possible without paying some price when the Han Dynasty's century-long national destiny was broken in one day?"
Luo Xiao said calmly, thinking in his heart: "Your true Great Sage Master has already sacrificed his life, plus the life of a Taoist master, it is not a loss."
Luo Xiao's confirmation made all the commanders despair. They suddenly lost all their directions and didn't even know what they should do.
"I can still live for a while, don't worry too much. I'll find a good way out for you after I finish my work in Luoyang City.
After this period of training, you are all rare talents.
I want to choose some noble families with clean family backgrounds for you to marry, and then you will each lead your troops to the county where the noble family is located.
After I die, you can command your own troops and become your own princes. Just stay in your own territory and don't meddle in other people's business.
In such troubled times, one should humble oneself and wait for the right time. When the opportunity is right, one should join the promising princes who can compete for the world.
It's a pity that there is no talent among you who can take charge of the overall situation. Otherwise, if the Taiping Dao is handed over to you, you may be able to compete for the throne of the future emperor.
Now we can only disperse. You all come from the Taiping Dao, so you can help each other. No matter which lord you are, they will all value you."
Hearing that Luo Xiao had planned their future path, everyone felt relieved amidst their sadness. From his words, they could tell that the Taoist master had known for a long time that he would die soon, but he had been hiding it from them.
But think about it, what else can we do if we don’t hide it?
Ever since the Taiping Dao started the uprising among the states and counties, these people have embarked on a path of no return, and this is already the best outcome.
At least no supreme emperor accused them of treason. At least they jumped up and entered the chessboard of the world.
Thinking of this, Guan Hai kowtowed again and cried, "Master Dao!"
After pacifying the generals, Luo Xiao felt himself become even more emotional. He turned around and looked at the sky again, wondering if there was anything else he had not done.
————
Whether in ancient or modern times, there is no lack of regret for Zhang Jue's sudden death, and the reason for the collapse of the Taiping Dao, which was at its peak, is attributed to him. However, after studying the deeds of the Taiping Army leaders, the author surprisingly found that all the arrangements made by these leaders were based on the premise that Zhang Jue would not become emperor. In other words, Zhang Jue had already known that he would soon die. This is unbelievable, but it is the fact, and with this as the premise, many doubts have been reasonably explained. - "The Biography of Zhang Jue"
(End of this chapter)
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