Chapter 395: In Charge

In Hanzhong, Zhang Lu traveled to the outskirts of the city.

When we arrived at a charity house on the side of the road, we saw from afar seven or eight families resting outside the house with their bags and wheelbarrows.

They only took water from the well in the charity community and did not dare to use the rice and millet in the community.

Just by seeing this scene, Zhang Lu knew that the other party was his fellow villagers and relatives who were returning to Guanzhong together.

The momentum in Guanzhong was growing rapidly, and Liu Zhang of Yizhou was also known as the King of Liang. It was destined that there would be a fight between the Grand Marshal and the King of Liang in the short term.

The title of Grand Marshal is Marquis of Liang. How could Grand Marshal ignore Liu Zhang's provocation?
Hanzhong was sandwiched between the two sides. Although the corvée labor was light under Zhang Lu's governance in recent years, the people were generally prosperous.

Although not rich, they had two years' savings, enough to deal with natural disasters that occurred once every three to five years.

But once the war breaks out, Hanzhong will be reduced to ruins.

The people of Guanzhong are well aware of how quickly homes can be turned into ruins, even though now is not a good time to migrate.

But war could break out at any time, and by then it would be too late to leave.

Actively returning to Guanzhong and passively submitting are obviously two different treatments.

Zhang Lu also understood the thoughts and concerns of the Guanzhong immigrants, so he asked the people accompanying him: "The Grand Marshal is now fighting against the Western Qiang. How can the common people be sure that the Grand Marshal will use his troops to attack Hanzhong this winter?"

Yang Song, one of the counselors, stepped forward and bowed: "Master, considering the speed with which the Grand Marshal defeated the Xiongnu and Xianbei, it is inevitable that he will defeat the Western Qiang now."

Seeing the lack of energy of Yang Song, a local big family, Zhang Lu looked at another core counselor, Yan Pu. Yan Pu bowed and said, "Master, Liu Zhang usurped the throne of King Liang and intended to invite the Grand Marshal to attack. If we can defeat the Grand Marshal's offensive, Liu Zhang will be more powerful in the southwest and his position will be more stable. Even if we cannot defeat him, we can use the Grand Marshal to inflict heavy damage on you, given the strategic location of Shu. Looking at the actions of the officials and people in Hanzhong, they are all afraid of the Grand Marshal's power."

Yan Pu bowed and said, "I beg you to make a decision soon, Master."

"Is there no room for that?"

Zhang Lu asked the people around him, but they were all silent or just exchanged glances.

Seeing this, Zhang Lu was still somewhat reluctant. The initial foundation of his Tianshi Dao had been consolidated, and he had mobilized the followers of Bashan to begin invading and encroaching from the direction of Ba County.

As long as they could encroach upon Ba County and disrupt Liu Zhang's mind, they would be able to naturally annex Shu County with the characteristics of Tianshi Dao.

Once Shu County was taken over, the mountain people in other remote and barren areas could be assimilated in an orderly manner with the advanced system of Tianshi Dao.

Compared with the extravagant and brutal primitive sacrifices, the Tianshi Dao, which advocates simplicity in rituals and ceremonies and cherishes the people's strength, has a strong appeal.

For the mountain people, surrendering to the Han powerful and the county government would inevitably be wary and resentful; but the newly arrived Tianshi Dao had no bad criminal record, so they could naturally be trusted.

Compared with the differences between counties and prefectures, and between Han and Yi, the Tianshi Dao in terms of religion and spirituality is more friendly.

When the mountain people assimilated by the Tianshi Dao counterattacked the stubborn mountain people in other deep mountain areas, with sufficient equipment and advanced organizational capabilities, they were often unstoppable, as if they were divine troops descending from the sky.

This war that strangled stubborn mountain people and vicious shaman priest groups accumulated a large number of veterans skilled in mountain warfare for the Tianshi Dao, and the entire upper and middle levels of the Tianshi Dao also had enough military confidence.

Inspired by this confidence, they continued their offensive against Liu Zhang with the Hanzhong County as their base.

Therefore, since he had not yet suffered a military defeat, Zhang Lu was really unwilling to give up the throne.

He also studied Guanzhong's "Taiping Shidao Jing", which described every aspect of life in a peaceful and prosperous era in a question-and-answer format, which really made him yearn for it.

The entire "Taiping Shidao Jing" only describes various aspects of a peaceful and prosperous era. There is no intimidation or threat, and it is filled with happiness and harmony.

Even when it comes to criminal law, it emphasizes that everyone should be punished accordingly and the same crime should be punished the same way.

But judging from the statements of the people around him, Zhang Lu really didn't want to send anyone to submit a letter of surrender.

I really won't be willing to give up unless I fight.

When the Grand Marshal invaded... When he was in charge of Guanzhong, Zhang Lu intended to be king in Hanzhong, but he stopped after being persuaded by Yan Pu and others. It is better to be a Heavenly Master and King of Hanning than to be a Heavenly Master alone.

Under the influence of the Qin and Han county system and the imperial title system, Zhang Lu lacked confidence in whether his future Heavenly Master could maintain his ruling power over Hanzhong.

That was why he thought of becoming king at that time and using the throne to determine a new relationship between the monarch and his subjects, so as to maintain the inheritance of power and status.

Judging from the dissuasion of Yan Pu and others at that time and their attitude today, it can be known that these people are unwilling to bring their clansmen and relatives to gamble with him.

Zhang Lu couldn't help but have more trust and care for the vast number of believers in Taoism.

Compared with his current strong confidant, the love that his followers have for him as their master is pure.

Thinking that the fate of his believers was in his hands, Zhang Lu felt a heavy weight on his shoulders and he could no longer straighten his back.

The breath suddenly disappeared, and he said weakly to someone beside him: "Inform all the righteous societies that all the people who return to Guanzhong can get righteous rice. Publish the notice everywhere, and I will raise 120,000 households in Hanzhong to join the Grand Marshal."

Yan Pu also proposed at this time: "Master, I heard that although Guanzhong is well governed, the population has increased dramatically and food and fodder are scarce. Please spread the word to all places to appease and persuade the people to eat Hanzhong rice and not increase the burden on Guanzhong."

Yang Song also spoke up: "Master, now that the Grand Marshal is leading the army to attack the Western Qiang, the army is bound to have insufficient food and fodder. Please recruit officials and civilians to transport food to the Qishan Pass."

Hanzhong had no shortage of grain needed to levy levies on officials and civilians, and the Tianshi Dao's daily sacrifices and activities would recognize the merits of its believers.

The good deeds of those who actively participate and make meritorious contributions will be recorded. When enough good deeds are accumulated, they will be converted into virtues, and when enough virtues are accumulated, they will be converted into merits.

Only when one has achieved sufficient merit will one be granted a talisman to determine one's rank. Once one has achieved a rank in Taoism and has passed study and assessment, one can receive an official position.

Then these heavenly officials and ghost officials started from the grassroots level and were gradually promoted under the regular performance evaluation system.

Each promotion will grant a higher-level talisman rank, and then grant an official position that matches that rank until one becomes the chief of a region.

Being the master of a region is the ceiling for ordinary believers of Tianshi Dao.

Seeing that no one else objected or had any objections, Zhang Lu knew that neither the locals nor the outsiders wanted to fight.

After taking a few deep breaths and resting his mind, Zhang Lu said, "Okay, to save my followers from the calamity of war, I will write the surrender letter myself."

Surrender was not for the sake of the Han Dynasty's righteousness; he surrendered for the sake of his heart.

After making his point clear in public, Zhang Lu turned around and walked towards his carriage, looking dejected.

When Yan Pu and others saw this, they looked at each other in silence. In fact, they were helpless.

They are not Zhang Lu, and are not so concerned about the Hanzhong base. They can assess the situation relatively neutrally and objectively.

Surrendering early and setting an example will certainly be praised.

It is a good thing for Zhang Lu, for them, and for the vast majority of Tianshidao believers and pseudo-believers.

As for the middle and lower level Tiancao and Guili of Tianshidao, it is not a bad thing to switch to the command of Da Sima.

By joining Taiping Dao, they still have the opportunity to continue to shine.

If it were to be annexed by other forces, these Tiancao, Guili and Taoist priests would certainly be expelled from the management.

Having had this kind of experience, it will be difficult to enter officialdom.

They can only travel around to make a living, or become retainers of the powerful, which is a humiliation for Taoists who want to build a paradise on earth.

A Taoist priest with a little bit of ambition would rather live in seclusion in the mountains than become a retainer of the powerful.

(End of this chapter)