Facing Liu Qi's sophistry, Yang Song had nothing to say. He had strong troops and strong horses, and he was at the gate of the city, so he really had no qualifications to negotiate.
Liu Qi added: "Actually, I don't object to Zhang Lu preaching and advising people to do good. More than 100,000 people in Hanzhong have benefited from it, live and work in peace and contentment, and don't pick up lost things on the road. In today's troubled times, only my father can do this."
Yang Song wondered: "What does the general mean by this?"
Liu Qi asked: "I wonder, sir, do you know Taoist Master Zuo Ci?"
Yang Song nodded and said: "Although Zuo Ci practices in Tianzhu Mountain, he actually comes from Kunlun and practices Taoism through alchemy. Now he has opened a Taoist temple in Songshan Mountain and treats people's diseases. He is very famous."
Liu Qi nodded and said: "Yes, the traitor Cao can clear the ground for Zuo Ci to preach, so why can't I? Hanzhong is the throat of Longshu, and sooner or later there will be a war. Zhang Lu only knows how to preach, but does not practice martial arts, how can he defend it? ? Why not choose another fairyland and a spiritual place to practice Taoism with peace of mind? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could ascend to heaven and preach to future generations like Lao Tzu?"
Yang Song asked: "Is there such a treasured place in the world today?"
"Of course!" Liu Qi nodded and said: "There is Hengshan Mountain in the south of Changsha. It has beautiful mountains and clear waters, and ethereal fairy spirit. The terrain and spiritual veins are not inferior to Songshan Mountain and Wudang."
Yang Song frowned and said: "Hengshan Mountain is far away in the horizon. It is a barbaric land with many poisonous insects and ferocious beasts. How can we preach?"
Liu Qi laughed and said: "Sir, what you said is wrong. Lai Gong, the governor of Jiaozhou, is in charge of the territory. Shi Xie, the prefect of Jiaozhi, has sent people to express his submission and is willing to make peace with the Central Plains. Hengshan is the transportation hub between the north and the south. I want to set up an official office here. I have been educating the border people for a long time!"
Yang Song shook his head and said: "If you ask Master to be an official here, I'm afraid he would rather die than obey."
Liu Qi said: "It's not about governing the people, it's about preaching! If Zhang Lu is willing to go to Hengshan, open up the wilderness, and preach in Jiaozhou and even South Vietnam, he will be the founder of Southern Xinjiang. His merits will shine through the ages, and he will be loved by tens of thousands of people. Wouldn't his merits be better than those of Zuo Ci and others? A hundred times stronger?"
"This..." Liu Qi's plan was beyond Yang Song's knowledge and authority. He was stunned for a long time, clasped his fists and said: "This matter is serious, I will report it to my master before making a decision."
Liu Qi said: "You only need to tell Zhang Lu that he wants to establish a sect and preach and convert the people. I have no objection. He can even make it a state religion after correcting the imperial court, but he can never teach to govern the people, cede territory and defend himself. The law is higher than the law of the country, and this move will cause endless harm."
"State religion?" Yang Song's eyes widened: "Seriously?"
Liu Qi nodded and said: "If Zhang Luguo is interested in enlightenment, he can go out of the city to meet with me alone. I will tell you from the bottom of my heart. If we disagree, I will let him go back to the city and fight openly and honestly. He will be the king and loser. Let him make his choice!"
Yang Song was doubtful, so he returned to Nanzheng and told Liu Qi everything he said. Zhang Lu was shocked when he heard what he said, not because of Liu Qi's tyranny, but because of his plan.
"Preach the word, start a sect, ascend..." Zhang Lu muttered to himself, as if he was possessed by an evil spirit.
This is exactly what he wants in his life, but before, he was ignorant and tried his best. As for how to do it and what the result would be, he had no idea.
Liu Qi's words made him feel as if he could see the sun from the clouds, as if he had found the direction in the confusion.
When he was still hesitating the next day, an urgent report came from Mianyang. Zhang Wei ordered Yang Ang to go ahead and rush day and night to help Hanzhong. They were ambushed at Dingjun Mountain and the entire army was wiped out. Zhang Wei's troops were blocked at Yangping Pass.
Mianyang Jijiu heard the news and saw that the situation was not good, so he surrendered to Liu Qi. Not only did the reinforcements he had been waiting for not arrive, but Nanzheng also became an isolated city.
Zhang Lu was disheartened when he heard the report, knowing that the situation was over, so he discussed countermeasures with Yan Pu and Yang Ren.
Yang Ren gritted his teeth and said, "Liu Qi is really scheming and wants to kill my brother. How can I not avenge him? Why not burn down the warehouse city, retreat to Micang Mountain to Bazhong, and unite with the Yi people to take revenge."
Yang Song said: "Master, you must not do this. Liu Qi has already made it clear that as long as Master sincerely cultivates Taoism, he will do his best to help you and escape. What do my disciples think? It is better to open the city and surrender if your life's hard work is wasted."
Zhang Lu hesitated and asked Yan Pu, "What is the general will?"
Yan Pu was at his wits' end at this time and replied: "If the lord wants to separate one side and seek hegemony, he can go to Bazhong to make plans again. If he wants to promote Taoism and practice Buddhism, he can discuss it with Liu Qi."
Yang Ren urgently advised: "It is better to burn down the treasury and flee to Bazhong overnight."
Zhang Lu thought for a moment and sighed: "Liu Qi has a point. The treasury belongs to the country. We are lucky enough to occupy Hanzhong and preach and bring peace to the people. How can we destroy it?"
Then he ordered everyone to stay behind and ordered Yang Song to go out of the city to arrange a meeting. In the afternoon, Liu Qi came to the city and the two met in front of the battle.
Zhang Lu was shocked when he saw Liu Qi's red lips and white teeth, elegant appearance, and the aura of an emperor. He clasped his fists and said, "I have been staying in Hanzhong for a long time. I am not good at governing. I only govern the people according to the "Tai Xuan Jing" passed down by my ancestors. If the general takes Hanzhong, , I should be polite, but the disciples have nowhere to go, and I would like to hear the general’s wise words on teaching."
Liu Qi said: "I have heard that Ming Gong wrote "Laozi Xiang Er Zhu" for a long time, and I must have some insights. However, promoting Taoism and governing the country and the people are very different. If Ming Gong wants to truly preach the Taoism, he needs to establish a sect, like Buddhism. Recruit many disciples, build temples and temples, and shine for generations to come."
Zhang Lu's heart was pounding, he clasped his fists and said, "I'd like to hear your advice!"
Liu Qi said: "Since the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu has regarded Huang Lao and Lao Wu as the top priority, and the people have rested and recuperated, so that the Han Dynasty prospered. Although later generations only respected Confucianism, the propagators were not limited to the Confucian lineage. The Buddhists even traveled thousands of miles across mountains and rivers. Traveling to the Central Plains to spread Taoism, from White Horse Temple to various ancestral temples, can be said to have opened up places outside the territory. What kind of merit is this? However, Taoist disciples have still practiced their own Dharma, wandering freely among the mountains and rivers. It seems to be doing nothing, but in fact it is like a plate of scattered sand. Ming Gong If we can gather the disciples and work together, we will surely become a great master."
Zhang Lu was shocked when he heard this, but he wondered: "Since the Zhangjiao Rebellion, the imperial court has tried its best to suppress various sects. Sun Ce even ignored the opposition of the people and killed Yu Ji and drove away the Taoist priests in the territory. Why did the general do the opposite? Aren’t you afraid that the Yellow Turban Rebellion will happen again?”
Liu Qi smiled and said: "The Yellow Turban Rebellion was caused by Shi Chang's manipulation of power and the corruption of the imperial court, which greatly lost people's hearts. If the people lived and worked in peace and contentment like in the prosperous times of Han Dynasty and Guangwu, who would be willing to leave their hometown, abandon their wives and children to take risks? I support Duke Ming. The purpose of preaching is not to imitate the great ancestors and respect Huang Lao’s teachings, but to spread Chinese civilization.”
"Chinese civilization?" Zhang Lu was stunned and didn't know why.
Liu Qi smiled and said: "In short, everyone respects and is proud of China. Although the Taoist sects have different ideas, they all respect heaven and worship the sages and heroes of the past. If we can unify the beliefs of the people of the world, How can we fight against each other and rebel again and again?"
"Faith?" Zhang Lu was shocked, as if he had vaguely grasped something.
Liu Qi's idea is actually very simple. It doesn't matter whether Taoism is strong or not. He urgently needs to implement cultural penetration, that is, to educate the people.
Conquest by force is not a long-term solution. Only a unified civilization and belief, and common cultural understanding and inheritance can establish a true sense of belonging.
The ancients listed meeting old friends in a foreign country as one of the four joyful events in life. In fact, it is a kind of cultural resonance, and the same reason applies to the country and even the world.
In this superstitious era, spreading civilization in the form of religion is easier for the people to accept than setting up government offices. Taoist inheritance embodies the essence of Chinese civilization, and it is perfect to support it!
