Chapter 115

Seeing Zhang Mei arrive.

Zhang Lu hurriedly sent someone under the city.

Hoping to conduct peace talks with the supreme commander of the Dong Zhuo army.

……

“Hehe, has that fellow Zhang Lu chickened out?”

“However, achieving peace talks smoothly won’t be that easy.”

Gu Yi smiled slightly.

The supreme commander of the Dong Zhuo army was Gu Yi himself.

Because of Yang Song as an inside contact.

Gu Yi already knew the troop situation in Nanzheng City like the back of his hand.

If the Dong Zhuo army attacked the city with full force.

Nanzheng City would fall within five days.

But… as the saying goes.

It is easy to conquer the world, but difficult to govern it.

The importance of Hanzhong’s geographical location is self-evident.

As a throat-like fortress connecting the Shu lands and Chang’an, after Hanzhong is incorporated into the territory, it will become one of the key cities to develop.

How to govern Hanzhong and keep it from falling into chaos is also the top priority Gu Yi needs to consider.

After thinking for a moment.

Gu Yi took Huang Zhong, Pang De, Yan Xing, and others as guards and conducted talks with Zhang Lu under the city, separated by a hundred paces.

Looking at the woman still standing beside Zhang Lu, a strange look flashed in Gu Yi’s eyes.

……

Before the formal talks.

Through the personal guards sent by Gu Yi.

Zhang Lu had also simply learned the basic situation of the Dong Zhuo army opposite.

Zhang Lu spoke first:

“Mr. Linzhi, this Celestial Master has been loyal to the imperial court and the Prime Minister, and has never had any intention of rebellion.”

“Why did you suddenly lead troops to invade my Hanzhong?”

“My Hanzhong is in misery and the people are suffering, all caused by this war!”

Looking at Zhang Lu’s righteous appearance, Gu Yi smiled slightly and then said:

“Celestial Master Zhang, Hanzhong was originally land under the territory of the imperial court.”

“How can you call it your private land?”

“Now, His Majesty, considering your hard work in Hanzhong for many years, wants you to return to Chang’an to take up a post, is there a problem?”

“Moreover, Celestial Master Zhang, you also know.”

“That scoundrel Liu Yan is dead, but his son, Liu Zhang, was never appointed Inspector of Yizhou by the imperial court, yet he has privately occupied Yizhou and set himself up as an independent ruler.”

“Celestial Master Zhang, as the Administrator of Hanzhong for the imperial court, should serve the country and eradicate Liu Zhang.”

“But who knew, Celestial Master Zhang, you have been working in Hanzhong for many years, yet you still have no way to deal with Liu Zhang.”

“His Majesty has been unable to sleep at night because of this.”

“Therefore, His Majesty specifically dispatched me to lead a large army to recover Yizhou.”

“And along the way, invite Celestial Master Zhang to return to Chang’an to take up your new position.”

After hearing these “full of imperial court righteousness” remarks from Gu Yi.

Even with Zhang Lu’s composure, his face was as black as charcoal at this moment.

God damn imperial court righteousness!

Who doesn’t know that this so-called Han imperial court is actually a puppet in Dong Zhuo’s hands now.

To put it bluntly, aren’t you just drooling over my small piece of land in Hanzhong?

However, knowing that this is the case in his heart.

But Zhang Lu, at this moment, had to continue following Gu Yi’s words.

The situation was pressing, and the chips in his hands were not many left.

He had to use these few remaining chips to strive for the most favorable surrender condition.

Thinking of this, Zhang Lu asked Gu Yi:

“I wonder, Mr. Linzhi, can you allow my Five Pecks of Rice Sect to continue to exist in Hanzhong?”

Compared to this small piece of land in Hanzhong, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect was actually what Zhang Lu cared about most.

Several generations of the Zhang family had fought tooth and nail for this Five Pecks of Rice Sect.

It was the same for Zhang Lu.

He wanted the Five Pecks of Rice Sect to continue to exist in Hanzhong.

In this way, Hanzhong would still be the Zhang family’s Hanzhong.

It’s a pity that his wishful thinking could not escape Gu Yi’s sharp eyes at all.

“Hehe, Celestial Master Zhang’s wishful thinking is really loud!”

“Even the Prime Minister far away in Chang’an might be able to hear the sound of your wishful thinking.”

“However, I can tell Celestial Master Zhang very clearly that the Five Pecks of Rice Sect can indeed exist, but it must change its form.”

“Otherwise, does this Hanzhong belong to the imperial court? Or does it belong to you, Celestial Master Zhang?”

Zhang Lu’s expression did not change.

He did not feel ashamed at all for being exposed by Gu Yi.

Zhang Lu naturally knew that as long as Gu Yi was a person with a normal head, he could not possibly agree to let the Five Pecks of Rice Sect stay in Hanzhong in its original form.

But negotiations are negotiations.

Both sides always have to report a false price first.

This makes it easier to bargain later.

“I wonder what Mr. Linzhi means by letting the Five Pecks of Rice Sect change its form?”

Zhang Lu asked in a deep voice.

Gu Yi smiled slightly:

“Celestial Master Zhang, you have been the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect for three years.”

“But in these three years, you have not helped the imperial court eliminate the rebels Liu Yan and Liu Zhang father and son.”

“From this, it can be seen that your ability, Celestial Master Zhang, is really not very good!”

“As one of the orthodox sects recognized by the imperial court, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect should be led by a capable person as the sect leader.”

“Celestial Master Zhang, what do you think?”

Hearing what Gu Yi said, Zhang Lu broke into a cold sweat.

This Gu Yi clearly wanted to remove his status as the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect!

In reality, this small piece of land in Hanzhong could be lost.

But the status of the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, Zhang Lu really didn’t want to lose.

However, he also understood.

The focus of today’s negotiations between the two sides was probably this position of the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.

If the position of the leader was not handed over, the negotiations could not succeed.

Thinking of this, Zhang Lu gasped and asked Gu Yi:

“Does Mr. Linzhi have a suitable candidate for the new sect leader in mind?”

Gu Yi understood that Zhang Lu intended to submit.

There was no way, the situation was pressing.

If the position of the leader was not handed over, the negotiations between the two sides could not proceed smoothly.

“Celestial Master Zhang, although your ability is not great.”

“But you are after all the former leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.”

“You, the former leader, have the power to recommend candidates for the next leader.”

Hearing this, Zhang Lu was slightly stunned.