[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-three-kingdoms-the-coalition-insulted-me-so-i-de":3,"chapter-three-kingdoms-the-coalition-insulted-me-so-i-de-three-kingdoms-humiliated-by-the-coalition-i-def-chapter-56":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Three Kingdoms: Humiliated by the Coalition, I Defect to Dong Zhuo and Marry Dong Bai",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2117492,3441,"Chapter 56: Painting a picture for Zhang Lu","three-kingdoms-humiliated-by-the-coalition-i-def-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>Hanzhong\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanzheng City\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lu, dressed in his Celestial Master Daoist robes, sat upright in the seat of honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him sat Jia Xu, the imperial envoy representing the Han court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Celestial Master Zhang, I have already said everything that needs to be said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liu Yan's treacherous heart is already clear for all to see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As the number one loyal minister of the Han house, His Excellency the Chancellor naturally must represent the Son of Heaven in punishing Liu Yan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you, Celestial Master Zhang, intend to follow Liu Yan all the way into the darkness, I fear it would be in serious conflict with the doctrines of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When this fellow Jia Xu told lies, they came one after another in a seamless stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dong Zhuo could be called the \"number one loyal minister of the Han house,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then surely, under the heavens, everyone must be a loyal minister of the highest order!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lu was about the same age as Liu Yan's son, Liu Zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had long been looking for an opportunity to break away from Liu Yan's command and become independent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Jia Xu's arrival provided him with a perfectly reasonable excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zhang Lu was young, he was no fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Jia Xu thought he could incite a rebellion with nothing but empty promises, that naturally wouldn't work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Zhang Lu spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Wenhe, I understand your meaning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But... Liu Yan's power is great, and my Hanzhong is but a single commandery; I fear it would be difficult to stand as his enemy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Translated, this meant Zhang Lu was asking Jia Xu for guarantees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was terrified that if he turned against Liu Yan, Dong Zhuo would simply turn around and renege on the deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Celestial Master Zhang, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect has long had the merit of enlightening the common people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Excellency the Chancellor has also long admired you in spirit, Celestial Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about this: the court shall issue a decree to officially recognize the Five Pecks of Rice Sect as an orthodox sect. How does that sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, I have brought the official seal for the Administrator of Hanzhong and the title of Marquis of Baishui with me on this trip.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thump!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this series of benefits, Zhang Lu's breathing grew rapid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he had originally wanted was merely a guarantee from Jia Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, he only expected the official post of Administrator of Hanzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Jia Xu had not only brought the seal for the Administrator of Hanzhong, but also intended to grant him a marquisate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, having the Five Pecks of Rice Sect recognized as an orthodox sect was an unexpected, additional joy for Zhang Lu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the court had severely cracked down on various folk sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Pecks of Rice Sect was fine within the small territory of Hanzhong, but anywhere else, it was seen as a completely unheard-of evil cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, if they could truly be incorporated into the orthodox sects,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>although the sect's influence might not increase significantly, they would have gained legitimacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lu could also be considered to have fulfilled the final wish of his grandfather, Zhang Daoling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this so-called incorporation of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect into the orthodox faith was, in reality, just a single word from Dong Zhuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much the Five Pecks of Rice Sect stirred things up, they could only ever do so within the small confines of Hanzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strengthening Zhang Lu's power appropriately could further fuel the flames of war about to ignite between him and Liu Yan—why wouldn't he do it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were conditions to bringing the Five Pecks of Rice Sect into the orthodox fold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu smiled slightly and said with profound meaning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Celestial Master Zhang, since the Five Pecks of Rice Sect has become an orthodox faith, it should set an example for the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Lu hurriedly asked: ===== CHAPTER 133 =====\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\"I wonder what kind of example Mr. Wenhe is referring to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhang Lu's heart, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect becoming an orthodox sect was a matter of the utmost importance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something his grandfather Zhang Daoling, his father Zhang Heng, and his uncle Zhang Wei had all failed to achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could facilitate this during his time as leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then in the future, Zhang Lu would be the restorer of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hanzhong is a place with access to all directions; you should deepen your connection with the imperial court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heavenly Master Zhang, as the Administrator of Hanzhong and the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, you should build more roads to show your commitment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu said with a warm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Lu's vigilance instantly rose!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the roads leading to Hanzhong were built, wouldn't that mean Dong Zhuo could lead his army south to attack him at any time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, how could this little thought of Zhang Lu's be hidden from Jia Xu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu stood up from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he walked straight to Zhang Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing to the map spread out on the table, he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heavenly Master Zhang, do you intend to turn Hanzhong into a closed-off, isolated little kingdom?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think that is possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not to mention the Prime Minister, even if Liu Yan wanted to attack Hanzhong, he would not need to build roads to do so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The reason I asked you to build roads is actually to facilitate the spread of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect's teachings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is also to ensure that in the event you are not Liu Yan's match, the Prime Minister can send troops in time to support you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I may be blunt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With your meager strength, if my Prime Minister really wanted to eliminate you, wouldn't it be as easy as turning over his hand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why would he go to such great lengths to build roads first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Jia Xu's words were harsh, they were an iron-clad fact in Zhang Lu's ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How strong was Dong Zhuo?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Guandong Coalition could not defeat him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zhang Lu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was like a firefly competing with the bright moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let alone Dong Zhuo, even Liu Yan alone was enough to give him a hard time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deceived by Jia Xu, the doubts in Zhang Lu's heart were dispelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dong Zhuo really wanted to destroy him, there was no need to resort to building roads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little did he know...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Jia Xu wanted to trick Zhang Lu into building roads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, it was because the transportation conditions on the broken roads of Hanzhong were truly too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, it was to connect the Hanzhong Basin and strengthen the integration and unification of the various sectors in the Guanxi region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it bluntly, building roads was not just about dealing with Zhang Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was about bringing the entirety of Ba-Shu and Hanzhong into their pockets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To a certain extent, Jia Xu was not entirely deceiving Zhang Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a pity that the Heavenly Master's brain could not turn the corner under the trickery of the old fox Jia Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with the fact that the Dong Zhuo faction's ability to paint a grand picture was too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The things Jia Xu promised Zhang Lu were like a sow wearing a bra—one layer after another!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the usually vigilant Heavenly Master fell into the trap, and was even smug about having taken advantage of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1288,"2026-06-16T10:17:20.643Z","2026-06-16T10:29:10.858Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","229bc3d4c0ac6c926ed91742faa85a51240ec95633745738ad2caa9e21a306c0","three-kingdoms-humiliated-by-the-coalition-i-def-chapter-57","three-kingdoms-humiliated-by-the-coalition-i-def-chapter-55",1103,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthree-kingdoms-humiliated-by-the-coalition-i-def-cover.jpg"]