Tang Zhou, controlled by the Black Python, reported to the court that Zhang Jiao of the Yellow Turban Army would rise in rebellion on the Jiazi Day and overthrow the incompetent, immoral court. Emperor Ling of Han flew into a rage in the middle of the assembly, and the court and the country were thrown into turmoil. The court ministers immediately ordered Ma Yuanyi's arrest and had him torn apart by chariots in Luoyang. They also hurriedly mobilized forces from all sides to hunt down and kill more than a thousand of Zhang Jiao's followers, and notified Jizhou to capture Zhang Jiao, his brothers, and their families.
When Zhang Jiao and the others realized their plans had been exposed, they immediately sent word to every region by every means, ordering an uprising without delay. Before the rebellion, the insurgents executed the corrupt officials they had captured as a sacrifice to Heaven. Drawing on the theory in the Taiping Jing that "there is the rule of Heaven, the rule of Earth, and the rule of Man; when the three vital forces reach their utmost, all things follow their proper paths," Zhang Jiao proclaimed himself the Heavenly Duke General. His younger brother Zhang Bao proclaimed himself General Digong, and his younger brother Zhang Liang proclaimed himself the Human Duke General.
Within days, the Yellow Turban Army's thirty-six divisions had begun attacking commanderies and counties, setting government offices ablaze, freeing prisoners, confiscating the government's property, opening granaries, and punishing corrupt officials and local tyrants. In less than ten days, the commandery governors and inspectors of Youyang, Yan, Yu, and five other provinces had sent urgent appeals to the capital. Emperor Ling of Han was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. After a court debate, commandants were assigned to the eight