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

The soldier replied, "They only said that he was a military advisor under Liu Bei, named Gu Sulin, and an old general named Huang Zhong. There were no other soldiers accompanying them."

He only said, "I'm escorting General Zhang Wei back to the city. I have important matters to discuss with Master in person; they concern the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Hanzhong."

Yan Pu's eyes flickered, and he stepped forward and whispered:

"Master, if Liu Bei truly intends to harm you, he could simply send General Zhang Wei's head to you to provoke your anger."

The fact that he personally returned it shows that he doesn't intend to completely exterminate them.

In war, envoys are not to be killed, especially since the other side has sent back your own brother.

Regardless of their intentions, we cannot refuse to see them; otherwise, in Liu Bei's rage, Hanzhong will surely be plunged into chaos and death.

Zhang Lu took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a turbulent mix of worry, wariness, and helplessness, with a hidden wavering in his heart that he himself was unwilling to confront.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally gave the order in a deep voice:

"Open the city gates and let them in."

I want to see what Liu Bei's envoy has to say!

……

The gates of Nanzheng slowly opened a crack, and several armored soldiers with shields came out. They first carefully searched Gu Sulin and Huang Zhong to make way for them, confirming that they were unarmed and had no weapons.

Please come with me.

The leading armored soldier said coldly, then turned and led the three into the city.

Walking through the narrow streets and alleys, the scene inside Nanzheng City was no different from Anran around Yangping Pass, and even more prosperous.

Although soldiers patrolled the streets, there was no panic. People continued to open their shops and do business, and the shouts of vendors rose and fell. However, everyone's face showed unconcealed anxiety.

Gu Sulin glanced at both sides and saw that the charity houses along the street still had wooden signs that read "Rice Donation" and "Water Donation" hanging on them. At the entrance of the alley, an old man sat on a stone bench with a ceramic bowl next to him, distributing food to children.

He sighed inwardly and turned to look at Zhang Wei beside him.

Zhang Wei hung his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, whether from anger or fear, it was hard to tell.

Gu Sulin could see clearly that when they entered the city, Zhang Wei's gaze swept over the people on the street several times, and a complex look flashed in his eyes, as if he felt guilty or unwilling.

Upon arriving at Zhang Lu's residence, the vermilion gates were tightly shut, with two stone lions standing before them, exuding an air of majesty. A soldier stepped forward to announce their arrival, and after a long while, the gates creaked open. A gatekeeper in a blue robe bowed to greet them: "Master is already waiting in the main hall. Please follow me."

The lanterns under the eaves were covered in dust, and the fallen leaves in front of the steps were left unswept, yet there was no sense of decay.

Gu Sulin walked steadily, but his eyes were scanning his surroundings.

Although Zhang Lu's mansion was not luxurious, it was full of traces of "Tao": wooden plaques with the words "Quietness and Non-Action" were pasted on the pillars, stone blocks with the character "Righteousness" were placed in the corners of the walls, and even the uniforms of the servants in the mansion were embroidered with small emblems of the Five Pecks of Rice Taoism.

Inside the main hall, the lights were bright but not blazing, making the map on the table even clearer.

Zhang Lu sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a plain Taoist robe. His face was thin and his brows and eyes showed the composure of someone who had long held a high position, but he could not hide the weariness and anxiety in his eyes.

Standing beside him were his trusted confidants Yan Pu, Yang Bai, Zhang Kui, and others, all with solemn expressions. The urgent reports on the table were piled high, all of them recounting the fall of Yangping Pass and Ma Chao's surrender.

Upon seeing the three enter, Zhang Lu slowly raised his eyes, his gaze first falling on Zhang Wei. His pupils suddenly contracted, and the fingers gripping the teacup tightened sharply, his knuckles turning white.

"Brother Wei..." His voice trembled slightly, but he quickly suppressed it, "You're still alive?"

Upon hearing the call, Zhang Wei looked up abruptly, his eyes instantly reddening, but he forced himself not to shed tears. He simply bowed and said, "Brother, I am incompetent and have failed to defend Yangping Pass."

Zhang Lu glanced at the restraints on his younger brother, then at Gu Sulin and Huang Zhong beside him. His eyes instantly darkened, revealing a hint of coldness.

"What is Liu Bei's purpose in sending you here? Is he using my brother as a hostage to force me to surrender?"

Gu Sulin stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Lu, his movements respectful but not obsequious: "Professor, you have misunderstood."

My lord, Liu Bei, deeply respects the thirty years of service that Master Zhang has rendered in governing Hanzhong, and cannot bear to see the people of Hanzhong displaced by war. Therefore, he sent the two of us here to return General Zhang Wei, and certainly not to coerce us into taking hostages.”

After saying that, he gestured to Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong stepped forward, reached out and untied the ropes binding Zhang Wei. His movements were steady and without the slightest hint of provocation.

Zhang Wei rubbed his wrists, which were numb from being bound, and walked back to Zhang Lu's side.

Zhang Lu looked at his unharmed younger brother, then at Gu Sulin, his eyes still filled with doubt, but now with a more complex expression.

He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Liu Bei sent you two here not just to return my brother, right?"

If you have anything else to say, just say it.

Gu Sulin raised his eyes, his gaze open and honest, his tone calm yet his words clear: "Master Xi is wise. Sulin has come not only to escort General Zhang Wei back, but also to point out a way to survive for Master Xi and the hundreds of thousands of people in Hanzhong."

"A way out?"

Zhang Lu suddenly raised an eyebrow, his eyes blazing with anger. He leaned forward slightly and shouted sharply, "The path you're talking about, are you suggesting I surrender to Liu Bei?!"

"Exactly." Gu Sulin answered crisply, without the slightest hesitation.

These words caused an uproar in the hall. Zhang Kui immediately drew his sword, ready to strike, but Yan Pu stopped him with a raised hand.

Zhang Lu, enraged, laughed coldly, slamming his hand on the table, causing the teacup to bounce. His voice and expression were both stern:

"Liu Bei has invaded my territory, breached my passes, and taken in my traitor Ma Chao. Now he wants to force me to kneel and surrender. This is clearly going too far!"

"I, Zhang Lu, have guarded Hanzhong for thirty years; how can I allow others to bully me at will!"

A murderous aura suddenly filled the hall, but Gu Sulin remained unfazed. He slowly stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice:

"Master, please calm down and listen to me."

My main objective in attacking Hanzhong is truly out of necessity. Hanzhong is the vital gateway to Yizhou, and its strategic importance is known throughout the land. If our army does not take it, Cao Cao will surely come to seize it. At that time, Yizhou will be indefensible, and the flames of war will spread. This is a self-preservation strategy that we have no choice but to take.

Now that Cao Cao is far away in the Central Plains, sending an envoy to ask for help would be too far, taking more than a month to arrive, and the reinforcements would not be able to reach him in time.

Our main army has already captured Yangping and is at the gates of Nanzheng. The situation is already decided. Even if Xi Shi puts up a stubborn resistance, he will ultimately be no match for them.

But once the city falls and war breaks out, who will suffer? Won't it be the countless peaceful and prosperous people of Hanzhong?

Su Lin knew that Master Xi had guarded Hanzhong for thirty years, and what he cared about most was the people of this region. My lord sent the two of us here precisely because he could not bear to see the people suffer from the ravages of war, to persuade Master Xi to surrender. This was a win-win solution, not coercion.

Zhang Lu's expression softened slightly, but he still held his neck stiffly, his hatred unabated.

"Surrender? Liu Zhang killed my mother and brother; this is an irreconcilable blood feud! I have never trusted your Liu family clan; how can you easily bow your heads to others?"

"Master's statement is rather biased."

Gu Sulin immediately retorted, his tone firm, "The one who killed your mother and brother and has a blood feud with you is Liu Zhang alone, not my lord."

My lord and Liu Zhang had already broken off relations completely over the matter of Yizhou. My lord has always despised Liu Zhang's incompetent, cruel, and indiscriminate killings. This enmity cannot be blamed on my lord in any way.