The Fat Man's Ambition and The Rise of Heroes

[Dark Narrator]

The Fat Man's Ambition
and
The Rise of Heroes
By Adam, Dark, and Gryff

The moon waxes and wanes, the tides ebb and flow, empires rise and fall. That is the way of the universe. After 400 years of nearly uninterrupted rule, the Han Dynasty was beginning to wane. The weak Emperor Ling was sheltered from the world, and the empire's affairs were seen to by the palace eunuchs. It was a time of unprecedented corruption. From these dark days came a would-be savior: Zhang Jiao. Originally a medicine man, Zhang saw the suffering of the people and resolved to help them by removing the corrupt government and replacing it with his Way of Peace. He formed a rebel army called the Yellow Scarves, consisting of peasants and mercenaries, and declared war on the Han.

The Yellow Scarves had initial success as they had an advantage of numbers; peasants from around the land rose up in support of what Zhang Jiao labelled “The Way of Peace”. Cutting off the important agricultural northern lands from the Han’s power, the Han lost much of its power in the early stages of the war and was forced to make a call to arms for regional lords to support their cause.

It was one of the bloodiest periods of the era of the Han as battles raged up and down the border between the Han and the Yellow Scarves. It was still a difficult fight for the Han even with the advantage of experienced and talented generals on their side, but they eventually claimed the victory they were so desperate to obtain, however Zhang Jiao slipped through their fingers and fled into exile, his whereabouts unknown even after many scouting missions and bounties placed on his head.

A few years passed, but still the Han did not ever truly recover from the rebellion and regional lords increased in power. One such lord was Dong Zhuo, a man who campaigned against the Yellow Scarves. It seemed he had other intentions though and seized power of the Han capital Luo Yang.

Working in secret, with Zhang Jiao, the two planned to finish the Han for good. Zhang Jiao wanted to usher in his teachings and help the people in their time of need. However, he was unaware of Dong Zhuo's true intentions.

He Jin, Commander of the Imperial Armies, was drawn out of the capital under false pretense of an uprising. It seemed Zhang Jiao had appeared with a small force to the south, but had immediately moved away when Jin had arrived to give battle.

The battle was a ruse and He Jin took the bait. The emperor was slain by Dong Zhuo and the capital set to defense against its former allies.

Zhang Jiao had returned, after He Jin had finally given up a siege attempt, but he too was tricked and almost assassinated while meeting with Zhuo. Had it not been for his two brothers, who fought desperately to save him, it would have been his end. The three Turban brothers made haste from the capital and went into hiding.

Shortly after Dong Zhuo declared himself the new Emperor of China, He Jin had petitioned to the other regional lords to take up arms against the traitor.

© 2007 V & R Production Co.