Chapter 220

Seeing Zhang Mei arrive.

Zhang Lu hurriedly sent people to the foot of the city.

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

……

"Hehe, has this scoundrel Zhang Lu chickened out?"

"However, wanting to successfully reach peace talks is not that easy."

Gu Yi smiled slightly.

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

Because of having Yang Song as an inside agent.

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 all its might.

Within five days, Nanzheng City would fall.

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 land of Shu and Chang'an, after Hanzhong was incorporated into the territory, it would become one of the key cities for development.

How to govern Hanzhong and keep Hanzhong from descending into chaos was also a top priority that Gu Yi needed to consider.

Thinking for a moment.

Gu Yi took Huang Zhong, Pang De, Yan Xing, and others as guards and held talks with Zhang Lu at a distance of a hundred paces under the city.

Seeing that there was still a woman 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 already simply knew the basic situation of the Dong Zhuo army on the opposite side.

Zhang Lu spoke first:

"Mr. Linzhi, I, the Celestial Master, have been loyal to the imperial court and the Prime Minister, and have never had any intention of rebellion."

"Why did you suddenly bring troops to invade my Hanzhong?"

"My Hanzhong is in ruins, and the people are living in misery, all caused by this war!"

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

"Celestial Master Zhang, Hanzhong is land under the territory of the imperial court."

"Where does this talk of it being your private land come from?"

"Now, His Majesty, mindful of 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 is not the Inspector of Yizhou conferred by the imperial court, yet he privately occupies Yizhou and splits off to become independent."

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

"But who would have thought, Celestial Master Zhang, you have worked in Hanzhong for many years, yet you still have no way to deal with Liu Zhang."

"His Majesty has been unable to sleep all night because of this."

"Therefore, His Majesty specially dispatched me to lead a large army to recover Yizhou."

"And along the way, I invite Celestial Master Zhang to return to Chang'an to take up your new position."

After listening to this "full of imperial righteousness" speech from Gu Yi.

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

God-damned imperial righteousness!

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

To put it bluntly, aren't you just coveting my small corner of Hanzhong?

However, knowing that this was 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 he had in his hands were not many.

He had to use these few remaining chips to strive for the most generous surrender conditions.

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 corner of Hanzhong, in reality, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect was the thing 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 logic for Zhang Lu.

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

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

It's just a pity that his wishful thinking couldn't escape Gu Yi's sharp eyes.

"Hehe, Celestial Master Zhang's wishful thinking is truly 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?"

The expression on Zhang Lu's face did not change.

He did not feel ashamed at all because his wishful thinking was exposed by Gu Yi.

Zhang Lu naturally knew that as long as Gu Yi was a person with a normal brain, it was naturally impossible for him to agree to let the Five Pecks of Rice Sect remain in Hanzhong in its original form.

But negotiations are negotiations.

Both sides always have to report a false price first.

This makes it easier for subsequent bargaining.

"I wonder what exactly 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 his son Liu Zhang."

"From this, it can be seen that your ability, Celestial Master Zhang, is truly 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 leader."

"Celestial Master Zhang, what do you think?"

Hearing what Gu Yi said, Zhang Lu squeezed out 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 corner of Hanzhong could be lost.

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

However, he also understood.

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

If the position of leader wasn't handed over, the negotiations couldn't succeed.

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

"Does Mr. Linzhi have a suitable candidate for the new leader in mind?"

Gu Yi understood that Zhang Lu intended to submit.

There was no other way, the situation was pressing.

If the position of leader wasn't handed over, the negotiations between the two sides couldn't 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 a candidate for the next leader."

Hearing this, Zhang Lu was slightly stunned. ===== CHAPTER 221 =====