Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

However, based on the experience last time, both Guo Yi and Xu You were undoubtedly more cautious this time.

At Xu You's suggestion, Guo Yi continued to send more spies to inquire about Wu Jun's movements, and was also preparing to send people again to persuade Shan Yue.

Shanyue also knew Li Ji's name. As long as Shanyue knew that Li Ji had left Qiantang County, he had no worries that Shanyue would not be tempted.

Wu Jun's wealth has gradually formed a fixed impression in the entire Yangzhou, and it continues to accept refugees, as if Wu Jun's money and food have no end.

And out of caution, Guo Yi also openly sent envoys to Wu County to congratulate Li Ji.

In addition to paralyzing Wu County in this way, the purpose was to further confirm at a closer distance whether Li Ji and the rest of Wu County officials were concentrated in Wu County.

For a time, both sides of the Qiantang River seemed calm, but secretly they were tense and a storm was coming.

……

At this moment, Li Ji, who had been riding a carriage all the way, had hurried back to Wu County along the official road. Along the way, Li Ji also randomly selected some places to inspect water conservancy problems.

Although the war lasted for more than two months on the southern border of Wu County, it had no impact on the lives of ordinary people in Wu County and the "work-for-relief" policy as Liu Bei did not recruit soldiers.

On the contrary, in addition to the gradual improvement of Wu County's water conservancy and the massive increase in population, the overall situation has initially shown a prosperous atmosphere.

Although there are no plowing cattle yet, many officials have begun to lead the women and children who are not suitable for digging rivers to reclaim fertile land. Although the progress is slow, it contains the hope of truly taking root here and living here.

Li Ji also saw many smiling faces of hope that were completely different from his previous numbness.

This made Li Ji more determined in his choice. It would be better to spend more money and food to continue the war than to introduce military disasters into domestic operations.

Today's Wujun needs a stable environment to develop.

There are only a few years left until the real troubled times arrive.

Compared with Yuan Shaona and other rich family members, if Liu Bei wants to have the foundation to compete with him, he can only truly develop Wu County.

The stupid bird flies first...

Liu Bei has nothing but benevolence.

Then build Wu County into an existence similar to the "Shilipo Sword Master", so that "one county can rule the world"?
'Lord, maybe one county can conquer the world...'

While Li Ji was thinking secretly, Zhao Yun's voice rang outside the carriage, saying.

"Mr. Zikun, my lord is here to greet you."

"what?"

Li Ji was slightly startled and quickly opened the curtain of the carriage. What appeared in front of him was Liu Bei who was riding a horse with a face full of joy.

"Zikun, you are finally back."

Liu Bei got off his horse, walked quickly to the stopped carriage, and spoke repeatedly.

Seeing this, Li Ji quickly got out of the carriage.

But before Li Ji could jump off the carriage shaft, Liu Bei naturally helped Li Ji to the ground, not forgetting to remind him carefully.

"Slow down, slow down, don't get hurt."

Li Ji felt dumbfounded and was helped out of the carriage by Liu Bei, saying. "I'm afraid this place is still ten miles away from Wu County. Why is my lord here?"

"How can I stop my desire to see Zikun in just ten miles away?"

As Liu Bei spoke, he did not forget to look Li Ji up and down and said. "It's been really hard for Zikun to be in charge of the battle in Qiantang County during this period. Zikun is so thin..."

Suddenly he noticed that Li Ji seemed to be significantly stronger than before, and Liu Bei's voice couldn't help but pause.

In the past, Li Ji's figure could be described as thin and slender. Now it seems that there is no change on the surface, but in fact, it is obviously better to support the clothes on his body.

"Okay, okay, I thought that what Jin Yisi reported that Zikun always practiced sword skills with Zilong was a bit exaggerated, but I didn't expect that Zikun really persisted."

Liu Bei said happily.

"How dare you disobey your master? You should study hard and practice hard." Li Ji said with a smile.

"Very good, very good. Now that Zikun is back, you and Bei will practice sword skills with Zikun every day." Liu Bei said happily.

"it is good."

Li Ji naturally would not refuse this, and Liu Bei was not just showing off.

On the contrary, Liu Bei's sword skills are extremely high, and because his arms are obviously longer than others, he is one of the rare types who can fight on the battlefield with two swords.

Xiaoxiao calling Liu Bei "The Sword Master of the Han Dynasty" may be a bit exaggerated, but it is not without reason.

Afterwards, Li Ji introduced Guo Jia, who was riding in the same carriage with him. After Zhao Yun and Xiahou Bo greeted each other, Li Ji did not continue to sit in the carriage, but sat on a war horse and sat side by side with Liu Bei. We walked slowly back toward Wuxian County.

After Liu Bei and Li Ji slightly distanced themselves from the rest of the people behind, Liu Bei asked Li Ji in a low voice.

"Zikun, do you really think there is no need to increase troops in Qiantang County?"

Population, economy, and food, these three reasons undoubtedly have a decisive impact on the potential for war.

With a population of about 700,000 to 800,000 in Kuaiji County, the more than 20,000 troops were already close to the limit of normal mobilization strength. However, as Wu County has gradually absorbed a large number of refugees, the actual population of Wu County has now increased to about 1.6 million.

Although this number is still far from a large county like Nanyang County with a population of more than two million, in the area of ​​​​Yangzhou, it is almost as much as one county is worth two counties.

Therefore, if Liu Bei really wanted to recruit troops, relying on Liu Bei's popular support and influence in Wu County, he could easily recruit another 20,000 troops.

But as a result, Wu Jun's money and food consumption far exceeded expectations.

Moreover, the recruitment of a large number of young and strong men as a source of troops will inevitably seriously affect the development of people's livelihood in Wu County, so Li Ji has never approved of this matter.

Li Ji shook his head slightly at Liu Bei and said. "There is no need to increase troops, otherwise the news will be leaked and scare Guo Yi away, which will not be beautiful."

"It's just that Bei is worried that the troops in Qiantang County are too empty. If the people are exposed to military disaster again, then it will be too much." Liu Bei said with some worry.

Li Ji smiled and understood that he had been too vague due to the inconvenience of the letter, which made Liu Bei a little worried and relieved.

"Don't worry, my lord, this plan may seem dangerous, but it's actually safe."

Liu Bei nodded and looked at Li Jidao. "Is Zikun sure of this plan?"

"Have."

Li Ji has never lacked this kind of responsibility and confidence, and he responded without hesitation.

When Liu Bei heard this, he seemed to relax and spoke cheerfully. "Okay, since Zikun is confident, then Bei will feel at ease."

Li Ji smiled and suddenly noticed the appearance behind the city wall of Wu County not far away. He couldn't help but be stunned. He almost thought he was dazzled.

From a distance, you can see large tracts of red cloth hanging on the city walls, filling the entire Wuxian city with a festive atmosphere.

Even the city walls are like this. It is easy to imagine what Liu Bei will look like inside Wu County.

"Lord, this..."

Li Ji pointed in the direction of Wu County's city wall, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

When Liu Bei saw this, he looked quite proud and looked forward to recognition and appreciation.

This made Li Jizhi want to blurt out words that were too extravagant and wasteful, so he could only swallow them back and said with some helplessness.

"My lord, didn't you agree to save some money before?"

"But didn't Zikun ask Bei to make Zikun's wedding known to everyone as much as possible? In this way, it is not against etiquette, and Bei also guarantees that not only Wu County, but also the whole of Yangzhou will know about it in a few days. That's it." Liu Bei responded proudly.

……

Li Ji.

The reason why Li Ji asked Liu Bei to arrange the wedding to be known to everyone was to ensure that Kuaiji County was convinced about Li Ji's wedding in Wu County.

But what Li Ji didn't expect at all was that Liu Bei seemed to have received some kind of permission, making it...such an exaggeration.

Li Ji said slowly and somewhat worriedly.

"But...Wu County Finance..."

However, before Li Ji could finish speaking, Liu Bei interrupted.

"Don't worry, Zikun. Didn't Zikun already separate Bei's private treasury and government treasury before? All the expenses for these arrangements came from the private treasury, and they will not cause any harm to Wujun's finances. Influence."

Li Ji couldn't help but be startled when he heard this.

Naturally, Li Ji would not interfere with Liu Bei's private expenditures. Li Ji even used this method to subtly change Liu Bei's somewhat petty habits.

After all, in a sense, Liu Bei can be regarded as a nouveau riche type.

In more than a year, he transformed from a straw sandal seller to a frontier official with more than 1.6 million people under his control. Naturally, Liu Bei had to quickly catch up with some temperament, so as not to be despised by some aristocratic family members. .

It's just that Li Ji doesn't know how Liu Bei's private treasury spends, but Li Ji knows exactly how much Liu Bei's private treasury takes in.

Just by looking at the decorations Liu Bei put on the city wall, Li Ji could predict that Liu Bei must have put all his effort into dressing up the entire Wu County to congratulate Li Ji.

The expenses involved would probably be enough to drain Liu Bei's private treasury to nothing.

"Lord, your private treasury will not..."

There was no trace of distress on Liu Bei's face, but he said cheerfully.

"Compared with Zikun's big wedding, a mere private treasury is nothing. It's just that this year, I won't be able to visit Zikun's house often."

Li Ji was moved and dumbfounded and agreed, saying.

"Ji Zi is very welcome."

Immediately, Liu Bei enthusiastically pulled Li Jixiang to tell him all the details of the arrangements for Wuxian County, many of which had various meanings. Liu Bei even often consulted Confucian scholars who were good at etiquette and law for this reason.

The goal was to arrange everything properly for Li Ji's wedding without violating etiquette. (End of chapter)