Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

In a sense, the current situation in the Central Plains is like a large number of tangled threads mixed together randomly.

There are many threads, but often pulling on one will affect everything, and the resulting line may not be what the person pulling the thread wants.

Precisely because of this, not only is Liu Bei accumulating strength and waiting for an opportunity to launch a northern expedition to the Central Plains, but the other lords in the Central Plains are also secretly stirring up trouble and preparing for war, but for a time, they dare not act rashly.

This has instead brought the Central Plains back to a rare period of brief peace, like the calm before another storm.

However, unlike the Central Plains, in the vast land north of the Yellow River.

After about a year of confrontation, both Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan are clear that the day of the decisive battle is approaching.

Inside the central army tent of Yuan Shao's camp southeast of Jieqiao, Yuan Shao sat upright on the seat of honor, with a group of trusted advisors below.

Previously, Chen Lin had been Yuan Shao's envoy, traveling among the lords of the Central Plains, and at this moment, he was bowing and reporting the results.

Under the enormous pressure brought by Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shao's thinking became clearer.

Gongsun Zan is indeed a great enemy in front of him, but the situation in the Central Plains cannot be ignored, and precautions must be taken to restrain Liu Bei from becoming too powerful, otherwise, he will become a serious hidden danger.

Chen Lin's travels between Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, and Lu Bu also brought back the latest situations of these three families.

Yuan Shu is still licking his wounds, actively recovering from the heavy losses in the Battle of Jingzhou.

Lu Bu can be completely described as having strong soldiers and sturdy horses, ready to leave Hulao Pass at any time and sweep across the four directions.

Cao Cao is also constantly accumulating money and food, ready to make a move.

After hearing what Chen Lin said, the group of trusted advisors carefully considered it in their hearts.

Tian Feng took the lead to step forward, and said with some shame.

"Lord, I am afraid that what I thought before was somewhat insufficient. Yuan Gonglu has not yet recovered his vitality, Cao Mengde seems to be ambitious, and the soldiers under Marquis Wushuang are so strong that they have the potential to leave the pass and dominate the Central Plains."

"In this way, a mere Nanyang Commandery is probably not enough to satisfy Marquis Wushuang's appetite, and if Cao Mengde has other intentions, Yuan Gonglu alone will be unable to advance north into Yanzhou."

Tian Feng has always been prudent and steady, and there was nothing wrong with his previous plans.

However, after further learning about the current situation of Lu Bu and Cao Cao, it would undoubtedly be too risky to still have Yuan Shu exchange Nanyang Commandery for an alliance with Lu Bu, and then use Cao Cao's strength to take Yanzhou to the north.

Even Yuan Shu might be divided up by Liu Bei, Lu Bu, and Cao Cao.

Naturally, Tian Feng did not dare to continue to persuade Yuan Shao to do such a thing.

It was just that after spending so much thought on the situation in the Central Plains, giving up like this undoubtedly made the advisors feel unwilling.

More importantly, a way must be found to contain Liu Bei from becoming too powerful, otherwise, Yuan Shu would not be able to stop Liu Bei at all.

If Yuan Shao did not interfere and allowed the situation in the Central Plains to develop on its own.

Before long, Lu Bu would inevitably leave Hulao Pass to the east and compete with Cao Cao for Yanzhou.

Cao Cao, who occupies the barren Qingzhou, would be difficult to compete with Lu Bu, and it is highly likely that he would be defeated by Lu Bu, allowing Lu Bu to take Yanzhou and Qingzhou in one fell swoop, and dominate the Central Plains.

At that time, when the Central Plains is in great chaos, Liu Bei would definitely not let go of this opportunity and would launch a northern expedition to attack Yuzhou.

As long as one is discerning, it is clear that Yuan Shu cannot be Liu Bei's opponent. Even if Yuan Shu constantly defends the city to the death, it is only delaying the time of death.

If the situation develops to this point, even if Yuan Shao defeats Gongsun Zan and sweeps across Hebei, he may still be difficult to compare with Lu Bu and Liu Bei, these two behemoths.

More importantly, under the joint deduction of his advisors, Lu Bu is also difficult to be Liu Bei's opponent.

Once Liu Bei swallows Lu Bu before Yuan Shao completely unifies Hebei, then Yuan Shao will not even have the qualifications to divide the Yellow River with Liu Bei.

Therefore, the advisors, realizing that Yuan Shu must not fall, are racking their brains and constantly discussing, trying to come up with a feasible plan.

At least, Yuan Shu cannot fall before Yuan Shao defeats Gongsun Zan and sweeps across Hebei.

It was just that faced with the complex situation in the Central Plains, the advisors worked together to plan, but they could not think of a perfect plan. Even sending assassins to assassinate Li Ji with all their strength was brought up by Guo Tu.

However, Li Ji's travels are either accompanied by a large army, or he stays in Shouchun City, which is heavily guarded. From time to time, Xu Chu and the Tiger Guards are protecting him closely, and the possibility of successfully assassinating Li Ji is simply pitifully low.

Just the difficulty of the household registration system implemented in Yangzhou alone makes it difficult for assassins and death warriors to sneak into Shouchun City, let alone hide controlled crossbows and other assassination weapons to attack Li Ji in the city.

In addition, Feng Ji also suggested that Yuan Shu might marry off an unmarried daughter to Lu Bu as a concubine.

In this way, if the Yuan and Lu families have a marital relationship, it may prevent Lu Bu from having second thoughts after obtaining Nanyang Commandery and continuing to attack Yanzhou.

However, this strategy was also rejected by Yuan Shao.

Not for any other reason, but simply because when Feng Ji suggested that the Yuan and Lu families should get married, Yuan Shu would be Lu Bu's father-in-law, and Yuan Shao would also be considered Lu Bu's uncle, Yuan Shao inexplicably felt a chill down his spine and his heart pounded.

"He even killed his adoptive father, let alone his father-in-law?"

Shen Pei's words of opposition were even more in line with Yuan Shao's thoughts.

The weight of "adoptive father" in this era is not as simple as the physical relationship of a godfather in later generations, but a relationship second only to a biological father, and filial piety is also required.

Killing once can be said to be a slip of the hand, killing twice can also be said to be a momentary impulse, who would believe it?

Precisely because of this, even though Lu Bu has now become a relative of the emperor and has become a General, his prestige is still far inferior to He Jin, the former pig butcher.

The imperial court controlled by Lu Bu is even more ignored by the world.

The Great Han also governs the country with filial piety, but the one who controls the imperial court is Lu Bu, who has filial piety to death for two adoptive fathers. This is already a big joke.

After the advisors discussed back and forth for a long time, the final result still revolved around how to form an alliance with Lu Bu.

To contain Liu Bei, Lu Bu is indispensable.

However, Lu Bu is a fickle person, and no matter how much profit is given, it is useless. Only great power can force Lu Bu not to have second thoughts.

Looking at the frowning appearances of his advisors, Yuan Shao suddenly smiled, stood up, and laughed loudly.

"Why do you all need to worry about what power to use to suppress him?"

"Just let me, Yuan Benchu, defeat Gongsun Zan greatly, and glare at the Central Plains with the momentum of sweeping across Hebei. Is its power not heavy enough? Is it sufficient?"

Yuan Shao's sudden domineering attitude stunned the advisors in the tent who had been discussing so intensely, and then the advisors almost subconsciously bowed and shouted.

"It is indeed sufficient!"

Tian Feng also seemed to have suddenly seen the light, and blurted out to add.

"At that time, Lord, you only need to send a unit to garrison at Liyang, overlooking Dong Commandery in Yanzhou, which will be enough to make Lu Bu feel afraid and dare not advance into Yanzhou easily."

(End of this chapter)