Fall of the Han The Yellow Turban Rebellion By the end of the 2nd Century, the once infallible Han Dynasty suffered from internal strife and corruption, and had become a shadow of its former self. The land fell into chaos, and the people, no longer able to rely on the authority of the Han, turned to a religious sect known as the "Way of Peace" for salvation. Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Way of Peace, boldly declared that the Afe of the Han had passed, and that he would usher in a "New Age of the Way of Peace." Through his rhetoric, anti-Imperial sentiment began to spread across the land. In 184 AD. Zhang Jiao finally made his move to take control of the land. Giving himself the title of "Great Teacher," he began to organize the many followers he accumulated through his miracles into a military force. When news of his plans was leaked to the Imperial Court, Zhang Jiao immediately mobilized his new army with the help of his brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang. The bulk of this force was a peasant militia that numbered in the hundreds of thousands.