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

Liu Bei personally led his army to Yangping Pass. Unlike the usual army that had captured a city, he did not lavishly reward his troops or show off his military prowess. Instead, accompanied by Ma Chao, Pang Tong, Gu Sulin, and a group of civil and military officials, he traveled lightly and simply through the streets and alleys of the pass. He also personally went out of the pass to tour the villages of Hanzhong along the Mian River and around Yangping.

Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo's chaos in the capital, the land has been in turmoil, with war raging year after year.

Every state was ravaged, fields lay barren, and people were displaced. Everywhere one could see gaunt, starving people, and the streets and alleys were filled with the sight of hunger and cold.

In addition, the concentrated outbreak of the plague created a tragic scene where "bones were exposed in the wild and no roosters crowed for miles," with less than one in a hundred people surviving.

However, once Liu Bei entered Hanzhong, especially around Yangping Pass, the scenery he saw was completely different from other places.

On both sides of the road, neat farmland stretched out, crisscrossed by paths, with lush green wheat seedlings growing vigorously.

Liu Bei was greatly shocked and quickly dismounted to take a closer look.

Farmers and villagers worked in the fields with serene expressions, showing no fear or anxiety amidst the chaos of the times.

The houses in the village are neat and tidy, the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard, children chase and play, and the elderly sit peacefully in front of their doors, showing no signs of hunger or cold, nor any sign of fleeing.

Even when passing through towns and streets, merchants set up stalls and displayed their goods, and passersby appeared peaceful, showing no signs of panic or theft.

What surprised him even more was that the roads in Hanzhong were smooth and the ditches were well-maintained. Although the government had troops stationed there, they did not harm the people in the slightest. There were no signs of exorbitant taxes or exploitation in the countryside. The people were well-fed and clothed and lived in peace and contentment. It was like a paradise in a chaotic world.

"This...oh dear..."

Liu Bei handed his horse to his personal guards and stood with the people around him on the ridge of the field.

Looking at the peaceful and tranquil scene before him, he frowned slightly. His previous prejudice against Zhang Lu as "self-governing and mediocre" quietly loosened, and his expression was full of complex emotions.

"When I first heard that Zhang Lu was stationed in Hanzhong and used the Five Pecks of Rice sect to educate the people, I thought he was just a rice thief who wanted to live in seclusion and fool the people."

Seeing it with my own eyes today, I realize that's not the case.

He walked slowly into the field, bowed to an elderly farmer working there, and spoke gently:

"Old man, with war approaching, why are you still able to farm in peace? Aren't you afraid that the fighting will bring disaster upon yourselves?"

Seeing that Liu Bei possessed an extraordinary demeanor yet was completely unpretentious, the old farmer immediately put down his farming tools, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied:

"This esteemed gentleman is unaware that Hanzhong has been under the rule of Master Shi for over twenty years."

In peacetime, he levied light taxes and levies, educated the people, and did not impose harsh policies. Even in times of war, he never easily disturbed the people.

The Master set up charitable shelters and distributed free rice, so that travelers could have enough to eat and the sick could receive medical treatment. We, the common people, only ask to live in peace.

Hanzhong has long been a peaceful place amidst the chaos of war. Even with the flames of war, we trust that Master Jun can protect us.

Seeing this, Ma Chao stepped forward and whispered, "My lord, Zhang Lu has occupied Hanzhong for thirty years. He has not appointed any officials, but has used the position of libationer to govern the people and has always implemented a lenient and benevolent policy."

When I first arrived here, Zhang Lu appointed me as the Chief Lecturer, second only to his title of "Master".

He pacified the people, closed the passes, and isolated Hanzhong from the flames of war in the Central Plains. Therefore, although Hanzhong was in a chaotic era, it was able to remain unscathed, its people lived in peace and prosperity, and its food supplies were plentiful, making it far more stable than the Central Plains and Yizhou.

Pang Tong nodded in agreement and said in a deep voice, "My lord, although Zhang Lu has no ambition to contend for supremacy, he has the ability to defend the land and bring peace to the people."

He did not impose harsh policies or resort to violence, but instead guided the people with virtue, sparing the people of Hanzhong from the suffering of slaughter in the chaotic world. To win the hearts of the people like this, he was by no means a foolish ruler, but a benevolent governor of the region.

Previously, we only plotted to seize Hanzhong, but we overlooked the popular sentiments under Zhang Lu's rule and underestimated his ability to pacify the people.

Liu Bei remained silent for a long time, gazing at the peaceful farmers working in the fields before him and listening to the tranquil noise in the streets and alleys. He was filled with emotion, and his contempt and wariness of Zhang Lu turned into respect and admiration.

"I have always been thinking about restoring the Han Dynasty and comforting the people. I have spent half my life wandering around and all I have seen is the devastation of a chaotic world and the displacement of the people."

Only now do we realize that although Zhang Lu controlled a region, he preserved peace in Hanzhong and protected the safety of hundreds of thousands of people.

Compared to those feudal lords who only cared about vying for power and causing immense suffering, he had already done an excellent job.

He sighed deeply and said solemnly, "Previously, I wanted to attack Hanzhong only to seize its geographical advantage. Now, seeing the magnificent scenery of Hanzhong with my own eyes, I realize that Zhang Lu is not an incompetent ruler, but rather a rare benevolent one."

Even after pacifying Hanzhong, we must never disturb the people there, nor easily abandon their benevolent policies. Furthermore, we must treat Zhang Lu kindly, and not betray the peaceful livelihood of the hundreds of thousands of people in Hanzhong.

After speaking, Liu Bei bowed to the old farmer in the field again, then mounted his horse. Looking at the vast land of Hanzhong, his eyes no longer showed the eagerness to conquer cities, but rather a greater sense of compassion for the people and a change in his opinion and respect for Zhang Lu.

Upon seeing this, the accompanying civil and military officials all nodded in approval. Their lord was able to change his opinion of the enemy's ruler because of the people's livelihood in one place. He cared about the people and did not think of killing. This was the true demeanor of a benevolent ruler.

After this meeting, Liu Bei had already decided on his strategy: to take Hanzhong, but even more importantly, to defend and secure Hanzhong; as for Zhang Lu, he could only appease him, not harm him.

Night falls.

Back inside Yangping Pass, Fa Zheng and Wei Yan had already led their troops down Dingjun Mountain and joined up with Liu Bei's main force.

The tent was brightly lit, and a map was laid out on the table. Liu Bei held a wine cup, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone calm and solemn:

"Hanzhong is the throat of Yizhou. Now that we have the natural barrier of Yangping, the situation in Hanzhong is settled."

"But during the day, as I toured the countryside of Hanzhong, I was deeply moved to see the people living in peace and contentment, the fields neatly arranged, and the sounds of chickens and dogs filling the air."

He paused, a complex mix of emotions and reluctance flashing in his eyes, and continued:

"Zhang Lu held Hanzhong for more than 20 years. Although he had no ambition to conquer the world, he was able to educate the people with the Five Pecks of Rice sect, reduce taxes and levies, and refrain from tyranny. He managed to protect the peace of the region in this chaotic world. Such benevolence in governing the world is truly rare."

Such a benevolent ruler, I truly cannot bear to wage war against him, lest he suffer the fate of losing his city and his home."

Upon hearing this, Pang Tong stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My lord's benevolence is admired by all under heaven."

Although Zhang Lu was benevolent, he committed a grave mistake—he advocated that "red qi should not decline for a long time"!

Even before the Han dynasty was extinguished, he already harbored this inclination. All he did was to provide for the people of the new dynasty! How could he possibly obey the lord's banner of punishing the traitors and restoring the Han?

What's more, they secretly sent envoys to Cao Cao for help, intending to invite a wolf into the house and hand over Hanzhong to the traitor!

If such actions are not stopped in time, when Cao Cao's army arrives, our army will face another bitter battle, and the people of Hanzhong will be plunged into misery.

Our army, with its benevolent and righteous spirit, can still appease the people of Hanzhong; Cao Cao's brutal forces, however, will surely bring ruin upon countless lives.

Fa Zheng nodded in agreement: "What Shi Yuan said is absolutely right."

Although the lord was mindful of Zhang Lu's achievements in governing the people and was reluctant to wage war, the situation forced him to do so.

Now that our army is at its peak, General Meng Qi has surrendered, and Yangping Pass is in our hands, this is the perfect opportunity to seize Nanzheng and pacify Hanzhong in one fell swoop, and we must not miss it.