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

Gu Sulin asked, "Please speak, Professor."

Zhang Lu slowly said, "First, the old system of Hanzhong, the power of the Five Pecks of Rice sect to spread its doctrines, and the method of the libationer governing the people need not be changed for the time being."

Second, Liu Bei must pardon my crime of secretly communicating with Cao Cao, and all members of the Zhang clan must be spared.

Third, after surrendering, I will continue to be in charge of religious affairs, civil administration and military affairs in Hanzhong, and await Liu Bei's command. After the handover is completed, I will lead my followers to Qingcheng Mountain in Shu County to re-establish the orthodox tradition.

Fourth, Liu Bei and I swear an oath that neither will break the agreement, nor massacre any city, nor disturb the people.

Gu Sulin smiled and said, "Of course."

Zhang Lu nodded and immediately ordered his men to bring silk and writing materials, so that Yan Pu could personally draft the surrender agreement.

After the silk scroll was written, Zhang Lu personally affixed his seal, Gu Sulin also signed his name, and Huang Zhong witnessed the signing. The three of them then signed together.

This surrender agreement smoothly handed over Zhang Lu's Hanzhong base, which he had built up over thirty years, to Liu Bei.

With everything settled, Gu Sulin looked at Zhang Lu and said, "Master, the surrender agreement has been finalized, and Nanzheng cannot be without a great general to guard it."

General Hansheng can remain in the city temporarily to work with Xi Shi to pacify the soldiers and civilians and guard the city gates, preventing Cao Cao's spies from causing trouble.

Huang Zhong immediately replied, "I will stay here to ensure the safety of the city and await your arrival, my lord."

Gu Sulin continued, "I have come alone this time, without any troops or personal guards. I will return to Yangping Pass alone to report to the lord and set the time for entering the city to accept the surrender. This will prevent the army from staying outside the city for too long and disturbing the people inside."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lu felt even more admiration for him.

This man, alone with an old general, ventured into the tiger's den, persuaded a local lord, and upon success, did not claim credit or make a show of it.

He immediately ordered a fine horse to be prepared, along with dry rations and water bags, and personally delivered the goods to the gate of the mansion, instructing, "Sir, please be careful on your journey. The gates of Nanzheng are open day and night for Lord Xuande."

Gu Sulin mounted his horse, bowed to Zhang Lu, Yan Pu, and Huang Zhong, turned his horse around, and rode away.

Looking back at the city of Nanzheng, dusk was deepening, and the city walls appeared even more dignified in the twilight. The heated exchange in the hall just now still lingered in his mind, but the determination in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

He was confident from beginning to end in persuading the enemy to surrender; it was not a matter of luck.

He came from a later era, and his understanding of Zhang Lu was completely different from that of everyone in this era.

People of this era mostly view Zhang Lu by labeling him:

People of this era tend to label Zhang Lu in their own way:

The people respected him because he spent thirty years in Hanzhong, where he implemented lenient punishments and reduced taxes, established charitable institutions, and distributed rice and grain, saving the common people from hunger, cold, and displacement. He was a "living bodhisattva" in the chaotic world.

The gentry respected him because he was not fond of killing and war, protected the borders and people, and did not drag Hanzhong into endless war. He can be regarded as a rare "benevolent ruler".

Historians weighed his wisdom, and the court condemned him as a "rice thief," acknowledging his ability to govern the people while criticizing his "transgressions" of using Taoism to disrupt the government and combining politics and religion.

However, in Gu Sulin's view, these comments only scratched the surface of Zhang Lu's character.

Whether it was the Way of Peace or the Way of Five Pecks of Rice, they were never the "demonic and bewitching" sects that people talked about. They were simply the inevitable result of people having nowhere else to turn and struggling to survive in chaotic times.

Zhang Jiao's Way of Peace took an extreme and subversive path, aiming to overthrow the Han Dynasty and rebuild the world. It was the most radical cry for survival from the people who had been driven to the brink of despair.

This is precisely where his "benevolence and righteousness" resonated with Liu Bei's.

One used the entire country as a chessboard, while the other used Hanzhong as his chessboard. Although their paths differed, their core principles were entirely the same—both aimed to ensure that the people could survive and live in peace.

It was this core alignment that allowed Gu Sulin to confidently assure Liu Bei that he was absolutely certain he could persuade Zhang Lu to surrender.

He knew Zhang Lu's weaknesses: not his "hatred" for Liu Bei, but his fear of the safety of his clan, his insistence on the preservation of the orthodox tradition, and his concern for the people of Hanzhong.

He also understood Zhang Lu's many concerns: he feared being stripped of everything after surrendering to Cao Cao, he feared his lineage being destroyed after surrendering to Liu Bei, and he was even more afraid that the blood feud in his heart would be difficult to avenge.

What he had to do was to dismantle these concerns one by one from the perspective of later generations, and clearly present Zhang Lu with the common underlying principle of "protecting and securing the people" that he shared with Liu Bei.

He understood even better that the Five Pecks of Rice sect—which later became the Celestial Masters sect—was able to become the orthodox religion of Taoism and was not suppressed by secular imperial power because of Zhang Lu's "moderation" and "protection of the people".

Zhang Lu did not follow Zhang Jiao's extreme path, nor did he use violence to disrupt the imperial order. Instead, he focused on "pacifying the people" and built a relatively moderate political and educational system.

This choice not only truly benefited the people of Hanzhong, but also showed the imperial power that there was room for tolerance—it was never a sharp blade to overthrow the imperial power, but a shield to protect the people of the region.

The surrender of Nanzheng may seem like mere rhetoric, but it actually reflects a keen insight into the hearts and minds of people in a chaotic world, as seen from a later perspective.

……

Gu Sulin rode swiftly, his robes dusty and his face weary. By the time he arrived at the Yangping Pass camp, dusk was falling and night was approaching.

The guards at the gate were both surprised and delighted to see that it was Gu Sulin returning alone, and they quickly let him in.

The central command tent was still brightly lit, and Liu Bei was discussing matters with Fa Zheng, Pang Tong, Ma Chao, and others. The atmosphere inside the tent was extremely heavy.

Everyone knew that Nanzheng was difficult to attack, Zhang Lu was stubborn and secretly colluded with Cao Cao, and everyone feared that Gu Sulin's trip would not be a one-way trip.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the tent, and a clear voice pierced through the tent flap:

"My lord, Su Lin has successfully completed his mission!"

Everyone inside the tent suddenly looked up.

Gu Sulin, still in his armor and covered in dust, strode into the tent, knelt on one knee, and raised the surrender document aloft, loudly proclaiming:

"Zhang Lu has decided to surrender, and the entire city of Nanzheng is willing to submit to our lord. Hanzhong will be pacified without a fight!"

Liu Bei suddenly stood up, took a few steps forward to help him up, his hands trembling slightly, his voice filled with disbelief:

"Zimao...did you really persuade Zhang Lu to surrender?"

"Every word is true."

Gu Sulin took a breath and recounted the events in Nanzheng in detail:

First, we returned Zhang Wei to show our sincerity. Then, we addressed Zhang Lu's doubts one by one, resolving his blood feud, reassuring him about protecting the people, promising him the safety of the orthodox tradition, and explaining the general trend of the world. In the end, we convinced Zhang Lu to surrender willingly. We also clearly reiterated the four agreements made by both parties, word by word.

Pang Tong clapped his hands and laughed, praising, "Zimao's three-inch tongue is worth more than ten thousand soldiers! With Hanzhong secured, Yizhou will no longer have to worry about the north!"

Fa Zheng nodded and smiled slightly: "Zhang Lu surrendered without firing a single shot or harming a single civilian. Your lord's reputation for benevolence will surely spread throughout the world."

Ma Chao stepped forward, his eyes filled with admiration: "Sir, you ventured alone into this perilous place, bringing peace to the people of a city and saving hundreds of thousands of lives. I have the utmost respect for you!"