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

Since Liu Bei swore an oath in Jiangling and led his army into Shu, more than a month has passed.

As they traveled westward, the roads to Shu were rugged, but the army maintained strict discipline. Liu Bei ordered his troops not to harass the people of Shu, and they did not commit any offenses along the way. The people of Yizhou, seeing Liu Bei's disciplined army and his humble demeanor, lined the roads to welcome him, and the hearts of the people gradually won him over.

Gu Sulin accompanied Liu Bei through the army, gazing at the endless Shu Road, his heart churning with the unique clarity and vigilance of a time traveler—the meeting at Fucheng was the first hurdle for Liu Bei in his conquest of Sichuan. What appeared to be a joyous reunion of relatives was, in reality, fraught with peril. Liu Zhang was incompetent and cowardly, but his forces were not lacking in loyal and brave generals. A slight misstep could expose his schemes, jeopardizing all previous efforts.

Pang Tong secretly discussed the matter with Liu Bei along the way, and repeatedly advised Liu Bei to take advantage of the meeting to capture and kill Liu Zhang on the spot, so as to conquer Yizhou without losing a single soldier. However, Liu Bei rejected the advice, saying that "we have just entered Shu and have not yet established our trust and righteousness. We cannot do such an unjust thing." Although Pang Tong was anxious, he had no choice but to comply.

After traveling for ten days, the army arrived at the border of Fucheng. Scouts had already reported that Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou, had personally led an army of 30,000 men, carrying money, grain, and cloth, from Chengdu and had set up camp outside Fucheng, waiting for Liu Bei's arrival.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately ordered his army to set up camp outside, and took only four civil and military officials—Pang Tong, Gu Sulin, Huang Zhong, and Wei Yan—to meet Fa Zheng at Liu Zhang's camp.

Two days later, a grand banquet was held at the Fucheng Mansion, a meticulously arranged reunion of relatives. Liu Zhang, dressed in the official robes of a governor, was slightly plump with a kind face. He had been waiting outside the mansion since early morning. Upon seeing Liu Bei and his entourage arrive, he quickly stepped forward and, before Liu Bei could even offer his greetings, took his hand, speaking earnestly and warmly: "Brother Xuande, you have traveled a long way to help me resist Zhang Lu. I am deeply grateful for your arduous journey!"

Liu Bei, his face also full of warmth, returned Liu Zhang's hand, his voice steady and earnest: "Ji Yu and I are both members of the Han imperial family, as close as lips and teeth. Now, Zhang Lu in Hanzhong is stirring up trouble, and Cao Cao is also eyeing us covetously. When our relatives are in trouble, I will naturally do my utmost to help them. How can you say it's hard work?"

The two walked hand in hand into the hall of the mansion, where seats were already arranged and wine and food were prepared, creating an atmosphere of harmony.

At the head of the table, Liu Bei and Liu Zhang sat side by side, reminiscing about their kinship. Laughter filled the air, and their faces were warm and friendly. However, the expressions of the civil and military officials on either side of the table were different, and undercurrents were already swirling.

Liu Zhang raised his cup first and said loudly to Liu Bei: "Brother, Zhang Lu has repeatedly invaded the border, and Cao Cao has pacified Guanzhong and claimed that he will take Hanzhong. If Hanzhong is lost, Yizhou will be in danger."

"Our soldiers in Shu have been out of practice for a long time and are unable to withstand a powerful enemy. We are filled with fear day and night. Fortunately, my elder brother has taken our kinship into consideration and led a large army to help us. With your assistance, Zhang Lu and Cao Cao are no longer a threat!" After saying this, he drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, his expression full of trust, showing no sign of wariness whatsoever.

Liu Bei also raised his cup and drank it all. He put down the wine cup and spoke with increasing sincerity, deliberately concealing all his sharpness and only adhering to the etiquette of helping others: "Brother, rest assured. I have come to Sichuan this time specifically to resist Zhang Lu. You can use all the provisions and weapons in the army. Generals such as Huang Zhong and Wei Yan are all brave enough to fight ten thousand men. They can be ordered around by you and will surely keep the northern border of Yizhou safe."

These words were both to appease Liu Zhang and to put his own benevolent principles into practice. Gu Sulin stood beside Liu Bei, watching all of this, and sighed inwardly.

As a time traveler, he knew Liu Zhang's character all too well: weak, reckless, and unable to judge people. He couldn't see Liu Bei's grand ambitions and even regarded him as a relative. With such muddle-headedness, he would lose Yizhou sooner or later.

However, he also understood Liu Bei's concerns. Having just entered Yizhou, Liu Bei had no foundation. If he attacked Liu Zhang at this moment, he would lose the hearts of the people of Shu, making the road to conquering Sichuan even more difficult. Liu Bei's forbearance, which seemed outdated, was actually a long-term plan.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhang was overjoyed and repeatedly praised, "Brother, your benevolence is unparalleled in the world! I have already ordered men to prepare 100,000 shi of grain and countless gold, silver, and silk to send to your camp as a reward for the soldiers. I hope you will not refuse." After saying this, he turned to look behind him and said, "Xiaozhi, toast your brother for me. In the future, when your brother goes north to fight against powerful enemies, you will follow him and be at his command."

Fa Zheng responded and quickly stepped forward to offer a toast. When he bowed to Liu Bei, a hint of expectation flashed in his eyes. Zhang Song, sitting below Liu Zhang, secretly gave Gu Sulin a wink, indicating that everything was fine.

Gu Sulin nodded slightly, remaining calm but extremely vigilant—Liu Zhang's forces were not all inside agents like Zhang Song; there were also loyal assassins who were willing to die for Liu Zhang. He could not afford to reveal the slightest flaw.

Just as Fa Zheng was offering a toast, Gu Sulin's gaze swept across the hall, taking in the expressions of both civil and military officials.

On Liu Zhang's left, Generals Yang Huai and Gao Pei, though seated, were tense, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords, their brows furrowed, their eyes fixed on Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, who sat below Liu Bei, with eyes full of vigilance and hostility, their lips pressed tightly together. They had clearly seen through Liu Bei's plan to enter Sichuan, but dared not speak due to Liu Zhang's orders, their eyes filled with suspicion of Liu Bei, fearing that Liu Bei might suddenly attack.

The other former officials from Shu all remained calm, some drinking with their heads down, others observing coldly. Most saw through it all but kept quiet, each harboring their own thoughts.

Looking at Liu Bei's men, Pang Tong sat below Liu Bei with a slight smile on his face, but his eyes were fixed on Liu Zhang, Yang Huai, and Gao Pei. There was a hint of impatience and anxiety in his eyes. Just before entering the camp, he had been urging Liu Bei to capture Liu Zhang. Now, seeing Liu Bei and Liu Zhang drinking and chatting happily without any intention of taking action, he was secretly anxious. He thought to himself that his lord was too benevolent and had missed a golden opportunity. However, he could only suppress his thoughts and wait for the right moment.

Huang Zhong sat upright with his hand on his sword, his expression solemn. His steady gaze swept across the room, a hint of murderous intent emanating from him. He was constantly on guard against any unforeseen events, ready to immediately shield Liu Bei at the slightest disturbance in the hall. Wei Yan, head held high, his sharp eyes sweeping over Liu Zhang's generals, a hint of disdain on his face. He clearly thought the Shu generals were all incompetent and only hoped for an early order to conquer Yizhou and achieve military merit.

Gu Sulin himself was filled with mixed feelings. He watched the farce of the clan reunion, the muddle-headed and oblivious Liu Zhang, the patient and ambitious Liu Bei, the anxious Pang Tong, and the generals with their own ulterior motives. He knew that this was the cruelty of the chaotic Three Kingdoms period—benevolence and righteousness were the outer garment, while self-interest was the core. Liu Zhang could not defend Yizhou not because of insufficient troops, but because of his unworthy character.

He could neither reveal the truth of history nor intervene rashly. He could only sit silently on Liu Bei's side, keeping a close eye on the situation in the hall, guarding against any unusual movements by Yang Huai, Gao Pei, and others, and reminding himself to remain calm and not to lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains.

During the meal, Liu Zhang chatted with Liu Bei about the customs, people's livelihood, and government affairs of Shu. Liu Bei agreed with everything Liu Bei said, only talking about protecting the people and defending the borders, never mentioning Yizhou at all, which made Liu Zhang lower his guard even more. After a few rounds of drinks, Liu Zhang was in high spirits and even took Liu Bei's hand, sighing, "Brother, you are so benevolent. If you could stay in Yizhou for a long time and help me defend Shu, the people could enjoy peace and tranquility."

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained gentle as he smiled and said, "Ji Yu is joking. After defeating Zhang Lu, I will lead my army back to Jingzhou and dare not linger."