Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

However, as Liu Bei retired for the night, Li Ji remained on the deck of the "Yingzhou" ship, looking up at the night sky and calculating the weather changes.

With the safety of the army at stake, and considering that even with the shipyard's multiple improvements to the seagoing vessels, they were clearly far from being as stable as Mount Tai.

Therefore, Li Ji dared not relax even slightly, constantly paying attention to the trends in weather changes, lest a storm send this fleet to the bottom of the sea.

Suddenly, a voice as gentle as jade sounded behind Li Ji.

"Zikun, standing here for so long, could it be that you harbor apprehension?"

Li Ji didn't need to turn around to know who this familiar voice belonged to, and he retorted, "Why does Wenhe say that?"

"People's hearts are difficult to fathom, let alone someone like Zikun, who holds most of Wu Commandery's troops and commands seagoing vessels on a distant expedition overseas. Even if Zikun were to become independent overseas, it wouldn't be difficult. Even if Zikun doesn't have such thoughts."

Jia Xu slowly walked to Li Ji's side and continued, "There might be people around the lord who would suggest such a thing. As time goes on, who knows... hehe..."

Li Ji glanced at Jia Xu and said, "Is Wenhe distrusting the lord, or trying to test my intentions?"

Jia Xu didn't speak, only looked at Li Ji with a smile.

"The lord trusts me so much, how could I let him down?" Li Ji replied calmly, his tone revealing no wavering.

Jia Xu wasn't surprised by Li Ji's answer.

In the past, Jia Xu had always felt that Li Ji was a person with extremely flexible moral principles.

Internally, Li Ji's morality was so high that Jia Xu felt ashamed.

Externally, Li Ji's morality was so low that Jia Xu often clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Actually, Zikun shouldn't have brought me along. If I stayed in Wu and Kuai, I could often say good things about you to the lord," Jia Xu said, stroking his beard.

"Wenhe has been recuperating in Kuaiji Commandery for so long, don't you want to move around a bit?" Li Ji asked in return.

Jia Xu answered frankly, "Recuperating? Zikun, don't slander me. I have been conscientiously advising Governor Guo Yi to be kind and protect the people in Kuaiji Commandery."

If Li Ji wasn't very clear about Guo Yi's mental state, he might have believed some of Jia Xu's words.

Perhaps Jia Xu didn't understand what "Stockholm syndrome" was, but being skilled in understanding people's hearts, Jia Xu had almost completely manipulated Guo Yi, making him develop a similar psychology, comparable to a loyal dog in front of Jia Xu.

Under Jia Xu's secret manipulation, Guo Yi almost took the initiative to kill wave after wave of corrupt officials and powerful clans in Kuaiji Commandery.

Thus, Kuaiji Commandery was undoubtedly completely controlled by Liu Bei; otherwise, Li Ji wouldn't have been so confident in bringing Jia Xu along.

"Wu and Kuai are still too small, without a stage for Wenhe to freely display his talents. Don't you want to fully exhibit your abilities?" Li Ji asked with a smile.

Jia Xu's gaze flickered slightly, and then he replied, "Zikun, you mustn't talk nonsense like that. I have always been fully assisting the lord."

After a pause, Jia Xu turned to look at Li Ji, and said seriously,

"On the contrary, Zikun, you shouldn't leave Wu and Kuai. Without you sitting in the center, something might go wrong in Wu and Kuai."

"Wenhe, you are underestimating the lord then," Li Ji said, shaking his head with a smile.

"When it comes to recognizing and employing people, I am far inferior to the lord. With Zibu, Zizhong, Xianhe, and others by his side, coupled with the large number of scholars cultivated by the Ren Virtue Academy, as long as the lord knows the direction of governance, nothing will go wrong."

On this point, Li Ji was particularly confident.

Li Ji's ability to recognize and employ people was mostly due to the advantage of being a prophet, but Liu Bei truly had a unique eye for talent.

Being able to use people is the most important ability for a ruler.

In addition, Li Ji also left Guo Jia in Wu Commandery. Even if there was an emergency, with Guo Jia's quick wit and ability, he would definitely be able to provide considerable assistance to Liu Bei.

With the foundation of Liu Bei's group left in Wu Commandery and the current overall stable situation of the Han Dynasty, the possibility of a major change was minimal.

However, Jia Xu didn't fully believe Li Ji's statement.

Because in the past, Liu Bei's abilities were almost completely overshadowed by Li Ji's brilliance. Apart from benevolence and trusting and delegating power to his subordinates, Jia Xu hadn't really noticed any particularly outstanding abilities of Liu Bei.

For an intellectual, Jia Xu would never easily believe the words of others, but would always maintain his own judgment.

Even if that person was Li Ji, there would be no exception.

However, Jia Xu wouldn't argue with Li Ji on this issue, but instead asked in a low voice,

"Zikun, what are your goals and bottom line for this trip to Yingzhou?"

"If there is an opportunity, Wenhe can freely use his talents, there is no need to ask more," Li Ji said.

After speaking, Li Ji patted Jia Xu's shoulder and walked into the cabin.

Turning away from Li Ji, Jia Xu slightly pondered the meaning, and suddenly understood Li Ji's intention in bringing him along specifically.

Li Ji, as the commander and representing the Han Dynasty, found it inconvenient to do some things too excessively.

But what Jia Xu did privately was obviously different.

"Tch, as expected," Jia Xu secretly cursed Li Ji for a while, and then also left the deck and returned to the cabin, but his steps were unconsciously a little lighter.

After all, it was extremely painful and uncomfortable to have learned something but have no place to use it.

'Now seems to be an opportunity to enjoy myself...'

Li Ji naturally guessed that Jia Xu's mentality might be slightly excited because of this, but when Li Ji entered his room and saw Sun Ce lying on his bed, he almost couldn't help but let out a sharp scream.

Who?!

Who sent this kid Sun Ce to my, Li's, bed?!

No, should I say, this kid Sun Ce actually secretly boarded the ship without telling me?!

Li Ji's face immediately darkened, and he strode over, raising his hand and heavily knocking Sun Ce on the forehead, who was sleeping soundly.

"Bang!"

Li Ji immediately felt that his finger seemed to have knocked on a steel plate, and it hurt.

On the contrary, Sun Ce seemed unharmed as he groggily opened his eyes, until he saw Li Ji standing in front of him with a darkened face.

In the next moment, Sun Ce almost rolled and crawled up to salute Li Ji, saying,

"Teacher."

Li Ji hid his trembling finger behind his back, and secretly glanced at Sun Ce's forehead, not even leaving a red mark.

'This head... how is it so hard?'

Li Ji secretly said, and the originally calf-like Sun Ce had developed after several years, and now the twelve or thirteen-year-old Sun Ce's physique was no less than Li Ji's.

"Why are you here?" Li Ji questioned in a deep voice.

"Ce'er wants to follow the teacher and listen to his teachings at all times. So I secretly sneaked into the water and boarded the ship, and then hid in the teacher's room," Sun Ce said in a low voice.

Li Ji narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, "Who taught you to say this?"

"It's Quan brother..."

Realizing that he had slipped up, Sun Ce quickly changed his words, "It's definitely not Quan brother, it's Ce'er's own idea."

Sun Ce, whose intestines were straight to the end, was obviously not suitable for lying. Under Li Ji's gaze, he lowered his head and said somewhat guiltily.

"Teacher, I also want to follow you to conquer Yingzhou. I have been practicing naval warfare by the sea for nearly two years, and I will definitely be able to help the teacher, but the teacher did not allow it before, so Quan brother suggested that I could sneak on the ship first and then ask for the teacher's approval."

"Does Madam Wu know about this?" Li Ji asked again.

"I left a letter for my family, and tomorrow Quan brother will give the letter to my mother, and my mother will naturally know my whereabouts," Sun Ce replied honestly on his knees.

...

Li Ji.

This really left Li Ji speechless. You really are a filial son.

"It is not appropriate to disobey the teacher's intentions and leave home without informing your parents..."

Li Ji scolded Sun Ce, and then flicked his sleeve and said, "I will arrange a ship to send you back to Wu Commandery tomorrow morning."

"Teacher, please let Ce'er follow you, Ce'er will definitely obey the teacher's orders in everything," Sun Ce quickly begged.

Even if Li Ji intended to cultivate Sun Ce in the direction of a naval general, Sun Ce was still too young, only twelve or thirteen years old. It would be a pity if something unexpected happened in Yingzhou.

Moreover, Sun Ce left home without Madam Wu's permission, so Li Ji dared not keep Sun Ce even more.

"No!" Li Ji refused.

However, Sun Ce stubbornly raised his neck and said,

"Didn't the teacher often say in the past that Gan Luo was already a prime minister at the age of twelve? Now Ce'er is more than twelve, why does the teacher underestimate me so much? Establishing merit and achieving success, being enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a general, Ce'er will definitely not lose to others!"

"Even if the teacher sends Ce'er back to Wu Commandery, even if Ce'er has to swim, I will definitely swim to catch up with the teacher!"

In an instant, Li Ji only felt a headache.

People usually get softer when they are soaked in seawater, but how come Sun Ce has been soaking in the sea for two years and has become harder and harder? Once that stubborn temper is decided, no one can persuade him.

Moreover, Li Ji had no doubt that even if he really sent Sun Ce back, he would probably swim over.

After pondering for a moment, Li Ji asked, "Are you not afraid of killing people and staining your hands with blood?"

Sun Ce's face lit up, and he quickly replied, "Ce'er was only nine years old when he personally killed a bandit and did not change his expression, let alone the Japanese? Staining blood is the pride of a Han man."

"Good," Li Ji nodded and said.

"I will inform Madam Wu about this in writing. If Madam Wu opposes, I will forcibly send you back. Before that, you can follow me first."

Sun Ce was overjoyed when he heard this, and quickly asked, "Teacher, can you let Ce'er write the letter himself?"

"What do you think?"

Li Ji asked a rhetorical question, making Sun Ce laugh sheepishly.

Afterward, Sun Ce suddenly realized what he had done and quickly got up to tidy Li Ji's bed and bedding.

But looking at Sun Ce's clumsy movements, Li Ji couldn't help but laugh and scold, saying.

"Get out of here and find an empty room to rest in."

"Yes, Teacher."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Sun Ce didn't mind his teacher expressing his affection in this way, and retreated with a smile.