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

"This is Zichu's overthinking. Lord Xuande is eager to seek out talented people and treats them with respect. In the past, when Master Kongming lived in seclusion in Longzhong, Lord Xuande personally went three times before he was finally able to pay him a visit. Your talent is no less than Kongming's, so why would Lord Xuande hold a grudge?"

Huang Quan stood up, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "I have said all I need to say. Zichu is wise and will make his own decision."

"I have official duties to attend to and cannot stay any longer. Zichu, I shall take my leave."

After saying that, he turned and left without lingering, leaving Liu Ba alone in the courtyard, gazing at the green bamboo, motionless for a long time.

Two days later, in the afternoon, the sun was at its zenith.

Fa Zheng removed his court robes, changed into a light brocade robe, and carried a pot of fine Sichuan tea. He slowly walked to Liu Ba's residence. He knew that Liu Ba was arrogant and that bringing entourage would surely provoke Liu Ba's resistance. Therefore, he came alone, with a calm and composed demeanor.

The gatekeeper was startled when he saw that it was Fa Zheng.

Liu Bei had been in Chengdu for ten days, and everyone knew that Fa Zheng was now Liu Bei's most favored man. The gatekeeper dared not stop him, and quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "Lord Fa, your arrival is a great honor! I have failed to greet you properly. Please wait a moment, sir, I will go inside and inform the master."

Fa Zheng waved his hand and said in a calm tone, "No need for formalities. Just go and announce that I, Fa Zheng, have come to visit you, only to discuss the general situation of the world with Mr. Zichu."

The gatekeeper dared not delay and quickly turned around to go inside and announce the news.

Upon hearing of Fa Zheng's arrival, Liu Ba frowned, his expression growing increasingly cold. He and Fa Zheng had always had a superficial relationship, neither close nor hostile; even when serving in the same court, they had only maintained a cold and bureaucratic demeanor. Fa Zheng was vindictive and ruthless, deeply favored by Liu Bei, a typical newly risen meritorious official—a type Liu Ba disliked from the bottom of his heart.

But he also knew that Fa Zheng's visit was undoubtedly to persuade him to take up an official post, and there was no way to avoid it.

Huang Quan's previous advice had eased his mind somewhat. In the past two days, he ordered his servants to investigate. Faced with the chaos in Chengdu, Liu Bei not only did not violently suppress or mistreat the people, but also strictly disciplined his subordinates and officials, and set an example by saving expenses. This was indeed different from the lax governance during Liu Zhang's time.

Hearing what Fa Zheng had to say now wouldn't hurt. He could only say in a deep voice, "Let him in."

The servant led Fa Zheng into the courtyard. Liu Ba remained seated on the stone bench, not rising to greet him. He merely raised his eyes slightly, his tone indifferent: "Lord Fa, you are so busy with state affairs, how come you have time to come to my secluded little courtyard?"

Fa Zheng didn't mind. He walked straight to the stone bench, sat down, placed the tea he was holding on the stone table, poured two cups himself, pushed one towards Liu Ba, and went straight to the point, his tone sharp: "Zi Chu, is your refusal to leave your room because you despise my lord's humble origins and are unwilling to serve him, or is your heart still with Cao Cao in the north, and you still consider him the legitimate ruler?"

Liu Ba frowned, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and bluntly stated: "Cao Cao was the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, serving the emperor to command the disobedient, holding power in the court, and ruling the world. He was the legitimate ruler. Although Liu Bei was nominally a member of the Han imperial family, he rose from humble beginnings, carved out a territory in the southwest, and competed with other warlords. He was nothing more than another ambitious man."

"Haha!" Fa Zheng laughed loudly, his tone laced with sarcasm and sharpness. "The Prime Minister? He's nothing but a traitor to the Han dynasty who holds the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords! Zichu, how could you, with your intelligence, not see through the mystery behind this?"

The emperor was placed under house arrest by Cao Cao, and the court was filled with Cao Cao's henchmen. Loyal ministers and generals were either slaughtered or marginalized.

Last year, the conflict in the Xu Du court became public. Cao Cao, having quelled the rebellion in Guanzhong, was arrogant and wanted to change the old system established by Emperor Gaozu that people of different surnames could not be called dukes or kings. Even Xun Yu, a pillar of the Han court who helped him sweep across the north, was forced to death by him for opposing the title of duke. His ambition was obvious.

Everything Cao Cao did was not for the Han Dynasty, but for himself, to usurp the Liu family's throne! Sooner or later he would depose the emperor and establish himself as emperor, becoming a second Wang Mang! You want to accept this kind of legitimacy?

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense as he looked directly at Liu Ba, his tone becoming increasingly solemn: "My lord Liu Xuande is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a member of the Han imperial family, and was personally recognized by the emperor as his uncle. He received the imperial edict and vowed to punish the traitor Cao and restore the Han dynasty."

Since his arrival in Sichuan, he has not committed any offenses against the people, has pacified the populace, and has reinstated his former officials. All his actions have been aimed at stabilizing Yizhou, accumulating strength, and preparing for a northern expedition to the Central Plains, restoring peace to the land. This is the true legitimate ruler of the Liu family, and the wise ruler worthy of your service!

Liu Ba's expression changed slightly, and he tightened his grip on the teacup. After Huang Quan's previous advice, he understood that what Fa Zheng said was true, but his pride wouldn't allow him to compromise.

His knuckles turned white, but his tone remained firm: "Even so, Liu Bei's seizure of Yizhou was an unjust act. Although Liu Zhang was weak and incompetent, he was the rightful governor of Yizhou. Liu Bei led his troops into Sichuan and ultimately seized Yizhou, which is no different from that of a bandit."

"Unjust?" Fa Zheng snorted coldly, his tone resolute. "Zichu, you are too pedantic! The world is in chaos now, with warlords vying for power and the strong preying on the weak. If Liu Zhang had the ambition to restore the Han Dynasty and the ability to defend Yizhou and the people of Shu, even if you, my lord, held the moral high ground, you would not raise an army. At most, you would conspire with Liu Zhang to conquer the world. But Liu Zhang is weak and incompetent, lacks ambition, governs with leniency, and allows powerful clans to run rampant. The people are suffering terribly. He simply cannot defend this land of Shu."

Do you think that Cao Cao won't come if my lord doesn't seize Yizhou? Cao Cao, a powerful figure in the north, is ambitious and has long coveted the lands of Ba and Shu. Now, he only needs to completely pacify the north and prepare his army before he inevitably marches south and swallows up Yizhou. Cao Cao is cruel and ruthless; Xuzhou is a prime example! Wherever he goes, he burns, kills, and loots, leaving the people displaced and Shu plunged into misery!

Fa Zheng's tone softened slightly, but still carried a hint of sharpness: "You possess the talent to save the world, are proficient in finance and taxation, and are well-versed in the law. Now, seeing prices soaring and the people suffering, you remain secluded at home, only concerned with preserving your own reputation. Is this your morality? Is this what you call having the world in your heart?"

He put down his teacup, straightened his sleeves, and said calmly, "I have no personal relationship with you. I am here today not to curry favor with my lord, nor to please you, but only for the people of Shu and for your talent. If you insist on clinging to your lofty ideals, burying your abilities, and watching Yizhou fall into a predicament of financial depletion, watching the people suffer from famine again, then you will truly have failed your studies, failed the people of Shu, and failed your own conscience."

Liu Ba lowered his eyes, the tea in his cup rippling, reflecting his complex expression. Fa Zheng's words were sharp and cutting, yet every word was the truth, piercing through Liu Ba's self-comforting act of shutting himself away from the world.

Throughout his life, he considered himself a renowned scholar, with the world in his heart, and he feared most the infamy of being indifferent to the common people. Yet now, he was truly watching helplessly as the Shu region fell into a predicament, while he remained indifferent.

After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "Fa Xiaozhi, you don't need to say anything more. I have my own considerations."