Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Chapter 19: Good? Who knows? Who believes?

A one-on-one duel is the best way to boost morale on one side and break the spine of the other, declaring one side's martial prowess in the most direct way.

The soldiers at the bottom are often followers and blind, especially in this era of extremely low information transmission efficiency.

For example, Xing Daorong, the general of Lingling, is not the strongest general in Lingling, deeply respected and admired by the soldiers of Lingling.

Therefore, when the two armies face each other, the soldiers of Lingling will naturally have an idea: the enemy general's reputation may be great, but our side also has the strongest general in Lingling, and the true strength may not be inferior to the opponent.

In this case, the one-on-one duel between the main generals of both sides will very directly expose the differences between the two sides.

Once our main general is defeated, it will naturally make our soldiers blindly produce a sense of fear and powerlessness that no one on our side can stop the opposing main general.

Now, Deng Mao's death can be said to have taken away the last bit of morale from the remaining Yellow Turban bandits.

Without the secret instigation of the Yellow Turban bandits, the Yellow Turban crowd quickly calmed down completely under Liu Bei's combined force of power and virtue.

However, Liu Bei still felt a huge pressure looking at the more than 50,000 Yellow Turban crowd that occupied most of the river beach between the crowds.

After all, Liu Bei now only has about 1,500 soldiers left under his command, and it is not an easy task to manage more than 50,000 Yellow Turban crowd well.

In addition, these more than 50,000 Yellow Turban crowd also hide many restless Yellow Turban bandits, which makes these Yellow Turban crowd in a sense like a time bomb, which may explode at any time, causing Liu Bei's side to be crushed to pieces.

"By the way, Mr. Zikun planned the current situation single-handedly, and he must have a good strategy to appease the Yellow Turban crowd."

Liu Bei suddenly woke up and quickly said to Guan Yu beside him. "Yunchang, you go and invite Mr. Zikun here quickly, and remember not to lose your manners."

"Yes."

Just as Guan Yu clasped his hands in response and was about to leave, a calm voice sounded behind Liu Bei.

"Brother Xuande, there is no need for such trouble, I have already arrived."

Liu Bei heard the words, turned around and looked behind him, and it was Li Ji who was being protected in the middle by ten soldiers.

Although the reunion was only a moment, the record of planning the Yellow Turban Army made Liu Bei and Guan Yu look at Li Ji with great difference.

Previously, even if Liu Bei believed that Li Ji was a man of great talent, the fact that he defeated 60,000 Yellow Turban troops with 2,000 under Li Ji's plan undoubtedly made Liu Bei completely regard Li Ji as a god.

Immediately, Liu Bei hurriedly greeted Li Ji and said with concern.

"The battlefield is uncertain, or there may be dangers hidden, why doesn't Zikun wait for Yunchang to **** you down."

While Liu Bei was talking, he did not forget to observe the surroundings, for fear that any danger would pop up and hurt his darling.

And Guan Yu, who had been somewhat arrogant in front of Li Ji before, also consciously bowed and saluted this time behind Liu Bei.

This made Li Ji, who keenly felt all this, although he wanted to continue to maintain this calm and peaceful "basic operation", the corners of his mouth still could not help but slightly翘 up.

In particular, the fact that even the arrogant Guan Erye was convinced made Li Ji inexplicably feel a great sense of accomplishment.

However, Li Ji did not have any sense of complacency, and from then on, he thought that his talent and wisdom were really like the bright moon in the sky.

Although the record of defeating 60,000 with 2,000 is extremely brilliant, not to mention that the opponent is a Yellow Turban Army with many flaws and lacks a real wise man, more importantly, in order to confirm this victory, Li Ji really calculated many times of "strategy simulator" deduction.

First, through the deduction of the "strategy simulator", the time when the Yellow Turban Army arrived near Zhuoxian County was determined, and then the general marching route of the Yellow Turban Army was deduced, so that Zhang Fei could lead the Yan Yun Eighteen Riders to find the Yellow Turban Army in advance, and harass them all the way, laying the foundation for Zhang Fei's subsequent provocation and lure of the enemy.

Subsequently, under Li Ji's attempt to use Zhuoxian City as bait to attack the Yellow Turban bandit headquarters, it was determined that there were a large number of Yellow Turban spies hidden in Zhuoxian County, and the strength comparison between the righteous army led by Liu, Guan and Zhang and the Yellow Turban bandit headquarters.

These two points are crucial.

The former allowed Li Ji to deliberately arrange for Liu Bei to leave the city with great fanfare to relax the Yellow Turban bandits' vigilance; the latter became the core key to the next plan.

It was also under the various factors deduced through the "strategy simulator" above that Li Ji was able to set the Da Xing Mountain plan accordingly.

Therefore, Li Ji felt that his talent and wisdom were still lacking, and even with the assistance of the special ability of "strategy simulator", he still needed to be careful in everything.

Li Ji didn't want to get a negative title similar to "Lingling General", such as: Zhuojun Talent.

Facing Liu Bei and Guan Yu's respectful treatment, Li Ji would naturally not be arrogant enough to look at people with his nostrils, and quickly bowed his hands in return.

"Ji's danger is less than one-tenth of that of Brother Xuande and Yunchang who are in front of the battle."

Liu Bei shook his head and said excitedly. "How can this be compared, Zikun has set up such a shocking strategy, and he has made great contributions. Bei and his second brother have only used a little bit of courage."

Li Ji said modestly.

"The victory of this battle depends entirely on Brother Xuande's perseverance, Yunchang and Yide's bravery, and the soldiers' determination to defend their hometown. Ji is just moving his lips."

It has to be said that there is nothing more pleasing to both parties than commercial mutual flattery, especially when both parties feel that the other is indeed powerful, the flattery is even more sincere and extremely infectious.

Therefore, not to mention Liu Bei and Li Ji, the two parties involved, Guan Yu, the second master who was praised from time to time, his squinting Danfeng eyes unconsciously became a crescent moon, seemingly arrogantly and indifferently looking at the world, but secretly pricked up his ears and listened to every word, listening with secret pleasure.

After all, Guan Yu disdains others' flattery and praise, but it also depends on who the object of flattery and praise is?

If it is the sage in "Spring and Autumn" who angrily pushed the coffin board and praised Guan Yu in his dream?

Or if the person who praises Guan Yu is the respected elder brother in his heart? Or Li Ji, Mr. Li Zikun, who has unparalleled talent in Guan Yu's heart at this moment?

Guan Yu naturally stroked his long beard back and forth, listening to Liu Bei and Li Ji's conversation as if tasting wine, nodding from time to time, and slowly uttered a word.

"Wonderful!"

However, Liu Bei quickly suppressed the excitement in his heart, his face slightly straightened, the topic changed, and he said.

"Zikun, Bei now has less than 1,500 soldiers under his command, guarding more than 50,000 Yellow Turban crowd is like a child pushing a big cart, and if he is not careful, he will be crushed to pieces by the big cart. I wonder if Zikun has a plan to teach me?"

Li Ji heard the words, looked past Liu Bei at the Yellow Turban crowd sitting in groups of three or five on the river beach at this moment, 70-80% of them were just the old, weak, women and children, and many were children nervously hugged by their families, and even some infants babbling in their arms.

And under the cautious gaze of those pairs of eyes, Li Ji could feel the Yellow Turban crowd's inner confusion, fear, worry, anxiety…

'Perhaps in that deduction, the Yellow Turban girl who was willing to give me a bite to eat was also one of them.'

Li Ji thought silently, and at the same time, he also had a sense of compassion, otherwise he would not have trapped them in this river beach to the greatest extent in this way.

It's just that the problem that needs to be faced now is not only how to stabilize these Yellow Turban crowd as Liu Bei said, but more importantly, how to arrange these Yellow Turban crowd in the future.

"Brother Xuande, if you want to temporarily appease these Yellow Turban crowd, it's easy."

Li Ji thought for a while and said.

"Brother Xuande can send a hundred people to assist Yide and immediately cook porridge on the opposite bank of the Juma River. Now these more than 50,000 Yellow Turban crowd must have been hungry for a long time. With the hope of a full stomach in front of them, let alone the Yellow Turban bandits instigating in secret, even if the sky falls apart, they will not riot."

Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard the words, and immediately transferred a hundred people to assist Zhang Fei.

Now Zhang Fei has completely seized the entire Yellow Turban Army's supplies, claiming that it is enough for Liu Bei's two thousand people to eat for three to five years is obviously not an exaggeration.

After all, it is now close to the time of spring plowing, and the people of Youzhou have some surplus food in their homes.

Although the Yellow Turban Army came from Jizhou and had quite sufficient food and grass, they would obviously not commit any crimes against the wealthy families and people in the places they passed, but instead took all the people and their families into the Yellow Turban Army.

Therefore, the supplies seized by Zhang Fei not only had sufficient food and grass, but also had as many as two large carts of gold and silver treasures.

As Zhang Fei quickly arranged for people to set up stoves and cook, the curling smoke quickly shifted the attention of almost all the Yellow Turban crowd, and pairs of eyes full of longing watched the smoke on the opposite bank of the river.

The smoke with the aroma of rice made the stomachs of the Yellow Turban crowd growl one after another.

Seeing this scene, Liu Bei couldn't help but say with great joy.

"I didn't expect that the method to appease these Yellow Turban crowd is really so simple and practical, Zikun is really talented."

It's just that Li Ji's expression was not as relaxed as Liu Bei's, but instead said with a slightly heavy expression.

"Brother Xuande, this method is only to appease the Yellow Turban crowd in the short term. Even if Yide seizes more supplies, it is impossible to raise the Yellow Turban crowd in this way indefinitely."

"It's okay."

Liu Bei, who had relieved his worries, waved his hand and said easily.

"Later, I will let Yunchang rush back to Zhuoxian County to report to the prefect that the Yellow Turban has been defeated, and hand over these Yellow Turban crowd to the prefect, and then the prefect will send these Yellow Turban crowd back to their respective hometowns, and even catch up with the restoration of spring plowing."

However, Li Ji abruptly poured cold water on Liu Bei, saying, "In that case, these fifty thousand Yellow Turban troops are certain to die."

"What?!" Liu Bei looked at Li Ji in shock and confusion.

Li Ji said in a low voice, "Brother Xuande, in your opinion, is the merit of defeating five thousand Yellow Turban bandits greater, or the merit of annihilating sixty thousand Yellow Turban soldiers greater?"

Killing good people and claiming credit?!

This phrase instantly popped into the minds of Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

In an instant, not only did Liu Bei's eyes widen, but even Guan Yu angrily shouted,

"Killing good people and claiming credit, does Liu Yan dare to do such a thing?!"

However, Li Ji sighed, pointed his finger at the Yellow Turban troops in front of him, and said,

"Good people? Who knows? Who believes it?"

"Zikun, take a look, most of these are old, weak, women, and children. They must have been coerced into joining the Yellow Turbans," Liu Bei said, somewhat anxiously.

But Li Ji shook his head and said,

"Even if there are Yellow Turban thieves hidden inside, can Brother Xuande be sure that everyone was coerced? In the dens of mountain bandits and robbers, there are also old, weak, women, and children, and they also enjoy the spoils plundered by the mountain bandits and robbers. Are they innocent to those travelers who died at the hands of the mountain bandits and robbers? In the eyes of the government, are the old, weak, women, and children raised by those mountain bandits and robbers innocent?"

Liu Bei's face was pale, but he didn't know how to refute.

From Liu Bei's perspective, he was willing to believe that the vast majority of the Yellow Turban troops were forced, but to those who died at the hands of the Yellow Turbans, were the Yellow Turban troops necessarily innocent?

Even thinking deeper, in the eyes of the imperial court, regardless of whether they were coerced or not, these were rebellious people who could be killed to deter the world.

In this way, even if Liu Yan really killed all these surrendered Yellow Turban troops, the imperial court would not have any punishment, but would only praise Liu Yan for maintaining the dignity of the imperial court. How could it be considered killing good people and claiming credit?

Li Ji had been paying attention to Liu Bei's expression changes from beginning to end, and slowly said,

"Therefore, Brother Xuande, if you hand over these fifty thousand Yellow Turban troops to Prefect Liu Yan, not only will these Yellow Turban troops surely die, but you will only hand over such great merit to him."

"Now, Brother Xuande already has an official position. If you have the merit of annihilating sixty thousand Yellow Turban soldiers, at a time of great crisis for the Han Dynasty, this is undoubtedly a great encouragement to the people. Perhaps you will be directly promoted to the position of governor of a state by the imperial court."

However, the Great Han was only thirteen states in size, and the temptation of a state governor did not make Liu Bei, who not long ago was just a straw sandal seller, hesitate even for a moment. He waved his hand and resolutely said,

"If Bei's success and fame are built on the bones of thousands of fathers and elders, Bei would rather die than accept this merit."

After a pause, Liu Bei turned to look at Li Ji, his firm and gentle eyes seemed to see through Li Ji's heart, and said,

"Bei also knows that Zikun must also have a place for the common people in his heart, otherwise he would never have reminded me like this. Therefore, please teach me, Zikun. Bei is grateful! The people of Zhuojun will definitely remember Zikun's great kindness and virtue!"

At this moment, Li Ji finally couldn't help but show a smile on his face.

Li Ji was indeed not the type to eat human blood steamed buns, but there were too many warlords in this era who could eat human blood steamed buns. Even in the eyes of many warlords, dried human meat was not necessarily not military rations.

Therefore, Li Ji's reminder was also to know a deeper level of Liu Bei's character.

Li Ji was right. Even if these Yellow Turban troops were slaughtered, in the mainstream view of this era, it would not be considered killing good people and claiming credit.

Therefore, Li Ji pushed a perfect excuse for self-comfort to Liu Bei, and then pointed out the promising position of governor as a temptation to judge the thoughts in Liu Bei's heart.

——

PS: I would like to mention here that if you simply look at Liu Bei's leading the people across the river in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it seems to highlight Liu Bei's stupidity and hypocrisy everywhere.

But if before this, Cao Cao had already carried out five de facto massacres of cities, namely: Xuzhou, Yongqiu, Pengcheng, Ye City, and Liucheng.

Especially Cao Cao's two massacres of Xuzhou and Pengcheng, which were adjacent to Jingzhou, even if the transmission of information in ancient times was not well-developed, the facts that happened in the surrounding areas and the propaganda of the people who fled from Xuzhou would not make the people of Jingzhou fear.

Under such circumstances, it became normal for a large number of people to be willing to follow Liu Bei to escape.

As for the saying that Liu Bei used the people as a shield to block Cao Cao, it is even more outrageous. In the ancient times when there was no satellite positioning, if Liu Bei really wanted to slip away, he could take a dozen people and drill into the deep mountains and forests, and even the gods would not be able to find him.

On the contrary, leading the people to escape, with all kinds of burdens on the old, weak, women, and children, would cause Liu Bei's side to be caught up by Cao Cao, and even put Liu Bei's family in danger.

Of course, this is not to deliberately belittle Boss Cao. It's just that Boss Cao is a true hero, and he really doesn't care much about the lives of the bottom people.