Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

This made Sun Jian take a few deep breaths, realizing that he must not do anything suspicious at this moment.

"Liu Xuande invited me, so I'll go..."

After making the decision, Sun Jian first asked Zu Mao to leave, then rewrapped the imperial seal and hid it in the secret compartment before walking out.

At this moment, four family generals, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang and Zu Mao, were all guarding outside the door.

After Sun Jian came out, the four family generals hurriedly bowed to Sun Jian.

Sun Jian thought for a moment and said, "This time I go to Liu Xuande's mansion, I can take the opportunity to tell Liu Xuande that I plan to lead the army to leave Luoyang and return to Changsha."

"Gong Fu, follow me. Darong and Yi Gong will continue to guard here and not allow anyone to enter the house. De Mou will go out of the city first to organize the army. After I return, you can leave. It is inconvenient to stay in Luoyang for long."

"Yes."

The four generals immediately took orders.

After Sun Jian made a series of arrangements, he rushed to Liu Bei's mansion not far away under the escort of Huang Gai and his personal guards.

Liu Bei gave Sun Jian enough face for his arrival and personally went to the door to greet him.

In private, the two were close friends. Sun Jian entrusted his family to Liu Bei for care, and Liu Bei never let Sun Jian down.
In public, Sun Jian was saved by Liu Bei when his rear was cut off from food supplies, and with Liu Bei's support, he was able to retain a place in the allied forces. Sun Jian can be said to be a staunch ally of Liu Bei in the allied forces.

After Liu Bei invited Sun Jian to the conference room and they each sat down, Sun Jian, who was already a little anxious about leaving Luoyang and claimed that this was the only way to return to the sea, did not bother to greet Liu Bei and asked.

"Brother Xuande sent someone to invite me urgently. Could it be that something serious has happened? If Jian can help in any way, Brother Xuande, please feel free to tell me."

After hearing this, Liu Bei hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

"Brother Wentai, do you notice that there is something wrong with the seal used in the imperial edict?"

As soon as these words came out, Sun Jian, who was not good at acting, suddenly changed his expression, and it felt like his heart skipped a beat at that moment.

However, Sun Jian still forced a smile and asked as if he didn't quite understand.

"Brother Xuande, what do you mean by this? I don't quite understand."

It's a pity that Sun Jian's scheming was completely not on the same level as Liu Bei's. His sudden change of expression and forced calmness, in a sense, had already told Liu Bei the real answer.

Even if the imperial seal was not in Sun Jian's hands, Sun Jian must have known its whereabouts.

Liu Bei sighed slightly and said.

"Brother Wentai, when we met in Julu, we hit it off right away. We can be said to have become close friends."

"I have never done anything to let you down over the years. I have been very courteous and caring towards my sister-in-law. I recommended Ce'er to be Zikun's disciple, and I also taught Quan'er like his own son or nephew..."

Listening to Liu Bei playing the emotional card with emotion, Sun Jian's heart sank unconsciously.

who is it? !
Who leaked the news?
Sun Jian subconsciously placed his suspicion on the four generals, and he also felt that Liu Bei was preparing to force him to hand over the imperial seal.

Seeing that Sun Jian's face was becoming more and more ugly, Liu Bei paused and spoke.

"Brother Wentai, if you happen to find something in the palace, it is best to return it to the emperor. Otherwise, it will cause chaos in the world and even bring disaster to yourself."

"I have never taken anything from the palace, so I don't know what Brother Xuande means by that."

Sun Jian answered in a deep voice, with one hand on the sword at his waist.

At this point, facing Sun Jian, who had in a sense already confessed, Liu Bei's voice became more solemn.

"Brother Wentai, are you really going to tear off that fig leaf completely? The imperial seal is not something you should take. Return it to the emperor."

"I'm afraid I'll leave it to you, Liu Xuande!"

Sun Jian stood up suddenly and said sternly, "Don't say that I don't have this thing. Even if I have it, why would I give it to you?"

Facing Sun Jian's accusations, Liu Bei frowned, but still maintained considerable patience.

"Brother Wentai, among all the princes of the allied forces, you are the only one who has entered and exited the imperial palace many times. Now that the imperial seal has been stolen, the only possibility is that it has fallen into your hands."

"Besides, the seal used in the imperial edict cannot be concealed for long. People like Yuan Benchu ​​and Yuan Gonglu who often come into contact with imperial edicts will probably notice something unusual in no time and will certainly suspect you."

"Ask yourself, Brother Wentai, can you keep the imperial seal? Only by returning it to the emperor can we avoid the disaster of war."

Liu Bei's sincere words calmed Sun Jian down for a moment, but his rationality was completely swallowed up by greed in the next instant.

Even if there was only a one percent chance of keeping the imperial seal, Sun Jian would never give it up.

As long as he could bring the imperial seal back to Changsha, back to a place far away from the Central Plains, Sun Jian asked himself, who could do anything to him?
By then, I, holding the imperial seal in my hand, will be able to attract followers with just a wave of troops, and my great cause will be accomplished!

"It's ridiculous to accuse someone of a crime!"

Sun Jian sneered and spoke.

"Just based on this groundless speculation, you think that the imperial seal is in my possession? I never thought that you and I have known each other for several years, but you are so suspicious of me because of your greed. It is really pathetic."

"Well, today I, Sun Jian, swear here that if I get the imperial seal, even if I am pierced by thousands of arrows, what does it matter?"

After saying that, Sun Jian threw his cape and strode out of the government office. Huang Gai nervously held his weapon and protected Sun Jian from behind. However, Liu Bei just watched Sun Jian leave without saying anything to stop him.

After Sun Jian walked out of Liu Bei's mansion, cold sweat broke out all over his body, which was almost visibly visible to the naked eye...

How could Sun Jian not know the bravery of Zhao Yun, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?
What Sun Jian was most worried about just now was that Liu Bei would force him to stay!
"Fortunately, Liu Xuande was frightened by my oath. He was worried about his reputation and did not dare to push me too far..."

Sun Jian quickly whispered in Huang Gai's ear, "Hurry up! Otherwise, by the time Liu Xuande reacts, we may not be able to leave Luoyang City."

Huang Gai heard this and spoke subconsciously. "My Lord, the Madam and the Young Master are still in Wu County..."

Before Huang Gai could finish, Sun Jian interrupted without hesitation.

"How can a man who wants to accomplish great things hesitate because of his wife and children? If Liu Bei doesn't care about his reputation, then my wife and children will suffer."

Huang Gai felt a little reluctant, but seeing that Sun Jian was determined, he should not try to persuade him anymore. He quickly escorted Sun Jian back to his own residence.

Liu Bei, who watched Sun Jian leave all the way, just sighed.

Until this moment, Li Ji, who had just walked out from the screen behind the conference room, asked.

"Why does my lord sigh?"

Liu Bei said with emotion.

"I sigh for Sun Wentai. I never thought that Sun Wentai, a great man, was blinded by greed and could not distinguish the current situation, and did such a stupid thing."

"My Lord has tried his best to persuade him, but Sun Wentai has always been a stubborn person. He would rather die than live in disgrace. It is normal that he is unwilling to give up the imperial seal."

Li Ji was not surprised at all.

This is Sun Jian's character, he insists on his own way and refuses to listen to good advice.

Liu Bei spoke with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"Zikun, if we had forced Sun Wentai to stay here just now, it might not have been a bad idea. At least it could have prevented Sun Wentai from making the same mistake over and over again."

Li Ji shook his head and replied.

"Sun Wentai insisted that he would die, and even swore that he did not have the imperial seal in his hand. Even if the lord forced him to stay, what could he do?"

"And if this matter is not handled with care, it will cause a stir in Luoyang. Who knows, it may even lead to a fight for the imperial seal in Luoyang City. By then, millions of people in Luoyang City may be reduced to ashes."

Liu Bei said with a worried look on his face.

"This is also a cause for concern!"

"So, I just expressed my opinion in order to persuade Brother Wentai to return the imperial seal and to remind him to leave Luoyang as soon as possible, so as to prevent the people of Luoyang who have experienced the ravages of Dong the thief from suffering from war again."

Li Ji was a little surprised when he heard this. He didn't expect that Liu Bei let Sun Jian go not just because he was soft-hearted, but because he was concerned about the people of Luoyang.

Once the "battle for the imperial seal" broke out in Luoyang City, with two or three hundred thousand soldiers fighting in the city, not to mention who would get the imperial seal in the end, at least the millions of people in the city would inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

"My lord is kind..."

Li Ji bowed and asked in a low voice, "I would like to ask, my lord, do you want to pass on the imperial seal?"

When Liu Bei heard this, a few ripples flashed across his eyes, but then quickly returned to calm.

After a moment, Liu Bei grabbed Li Ji's arm, helped Li Ji up, and answered.

"Even if I get the jade seal now, what use is it to me who is still living in a corner? It is better to return it to the emperor so that the Han Dynasty can retain a little more dignity..."

After a pause, Liu Bei leaned close to Li Ji's ear and whispered.

"And if I can finally control the whole world, someone will naturally deliver the Imperial Seal to me. Why should I rush?"

After hearing this, Li Ji looked at Liu Bei with admiration in his eyes and said.

"My lord is wise, but Ji is far inferior to him."

Suddenly, Liu Bei's face showed a bit of confusion, and he said.

"Zi Kun is teasing me again, right? If Zi Kun agrees to seize the jade seal now, he must have taken action."

"No, no, I just think that the lord also understands the truth of 'there are great scholars who will debate the classics for me', and he has the style of a wise ruler." Li Ji replied.

Liu Bei smiled when he heard this, and then asked, "Zikun, do you think Sun Wentai can return to Changsha smoothly?"

"So what if I can reach Changsha? So what if I can't?"

Li Ji asked in return, "Even if Sun Wentai arrived in Changsha, with his military strength, how could he protect the imperial seal?"

After a pause, Li Ji said, "However, we should also return to Wu County as soon as possible to make plans."

Liu Bei nodded and responded.

"Zi Kun is right. Luoyang has become a place of trouble. We should not stay here for long." (End of this chapter)