Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Li Ji responded with a helpless, bitter smile.

“Thank you, Chancellor Cao, for your high regard, but I have no intention of changing my allegiance. Please return.”

Immediately, seeing that Cao Cao seemed to want to say something, Li Ji hurriedly pushed Cao Cao out.

It should be known that although Liu Bei usually appears calm and composed, unshakable in the face of any crisis, he is actually a person with great ambitions and a strong sense of integrity.

In many records, it wasn't Zhang Fei who flogged the督邮 (du you, an official), but Liu Bei himself in his youth.

Therefore, Li Ji had no doubt that Liu Bei might really fight Cao Cao in a fit of anger. Even if he didn't actually kill Cao Cao, he might beat him up.

At that time, it would truly be a scandal that would not only be spread for a while but even be recorded in history books.

If Liu Bei and Cao Cao were to establish their own countries and become emperors in the future, it would be like two founding emperors brawling in the streets. What kind of spectacle would that be?

Only after Li Ji sent Cao Cao out and returned to the side hall did he find Liu Bei still looking angry.

“My lord, why are you angry?” Li Ji asked.

Liu Bei said angrily.

“That Cao thief is really bullying me too much. My heart for Zikun cannot be compared to three thousand gold. Even thirty thousand gold, three hundred thousand gold, cannot compare to Zikun in the slightest.”

Li Ji blinked upon hearing this.

Actually, if it were really three hundred thousand gold… it wouldn't be impossible.

That's three hundred thousand gold!

With three hundred thousand gold in hand, it wouldn't be impossible for Li Ji to help Cao Cao govern the Jinan State. Anyway, Cao Cao couldn't serve as the Chancellor of Jinan State forever. After Cao Cao stepped down, Li Ji could return to Liu Bei's command, and no one could find fault with that.

Of course, Li Ji also knew that was impossible.

Even if the Cao family was greedy, it was only the accumulation of three generations. Exhausting the Cao family's current wealth, it was unlikely they had as much as three hundred thousand gold.

Li Ji asked seriously. “Does my lord not understand my heart? Do you think I would be tempted by wealth?”

Liu Bei hurriedly walked to Li Ji's side and said. “I naturally believe in Zikun.”

Li Ji said softly.

“Since that's the case, then my lord shouldn't be angry, and even less should you draw your sword against Chancellor Cao. You must know that a ruler cannot raise an army in anger, and a general cannot wage war in resentment.”

“Now, my lord, you drew your sword and wanted to kill Chancellor Cao for my sake alone. What benefit does it bring to the country? What benefit does it bring to the people of the world? And what benefit does it bring to my lord?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei completely calmed down, but he was also filled with shame.

In the end, Liu Bei was still just a young man in his twenties, and he had just been appointed as the Prefect of Wu Commandery, so he was full of ambition and pride.

After Cao Cao touched his bottom line, he almost flew into a rage on the spot.

“Zikun is right to reprimand me. I was wrong.”

Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands in apology and then asked. “Zikun, now that the mistake has been made, what should we do?”

Li Ji fell into thought upon hearing this.

Li Ji was naturally deeply moved by what Liu Bei had done, but this behavior was undoubtedly quite inappropriate.

Obviously, Liu Bei didn't yet possess the mature political skills of his later years. He didn't understand what it meant to feign compliance and compromise with each other. He still hadn't shed the mindset of being a straw sandal seller and a military general.

Compared to Cao Cao's obviously mature political style, Liu Bei still needed enough time to adapt to the change in his identity.

Therefore, in Cao Cao's view, as long as he paid a sufficient price, he could ask for help from a strategist. As for whether he would return the favor, that would depend on the situation.

However, in Liu Bei's view, Li Ji was undoubtedly like an inseparable brother, and he wouldn't allow Cao Cao to humiliate him in this way.

Li Ji pondered for a while, deeply feeling that he might also need some time to adapt to the change in his identity.

A few months ago, Li Ji was just an unknown black户 (hei hu, unregistered household), but after assisting Liu Bei in fighting thousands of miles and forcing Zhang Jiao to self-immolate and pacify the Yellow Turbans, Li Ji was obviously already a strategist who attracted attention in the entire era.

It was precisely because his thinking hadn't completely changed that Li Ji always subconsciously underestimated his own importance.

Now, Liu Bei and Cao Cao drew their swords at each other, and this matter was undoubtedly a big deal or a small one.

Behind Cao Cao was the Cao family, and he was also on good terms with the Yuan family, who had held high positions for four generations. Moreover, he was also a subordinate of Huangfu Song, and all kinds of connections were very close.

To put it on a large scale, if Cao Cao was determined to retaliate, with the darkness of the Eastern Han Dynasty court, it wouldn't be difficult to strip Liu Bei of his position as the Prefect of Wu Commandery. Even Lu Zhi might not be able to protect him.

To put it on a small scale, with the fierce atmosphere of this era, drawing swords at each other was common even among scholars and commoner heroes. It was the most unremarkable thing.

After Liu Bei completely calmed down, he obviously realized the various consequences.

Immediately, Liu Bei had the servants clean the side hall and then ordered Jia Xu, who was staying in the backyard, to go to the main hall to discuss matters together.

After Liu Bei recounted the matter again, Jia Xu was shocked by Liu Bei's protectiveness and looked at Li Ji with a playful look, as if saying:

‘Li Zikun, you're getting your comeuppance, aren't you? You just snatched me over, and now you've been targeted by others. The positions of hunter and prey have been reversed.’

Li Ji felt Jia Xu's teasing gaze and understood what it meant.

“Mr. Wenhe, do you have a good plan?”

Li Ji asked back, so as not to let this old boy's eyes wander around with unclear meaning.

Jia Xu stroked his beard and said.

“This matter is easy.”

Liu Bei was overjoyed upon hearing this. He didn't expect that Jia Xu, who had stayed by his side because of Li Ji's reputation, seemed to have a quick wit, and he hurriedly asked.

“What is the plan?”

“Just divert Chancellor Cao's attention, and then he will naturally have no intention to worry about the matter with Duke Xuande.”

Jia Xu replied.

“Please explain in detail.” Liu Bei quickly asked.

Jia Xu glanced at Li Ji seemingly inadvertently and then said.

“Now, Chancellor Cao obviously values Zikun, and he regards Zikun as prey like a hunter. However, the relationship between hunter and prey can be reversed at any time.”

The more Li Ji listened, the more he felt that something was wrong. He always felt that this old boy was implying something to him.

“Therefore, as long as we find a hunter who can regard Chancellor Cao as prey, or find other prey for Chancellor Cao, this matter will quietly pass.”

After a pause, Jia Xu raised a finger and said.

“For example: Didn't Chancellor Cao say that he wanted to borrow Zikun from the lord with three thousand gold to govern Jinan State? Then why not send people to spread rumors among the Yellow Turbans in Qing Province in large numbers.”

“Since Chancellor Cao is willing to take three thousand gold to seek out virtuous talents, then carrying ten thousand gold with him on the way to take office as Chancellor must be the most reasonable thing.”

“In this way, it will naturally arouse greed in the hearts of a large number of Yellow Turbans in Qing Province, whether it is a large number of Yellow Turbans in Qing Province besieging Jinan State, or a large number of Yellow Turbans in Qing Province ambushing Chancellor Cao on his way to take office.”

“At that time, no matter what the result, how can Chancellor Cao still have the energy to care about the slight conflict with Duke Xuande? He might even deeply regret that he easily used three thousand gold to reveal his wealth.”

As Jia Xu finished the entire plan in a gentle and refined manner, Liu Bei and Zhao Yun almost stared blankly at Jia Xu.

Too… too vicious!

In an instant, Liu Bei suddenly felt that his conflict with Cao Cao was just a small matter. Why did it have to come to this?

Even Li Ji, who knew that the "poisonous strategist" Jia Xu was extremely vicious in his plans, was shocked.

It should be known that even five years later, although the Yellow Turbans in Qing Province fought on their own, their numbers still exceeded one million.

As for the rumors, as long as they were slightly promoted, they could likely evolve into an exaggerated and unimaginable version.

Ten thousand gold?

Too conservative!

It was very likely that with a little spread, it would be that Cao Cao would go to Jinan State with a million gold.

Perhaps in the eyes of all the Yellow Turbans in Qing Province, as long as they did this one thing, they would become completely rich.

At that time, the entire Qing Province Yellow Turbans would likely pounce on Jinan State and Cao Cao like crazy.

Jia Xu was completely using the hundreds of thousands of people in the currently stable Jinan State to forcibly divert Cao Cao's attention and dilute the small conflict between Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

If he was not careful, Cao Cao would be gone, and naturally there would be no conflict with Cao Cao.

This was like Jia Xu having a feud with someone, so he simply poisoned the wells in the whole village, carried them all away, and also perfectly concealed Jia Xu's true purpose. Who could guess that the murderer would be Jia Xu?

Don't ask how big the involvement is, just ask if your neighbor is dead?

This is indeed a true poisonous strategist!

After Liu Bei reacted, he almost waved his hands and said.

“Mr. Wenhe, this plan is harmful to nature and will involve countless people in Jinan State. It cannot be used, it cannot be used.”

If one word were to be used to describe Liu Bei's inner feelings, it would be “fear”…

This plan was too terrible and vicious!

Liu Bei completely didn't expect that Jia Xu, as a gentle and refined gentleman, could so easily say such a poisonous plan that disregarded the lives and peace of hundreds of thousands of people.

“My lord, I also think this plan is inappropriate. It's just a conflict between the lord and Chancellor Cao. Such involvement is too much.” Zhao Yun also expressed his opinion.

“Then allow Xu to think about it again.”

Jia Xu replied. He actually expected this result.

Or perhaps Jia Xu did it on purpose, so that Liu Bei could generally understand Jia Xu's style of using plans, so as not to be unable to accept it when Jia Xu really needed to use plans in the future.

In this regard, Li Ji glanced at Jia Xu, knowing Jia Xu's purpose, and also knowing that Jia Xu was taking the opportunity to tease himself.

However, Li Ji once again secretly rejoiced that he had tied Jia Xu over in advance. Otherwise, with Jia Xu's style of using plans, coupled with a lord with no moral bottom line, it was estimated that the entire Han Dynasty would not be enough for Jia Xu to wreak havoc on.

Compared to Jia Xu, any talk of "human jerky rations" seemed far too childish.

"Ahem…" Li Ji lightly coughed, changing the subject.

"My lord, in my humble opinion, this matter doesn't need to be so troublesome. We simply need to turn this scandal into a praiseworthy tale. This will preserve the reputations of both sides and prevent the Cao State Chancellor from harboring any resentment towards us."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was overjoyed. The more he looked at Li Ji, the more satisfied he became.

Compared to Jia Xu's terrifying scheme just now, my son Zikun's plans are mostly benevolent strategies that benefit everyone. Without even listening closely, I can already sense that they align with my heart.

Liu Bei hurriedly said, "Zikun, please speak."