Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji realized that the position of "Vanguard" had to be held by a vassal close to the two Yuan brothers; otherwise, it would be easily used as an excuse by the two Yuan brothers to make trouble or secretly sabotage.

Immediately, Li Ji's eyes shifted, and he quickly gave Sun Jian a look, trying to prevent Sun Jian from vying for this "Vanguard" position as in the original trajectory.

However, facing the look Li Ji gave him, Sun Jian, not understanding the reason, moved his body instinctively and stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying.

"I, Sun Jian, am willing to be the Vanguard!"

Yuan Shao looked at Sun Jian's face, which was full of fortitude and bravery, a strange look flashed in his eyes, but his face showed a happy expression, and he said loudly.

"Good! Wintai is brave and fierce, and can definitely take on this important task! Then Wintai will lead his troops as the vanguard to clear the way, and I, the alliance leader, will lead the army to follow behind."

Immediately, Yuan Shao also promulgated some clearly prepared military law reward and punishment regulations within the allied forces, which not only served to encourage the allied soldiers and improve cohesion, but also had a bit of intention to establish authority.

And the two deputy alliance leaders under Yuan Shao have made it clear that Yuan Shu will be in charge of grain and supplies, and then Liu Bei will be in charge of supervising military law.

After the blood alliance ceremony ended and all the internal affairs of the allied forces were completely settled, when the vassals dispersed.

Sun Jian pondered the look that Li Ji had given him earlier during the alliance, and deliberately stopped Li Ji halfway, asking.

"Mr. Zikun, did you have something to teach me during the alliance just now?"

Li Ji pondered for a moment, feeling quite helpless in his heart.

Dong Zhuo has gathered the elites of Liang, Bing, and Sili prefectures, and also occupies the natural dangers of the Sili's four male passes. Obviously, a small vanguard cannot accomplish anything.

What's more, Sun Jian is still leading his troops to charge forward, which makes it difficult for Li Ji not to suspect that Yuan Shao's intention is to clearly consume Sun Jian's main force.

However, with Li Ji's current status and influence, every word and deed must be cautious, especially to the outside world.

Even though Sun Ce is Li Ji's disciple, Sun Jian obviously has his own ideas and is not completely on the same path as Liu Bei.

All of this flashed through Li Ji's mind, but his expression remained calm and gentle as he spoke.

"Wintai has always been brave and fierce, and I expect that this trip will be unstoppable. However, the Book of Changes says: 'A dragon exceeding its proper bounds will have cause to repent; fullness cannot be prolonged.'"

Sun Jian was a little displeased when he heard this.

Sun Jian believes that because of Liu Bei's courteous care for his family and Sun Ce's apprenticeship to Li Ji, he has been very respectful to Li Ji.

In addition, when vying for the position of alliance leader just now, Sun Jian also spoke out to express his support for Liu Bei.

Now that Sun Jian is about to take the lead in the battle, this Li Zikun does not speak of great victory, or provide money, food, and elite soldiers, but instead says such unlucky words.

However, considering the relationship between the two families, Sun Jian did not get angry, but cupped his hands to Liu Bei and Li Ji respectively, and left on the pretext of needing to step up the rectification of soldiers and prepare for the expedition.

After Sun Jian left, Liu Bei asked Li Ji.

"Zikun believes that Wintai will have difficulty winning this trip? Hence, you reminded him with those words just now?"

In fact, Sun Jian served in Sili after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and then repeatedly made military exploits in the Xiqiang Rebellion, leaving behind a prestigious reputation.

It can be said that Sun Jian's current position as the prefect of Changsha County was completely won by Sun Jian with his sword and horse.

Also, because Sun Jian was born in Wu County, he is known as the "Jiangdong Tiger," and even Li Ji has heard of him.

If we comprehensively discuss combat and leading troops, Sun Jian's ability is enough to rank at the forefront of the allied forces.

Therefore, when Sun Jian recommended himself as the vanguard, almost no one competed with Sun Jian, and even Liu Bei had great confidence in Sun Jian.

Facing Liu Bei's question, Li Ji did not answer directly, but instead asked. "If General Sun encounters danger, what is your idea, my lord, to save or not to save?"

Liu Bei thought for a while and said.

"As allies, not saving would be unbenevolent; and I have a personal friendship with Wintai, and not saving would also be unjust; I will not do things that are unbenevolent and unjust."

"I understand."

Li Ji nodded, and he also had a tendency in his heart.

With so many people around, it was not appropriate to speak deeply, so Liu Bei did not continue to ask, until he returned to the camp of the garrison, he asked.

"Could it be that Wintai is in danger?"

"It's possible."

Li Ji nodded, then cupped his hands to Liu Bei and bowed.

"The fault lies with me, for not anticipating that the thief Dong would massacre 53 members of the Yuan family, and it happened to be at this moment that their heads were sent to the Sour Jujube camp, so that all our efforts were in vain, and my lord had to give the position of alliance leader to Yuan Benchu."

Liu Bei quickly helped Li Ji up and said.

"Without Zikun, I don't know if I could have come here to meet. What is Zikun guilty of? Furthermore, the thief Dong's actions are extremely cruel, and he brutally killed loyal and good people such as Grand Commandant Yuan Kui and Grand Servant Yuan Ji. This is also an unforeseen change."

After a pause, a smile couldn't help but appear on Liu Bei's face, and he said.

"Moreover, it is rare for Zikun to have something that he did not expect, but this makes me feel at ease. After all, I am also a little worried that Zikun is really a god descended to earth, and will leave me without hesitation one day, or that this is just a Nanke dream of mine."

Li Ji couldn't help but laugh a little when he heard this, and he didn't know whether Liu Bei was praising himself or scolding himself for being inhuman.

Immediately, Li Ji then continued to explain.

"General Sun's ability is beyond doubt, but what I am worried about is that Yuan Benchu and Yuan Gonglu have ulterior motives and will harm General Sun."

When Liu Bei heard this, his brows couldn't help but wrinkle, and he said in disbelief.

"The alliance leader and Yuan Gonglu would not do this. Not to mention that we are allied here with the great hatred of the country against the thief Dong, and what's more, the alliance leader and Gonglu have a blood feud with Dong Zhuo. It's too late to fully support Wintai in the campaign against Dong, how could they harm him?"

So, this is what Li Ji sees as the common problem of people with high moral standards, who always overestimate the moral standards of others, just like countless people in the original trajectory believed in Sima Yi's "Luoshui Oath."

The reason why Yuan Shao was able to become the alliance leader elected by everyone without any objection after "sacrificing to the heavens with blood relatives."

It is precisely because Yuan Shao now seems to everyone to be burdened with national and family hatred, and the 53 members of the Yuan family have proved the Yuan family's loyalty and contribution to the Han Dynasty with their lives.

"People's hearts are unpredictable, my lord."

Li Ji sighed, not feeling that the deaths of Yuan Kui, Yuan Ji, and other members of the Yuan family would make Yuan Shao single-mindedly serve the public and do everything possible to attack Dong Zhuo.

From a completely immoral point of view, the deaths of Yuan Kui, Yuan Ji, and others were almost beneficial to both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu.

Perhaps, this will greatly reduce the power of the Yuan family in the court controlled by Dong Zhuo, but it will bring greater benefits to the two Yuans in the local area.

Everyone will only know that the Yuan family has sacrificed the lives of 53 people for the Han Dynasty, and that Yuan Shao is leading the heroes to the west to attack the thief Dong in order to avenge the country and family.

Thinking of this, Li Ji felt a little helpless.

Perhaps the momentum of this alliance is far greater than the original trajectory, so that Yuan Kui and Yuan Ji, who should have been killed by Dong Zhuo a few months later in a fit of anger.

Now, Dong Zhuo is like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, and he has killed Yuan Kui, Yuan Ji, and other members of the Yuan family cleanly in advance, and even sent their heads to the Sour Jujube camp.

Before the enemy has attacked, he has killed some important hostages cleanly, which is undoubtedly a proper reverse operation.

If Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were timid and cowardly people, such deterrence might still be useful.

But now, this is undoubtedly Dong Zhuo pushing Yuan Shao hard, not only sending Yuan Shao to the position of alliance leader, but even arousing the same hatred among the allied forces from top to bottom.

If it were Li Ji…

Ah no, if it were Jia Xu, since Dong Zhuo's reputation is already extremely bad, then it would be better to hang Yuan Kui and others on the city tower as "truce cards."

Let Yuan Shao fall into the dilemma of "loyalty" and "filial piety" on the surface, and no matter what choice he makes, he will inevitably leave a stain.

Even, isn't the allied forces attacking the west in the name of "clearing the emperor's side" and restoring Liu Bian to the throne?

Jia Xu directly brought Liu Bian to the front of the two armies and ordered the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty to withdraw their troops.

At that time, those who do not withdraw their troops will also have the risk of being considered disloyal by the world.

Wait…

Li Ji's brows furrowed, and he suddenly thought of something.

With Dong Zhuo's murderous nature, he has already killed Yuan Kui, Yuan Ji, and others in advance, so wouldn't Liu Bian also be killed by Dong Zhuo in a fit of anger?

Just then, Zhao Yun stepped into the tent from outside and reported.

"My lord, Mr. Zikun, Colonel Pang, the envoy sent by Ma Teng, the prefect of Xiliang, requests to see you."

Liu Bei was slightly surprised when he heard this.

After all, Wu County and Xiliang County are located in opposite corners of the Han Dynasty, and Liu Bei and Ma Teng have no old friendship. Previously, Pang De in the tent also deliberately avoided too much contact with the other vassals, so as not to offend anyone. Why would he suddenly visit?

However, while Liu Bei was puzzled, he quickly tidied up his clothes, and then led Li Ji and Zhao Yun to personally welcome him at the main entrance of the garrison.

Seeing Liu Bei's appearance, Pang De, who was waiting patiently, was slightly surprised.

Pang De had seen the arrogance of the vassals, but he never thought that Liu Bei would personally welcome him, an unknown Xiliang warrior.

Immediately, before Liu Bei could get close, Pang De hurriedly saluted first and said. "Greetings, Lord Liu, I am really terrified that Lord Liu would personally come to greet me."

"General Pang Lingming does not need to be too polite. I have also occasionally heard that Ma Shoucheng is a descendant of General Fubo. This time, he has risen up to attack Dong Zhuo in accordance with great righteousness. He is truly a hero of the world…"

After a pause, Liu Bei showed a look of admiration on his face and said.

"Even if Lingming does not come here, I may have to make a special visit to Lingming to learn about Ma Shoucheng's heroic appearance through Lingming's mouth."

It has to be said that Liu Bei seems to have the natural ability to draw closer to people.

In just a few words, Pang De developed a favorable impression of Liu Bei, especially the two young men behind Pang De, whose eyes clearly showed more kindness towards Liu Bei.

Immediately, Liu Bei invited Pang De into his tent, with Li Ji and Zhao Yun accompanying them. After some polite conversation,

Liu Bei, who was enjoying his conversation with Pang De, then asked, seemingly belatedly and casually, "Speaking of which, I wonder if Commander Pang has come here today for any particular matter?"

(End of Chapter)