Chapter 186: The Taiping Essentials and Qi Observation Technique
[Though this war ended rather swiftly, after several rounds of combat, Zhang Jue's power still left a deep impression on you. As the saying goes, human strength has its limits, and the will of Heaven is ultimately fixed—but with just a wave of his hand, Zhang Jue could change the celestial phenomena and summon thunder and lightning. He exuded such presence that it felt as if even Heaven, Earth, and the spirits of gods and ghosts moved in response.]
[In the second-to-last battle, perhaps due to the butterfly effect, Dong Zhuo—who had committed a capital offense and was desperate to redeem himself—was unexpectedly killed by the desperate "remnants of the Yellow Turbans." Looking upon Dong Zhuo's face, still bearing a kindly expression despite death, you couldn't help but feel deep sorrow.]
[Thus, after Zhang Jue's death, you leveraged your advantage as a transmigrator and led the charge into Guangzong City, personally killing Zhang Liang to avenge Dong Zhuo. You immediately searched his body and found the Taiping Essentials. (You have obtained the Epic item: Taiping Essentials.)]
[In October of the seventh year of Guanghe, following the deaths of Zhang Jue and Zhang Liang, the only enemy left was Zhang Bao, who had stationed his forces in Quyang. Although they still had over a hundred thousand troops on paper, without Zhang Jue, they were nothing more than a disorderly rabble. The remainder of the war lasted less than ten days. With Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian joining the fray like walking cheat codes, Zhang Bao was ultimately slain by your own hand. The Yellow Turban Rebellion was temporarily quelled.]
[At the end of October, upon returning to the capital, you quickly experienced the pleasures of connections. Due to the merits of this campaign, Sun Jian was appointed as Administrator of Changsha. Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Cao Cao were promoted to marquises and generals. With He Jin's support, you were promoted to Colonel of the Middle Army—just like when you first arrived in Chang'an in your past life. You couldn't help but sigh at the many coincidences life has to offer. You have earned the achievement: Groundhog Day.]
[In the late Eastern Han, the rank of Colonel of the Middle Army was already a very high position, with a salary grade equivalent to two thousand dan, just slightly below that of general officers. Keep in mind that if Dong Zhuo hadn't died, he would've held only the same title at this point.]
[In December of the seventh year of Guanghe, Emperor Ling of Han announced a change of era name to Zhongping and issued a general amnesty.]
[In February of the second year of Zhongping—your second year in this world—you lived a highly fulfilling life in the months that followed. There's an old saying: "Poor in literature, rich in martial arts," meaning it's acceptable to lack money when studying literature, but martial cultivation demands wealth. In this high-martial world, countless rare treasures and heavenly materials exist to enhance your strength and temper your body. As a trusted aide of the Grand Marshal and a highly favored figure in the court, you naturally lacked for nothing. Soon, your household stockpiled a large cache of such resources, enough to last you for quite some time.]
[Moreover, through He Jin's network, you met many civil and military talents, including Xu Huang, Li Su, Hua Xiong, Niu Fu, Zhang Ji, and Li Ru. The first was discovered when he enlisted, while the others were formerly Dong Zhuo's subordinates who had lost their backing and were seeking a new patron. Sentimental as ever, you took them in without hesitation.]
[Meanwhile, you also attempted to study the Taiping Essentials, though most of its contents were far too profound for you to grasp. The only portion you managed to learn was the section on Qi Observation. By observing the color of a person's aura, you could roughly assess their health and fortune. At a banquet, you tested this on Adviser Liu Tao and saw his qi as black and sinking. According to your past life's history, he was destined to die in prison—seemingly quite accurate. You have gained the skill: Qi Observation Technique (Intermediate).]
[At the end of February in the second year of Zhongping, a great fire broke out in Luoyang, destroying nearly two thousand residences as well as the Southern Palace. Court eunuchs Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others urged Emperor Ling to raise land taxes to fund the construction of a new palace. Timber and decorative stone were requisitioned from all over the empire, and the West Garden was opened for the sale of official titles. Seeing the empire on the brink of chaos, Liu Tao submitted a memorial admonishing the emperor, blaming the eunuchs for the unrest. Just as you had predicted, Liu Tao offended the powerful and was imprisoned, where he ultimately committed suicide. You couldn't help but marvel at the uncanny workings of fate.]
[Later that same month, under unbearable oppression, the people rose up once more. Millions of Yellow Turban remnants—including the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans and the Black Mountain Army—rose in rebellion again, attacking counties, killing officials, and spreading their uprising like wildfire.]
[In Liangzhou, Beigong Boyu also joined forces with Han Sui, Bian Zhang, and others in revolt, leading tens of thousands of cavalry under the banner of "Eliminate the Eunuchs" to invade Chang'an. The situation became increasingly perilous. With Dong Zhuo's death, the first major butterfly effect occurred: in the original timeline, Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song were supposed to suppress the rebellion together. But thanks to He Jin's recommendation, Emperor Ling appointed you and General of Chariots and Cavalry Huangfu Song to lead the Liangzhou campaign, with Huangfu as the commander and you as his deputy.]
[From April to August of the second year of Zhongping, your forces engaged in several battles with Han Sui and Beigong Boyu, mostly ending in stalemates. Though your side had the advantage in numbers, the rebels held the terrain. With a force of 60,000 cavalry, they moved freely across the vast plains. In late August, Huangfu Song was dismissed due to poor performance, and Minister of Works Zhang Wen was appointed as the new General of Chariots and Cavalry to oversee the Three Adjuncts' military affairs. You were granted the title of General Who Breaks the Rebels and continued the confrontation.]
[Perhaps you truly possess the innate courage of a "Ferocious Tiger." Over the past few months, between battlefield tempering and personal cultivation, your combat power advanced further—so much so that even you were surprised by your own growth.]
[In November of the second year of Zhongping, you finally seized a rare opportunity. One night, a meteor streaked across the sky, its light shining directly into the rebel camp. Their mules and horses shrieked in panic. Believing it an ominous sign, the rebels prepared to retreat. You, however, used the night as cover and launched an attack. Amid the chaos, you killed Beigong Boyu and captured Bian Zhang alive, routing the rebel forces. The most awe-inspiring moment came when, under a sky full of yellow sand, you raised your halberd and unleashed a blinding gust of wind—felling Beigong Boyu in a single strike from horseback.]
[Among the five columns Zhang Wen had dispatched, only yours returned victorious. You garrisoned your troops in You Fufeng, while all the others suffered defeat. The court, in recognition of your service, granted you the title of Marquis of Wen with an estate of a thousand households. As always, life is full of strange coincidences.]
[From December of the second year of Zhongping to January of the fourth, you remained stationed in You Fufeng, occasionally returning to Luoyang. At one of He Jin's banquets, you met a man named Xu Shao, who was skilled in physiognomy. His assessment of you was: "A true tiger among ministers, fierce as a roaring tiger." It was from this moment that the nickname "Fierce Tiger" began to follow you.]
[During your time in Luoyang, you also took the opportunity to challenge many powerful individuals, including the Imperial Tutor Wang Yue. In this world where the personal strength of martial generals is dramatically amplified, Wang Yue stood among the elite. What gratified you was that, although you didn't win, you knew that in a fight to the death, he would not survive. This confirmed that you had indeed become a top-tier warrior in this world.]
[In March of the fourth year of Zhongping, Grand Minister of Ceremonies Liu Yan, noting the ongoing chaos across the land, submitted a memorial to Emperor Ling proposing to replace Inspectors with Governors, who would wield full military and administrative authority over their provinces. In an effort to suppress the constant uprisings, Emperor Ling accepted the proposal. Liu Yan was appointed Governor of Yi Province, Minister Steward Huang Wan was made Governor of Yu Province, Minister of the Imperial Clan Liu Yu of Donghai was made Governor of You Province, and you were appointed Governor of Bing Province. Until your official appointment, you would remain stationed in You Fufeng.]
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