Chapter 141: The Longzhong Plan of Hanzhong

The man dressed in official attire smiled faintly, approached Zhang Chi, scrutinized him carefully, then slowly said, “So, you are here to persuade me to surrender the entire city to Jin?”

Zhang Chi was a bit puzzled, stunned for a moment and hadn’t yet responded when the tavern owner spoke up, “Sir, this is indeed the man. I dare not lie.”

“I didn’t ask you.” Although the man in official dress had a kind face, he clearly carried an air of authority. Ignoring the tavern owner, he turned back to Zhang Chi and continued, “You truly have some courage, sneaking into Hanzhong to persuade me to surrender. Aren’t you afraid you might not return alive?”

“He claims he is absolutely certain he can persuade you to surrender the city. If he fails, he says he will write his own name backwards from then on.” Before Zhang Chi could speak, the tavern owner jumped in again.

Zhang Chi could only laugh bitterly. What kind of nonsense was this?

“Seems you are quite confident in your eloquence,” the official smiled. “Now, I want to hear how you plan to convince me to surrender. You are currently in the Hanzhong prison. With one order from me, you could be torn to pieces.”

After waiting a moment and seeing the official’s unwavering gaze, Zhang Chi finally spoke, “May I ask your name, sir?”

Now it was the official’s turn to laugh bitterly. The man trying to persuade me didn’t even know who I was. Still, he answered, “I am Shi Ke’an, the current governor of Hanzhong.”

Shi Ke’an? Suddenly, Zhang Chi understood.

When he first arrived in Hanzhong, Emei had told him about this Shi Ke’an, praising him as a man with the talent to govern and bring order. Emei had advised Zhang Chi to try to recruit him; now it was clear those words had a purpose.

Could it be that everything Emei said was part of a plan—that Zhang Chi was sent to Hanzhong to persuade Shi Ke’an to surrender? If he could really convince the governor to surrender, that would be ideal. But was it really that easy to persuade a city’s governor to submit?

Especially under the identity of a prisoner in jail—it seemed an almost impossible task.

Seeing Zhang Chi remain silent, Shi Ke’an grew curious. This man claimed to come to persuade me, yet he hasn’t said a word. Shi Ke’an had never met a negotiator who kept silent.

Zhang Chi had already realized this was Emei’s arrangement. Though trapped in prison, he firmly believed Emei meant him no harm. The mysterious “Hanmen” organization must have deeper motives for this setup.

Having figured this out, Zhang Chi smiled and said, “I am indeed here to persuade you, sir. Since I’ve dared to come to Hanzhong, I am absolutely confident.”

Shi Ke’an was clearly surprised by Zhang Chi’s calmness. “If you are so sure, then speak. I’m listening.”

Zhang Chi wasted no time, going straight to the heart of the matter: “Sir, why have you allied yourself with the barbarians?”

“A wise bird chooses its tree to nest on; a talented minister chooses his lord,” Shi Ke’an replied. “The Jin dynasty is weak, the aristocrats hold power, the court is corrupt and incompetent. Rather than wasting my talents in obscurity, it’s better to serve a wise ruler of another tribe and accomplish something.”

“Your words are not without merit, but you see only one side,” Zhang Chi laughed loudly, his voice firm. “The Jin dynasty may indeed be weak, and the nine-rank system disheartens scholars, but we are all Chinese, descendants of the same ancestors. Now you ally with the Di barbarians and slaughter Han people. Isn’t this like brothers killing each other? How can your heart bear it?”

Zhang Chi’s words rang with righteousness, like thunder from the heavens, sending a chill down Shi Ke’an’s spine.

Shi Ke’an did not expect that, bound in jail, Zhang Chi would dare speak so boldly. Yet what he said was true, appealing to ethnic loyalty, and Shi felt ashamed.

But Zhang Chi was not done. He continued, “Moreover, do you think allying with barbarians will truly achieve something? Forgive my bluntness, but as the old saying goes, ‘Those not of our clan harbor different hearts.’ How can barbarians be truly sincere with you? Do you really believe that siding with them will grant you success?”

Shi Ke’an fell silent.

Zhang Chi’s words struck home. Though appointed governor of Hanzhong by Yao Shuode, Shi had no real trust or military power, and was constantly constrained.

Zhang Chi’s eloquence was not extraordinary, but every word hit a sore spot. “A wise minister chooses his lord, that’s true. But if you cast your pearl before swine, your talents are wasted. Like Fan Zeng aiding Xiang Yu at the end of Qin, or Tian Feng advising Yuan Shao at the end of Han—how many talented men died before fulfilling their ambitions? If trust between lord and minister is absent, no matter how talented you are, it’s better to live peacefully in obscurity than to end like Fan Zeng or Tian Feng, full of plans but meeting a tragic end.”

Shi Ke’an had no response and bowed his head.

Seeing Shi’s hesitation, Zhang Chi softened his tone, speaking gently: “You said it well just now—the Jin dynasty is weak, warlords divide the land, each with selfish aims. Huan Xuan in Jingzhou harbors rebellion and has infiltrated Shu; the Northern Army, once the pillar of Jiangnan, is at odds with the court and has rebelled before; Sima Daozi controls politics but is corrupt and incompetent; bandits plague Jiangnan, refugees rebel, the realm is collapsing. How can the Jin dynasty last? Chaos will come soon, and the barbarians will seize the opportunity to march south. If you serve them, how will you face your own people when the time comes for kin to kill kin?”

The more Zhang Chi spoke, the more restless Shi Ke’an became, frowning as he asked, “Then what do you propose?”

Zhang Chi smiled, “The aristocrats hold power, but the world is in turmoil, and heroes abound among the common folk. You possess the talent to govern a nation; why not recognize heroes early, and choose a wise lord in troubled times?”

Shi Ke’an nodded slowly and asked, “Then, according to you, who is the true hero and wise ruler today?”

At last, the key point arrived. Zhang Chi smiled slightly and said, “If I may say so, the hero and wise lord stands right before you.”

He was shamelessly referring to himself.

Unfortunately, Shi Ke’an did not grasp the meaning. “Who is this hero and wise lord you speak of?”

Zhang Chi chuckled and explained, “The Grand Commander leading the northern campaign from Shu—Zhang Chi.”

Shi Ke’an shook his head. “If this man leads the northern campaign, it may be with passion, but he is merely a pawn of Shu warlords, sent to die for their schemes, benefiting others. He lacks foresight and cannot be called a true hero.”

Zhang Chi laughed, “This is something he himself knows well. But he has other plans. War will soon erupt across the realm. Tell me, where will you find a stronghold to settle and survive then?”

Shi Ke’an had never considered this and was deep in thought.

“The south will be engulfed by war first, including Jiankang. The middle Yangtze is controlled by Huan Xuan, whose influence has now spread into Shu. Further south lie the wilds of Dian and Qian, with no foothold. When chaos reigns, the only secure place to live, advance, or retreat—your best choice—is this city beneath your feet, Hanzhong!”

Zhang Chi continued, “Hanzhong is guarded by the Qinling Mountains to the north and Bashan to the south, surrounded and easily defended. This is why the Grand Commander of the Shu northern campaign chose it. Occupying Hanzhong and the neighboring commanderies allows internal development and preparation. When chaos arrives, you can emerge from Qinling to take Chang’an or pass through Jianmen to enter Chengdu. With such foresight, would you still say Zhang Chi is not a hero?”

Shi Ke’an was suddenly enlightened. To see events so clearly in chaotic times was rare. He hurriedly ordered Zhang Chi’s bonds to be loosened and bowed deeply, saying, “Sir, your strategy rivals the famous ‘Longzhong Plan’ of Zhuge Liang in the Three Kingdoms era.”

“We call it the ‘Hanzhong Plan,’” Zhang Chi smiled. “I am at the beginning of the founding era, in troubled times. If you surrender the city now, you will surely be highly valued. To submit now is far different from siding with the barbarians.”

Shi Ke’an, still unaware that this was Zhang Chi himself, sighed, “You are a man of great talent, and to serve this Zhang Chi who must be no ordinary man, I hope you will introduce him to me. I am willing to surrender the city.”

The great achievement was accomplished, and Zhang Chi’s heart was filled with joy. Shi asked, “I am curious—how did you dare enter Hanzhong and speak so boldly after being captured? Were you not afraid I would ignore your words and kill you?”

Zhang Chi smiled, “If I guess correctly, even if I hadn’t come to persuade you, you were already inclined to surrender, weren’t you?”

Shi Ke’an was startled, for that was indeed his thought. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

Zhang Chi smiled slightly. When Emei first entered Hanzhong, she told him about Shi Ke’an and arranged for him to be imprisoned there to confront Shi Ke’an directly. There must be a reason.

He always believed Emei would never harm him. So why arrange for him to meet Shi Ke’an? Emei had said outside Yinping that she needed a sharp tongue, so she brought Zhang Chi along. If he couldn’t figure it out, he’d be truly foolish.

Emei must have known Shi Ke’an was unwilling to surrender to the barbarians, so she orchestrated for him to join their side.

But Zhang Chi kept this to himself and laughed, “If you had no intention of surrendering, you could have killed me outright. Why listen to my persuasion at all? So really, before you even said a word, my mission was already a success.”

“Sir, you truly see through everything,” Shi Ke’an bowed deeply again and said, “I was indeed reluctant to side with the barbarians, but when Yao Shuode appointed me, I could not refuse without risking my life. So I sought to survive by bending. Though my knowledge is shallow, I know I am a descendant of Yan and Huang and would never want to be remembered as a traitor to our people. I have long wished to return to Jin, but lacked the chance. I must thank you for helping me meet a true lord.”

Zhang Chi smiled. Having completed the important matter, he needed to learn how he had ended up in prison in the first place. Pointing to the tavern owner beside them, he asked Shi Ke’an, “Why is this man here? And how did I come to be imprisoned?”

End of passage.