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

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei slightly raised his eyes, his expression softening: "Please invite Zimao in."

The tent flap was slightly lifted, and Gu Sulin walked in slowly. He was dressed in plain clothes, his expression calm and respectful. He was not carrying any scrolls and came alone. He bowed to Liu Bei with perfect manners: "My lord, you have not rested until late at night. I, Sulin, have come without permission. I hope my lord will forgive me."

"Zimao, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down." Liu Bei gestured for him to sit, his tone tinged with weariness. "I was just thinking that you didn't utter a single word at the banquet today. You must have something on your mind."

Gu Sulin sat down as instructed, looked at Liu Bei, and spoke in a calm and earnest tone, getting straight to the point without any coercion: "My lord, tonight I wish to discuss with you the two words 'morality'."

Liu Bei sighed softly, "You saw everything that happened during the day. Shi Yuan is anxious, and I am in a dilemma. Liu Zhang treats me with sincerity, and if I were to plot against him, I would feel uneasy; but if I do not take Yizhou, the great cause of reviving the Han Dynasty will ultimately be like a tree without roots."

Gu Sulin nodded slightly, and only after Liu Bei had vented his frustrations did he speak slowly, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "My lord, do not worry. I have come not to offer advice, but to provide a strategy."

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh?"

Only hushed whispers remained inside the tent; the wind blew through the tent, scattering even the words into the night.

At first, Liu Bei sat upright and listened attentively with a calm expression; halfway through, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he were pondering; after listening for a while, surprise gradually appeared in his eyes; and finally, his brows slowly relaxed, his worries dissipated, and he was replaced by a sense of sudden enlightenment and peace.

He didn't interrupt or say anything; he just listened quietly.

Gu Sulin spoke clearly and distinctly, without pausing or ambiguity, each word clear and unambiguous.

I don't know how much time passed.

Gu Sulin slowly stopped speaking, sat up straight again, lowered his eyes slightly, and transformed back into the respectful and courteous subject: "Sulin has truthfully informed my lord of everything he knows, has prepared, and has planned. Please make your decision."

Liu Bei remained silent for a long time.

He gazed at the flickering candlelight, his eyes deep, and the hurdle that had been weighing on his heart for so many days finally settled down at that moment.

After a long silence, Liu Bei let out a soft breath, his voice light and steady: "Zimao."

"exist."

"I understand everything you've said."

Liu Bei raised his eyes, his gaze gentle yet filled with unwavering certainty: "My heart is at peace."

Gu Sulin bowed slightly: "If my lord is at ease, then the matter can be settled."

Liu Bei raised his hand and gently pressed down: "You shall continue to oversee the arrangements secretly. There is no need to ask for instructions or make a fuss. Just proceed according to your plan."

"Yes, ma'am."

Liu Bei added, "This matter is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me; there is no fourth person. Beyond the greater good, we still need to consider things carefully and must not leak this secret."

"clear."

Finally, a genuine sense of relaxation appeared on Liu Bei's face, the first such expression in days.

With morality intact and the people united, a great undertaking can be accomplished and a foundation established.

Gu Sulin rose and bowed again: "Now that my lord is at ease, I, Sulin, will take my leave."

"Go."

Gu Sulin turned around, quietly left the tent, and disappeared into the deep night.

Inside the tent, Liu Bei sat alone, gazing at the candlelight. A slight smile touched his lips.

……

After the meeting at Fucheng, Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu. Before leaving, he trusted Liu Bei even more, having no doubts whatsoever, and entrusted him with the safety of the northern border of Yizhou.

Liu Bei led his army north and first stationed it at Jiameng Pass to guard against Zhang Lu's southward advance from Hanzhong. Liu Zhang further ordered Yang Huai and Gao Pei, the generals guarding Baishui Pass, to place all their troops under Liu Bei's control, and all matters concerning provisions, weapons, and pass defenses were to be under Liu Bei's command.

The generals in Shu, such as Zhang Ren, Liu Gui, and Ling Bao, were all uneasy and repeatedly advised Liu Bei in secret that he should not be trusted lightly and that military power should not be easily granted. However, Liu Zhang dismissed their concerns as mere overthinking and instead accused them of sowing discord among the imperial relatives. He acted unilaterally and handed over all the power of the heavy troops in the northern border of Yizhou to Liu Bei.

When the news reached Liu Bei's camp, Pang Tong and Gu Sulin exchanged a glance, both understanding the situation.

Liu Zhang's actions were not a mere entrustment of territory; rather, he was personally handing over the gateway to Yizhou to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei remained calm, accepted the order and thanked him. That very day, he broke camp and led his army toward Jiameng Pass.

Throughout the journey, Liu Bei strictly ordered his army to commit no offenses against the people, not to plunder or seize their property, and to allow passage only without causing trouble. The people of Shu were initially frightened upon seeing the Jingzhou army, but seeing their disciplined military bearing, they gradually calmed down.

Soon after, the army arrived at Jiameng Pass.

After entering Guanzhong, Liu Bei did not immediately organize his troops for a northern expedition, nor did he rush to mobilize the troops guarding Baishui Pass under Yang Huai and Gao Pei. Instead, contrary to his usual practice, he remained inactive.

He temporarily entrusted military affairs to Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, but he personally went to the streets and fields every day to see the people’s hardships and inquire about the local government’s past policies. Whenever there were difficulties, he immediately ordered people to be comforted.

Gu Sulin stood by his side, watching the scene unfold, his fingertips pausing slightly—his lord intended to win over the hearts of the people of Shu with benevolence and virtue.

This step, compared to seizing a city with a sword, is more stable, more enduring, and more in line with the fundamental character of his life.

Although Pang Tong and Fa Zheng were still eager, they understood Liu Bei's intentions and stopped urging him to wage war. Instead, they devoted themselves to assisting Liu Bei in reforming the bureaucracy, reducing taxes and levies, pacifying displaced people, and repairing city walls.

In a short time, the atmosphere inside and outside Jiameng Pass changed drastically.

The northern border region of Sichuan, which had once suffered from war and chaotic governance, is gradually showing signs of stability.

The people spread the word, their words filled with gratitude: "With Liu Bei here, Jiameng is safe; with Liu Bei here, we people have someone to rely on."

Standing atop the city tower of Jiameng Pass, Liu Bei gazed at the rising smoke from cooking fires in Guanzhong, watching the people's hearts gradually warming up. He softly said to Gu Sulin beside him:

"Zimao, what you said in the tent that day, I have now truly lived up to."

Gu Sulin bowed slightly: "Our lord walks the righteous path, and the people's hearts will naturally turn to him. We only need to wait here quietly, and when the time is right, Yizhou will naturally belong to our lord."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on Chengdu in the south.

For a whole year, they remained inactive.

Throughout the year, Liu Bei showed no signs of launching a northern expedition against Zhang Lu. Instead, he spent his days pacifying the people in Guanzhong, bestowing favors, reducing taxes, and providing relief to the poor and weak. He also frequently visited rural areas, befriended local gentry, and his soldiers strictly adhered to military discipline, refraining from disturbing the people. He was deeply loved and respected by the people of Jiameng and the surrounding areas.

He accepted all the grain and military supplies allocated by Liu Zhang, but never sent a single soldier to the front line. Although Yang Huai and Gao Pei of Baishui Pass were under his control, they were never mobilized.

The news gradually reached Chengdu. At first, Liu Zhang did not pay attention to it, thinking that Liu Bei was just reorganizing the army and appeasing the people.

As time went on, the court officials began to discuss the matter. Yang Huai and Gao Pei repeatedly sent secret reports, saying that Liu Bei had been staying in the capital for a long time without fighting and was trying to win people's hearts. They feared that Liu Bei had ulterior motives. The old officials in Shu also advised Liu Zhang to be wary of Liu Bei.

Zhang Song stood among the court officials, head bowed and silent the entire time, uttering not a word. He neither echoed the criticisms nor defended Liu Bei, seemingly detached from the matter. Yet, deep in his eyes, a hint of unease lurked. As the rumors grew stronger, Liu Zhang heard them more and more, and doubts and dissatisfaction gradually arose in his heart.