Chapter 4, Jesus descends to the mortal realm

However, later on, the essence of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother descending to the mortal realm changed. Yang Xiuching was somewhat better, as the Heavenly Father always had some extraordinary insights, especially the Heavenly Father from Yong'an, who played a significant role in uncovering the traitor Zhou Xining's collusion with the Qing army. In contrast, the Heavenly Brother Xiao Chaogui was different; he did not achieve much after descending to the mortal realm. Apart from displaying his authority and demanding reverence from others, Xiao Chaogui mostly used his descent as a means to punish his adversaries.

Upon arriving, Hong Yang brought many flattering remarks to Xiao Chaogui, praising him as a valiant and strong younger brother, the first to charge into battle, and the commander of the vanguard. He claimed that the Qing soldiers would surely flee at the mere sound of this battle, and that Changsha would be completely unprepared for a swift conquest. Damn it, do you think the Qing soldiers are just chickens and ducks, standing there waiting to be slaughtered? Do you think the walls of Changsha are made of paper, easily pierced with a poke?

After Li Zuoche left, Xiao Yungui suddenly remembered that he still had two old brothers, the renowned Northern Expedition generals Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang. It seemed that these two had also rushed to Changsha together with Xiao Chaogui. He was worried about not having anyone to discuss matters with, as he needed to quickly grasp the situation in the army to counter Hong Xiuquan's schemes. He was not very reassured by what Xiao Chaogui knew; some matters had to be seen and heard with his own eyes and ears.

This Heavenly Brother is Jesus, and Hong Xiuquan claimed to be the second son of God. Therefore, Xiao Chaogui, who descended as Jesus, is indeed Hong Xiuquan's Heavenly Brother. Subsequently, Xiao Chaogui repeatedly pretended to descend as the Heavenly Brother, and Hong Xiuquan also acknowledged this Heavenly Brother.

These two individuals are dressed in the uniforms of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, prominently displaying the characters "Holy Army" in traditional Chinese script. They each have a waist knife secured with a red cloth belt, and their heads are typically wrapped in red scarves. The loose hair at their temples is also several inches long, appearing to be what people refer to as the "old long-haired".

The wooden door with window panes creaked open, and two tall and strong men stood at the entrance, bowing together and asking: "What orders does the Western King have?"

The fragmented memories in Xiao Chaogui's mind may not seem problematic to him. Although Xiao Chaogui was exceptionally brave among the Taiping army, he was not well-versed in reading and was far inferior to Hong and Yang in terms of scheming and intrigue. Moreover, being in a position of authority clouded his judgment, preventing him from perceiving any issues. As the commander of the front troops, he viewed leading the charge in battle as a matter of course. The six kings of the initial uprising were like brothers to him, and he never considered that his own people would harm him.

Yang Xiuching and Xiao Zhaogui, through the descent of the Heavenly Father and the Heavenly Brother, decisively overpowered Feng Yunshan, becoming the second and third figures in the God Worshipping Society under Hong Xiuquan. Consequently, a peculiar phenomenon emerged: whenever the Heavenly Father or the Heavenly Brother descended, everyone was required to kneel and obey, even Hong Xiuquan had to kneel to listen to this divine voice. Furthermore, when the Heavenly Brother Jesus possessed Xiao Zhaogui, Yang Xiuching also had to kneel and listen.

The more Xiao Yungui thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss, and finally, he suddenly recalled the matter of Xiao Chaogui's brother being possessed. It turned out that long before the Jintian Uprising, a key figure in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Feng Yunshan, had been captured and imprisoned by the Qing court. At that time, Hong Xiuquan was in Huazhou Shanjin Village, and with the absence of the important figure Feng Yunshan, the faith of the assembly wavered; some wanted to initiate the uprising early, while others wanted to disband. In short, it was complete chaos.

After pondering for a while in frustration, a sudden rumble echoed from his stomach. It was then that Xiao Yungui realized he had not eaten for a long time. Seeing that the sky outside was about to darken, he cleared his throat and called out loudly: "Someone!"

What can one do? Xiao Yungui does not aspire to change anything; he only hopes to first preserve his own life, then understand how he has crossed over, and see if there is a chance to return. He is accustomed to the extravagant and indulgent life of a wealthy heir in the later generations, so why should he risk his life to rebel alongside a bunch of peasants? Moreover, these peasants are from one hundred and sixty years ago.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yungui felt somewhat dejected. Shen Shuiyuan was originally a trusted confidant of Hong Xiuquan, and this time he had accompanied the army on the expedition, undoubtedly to monitor Xiao Chaogui. It was possible that he would even undermine him behind his back, using underhanded tactics.

As more and more memories of Xiao Chaogui surfaced, Xiao Yungui gradually realized that this raid on Changsha was deliberately orchestrated by someone, with the aim of using the Qing Yao to eliminate him, the representative of the Heavenly Brother

Before Xiao Chaogui deployed his troops, he had already requested for additional soldiers. Even if only three thousand troops were provided, along with the support of the local populace along the way, he would be able to gather around six or seven thousand men by the time they reached the outskirts of Changsha, thus having the strength to engage in battle. However, both Hong and Yang denied this request and instead issued a strict order for Xiao Chaogui to reach the gates of Changsha in the shortest possible time and to breach the city.

Later, as Yang Xiucheng recovered and after the Battle of Yingtian, Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yanshan returned, the frequency of the Heavenly Brother descending to the mortal realm began to decrease. Occasionally, when he did descend, it was merely to use the Heavenly Brother's hand to strike down others, which significantly diminished the grand image of the Heavenly Brother as a towering figure in the eyes of the believers

However, when Xiao Yungui inadvertently occupied the body of Xiao Chaogui, he became acutely aware of the scent of conspiracy. The reason is simple: the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother descended to the mortal realm to counterbalance Feng Yunshan. However, with the Southern King Feng Yunshan having perished in a cannon fire in the entire state and ascended to heaven, the loss of the counterbalance made the Heavenly Father's and Heavenly Brother's representative extremely dangerous for the religious leader Hong Xiuchuan.

Li Zuoche and Tang Erniu have followed Xiao Yungui for many years and can be considered trustworthy individuals. Li Zuoche immediately clasped his fists and bowed, saying: "Your Highness, the West King, please wait a moment. The guards have already instructed the kitchen to prepare the meal, and I will go and urge them now"

It turns out that Xiao Chaogui's decision to deploy troops this time was not of his own volition. Although the Qing army's forces in Changsha were weak and the city defenses were not yet complete, it was still the capital of a province, and even a dilapidated ship has its three thousand nails. However, Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing only allowed Xiao Chaogui to take his old subordinates, numbering over one thousand soldiers, into battle, which was extremely risky. Not to mention that there were Qing troops guarding along the way, even when they reached the outskirts of Changsha, the population inside the city exceeded one hundred thousand, with tens of thousands of able-bodied men. Just one person could easily drown Xiao Chaogui's contingent.

These two men are card players under the command of Xiao Chaogui, and can be considered as the personal guards of the Western King. After a brief contemplation, Xiao Yungui recalled that these two were old brothers who had followed him in Guangxi Guiping Zijing Mountain to make charcoal, grow vegetables, and work for a living; one is named Li Zuoche, and the other is named Tang Erniu

Although the God Worshipping Society was founded by Hong Xiuquan, it was Feng Yanshan who tirelessly traveled to various places to spread the teachings and attract followers. It can be said that without Feng Yanshan, there would be no God Worshipping Society, as Hong Xiuquan alone lacked the ability to gather such a large number of followers. As the uprising approached, Hong Xiuquan naturally sought to recruit Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Zhaogui to weaken Feng Yanshan's influence within the society; otherwise, it would have been difficult to determine who would become the Heavenly King after the uprising.

Xiao Yungui recalled the history he knew, and he had already formulated a plan in his mind. As long as he was careful and stayed far behind during the battle, preserving his life until the reinforcements led by Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing arrived, it should not be a problem

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had a strict hierarchy, and the six kings of the initial uprising were all related to the Heavenly Father in some way. Ordinary people were not allowed to casually refer to each other as brothers. However, at this moment, the establishment of Yong'an was still recent, and Xiao Chaogui treated this group of old brothers quite well. He instructed his subordinates that when no one was around, they could still refer to each other as brothers, just as they did in the past when they made a living by charcoal burning and vegetable farming. Zeng Shuiyuan was one of the forty sworn brothers of the initial uprising, so he also referred to himself as a brother.

If Changsha can be attacked, then it should be; if not, it can follow the large troop to take a detour northward, occupying the splendid city of Jinling, enjoying a few days of luxury, and indulging in the experience of being a prince, so as not to have traversed this journey in vain. However, upon reviewing the memories of Xiao Chaogui, Xiao Yunui discovered some events that occurred before and after the military campaign, which left him feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his heart chilled to the core.

Secondly, Yang Xiucheng and Xiao Zhaogui are both quite capable, especially Yang Xiucheng's military talents and Xiao Zhaogui's bravery, which Hong Xiuquan greatly valued. After the uprising, they engaged in real battles against the Qing army. At this time, allowing these two capable fighters to hold power was also advantageous. If Xiao Yungui were to choose from Hong Xiuquan's perspective, he would do the same.

From the memories of Xiao Chaogui, it is known that members of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom were required to cut off their queues, let their hair down, and wrap it in a headscarf. It is quite easy to identify whether someone is an elder of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom; one only needs to look at the length of the hair at the temples. This is because during the Qing Dynasty, people shaved their heads and wore queues, leaving no hair at the temples. Therefore, it is also quite easy to distinguish whether someone is a spy for the Qing army.

Xiao Yungui stared blankly at the guest room he was in, which could be considered perfect in every way. The decorations were luxurious, with a high bed and soft pillows, and even the toilet was adorned with red lacquer and gold trim. He couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion; the princes of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had yet to capture a decent city, yet they indulged in such extravagance and pleasure. The commander of the front-line troops was actually not staying in the military camp, but instead occupied this guest room alone. Moreover, they had not yet achieved any significant accomplishments, yet their own people were already vying for power and engaging in mutual scheming. No wonder the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's uprising only lasted fourteen years.

Otherwise, on a day when this reckless man is not in his right mind, if he were to use the mouth of the Heavenly Brother to demand Hong Xiuquan to commit some outrageous act, it would put Hong Xiuquan in a dilemma—whether to agree or not. If he agrees, it could lead to a farce at best, or become a deadly weapon at worst. However, if he refuses, it would mean openly destroying the deity he has established for himself, with unimaginable consequences. Moreover, every time the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother descend to the mortal realm, Hong Xiuquan must kneel and listen to their teachings, which adds to his frustration. Therefore, it is certain that Hong Xiuquan wants to eliminate Xiao Chaogui to remove this unsafe factor. Furthermore, every time the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother descend to the mortal realm, Hong Xiuquan must kneel and listen to their teachings, which adds to his frustration. Therefore, it is certain that Hong Xiuquan wants to eliminate Xiao Chaogui to remove this unsafe factor.

Xiao Yungui suppressed his wandering thoughts and said in a deep voice, feigning authority: "Bring this king something to eat."

At that moment, he instructed Tang Erniu, "Where are Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang?" Regarding these two individuals, Xiao Yungui held a certain level of admiration. Leading an army of twenty thousand, they dared to launch a solo northern expedition, even reaching near Tianjin. They truly deserve the title of the Five Tiger Generals among the Taiping Army. Therefore, with such talents under his command, Xiao Yungui certainly wanted to meet them at the earliest opportunity. Most importantly, these two individuals could be considered his trusted confidants.

This Li Zuoche shares the same name as the famous general Li Mu of the Warring States period and the renowned general Li Zuoche of the Han dynasty. However, the parents of this Li Zuoche did not name their son out of admiration for the Han general, but rather because Li Zuoche's father was a cart driver. That year, his wife gave birth to twins, two sons, one named Zuoche and the other Youche. Unfortunately, the family was poor, and the younger son did not survive, leaving only Li Zuoche.

At this moment, Hong Xiuquan cannot do without Yang Xiuqing; he needs Yang Xiuqing to oversee the overall situation. However, Xiao Chaogui is different; at best, he is merely a brave general, and moreover, this person is utterly uneducated, yet he wields the formidable weapon of acting as the earthly representative of the Heavenly Brother. Hong Xiuquan would not be pleased to allow Xiao Chaogui to live freely and comfortably.

At that time, Yang Xiuching pretended to be the Heavenly Father incarnate, calming the hearts of the congregation and stabilizing the situation. He then took charge of the overall affairs, allowing the God Worshipping Society to turn a crisis into safety. However, later on, Yang Xiuching also fell ill, and the society was left without a leader. At this moment, Xiao Chaogui timely stepped forward, pretending to be the Heavenly Brother incarnate, consolidating power on one hand while also stabilizing the hearts of the members within the society.

It is indeed strange that on this day, the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother descended to the mortal realm, specifically favoring only Yang Xiuching and Xiao Zhaogui. Others who possessed bodies were merely spreading deceptive words, which Hong Xiuquan did not acknowledge. Thus, when the two were conferred kings in Yong'an, they were respectively titled Eastern King and Western King, positioned above Southern King Feng Yunshan, a senior member of the God Worshipping Society. Furthermore, Hong Xiuquan recognized Yang Xiuching's sister, Yang Xuanniao, as his sworn sister and married her to Xiao Zhaogui, renaming her Hong Xuanniao. In this manner, the triangular relationship among the Heavenly King, Heavenly Father, and Heavenly Brother was established, firmly controlling the military and the powers of politics and religion.

Xiao Chaogui originally did not have the surname Xiao, but rather Jiang. He was adopted as a son by the family of Xiao Yusheng in Luodong, Wuxuan, Guangxi. He suffered from bullying and disdain, which led to a sense of revenge. His first descent to the mortal realm was not only to handle "official business"; another matter was to "use public office for personal gain" by giving his adoptive father's biological son, Xiao Chaolong, a severe beating. He was also quite dissatisfied with women asserting themselves. He once borrowed the power of his heavenly brother to descend and severely punished a brother in the association, Lin Dali, who was notorious for his "strict control by his wife," with five hundred slaps. He was equally displeased with his own wife, Hong Xuanjiao, for "making a scene". Ultimately, his heavenly brother descended to discipline her, and a beating sent her back to the kitchen.

Tang Erniu bowed and said: "The guard Lin and Chief Li are in the army. His Highness the Western King has summoned them, and I will send someone to fetch them right away." With that, he turned and left.

At this point, Xiao Yungui began to understand why Hong Xiuquan initially recognized Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Zhaogui as the incarnations of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother. The main reason was that the leader Hong sought to weaken the power of Feng Yanshan