Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

After three quarters of an hour, most of the aristocratic family representatives, who had originally maintained their composure and knelt politely to preserve their status, began to sit on the ground, personally feeling the love of Mother Earth.

As the fifth quarter of an hour approached its end, even the most stubborn, old-fashioned, and etiquette-conscious members of the aristocratic families could only use their lower bodies to control their upper bodies and make a choice.

On the contrary, Zhu Zheng, despite being covered in sweat, still maintained his unchanged flattering expression, proactively striking up conversations and chatting from time to time.

In terms of perseverance alone, the ever-kneeling Zhu Zheng far surpassed those so-called stubborn aristocratic families, which undoubtedly seemed somewhat ironic.

And at this time, Li Ji, who had taken the opportunity to eat and drink his fill, brought the conversation back to the main topic.

"Inviting everyone here this time is naturally not to have you comment on the latest pastry flavors developed in Wu Commandery, but to inform you of an important matter."

Having been repeatedly interrogated by Li Ji from mind to body, most of the aristocratic family representatives were already somewhat muddled, but at this moment, their spirits were also lifted, and they all turned their gazes towards Li Ji.

Li Ji picked up the folding fan on the table, pushed it open with his finger, and fanned himself leisurely, while speaking.

"My lord is benevolent and has always believed that aristocratic families are the supporting white jade pillars and the purple-gold beams holding up my Great Han. If the Great Han loses its aristocratic families, it would be no less than severing its own arms and losing its knees."

However, despite Li Ji's words being full of emphasis and praise for the aristocratic families.

At this moment, the Yangzhou aristocratic families, who already held Li Ji in awe and fear, not only did not feel complacent, but their entire hearts were raised, fearing that there would be a "but" or some other turning point later.

However, Li Ji naturally would not let them guess his intentions, and a few more amiable expressions appeared on his face as he said.

"Therefore, my lord's meaning is that who is without fault? As long as you are wholeheartedly abandoning darkness and turning to the light, and no longer being bewitched by national traitors like Dong Zhuo, there is no need to pursue the matter excessively, so as not to offend the heavens."

In an instant, the eyes of the aristocratic families present almost shone with excitement.

Only Gu Yong remained calm, understanding that with Li Ji's style of doing things, it would definitely not be just this.

This was just giving a few slaps and then offering a sour plum verbally, first teasing the aristocratic families to generate saliva on their own.

At this moment, Li Ji also had a tolerant and kind expression, allowing the aristocratic families, whose nerves had been stretched to the extreme, to uncontrollably reveal their excitement and joy, and some even began to whisper out of control.

The kind Li Ji also did not pursue these impolite behaviors, patiently waiting for a moment until all the aristocratic families quieted down again.

Li Ji then continued to speak.

"Of course, those with merit will be rewarded, and those with faults will be punished. Therefore, even though my lord intends to forgive you, gentlemen, please also respect yourselves. How much money and grain were you bewitched by the national traitors to offer to Wu? You should make up another portion to compensate for the losses of the people in this war, to express your sincerity."

Was this request… excessive?

Not at all!

Even if we look at the conclusion, it is that the Yangzhou aristocratic families' formation of the anti-Wu alliance can be said to have gained nothing, but instead, they had to compensate a large amount of money and grain to quell Liu Bei's anger.

But even those arrogant and stubborn aristocratic families, almost all the aristocratic families' expected compensation figures exceeded this range.

At this moment, even the aristocratic family representatives who had just learned that their married relatives were about to be exterminated and could not help but cry bitterly, could not help but show a smile at this time.

Good riddance!

If those aristocratic families had not used "death" to appease Liu Bei and Li Ji's anger, it would not necessarily have been so easy to let go of the other aristocratic families.

"Thank you, Marquis of the State, this old man thanks you here."

"The Imperial Uncle Liu is truly a benevolent lord."

"The Zhao family of Jiujiang will definitely follow the lead of the Imperial Uncle Liu and dare not disobey in the slightest…"

For a time, one after another, the aristocratic family representatives, who were originally frightened, gradually became bolder and took the initiative to express their loyalty to Li Ji.

Li Ji, who had eaten and drunk his fill, did not care about playing along with such a scene, and responded to the expressions of the aristocratic family representatives with a calm and amiable attitude.

And after these aristocratic family representatives' expressions of loyalty gradually subsided, Li Ji pointed to the aristocratic family representatives of the kneeling and surrender factions, and then spoke.

"The aristocratic families on the list mentioned earlier by Yuan Tan and Gang Lie are requested to remain for a moment, as there are still some matters that need to be discussed with you…"

After a pause, Li Ji pointed his folding fan towards the direction of the courtyard gate and said.

"As for the rest of the aristocratic families, if there are no important matters, you may leave first, and you only need to transport the promised money and grain to Wu Commandery within a month."

However, despite Li Ji saying this, the stubborn aristocratic family representatives were as if their feet had taken root, and they could not move at all.

Li Ji's actions made the stubborn aristocratic family representatives almost instantly judge that this was a preparation to leave them aside and invite the surrender and kneeling factions to the table to eat.

As for what they were eating…

The stubborn aristocratic families, thinking of certain groups that Jia Xu was already dealing with in Li Ji's words, the answer was self-evident.

And this conclusion, can not be said to be reasonable, but only to say that almost all the stubborn aristocratic family representatives did not need to communicate with each other, and more than 90% of the aristocratic family representatives judged it this way.

From the political perspective judged by the Yangzhou aristocratic families, this was also very reasonable.

Liu Bei chose to slaughter 30% of the Yangzhou aristocratic families to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and then let the Yangzhou aristocratic families compensate a large amount of money and grain to correct the majesty of the Governor of Yangzhou.

And after 30% of the Yangzhou aristocratic families were dealt with, Li Ji undoubtedly intended to use those vacant interests to win over the surrender and kneeling factions who had turned to Liu Bei.

But in this way, not to mention that the strength of the surrender and kneeling factions would turn around and suppress the stubborn faction under the ebb and flow.

More importantly, the stubborn faction also wanted to come to the table to eat!

These naked interests were simply irresistible to the Yangzhou aristocratic families.

At this moment, many of the stubborn aristocratic family representatives, who were originally arrogant and reserved, secretly wished they could slap themselves a few big slaps.

If Marquis of the State had said earlier that this was the arrangement, wouldn't I have already chosen to slide and kneel towards the great and needless to say Imperial Uncle Liu and surrendered?

Integrity?

Arrogance?

These things are only needed to decorate oneself when maintaining interests, but if they can be exchanged for real benefits, almost no aristocratic family will choose useless things like integrity and arrogance.

Perhaps there are a large number of people of noble character and unyielding people among the aristocratic families.

But the aristocratic family cannot be equated with the sons of aristocratic families. The sons of aristocratic families are individuals, and the aristocratic family is more like an interest group, and the will of the aristocratic family is what represents the vast majority of interests and ideas.

Why could Zhou Yu, who was not yet crowned, easily seize power from the Zhou family with Sun Ce's support? It was because in the situation where the anti-Wu alliance was defeated, what Zhou Yu represented was the overall choice of the Zhou family of Lujiang.

After all, the noble Qingzhou Kong family, has it ever not been a family that has continuously submitted surrender forms?

There are unyielding sons of aristocratic families, but there are no unyielding aristocratic families.

Therefore, after realizing that Li Ji was preparing to pull the surrender and kneeling factions to the table to eat, without a bit of prior communication, all the stubborn aristocratic family representatives had no intention of leaving.

If they really left, they would really be kicked off the dining table.

"Lord Marquis, now my Zhao family of Jiujiang is also a member of Imperial Uncle Liu's rule, and my Zhao family of Jiujiang has been eating Han salaries for generations, and also has the heart to die for the Great Han. If Yangzhou encounters any difficulties, the Zhao family of Jiujiang should do its part."

"Yes, yes. Previously, we were only threatened and bewitched by the commanderies sent by the thief Dong, so we had to stay and temporarily submit with useful intentions. Now that Imperial Uncle Liu has saved us from the fire and water, we are grateful and this is the time to repay Imperial Uncle Liu."

"Could it be that Yangzhou's money and grain transportation has encountered any obstacles? My family still has some meager grain, and it is not impossible to contribute a little more…"

For a time, it can be said that overwhelming flattery was thrown at Li Ji.

One by one, the Yangzhou aristocratic families, who had just put on a reserved and arrogant posture, at this time had a bit of Zhu Zheng's demeanor.

However, before Li Ji could express his position, the surrender and kneeling factions, who were already excited, were angry!

What the stubborn faction could think of, the surrender and kneeling factions would naturally not be able to think of.

Now there is only so much delicious food on the table, which was originally enough for the surrender and kneeling factions to eat their fill, but if the stubborn faction is really allowed to join in, then undoubtedly everyone will only be able to eat some leftovers.

Immediately, the surrender and kneeling factions almost all stood up suddenly, constantly using cold ridicule to try to drive the stubborn faction out.

Just looking at the chaotic crowd of aristocratic family representatives, Li Ji actually had a feeling that he could not tell who was the kneeling faction.

It was really that the stubborn faction already clearly outnumbered them. While constantly squeezing out the surrender and kneeling factions, they could also constantly express their goodwill to Li Ji.

Li Ji even felt that those stubborn aristocratic family representatives, whose ages were all above his, were ready to say at any time: I have drifted for half my life, only regretting that I have not met a wise lord. If you do not abandon me, I am willing to be your adopted father.

Seeing that the scene was getting more and more chaotic, and even had a tendency to add fists and feet, and was about to develop from a war of words into a more intense melee…

"Cough cough!"

Li Ji coughed lightly, his voice seeming to reveal a hint of displeasure as he spoke. "Please be quiet, everyone."

At this moment, the power that Li Ji had created through a series of methods undoubtedly played a role at this time, causing all the aristocratic family representatives to quiet down instantly.

Li Ji sighed and said.

"Forget it, forget it, everyone, please be seated again, but this matter concerns the distant future of thousands of generations, please listen carefully and do not reveal it."