I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 399 Deceptive Literature
Upon returning to Hanzhong, Zhang Wei, without even a sip of water, rushed off to see Zhang Lu.

Zhang Lu was also taken aback when he saw his younger brother like this!
"Why are you like this? Could it be that Liu Miao wants to kill you? Is that why you're in such a hurry to flee back from Shu?"

Zhang Wei was panting heavily. Seeing that Zhang Lu was about to mobilize the soldiers to resist the Han army, he quickly stepped forward and hugged Zhang Lu's neck: "Brother! What a great opportunity! A fantastic opportunity!"

Zhang Lu initially thought Zhang Wei was somewhat delusional.

However, after listening to Zhang Wei and Liu Miao's conversation, his eyes also turned red.

"Does Your Majesty really say that?"

"Absolutely true!"

"Taiqing Xuanyuan!"

As the master of the Five Pecks of Rice sect and the leader of Taoism, Zhang Lu was even more aware of what kind of opportunity this was!
If successful, the prestige of Taoism will surpass any previous era! Even the Huang-Lao school of thought, which was popular in the early Han Dynasty, could hardly compare to the Taoism of the future!
To become the emperor's tool! To become the emperor's tool for interpreting Heaven!
Who could resist such temptation?

Was Dong Zhongshu the only great Confucian scholar of his time during the reign of Emperor Wu?

Shen Peigong, Fu Sheng, Gao Tangsheng, Hu Wusheng, and Wei Wan, the teacher of Emperor Wu... Which of these people was more prestigious than Dong Zhongshu at the time?

But did any of these people become as popular as Dong Zhongshu later on?
No!

But now, the emperor wants to put someone in Dong Zhongshu's position!

Zhang Lu's Adam's apple trembled.

The temptation was so great that even Zhang Lu doubted whether it was really true!

Even on a darker note... could it be that Liu Miao wanted to use this incident to lure him to Chengdu, then kill him and seize Hanzhong?
Zhang Lu consulted with Yan Pu, but Yan Pu shook his head: "There is absolutely no such possibility."

"If Your Majesty truly intends this, you should not release Zhang Wei."

"Now that Zhang Wei has returned, why are you being sent to Chengdu, and even threatened with death? Isn't this deliberately forcing Hanzhong into secession?"

After understanding the cause and effect, Yan Pu did not believe that this was a trap set by Liu Miao.

Liu Miao was truly giving Taoism and Zhang Lu a chance!
Zhang Lu took a deep breath: "In that case, I'm afraid we'll have to make a trip to Chengdu?"

"Of course!"

Just as Zhang Lu was still considering his options, news came from Chengdu.

Liu Miao ordered people to find the bodies of Zhang Lu's mother, who had been killed on Liu Zhang's orders, as well as the bodies of Zhang Lu's other relatives, and to rebury them, and to assign special people to guard them.

With Liu Miao's sincerity so evident, it would be rather inconsiderate of Zhang Lu to still make excuses.

Zhang Lu finally made up his mind, leaving Zhang Wei to defend Hanzhong, while he himself went to Chengdu to pay homage to the emperor!
Along the way, Zhang Lu could already see the changes in the Shu region.

Many powerful and influential families were purged, their wealth and grain were confiscated, and their land was distributed according to household registration.

On one hand, land was distributed equally among the people, and on the other hand, able-bodied men were recruited from among the populace to form the Shu army. These soldiers were then equipped with weapons and armor and sent to attack the fortified villages of other powerful clans in Shu. In this way, like a snowball rolling downhill, the Shu region was reshaped at the fastest speed.

Seeing this, Zhang Lu couldn't help but feel secretly alarmed.

How is this different from the Taiping Daoism of yesteryear?
Attack the fortified villages, divide up the land...

The only difference is that, compared to the Taiping Daoist sect, the Han army is now doing this under the guise of government authority.

No, it's not just about the skin.

More importantly, the clear framework provided by the government ensured that there was no confusion in command, and the laws and regulations served as guidance and constraints, minimizing any potential chaos in the process.

Second.

It was different from the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which was characterized by burning, killing, looting, and widespread mobilization of the entire population, resulting in a lack of organization and discipline.

Aside from absorbing the necessary soldiers to maintain order, the Han government did not force the remaining 98% of the population to do anything unnecessary. Instead, they simply allowed them to focus on production, thus ensuring the people's peace and tranquility.

In this way, the people who were subsequently allocated land could quickly support the Han Dynasty and restore peace to the Shu region.

Finally, Zhang Lu discovered that Liu Miao had not completely eradicated the powerful clans of Shu.

Unlike the Taiping followers who were always ready to fight against powerful clans, Liu Miao's "Equal Field Edict" initially offered benefits to powerful clans willing to cooperate with the Han Dynasty.

For example, surplus land allocated to wives and concubines, servants, and oxen.

Only powerful families possess these things.

Therefore, as long as they were not stubborn or extremely wealthy with tens of thousands of servants, Liu Miao was actually quite lenient with lower-class noble families and poor families. This also meant that these people were generally less resistant to Liu Miao.

Furthermore, given the current shortage of officials in Shu, and the fact that these lower-ranking noble families and commoners already possess knowledge and have a natural advantage in the competition for official positions, their attention is now focused on the infighting in the officialdom. They no longer harbor hatred towards Liu Miao, and may even be grateful to Liu Miao for giving them this opportunity to grow wildly...

This three-pronged approach is probably why the Taiping Religion was universally reviled, while the Great Han Dynasty is now thriving.

After learning what he had seen and heard, Zhang Lu's vigilance towards Liu Miao decreased significantly.

It wasn't until he saw it with his own eyes that Zhang Lu realized Liu Miao wasn't as despicable or ruthless as the powerful clans had portrayed him to be. Nor was he as benevolent as the common people who supported him because of the benefits they received claimed.

As long as Liu Miao doesn't go to extremes, it at least shows that Liu Miao is a normal person who wouldn't do something like tricking himself into coming to Chengdu and then cracking his head open with a copper hammer!

After confirming Liu Miao's style, Zhang Lu couldn't help but speed up his pace.

Observe what they do, examine their motives, and investigate their comfort; how can a person conceal their true nature?

To understand a person, you should not listen to what they say, but look at what they do.

After witnessing everything that happened in Shu, Zhang Lu thought he at least roughly understood what kind of ruler Liu Miao was!

Arrived in Chengdu.

Li Hui was still the one who received them.

Li Hui, having previously advised Liu Miao to accept Zhang Lu and the Five Pecks of Rice sect, has now been promoted to Prefect of Shu Commandery. When Zhang Lu heard that Li Hui had recently been just an ordinary minor official, he was astonished by the speed of Li Hui's promotion.

"Your Majesty truly employs people without being bound by convention."

Li Hui humbly replied, "I am of limited talent and learning; I merely happened to rise with the wind."

"Being able to see the opportunities and ride the wave is a talent in itself."

Moreover, Zhang Lu retorted to Li Hui, "Otherwise, what am I doing here in Chengdu?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hui's hands and feet broke out in a sweat.

This isn't out of nervousness, it's simply because what Liu Miao is doing now is far too significant!

If this matter can really be accomplished, it will truly be a change unprecedented in a century!

The shift in dominant academic disciplines!
A change to the interpretation of divine will!

Just thinking about these things made Li Hui tremble all over!
And all of this will happen in this unassuming side hall in front of us—

"Please, Master, His Majesty is already waiting inside."

"Whoo~~~"

Zhang Lu took several long breaths to calm his restless chest, then took his first steps up the steps that would lead Taoism to its peak!

The dozens of steps were quickly trodden over.

Zhang Lu stood in front of the door, his palms already pressed against the door.

"Squeak."

The door hinges made a dull, dry sound, but Zhang Lu didn't even dare to raise his head, nor did he dare to look at Liu Miao, who was sitting inside. He slowly moved forward.

Upon reaching the center of the hall, Zhang Lu dared not proceed further. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground, kneeling on the ground, and performed a deep bow—a profound salute.

"Your subject Zhang Lu greets the Emperor!"

"..."

A long silence followed.

If Zhang Lu hadn't been able to hear a faint breathing sound, he would have almost thought there was no one in front of him at all!

"Zhang Lu".

Liu Miao's eyes never left Zhang Lu himself.

Liu Miao was quite interested in Zhang Daoling's grandson, who had managed to figure out a theocratic system!

"Zhang Lu, what is the Way?"

"The Tao is Lao Tzu, and Lao Tzu is the Tao."

"Pfft!"

Liu Miao's undisguised sneer made Zhang Lu's heart sink.

Clearly, Liu Miao did not agree with the current interpretation of the Dao in Daoist doctrine.

Although Zhang Lu could have foreseen that Liu Miao would have many grievances against the Five Pecks of Rice sect, he did not expect that Liu Miao would have been dissatisfied with Taoism from the very beginning.

"You say that Laozi is the same person as me, then I ask you, have you ever met Laozi?"

Zhang Lu was speechless.

However, he still tried to make amends: "In the first year of Han'an, Laozi himself descended and bestowed upon my grandfather Zhang Daoling the 'Three Heavens Orthodox Law' and appointed him as the 'Celestial Master'; in the same year, he also bestowed upon him the 'Essential Teachings of the Orthodox Unity' and the 'Wonderful Scripture of the Orthodox Unity Alliance' and appointed him as the 'Three Heavens Dharma Master, Orthodox Unity True Man'."

Liu Miao smiled slightly.

Since there's no way to prove it since the dead are dead, right?
Since Zhang Daoling is already dead, whether he has met Laozi is something that cannot be said for sure.

It can never be proven, and it can never be proven.

It's something mysterious and esoteric, and no matter how you ask, you can't get a clear answer.

Today, Liu Miao is going to cure this ailment for him!
"If you speak to the Tao, that's faith; if the Tao speaks to you, it's probably because you've lost your mind!"

"You claim to be a tenth-generation descendant of Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, and yet all you come up with is this dubious thing?"

Liu Miao's response was extremely impolite, so impolite that Zhang Lu was somewhat surprised. This was the first time since he entered the room that he had truly looked up and seen Liu Miao's face.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Liu Miao shook his head.

"Why make it all so mysterious? Isn't it because they haven't even figured these things out themselves, and they're just spouting empty talk and grand pronouncements to fool people?"

“I’ve met many bureaucrats just like you. When I ask them something, they spout nonsense I can’t understand, clearly trying to fool me. If I call them out on it, their faces turn as red as a monkey’s backside, and they say I’m uncultured and don’t want to explain to me…”

"And now you're doing the same thing, not thinking about how to persuade me and gain my trust, but instead trying to fool me. Do I look like a fool, someone who's going to be fooled by you no matter what?"

Zhang Lu was filled with rage!

Even the emperor should not denigrate the Five Pecks of Rice sect in this way! He should not belittle the cause built by three generations of the Zhang family!
Can……

The issue is.

Liu Miao said this was a deceptive thing, and it seems that he wasn't wrong.

(End of this chapter)