Yellow Turban Rebellion

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The Yellow Turban Rebellion/Riot (黄巾の乱, rōmaji: Kōkin no Ran), sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion/Riot, was a peasant rebellion led by Zhang Jiao against Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty. It is named for the color of the scarves which the rebels wore around their heads, hence the moniker, the Yellow Turbans. The rebels were associated with secret Taiping/Great Peace Daoist societies and the rebellion marked an important point in the history of Daoism. The rebellion is the opening event in the Chinese literary classic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

In the games, this battle leads to the end of the rebellion and the Yellow Turbans. Further chaos ensued as various warlords vied for control over disputed territory after the rebellion. This conflict was the standing stone for a series of events that conspired leading to the Fall of the (East) Han.

While the revolt was initially planned to start on the auspicious day of April 3, 184 (on the era of Zhongping), but a fellow Yellow Turban excluded from later meetings, Tang Zhou, leaked the plan early to officials that initially lead to Ma Yuanyi's execution in Luoyang. Following several arrests made by the prefect Zhou Bin under Emperor Ling's orders upon discovery of the rebellion, Zhang Jiao as a result, was forced to start the said rebellion earlier than expected by March 4 of 184. While there was a lack of coordination and preparation between the members, several thousands of men rose up in rebellion as governemnt offices were ransacked, alongside a rise of bandits proclaimming themselves to also be Yellow Turbans to take advantage of the chaos; imperial armies initially were forced into a rough defensive state.

Role in Games

Dynasty Warriors

In Dynasty Warriors 2 through Dynasty Warriors 4, the rebellion is usually the starting stage for most of the characters in the series. Later titles aim to limit this battle for conquerors and the parties mentioned to have been there in the novel. Uniquely in Dynasty Warriors 3, none of He Jin, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and Lu Zhi's soldiers are privates, although they are present on the opposite side of the stage as it takes place within an open-gated castle with a river's branch running through the northwestern corner/quadrant.

During the battle, the Han forces often attack Zhang Jiao's position from three different directions. The army offensive is usually lead by Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei's forces. They start far from their destination and often need to claim a castle or fortification before they march to the location of Zhang Jiao's base. Most titles place the Yellow Turbans leader on top of a mountain or large hill on the opposite side of the map.

Guarding him are his young brothers, Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, who are located in different parts of the map. They perform an act of sorcery, which changes in each title. Though not necessary, defeating them can lessen the strain caused by their magic for the player's allies. When the player faces the Yellow Turban's leader, he will usually not perform any sorcery and will fight as a foe surrounded with a red aura.

Dynasty Warriors 4 in the Shu, Wu and Wei Musou Mode first acts allow the option to defeat each brother individually in their own respective stages before facing him. Which can result in a few variables:

  • If Zhang Bao is defeated via cutting off his retreat in the Yellow Turban Fortress beforehand, then Bo Zhang in the east declares vengeance. Zhang Jiao will grant Bo Zhang power in place of Zhang Bao.
    • If only Zhang Bao is routed at the Fortress battle, Cao Cao will comment on the magic done by Zhang Liang in the west.
  • If Zhang Liang is defeated the same way before he retreats in the Yellow Turban Menace beforehand, Zhang Man Cheng will declare vengeance in the west, and will be granted power by Zhang Jiao in Zhang Liang's place.
    • If only Zhang Liang is taken out at the Menace stage, Sun Jian comments on Zhang Bao's sorcery in his advance to the east.
  • Normally if both Zhang brothers are present in most cases of this stage, Liu Bei comments on both the brothers' capabilities in magic (or mentioning them creating a strange storm in the Japanese script).
    • If both brothers are defeated in their respective stages without retreating in Musou Mode Act 1, then in this case, Zhang Jiao will unleash exploding flaming boulders to defend himself via the narrow mountain path to the northern village.

While playing as the Yellow Turbans side of the battle, the player can lead the army's offensive. Dynasty Warriors 4 allows a standard offensive against the Han forces. When Zhang Jiao's brothers are approached by the enemy army, they will continue to conjure their magic. The main key to their attack is defeating one of the attacking generals quickly before their allies give out, which even includes the likes of Dong Zhuo's Forces and even Lu Bu to appear in the battle to try and finish off the rebellion.

Dynasty Warriors 5 adds a new twist by allowing Zhang Jiao the option to covert Sun Jian and Cao Cao's armies to his philosophy, the Way of Peace. He does so by staying close to the altars stationed on the map and they will join the Yellow Turbans when they are convinced. Sorcery is usually triggered after one of the enemy officers are routed. Another Yellow Turban conflict stage against the forces of Yuan Shao also takes place within Ji Province's Ye County in the same installment.

In Dynasty Warriors 7, the battle is split in two parts taking place instead within the Guangzong County of Ji Province's Julu Commandery. In the first part, the player will have to fight simple battles. In Wei's story one needs to rescue Zhu Jun from the Yellow Turbans. In Wu's story, one needs to simply defeat the enemy officers on the battlefield. In Shu's story, the player has to rescue the peasants from Cheng Yuanzhi and Deng Mao. In the second part, the player will begin to learn the basics by attacking generals, experiencing traps, receiving weapons, and finding ways to search for valuable items to gain advantage against the enemy. After being defeated, Zhang Jiao will tell the player that there is no hope of saving the Han and dies after saying his speech. In this installment, the generals in the battle will depend on which faction the player is using.

Dynasty Warriors 8 has the rebellion exclusive to Shu and Zhang Jiao in story mode. In Shu's version, if the peasants are saved, Zhang Jiao will not be killed by Liu Bei, but will instead see him as someone who should be followed. This event will allow the Yellow Turbans to assist in further parts of Shu's story. Otherwise, Zhang Jiao will be killed, and the peasants will flee in fear of Liu Bei.

In Zhang Jiao's scenario, he starts out separated, with his men surrounded. The first course of action is to rescue both Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang. When Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang are rescued, flames will erupt, while hailstones will fall respectively. Soon after, Sun Jian will lead his assault units to attack the altar, protected by Guan Hai. When the Tiger has been defeated, Zhang Jiao will summon whirlwinds to block the Han forces' path. Zhao Yun, will soon appear and attempt to charge the altar, and, after his defeat, Zhang Jiao will order a charge. As the Yellow Turbans attack, Liu Bei and Cao Cao appear to attack the altar, while Huangfu Song reinforces the central garrison with ballistae. The continuous sorcery from the altars will eventually cause some of the Han troops to defect, while Zhang Jiao will set fire to the central garrison. Defeating He Jin will end the battle.

Dynasty Warriors 9 gives the Yellow Turban Rebellion a major overhaul as it is always the final major battle through Chapter One in the game's Story Mode due to the open-world design. Zhang Jiao will be holed up in Guangzong with several officers who will command the various elemental attacks he summons in each area of the city, with Zhou Cang in the north, Pei Yuanshao in the west, Liao Hua in the east, and Zhang Niujiao in the south with Zhang Yan. Zhang Liang will be facing Huangfu Song and use an illusion trick to try and confuse his forces and those of Cao Cao if he met up with Huangfu Song by then by dealing with other Yellow Turban officers located in various places around Mt. Tai, such as Bo Cai, who holds up Cao Cao and Sun Jian's forces southwest of Mt. Tai, those keeping Yu Jin pinned down in Xiaopei, and He Yi and He Man pinning down Zhang Miao near Beihai. Zhang Liang is easily identified as he will have the Yellow Turban mages surrounding him, thus giving away his position from all his clones. Zhang Bao, joined by Gao Sheng and Yan Zheng, will be blocking Dong Zhuo from advancing his forces with fire traps, even if Dong is joined by Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian after helping them aid Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun deal with Zhang Liang, Zhang Mancheng and those officers holed up with him in Yanjin, and rescuing Luosang Village from being pillaged by the Yellow Turbans under Cheng Yuanzhi and Deng Mao while also eliminating Guan Hai in the Guangzong East Village before he could flank He Miao, the commander overseeing the assault on Zhang Jiao. Zhang Jiao will also summon phantom troops to defend himself with, but the ritual tools linked to the spell can be found in Ye and Puyang and destroyed, especially if pointed out by Yu Jin after rescuing him in Xiaopei, breaking the spell, along with dealing with the Yellow Turbans attacking Puyang at the same time to protect the ritual tool there and eliminate the peasants in the city as well. In a desperate bid to protect himself, Zhang Jiao will use the ritual tools in his throne room in Guangzong to make himself stronger, aided by those peasant militiamen who pledged their loyalty to him and the Way of Peace who will defend him to the death, but destroying the ritual tools will weaken him enough to be easily finished off once and for all, though he still utters some final defiant words that the Heavens will not allow the Han Dynasty to survive for much longer after his death.

Warriors Orochi

Using guerrilla tactics against the Orochi army, Nene has gained some success as a rebel army in the the first title. In one of Wei's Gaiden stages, Cao Pi is ordered to send aid to Dong Zhuo, who is quelling Nene's insurrections. With the tyrant stationed in the center, he orders Zhang Liao to root out the sources of her ninja tricks since his army is frozen by Nene's sorcery. Goemon is captured by Nene and saving him will let the players release the troops. At the same time, Kunoichi appears and beelines for Dong Zhuo, putting him in danger. Nene also creates two doubles of herself, using the west and eastern garrisons as a source of energy for the illusion. As players head towards the western base, Nene casts a spell that has boulders roll down on her foes; she protects the eastern base with mini tornadoes. Her last trick is using her magic to summon Kotarō and Hanzō to guard her. When the gates to her camp are guarded by her two "children", and Nene faces the serpent army when the doors are opened.

If players dispel Nene's doubles within four minutes of their appearance, she will be impressed by Wei's "children" and joins their army to look out for them.

In Warriors Orochi 2, Xu Huang and Musashi are training here until they encounter Da Ji's fleeing forces. While Sakon is busy on his visit to Shingen, the two warriors work together and volunteer to capture Da Ji and the girl she is with, Himiko. To guard their lady in command, several Orochi generals sacrifice themselves for her safe escape. Xu Huang and Musashi respond by showing their might to the large army that tries to stop them. As they cut a path through their pursuit, Kojirō appears to disrupt his rival. Da Ji slows her escape and eventually fights them to buy time for Himiko. As she experiences trouble, Himiko will turn around and try to return to help her friend. Once Da Ji is defeated, Himiko listens to the vixen and continues her escape. If she reaches her destination, she is cut off by Gao Sheng and He Yi's reinforcements. Confused, she remains there, and it allows the two warriors to catch up to her.

It's also possible to end the stage earlier by eliminating Da Ji and Himiko as soon as possible. If Himiko is defeated first, Da Ji will become upset and stops her escape to punish the ones who defeated her.

After the stage is complete, Sakon visits Shingen. Shingen, along with Yukimura and Kojirō, later joins Sakon's forces.

Warriors Orochi 3 uses the Dynasty Warriors 7 Yellow Turban Rebellion map as Guangzong which is used for two scenarios in Chapter 3. The first one has Jia Xu go to Shingen and Kenshin's past to assist Dian Wei as he defends the peasants from bandits in the area. This done so as to give Dian Wei time to arrive at Changban faster and avoid confusion with the Coalition in that same battle. The second scenario has Sima Yi and Masamune Date scout the area for allies only to find a wooden box with Gracia locked inside. As they search for a sorcerer the, Yellow Turbans who control area mistaken the strategists as thieves and its not until Zhang Jiao is defeated that the confusion is cleared up. The latter opens the box for Gracia to be free which allows the two of them to join the Coalition.

In Warriors Orochi 4, this is the place for the alliance to seek Kai and Lady Hayakawa, who still believe in their father. Together with Shingen, Guan Yinping, Xu Huang, Kunoichi and Yuan Shao they must defeat Kotaro and Xiahou Ba, while the entrance of Da Ji and Lu Bu's army also appeared. Another stage also come for Uesugi forces along with Liu Bei, Yukimura and Guan Yinping to find Perseus one more time. While Yukimura and Yinping find Perseus, they shocked in terror that he's not Perseus anymore and later it will become as Loki, Odin's servant. All of the alliance have no other choice but to reach the escape route.

In a side story, Lu Xun and Zhu Ran are seeking for Musashi and Kojirō, who believe that they are enemies of Dong Zhuo. After Musashi realized that it was different matter altogether, Musashi and Kojirō joined their alliance. Together they also manage to defeat Diaochan and Dong Zhuo.

Historical Information

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Battles

Zhang Jue, also known as Zhang Jiao, had gathered many followers after curing afflicted commoners during a 189 AD pestilence. He had made plans to start a rebellion against the corrupt Han government, but had to start the uprising prematurely after the information was leaked by one of Zhang Jue's own spies, the eunuch Feng Xu. From everywhere across the land, people were attracted to Zhang Jue's medicinal "sorcery", put yellow turbans across their heads, and followed him into battle. Gaining nearly half a million troops in his call, wherever Zhang Jue went, imperial soldiers fled the scene.

Even then, plans for rebellion did not go as smoothly, and the uprisings were lacking in overall coordination as Zhang Jue's plans for a properly-planned rebellion fell through the roof against his wishes. Even then, he and his 2 bothers made the use of the scenario and a large majority of Eastern China around the north and center regions had the largest concentration of riots.

In retaliation, the Regent Marshal He Jin issued a decree, ordering every loyal Han army to rise and defeat the Yellow Turban rebels, as they were known to be called. Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun were assigned as commanders of the Han forces, and each went separate ways, leading armies to quell their targets.

Soon, the five-hundred strong army of Zhuo governor Liu Yan and volunteers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, both of whom were Liu Bei's sworn brothers, clashed with the fifty-thousand man army led by Yellow Turban Cheng Yuanzhi at Daxing Mountain. Liu Bei rode out with his siblings on either side and shouted, "Traitors to the Emperor! Surrender now!" In response, Cheng Yuanzhi sent out his own general, Deng Mao, to the scene. Zhang Fei sped out, and drove Deng Mao through the chest with his serpent-headed spear. Cheng Yuanzhi followed the assault and dashed towards Zhang Fei. Guan Yu quickly rushed over to the scene towards the Yellow Turban chieftain, who was frightened in terror and cut down before he could defend himself. The Yellow Turbans fled, but Liu Bei led his troops in pursuit and captured many. Afterwards, Liu Bei and his men moved to Qingzhou, which was being besieged by the rebels.

After a failed battle, Liu Bei came up with a plan. He feigned defeat and begun a retreat while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei ambushed the pursuing Yellow Turbans from two opposite hills, crushing the upstart forces.

Meanwhile, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were facing Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao at Yingchuan. The latter duo had been beaten back enough to force them to camp at the grasslands in Changshe. Huangfu Song suggested that the enemy campsite should be burned down, and so, with the nightly winds rising, some imperial soldiers set fire to the Turban campsite. The panicking rebels fled in every direction, without saddling horses or bucking armor. The two Zhang brothers were fleeing when they met a crimson red-clad command, led by the Han Cavalry Commander Cao Cao. The Turbans were crushed, but Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao were able to escape. Cao Cao's troop had joined with Huangfu Song to trail Zhang Liang into Quyang.

Liu Bei stayed with Zhu Jun to combat Zhang Bao, who had decided to stay in Yingchuan. Zhu Jun led a charge, but Zhang Bao resorted to using magic, summoning a thunderstorm that brought an army of black mist soldiers to ward away the Han forces, which it succeeded in doing. The next day, Zhang Bao tried the same tricks, but bloody entrails of sacrificial animals were dumped onto his army to dispel the conjuring. The Turbans fled into the city of Yang, yet many were killed after being pursued from three sides. The city was quickly besieged by Zhu Jun.

During the waiting period, Zhu Jun received news that Zhang Jue had died in battle and the Turban forces at Quyang were taken over by Zhang Liang. They were later quelled by Cao Cao, and Zhang Liang himself also met his end in battle. These news skyrocketed Zhu Jun's morale, and the siege was pressed even harder.

In a short time, Zhang Bao was stabbed to death by his subordinate, Yan Zheng, and his head was sent out and the city was surrendered. Other districts that neighbored Yang were pacified.

Aftershock

Nonetheless, Zhao Hong, Han Zhong, and Sun Zhong who were three other rebels, rose with tens of thousands to avenge their master Zhang Jue. Zhu Jun was once again sent to quell the bandits, and Zhao Hong sent Han Zhong to engage them. Liu Bei on order attacked the city southwest corner of Wancheng, the occupied city, while Zhu Jun personally led two thousand seasoned cavalrymen to the northeast corner. Han Zhong fortified with city with more troops, but they withdrew from their southwest position. Liu Bei pursued them from the rear, and Zhu Jun divided his ranks to surround the city. Han Zhong offered to surrender, being short on food, but his offer was refused, as Zhu Jun believed it would set a bad example if the Han wanted loyal men. Liu Bei at first opposed the idea, but came to understand it. The imperial army concentrated on the northwest corner of the city, leaving the rebels fleeing to the south. They were chased again, and Han Zhong was killed by an arrow.

The remaining command of Zhao Hong and Sun Zhong arrived and warded off Zhu Jun, and Wancheng was once again captured by the Yellow Turbans.

Sun Jian with a troop of some fifteen hundred came to reinforce Zhu Jun, and attacked the south gate of the city while Liu Bei attacked the north, and Zhu Jun lay siege to the west. Zhao Hong was killed by Sun Jian, and Liu Bei felled Sun Zhong with a single arrow. Many of the leftover insubordinates either gave themselves up, or were killed in battle.

Ten more counties were pacified of revolts, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion ended.

Trivia

  • Mysteriously in both the Yellow Turbans' scenario for Dynasty Warriors 4, and in the PSP Dynasty Warriors game, Zhang Jiao's HQ is shifted to the western village fort ruins with the flaming geysers instead of the most northern village.
  • One portion of the Great Wall/Long Castle of China from prior times appears in the fourth installment's version of the stage based in Ji Province, as well as the Dynasty Warriors Advance version of said map. This is likely an anachronism nodding to the Ji Province-Great Wall being built in the later Ming Dynasty, as that very area during the Han period was merely packed earth.
    • Even then, the Ming Great Wall that would have its portion run through Ji Province downwards towards the south as a curve, likely bordering around the western border of Ji Province from the north. The Ming Great Wall anachronism so far has only appeared in the Dynasty Warriors 4 variants of the Wei Commandery settings (including Ye County), and is horizontal via west-and-east (which would be inaccurate regardless due to how far south of a commandery Wei was).
  • The locations have varied across the Musou Warriors games for the primary Yellow Turban Rebellion stage, which consists of:
    • 2nd and 3rd installments: Yu Province, Yingchuan Commandery. However with the debut of the Runan stage in 3: Xtreme Legends, the stage intro still labels the battle site as Yingchuan Commandery, despite Runan being an entirely different commandery albeit still within the same province of Yu (southeast of Yingchuan Commandery).
      • The battle site taking place within Yingchuan Commandery likely nods to Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's conflicts with Bo Cai in the Changshe County (長社縣).
      • The stage being named as Battle of Runan in 3: Xtreme Legends likely references Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's historical mobilization from Yingchuan Commandery (after securing it) to Runan Commandery, via the latter's Xihua County (西華縣) to engage Peng Tuo.
      • Xuchang, the eventual imperial capital County of the Wei Kingdom, also is involved as a pit-stop point after clearing out Yingchuan Commandery as both Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were heading towards Runan.
    • 4th and 5th installments: Ji Province, Wei Commandery; this is due to being one of the main locations Zhang Jiao was historically stationed at when acting as the main leader. Likely cause of the aforementioned anachronism, the future Ming Dynasty Great Wall inaccurately crosses through the stage horizontally, even in the Ye County stage settings. This no longer applies in the 5th installment version of the Wei Commandery setting, also for the initial 2 Warriors Orochi games.
      • Even then, a few select gateways in the 5th installment version for both the default Wei Commandery stage and Ye County stage are styled akin to the Great Wall/Long Castle, but are not actually built as the said Wall itself.
        • Historically, while a riot did kickstart within Ye County and with Wei Commandery being an HQ area, the forces around that region could not specifically secure Ye due to the premature-non-coordinated start of the rebellion.
    • 6th installment: Ji Province, Julu Commandery. This is hinted in the story briefings for the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and was historically the home area of the 3 Zhang brothers (Jue/Jiao, Bao and Liang). The conflicts at Julu Commandery historically took place within the county of the same name and Lower Quyang County (下曲陽縣), where Huangfu Song historically teamed up with Julu's administrator Guo Dian to eventually slay Zhang Bao.
    • 7th installment: Guangzong County, Ji Province Anping Commandery. One of the few times a specific county is mentioned in-game in the series as a playable stage for the rebellion. This location was where historically Zhang Jue was being besieged by Lu Zhi (who was framed by a eunuch for treason and dragged away as a prisoner), Dong Zhuo (who took over for Lu Zhi and was successfully repelled) and then Huangfu Song, but Zhang Jue eventually passed away from illness during Huangfu Song's assault. Zhang Liang took command at Guangzong but was eventually tricked by Huangfu Song's night raid and slain as well.
      • The 7th installment version of Guangzong is also reused in the 3rd Warriors Orochi installment.
    • 8th installment: An unknown place within Sili/Si Province's eastern border west of Yu Province, as hinted in the story briefings for story mode. However, Yingchuan Commandery (very likely Changshe County) is also mentioned and may likely be the setting for the stage once more akin to the second and third installments.
      • Though historically, while Luoyang was a dispatch point for most of the officials who were ordered by the Han Court by Emperor Ling to deal with the uprisings, Yangzhai/Yangdi County (陽翟縣) was where Bo Cai retreated to after Changshe County.
        • The very latter location may have been the site for the 4th installment's Yellow Turban Fortress stage, being within He'nan Directory though also overlapping with Yingchuan Commandery.
    • 9th installment: At various locations once more, akin to the historical layouts within the eastern section of China via the center and north. However, Julu does not exist on the map and Zhang Jiao's HQ is at Guangzong by default.

Gallery

  • Dynasty Warriors 2 stage image

    Dynasty Warriors 2 stage image

  • Dynasty Warriors 3 stage image

    Dynasty Warriors 3 stage image

  • Dynasty Warriors 4 stage image

    Dynasty Warriors 4 stage image

  • Dynasty Warriors Advance stage map

    Dynasty Warriors Advance stage map

  • Dynasty Warriors 6 stage image

    Dynasty Warriors 6 stage image

  • Dynasty Warriors 6 stage screenshot

    Dynasty Warriors 6 stage screenshot

  • Dynasty Warriors 7 stage image

    Dynasty Warriors 7 stage image

  • Dynasty Warriors 8 stage image

    Dynasty Warriors 8 stage image

  • Warriors Orochi stage image

    Warriors Orochi stage image

External links

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