Three Reconstructions of the Han Dynasty: I Helped Zhuge Liang Perfect the Longzhong Plan

Seeing his caution, Zhang Song knew it concerned Yizhou. He quickly nodded, dismissed the servants beside him, leaned closer to the carriage curtain, and listened intently.

Gu Sulin's gaze was solemn as he slowly spoke, word by word: "The first thing is that when you return to Shu this time, you must not show the slightest sign of disloyalty. Continue to serve Liu Jiyu as before, and your words, actions, and attitudes must remain the same as before. Do not reveal any signs of your plans, lest you arouse suspicion and ruin everything."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song nodded deeply, understanding the situation perfectly. If he were not careful on his return to Shu, he would be in trouble. Gu Sulin's words were exactly what he needed to know.

"The second thing," Gu Sulin continued, "after you return to Yizhou, do not write any letters, and do not leave any written evidence. If you have any plans, just keep them to yourself. You only need to have faith in my lord's desire to take Shu, and wait for the right opportunity. Under no circumstances should you act rashly or make any secret connections with others, lest you leave yourself a handle and get burned."

His tone grew increasingly solemn, for this was Zhang Song's own life-or-death matter, and he needed to give him detailed instructions. Zhang Song was a meticulous man, and naturally understood the implications. The events in Xuchang had just passed, and if any clues were left behind, not only would he be in danger, but he would also ruin his chances of serving Yizhou. He immediately replied in a deep voice, "Don't worry, Mr. Zimao, I've remembered it and will not dare to make the slightest mistake."

Gu Sulin breathed a slight sigh of relief and gave his last piece of advice: "For this last matter, brother, you should lie low and wait for the situation to change in the future. When the time is right, you only need to offer a suggestion to Liu Jiyu, asking someone to go to Xuchang under the pretext of paying tribute to the emperor. My lord will make arrangements in advance, and Mr. Kongming will also be there to meet you in Jingzhou. Everything will be foolproof."

After saying this, Gu Sulin cupped his hands again: "These three entrustments are all for your sake, brother, and for the sake of important matters. I hope you will always keep them in mind and not make any mistakes. Here in Jingzhou, we will wait for news from Brother Yongnian and will never let you down."

Zhang Song felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Gu Sulin's words were thoughtful and considerate, every word of which was for his benefit and to plan for this great cause. He immediately bowed solemnly and said, "I will remember every word of what Mr. Zimao said and will never forget it. This time when I return to Shu, I will be careful in my words and deeds, wait for the right opportunity, and live up to the expectations of my Imperial Uncle and Mr. Gu."

Gu Sulin nodded and said no more, afraid of attracting attention if he lingered too long. He immediately mounted his horse, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Song, and said, "Brother Yongnian, take care on your journey. Sulin will take his leave now."

As soon as he finished speaking, he spurred his horse around and galloped away along the original road, quickly disappearing at the end of the official road without leaving a trace.

Zhang Song gazed in the direction he had left, slowly lowered the carriage curtain, his heart filled with certainty, and softly instructed the driver, "Set off, back to Yizhou." The carriage continued on its way, heading towards Shu, the journey smooth and uneventful.

……

Since Zhang Song returned to Shu, there had been no news of him for over two months. Within Jingzhou, Liu Bei continued his diligent governance, Pang Tong oversaw administration and military training, Zhuge Liang managed supplies and pacified the prefectures, while Gu Sulin kept a close eye on the situation in Yizhou. The four awaited the changing circumstances, showing no sign of urgency. Life in and around Jiangling was stable, and the army was well-equipped, awaiting news from Yizhou before plotting their grand scheme in Western Sichuan.

At dawn that day, a scout rode swiftly into the government office outside Jiangling City, loudly announcing: "Reporting to my lord, the envoy from Yizhou, Fa Zheng, carrying a letter from Liu Zhang, has arrived at the post station outside the city and requests an audience with you!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei exchanged glances with Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Gu Sulin in the hall, all of them showing understanding. Liu Bei composed himself, sat upright, and ordered in a deep voice, "Quickly invite the envoy into the mansion for an audience."

A moment later, Fa Zheng, dressed in official robes, entered the main hall of the prefectural government.

Fa Zheng stood tall and straight, with a heroic air about him. He was composed and unhurried. He bowed and said, "Fa Zheng, the envoy from Yizhou, pays his respects to Liu Huangshu."

Liu Bei gently gestured for Fa Zheng to rise, ordered someone to offer him a seat, and said in a humble tone, "Sir, you have come a long way and must be tired. What brings you here?"

Fa Zheng took out a letter written by Liu Zhang himself from his bosom, presented it with both hands, and said loudly: "My lord Liu Zhang, I have recently heard that Cao Cao is mustering troops and intends to send them to Hanzhong to attack Zhang Lu. Hanzhong is the shield of Yizhou. If Zhang Lu is defeated, Cao Cao will surely take advantage of the situation and march south, and Yizhou will be in imminent danger. My lord's soldiers are no match for Cao's army. Moreover, considering that we are both members of the Han imperial family and are as close as lips and teeth, I have specially sent me here to earnestly request that the Imperial Uncle raise the troops of Jingzhou and enter Sichuan to assist us in resisting Zhang Lu, defending against the traitor Cao, and protecting the territory of Yizhou."

Liu Bei took the letter, unfolded it and read it carefully. After reading it, he placed the letter on the table, pretended to ponder, and looked troubled: "Ji Yu is of the same clan as me. If he is in trouble, I should do my best to help him. However, Jingzhou has just been pacified. To the north, Cao Cao is eyeing Xiangfan, and to the east, Sun Quan is always thinking about Nanjun. If I lead my troops far away, I am afraid that the foundation of Jingzhou will be unstable and we will be attacked from both sides."

These words, though polite, were in fact a test. Seeing this, Pang Tong rose first, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Liu Bei, and said, "My lord, this is a golden opportunity, one that must not be missed! Jingzhou is a place of constant warfare, difficult to defend for long. Yizhou, on the other hand, is fertile, prosperous, and strategically advantageous, a land where great achievements can be made. Liu Zhang is weak and incompetent, unable to employ capable men. Gentlemen Zhang Song and Fa Zheng are all loyal to you, my lord. If we seize this opportunity to enter Sichuan, taking Yizhou will be a piece of cake, and your ambition will be fulfilled!"

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, nodded slowly, and echoed, "Shiyuan's words are absolutely right. Our lord is known throughout the land for his benevolence and righteousness. This time, his entry into Sichuan is ostensibly to help Liu Zhang repel the enemy, but in reality, it is in accordance with the will of the people of Yizhou. Moreover, leaving a large force to guard Jingzhou ensures safety. Our lord can enter Sichuan with peace of mind."

Seeing that all of Liu Bei's ministers were urging him to enter Sichuan, and observing Liu Bei's expression, Fa Zheng knew that Liu Bei was already interested. So he pressed his advantage, stood up, and said solemnly, "The Emperor's virtue and benevolence are known throughout the land. The people of Yizhou have long awaited a wise ruler. Our lord Liu Zhang is unable to understand the people's plight and appoint capable officials. The entire Shu region hopes that the Emperor will come to lead. This time, entering Sichuan can restore the Han Dynasty and save the people of Yizhou. It is by no means about seizing the foundation of our own clan. I hope that Your Excellency will not refuse."

Gu Sulin stepped forward, his tone steady: "My lord, Master Fa Xiaozhi has come here with the sincere intention of assisting you. If we refuse, it will only arouse Liu Zhang's suspicion and betray his sincerity. This opportunity, once lost, will never be regained. I urge you to make a decision as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei sighed deeply and revealed a benevolent expression: "Since that's the case, I will agree. How can I stand idly by while Ji Yu is in trouble? As we are of the same clan, I will certainly do my best to help him."

Everyone knew that Liu Bei's words were merely rhetoric; they all understood the grand plan to conquer Sichuan and thus the matter was settled. Afterwards, Liu Bei ordered a banquet to be held for Fa Zheng, treating him with the utmost courtesy. Seeing Liu Bei's generous treatment, Fa Zheng felt even more certain that he had found a wise ruler. He realized that this opportunity, once missed, would never be regained. During the banquet, he secretly exchanged ideas with Gu Sulin and Pang Tong, finalizing arrangements for their support after entering Sichuan. They agreed to keep it a secret and wait for Liu Bei to raise his army.

After the banquet, Liu Bei discussed the matter of raising an army with everyone and finally made a decision: Zhuge Liang was appointed to guard Jingzhou, Guan Yu to guard the key road to Xiangyang and guard the Qingni Pass, Zhang Fei was appointed to lead the four counties of Jingnan to patrol the river, and Zhao Yun was appointed to garrison Jiangling and guard Gong'an.

Liu Bei personally took command, with Pang Tong as his strategist, and led tens of thousands of elite troops, including generals such as Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, Huo Jun, and Liu Feng, together with Fa Zheng and Meng Da, to march into Sichuan on a chosen day. Gu Sulin accompanied Liu Bei, assisting in planning and taking care of various military affairs.

Several days later, with all preparations complete, the Jingzhou troops were ready to depart. Outside Jiangling City, banners fluttered, and soldiers stood in neat ranks. Liu Bei ascended a high place to give a swearing-in ceremony, declaring that his entry into Sichuan was to assist Liu Zhang in repelling the enemy and restoring the Han Dynasty. The morale of the three armies soared. Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang, along with the civil and military officials left behind, saw Liu Bei and his party off, offering repeated instructions.

Liu Bei bid farewell to everyone, mounted his horse, glanced back at the city of Jingzhou, then cracked his whip and loudly ordered, "Raise the army and enter Sichuan!"

Tens of thousands of troops marched in a mighty procession, led by Fa Zheng and Meng Da, heading towards Yizhou. Along the way, military discipline was strict, and no one was harmed; the people lined the roads to welcome them. Gu Sulin and Pang Tong accompanied Liu Bei, planning the marching route and reassuring the troops. The group steadily headed west towards Yizhou.