Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun, on whom Li Ji placed high hopes, traveled day and night and finally arrived in Yi Province to meet Liu Yan.

Knowing he was not eloquent, Zhao Yun presented the sealed bamboo scroll to Liu Yan after stating his identity and then withdrew.

Liu Yan, now the Governor of Yi Province and a regional official in the true sense of the word, received the bamboo scroll but did not rush to open it, pondering Li Ji's intentions first.

Liu Yan naturally had a deep impression of Li Ji and had even been moved to cherish his talent on several occasions.

When Liu Yan heard that Li Ji was to be summoned to the imperial court and given an important position by the Emperor, he even sent an envoy to Wu Commandery to congratulate Li Ji, hoping to build goodwill.

Perhaps, after Li Ji entered the court, that goodwill might have unexpected effects.

Unfortunately, the junior eunuch who went to announce the decree accidentally seriously injured Li Ji with the ceremonial staff, which became a joke that shook the court.

Afterward, the Emperor forcibly suppressed the joke, secretly dealt with the junior eunuch, and the matter of summoning Li Ji to court was dropped.

At least, during the current Emperor's reign, Li Ji clearly had no chance of being given an important position.

Perhaps Li Ji had not made any mistakes in this process, and even, in a sense, protected the ceremonial staff representing the Emperor and the Han Dynasty's dignity, but as long as Li Ji entered the court, people would be reminded of the joke of the junior eunuch hitting someone with the ceremonial staff.

Therefore, Liu Yan knew that with the current Emperor's narrow-mindedness, he would never allow Li Ji to appear in his court.

Perhaps it was laughable that even Liu Yan knew that Li Ji had the talent to govern a country, but the Emperor's personal preferences completely cut off Li Ji's chances of promotion.

But that was the officialdom, and that was politics.

What puzzled Liu Yan was that Li Ji would actually take the initiative to contact him with a secret letter…

It was not that Liu Yan was merely a commandery administrator before, and Li Ji ignored him, but now that Liu Yan was the governor of a province, Li Ji could no longer afford to associate with him.

Liu Yan knew very well that his becoming the governor of a province and holding military and political power over the twelve commanderies and one hundred and eighteen counties of Yi Province was thanks to Li Ji's indispensable contribution and even entirely due to Li Ji's guidance.

Only after Liu Yan had truly secured his position as the Governor of Yi Province and grasped the series of military and political affairs from top to bottom did he realize that Yi Province, called the "Land of Abundance" in the Strategies of the Warring States, Book of Qin, was indeed worthy of the name.

The registered population of Yi Province was as high as 7.2 million, and if the hidden households concealed by the aristocratic families and a considerable number of foreign tribes hidden in the mountains were included, Liu Yan judged that the population of Yi Province was definitely over eight million.

"Could it be that my nephew Xuande failed to secure Mr. Zikun's official career, causing Mr. Zikun great disappointment, and he is now writing to me hoping to join my administration?"

Liu Yan stroked his beard, and a hint of anticipation appeared in his eyes.

Liu Xuande is a member of the Han imperial family, and I am also a member of the Han imperial family;

Liu Xuande is a commandery administrator, but I am the governor of a province.

"It seems that after all, my previous overtures have finally made Mr. Zikun understand that the wise ruler is in Shu, not in Wu…"

Liu Yan said smugly to himself as he broke the seal on the bamboo scroll and opened it to take his first look.

【Dare to ask, does Lord Liu desire to be a king? Split the land of Shu, occupy the Land of Abundance, and become a king and lord yourself…】

Instantly, Liu Yan's face changed dramatically, and he instinctively closed the bamboo scroll in his hand, scanning his surroundings with lightning-like eyes, frightening the two maids who were originally serving beside him into kneeling on the ground.

Liu Yan relaxed his tense expression and said gently.

"The ground is cold, you may rise."

"Yes."

The two maids heard this and quickly stood up.

Liu Yan looked at the two maids beside him and casually asked, "Did you see anything on the bamboo scroll just now?"

"No… no…"

One of the maids replied nervously.

The other maid said, "I, I can't read."

"So that's how it is, but…"

Liu Yan's originally gentle voice changed, and he suddenly shouted loudly, saying.

"Guards!"

Immediately, the personal guards who had been guarding outside the house rushed in.

Liu Yan glanced coldly at the two maids who were frozen in place and said.

"Drag them down, gag their mouths, and beat them to death!"

Instantly, the blood drained from the faces of the two maids, and they quickly knelt down again, begging for mercy.

"Spare me!"

"No, I…"

Before the two maids could continue to speak, the wolf-like personal guards gagged their mouths and forcibly dragged the two delicate maids down.

As two muffled sounds and the sound of bones breaking echoed outside the house, Liu Yan hid the bamboo scroll in his sleeve, walked out with his hands behind his back, glanced at the two maids who were already lifeless, and then returned to the house, forbidding anyone to approach.

Only then did Liu Yan carefully take out the bamboo scroll again and slowly unfold it…

【Dare to ask, does Lord Liu desire to be a king?】

Seeing that opening question again, Liu Yan felt his heart beating uncontrollably.

King!

Then, Liu Yan continued to unfold the bamboo scroll and read on.

The content stated by Li Ji in the bamboo scroll was not complicated. Besides the opening question, the rest was a statement of Liu Yan's background and current situation.

Perhaps Liu Yan was now the governor of a province, wielding military and political power, but his background in the court was not solid, and as the first governor of a province in the current Han Dynasty, Liu Yan had undoubtedly become a thorn in the side of many people.

There were definitely many people who coveted the position of Governor of Yi Province.

【Now that Lord Liu is the Governor of Yi Province, he must either advance or retreat. However, if he retreats even half a step, without the protection of power and influence, he may not have a place to settle down in the future. Considering our old friendship, I hereby inform you…】

Li Ji's wording in the bamboo scroll was quite euphemistic, but Liu Yan seemed to understand his own fate from it.

Once he was replaced as the Governor of Yi Province, and Liu Yan did not advance further into the court, then the new Governor of Yi Province, in order to consolidate power, would definitely not give Liu Yan a good ending.

It should be known that Li Ji was very clear about what happened to Han Fu after Yuan Shao occupied Ji Province in the original trajectory…

It was not enough to just empty Han Fu's power and turn him into a puppet. In the end, Han Fu died in the latrine.

Although Liu Yan had no precedent to learn from, his political sense undoubtedly made him understand that his situation, standing at the crest of the wave, was not stable.

More importantly, the idea of the Governor of Yi Province advancing further to split the land and become a king made Liu Yan's heart flutter, feeling his mouth dry and unable to control himself.

Most men cannot resist lust…

Ever since Chen Sheng and Wu Guang shouted, "Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born with a special seed?", not many men could remain indifferent to the word "king."

Liu Yan held the bamboo scroll tightly, sitting in the house lost in thought for a long time.

It was not until a voice came from outside the house that he realized that several hours had passed in the blink of an eye, and his back was already soaked with sweat.

"Why are you stopping me? Don't you recognize me, Liu Jiyu?"

"Young master, this is the lord's order, no one is allowed to approach."

"Not even me?"

Just as Liu Zhang seemed to mutter something and then seemed to be preparing to turn around and leave.

Liu Yan's voice suddenly came from inside the house.

"Zhang'er, come in."

"Yes, father."

Liu Zhang responded and then carefully pushed the door open and walked in.

Liu Yan looked at Liu Zhang's respectful and cautious appearance, and as several thoughts flashed through his mind, he said.

"Close the door."

"Yes."

Liu Zhang quickly turned around and closed the door, and then carefully walked to Liu Yan's side and knelt down.

"Zhang'er, do you have something important to come here?"

Liu Zhang cautiously replied, "I only have a small matter. If father is busy with important matters, I will withdraw first and mention it another day."

Liu Yan did not speak, but stared at the young son in front of him, who seemed somewhat dull on weekdays.

Compared to Liu Zhang's three older brothers, Liu Zhang's talent and ability were inferior, but Liu Zhang's character was pure and filial on weekdays, so Liu Yan was quite fond of Liu Zhang and often brought Liu Zhang with him.

Being stared at by Liu Yan's eyes, which seemed to be exploring and measuring something, Liu Zhang could not help but feel nervous, sweating all over, and did not dare to look Liu Yan directly in the eyes.

After a moment, Liu Yan slowly spoke, saying.

"Zhang'er, I will ask you a question."

"Please speak, father."

Liu Yan stared closely at Liu Zhang and said.

"If your three older brothers all die, what should you do?"

Instantly, Liu Zhang instinctively raised his head sharply, his eyes unconsciously meeting Liu Yan's, and what flickered in his eyes was shock and ecstasy.

Then, Liu Zhang quickly bowed down again, saying.

"My three older brothers are all in Luoyang now. Who dares to harm my three older brothers under the emperor's feet? Even if someone wants to harm my three older brothers, my three older brothers will have good fortune and turn danger into safety."

"If your three older brothers all die, what should you do?" Liu Yan asked again.

Liu Zhang felt his heart beating wildly, and even his breathing could not help but be a little disordered.

This kind of assumption, this kind of possibility…

Only if Liu Yan rebelled would the court directly order the execution of Liu Yan's three sons left in Luoyang.

And if my three older brothers die, then everything of father's will be mine.

Liu Zhang still maintained a bit of dullness on his face, and then kowtowed to Liu Yan, saying. "I should bear the filial piety of my three older brothers and spend the rest of my life being filial to father."

"If, as your father, I were to ask you to die with me, would you be willing?" Liu Yan narrowed his eyes and asked again.

At this moment, how could Liu Zhang not understand what Liu Yan meant? He answered without hesitation.

“Zhang'er will certainly die before Father.”

“Good!”

Liu Yan stroked Liu Zhang's head and said gently, “Zhang'er, the ground is cold. You should stand up and speak.”

“Yes.”

Liu Zhang hurriedly got up, serving Liu Yan with a well-behaved appearance.

Liu Yan then handed the bamboo scroll he was holding tightly to Liu Zhang, and said.

“Zhang'er, take a look at this.”

— —

PS: Seeking monthly tickets… … (End of this chapter)