When Xiahou Ying, Fan Kuai, and the other "old brothers" from Pei County saw how happily Liu Bang was singing and dancing, they could not help leaving their seats to join him.
The pre-Qin era was not yet far behind them, and people everywhere had few forms of entertainment. Singing and dancing were among the main ones, so everyone from high ministers to commoners generally had some experience participating.
That went all the more for Xiahou Ying, Fan Kuai, and the others, who fell naturally into dancing with Liu Bang.
Seeing Zhang Ao still standing blankly before his dining table, Liu Bang could not resist stepping forward and taking his son-in-law's hand, drawing him into the dancing and exuberant singing.
Guan Gao and Zhao Wu, seated at the lowest-ranking places, were both rather bewildered by this.
Originally, seeing Liu Bang treat Zhang Ao so rudely with his kneeling sprawl had angered them. The thought that "when a lord is humiliated, his retainers must die" had begun to stir in their hearts, and they had considered risking an assassination of Liu Bang to wash away the humiliation inflicted on their lord, Zhang Ao.
But now, seeing Liu Bang dancing so affectionately with Zhang Ao, they could not help thinking, Had Liu Bang's kneeling sprawl earlier really been an insult? Perhaps His Majesty truly was simply too casual to bother with little formalities?
Before the two could sort out their thoughts, Zhang Ao pulled them to their feet as well, bringing them into the singing and dancing.
Liu Bang sang and danced with everyone, stopping to eat and drink whenever he grew tired. The evening banquet became almost entirely devoid of the etiquette between ruler and subject, yet lasted nearly two hours before ending.
Even when Liu Bang could dance no longer and two eunuchs helped him toward the warm chamber, he still had not had his fill.
There was also a little regret in his heart.
What a pity. Two group chats, and I still haven't gotten a song belonging to yours truly and the Great Han. If I had one, the singing and dancing would be even more fun.
Only after he was seated in the warm chamber and the excitement of singing and dancing had completely faded did Liu Bang remember that he had meant to put Zhang Ao in his place during the banquet.
All that manic singing and awkward dancing actually drove my real business clean out of my head. A negative status indeed.
If I summon that brat Zhang Ao now to put him in his place, not only will it seem unnatural, but word won't spread, either.
Let it go for today. Tomorrow, I'll see whether another chance presents itself.
Having finished turning the matter over in his mind, Liu Bang had the eunuchs help him wash and prepare for bed...
Guangzong, the seventh year of Guanghe.
Inside his study, Zhang Jiao felt like an entirely different man after the Rebel Army Group closed.
Ever since learning in the sixth month that the Yellow Turban armies in Yingchuan and Nanyang, led by Bo Cai and Zhang Mancheng, had been crushed one after the other, while the main Yellow Turban force under his own command was besieged in Guangzong and cut off from the outside, Zhang Jiao had spent his days consumed by worry and his nights unable to sleep. He still had to toil over all manner of affairs during the day, and, already nearing fifty, his health had deteriorated with each passing day.
Knowing that he was the pillar supporting the hundred-odd thousand Yellow Turbans in Guangzong, he had forced himself to appear spirited before everyone and struggled to hold on.
In truth, he had long since been exhausted in both body and mind.
Now, however, he felt filled with strength from the inside out, his vigor almost rivaling what he had possessed when he first founded the Way of Great Peace!
Zhang Jiao rose and instinctively picked up the Kudzu Staff beside him-in the past, whenever he walked long distances through cities or other places, he had needed it to spare himself some effort.
This time, however, he raised the Kudzu Staff before his eyes and gripped it tightly.
So this is burnout?
His eyes shone like stars.
Though it's a negative status, it makes my physical strength and spirit feel as though I'm back in my thirties.
Half a month!
Given my previous condition, I fear my health will be even worse once that half month is over. The illness and death awaiting me in my fate will most likely come then.
So perhaps I have only half a month left...
At the thought that his health would become even worse in half a month, perhaps to the point of dying from illness, Zhang Jiao felt no fear. Instead, recalling the song "Yellow Heaven," he grew all the more resolute.
I must make full use of this half month, and of the future events I learned from Zhu Yuanzhang, to break the siege of Guangzong-and even change the Yellow Turban Army's original fate!
With that thought, Zhang Jiao walked outside.
The two Yellow Turbans Strongmen-the Yellow Turban Army's elite soldiers-guarding the door immediately saluted and greeted him. "General of Heavenly Heaven!"
"Mm." Zhang Jiao nodded. "Send someone to fetch the General of Human Heaven. I have important matters to discuss with him."
"Yes!"
After giving his instructions, Zhang Jiao did not immediately return to the study-Zhang Liang usually stayed in the camps outside the city, and would need some time to arrive.
Taking advantage of that time, Zhang Jiao led a squad of Yellow Turbans Strongmen on a tour of the city. Along the way, he occasionally exchanged a few words with ordinary Yellow Turbans, offering them encouragement.
Although Zhang Jiao had done such things before, today many of the Yellow Turbans, and even the Yellow Turban officers and soldiers patrolling the city, sensed something different about him.
Previously, even when Zhang Jiao deliberately opened his eyes wide and spoke loudly, everyone could still sense the weariness in his complexion, his voice, and his gaze.
Now, however, Zhang Jiao was full of vitality. The energy in his words and actions belonged not to an old man nearing fifty, but to a man in his prime, in his thirties or forties.
Seeing their Great Worthy and Virtuous Teacher, their General of Heavenly Heaven, in such high spirits, the Yellow Turbans in the city felt considerably more at ease even without him saying a word...
When Zhang Jiao returned to his study, he found Zhang Liang already waiting there.
Zhang Liang was more observant than Zhang Bao. Upon seeing Zhang Jiao, he noticed the change and could not help asking, "Elder brother, why do you look so much more energetic?"
"I am indeed much more energetic," Zhang Jiao said. "As for why, you need not know. Send men to ask around the camps and see whether there is someone named Chu Yan."
Chu Yan?
Zhang Liang was puzzled, but still cupped his hands and answered, "Yes."
He was about to carry out the order when Zhang Jiao stopped him. "There is no hurry on that matter. Hear me out first. Do you know why the Han Army has made no move these past few days?"
Puzzled, Zhang Liang said, "Didn't you already explain that, elder brother? Lu Zhi most likely intends to keep us besieged until the city runs out of grain, then take it easily once we're too hungry to fight."
Seeing that even the relatively observant Zhang Liang had failed to notice the matter, Zhang Jiao felt a little disappointed. He then explained, "That is indeed Lu Zhi's plan. But in the past, he would occasionally lead elite Han troops on patrol beyond the trenches. Have you seen him outside the city lately?"
Zhang Liang thought back and said, "Now that you mention it, elder brother, I truly haven't seen him leave camp to patrol for ten days or so."
"Unless something unexpected has happened, there must have been a change within the Han Army," Zhang Jiao said. "They may very well attack the city again. Tell the officers and soldiers in every camp outside the city to stay alert. They must not let these many days of truce lull them into complacency. Be on guard against troops sent to raid them."
"Yes!"
Zhang Jiao continued, "If the Han Army does attack the city again, we can wait until their repeated assaults fail and their army is worn out, then strike their camps to break the siege of Guangzong."
Zhang Liang's spirits rose at this. He nodded and said, "I understand! Do you have any other instructions, elder brother?"
"No." Zhang Jiao thought for a moment, then said, "Come to think of it, I haven't inspected the camps outside the city for many days, either. This time, I'll go with you to visit the officers and soldiers out there and raise their morale."
Zhang Liang smiled upon hearing this. "It seems your health really has improved, elder brother."
The brothers Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang immediately left the city together to inspect the several camps that formed a mutually supporting horn formation with it.
Receiving Zhang Jiao's words of concern and seeing him brimming with vitality, the Yellow Turban officers and soldiers indeed felt their morale rise considerably.
Even more gratifying was that, when they reached the final camp, Zhang Liang had his personal guards ask about Chu Yan as usual-and actually found him.
"Your subordinate pays his respects to the General of Heavenly Heaven and the General of Human Heaven!"
A young officer who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen was summoned over and saluted Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang with clasped hands.
Zhang Jiao studied the young man before him, his gaze searching and hopeful. "You are Chu Yan?"
"Yes, General of Heavenly Heaven. Your subordinate's name is Chu Yan."
"What post do you currently hold in the army?"
"Your subordinate is serving provisionally as a squad leader."
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
Zhang Jiao smiled in satisfaction. "To become a squad leader at seventeen, you must possess some outstanding ability. Good, very good."
Because the Yellow Turban Army had risen in haste and had only existed for a short time, its lower-level organization was essentially the same as the Han Army's. A squad leader commanded ten men and belonged to the second-lowest tier of officers.
After studying Chu Yan and seeing how alert and agile he looked, Zhang Jiao liked him even more. "From today onward, you are a Yellow Turbans Strongman. You will attend me at my side."
Overjoyed, Chu Yan hurriedly bowed with clasped hands again. "Thank you, General of Heavenly Heaven!"
In truth, Zhang Jiao had originally intended to adopt Chu Yan as his son and order him to change his surname to Zhang.
But on second thought, he set that idea aside for the time being.
First, Zhu Yuanzhang had only told him of Chu Yan's future achievements, not his character. Having traveled the realm for many years, Zhang Jiao knew well that those who rose to high positions did not necessarily possess good character, nor did they necessarily cherish their soldiers or the common people.
Second, he feared that if he began grooming Chu Yan as the Yellow Turban Army's future commander now, and the situation in Ji Province proved impossible to reverse half a month later, Chu Yan might instead be hunted down by the Han Army-and even killed-because he had become an important figure in the Yellow Turban Army.