Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

However, with the experience of the last time, both Guo Yi and Xu You were undoubtedly much more cautious this time.

Under Xu You's suggestion, Guo Yi continued to send out more scouts to investigate the movements of Wu Jun, and also prepared to send people to persuade the mountain tribes again.

The mountain tribes were also clearly aware of Li Ji's reputation. As long as the mountain tribes knew that Li Ji had left Qiantang County, there was no need to worry that the mountain tribes would not be tempted.

The wealth of Wu Jun had gradually formed a fixed impression in the entire Yangzhou, constantly accepting refugees, as if Wu Jun's money and food were endless.

And in order to be cautious, Guo Yi also openly sent an envoy to Wu County to congratulate Li Ji.

Besides paralyzing Wu Jun in this way, the purpose was to further confirm at close range whether Li Ji and all the other Wu Jun officials had gathered in Wu County.

For a time, the two sides of the Qiantang River seemed calm, but in fact, there was an undercurrent of tension, and a storm was brewing.

…

At this moment, Li Ji, riding in a carriage, had already returned to Wu County along the official road at a leisurely pace, and along the way, Li Ji also randomly selected some places he passed to inspect the water conservancy problems.

Although the war had been deadlocked on the southern border of Wu Jun for more than two months, under the circumstances that Liu Bei did not conscript soldiers from the people, it had no impact on the lives of ordinary people in Wu Jun and the "work-for-relief" program.

On the contrary, in addition to the gradual improvement of Wu Jun's water conservancy and the large increase in population, the overall situation had initially shown a thriving atmosphere.

Although there were no耕牛 yet, many officials had already begun to lead the women and children who were not suitable for excavating river channels to cultivate fertile land. Although the progress was slow, it contained the hope of truly taking root and living here.

Li Ji also saw many hopeful smiling faces that were completely different from the previous numbness.

This made Li Ji more determined in his choice, preferring to spend more money and food to maintain the war than to introduce the disaster of war into the territory.

Today's Wu Jun needs a stable environment to develop.

There are not many years left before the real troubled times arrive.

Compared with the aristocratic families with deep foundations like Yuan Shao, if Liu Bei wants to have the foundation to compete with him, he can only truly develop Wu Jun.

The early bird catches the worm…

Apart from benevolence, Liu Bei has nothing else.

Then, Wu Jun will be built into a existence similar to the "Sword Saint of Shili Slope", to "rule the world with one county"?

'My lord, or to compete for the world with one county…'

While Li Ji was thinking secretly, Zhao Yun's voice sounded outside the carriage, saying.

"Mr. Zikun, the lord has come to meet you."

"What?"

Li Ji was slightly startled, and hurriedly opened the curtain of the carriage. What appeared in front of him was Liu Bei, who was riding a horse and his face was full of joy.

"Zikun, you are finally back."

Liu Bei dismounted and walked quickly to the side of the stopped carriage, and said repeatedly.

Seeing this, Li Ji hurriedly got out of the carriage.

But before Li Ji could jump off the shaft of the car, Liu Bei naturally helped Li Ji to the ground himself, and did not forget to remind him carefully.

"Slow down, slow down, don't fall and get hurt."

Li Ji was a little dumbfounded as he was helped off the carriage by Liu Bei, and said. "This place is probably still ten miles away from Wu County. Why is the lord here?"

"A mere ten miles, how can it stop Bei from seeing Zikun's heart?"

While Liu Bei was talking, he did not forget to look up and down at Li Ji, and said. "Zikun has really worked hard in Qiantang County to preside over the war situation during this period. Zikun has lost weight…"

Suddenly noticing that Li Ji seemed to be obviously stronger than before, Liu Bei's voice couldn't help but pause.

In the past, Li Ji's figure could be described as slender and slender. At this moment, it seemed that there was not much change on the surface, but in fact, he could obviously support the robes on his body more.

"Good, good, good, Bei thought that the Jin Yi Si's report that Zikun often practiced swordsmanship with Zilong was a slight exaggeration, but I didn't expect Zikun to really persevere."

Liu Bei said with relief.

"The lord's orders, how dare Ji not follow? I should study hard and practice hard." Li Ji said with a smile.

"Very good, very good. Now that Zikun is back, Bei will accompany Zikun to practice swordsmanship every day." Liu Bei said happily.

"Okay."

Naturally, Li Ji would not refuse this, and Liu Bei was not just putting on a show.

On the contrary, Liu Bei's swordsmanship is extremely high, and because his arms are obviously longer than others, he is a rare type who can take two swords to the battlefield to fight.

It may be a bit exaggerated to call Liu Bei a "Great Han Sword Saint", but it is not without reason.

Afterwards, Li Ji introduced Guo Jia, who was sitting in the same carriage with him, and then Zhao Yun and Xiahou Bo greeted each other. Li Ji did not continue to sit back in the carriage, but instead sat on a war horse and walked side by side with Liu Bei, slowly heading towards Wu County.

After Liu Bei and Li Ji slightly distanced themselves from the others behind, Liu Bei whispered to Li Ji.

"Zikun, is there really no need to increase troops in Qiantang County?"

Population, economy, and food are undoubtedly the three factors that have a decisive impact on war potential.

With the size of Kuaiji County, which has about seven to eight hundred thousand people, more than 20,000 troops are already close to the limit of normal mobilization of troops.

However, under the circumstances that Wu Jun has gradually digested a large number of refugees, the actual population of Wu Jun has now increased to about 1.6 million.

Although this number is still quite different from the large county of Nanyang County with more than two million people, it is almost equivalent to two counties in this area of Yangzhou.

Therefore, if Liu Bei really wants to conscript troops, with Liu Bei's popular support and influence in Wu Jun, he can easily pull up another 20,000 troops.

However, in this way, the consumption of money and food in Wu Jun would far exceed expectations.

And a large number of young and strong people being absorbed into the military will inevitably seriously affect the development of people's livelihood in Wu Jun, so Li Ji has never agreed to this matter.

Li Ji slightly shook his head at Liu Bei, and said. "There is no need to increase troops, otherwise, if the news leaks and scares Guo Yi away, it would be bad."

"However, Bei is worried that the troops in the Qiantang County area are too empty. If the people are trapped in the disaster of war again, it will be Bei's fault." Liu Bei said with some worry.

Li Ji smiled and also understood that he had said it too vaguely due to the inconvenience of letters, so that Liu Bei could not help but worry, and comforted him.

"Don't worry, my lord, this plan seems dangerous, but it is actually safe."

Liu Bei nodded and looked at Li Ji and said. "Zikun, are you sure about this plan?"

"Yes."

Li Ji has never lacked this kind of responsibility and confidence, and responded without hesitation.

Hearing this, Liu Bei seemed to relax, and said happily. "Okay, since Zikun is sure, then Bei is relieved."

And Li Ji smiled, and suddenly noticed the Wu County city wall appearing in the distance and couldn't help but be stunned, almost thinking that he was dazzled.

From a distance, he could see large swaths of red cloth hanging on the city wall, making the entire Wu County city full of festive atmosphere.

Even the city wall is like this, what will Liu Bei decorate inside Wu County, it is simply conceivable.

"My lord, this…"

Li Ji pointed to the direction of the Wu County city wall, but for a while he didn't know what to say.

And Liu Bei, seeing this, showed a rather proud attitude, expecting recognition and praise.

This made Li Ji want to blurt out the words that were too extravagant and wasteful, but he could only swallow them back and said helplessly.

"My lord, didn't we agree to save some money before?"

"But didn't Zikun ask Bei to make Zikun's wedding as widely known as possible? In this way, it will not violate the etiquette, and Bei also guarantees that not to mention Wu County, the entire Yangzhou will know about it in a few days." Liu Bei responded proudly.

…

Li Ji.

The reason why Li Ji asked Liu Bei to make the wedding affairs known to everyone was to ensure that Kuaiji County was convinced that Li Ji was having a wedding in Wu County.

But what Li Ji didn't expect was that Liu Bei seemed to have received some kind of permission, making it… so exaggerated.

Li Ji said slowly with some worry.

"But… Wu Jun's finances…"

However, before Li Ji could finish speaking, Liu Bei interrupted.

"Zikun, don't worry, didn't Zikun separate Bei's private treasury from the government treasury before? The expenses for these arrangements are all from the private treasury, and will not cause the slightest impact on Wu Jun's finances."

Hearing this, Li Ji couldn't help but be stunned.

Li Ji would naturally not ask about Liu Bei's private treasury expenses, and Li Ji had not even tried to subtly change Liu Bei's somewhat stingy habits in this way.

After all, in a sense, Liu Bei can be completely regarded as a nouveau riche.

In more than a year, he has transformed from a grass shoe seller to a feudal official governing more than 1.6 million people. Naturally, Liu Bei must quickly catch up with some temperament, so as not to be despised by some aristocratic families.

It's just that Li Ji doesn't know or ask about how Liu Bei's private treasury is spent, but Li Ji knows clearly how much Liu Bei's private treasury earns.

Just looking at Liu Bei's decorations on the city wall, Li Ji can predict that Liu Bei must have spent a lot of effort to decorate the entire Wu County for Li Ji's sake.

The cost of it is probably enough to completely drain Liu Bei's private treasury without leaving a penny.

"My lord, your private treasury won't…"

Liu Bei's face did not show a trace of heartache, but instead said happily.

"Compared with the wedding with Zikun, a mere private treasury is not worth mentioning. It is said that I will often have to freeload meals at Zikun's mansion this year."

Li Ji was both touched and amused, and he responded, saying.

“Ji would naturally be extremely happy to welcome you.”

Immediately, Liu Bei enthusiastically pulled Li Ji aside to tell him about the various details he had arranged for Wu County, many of which contained various meanings. To this end, Liu Bei often consulted Confucian scholars who were well-versed in etiquette.

What he sought was to arrange Li Ji's wedding properly and appropriately, without violating etiquette.

(End of chapter)