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

Liu Zhang frowned and hesitated, saying, "This plan is not advisable. To get to Xuchang, we must pass through Jingzhou. Yizhou has not paid tribute to the court for a long time, nor have we sent anyone with a proper mission to Xuchang. Yongnian's last mission was even driven back by Cao Cao. Now, if we send someone again under this pretext, Liu Bei will see through it at a glance. How could he easily let someone pass?"

Zhang Song was prepared. He stepped forward and replied confidently, "My lord is concerned with an excuse, but I am concerned with my identity. The brilliance of this plan lies not in the 'reason,' but in the four words 'paying tribute to the emperor'!"

Even if Liu Bei harbored ulterior motives, he would never dare to openly obstruct the tribute envoys from entering the capital. If he dared to do so, he would be making an enemy of Yizhou and the Han court, thus solidifying the charge of "treason," and the whole world would unite against him. At that time, the generals of Yizhou would have a legitimate reason to unite and attack him, and he would become the target of everyone's wrath.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhang's heart stirred slightly, but he still hesitated: "Going on a mission to Xuchang is a long journey, and Cao Cao has always been at odds with my Yizhou. If I do this, wouldn't I be colluding with Cao Cao to expel my relatives? Furthermore, the emperor is controlled by Cao Cao and may not be willing to issue this edict."

Zhang Song was prepared and advised softly, "My lord, you are overthinking it. This time, you will only report to the emperor in person and will not mention Cao Cao. The outside world will only think that Liu Bei is plotting to seize the foundation of his clan, and that my lord is requesting an imperial edict to expel him, which is perfectly justified. Although the emperor is under control, the edict must still be issued."

Zhang Song immediately added a crucial sentence, his tone resolute:

"Cao Cao hates Liu Bei the most and absolutely does not want to see him take control of Yi Province. This time, things are different from last time. As long as we explain that 'if Liu Bei gains control of Shu, the overall situation will be difficult to control,' Cao Cao will surely urge the Emperor to issue an edict to expel Liu Bei. Every day Liu Bei delays, Yi Province becomes more dangerous. Only an imperial edict is the most effective weapon to restrain Liu Bei. I urge you, my lord, to make a decision!"

These words of persuasion struck Liu Zhang's weak spot. He was already cowardly and afraid of trouble, and he was only interested in driving Liu Bei away peacefully. He had no other plans to come up with.

Seeing Zhang Song's utterly loyal expression, Liu Zhang completely lowered his guard and immediately made the decision: "Yongnian's loyalty is commendable, and I am very pleased. I will do as you say! You were previously sent as an envoy to Xuchang and know the route and the situation there; you are the only one suitable for this mission. Tomorrow I will prepare the documents and supplies and order you to immediately depart for Xuchang to obtain an imperial edict to expel Liu Bei!"

Zhang Song was overjoyed, but remained outwardly respectful, kneeling to accept the order: "I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

After bidding farewell to Liu Zhang and leaving the governor's mansion, Zhang Song looked up at the night sky as darkness fell, a cold smile playing on his lips.

A mission to Xuchang? To request an imperial edict? It was nothing but a pretext to deceive people.

He will not go to Xuchang at all.

The great undertaking has been accomplished!

……

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Liu Zhang was extremely anxious. He prepared the diplomatic documents, travel expenses, and envoy's credentials in advance, urging Zhang Song to set off immediately for Xuchang.

Zhang Song solemnly accepted the order, bid farewell to Liu Zhang, and headed east from Chengdu, heading straight for Jiangling in Jingzhou.

This is the proper way to Xuchang, and no one can doubt it.

A few days later, a messenger from Jiangling arrived at the Jiameng Pass camp in a flurry of dust. Holding a secret letter from Zhuge Liang, the messenger rushed into the central command tent, knelt on one knee, and presented an item: the original memorial that Liu Zhang had ordered Zhang Song to take to Xuchang, along with a note from Zhuge Liang stating that Zhang Song had arrived safely in Jiangling and was temporarily staying in Jingzhou to await orders, without showing any sign of betrayal.

Liu Bei and Gu Sulin exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly, having been waiting for this moment for some time.

Liu Bei received the memorial, glanced at it quickly, and his hands trembled, his eyes reddened, he looked up to the sky and sighed, tears streaming down his face, utterly heartbroken: "Ji Yu and I are both members of the Han imperial family. I traveled thousands of miles to Sichuan just to help him defend against Zhang Lu and protect the people of Yizhou, without ever harboring the slightest disloyalty. Yet he has colluded with Cao Cao to try and kill me! How can there be such a kinsman in the world!"

Upon seeing this, all the generals inside the tent held their breath and dared not utter a sound.

Pang Tong and Fa Zheng stepped forward and scanned the contents of the memorial. They were stunned and their faces were full of astonishment.

They had heard the news of Zhang Song's second mission to Xudu, and were still puzzled.

Why would Zhang Song be sent on a second mission just a few months after being humiliated by Cao Cao on his last mission?

It turned out to be the case.

Zhang Song came out to uphold morality!

Pang Tong and Fa Zheng subconsciously turned to look at Gu Sulin, only to see that he was calm and showed no surprise, as if he had already foreseen this.

The two immediately realized that Gu Sulin had been keeping quiet in Fucheng all along because he had been planning this all along!

All of this was actually a scheme that Liu Bei and Gu Sulin had already laid out!

Gu Sulin sat in the lower seat, exchanged a smile with the two, and felt a clear understanding in her heart.

This scene had already been planned when they saw Zhang Song off in Jingzhou.

As a time traveler, he knew better than anyone that the biggest obstacle to Liu Bei's conquest of Yizhou was not the cities and troops, but the moral and legal basis.

Once the moral issue is resolved, taking Shu and even contending for the entire country will be much easier.

Liu Zhang was weak and indecisive, yet he had unwavering faith in Zhang Song's loyalty, completely unaware that Zhang Song had already pledged allegiance to a wise ruler and betrayed him.

In his instructions to Zhang Song, Gu Sulin mentioned the strategy of "paying tribute to the emperor and going on a mission to Xudu." Zhang Song was an exceptionally intelligent man and understood it immediately.

From Liu Zhang's perspective, sending his most trusted confidant to Xuchang to request an imperial edict was an act of respect for the court. If Liu Bei dared to defy the edict, or even just detain the envoy, it would be tantamount to disrespecting his sovereign. Liu Zhang, being inherently weak, dared not advance to fight Liu Bei, nor retreat to expel him from the country; therefore, he would inevitably adopt this plan.

From Liu Bei's perspective, the current court was already controlled by the Han traitor Cao Cao. The memorial submitted by Liu Zhang was not a plea to the emperor at all, but rather an act of collusion with the Han traitor and framing a fellow clansman. Liu Bei used this as a pretext to launch a military campaign to punish the traitor, which was a righteous act of eliminating the enemy and suppressing the rebellion, and he had no conscience whatsoever.

Meanwhile, in Jingzhou, Gu Sulin had already discussed the matter with Zhuge Liang. Regardless of who the envoy Zhang Song persuaded Liu Zhang to send was, they could be detained under the pretext of "border inspection and protection of the tribute envoy's safety," publicly claiming to be fulfilling local responsibilities. In reality, the memorial would definitely reach Liu Bei.

The most crucial point is that Gu Sulin had warned Zhang Song in advance not to expose himself, and he hadn't even mentioned it to Pang Tong.

Even if Liu Zhang suspected everything, he had no evidence to suspect Zhang Song, so Zhang Song would not have been killed.

Pang Tong's admiration for Gu Sulin grew even stronger.

Liu Bei took a deep breath, suppressing the grief in his heart, and raised the memorial high, displaying it to all the civil and military officials in the tent. His voice was sorrowful yet resounding, every word filled with heartache and determination: "Look, everyone! I, Liu Bei, treated Liu Zhang with benevolence and righteousness, yet he secretly colluded with the traitor Cao Cao, submitted a memorial to frame me, and sought to put me to death, and even wanted to drag the people of Yizhou into the flames of war!"

He slammed the memorial onto the table, the sound causing the candlelight in the tent to flicker. His previous sorrow vanished, replaced by a resolute expression. He declared loudly, "I treated Liu Zhang with utmost sincerity, yet he betrayed me! I sympathized with the suffering of the people of Yizhou, yet Liu Zhang abandoned all humanity! From this day forward, I sever all ties with Liu Zhang!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to look outside the tent, drew his sword and pointed it towards Chengdu, his voice echoing across the land: "Order the three armies to prepare provisions and weapons. We will rise up immediately, march south to Chengdu, mourn the people, punish the guilty, and punish this unjust man!"

Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, and other generals were already dissatisfied with Liu Zhang's reduction of grain supplies. Now, seeing the evidence in the memorial and hearing their lord's grief and indignation, they were all filled with righteous indignation. They drew their swords, clasped their hands, and loudly responded, "As you command, my lord!"