In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

Nanzheng, the Prefectural Governor's Residence.

Zhang Lu was meditating in the back hall, trying to explore the Way of Heaven through meditation and find a way to make Cao Cao retreat.

The door was kicked open.

It's Zhang Wei.

"Brother! It's over! Yangping Pass is gone! Everything's over!"

"Yangping Pass has fallen?"

Zhang Lu opened his eyes in astonishment. From the moment he heard that Cao Cao's army was at the city gates to the city's fall, less than ten days had passed.

He stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Wei.

"Nonsense! Yangping Pass is guarded by 30,000 ghost soldiers, and with Dingjun Mountain and Tiandang Mountain forming a defensive triangle, even if Cao Cao had wings, he couldn't fly over there!"

"Brother... Cao Cao may not have wings, but his son Cao Zhang has summoned the Thunder God! I can't stop him!!!"

Zhang Wei, with tears streaming down his face, recounted Cao Zhang's absurd physical punishment of "one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal," as well as the devastating blow of hundreds of pots of braised pork.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lu dejectedly released his grip.

With the loss of Yangping Pass, the gateway to Hanzhong was effectively destroyed.

The terrain of Nanzheng City is flat and there are no natural defenses to be found.

"That's enough, that's enough."

He straightened his Taoist robe.

"This is the will of Heaven, and cannot be forced. Issue the order to open the city gates, so that at least the people will suffer less."

……

Fifteen li outside the city.

In the cold wind, Zhang Lu, dressed in plain clothes and wearing a white crown, removed all his accessories and knelt on the bluestone slab.

He held the seal of the Prefect of Hanzhong high in his hands.

Soon,

The black four-wheeled carriage carrying Cao Cao and Zhao Yu arrived.

The carriage came to a stop, and Cao Cao, wearing a cloak, stepped down. He happened to see Zhang Lu kneeling on the ground and smiled slightly.

"Brother Gongqi, I'm late. I've kept you waiting."

Zhang Lu did not bow his head, but looked directly at Cao Cao, showing none of the trembling fear typical of surrendered generals.

"The guilty general Zhang Lu pays his respects to the Prime Minister."

"Lu opened the city gates today not because he was afraid of death, but because he could not bear to see the people of Hanzhong suffer the calamity of war."

"Although the Prime Minister is powerful, aided by 'heavenly thunder,' seven or eight out of ten people in Hanzhong believe in the Five Pecks of Rice sect!"

Zhang Lu suddenly raised his voice, beginning to demonstrate his final negotiating confidence:

"During my thirty years in Hanzhong, I established numerous charitable shelters, where no one picked up lost items on the road, and doors were left unlocked at night!"

"Whether you are a passing traveler or a disaster-stricken refugee, as long as you enter my charitable home, everyone will have food to eat and clothes to wear!"

"Prime Minister, if you can treat the people of Hanzhong well, Lu Wan will not hesitate to die for you."

If you intend to levy exorbitant taxes and oppress your followers, then the hundreds of thousands of people of Hanzhong, even without weapons, will fight you to the death!

These words speak of a noble and righteous spirit.

Even Zhang Lu himself felt that his statement was enough to make Cao Cao hesitate to act rashly, thus preserving the legal status of the Five Pecks of Rice sect and his own dignity as the "leader" in the subsequent negotiations.

Cao Cao stroked his beard, but didn't get angry. Getting angry would cause a headache, and then who would he complain to? Besides, wasn't Ye City doing the same thing?

Then, he turned to look at Zhao Yu behind him:

"Zhao Yu, he said he'll make sure everyone has food to eat. What do you think?"

"Lord Zhang, I have long heard of your 'charitable shelter'."

Zhao Yu took out a piece of stiff cardstock (an improved version of Zuo Bo paper) from his pocket.

"Before you talk to us about terms, you might want to take a look at this."

Zhang Lu took the paper and looked down at it.

Yecheng Heavy Industry Group Recruitment Brochure (Hanzhong Branch Preparatory Version)

[Meal benefits]: Three meals a day, all you can eat. Lunch and dinner are "meat" (two ounces of braised pork or stewed mutton per person).

[Accommodation]: Standard red brick dormitory with 24-hour underfloor heating and barefoot sleeping facilities.

[Festival System]: Three days off every ten days, and gifts such as cloth, grain, oil, and meat coupons are given as a token of appreciation during festivals.

[Salary Payment]: Wages are paid monthly, never delayed. Piece-rate pay, the more you work, the more you earn.

At the end of the year, based on the branch factory's performance, a "13th month salary" (double wages for the 13th month) will be paid.

Zhang Lu's gaze was fixed on the words "three meals a day" and "meat for lunch and dinner".

My first reaction: I don't believe it.

"absurd!"

"Is even Cao Chenglian's forgery so clumsy? Since ancient times, the common people have been working hard in the fields, and it is already a prosperous age if they can eat two dry meals a day."

Not only do you provide three meals a day, but you also include meat? Even the Imperial Guards under the Emperor's nose don't have rations like this!

My second reaction was to take a closer look.

Zhang Lu continued reading, unconvinced. The phrases "floor heating in winter," "two people per room," and "three days off every ten days" were still incredibly impactful.

He was a little confused; was this some kind of summoning of gods?

Third reaction: Hands tremble.

When he saw the final "Monthly salary, 13th-month bonus at the end of the year"...

"With such good treatment, Cao Cao has no reason to lie to me."

He couldn't help but speak up.

"But my charity home only provides two meals of thin porridge a day, and occasionally some pickled vegetables, which is already quite a lot."

"You...three meals a day? And...you even provide meat? And you get paid? This is unreasonable! There's no such thing as a free lunch. What are you after?"

"What's the point?"

Zhao Yu mercilessly switched to finishing blow mode:

"Brother Gongqi, do you really think your 'charitable shelter' is so great?"

"Your charity home can only provide thin porridge, enough to keep people from starving."

Besides keeping them from starving, what else can they do? Do they have dignity? Do they have a future?

It was sustained by the "five pecks of rice" donated by believers; it was a form of charity, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

"And His Majesty and the Prime Minister's factories taught them how to mine, smelt steel, build roads, and manufacture vehicles."

"They created unprecedented wealth with their own hands."

I provide them with braised pork, underfloor heating, and wages because these are the benefits they deserve.

"You dare call your meager, barely-filling porridge 'heaven on earth'?"

"In the face of our great Han industrial system, it is like a broken bowl in the hands of a beggar."

Zhang Lu is fearless; he's finally figured it out.

The "religious welfare system" that they are so proud of and have worked so hard for for thirty years is simply outrageously crude.

You brainwash people with your faith, and they use braised pork and underfloor heating, and even pay you a salary.

How can we play like this?

What else can we do?

"Lu...I'm convinced."

"We are completely convinced. With Cao Cao's methods, the people of Hanzhong are truly blessed."

Seeing that the time was right, Cao Cao stepped forward, took the seal of office, helped Zhang Lu up, and dusted him off.

"Gongqi's ability to recognize the times is a great comfort to me."

"Don't worry, I won't kill your followers. Not only will I not kill them, I'll even arrange jobs for them!"

"what?"

"Then...Prime Minister, what can be done after the punishment is reduced?"

Cao Cao sized up Zhang Lu's ethereal and otherworldly appearance:

"Lord Zhang enjoys a very high reputation in Hanzhong, so his skills in managing people must be excellent."

"It just so happens that our Hanzhong branch has been established, and we need to do a lot of work on 'transforming the mindset of our employees'."

"How about this, Zhao Yu just mentioned a new position to me, you can be the 'Director of Hanzhong Spiritual Civilization Office' and 'Human Resources Director'."

"Your task is to transform those tens of thousands of Taoist followers who chant incantations every day into industrial workers to contribute to the construction of Hanzhong."

"Good job, I'll give you a 15-month bonus at the end of the year."