Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"Zikun, could it be that I, Liu Bei, am lacking in virtue? Why else would I meet with obstacles everywhere I go?"

Liu Bei's expression revealed a rare hint of melancholy.

Now wholeheartedly emulating Emperor Guangwu, hoping to recreate the great Han Dynasty, Liu Bei had believed that upon arriving in Yingchuan Commandery, countless prominent families would flock to him as if seeing Emperor Guangwu reborn.

But reality had doused Liu Bei with a bucket of cold water, leaving his heart feeling utterly chilled.

This also left Li Ji somewhat perplexed.

Logically, given the potential Liu Bei was now displaying, coupled with the current turbulent times, the Yingchuan families shouldn't be entirely averse to placing a bet.

It was precisely this conviction that led Li Ji to suggest Liu Bei take a trip to Yingchuan Commandery.

Besides the desire to recruit talented individuals, a more important point was the likely poor fate awaiting the Jiangdong families.

To avoid any external misunderstanding that Liu Bei's group was hostile to prominent families, even bringing back some Yingchuan family figureheads to Wu Commandery would help with public perception and reputation.

Unfortunately, Yingchuan Commandery was the territory of prominent families and scholars. Even though the Jinyi Wei had also planted some operatives there,

the Peach Garden members, being of humble origins, couldn't integrate into the circles of prominent families and scholars, even if they were literate. Consequently, even through the Jinyi Wei channels, they couldn't readily understand the reason behind the Yingchuan families' unified stance.

In the end, while passing through Yangzhai in Yingchuan Commandery, Guo Jia used the excuse of visiting relatives to return to the Guo family after nearly five years, and secretly learned the cause from some clansmen.

The reasons were quite complex…

Yingchuan had originally been the leading cultural center of the entire Han Dynasty, attracting countless scholars from other commanderies who traveled long distances to study there.

The constant influx of scholars not only brought vitality to Yingchuan but also allowed countless Yingchuan families to grow in strength.

It was true that the Yuan family, with its four generations of high officials, had disciples and former subordinates throughout the land, but few scholars in the world had no connection to Yingchuan, making Yingchuan's past position almost unshakeable.

Until the appearance of the "Rende Academy," it was as if another cultural stronghold had been established within the Han Dynasty.

Although perhaps out of self-importance, or because some Yingchuan Confucian scholars possessed high moral character, they didn't directly target the "Rende Academy," the competitive relationship between the two was undoubtedly destined.

Especially since the "Rende Academy" didn't quickly decline as the Yingchuan families had initially predicted, but instead flourished, with the number of students it enrolled increasing year by year.

Even within Yingchuan Commandery, there were quite a few insightful individuals who believed that the "Rende Academy" system was far more advanced than private schools, and actively contacted various Yingchuan families to jointly establish an "Yingchuan Academy."

However, just as the Yuan family's disciples and former subordinates were related to the Yuan family's position in the Han Dynasty, the scholars enrolled in the private schools of the Yingchuan families were also related to the status and influence of each family.

The Chen family, the most prominent clan in Yingchuan, was the most resistant to the academy format, even publicly declaring, "The ancestral laws cannot be changed. The academy format will inevitably become a place for harboring filth sooner rather than later."

Therefore, in recent years, the "Yingchuan Academy" had been repeatedly promoted by insightful individuals, but repeatedly failed due to conflicting interests among the various families.

It was precisely because of this that almost all Yingchuan families treated Liu Bei and the Rende Academy with an attitude of competition or struggle, unwilling to bet on Liu Bei, trying to prove that the "private school" system was superior to the "academy" system.

Besides this, there were various other complex factors: for example, the Yingchuan families generally didn't favor Jiangdong; Guo Tu and Xu You had spent five years slandering Wu Commandery in their respective circles…

"And…"

Speaking to this point, Guo Jia paused, then coughed slightly, and continued.

"That is, since Mr. Zikun is already Lord's trusted advisor, many scions of prominent families know they cannot compete with Mr. Zikun. However, because Mr. Zikun is of humble origin, they consider themselves superior and are unwilling to submit to someone from a poor background."

Hearing this, Li Ji couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile and helplessness, and turned to Liu Bei, cupping his fist in apology.

"I didn't expect that I would ruin Lord's great cause of seeking talent. Please punish me, Lord."

The next moment, Liu Bei immediately helped up Li Ji's hands, which he had just lowered, and said.

"The most virtuous of this era is already by my side. How could I be even slightly dissatisfied? My regret is only that I have not been able to find a few talents to share Zikun's burden."

Even though he had heard Liu Bei's words of importance countless times, Li Ji was still greatly moved.

A scholar dies for one who understands him!

Such a sincere and trusting lord, who never hesitated to entrust him with military and political power, was indeed rare!

But before Li Ji could speak, Liu Bei continued.

"The Yingchuan families are short-sighted, actually belittling Zikun's origin and unwilling to submit to him. A group of blind fools! Even if they want to join my command in the future, I will definitely not accept them."

For a moment, Li Ji couldn't help but be amused by Liu Bei's somewhat rogue-like words.

It felt as if Liu Bei's cherished treasure had been insulted by outsiders, making the originally somewhat discouraged Liu Bei anxious, and he directly burst into vulgar curses.

"Good, good, good! What Lord says is absolutely right. Since the Yingchuan scholars are blind and unwilling to be used by Lord, then Lord shall not use them…"

Pausing, Li Ji suddenly thought of something and turned to Guo Jia, who had a somewhat awkward expression, and said.

"Of course, Fengxiao is not among the blind fools. Looking at Yingchuan, I'm afraid Fengxiao has the best vision."

Guo Jia cupped his fist with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "Thank you for the praise, sir!"

However, Guo Jia didn't intend to defend the Yingchuan families and scholars.

As Yingchuan's reputation grew and the prominent families gradually strengthened, Guo Jia clearly felt that the entire Yingchuan Commandery had begun to stagnate and become complacent. There were indeed many blind fools.

Even if there were insightful individuals in Yingchuan who were quite optimistic about Liu Bei's future development, they couldn't join Liu Bei on their own due to their family's overall stance, otherwise, their family's private school would inevitably be jointly ostracized by other private schools.

And Guo Jia was originally an insignificant member of a collateral branch, and had already joined Liu Bei's command early on.

This time, when Guo Jia returned to the Guo family, some pleasant and unpleasant things also happened. The Guo family completely separated Guo Jia from the collateral branch, completely severing ties with Guo Jia.

From then on, Guo Jia was no longer a member of the Guo family of Yangzhai in Yingchuan, but allowed Guo Jia to form his own lineage.

This was both to avoid being rejected by other Yingchuan families and a small act of secretly placing a bet.

Although the weight of Guo Jia's bet was, in the Guo family's view, even less than a mosquito's leg.

However, Guo Jia didn't plan to say this to ask Liu Bei for rewards, but instead buried it directly in his heart.

Guo Jia believed in Liu Bei's future, believing that perhaps the Wu Commandery Guo family would be even more glorious than the Yangzhai Guo family in the future.

The only thing that troubled Guo Jia was that after forming his own lineage, he had to quickly branch out and spread his leaves.

This made Guo Jia, who loved wine but not beauty, feel that this was truly a laborious and arduous task…

Thinking of this, Guo Jia sighed inwardly, took down the wine gourd, and took a big gulp, revealing a satisfied expression.

However, unlike Guo Jia's difficult problem of how to choose between beauty and wine,

Li Ji, after understanding the conflict of positions and interests, which made it almost impossible for Liu Bei to gain the support of the Yingchuan families or scholars at the moment, revealed a sneer and said.

"Lord, even if the Yingchuan scholars are unwilling to be used by Lord, in the future, I will definitely make them kneel and beg Lord."

"When I return to Wu Commandery and free up some time, on the one hand, I will vigorously develop the Rende Academy, and on the other hand, I will also serve as a lecturer in the Rende Academy, personally teaching and selecting some talents for Lord, and will definitely not let Lord have no talents to use in the future."

To provoke Li Ji was like provoking an iron plate!

Especially since the "Rende Academy" had passed the initial stage, Li Ji had taken all the books from Luoyang and was preparing to release the improved paper and "movable type printing."

Soon, the Yingchuan families would understand that the educational resources of the two sides were not on the same level at all.

Compared to the private schools that stingily handed over a bamboo slip to the scholars for slow copying,

What about one book per person?

That would only make the Yingchuan families think that Wu Commandery couldn't print enough books. Instead, they would start with a hundred copies per person, allowing each student to have the resources of at least one family's collection.

And with the books of the Eastern Observatory, looking at the Han Dynasty…

No, looking at the whole world, no other force had a deeper cultural foundation than Liu Bei's group.

If the Yingchuan scholars didn't join now, then they wouldn't have to join in the future.

Li Ji, who was gradually freeing up his hands, was preparing to personally win over a batch of known talented seedlings, and then regularly take the time to personally carry out the seedling watering and teaching work, directly cultivating a batch of talents that perfectly matched the shape of Liu Bei's group.

And feeling Li Ji's sharp edge, which had always been calm and composed, Liu Bei felt that the depression in his heart had disappeared, and said with a smile.

"With Zikun's words, I have no worries."

Immediately, Liu Bei, who no longer had any hope for the Yingchuan families, no longer visited famous families along the way, but prepared to let the army speed up its march to leave.

On this day, two scholars appeared at the main gate of the temporary camp, handing over a visiting card to request an audience with Liu Bei.

Although Liu Bei no longer had any hope for the Yingchuan scholars, he wouldn't directly refuse them, so he directly asked the soldiers to invite the two scholars in.

And Liu Bei didn't forget to personally greet them outside the tent, such courtesy made the two scholars look grateful and flattered.

After the customary greetings, Liu Bei, observing the youthful appearances of the two scholars, both just past their coming-of-age ceremony, did not show any sign of underestimation. He inquired in a gentle voice,

“May I ask for your names?”

“Xu Shu of Yingchuan/Shi Tao, paying respects to Imperial Uncle Liu.”

These two well-synchronized voices caused Li Ji, who had been sitting in a corner of the tent, discussing something with a member of the Brocade-Clad Guard, to subtly shift his expression and look towards the two young scholars in the tent.

Both were dressed in noticeably plain and unadorned clothing, indicating they were likely not from any prominent Yingchuan family.

One, slightly taller and sturdier, comparable to the robust soldiers in the army, was Xu Shu.

The other, shorter and much thinner, with a somewhat sallow complexion and an honest look, was Shi Tao.

However, at this moment, Xu Shu and Shi Tao were undoubtedly unknown figures. Liu Bei, of course, had never heard of them, so after they introduced themselves, he asked,

“Have you two come to offer your services to Bei?”

(End of Chapter)