Chapter 4: The Mediocre Master and the Exceptional Master

  "It's absolutely impossible." Liu Zhang had just finished speaking when a minister stood up, and it was indeed Wang Fu, the gatekeeper. Wang Fu said indignantly: "Your Excellency is worth ten thousand pieces of gold, how can you lightly risk your life? If you must welcome General Zhao, please send one of your trusted generals instead. If General Zhao knows the etiquette, he should come to Chengdu to meet Your Excellency."

  Yu An glanced at Liu Zhang with a calm expression, stepped forward and coldly laughed: "Wang Gongcao, what do you mean by this? Fucheng is the main public area, where did the two words 'dangerous place' come from? Is Wang Gongcao trying to stir up the relationship between the main public and his ministers?"

  "You..." Wang Fu was so angry that he couldn't speak, everyone knew that Fucheng was adjacent to Zhao Wei's control area. Now Liu Zhang had detained Zhao Hui, it was likely to force a counterattack from Zhao Wei, but these things were precisely not to be mentioned.

  Liu Zhang glanced at the officials and military officers present, nodded and said: "Yu An is right, General Zhao Wei is loyal to me, there's no need to worry. Wang Fu slandered General Zhao, his crime is unforgivable. Guards, take away Wang Fu, I'll deal with him later."

  "Yes." Two soldiers stepped forward and took Wang Fu away. Yu An sneered coldly, "A foolish and stubborn man, asking for his own humiliation."

  Wang Fu was dragged away by soldiers, shouting: "My lord, Fucheng is in danger, you absolutely must not go, you absolutely must not go..."

  Wang Lei looked at Wang Fu being taken away, just about to speak to Liu Zhang, when Liu Zhang raised his hand, signaling Wang Lei to be quiet. He then asked the hall, "Is there anyone else who opposes my trip to Fucheng?"

  Wen Chenwu looked at me, I looked at him, and after Wang Fu's exit, neither of us dared to speak. At this time, General Zhang Ren stepped forward and said: "If the lord is going to Fucheng, please allow me to follow."

  Liu Zhang took a look and saw that Ren Ying was full of energy, like a brave general. He was also a famous loyal minister in history. When Liu Bei entered Shu, few people remained loyal, but Zhang Ren, who was sincerely recruited by Liu Bei, refused to surrender even unto death. After being beheaded, Liu Bei lamented his loyalty and gave him a grand burial beside the Golden Goose Bridge.

  Liu Zhang nodded and said, "General Zhang is loyal and brave, it's approved." After finishing speaking, he looked at the other two people. One was Zhang Song, a member of Liu Zhang's staff, and the other was Fa Zheng, a military advisor. These two men were historically known for persuading Liu Bei to enter Shu, and their loyalty to Liu Zhang was seriously lacking. However, they were undoubtedly among the few talents in Shu who did not serve such an incompetent ruler like Liu Zhang, which was also reasonable.

  Liu Zhang now wants to see if there is a possibility of these two being loyal to him. If he can win them over, that would be best. But if they harbor other intentions even after being given important positions, then no matter how talented you are, you absolutely cannot stay.

  "Zhang Song, Fa Zheng, what do you two think of this official's decision to go to Fucheng?" Liu Zhang asked in a low voice.

  Zhang Song's eyes rolled around, and he stepped forward: "Of course Zhang Song will follow the lord's decision, but after all, the lord is a precious treasure. Although Shu is now well-governed, there are still some petty people, so the lord should bring more guards to ensure safety."

  "This is what Song said, without leaking a single word. Liu Zhang asked Fa Zheng: "Fa Zheng, do you have any opinion?"

  Fa Zheng fell silent for a moment, then said in a loud voice: "I oppose the lord's trip to Fucheng." As soon as Fa Zheng finished speaking, he immediately attracted a burst of whispers from the officials, and even Zhang Song gave him a warning look, unable to understand why the normally astute Fa Zheng would be so oblivious to the situation.

  "Huh?" Liu Zhang didn't expect Fa Zheng to be so direct, and he gave Fa Zheng a cold look. "Fa Zheng, are you also trying to drive a wedge between me and General Zhao? Do you think the prison in the provincial governor's mansion is already full?"

  Liu Zhang sternly rebuked him, and Zhang Song hastily pulled on Fa Zheng's sleeve. However, Fa Zheng remained unmoved and said: "Your Excellency, I have heard that according to the rites of Zhou, there are norms for superiors and inferiors. Now General Zhao claims illness and does not attend court, regardless of whether it is true or false, he has already lost the propriety of a minister. If Your Excellency personally goes to Fu City again, you will lose your dignity as the ruler. Therefore, Fa Zheng dares not but advise against it. If Your Excellency blames me for this, I am willing to accept imprisonment."

  Fa Zheng spoke with great enthusiasm, and for a moment Liu Zhang couldn't figure out what Fa Zheng was thinking. Now Liu Zhang has basically confirmed that Yu An is a member of Zhao Wei's party, Zhang Song is a slippery head, the generals led by Zhang Ren did not participate in the factional struggle, while other officials are all wall grass. With this information, it's already enough.

  Liu Zhang stood up from his seat and said: "The matter of going to Fu City is inevitable, no need to advise again. The official now announces three orders: First, Yu An is promoted to Zhongzheng Congshi, following the official to Fu City; Second, Zhang Ren is promoted to Huodou, leading 5,000 troops to take over the defense of Fu City; Third, after three days, go to Fu City to welcome General Zhao back to Chengdu for the expedition against the Wuxi barbarians. Zhang Song and Fa Zheng will follow."

  "Yes sir." All the officials responded in unison.

  Liu Zhang strode out of the grand hall, with Wang Lei following behind him and saying: "My lord, Wang Fu has always been loyal, although he may not understand your deeper intentions, it's not right that he should be detained. I implore you to show leniency in this matter."

  Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Do you think I will let him off? Before going to Fu Cheng, I will go see him."

  Zhang Song and Fa Zheng walked together on the main road, Zhang Song hastily said to Fa Zheng: "Xiao Zhi, why are you so rash today? Not only did you displease the lord, but also offended Zhao Wei, aren't you being unlikable on both sides?"

  Fa Zheng smiled and said with profound meaning: "Yong Nian, do you think Zhao Wei can succeed?"

  Zhang Song fell silent for a moment before saying, "It's impossible. Although Zhao Wei has control over the powerful army, he doesn't have the support of the people in Shu. He will harbor dissenting thoughts and ultimately meet his downfall." Zhang Song still had some insight when it came to judging people.

  "That's right, Zhao Wei can't accomplish anything, so what if I offend him?"

  "But if Master goes to Fu City in person, it's not necessarily so."

  Fa Zheng said decisively: "Even if the lord goes to Fu City in person, Zhao Wei will not be able to succeed. As Yong Nian said, even if Zhao Wei defeats the lord in Fu City, what can he do? Take over Yizhou? What is Zhao Wei, anyway? Not only the common people, but also officials and generals with influence in Chengdu will not obey him."

  "Bo Xun is watching the play, if something unexpected happens to the lord in Fu City, the final result will still be Zhao Wei becoming the target of public criticism. The real power faction in Shu will re-establish a new governor, such as the lord's brother Liu Mao, and it will definitely not be Zhao Wei. If Zhao Wei rebels, he will surely perish."

  Zhang Song thought for a moment and indeed it was this reason, couldn't help but admire Fa Zheng's deep strategy and foresight, yet he didn't understand and said: "Then you also don't need to provoke the lord, you clearly know...". Saying this, Zhang Song lowered his voice: "You clearly know that Liu Zhang is weak and foolish, has no awareness of Zhao Wei's wild ambition, and still tries to please him, why do you have to make those unnecessary remonstrances, only to stir up trouble."

  "What's wrong with me?"

  Zhang Song let out a sigh and headed towards his own residence. Fa Zheng stopped in his tracks, turned around to gaze at the provincial governor's mansion, and gradually composed himself. Today, Liu Zhang had explicitly asked him and Zhang Song for their opinions, and Fa Zheng felt a sense of unease. What he was thinking about was not the struggle between Liu Zhang and Zhao Wei, nor which side he should take, but rather what Liu Zhang's intention was in asking him.

  Liu Zhang detained Zhao Yu and refused to release him, and then summoned Zhao Wei to enter Chengdu. Under the circumstances of Zhao Wei's disobedience, he cut off the grain supply of Zhao Wei's army, which at least shows that Liu Zhang had already been suspicious of Zhao Wei. However, today Liu Zhang's attitude is clearly biased towards Zhao Wei, vowing to go to Fu City to welcome him personally, which not only contradicts Liu Zhang's usual style but also contradicts his previous actions.

  Liu Zhang, if he really wanted to please Zhao Wei, should have released Zhao Sui, resumed grain and grass supplies, withdrawn the recruitment order, and allowed Zhao Wei to station troops in Jiangzhou. Fa Zheng thought of this and came up with a bold conclusion: Liu Zhang's previous actions were all intended to force Zhao Wei to rebel, and going to Fu City was just a way to lure Zhao Wei into attacking Fu City, so that he could take advantage of the situation to annihilate him.

  If it were true, Liu Zhang would have been a great master, but the impression of his weakness was deeply rooted in people's minds. Even Fa Zheng did not believe that Liu Zhang could do such a thing, so Fa Zheng dared not to confirm his own judgment and could only conservatively advise Liu Zhang with courtesy and law not to go to Fu City.

  Although this might offend Liu Zhang and bring about the same kind of trouble as Wang Fu, if Liu Zhang was indeed trying to lure Zhao Wei in, then agreeing with Liu Zhang's entry into Fu City would likely bring about fatal disaster. Weighing the pros and cons, Fa Zheng naturally chose the former.

  Fa Zheng thought he was talented, but had been in the officialdom for many years, only serving as a military advisor, and was often ridiculed by his successful fellow townspeople. Every time he saw Liu Zhang's incompetence, Fa Zheng could only sigh that he was not recognized for his talents. However, over the past two days, Liu Zhang's actions had gradually warmed Fa Zheng's heart. Although even he himself did not believe that an incompetent person would suddenly become a heroic ruler, Fa Zheng, who was almost desperate in the officialdom, still held onto hope.

  "Your Excellency, I hope my conjecture is correct." Fa Zheng said softly towards the provincial governor's mansion.

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