My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 566 Zhongda's Mission to Han
In Zhang Wei's view, although Xicheng had been lost, Hanzhong still had Huangjin Garrison to rely on, and the situation had not deteriorated to the extent that Yan Pu had described.

Zhang Wei wasn't underestimating Liu Feng; rather, he had other considerations. He wanted to retain the main force so that he could intervene when chaos broke out in Shu and expand Hanzhong's territory.

Hanzhong and Shuzhong were closely connected. In addition to Yangping Pass, one could also go directly to Bajun from Xicheng. At the same time, one could also reach Hanchang in Bajun by going through Nanzheng, the capital of Hanzhong Commandery.

However, these two routes are even more difficult to travel than the Yangping Pass route, as they are entirely through towering mountains and steep ridges, with treacherous roads and immense logistical pressure.

If no one resists, that's fine, but if they get blocked in the mountain path, then they'll really set an example for Cao Shuang.

Zhang Wei's idea was that sending 10,000 troops to reinforce Huangjin Garrison would be enough, and the troops in Nanzheng should be on standby in Nanzheng. Once there was internal turmoil in Shu, they should go south with all their might to conquer Ba County.

It must be said that Zhang Wei is far more proactive than Yan Pu.

Yan Pu only thought about passive defense, while Zhang Wei was much more proactive.

Zhang Lu's men split into two factions, each supporting Yan Pu and Zhang Wei respectively.

They argued for days on end without reaching a conclusion.

In the end, Zhang Lu made the decisive decision and smoothed things over.

Zhang Lu appointed his beloved general Yang Ren as the commander-in-chief, leading 5,000 soldiers from Nanzheng and 5,000 instructors to garrison Huangjinshu.

At the same time, he urgently ordered the Ba people's king Du Huo to gather 3,000 Ba soldiers to defend Dingyuan Mountain (later known as Xixiang in Hanzhong) and block the land route to Chenggu.

Chenggu is the western gateway to Nanzheng and a vital transportation route controlling the Han River. If this place falls, cavalry can reach the city of Nanzheng in a single day.

Subsequently, Zhang Lu transferred 5,000 men from his personal guard and 10,000 soldiers from Nanzheng, totaling 15,000 elite troops, to Zhang Wei as commander. They were to be stationed 50 li south of Nanzheng City, so that if there were any changes in Shu, they could seize the opportunity to go south and attack Ba County.

The defense of Yangping Pass will be temporarily undertaken by 10,000 trained soldiers. If any changes occur, reinforcements will be drawn from Nanzheng and will arrive at Yangping Pass within two or three days.

Zhang Lu's plan was undoubtedly a compromise, and even so, the losses to Hanzhong were considerable. Not only did it require the large-scale transport of grain to Huangjin Garrison, but the recruitment of three thousand Cong soldiers was also a significant expense.

However, forced by circumstances, Zhang Lu had no choice. After all, he felt that both Zhang Wei and Yan Pu's words made sense and he was unable to make a decision. In the end, he could only adopt both of them, which temporarily resolved the matter.

But not long after, another problem arose.

Cao Cao from the north has sent an envoy. Sima Yi set off from Chang'an, took the Baoxie Road, crossed the Qinling Mountains, and arrived outside the city of Nanzheng.

Zhang Lu felt that this was just a run of bad luck. Although he and Shu were sworn enemies before, at least it was only Liu Zhang who caused trouble. But this year, Liu Feng suddenly appeared, and just when he had finally dealt with the pressure from the newcomer, Cao Cao emerged from the north.

This is not good news, as it likely means that Hanzhong will also face pressure from the north.

Just as Zhang Lu was hesitating, Yan Pu offered his advice: "My lord, the arrival of envoys from the north is not necessarily a bad thing."

Zhang Lu asked in surprise, "What does Ziyuan mean by this?"

In Zhang Lu's view, Cao Cao and Liu Feng were no different; they were both warlords who rose to power in a chaotic era.

Liu Feng may be formidable, but does that mean Cao Cao is someone easy to get along with?
To be precise, what Cao Cao did in Xuzhou and Yanzhou was far more frightening than what Liu Feng did.

Yan Pu continued, “Now the Han dynasty is in decline. The Grand General, acting on behalf of the emperor, commands the disobedient. He has cultivated the land in Sili, established military farms in Yingchuan, and recently acquired the land of Nanyang. He commands 100,000 elite troops, skilled in battle and capable of fighting. He has divided the Central Plains into three parts. To the north, he resists the Grand Marshal, and to the east, he blocks Liu Biaoji. He is a man of outstanding talent. Now he has sent an envoy from afar. He must have something to plan. I think it would be better to listen to what the envoy has to say first, so that Your Majesty can make a decision later.”

Zhang Lu stroked his beard and pondered, remaining silent for a long time.

At this moment, Zhang Wei, who had previously disagreed with Yan Pu, spoke up to persuade him: "Brother, I think what Gong Cao said is correct. Since Cao Cao has sent people from afar, he must have some deeper meaning. In that case, we might as well listen to what he has to say. If it is really beneficial to Hanzhong, it would not be surprising if we agreed to their request."

Zhang Lu was somewhat surprised to see that his strategist and younger brother both supported meeting Cao Cao's envoy. However, upon closer examination, Yan Pu and Zhang Wei's words made sense, so Zhang Lu no longer hesitated and immediately decided to summon Sima Yi the next day.

The next morning, Zhang Lu summoned Cao Cao's envoy, Sima Yi, to the main hall.

Sima Yi was not tall, only seven feet three inches, but he was born with a majestic appearance, bright and handsome features, a neatly trimmed beard, and an imposing presence. His demeanor was dignified, and even in Zhang Lu's "Immortal Abode," he sat upright as if facing a solemn guest.

His extraordinary temperament and appearance alone amazed Zhang Lu, Zhang Wei, Yan Pu and others, who secretly admired him as a renowned scholar from the Central Plains, truly possessing an extraordinary demeanor.

Once they felt a good impression of each other, their questions became much gentler.

After entering the hall, Sima Yi did not shrink back, but openly and honestly looked at everyone in the hall.

Seated at the head of the table was Zhang Lu, the ruler of Hanzhong and leader of the Five Pecks of Rice sect.

Incense smoke curled around the hall. Zhang Lu, wearing a yellow turban and a Taoist robe, sat upright on a prayer mat, his small eyes hidden behind his eyelids, also scrutinizing Sima Yi.

Sima Yi, dressed in purple robes and a jade belt, stepped in with great respect and greeted the guests first, saying, "I have long heard that 'Master' has spread his teachings in Hanzhong, benefiting the common people and helping those in distress. Today, I have finally met you. You truly have the air of an immortal, unlike any ordinary person!"

Zhang Lu spoke first, saying, "Your Excellency has traveled a long way to enter my Hanzhong territory, and you must be tired from your journey. However, Hanzhong is remote and humble, and we can only offer you tea. We have no intention of slighting Your Excellency."

As Zhang Lu spoke, maids lined up and entered the hall to serve tea to everyone present.

Sima Yi looked down at the tea soup. The soup was milky white, like cow's milk, with tea leaves swirling in the milky liquid. At this time, most tea soup was like this, often with the addition of salt, sugar, honey, or even dairy products during the brewing process, making it truly authentic tea soup.

"This humble subject dares not."

Sima Yi politely thanked him, saying, "I am deeply grateful for your generous gift, Master."

Zhang Lu raised his hand in a gesture of support, said politely, and then tentatively asked, "Chief Clerk Sima has come from afar despite his troubles. May I ask what advice the King of Wei has for me?"

Sima Yi picked up his teacup and took a small sip. Upon hearing Zhang Lu's question, he held the teacup in his hands, slowly raised his head, and swept his gaze over Zhang Lu like a hawk. Instead of answering, he asked, "Does Master know that Pang Tong and Xu Chu, under Liu Feng's command, have already seized Shangyong? This place is the eastern gateway of Hanzhong, and the western city of Shangyong is the key to the eastern part of Hanzhong. Without the western city, it would be in grave danger. Now that it has fallen, Hanzhong is like a lone boat suspended on a stormy sea." After saying this, he slammed the teacup down on the table, the porcelain cup striking the lacquered wood with a dull thud.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lu's expression changed slightly. He secretly exerted force with his right hand gripping the whisk, but calmly replied, "Hanzhong is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Although we have lost Xicheng, we still have strategic locations such as Huangjinshu and Xicheng. As long as we rely on these strategic locations to defend, even if Liu Feng has a well-trained and well-supplied army, he will not be able to do anything to us. This will be enough to protect our territory and ensure the safety of our people."

"The Celestial Master is so confident!"

Sima Yi clapped his hands and laughed, but there was no smile in his eyes. He continued to ask, "However, Liu Feng is a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan of the Han Dynasty. He and Liu Zhang of Shu belong to the same clan. Liu Zhang is weak and incompetent and cannot suppress the heroes of Shu. Now that chaos has appeared in Shu, once Liu Zhang loses power, who do you think will be able to take advantage of the situation and take control of Yizhou?"

Upon hearing Sima Yi's words, not only Zhang Lu, but also Zhang Wei, Zhang Kui, Yan Pu, Li Xiu, and others all changed their expressions slightly.

As the saying goes, "When Qin lost its deer, the whole world chased after it."

The world, after a long period of unity, tends to divide; after a long period of division, tends to unite.

Zhang Lu was able to dominate Hanzhong, and Hanzhong was able to stand on its own in the chaotic world, because there were no powerful warlords. Since everyone's size was roughly the same, Hanzhong's advantageous geographical location gave Zhang Lu a significant advantage, making it difficult for other forces to attack Hanzhong.

However, after more than a decade of war and fighting, the various lords of the land have been annexing each other, and the struggle for supremacy has reached its later stages.

Aside from the three heroes of the Central Plains—Yuan, Cao, and Liu—there were only a few minor warlords left: Gongsun of Liaodong, Ma Teng of Xiliang, Han Sui, Liu Zhang of Shu, and Zhang Lu of Hanzhong.

If they cannot defeat the three families of Yuan, Cao, and Liu in the short term, then their first target will likely be minor warlords like Zhang Lu.

This is also the main reason why Zhang Lu has been so worried lately and has lost his appetite.

Zhang Lu was different from the others. From a religious perspective, Zhang Lu was almost unique among all the feudal lords in the land.

The Five Pecks of Rice sect is actually a branch of Taoism, while the Yellow Turban Rebellion, another branch of Taoism, was only suppressed a few years ago.

Moreover, Zhang Lu and Zhang Jiao shared the same surname. Even if the two were completely unrelated, and Zhang Lu never raised the Yellow Turban banner, the Five Pecks of Rice sect, like the Yellow Turbans, also liked to tie their heads with yellow turbans. As the saying goes, if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. Not to mention, there are so many similarities that can be used to fabricate a story.

Therefore, Zhang Lu was always extremely uneasy, especially after he completely broke with Liu Zhang, and he was terrified every day.

If Liu Zhang hadn't gone too far and killed Zhang Lu's mother, Zhang Lu would have at most wanted to seize control of Hanzhong. Could he have launched a counterattack against Shu?
The situation in the world is becoming increasingly clear. Among the other minor warlords, Liu Zhang is also a member of the Han imperial family and has a real kinship with the emperor, Liu Bei, and Liu Feng.

Han Sui and Ma Teng were powerful clansmen from Xiliang and had a past relationship with Cao Cao. Han Sui had even served as an official in the court, while Gongsun from Liaodong was a long-established top-level nobleman from Youzhou.

These people all have one thing in common: they are all members of the privileged class, the only difference being that they are closer to the inner circle and closer to the periphery.

Zhang Lu was the only exception. He was not only not one of the powerful and influential, but was also, in fact, an enemy of them.

He was able to dominate Hanzhong not because of his family's powerful clans, but because of the Five Pecks of Rice sect.

He genuinely distributed grain to the people and helped those in distress.

The grain didn't appear out of thin air; it was naturally obtained from withheld taxes and the exploitation of local gentry and powerful families in Hanzhong.

Sima Yi's words hit Zhang Lu's sore spot, and Zhang Lu and everyone else in the hall were speechless for a moment.

Seeing Zhang Lu remain silent, Sima Yi suddenly lowered his voice and whispered, "Master, you may not know this, but the Grand General of the court is respectful to the virtuous and cherishes talent. He has long admired your benevolence, forgiveness, healing with talismans and water, and your efforts to save the people. If you are willing to submit, you will be treated with the respect due to a duke or marquis. The Five Pecks of Rice sect can also open its altars and preach in the Central Plains, gaining the strong support of the Grand General and the court."

Sima Yi's words shocked everyone in the hall.

Sima Yi's gaze swept over the crowd, he paused, then changed the subject, saying, "If Master does not understand the will of Heaven and insists on resisting, attempting to challenge the Heavenly Army with his own strength, not only will the city be devastated when it falls, but the lineage that Master has painstakingly built up over three generations will also be..."

The unfinished words hung in the air, accompanied by Sima Yi's sigh and head shake, yet they struck Zhang Lu's heart like a heavy hammer.

Yan Pu and other key members of the aristocratic faction had their eyes gleaming, while Zhang Wei, Li Fu, and others turned pale with anger.

Zhang Wei jumped up, drew his sword from his waist, and cursed, "How dare this traitor insult my tradition and bully my brother? Do you want to test the sword in my hand?"

Li Fu then turned and knelt before Zhang Lu, pleading, "My lord, this traitor is far too despicable. As the saying goes, 'A subject should die for his lord's honor,' I beg to execute him!"

"No!"

Yan Pu quickly jumped out and bowed, advising, "In war, envoys are not to be killed. The envoy, Sima, came to Bahan on the orders of the court and the general. If we kill him, how will the people of the world view our lord? How will the court view our lord?"

Chief Clerk Li Xiu stepped forward, bowed, and said, “What Chief Clerk Yan said is absolutely right! In the past, Duke Huan of Qi did not hold a grudge against Guan Zhong for shooting the hook, and King Zhuang of Chu still tolerated the mistake of breaking the tassel. Now that the envoy Sima has come with an imperial edict, if we were to put a blade on the envoy, it would not only damage the reputation of our lord’s benevolence, but also chill the hearts of heroes throughout the land!”

Yan Pu then advised, “What Lord Li says is absolutely right! Moreover, the General-in-Chief holds the Emperor hostage to command the feudal lords. Last year, he recovered the Western Capital and his power shook the whole of China. If we were to kill the envoy today, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, only inviting the wrath of the court. Even if our lord is not afraid, how can we bear to let the people of Hanzhong suffer the calamity of war again? It would be better to emulate Emperor Gaozu’s wisdom in approaching Guangwu, treat him with courtesy, and observe the situation carefully.”

Despite Zhang Lu's ban on the Shu Road and his isolation of the north and south, he never raised a rebellious flag and was outwardly very submissive.

After Dong Zhuo usurped power, the country was thrown into chaos, and Hanzhong was almost completely cut off from the imperial court.

Despite this, Zhang Lu still paid tribute to the court every year, offering rice, silk, and medicinal herbs. The "Chronicles of Huayang" records that Zhang Lu continued to "present memorials annually," maintaining a superficial vassal relationship with the court.

Although Zhang Lu implemented a theocratic self-governance in Hanzhong (establishing a libationer and charitable institutions), he did not raise anti-Han slogans like "Heaven is dead" like the Yellow Turbans. Instead, he actively campaigned and obtained an official position from the Han court.

Zhang Lu nominally accepted the official titles of "General of the Garrison" and "Prefect of Hanning" conferred by the Eastern Han court, but he never declared himself king or established a kingdom.

In particular, in the original timeline, someone wanted to flatter Zhang Lu, claiming that they had unearthed a jade seal. At that time, everyone in the Hanzhong court urged Zhang Lu to ascend the throne as the King of Hanning.

However, under Yan Pu's persuasion, Zhang Lu decisively rejected this offer of advancement, which shows that Zhang Lu himself did not have much ambition, nor did he have any particular hatred for the Han Dynasty, and even maintained a basic goodwill towards it.

(End of this chapter)