People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 525 Being a Pig
"Xu Chen has drastic measures. The entire north was overthrown by him. Countless aristocratic families in the Seven States were uprooted. Xuan Xia, which was established on this basis, is a Xuan Xia with clear systems and connections from top to bottom. This situation has never appeared in history. You can't imagine how terrifying such an existence is."

After all, Zhang Lu could be considered a local lord, and the area of ​​Hanzhong had been governed by him for a long time, so he could more deeply understand the difference between Xuan and Xia.

This was also the point that he admired most about Xu Chen. It took tremendous courage to draw a line between himself and the powerful class of the time. This was an era that belonged to the aristocratic families. Anyone who stood against them would only end up dead.

Even when Zhang Lu was in Hanzhong, he had to win over the local powerful and noble families and allow them to come to his side and deeply participate in local governance and military establishment. Only in this way could he be a local emperor here in peace and stability.

If he followed Xu Chen's example, Zhang Lu believed that the next day those nobles and powerful families would immediately turn against him and rush over to hack him to death.

But Xu Chen was able to do it. Even if the whole world was his enemy, he still fought back and changed the color of the world.

The powerful aristocratic families who had been rooted in this land for hundreds of years were ultimately defeated by Xu Chen, the rising star.

The light of this new star was so dazzling that although Zhang Lu was jealous in his heart, he was also truly convinced.

"Do you know how crazy the people will be to sacrifice their lives for Xuan Xia after the ladder of promotion is opened? Do you know how terrible it is that after the aristocratic families are gone, every grain of rice and every person in Xuan Xia can be used to the extreme? Do you know how terrible power can be unleashed when millions of people are kneaded together by the same belief and system?"

Zhang Lu sighed with envy, "Xuan Xia is now much stronger than you can imagine. The outcome is already determined. I, Zhang Lu, cannot reverse it. Even if we don't help them attack Shuzhong, it will not affect their final victory at all."

Zhang Wei was silent for a while and was speechless for a moment.

He admired his brother Zhang Lu. Even though he didn't think so in his heart, he was willing to believe Zhang Lu's judgment. Now that Zhang Lu was so sure that the Yellow Turbans would win, he had nothing to say.

Zhang Lu has always been the wiser of the two brothers. Zhang Wei doesn't think his judgment will be more accurate than Zhang Lu's, so he still listens to his elder brother.

As a result, his emotions calmed down a bit, but his expression was still very unwilling: "Even so, how can brother agree to surrender so easily? At worst, we can stay in Hanzhong and ignore foreign affairs. If the Yellow Turbans force us, we can just go and help Liu Bei!"

"Liu Bei?" Zhang Lu snorted coldly upon hearing this: "Do you think this guy is easy to deal with? Let's not talk about whether cooperating with Liu Bei can force the Yellow Turbans to retreat. Even if we do, do you believe that Liu Bei will turn around and attack us? At that time, it will be difficult for both of us to survive, let alone other things!"

Zhang Wei's eyes widened in confusion. "How can this be possible? Shu Han is already in a difficult situation, and now they want to turn against us. How are they going to deal with the Yellow Turbans in the future?"

Zhang Lu shook his head and said helplessly, "Hanzhong is the defense of Shuzhong. No matter who takes over Shuzhong, they will eventually plot against Hanzhong. In the past, Liu Zhang wanted to deal with us day and night not only because of personal grudges. Today, Liu Bei is the ruler of Shuzhong, and he will also plot against Hanzhong. If he can take Hanzhong by himself, why would he seek any cooperation?"

Now, Zhang Wei was completely speechless. After Zhang Lu's analysis, he clearly realized that there seemed to be not many options in Hanzhong.

All in all, the situation is stronger than the people, and the two brothers have no choice but to accept it.

Zhang Lu was relieved to see Zhang Wei understood. Now that he had surrendered to the Yellow Turbans, he was even more afraid that Zhang Wei would not be able to make sense and act rashly, which would bring disaster. If he could persuade him to accept his fate, it would not be in vain. Zhang Wei did accept his fate, and his expression became dejected. In the end, he could only whisper indignantly, "I have no choice, but the conditions offered by the Yellow Turbans are too bullying. We are so sincere in giving up Hanzhong, but they just give us two options and send us off. How can this be justified!"

At this point in the conversation, the real reason why Zhang Wei could not accept the offer was revealed. In the final analysis, the price offered by Xuan Xia was too low.

"They also said that we can go to overseas continents to open up wasteland and build a country. What kind of reward is this? This is clearly to exile us brothers!" As he spoke, Zhang Wei began to laugh out of anger. He couldn't help but slam the table again: "We have been so submissive, and they treated us like this. How can they treat us brothers as human beings?"

Zhang Lu remained silent, just lowered his head and drank his wine, with a distressed look on his face: "It's not that bad actually. We don't want to go to sea, but they also gave us a second way. It's not bad for us to be a great priest in Xuanxia in the future, and it's not disgraceful."

Zhang Wei glanced at Zhang Lu and curled his lips: "I don't think brother doesn't understand that Xuan Xia is treating us like pigs."

Zhang Lu shook his head and said helplessly: "What's wrong with being a pig? You can eat and drink all your life without having to worry about anything. It's good enough that they didn't ask us to convert to their religion."

At this point, Zhang Lu's expression became more serious. He stared at Zhang Wei and said, "Don't think or say anything nonsense in the future. Don't think that we have really been wronged. In fact, if I reject their proposal, I will not be able to be a pig in the future. It is said that Xu Chen has a kind and generous character, but don't forget that many people also call him Xu the Butcher."

There was silence in the tent for a long time. Zhang Wei was silent for a long time, and finally nodded.

No matter whether he was convinced by Xuan Xia in his heart or not, at least he was persuaded by Zhang Lu today.

After shaking his head and smiling to himself, Zhang Wei could not help but sigh in his heart. He had completely accepted his fate. After all, things had already been like this. There was nothing he could do except complain. From now on, he would probably only be able to be a priest in Xuanxia and study doctrine.

Being a pig doesn't seem to be a bad thing, it's better than dying.
"Okay, don't think too much. Come with me to observe the enemy situation."

Zhang Lu stood up, said something to Zhang Wei, and walked out of the tent.

After leaving the tent, you can quickly see the majestic and dangerous terrain of Jianmen Pass in the distance.

At the end of a narrow and winding mountain road is the towering wall and gate tower of Jianmen Pass, with a row of soldiers deployed on top. Just looking at them from a distance gives one a strong sense of oppression.

Zhang Lu knew that there were not many soldiers stationed in Jianmen Pass, but this pass was so difficult to break through that one man could not pass through ten thousand men. If he fought head-on, he would still suffer a loss.

If Jianmen Pass was so easy to attack, I wouldn't have stayed in Hanzhong for so many years.

(End of this chapter)