Ji Han Liu Zhang

"If you are a city god, you should worship him if you perform meritorious deeds on the people. If you can prevent disasters, you should worship him." Yan Pu, the meritorious officer, slowly explained to Zhang Lu.

"According to the documents passed down from time to time, the gods worshiped in the Chenghuang Temple built by Liu Zhang were not gods, but famous ministers, generals, and heroes who had contributed to the local area. On the one hand, the names of famous ministers and heroes were not forgotten. The merits can be passed down, and the two use their heroic spirits to protect the place and protect the peace of one."

"Hmm!" Zhang Lu thought thoughtfully after hearing Yan Pu's explanation. It was a beautiful thing to build the City God's Temple to commemorate the deceased loyal ministers and generals. He might also try this measure. Loyal ministers and good generals will be included in the system of Tianshi Dao.

"It is used to observe the good and evil of the people and bring disaster and blessing, so that You Ming's actions will not be spared. Together with the city god, it makes people aware of the fear. If people are afraid, they will not dare to act rashly." This sentence read by the meritorious Cao Yan Pu, These words on the fine document were what Liu Zhang said after the Chenggu City God Temple, the first City God Temple in Hanzhong, was built.

"Moreover, the local officials in Hanzhong encouraged us Hanzhong ghost soldiers to give up their belief in Tianshi Dao and turn to believe in the City God God by saying that the City God God can protect this life and send messages to the next life... Under such coercion and inducement, most of the Hanzhong ghost soldiers in Hanzhong believe in it. The city god has arisen."

"If this continues, Hanzhong will no longer have a foothold in the Celestial Master's Way." Zhang Lu's scalp went numb when he heard this. He said in a slightly panic, and finally swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Hey." Yan Pu sighed: "Master, the situation in Hanzhong is like this. On the one hand, the government is suppressing Tianshi Dao, and on the other hand, local officials are trying to protect the City God's Temple. It is indeed difficult for Tianshi Dao to gain a foothold in Hanzhong..."

"It's a pity that I have been preaching in Hanzhong for several years, and all my achievements have been ruined in one day...Liu Zhang's son is really a bit hateful." Zhang Lu couldn't stop the anger in his chest. For him, territory, money, and beauty all count. Nothing, just the same thing, the cause of Guangda Tianshi Dao is very important to him, but seeing that the cause of prosperous Tianshi Dao is blocked, he can't help but feel angry.

"I wonder who the city god of Nanzheng is?" Out of anger, Zhang Lu asked about his hometown, the city god of Nanzheng, and wanted to know who Liu Zhang would appoint as the city god of Nanzheng, the Hanzhong county.

Yan Pu shook his head: "The City God Temple in Nanzheng is still under construction, and the city god it will be erected is still unknown... However, the Chenggu County City God came out, and the main worshiper was Su Gu, the former Hanzhong prefect, and the attendants were They are Zhao Song, Su Gu's chief bookkeeper, and two people who are engaged in Chen Tiao."

Zhang Lu looked a little unhappy when he heard this. Su Gu, Zhao Song, Chen Tiao and others were all attacked and killed for him and Zhang Xiu, another commander. At that time, he declared to the Han sergeants and commoners that these people were all thieves, but now they are For rebelling against Tiangang, several people were sacrificed in temples. Isn't this a slap in his face?

Seeing Zhang Lu's expression getting worse and worse, his whole face was like the bottom of a pot, maybe darker than the bottom of the pot. After Yan Pu thought about it for a moment, he changed the subject and said: "As for the military intelligence information, I haven't been able to detect any details. I only know that there is no large-scale ship building in Hanzhong now, as if they have no intention of going down the Han River to attack me Shangyong."

"Huh?" Zhang Lu looked confused, mixed with some joy at the same time, but he didn't dare to confirm this joy, so he asked: "Is this true?"

"It's absolutely true." Yan Pu nodded affirmatively, and he strengthened Zhang Lu's confidence: "In addition, there is another message, which is that Liu Zhang sent Zhonglang General Wu Yi, Junyi Xiaowei Fazheng, and Supervisor Xiaowei Xu Meng, Xi Su, Yin Pu and others led more than 10,000 troops and horses to Wudu." "Wudu?" Zhang Lu had been in Hanzhong for a long time, and although he did not know the geography and terrain around Hanzhong well, he was familiar with it. , he said slowly: "Liu Zhang's son just wants to capture Wudu. That is not the idea of ​​having troops enter Guanzhong."

"It should be so." Yan Pu agreed, and he analyzed it for Zhang Lu: "The land of Shangyong is a place where barbarians are mixed, there are not many household registrations, and the common people are poor, and the land of Shangyong is not very important. It may be useful to Liu Zhang If you eat chicken ribs, they are tasteless, and if you throw them away, there will be meat... However, the land in Guanzhong is called "the land of Tianfu", and has the reputation of the country of the four fortresses. In the past, Liu Bang, the high emperor, obtained it and became an emperor. Although it is now Qiang Di It was invaded by Liangzhou bandits and was desolate for a while, but it was still the foundation of the king's business. I think Liu Zhang is a man with far-reaching ambitions, so he will naturally enter Tuguanzhong, and he has no intention of invading me."

When Zhang Lu listened to Yan Pu boast about Liu Zhang's lofty ambitions and compared his Shangyong with Guanzhong, he compared Guanzhong to the clouds in the sky and Shangyong to the soil on the ground. He was not angry. This was because he was a Taoist. The advantage of a person is that he is sufficiently indifferent and calm when facing the facts, and will not be ashamed or angry because of it.

"The importance of Guanzhong and Shangyong is one. In addition, there are three things that can prove that Liu Zhang has no intention of invading my Shangyong... And not only this year, but also in the past one or two years, Liu Zhang has no intention of invading me." Yan Pu threw a brick.

"What three things?" Zhang Lu looked attentive, ready to see Yan Pu's strategy as usual.

Yan Pu stretched out a finger: "One of them, Li Que and Guo Si from Guanzhong, were the main culprits who harmed Liu Zhang's brothers Liu Fan and Liu Dan, and caused the death of the late Yizhou shepherd Liu Yanfa from back sores. Father and brother The hatred is irreconcilable, so Liu Zhang will definitely attack Li Que and Guo Si in Guanzhong first."

"Secondly, there is no need to consider the land of Yizhou in the west and south, but Liu Biao in the east. Although Jingzhou and Yizhou are allies now, Liu Zhang wants to send troops to Guanzhong, so he definitely does not want to have an affair with Liu Biao. Conflict... And the land of Shangyong and Fangling is only a few dozen miles away from Xiangyang, the current prefecture of Jingzhou, and there is a waterway to march. After the sergeant has a meal, he can arrive in Xiangyang at noon... If Liu Zhang wins Shangyong and Fangling, Liu Biao in Xiangyang is like a knife hanging on his neck. The two parties are bound to conflict. The friendship of mere allies is no match for the knife hanging on his neck. When the time comes, how can Liu Zhang take care of Liu Biao in Xiangyang? Steady march into Guanzhong."

"So having me in Shangyong can, on the one hand, cut off Liu Biao's contact with Hanzhong, and on the other hand, it can dispel Liu Biao's fear that Liu Zhang will occupy Shangyong and Fangling, so that Liu Zhang can safely march into Guanzhong next year." Zhang Lu's tone was brisk. Yes, but somewhat reluctantly.

Listening to the meaning of Yan Pu's words, Zhang Lu felt that on the one hand, he could stay in Shangyong safely for a while, but at the same time, he had the illusion of a tool man, and was used as a tool by Liu Zhang.

"That's exactly what Pu means." Yan Pu confirmed Zhang Lu's conjecture, and at the same time he said the third thing: "Third, Liu Zhang sent the envoy Cheng Yu to Shangyong, which was Liu Zhang secretly showing his favor to his master, otherwise he would The friendship between Master Jun and Liu Zhang is such that there will be no envoys coming and going."

"Cheng Yu." Zhang Lu was reminded by Yan Pu and remembered the envoy from Hanzhong. He suddenly felt that he could not ignore Cheng Yu forever and needed to investigate Cheng Yu's purpose.

Zhang Lu looked at Yan Pu, who nodded in understanding. (End of chapter)