Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"I think Yuan Shu is just a man without strategy, and Yuan Shao is just a show-off. How can they be the leader of the heroes of the world?"

Gongsun Zan's expression and tone revealed his contempt for the two Yuans.

In the eyes of veteran frontier generals like Gongsun Zan, the two Yuan brothers were just people with empty family backgrounds. They were good at sitting at the table and talking nonsense, but how could they be qualified to be the leaders of the princes in Guandong?
As for Liu Bei, Gongsun Zan also did not think that Liu Bei's ability and prestige were far superior to his own.

However, Gongsun Zan is a man who values ​​loyalty.

Since Liu Yu supported Liu Bei to become the leader of the alliance, Gongsun Zan would naturally be happy to see it happen. It would be better to let his own brother be the leader than the two Yuans.

Liu Bei was surprised by the attitude of Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan supporting him, and only then did he react and hurriedly made excuses.

"Compared with Gongzu, Bei's prestige is far inferior; compared with Bogui, his reserve troops are also insufficient. How can he be qualified to convince the princes?"

Even though Liu Bei was moved by Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian's proposal at this moment, he had to refuse it on the surface anyway, otherwise he would appear too arrogant in the eyes of others.

Even Liu Bei was very clear that if he became the "leader of the alliance", the benefits it would bring would be of great help to his ambition of "reviving the Han Dynasty". This was a temptation that Liu Bei could not resist.

How could Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan not understand Liu Bei's meaning when they heard this half-hearted refusal?

Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan were not the kind of people who hesitated. As high-ranking officials, after making up their minds, they immediately stated their attitudes again, indicating that they would fully support Liu Bei in his fight for the position of leader of the alliance.

Afterwards, after Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan agreed to support Liu Bei at the noon meeting, he took his leave first.

After Liu Bei personally sent Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan away, Liu Bei led Li Ji back to the tent and looked at Li Ji, whose face seemed to remain calm, and asked.

"Zi Kun didn't seem surprised at all. Could it be that this was something Zi Kun had expected?"

"I dare not say that everything is within my expectations, but I also know that my lord is now qualified to compete for the position of leader."

Li Ji responded with a smile and raised his hand to pour a new cup of tea for Liu Bei.

When Liu Bei heard this, he realized that although Li Ji's words were plain, he must have been secretly planning for a long time and it was not a spur-of-the-moment idea.

However, Liu Bei couldn't help but speak with some hesitation.

"But I am still a person of little influence. Even with the support of Lord Liu and Lord Tao, I may not be able to convince the heroes."

After a pause, Liu Bei continued, "If we arrive in Suanzao a little earlier, I can visit each of the princes one by one, and maybe I can get some more princes to voice their support."

"Unfortunately, we just arrived at Suanzao yesterday evening, and today at noon the heroes will hold a blood oath meeting. Even if I wanted to visit the other princes, it is too late."

However, in response to Liu Bei's worries, Li Ji took a sip of tea and spoke calmly.

"The initiator of this meeting is Lord Liu, the governor of Youzhou. Lord Liu's attitude is very important. Moreover, compared with the two Yuan brothers who are the sons of aristocratic families and have no achievements, it is truly legitimate for the lord, as a relative of the Han Dynasty, to lead the heroes to fight against Dong."

"After all, who will support the two Yuans?"

"They are just a bunch of old officials who only know how to follow Yuan's door and wave flags and shout slogans. Even if the lord has arrived at Suanzao early, how can he make those old officials abandon their homes and support the lord with empty words?"

"Therefore, my lord, it is better for you to arrive now, at the right time, rather than arriving earlier. This will let the world know that your becoming the leader is not due to a private exchange of interests, but is the will of the people and the general trend."

Hearing Li Ji's words, Liu Bei suddenly reacted and said, "So, Zikun deliberately controlled the time of his arrival at Suanzao so that he could arrive just before the meeting?"

Li Ji smiled and said nothing.

There may be many coincidences in the world, but Li Ji would naturally not fail to grasp the marching route and the time of arrival at Suanzao.

There were quite a few secret agents deployed by the Jinyi Division in the Suanzao camp, so it was easy for them to know the arrival of the princes at Suanzao and the date of the blood alliance.

Li Ji's reaction also gave Liu Bei more confidence, realizing that Li Ji must have been prepared for such an arrangement.

However, Liu Bei still asked with some confusion.

"Zi Kun, there are thirty-six lords in the Suanzao League. Except for Gong Zu and Bo Gui, if the other lords do not support it, it will be useless even if I am interested in the position of leader."

In front of Li Ji, Liu Bei did not hide his thoughts at all.

The position of leader and the reputation of commanding the heroes will undoubtedly set a tone for the coming chaotic times, that is, who will be qualified to compete for the Central Plains.

In the original trajectory, the encounter between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, both heirs of the Yuan family, shows the benefits of the position of "leader of the alliance".

Although there was also the reason that Yuan Shu was not as good as Yuan Shao, that was also the reason why Yuan Shao was able to attract countless counselors and generals to join him and boasted that he had "counselors like rain and generals like clouds" under his command.

In addition to the reputation of the Yuan family itself, the reputation of "leader of the alliance" is also crucial.

As for Yuan Shu himself, there were only a few people who joined his army from beginning to end.

Now that Liu Bei gradually had ambitions to rule the world, he naturally wanted the position of "leader of the alliance".

In the face of Liu Bei's worries, Li Ji comforted him gently. "My lord, the Yuan family, which has been three dukes for four generations, is very famous. Its students and former officials are all over the world. It is also the leader of the Guandong family."

"However, no matter how famous the Yuan family is, how can it be compared with the Liu family of the Han Dynasty?"

"And you, my lord! Now you are standing in this Suanzao camp, representing the Han royal family. Who do you think the people are with? As long as you raise your arm at the time of the alliance, you will know who is qualified to be the leader!"

Li Ji's voice was so gentle, but it made Liu Bei feel more heroic and passionate!

That's right!

Li Ji's words are also the source of Liu Bei's pride in his identity as a "relative of the Han royal family"!

No matter how famous the Yuan family, with “three dukes in four generations”, is, how can they be compared with the royal family of the Han Dynasty?

The Han Dynasty was ruled by the Liu family, not by the Yuan family, and certainly not by the Dong family.

Liu Bei calmed down after a while and bowed to Li Ji.

"For the sake of the world, for the sake of the Han Dynasty, and for the sake of the Han Dynasty, I should fight for the position of leader of the alliance."

"Ji, you should do your best to assist him."

Li Ji bowed and responded.

However, just when Liu Bei thought that Li Ji would make various arrangements for the upcoming alliance, Li Ji remained indifferent and just chatted and laughed with Liu Bei in the tent.

Seeing that noon was approaching, Liu Bei, who was about to go to the central military tent of Suanzao Camp, could not help but ask.

"Zikun, is there anything we should be careful of after arriving at the central army tent?"

"My lord, just sit back and relax."

Li Ji replied with a smile.

After all, China's political tradition has always been for others to speak on its behalf, and the real protagonist will never personally come out to sell himself like a clown.

That would not only disqualify him, but would also make others think that he does not even have one or two confidants or supporters to speak on his behalf.

Therefore, when Liu Bei arrived at the central military tent, all he had to do was sit there quietly and show the demeanor of a relative of the Han royal family.

Immediately, Liu Bei left Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to guard the main camp, and took Li Ji and Zhao Yun to the central military tent.

When Liu Bei arrived at the central army tent, the tent was already bustling with noise. Various princes, each with their own two or three confidants, were toasting and chatting with each other in the tent.

"The Governor of Yangzhou and the Prefect of Wujun, the General Protecting the Japanese, the seventeenth-generation grandson of King Jing of Zhongshan, and a relative of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei Liu Xuande, has arrived!"

As the long string of prefixes chanted by the soldiers outside the tent sounded, all the princes in the tent were stunned, and then looked towards the direction of the main gate of the central army tent.

I saw a man in military uniform, with two swords on his waist, a handsome face, rouge lips, hands below his knees, and a gentle and dignified demeanor walking in.

Liu Bei, without showing any emotion or cowardice on his face, glanced around the tent and then bowed to the people present.

"Liu Xuande, nice to meet you heroes."

At this moment, many people in the tent were surprised by Liu Bei's appearance. Most people were thinking: Is this person Liu Xuande, who is famous for his benevolence? He has an extraordinary appearance and an amazing demeanor.

Since Liu Bei only arrived yesterday evening, the princes present had basically no chance to contact Liu Bei in advance.

Just when many princes were thinking about how to face Liu Bei, several princes who were originally toasting each other in the central army tent stood up and walked towards Liu Bei.

Except for Gongsun Zan and Tao Qian, who have great influence among the princes.

Liu Zhang and Liu Qi, who came as envoys of Liu Yan and Liu Biao, both hurriedly walked up to Liu Bei and saluted him as juniors.

Liu Zhang called Liu Bei "brother", while Liu Qi called Liu Bei "uncle".

This scene surprised all the princes present.

It should be noted that Liu Zhang and Liu Qi came as envoys of Yizhou and Jingzhou, and they were the sons of the two governors and had extraordinary status. Even though they came to Suanzao with only a thousand guards, no one dared to underestimate Liu Zhang and Liu Qi in the slightest. Instead, they were very respectful to them.

However, although Liu Zhang and Liu Qi were enthusiastic towards the other small princes, they had never received such attention from Liu Bei, who would stand up and greet them from afar.

This also greatly changed Liu Bei's weight in the hearts of the princes in the central army tent. Without waiting for Liu Bei to take the initiative to contact them, the other princes, big and small, also came forward one after another to talk to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was a little surprised at this, but he did not show it on the surface. Instead, he was still able to maneuver smoothly while surrounded by a group of princes. Not only did he not panic, but every prince who came forward felt as if he were basking in the spring breeze.

During this time, Liu Bei could not help but quietly glance at Li Ji standing in a corner, remembering that before arriving at Suanzao, he was still worried about whether he would be looked at by the other princes. (End of this chapter)