Chapter 79

Liu Yao followed Guo Jia's gaze and looked in the same direction, his eyes piercingly staring at the "Zhang Jiao." Indeed, the man's hands were abnormally white, like those of a scholar who spent his days writing and reading, not of someone who had farmed or fought in battles.

At that moment, "Zhang Jiao's" eyes met Liu Yao's. The former was startled by Liu Yao's gaze and slightly leaned back, then turned his head away, avoiding Liu Yao's eyes. Seeing this, Liu Yao couldn't help but sneer. He was more certain that this person was not Zhang Jiao but a stand-in. A heavy burden in his heart finally lifted. He just didn't know where Zhang Jiao had found someone so similar to him.

Zhang Bao, on the city wall, noticed that Liu Yao had suddenly stopped talking and was whispering to a young man beside him. He became suspicious and worried that Liu Yao might be plotting something.

So Zhang Bao quickly shouted, "Hey, Liu Yao, if you have the guts, come and attack the city. Otherwise, I won't bother with you anymore." As he said this, he started to walk back into the city.

"Wait!!!" Liu Yao hurriedly called out, "Zhang Bao, I came here to find Zhang Jiao, but I ended up talking to you, a waste of time. You can leave if you want. But Zhang Jiao, I have a question for you."

When Zhang Bao heard Liu Yao call him a waste, he immediately flew into a rage, "Liu Yao, you are too much."

Liu Yao ignored Zhang Bao, a familiar smile playing on his lips as he addressed Zhang Jiao, "Zhang Jiao, I have a question for you. If you can answer it, I, as a prince of the Han Dynasty, will guarantee to retreat and petition the court to pardon you and your followers, and never attack Guangzong again. What do you say?"

"No, no, no!!!" As soon as they heard Liu Yao's words, Huangfu Song and others rushed forward to stop him. If Zhang Jiao really answered, the Yellow Turbans would survive, and the Han Dynasty would become even more chaotic.

Moreover, Liu Yao's actions could easily be reported to the court as treason. Even if the Yellow Turbans were not eliminated, Liu Yao himself would face serious trouble. Although he was a prince and would not be in mortal danger, his official position would certainly be lost.

Liu Yao waved his hand and said firmly, "It's fine, I have my own plan. No need to say more."

Huangfu Song hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth and saying, "Your Highness, I cannot agree with this action. If..."

Before Huangfu Song could finish, Liu Yao drew the sword that had long hung at his waist, the Zhan She Sword, and raised it high, declaring, "The Red Dawn Sword is here. Anyone who dares to speak will be executed on the spot."

Seeing the Zhan She Sword, no one dared to speak. After all, life was the most important. The Zhan She Sword had the authority to execute first and report later. If they angered Liu Yao, he could kill them, and no one would pity them.

Unlike Huangfu Song, Cao Cao and others looked worried. At this moment, the faces of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were filled with schadenfreude. They hoped Zhang Jiao would answer Liu Yao's question. If Liu Yao were dismissed, it would be a great piece of news for the Yuan family.

All the Yellow Turban soldiers on the city wall were excited, looking at Zhang Jiao with hope, expecting him to answer the question so that they could all be spared.

Zhang Bao, however, was sweating profusely. This was a direct strategy, a blatant direct strategy. The greatest advantage of a direct strategy over a covert one was that it was unavoidable. Therefore, Zhang Bao had to make a choice.

Zhang Jiao, meanwhile, was sweating profusely, looking at Zhang Bao with a look of helplessness. Fortunately, no one had seen Zhang Jiao's expression, or they would have been shocked.

But all of this was seen by Liu Yao and Guo Jia, who couldn't help but smile.

Zhang Bao naturally knew that the current Zhang Jiao was a fake. This person's name was Ye Yuan, originally a poor scholar from Julu. It was quite a stroke of luck that Zhang Jiao found someone so similar to him.

When Zhang Jiao first started his rebellion, the first place he needed to spread the Yellow Turban doctrine was his hometown, Julu. At that time, this bookish scholar, who only cared about reading, neglected everything else. He even forgot his wife and children at home. With no one to work the fields, they had no food to eat. When they were about to starve to death, Zhang Jiao, who was spreading the doctrine, arrived at Ye Yuan's small village and gave them some food. Ye Yuan was immediately grateful to Zhang Jiao. Zhang Jiao noticed that Ye Yuan looked almost identical to him. Even Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, his closest relatives, could not tell the difference if they didn't look closely.

Therefore, Zhang Jiao decided to have Ye Yuan act as his stand-in. Although Ye Yuan knew that being a stand-in meant he would die in Zhang Jiao's place, he agreed to repay Zhang Jiao's kindness. He only asked for books to read, which Zhang Jiao readily agreed to. Thus, the fake Zhang Jiao standing on the city wall was born.

Zhang Bao didn't know what to do. If he let Ye Yuan answer, it would definitely expose the deception. But if he didn't let him speak, Zhang Bao looked at all the Yellow Turbans' hopeful faces and knew that Zhang Jiao's image would be ruined in front of everyone.

After all, Zhang Jiao had gathered all the Yellow Turbans with the promise of a better life, where they would have food to eat, houses to live in, and clothes to wear. Therefore, everyone regarded Zhang Jiao as a god-like figure. Now, this beautiful future was right in front of them, and all it took was for Zhang Jiao to answer a question.

Regardless of whether Zhang Jiao could answer correctly, if he refused to speak, his god-like image would collapse. A god who could not bring happiness to his people did not deserve to be a god.

Liu Yao, seeing Zhang Bao and the others sweating profusely, sneered and added fuel to the fire, "What's wrong, Zhang Jiao? Don't you see your subordinates looking at you with hope? Or is your Yellow Turban doctrine just a fraud?"

"You're lying, Liu Yao. Ask your question quickly, and I will answer it," Zhang Bao shouted, jumping out in a panic.

Liu Yao looked at Zhang Bao with disdain and said, "What are you, Zhang Bao? I'm talking to Zhang Jiao. Do you have the right to interrupt? Or are you higher in status than your elder brother Zhang Jiao?"

"You're slandering me," Zhang Bao shouted angrily. Liu Yao was clearly accusing him of usurping power. If Zhang Jiao's loyal followers found out, they would tear him apart.

"Then get out of the way," Liu Yao shouted, then narrowed his eyes at Zhang Jiao, "Zhang Jiao, have you made up your mind? Or are you afraid to speak for fear of being exposed?"

"Clang." Everyone's minds froze at Liu Yao's words, looking at Zhang Jiao with doubt. After all, Zhang Jiao had been acting strangely these past few days. The great teacher they once knew seemed to be gone.

Ye Yuan, hearing Liu Yao's words, took a few fearful steps back, almost falling. Fortunately, Zhang Liang was quick to catch him, preventing him from making a fool of himself.

"Shut up, Liu Yao," Zhang Bao shouted, jumping out in a rage. He then looked at all the Yellow Turbans, "Brothers, don't listen to Liu Yao's lies. The great teacher Zhang Jiao is right in front of you. Can't you recognize him?"

But Zhang Bao's words had no effect. The person in front of them looked like the great teacher, but something just didn't feel right.