Liu Zhang's army finally moved and approached the city of Nanzheng. Yang Song was full of surprise and hurriedly ordered the soldiers to cheer up. However, the Sichuan army stopped just a stone's throw away from Nanzheng and stepped forward on horseback:
"Listen to the Hanzhong soldiers at the top of the city. My lord knows your treacherous plot, so you don't have to waste your efforts. I, General Wei Yan, and the Qiang hero Xi Fengchi have led an 8,000-strong army from the east city. Surrender as soon as possible.
Otherwise, we will kill without mercy."
The Hanzhong soldiers who set up an ambush in the city were all panicked, and Yang Song was even more frightened. At this moment, a Hanzhong soldier came to report: "Mr. Yang, it's bad, the Sichuan army and the Qiang people have invaded the east city.
The civil and military ministers were captured on the priest's rooftop."
"Ah, how could this happen?" All the generals were horrified. Yang Song's face turned pale with fright. Looking at the dark Sichuan troops and horses outside, he no longer had the fighting spirit.
All the generals asked to surrender one after another. Yang Song thought that since he had brought so many troops to surrender, Liu Zhang would never make things difficult for him.
Having made up his mind, Yang Song stood up and said to the generals in "pain": "I, Yang Song, wanted to die in battle to save my life, but my master was captured. If we fight to the death, Liu Zhang will harm your master. I have no choice but to do it."
It’s up to you.”
The Nanzheng city gate opened heavily, and Hanzhong soldiers lined up from inside. Thousands of people threw down their swords and spears. Yang Song led a group of generals to kneel on the ground. Yang Song worshiped loudly: "Yang Song has heard of the reputation of Master Zhou Mu for a long time.
If you dare to resist, you are willing to surrender with thousands of armored soldiers."
"Please forgive me, Master Zhou Mu." All the generals bowed down together.
Liu Zhang looked at Yang Song, who had a sinister look on his face, turned his head and said to Fa Zheng, "I want to kill this person."
Fa Zheng said: "Although Yang Song is a villain, he led ten thousand people to surrender. If he were to kill him, it would frighten the hearts of the world... Well, I will think of a way." Fa Zheng looked at Liu Zhang's expression and had to give in.
Liu Zhang nodded with satisfaction and raised his voice: "Yang Song has meritorious service in surrendering. He will be granted the title of Hanzhong to join the army. The other generals will follow Yang Song and cooperate with General Zhang Ren to recruit, and they will all be rewarded."
"Thank you, Lord."
Liu Zhang and Fa Zheng rode into the city. Liu Zhang looked at the bustling city and said to Fa Zheng: "Nanzheng is indeed the largest city in Dongchuan. It can hardly be compared with Chengdu. Zhang Lu has been in Hanzhong for six years. Although he is a believer, he can't govern one side."
He still has some talent.”
Fazheng nodded in agreement, and under the guidance of the soldiers, the group arrived at the sacrifice platform. Xiao Furong waved, and the barbarian soldiers escorted dozens of Han and Chinese civil and military officials in front of Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang sat high on the throne and asked questions unhurriedly.
He said: "Are you willing to surrender?"
"We are willing to surrender." All the Han and Chinese civil and military officials had long admired Liu Zhang's cold-blooded reputation and bowed down together. Only two people stood, one was Yan Pu and the other was Zhang Lu in Taoist robes.
Zhang Lu was not an ambitious man, nor was he fearless of death. He refused to surrender to Liu Zhang just because he had the hatred of killing his mother. Liu Zhang also knew this and left his seat and came forward and said in a voice that only Zhang Lu could hear.
"If your master surrenders, I will appoint you as the Grand Administrator of Hanzhong to continue to take charge of the civil affairs of Hanzhong."
Zhang Lu was slightly moved. He had separated himself for several years, attacking Xichuan from time to time, and even joined forces with Pang Xi to conquer Chengdu. Unexpectedly, Liu Zhang was willing to let him continue to rule Hanzhong. If other princes were like this, Zhang Lu would have shed tears of gratitude.
However, the hatred of killing his mother was irreconcilable. How could Zhang Lu surrender? He turned his head and said, "The defeated general has nothing to say. If you want to kill him, just kill him."
Liu Zhang smiled softly: "Master, you are not afraid of life and death. Liu Zhang really admires you, but does Master want to see the Five Pecks of Rice Sect disappear?"
Zhang Lu raised his eyebrows: "The Five Pecks of Rice Sect has more than 100,000 followers, what can you do?"
"Massacre the city." Liu Zhang said calmly and nonchalantly: "Anyway, Hanzhong is the foundation of Master Shijun. If I kill Master Master, Hanzhong will definitely be unstable. It would be better to slaughter them all, unless Master Master thinks that I dare not."
"You..." Zhang Lu was so angry that he couldn't speak. He pointed at Liu Zhang and his lips trembled. The Five Pecks of Rice Religion was the legacy of Zhang Ling, Zhang Heng, Zhang Xiu and Zhang Lu for four generations. How could Zhang Lu bear to abandon it all at once?
Liu Zhang could not make up his mind to surrender.
"Okay." Liu Zhang pressed Zhang Lu's finger down: "I know that Master is worried about me because of his mother. Back then, I implicated Master's mother because of the pain of losing his wife, and now I regret it too much.
, The people of Hanzhong cannot live without Master Shi. If Master Shi agrees to help me, Liu Zhang is willing to apologize to Master Master in front of the civil and military forces of Yizhou and build a tomb for the imperial palace."
Liu Zhang said this not really because Hanzhong could not survive without Zhang Lu, but because he saw that Nanzheng was peaceful and prosperous, and he could not bear to kill Zhang Lu and disturb the peace.
Liu Zhang bowed his head to Zhang Lu, and everyone around him was moved. Zhang Lu looked at Liu Zhang in front of him, struggled for a long time, and finally sighed: "That's it, Mr. Zhou Mu, please get up."
Liu Zhang raised his head and said happily: "Master, have you promised me?"
Zhang Lu slowly shook his head and said sadly: "Your Majesty killed my mother, how could I be an official under your Majesty? I recall that when Zhang Xiu and I separated Hanzhong, we just wanted to find a peaceful place to preach and realize our ambition. Later, Zhang Xiu
Gradually, he became ambitious and tried to use the Five Dou Rice Cult to dominate the world. I had no choice but to kill him.
After several years of business operation, it is not easy to have today's Nanzheng prosperity, simple people and abundant resources. I really can't bear that these people are in trouble because of me. I only hope that you will be kind to the people of Hanzhong, and then give me a lonely mountain and a small island to let me
For preaching and benefiting the people, Zhang Lu will be grateful forever."
Liu Zhang listened to Zhang Lu's words and finally understood the reason why Zhang Lu killed Zhang Xiu in his separatist regime in Hanzhong. This was a man who was trying to realize his ideals and put them into practice. Isn't it the same as his own desire to help the world?
Seeing that Zhang Lu had no intention of resisting, Fazheng walked up to Yan Pu and said with a smile: "I have long heard that there is a famous scholar named Yan Pu in Hanzhong. He governs Hanzhong in an orderly manner and has unique military insights. But I don't know if Fazheng is honored.
Working with Mr.
Yan Pu looked at Zhang Lu who was standing aside and sighed: "Since Shijun is willing to take refuge with Lord Zhou Mu, why doesn't Yan Pu surrender?"
"If so..." Fazheng said a few words in Yan Pu's ear with a smile on his face. Yan Pu was surprised and nodded silently.
Liu Zhang persuaded Zhang Lu, turned to the high platform, and said loudly to the officials of Hanzhong and the people of Nanzheng who were watching: "Zhang Lu and all the civil and military officials of Hanzhong have governed Hanzhong smoothly, the people have become virtuous, the people's customs are simple, and their achievements have been outstanding. All Hanzhong officials have been retained in their posts.
Original position."
The civil and military officials in Han Dynasty had been kneeling fearfully. When they heard Liu Zhang's words, they finally felt relieved, their faces showed joy, and they all bowed and thanked him.
"Master Zhang Lu has countless merits, but he is tired of the worldly world. He devotes himself to preaching and benefiting the people. It is my official opinion to set up Mount Emei in the west of Shu as a place for Master Zhang Lu to preach. The number of people is limited to a thousand people. All the religious people will follow voluntarily. Those who exceed the limit can settle at the foot of the mountain.
, tax-free for five years.”
The people who were watching around cheered. Zhang Lu was very popular in Hanzhong, and the Five Pecks of Rice religion among the poor people in Zebei was even more popular. At this time, they were very happy after hearing Liu Zhang's words, and some had already made up their minds to follow Zhang Lu.
Mount Emei.
"As for the master's murder of Zhang Xiu..." Liu Zhang paused. This time the Sichuan army attacked Nanzheng under the banner of revenge for Zhang Xiu. It was precisely because of this that the people hesitated and did not help Zhang Lu. It was impossible not to do so.
Mention this matter.
It is really difficult for the Sichuan army to avenge Zhang Xiu without slandering Zhang Xiu and making Zhang Lu bear the crime of killing the former Celestial Master.