Chapter 1, The Yellow Turban Rebellion
This is the atmosphere of a thousand-year-old ancient capital, flourishing like a painting, with mountains and rivers adorned in splendor
A magnificent and towering imperial city stands tall, with billions of rays of light and auspicious energy converging, illuminating the heavens and the earth as if even the great sun in the sky has lost its brilliance before this imperial city
Between the urban areas, the crystal-white city walls encircle, and people of various shapes and colors enter and exit through the grand city gates. Some ride flying vehicles, whizzing in, while others descend before the gates, slowly making their way inward
At the age of 60, it is a great fortune for the world
Alas, I did not do it intentionally... The power of the dragon spirit is truly difficult to control...
The fallen emperor of the Xianwu world, perhaps influenced by the great fortune of heaven and earth, is my fate truly to not survive beyond fifteen, destined to be poisoned to death
The unknown is, in fact, a form of happiness. Yet, as a modern individual, how could Gu Cheng be unfamiliar with this grand and tumultuous era, one of the most renowned in Chinese history?
It is this son who has allowed her to rise in status, transforming from an ordinary palace maid to a noblewoman, and ultimately to the Empress who embodies the virtues of motherhood.
On the hillside outside the city of Luoyang, three Daoist priests in yellow robes appeared through the void, their heavenly eyes suddenly opened, gazing far into the distance
This group of swallows and warblers, with their graceful movements, is enchanting and ethereal, resembling celestial maidens from the heavens. They appear to be evading the Spirit Emperor, yet in truth, they are both rejecting and inviting him, longing to be overwhelmed and favored by him
However, in the eyes of the Daoist, what is seen is not only the densely packed Seven Luminaries formations on the city walls and the Yin-Yang divine array, but also a colossal red flame dragon coiling in the sky, encompassing the four seas, its majestic aura commanding the submission of all living beings in the Divine Land
Ah! It was merely a moment, when the two individuals on either side let out a muffled groan, consumed by the divine power, and hurriedly closed their eyes, with two streams of blood tears flowing from the corners of their eyes
The eunuch's body is like a ghost, shrinking the earth to mere inches—what is this? Are they all founders of the Sunflower Manual?
In an instant, a beam of light burst forth from his crown, within which three scrolls floated indistinctly. At the same time, there was a corresponding energy from the East Sea, West Liang, and South Barbarians, soaring straight into the heavens
The expression on Emperor Ling's face changed, his passionate blood cooled, and his cowardly nature took the upper hand as he awkwardly said: "What the Duke has said is reasonable. Quickly summon Qiao Xuan to lead the troops to suppress the rebels"
The Imperial Guard raises their shields, capable of withstanding the impact of boulders weighing hundreds of pounds. Are they all immensely strong, comparable to Xiang Yu?
Elder brother, is it really effective
Elder brother, let us go together
The Yellow Turban Rebellion has already erupted, and the fall of the Han Dynasty, my demise, is one step closer! This feeling of helplessness, waiting for death, is truly dreadful!
The flaming dragon on the royal city of Luoyang seems to be greatly provoked, writhing incessantly, raising its head to emit a thunderous dragon roar
It is acceptable to be rooted to the ground, yet some palaces soar into the sky, breaking through the clouds, embodying incredible mysteries, while others are solely for ostentatious luxury and indulgence
They are neatly dressed on the upper body, while the lower body is either completely bare or features an enticing exposure of smooth white skin.
Emperor Ling displayed a look of heartache, yet he saw a ghostly figure flickering out, with a gaunt shoulder, a gloomy countenance, and a pair of eyes that seemed to have whirlpools; it was none other than Zhang Rang, the head of the eunuchs.
The sound, akin to a roaring tsunami, spread throughout the entirety of Luoyang, and the response from the city walls was swift to the utmost degree
The scenery of the four seasons continuously cycles, with flowing springs and cascading waterfalls, exquisite flowers and rare grasses, and the communion of birds and beasts. In this breathtaking place, reminiscent of a fairyland, however, unfolds a scene of debauchery.
With a wave of the hand, beans turn into soldiers. One by one, figures with stern faces, completely naked, towering at nine feet tall, appear out of thin air. These strongmen, with yellow scarves wrapped around their waists, charge up the city walls, sweeping away thousands of troops
My Majesty, you are the esteemed one of ten thousand chariots; how can you meet with those lowly commoners? If your esteemed body were to be harmed, even if this old servant were to die a thousand deaths, it would be impossible to atone for such a crime
In the next moment, he reacted again, bursting into anger: "Since the rebels of the Taiping Dao have already failed and do not take their own lives, how dare they come to Luoyang? Bring me my Zhongxing sword; I shall personally meet them!"
This should have great potential, as from the moment of his birth, Gu Cheng directly replaced the Crown Prince Bian, embodying the legitimate authority of the imperial power. With foresight and confidence, he believed he could stifle the future heroes of the Three Kingdoms in their infancy
"Giggling, Your Majesty's hand is so warm, it makes me feel tingly..."
However, it wasn't long before he noticed something was amiss
What happened
Yet within the palace, the songs and dances continue to flourish
At this moment in the Western Garden, winter snow falls gently, spring flowers bloom exuberantly, and people dance and sing, their red sleeves fluttering gracefully.
My Majesty, this is indeed a great joy. A few days ago, the prince discovered that Feng Xu was secretly communicating with the Taiping Dao, plotting mischief. As a result, the other party, in a fit of rage and humiliation, has sought their own demise!
As the two Taoists were about to pursue, a clear voice had already sounded in their ears. Unwillingness appeared in their eyes, and they turned and retreated. A gentle breeze swept by, and they vanished without a trace
Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, had his eyes covered with a silk scarf, surrounded by a dozen beautiful and charming palace maids, their long sleeves fluttering as they danced and played around him, engaging in lively antics
The emperor of a nation, so timid and weak, hears the mournful cries of the flame dragon above the imperial city, its momentum further waning
Unbeknownst to him, while he felt pleased in his heart, the young and mature prince gazed somewhat vacantly at the golden and jade-inlaid beams and pillars within the hall, feeling a deep sorrow within.
I am General Zhang Jiao of the Heavenly Sovereign. The fate of the Han is coming to an end. You all should follow the will of heaven and adhere to righteousness, in order to enjoy peace and tranquility
These various changes forced Gu Cheng to keep a low profile, showing only a hint of precociousness, and he completely dared not make any other moves; otherwise, he might be suspected of having his primordial spirit usurped, leading to being soul-searched and suppressed by the royal experts
Meanwhile, Luoyang Central
Your primordial spirits have yet to be fully formed, and thus you are not yet worthy of the might of the dragon's energy. Quickly proceed to Nanyang in Jizhou and act according to the plan
This son, who is also the most likely to ascend to the throne, will thoroughly solidify the prestige of the He family
So it was that matter
The red dragon is about to die, the yellow sky shall rise
The Taoist, with a bamboo staff and straw sandals, his beard and brows all white, takes a step forward, and it is as if he covers several miles. As he approaches Luoyang, his stature becomes increasingly imposing.
Boom
Coincidentally, the mighty Yellow Turban Warrior, impervious to blades and bullets, is currently assaulting the city walls, and the earth-shattering sound of the impact is heard once again
In the distance, on the horizon, a giant mountain of bright yellow rises, towering to a height of one hundred zhang. Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a series of urban districts springing up, exuding an imposing presence akin to a sword.
Your Majesty, spare my life!
If this young man is indeed the weak and incompetent Han Shaodi, who was later deposed and poisoned by Dong Zhuo, then so be it
The late Eastern Han period saw the division into the Three Kingdoms
The leader of the Taoist, unafraid, had a gleam in his eyes reminiscent of amber, as he slowly took out a piece of yellow cloth from his sleeve and tied it around his forehead.
Your Highness, that sorcerer has indeed turned against us as you said
The Ling Emperor immediately abandoned the deceased palace maid and urgently asked, "Yafu, who is making such a commotion? The Red Dragon is about to perish, what does it mean that the Yellow Sky is about to rise?"
Zhang Rang wore a smile on his face, reporting good news while concealing the bad
The delicate and frail woman let out a mournful cry, her entire body soaring into the air, only to fall into the distant waterfall, where blood immediately spread.
Surely this time, no matter how much the Ling Emperor looks at it with disdain, he must still commend it!
Those generals are even more terrifying, as it is said that they can harness the power of celestial phenomena, transforming it into various incredible means, capable of shaking mountains and toppling cities, causing a thousand troops to falter
Your Majesty, here, here...
At that moment, the resounding waves that shook Luoyang reached him, startling Emperor Ling. A surge of golden energy enveloped him, and with a swift motion, he slapped a palace maid across the face.
With three waves of the hand, the divine water flows forth, like a gentle rain, sprinkling upon the city. The bedridden patients rise from their beds, the beggars slumped by the street become lively, and the common people cheer softly.
... ...
The year of light and seven, spring
Emperor Ling also relaxed, yet a hint of disdain appeared between his brows, seemingly showing a lack of interest in that prince's arguments
Such majesty truly reigns supreme, yet the Taoist priests flanking either side were instead overjoyed and hurriedly inquired.
On the other side, the figure of the Taoist had already filled the heavens and the earth. Under the astonished gaze of the city defense soldiers, he transformed into a giant towering a hundred zhang, perfectly level with the city wall
Gu Cheng tightly clenched his fists, rising amidst the graceful dance of the palace maidens in flowing sleeves, their slender waists swaying to the music, and addressed Empress He:
The other palace maids were so frightened that they all knelt down, trembling in fear
No! Even if it means death, I will not become a confused and unjustly dead ghost
In the Longqiu Palace, the atmosphere is vibrant and diverse, as the palace maids dance gracefully in the air, displaying various ethereal postures. Empress He, resplendent and elegant, watches with a smile, occasionally glancing at the young man sitting upright beside her, his features revealing a deep affection in her gaze.
Zhang Rang displayed a look of distress on his face and urged in a mournful tone
The red dragon is about to die, the yellow sky shall rise, the year is the jiazi, and all under heaven will be auspicious
In almost an instant, a general clad in armor and exuding an imposing presence appeared, with plumes of smoke rising above his head, connecting with the celestial stars. The soldiers he commanded, with their formidable military might, transformed into a peerless divine spear, aimed directly at the Taoist.
Mother, I wish to see that sorcerer Zhang Jiao
Emperor Guangwu obtained the red talisman to ascend the throne, inheriting the position of the Lord of the Fire Virtue Star. However, in the cycle of the five elements, fire can generate earth. I now regard earth as auspicious, believing in the Central Yellow Supreme One, seizing the fortune of the Han and replacing it!
Which wicked person dares to utter such rebellious words
With a wave of the hand, the Daoist summoned thunder from the heavens, striking down upon the long spear. The purple lightning coiled like a dragon, rampaging freely, spreading along the general's arm and causing him to emit a piercing scream.
Even the early deaths of Lingdi's sons were not due to the backward medical conditions, but rather because they could not withstand the overwhelming power of the Great Han's Dragon Spirit
This youth, who is the center of countless affections, is no ordinary individual. With sword-like brows and starry eyes, he possesses a calm demeanor. Recently, he uncovered a conspiracy to rebel through subtle clues, achieving great merit.
The four hundred years of the Han Dynasty's national fortune is about to come to an end