Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

With Liu Bei remaining still, neither Cao Cao nor Lü Bu dared to act rashly.

After all, with Liu Bei's threat looming, Cao Cao and Lü Bu, despite their discord, had to maintain their alliance to resist Liu Bei's strength, otherwise, they would inevitably be defeated one by one.

Therefore, the entire Han Dynasty enjoyed a year of recuperation, and even the people under Cao Cao and Lü Bu's rule could be considered to live and work in peace, while the scene under Liu Bei's rule gradually showed signs of prosperity.

If Liu Bei hadn't yet unified the world, some old officials would have wanted to shout the slogan "Reign of Xuankun" to sing his praises.

And just half a month before the autumn harvest, the three disciples valued by Li Ji came of age one after another.

The Zhuge family of Langya had already moved to Yangzhou as a whole family, making it most convenient for Zhuge Liang to come of age.

However, the Sima family had previously moved to Yuzhou due to the war, while the Pang family was still in Jingzhou. Sima Yi and Pang Tong are now the most valued scions of their respective families, and the coming-of-age ceremony is also an extremely important and grand ritual.

Therefore, Sima Yi and Pang Tong needed to return to their families to perform the coming-of-age ceremony to enhance the family's reputation, which was inconvenient to perform directly in Shouchun.

As the teacher of Sima Yi and Pang Tong, and also the current Chancellor of the Great Han, the Sima and Pang families naturally did their best to invite Li Ji to participate in the ceremony, and even to personally perform the coming-of-age ceremony and bestow courtesy names upon Sima Yi and Pang Tong.

This made Jiang Gan realize that it was a great opportunity. Seeing Li Ji's hesitation, Jiang Gan, who had always been cautious in his words and deeds, couldn't help but speak out to push things along.

Under Jiang Gan's self-proclaimed efforts, Li Ji finally made up his mind.

First, he presided over Zhuge Liang's coming-of-age ceremony in Yangzhou, bestowing the courtesy name "Kongming", and then he took Zhuge Liang to Yuzhou to preside over Sima Yi's coming-of-age ceremony, bestowing the courtesy name "Zhongda".

Finally, he took Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi to Jingzhou to preside over Pang Tong's coming-of-age ceremony, bestowing the courtesy name "Shiyuan".

In particular, the Pang family of Xiangyang was already one of the most prominent and influential families in Jingzhou. Upon learning that Li Ji would personally come to perform the coming-of-age ceremony for Pang Tong, they widely invited guests from all over the world, and the scale of the event was extremely rare.

Even Guan Yu, the General of the Flying Cavalry who was respected and feared by everyone in Jingzhou and also held the position of Governor of Jingzhou, rarely came to participate in this private banquet, giving face by drinking a few cups of wine.

On this day, all the Pang family disciples were beaming with pride, and they unconsciously straightened their chests as they walked.

After Li Ji bestowed the courtesy name and performed the coming-of-age ceremony for Pang Tong, he also summoned Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, and Pang Tong to his presence in front of countless guests, and bestowed upon them the titles "Dragon, Tiger, and Phoenix", calling them "Three Sages", praising them all for having the ability to govern the world and pacify the country.

Even though some guests thought that this was just Li Ji's move to elevate his three disciples, it instantly made the names "Crouching Dragon", "Tomb Tiger", and "Phoenix Fledgling" spread throughout the entire Han Dynasty.

Even the newspapers, which had gradually become accustomed to by the people, used an entire page to publish this matter, mentioning the good names of the Chancellor's high-achieving disciples, "Dragon, Tiger, and Phoenix".

This scene made Jiang Gan, who had struggled for many years to gradually acquire the reputation of a "famous scholar", feel envious, jealous, and hateful.

With just Li Ji's golden mouth opening, the fame of these three children surpassed even Jiang Gan's.

Apart from Jiang Gan, who pretended to be calm but couldn't hide his envy and jealousy.

After the coming-of-age ceremony ended, Guo Jia, who accompanied him, was full of resentment, almost writing the words "favoritism" on his forehead, so that Li Ji would know.

In response, Li Ji had to appease Guo Jia for a while, even praising him fiercely, before Guo Jia slowly accepted it.

Li Ji's trip to Yuzhou and Jingzhou was naturally not only to perform the coming-of-age ceremonies for Sima Yi and Pang Tong, but also to personally confirm the development and military strength of Yuzhou and Jingzhou.

To prepare for the upcoming Northern Expedition…

It was just that with Jiang Gan by his side, Li Ji was inconvenient to take the time to inspect the military strength, food and grass, military equipment, etc. everywhere. Guo Jia, who was usually the most unrestrained, was undoubtedly Li Ji's best eyes.

Even if Guo Jia occasionally disappeared for a few days, Jiang Gan would not pay attention to this drunkard's whereabouts.

Now, after an inspection, the results were undoubtedly satisfactory to Li Ji.

Secret troop deployments have already begun.

Waiting for the autumn harvest, a large amount of grain will be stored in the warehouse, and a "east wind" that can make the war more favorable will blow.

After Li Ji arrived in Jingzhou and presided over Pang Tong's coming-of-age ceremony, the Jingzhou aristocratic families naturally did not want Li Ji to leave immediately.

Li Ji's current status and position were far from what they used to be. Not to mention leaking some benefits from Li Ji's fingers, even getting a high look from Li Ji would be of great benefit to the entire family.

Moreover, more than 90% of the Jingzhou aristocratic families and powerful people had already circled land in Yizhou. In a sense, they had to look at Li Ji's face to eat, so they naturally scrambled to invite Li Ji to banquets.

Out of political considerations, Li Ji naturally had to stay for a few more days.

However, in just these few days, something happened that surprised Li Ji quite a bit.

When Li Ji accepted the banquet invited by Huang Chengyan, intending to take the opportunity to invite Huang Chengyan to the Rende Academy to teach and educate people, Zhuge Liang unexpectedly caught Huang Yueying's eye.

Speaking of which, Zhuge Liang and Huang Yueying were already older unmarried men and women in this era.

However, unlike Zhuge Liang's focus on governing and studying, Huang Yueying's appearance was considered ugly in the eyes of the world, so she has not married until now.

However, in Li Ji's opinion, Huang Yueying was not ugly, but rather had naturally yellow hair, which seemed particularly out of place in this era.

However, Zhuge Liang unexpectedly met Huang Yueying, and they talked very happily, and a feeling of mutual understanding arose spontaneously.

Like the meeting of a top student and a genius otaku, especially in various miscellaneous studies, Huang Yueying could discuss with Zhuge Liang on an equal footing.

After Huang Chengyan's banquet, Zhuge Liang, after much deliberation, took the initiative to see Li Ji, requesting Li Ji to propose marriage to Huang Chengyan on his behalf and set the marriage.

After hearing this, Li Ji confirmed again and again.

"Liang'er, are you serious?"

Although Li Ji was happy to see Zhuge Liang achieve a happy marriage, he still wanted Zhuge Liang to consider it carefully.

After all, the prejudice of the world is a big mountain, and Huang Yueying is indeed an ugly woman in the eyes of the world.

Even with Li Ji's judgmental eyes, her appearance was also mediocre.

Under the initial impression, the only thing that Huang Yueying could make Li Ji's eyes light up was the unique aura that other women lacked.

If Zhuge Liang married Huang Yueying as his wife, he would inevitably be ridiculed by some people.

After all, Zhuge Liang in the original trajectory had fallen into Jingzhou, and in order to integrate into the Jingzhou gentry, or for the convenience of studying, marrying Huang Yueying may have had more considerations.

But now Zhuge Liang has Li Ji's protection, and undoubtedly does not need those considerations.

Zhuge Liang showed a wry smile and said.

"To be honest, the elders in my family have repeatedly intended to let Liang get married."

"However, what Liang'er desires is a virtuous inner helper like the master's wife, rather than marrying a person back home like a decoration, speechless to each other."

Hearing this, Li Ji finally understood.

To put it bluntly, in Zhuge Liang's eyes, that is, there is no common topic with Muggles.

There are many beautiful women in this era, but talented women are extremely rare, and not everyone is as beautiful and intelligent as Zhaoji.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang would rather marry a talented woman like Huang Yueying with flaws in her appearance than marry a vase and put it at home.

Although Huang Chengyan's reputation is great, the Huang family and the current Zhuge family are not considered well-matched in terms of status, especially Huang Yueying's flawed appearance.

If Zhuge Liang goes back to ask the elders in his family to propose marriage, the elders in his family may not agree, so he eagerly came to Li Ji's presence.

After all, once a teacher for a day, a father for life. Once Li Ji sets the marriage for Zhuge Liang, even if Zhuge Liang's elders are dissatisfied, they have to accept it with a smile.

Seeing Zhuge Liang's firm attitude, Li Ji did not persuade him any further, and went to Huang Chengyan's house the next day to propose marriage for Zhuge Liang in person.

Huang Chengyan, who had rejected Li Ji's invitation to come out of the mountain the day before, not only readily agreed to the marriage, but also changed his mind on the spot and was willing to go out of the mountain to be Cai Yong's deputy headmaster to teach and educate people.

This gossip also quickly caused a sensation throughout Jingzhou.

However, no matter how much the gossip spread, it could not affect Li Ji's party, who had already set off to return to Shouchun and began to "seek the east wind". (End of this chapter)