第1部分(第5/7 页)

k　the　book　and　asked　the　name　of　his　benefactor。

〃I　am　Saint　Hermit　of　the　Southern　Land；〃　was　the　reply；　as　the　old　gentleman　disappeared　in　thin　air。

Zhang　Jue　studied　the　wonderful　book　eagerly　and　strove　day　and　night　to　reduce　its　precepts　to　practice。　Before　long；　he　could　summon　the　winds　and　mand　the　rain；　and　he　became　known　as　the　Mystic　of　the　Way　of　Peace。

In　the　first　month　of　the　first　year　of　Central　Stability　（AD　184）；　there　was　a　terrible　pestilence　that　ran　throughout　the　land；　whereupon　Zhang　Jue　distributed　charmed　remedies　to　the　afflicted。　The　godly　medicines　brought　big　successes；　and　soon　he　gained　the　tittle　of　the　Wise　and　Worthy　Master。　He　began　to　have　a　following　of　disciples　whom　he　initiated　into　the　mysteries　and　sent　abroad　throughout　all　the　land。　They；　like　their　master；　could　write　charms　and　recite　formulas；　and　their　fame　increased　his　following。

Zhang　Jue　began　to　organize　his　disciples。　He　established　thirty…six　circuits；　the　larger　with　ten　thousand　or　more　members；　the　smaller　with　about　half　that　number。　Each　circuit　had　its　chief　who　took　the　military　title　of　General。　They　talked　wildly　of　the　death　of　the　blue　heaven　and　the　setting　up　of　the　golden　one；　they　said　a　new　cycle　was　beginning　and　would　bring　universal　good　fortune　to　all　members；　and　they　persuaded　people　to　chalk　the　symbols　for　the　first　year　of　the　new　cycle　on　the　main　door　of　their　dwellings。

With　the　growth　of　the　number　of　his　supporters　grew　also　the　ambition　of　Zhang　Jue。　The　Wise　and　Worthy　Master　dreamed　of　empire。　One　of　his　partisans；　Ma　Yuanyi；　was　sent　bearing　gifts　to　gain　the　support　of　the　eunuchs　within　the　Palace。

To　his　brothers　Zhang　Jue　said；　〃For　schemes　like　ours　always　the　most　difficult　part　i