Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Chapter 22: Show off! Demonstrate power! Build momentum!

In Liu Bei and Guan Yu's eyes, this plan had some of the essence of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors," but Li Ji knew the real name of this plan was "Involution."

With limited resources (meat) and limited work (number of Yellow Turban bandits), if anyone wanted to eat more meat, or even wanted their family to eat more meat, then these Yellow Turban members could only compete frantically.

Every Yellow Turban bandit hidden among the Yellow Turban crowd was one less to kill, and the meat on display in front of everyone was also one less catty to divide.

As long as one person took action, it was destined that the entire Yellow Turban crowd could only compete with each other in involution.

After the overall situation was settled, Li Ji, under the protection of fifty riders led by Guan Yu, went straight to Zhuo County City and returned.

However, Guan Yu was lost in thought along the way, and after pondering for a long time, he couldn't help but ask.

"Mr. Zikun, Guan has some doubts, I wonder if you can enlighten me?"

Li Ji heard the words, and a shadow loomed over his heart again, but in an instant, he regained his confidence.

Although it had only been a few days, Li Ji, with his ability to never forget, had successfully crammed "The Spring and Autumn Annals" once. Even if he didn't understand much, he would never be at a loss for words when asked.

"Yun Chang, please speak," Li Ji replied.

Guan Yu asked, "The plan Mr. Zikun used just now, Guan has thought about it carefully and found that there doesn't seem to be any loopholes. If evil people falsely accuse ordinary people of being Yellow Turban bandits to swindle meat, wouldn't that harm ordinary people?"

Li Ji heard the words, thought for a while, and asked, "I remember Yun Chang is from Xie County, Hedong Commandery?"

Guan Yu didn't understand what he meant, but still replied, "That's right."

"With Yun Chang's bearing and courage, I believe that the elders and folks within ten miles of Xie County rarely don't know Yun Chang," Li Ji guessed.

"That's natural."

Guan Yu replied as a matter of course, and then looked at Li Ji's meaningful smile, and suddenly understood.

In this era, communication was extremely underdeveloped, which also led to a considerable understanding between villages.

When the Yellow Turban bandits looted the people, they often absorbed large numbers of people into the Yellow Turban crowd, and based on human instinct, familiar groups would instinctively band together.

Therefore, perhaps those people who were banding together were not sure that the strange faces that appeared around them must be Yellow Turban bandits, but once a familiar face was falsely accused of being a Yellow Turban bandit, they would definitely not sit idly by.

"Wonderful, it turns out that the people in this plan are not only executors, but also the best supervisors of each other."

Guan Yu praised, and then raised another question. "What if some people deliberately shield fellow villagers who have already joined the Yellow Turbans?"

"So what?"

Li Ji said disapprovingly.

"There is no need to be too harsh on the people. Since a person can gain the understanding of a large number of villagers by joining the Yellow Turbans, why should we delve into the details."

"Furthermore, this also shows the weakness of those Yellow Turban bandits lies in the people of the same village. As long as we don't have the intention to massacre the people, those Yellow Turban bandits will definitely not do anything violent, so there is no need for excessive killing."

Guan Yu nodded in approval and said, "Mr. Zikun also has benevolence in his heart, Guan admires you."

Benevolence?

Li Ji remained noncommittal about this, his eyes fixed on the vaguely visible city walls of Zhuo County at the end of his vision.

And the soldiers on the city wall of Zhuo County also noticed the movement of these fifty riders, and quickly closed the city gate.

When Li Ji arrived in front of the city gate of Zhuo County, the city gate had been completely closed, and many county soldiers were already ready to draw their bows.

"Who is coming?"

Due to the distance, Li Ji could not see who was asking the question on the city gate.

However, Li Ji had no intention of answering, and instead turned to Guan Yu and said.

"Yun Chang, please lead fifty riders around Zhuo County City twice, show off! Demonstrate power! Build momentum!"

"Tie the heads of Cheng Yuanzhi and Deng Mao to the Yellow Turban flag, and shout: A great victory! Inspector Cao Liu Xuande defeated the Yellow Turbans, beheaded generals and seized flags, the Yellow Turban bandit leader and the flag are here!"

Guan Yu heard the words, judged that Li Ji's current distance was far beyond the range of an arrow from the city wall of Zhuo County, so there was no need to worry about safety issues for the time being, and immediately acted according to Li Ji's words.

"A great victory!!!"

"Inspector Cao Liu Xuande defeated the Yellow Turbans, beheaded generals and seized flags, the Yellow Turban bandit leader and the flag are here!!!"

For a time, the sound of war horses galloping like drums spread into Zhuo County, and Guan Yu and fifty riders shouted this information in unison.

In an instant, not only the county soldiers on the city wall looked sideways, but even the people in Zhuo County who heard the earth-shattering shouts were surprised, and then cheered with joy.

The city of Zhuo County was not a tall city wall in the first place. After Guan Yu led fifty riders around twice and finished shouting, even Li Ji could vaguely hear the movement from within Zhuo County.

Especially the fact that Liu Bei led two thousand soldiers to openly crusade against the bandits three days ago, and the heated discussions within Zhuo County about Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness in the face of death had not yet subsided.

It's just that the people in Zhuo County were more discussing whether such a benevolent and righteous person as Liu Bei had a chance to come back alive.

At this time, hearing that Liu Bei had won a great victory over the Yellow Turban bandits undoubtedly completely detonated the movement within Zhuo County.

And such a movement naturally alarmed Liu Yan, the prefect, who hurriedly climbed the city tower and looked at Li Ji and others below at this moment from a distance.

Compared with Li Ji's attire, Guan Yu's beautiful beard under his jaw was undoubtedly extremely recognizable. Even at a very long distance, Liu Yan could roughly distinguish that the beautiful beard should be Guan Yu.

Shocked, Liu Yan inadvertently tore off a few of his beards, and made a few "hiss" sounds. It was unknown whether he was exclaiming for Liu Bei's mere two thousand people actually defeating the Yellow Turbans, or purely exclaiming in pain.

"Does that Liu Bei have the ability of three heads and six arms?" Liu Yan said in doubt.

Zou Jing, who was standing next to Liu Yan, cupped his hands and said.

"My lord, in my opinion, let alone Liu Bei having three heads and six arms, even if all two thousand people have three heads and six arms, it is impossible to win against the Yellow Turbans. The scouts reported that the number of the Yellow Turban army is overwhelming, with no end in sight at a glance, at least fifty thousand."

"That person is clearly Liu Bei's second brother, Guan Yu, and what's the matter with the head and flag in his hand?" Liu Yan asked back.

Zou Jing hesitated for a long time, and then said.

"Or, or is it forged? The so-called soldiers, the way of deception. That Liu Bei may have surrendered to the Yellow Turbans, and then specially ordered Guan Yu to trick him into opening the city gate."

However, the look Liu Yan gave Zou Jing was as if to say: Are you fooling me?

Liu Yan knew that he was not good enough in military talent, so he entrusted most of the military affairs of Zhuo County to Zou Jing. That was true.

But Liu Yan was not a fool. The Yellow Turban flag could never be forged by Liu Bei.

As for the Yellow Turban bandits specially handing over the flag to the other party in order to trick them into opening the city gate, that was also impossible.

No matter how deceitful the soldiers were, it was impossible to hand over the "base crystal."

Liu Yan twirled his beard, and Liu Bei's firm face and Li Ji's confident and indifferent smile involuntarily appeared in his mind. He inexplicably had a little more trust in this incredible news and ordered.

"Go, use a hanging basket to put two soldiers down to confirm the identity of the other party and the head and flag."

"Yes, my lord."

Zou Jing quickly dispatched two soldiers who could recognize Guan Yu's identity, and lowered them from the city wall through a hanging basket to confirm their identity.

Soon, the two soldiers returned with the flag and head, and presented them to Liu Yan and Zou Jing.

"It really is the Yellow Turban flag..."

Liu Yan personally checked it and then asked, "Who is the leader of those dozens of riders? Can you see clearly?"

The two soldiers replied, "One is Guan Yu, and the other is Li Ji. We have seen them before when they left the city."

"In this case, it seems that it can't be fake."

Liu Yan said with amazement in his tone, and then his heart was filled with ecstasy.

Under the rebellion of the Yellow Turban bandits, the vast Han Dynasty was collapsing everywhere, with few victories.

Now Zhuo County, which Liu Yan controlled, had defeated that huge Yellow Turban army. With just a little imagination, Liu Yan could understand that this would inevitably bring him great fame, prestige, and merit.

Immediately, Liu Yan pondered for a full ten breaths, and then restored his expression of neither sadness nor joy, and said.

"Since it has been confirmed that it is under the command of Inspector Cao Liu Xuande, there is no reason not to allow him to enter the city. Let them enter the city, and then order Li Ji and Guan Yu to come to the Prefect's Mansion to meet me."

After saying that, Liu Yan waved his sleeves and slowly went downstairs to return to the Prefect's Mansion, and took away the two heads and the flag with him.

It's just that when Liu Yan got off the city tower and got into the carriage to return to the Prefect's Mansion, he heard the voices of people discussing Liu Bei's great victory over the Yellow Turbans from time to time on both sides of the road.

Liu Yan suddenly thought of something, and his face became a little ugly.

"You little brat, you want to use this method to force me? Ridiculous."

Liu Yan said leisurely, and several ways to make Liu Bei obediently hand over this huge achievement almost instantly appeared in his mind.

"If you obediently listen to me and work for me, I might be able to help you, but since you are so ungrateful, then don't blame me."

Liu Yan snorted coldly, and then ordered the coachman, "Speed up."

Soon, Liu Yan returned to his Prefect's Mansion, and then instructed the County Chancellor who hurried up to greet him a few words before striding into the Prefect's Mansion.

When Li Ji and Guan Yu entered Zhuo County and arrived at the Prefectural Governor's mansion, they were not greeted by Liu Yan himself, but by rows of strong soldiers holding weapons.

A show of force?

Li Ji smiled indifferently at the sight.

If it had been ten days earlier, Li Ji might have been intimidated by this scene.

However, after being in close contact with fierce generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei for some time, and having personally planned and witnessed the annihilation of the Yellow Turban bandits, how could Li Ji be frightened by such a small scene?

As for Guan Yu, who was beside Li Ji, he narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, and while disdaining to comment on these worthless fellows, he reminded Li Ji in a low voice.

"Mr. Zikun, if anything unexpected happens, please quickly hide behind Guan. Guan will risk his life to protect you and ensure your safe departure."

"Hahaha, Yun Chang, you worry too much."

Li Ji laughed loudly as he faced the dozens of gleaming weapons extending from the front of the Prefectural Governor's mansion to the main hall.

"We and Brother Xuande led two thousand soldiers in a bloody battle, invincible and unstoppable. Even the overwhelming Yellow Turban Army could not defeat us. How dare these mere hundred or so county soldiers take action?"

"Moreover, everything we have done is for benevolence, righteousness, and great justice, risking our lives to protect the people of Zhuo County. Now that we have returned to Zhuo County, we will surely be endlessly grateful to by the people. How could there be any hostility?"

These resounding words not only reached Liu Yan's ears in the main hall but also clearly entered the ears of every county soldier.

Many of the county soldiers turned red with shame and lowered their heads subconsciously, no longer daring to look directly at Li Ji. Even the weapons they held unconsciously turned slightly away, unwilling to point in Li Ji's direction.

Seeing this scene, Li Ji felt no sense of triumph. Instead, his heart was filled with an unspeakable pride.

'Our Han people may have many shortcomings, but we have never lacked those who sing aloud with generosity, nor those heroes who are willing to dedicate themselves to ideals and great righteousness, nor those who are grateful and understand the greater good.'

'Liu Yan, ah, Liu Yan, your orders may not be able to overcome the shame and righteousness in the hearts of these county soldiers. How could the soldiers of the people point their weapons at the back of someone who protects them?'

'If Brother Xuande were here at this moment and shouted: Liu Yan is a traitor who colludes with the Yellow Turban bandits! Who knows whether these county soldiers would listen to you or to their fellow villager, Liu Xuande.'

Immediately, Li Ji waved his sleeves and walked calmly through the two rows of county soldiers, heading straight to the main hall, where he bowed and saluted Liu Yan, who was sitting in the main seat.

"Li Ji, a scholar from Zhuo County, pays his respects to the Prefectural Governor."

The situation outside the main hall naturally did not escape Liu Yan's notice, which made Liu Yan's face reveal an obvious gloomy look.

However, after a few breaths, Liu Yan's previous gloominess completely dissipated, and instead, he personally got up and walked to Li Ji's side, gently supporting him with a warm smile on his face.

"You are too kind! I heard that Mr. Zikun returned in great victory and was about to organize soldiers to welcome you out of the mansion with the highest standards of etiquette. I did not expect Mr. Zikun to arrive so quickly."

Li Ji returned a smile, as if he did not know that it was all a show of force just now, and replied.

"It is because I could not wait to report the great victory to you, my lord. It is my fault."

"Mr. Zikun, what fault is there? Let us sit down and talk in detail."

Liu Yan took Li Ji's wrist and sat down, and then he did not sit back in the main seat, but sat directly opposite Li Ji.

However, when Liu Yan saw Guan Yu, who was standing behind Li Ji with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, his expression could not help but stiffen slightly, and then he pointed to a seat on the side and motioned.

"Is this Xuande's second brother, Guan Yunchang? Please have a seat as well."

However, unlike Li Ji, who was being polite, Guan Yu's slightly opened phoenix eyes made no secret of his contempt and disdain for Liu Yan, and he said proudly.

"Guan thanks you for your kindness, my lord, but Guan is wearing armor and is stained with the blood of bandits, so it is not appropriate to dirty the seat in your mansion. Standing here is sufficient."

"You?!"

Even if Liu Yan was very cunning, he could not help but feel angry when he was so despised by a mere martial artist like Guan Yu, and he raised the teacup high and threw it down.