Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

As Liu Bei spoke, the relaxed atmosphere, which had been brought about by the placement of various fruits, tea, and snacks, immediately became serious.

The murderous aura exuded by many of the military generals startled Gu Yong.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Liu Bei raised his hand to calm everyone, smiling as he said,

“This meeting is in the form of a 'tea party' proposed by Zikun to decide on this year's major decisions. Everyone, there's no need to be so nervous and serious. Later, feel free to speak your minds. Moreover, the matter I am about to announce is a great joyous occasion.”

“A great joyous occasion?”

Immediately, many civil and military officials who had received some prior news quietly turned their gazes towards Li Ji.

Li Ji was somewhat dumbfounded, vaguely understanding that he was about to be publicly executed.

But before Li Ji could open his mouth to stop him, Liu Bei, with a face full of joy, announced it as the most important matter.

“That is, Zikun will be marrying Miss Zhaoji, the daughter of the great scholar Cai Yong, with the wedding date set for the first day of September this year!”

In an instant, gazes were cast towards Li Ji, and then Li Ji was completely submerged in congratulations. Liu Bei did not stop them at all, but rather watched Li Ji respond to his colleagues' congratulations with a smile, as if with a maternal smile on his face.

By the time Li Ji's face was slightly stiff, after he sat down again, he suddenly felt a sense of resentment rising behind him.

Li Ji turned his head and saw that Gu Yong was faintly emitting black smoke, and the master of playing dumb seemed to have been ruined within half a day, muttering something in a low voice.

“I just went home to prepare and handle my coming-of-age ceremony, what happened…”

“How could such a virtuous and virtuous lady be matched with such a despicable and shameless person?”

“Hehe ~ ~ ~ Letting a wolf into the house!”

“So that's how it is, so that's how it is, Li Zikun ah Li Zikun, you glutton for beauty actually at first sight…”

Suddenly, Gu Yong, who had been lowering his head, felt someone pat his shoulder. He looked up and was shocked to find Li Ji right in front of him, asking,

“Yuan Tan, what are you muttering to yourself?”

Gu Yong forced a smile and replied. “I am marveling at how Prefect Li is blessed with a God-given marriage, which is truly enviable.”

“This is all thanks to Yuan Tan for introducing me that day.”

Li Ji said with a smile, making Gu Yong feel as if a sharp knife had been stabbed deep into his heart.

As a member of a noble family, Gu Yong was naturally married early, but in Gu Yong's eyes, Cai Zhaoji was undoubtedly like an untouchable flower on a high mountain.

Whether it was talent, appearance, temperament, or character, they all made Gu Yong, as a junior brother, admire her.

Therefore, when Li Ji first met Cai Zhaoji, Gu Yong was more out of a psychology of showing off his senior sister, deliberately introducing Cai Zhaoji to Li Ji and mentioning her strengths.

However, what Gu Yong never expected was…

Pain!

Too painful!!

Presumably, perhaps only the other three senior brothers, Lu Cui, Ruan Yu, and Cao Cao, who had never met each other, could slightly appreciate the complex feeling of Gu Yong, that the flower on the high mountain he respected in his heart was picked in the blink of an eye.

“You're welcome.”

Gu Yong, who was already unable to hold back, said this almost through gritted teeth.

“On the day of the wedding, Yuan Tan, please do not forget to come to my residence for a cup of wine.” Li Ji continued.

“Okay.”

Gu Yong responded with a congratulatory expression, and then continued. “At that time, I will definitely contact the other senior brothers of Teacher Cai to come and congratulate Prefect Li, and properly offer Prefect Li a few cups.”

Li Ji could see that Gu Yong probably already had a gang plan to get him drunk and embarrass him.

‘Unfortunately, what a pity…’

Li Ji muttered in his heart, already preparing to ask Zhang Fei to help him block the wine at that time.

With a small frame like Gu Yong's, even if ten of them came together, they would not be a match for Zhang Fei, and Gu Yong would have to fall down spitting foam after three or five rounds.

Liu Bei, sensing the festive atmosphere that seemed to have been brewing in the venue in advance, said,

“Although Zikun refused my proposal to hold a grand banquet for the people to celebrate, because he did not want to waste the people's hard-earned money, it will still be a great joyous occasion for Wu County. If you all do not have any important matters at that time, you must come to congratulate Zikun.”

“Of course, I will definitely prepare a big gift for Mr. Zikun.”

Zhang Fei took the lead and shouted in a loud voice.

Seeing this, the other civil and military officials, whether to echo Liu Bei or to give Li Ji face, naturally also expressed their views.

This warm atmosphere made Liu Bei quite satisfied.

If it were another lord, he might worry that his subordinates would be so powerful that they would overshadow their lord and instead undermine him.

However, in Liu Bei's view: he was originally just a weaver of mats and seller of sandals, how could he be worthy of this high position?

Apart from the protection of Heaven and the favor of the Emperor, it was nothing more than the two sworn brothers risking their lives, Zikun putting his heart into it, and the village soldiers and generals who followed him to the death.

Therefore, Liu Bei did not allow any voices that contradicted Li Ji among his subordinates. It was just right to use this method to express his support for Li Ji's governance and maintain Li Ji's prestige as the Prefect.

If Li Ji really rebelled, Liu Bei also felt that the first thing he needed to reflect on was himself, whether he had violated his original intention and abandoned the people of the world.

“Lord, my wedding is just a trivial matter, it should be done in a low-key manner. If my colleagues have time, they can come to my residence for a cup of wine.”

Li Ji said modestly.

However, Li Ji could modestly claim that they could come if they "had time", and it seemed that they could not come if they did not have time.

But everyone present understood that unless Liu Bei or Li Ji had arranged some important tasks, otherwise, if anyone did not go, even if Li Ji did not care, Liu Bei would probably have to consider whether this person was singing a different tune and affecting unity.

For a time, the civil and military officials present almost all expressed that they would definitely make time.

This made Li Ji feel a little helpless, and also understood that even if his original intention was not like this, with the increase in status, his words and actions would inevitably be carefully speculated by others.

Therefore, Li Ji did not continue to explain, but instead intentionally skipped this topic and said.

“Lord, it's almost time, and important matters should be prioritized, let's start the meeting.”

“Zikun's wedding is a joyous occasion, an important matter, a major event…”

Liu Bei reiterated his attitude before continuing. “But since Zikun has said so, then let's begin.”

Immediately, Liu Bei signaled to Xiahou Bo, who was standing aside. Xiahou Bo immediately had the servants who had been waiting outside holding bamboo slips walk in, and while distributing a scroll of bamboo slips to each civil and military official.

Liu Bei began to explain.

“This time, the form of the meeting was also suggested by Zikun. Considering that the previous meetings were too serious and not conducive to brainstorming, we will proceed in this form. At that time, I and Zikun will not express our opinions, but rather you will speak freely on the topics.”

“The bamboo slips in front of you are the first topic of today 'Regarding the resettlement area for refugees and the amount of borrowed items'. You can browse it for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and you can also freely enjoy the fruits and snacks in front of you.”

“After a cup of tea, you can freely speak and express your thoughts on this topic, and the recording clerk Gu Yong will record and summarize them. Finally, I and Zikun will deliberate on your suggestions and make a decision.”

？ ？ ？

Gu Yong.

At this moment, Gu Yong finally understood why Li Ji insisted on bringing him over.

It turned out that he was not regarded as a high-level person, but was really here to fulfill the true responsibilities of a recording clerk.

However, once these words came out, perhaps the military generals did not feel much, but the civil officials, including Gu Yong, felt refreshed by this form of meeting.

Especially Jia Xu, who knew human nature well, immediately understood the value of this form of meeting.

Although the final decision and the right to interpret still belonged to Liu Bei and Li Ji, even if everyone at the meeting unanimously agreed on something, it did not mean that a conclusion would be reached.

However, in the situation where Liu Bei and Li Ji did not express their opinions in advance, this relatively relaxed atmosphere would obviously allow the remaining civil and military officials to speak and discuss more boldly.

Moreover, Liu Bei and Li Ji could completely secretly use the mouths of others to express their ideas, and then improve this idea in the numerous discussions and supplements.

‘However, Zikun's willingness to propose this form of meeting is somewhat different from what I expected.’ Jia Xu pondered to himself.

Gu Yong also instantly understood that the person most affected by this meeting format was Li Ji himself, who seemed detached. Looking at Li Ji's back in front of him, he silently thought.

‘Is Li Zikun's non-authoritarian approach self-preservation? Or does he really not have the heart to monopolize power? Perhaps, there is a reason why Liu Junshou trusts Li Zikun so much…’

However, the current Gu Yong is only a newcomer without any say, and he was brought here by Li Ji as a “recording clerk”, and does not have any right to speak.

Therefore, even if Gu Yong had more ideas in his heart, he could only silently put them in his heart, and with a slightly bitter face, he began to grind ink and prepare to record at any time.

And one topic after another was launched in this form.

From the people's livelihood related to refugees, to the discussion of all aspects related to the entire Wu County.

Perhaps this form is still quite immature, and the content discussed is only a supplement to some details of Li Ji's original decisions.

But that was enough.

After all, this is already an improvement compared to the originally more rigid meeting.

Moreover, this can gather ideas to a certain extent, and also allow Liu Bei, as the lord, and Li Ji, as the head of the civil officials, to feel the thoughts of the remaining civil and military officials from more perspectives.

Perhaps this isn't readily apparent now, but as their territory expands and Liu Bei and Li Ji's positions rise, a disconnect between the upper echelons and the middle and lower ranks will inevitably occur.

Therefore, this is also a way to maintain communication between the upper and lower levels, preventing the occurrence of ridiculous situations like, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?"