Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Chapter 63: The Yuan Clan! The Yuan Clan!

When the Yellow Turban Rebellion first broke out, it was incredibly powerful, seemingly poised to overthrow the Han Dynasty in one fell swoop.

At that time, Dong Zhuo, as the Governor of Hedong, didn't make a move…

It wasn't until the Yellow Turban Rebellion had been initially contained, and discerning individuals could see that the Yellow Turbans lacked staying power, with their defeat being only a matter of time, that Dong Zhuo finally acted.

However, this time, Li Ji's interference prevented Lu Zhi from being falsely accused and imprisoned. Instead, Lu Zhi directly broke through Zhang Jiao's siege at Julu, completely establishing the victory.

Therefore, even if Dong Zhuo wanted to make a name for himself and seize military merit in this Yellow Turban Rebellion, he could only hastily lead the Hedong troops to conquer the Yellow Turbans everywhere.

'Thinking about it, the fact that the Grand General of the North, a key figure of the country, was falsely accused by a minor eunuch and immediately stripped of his position and imprisoned seems far from simple on the surface…'

'At the very least, Dong Zhuo definitely played some role in promoting this situation.'

'No, the identity of the Governor of Bing Province and the Governor of Hedong is not enough to directly push for Lu Zhi's imprisonment. He must have colluded with others. Could it be the Ten Attendants?'

Instantly, Li Ji's vigilance towards the seemingly harmless, chubby Dong Zhuo, whose facial features were all squeezed together, rose to its highest level.

Indeed, Dong Zhuo's ability to wreak havoc in Luoyang in the future, delivering the final blow to the substantive demise of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was definitely not as simple as imagined, and certainly not just a matter of luck.

However, Li Ji's thoughts flashed by without revealing anything. He maintained his refined and gentle demeanor, following Zhao Yun behind Liu Bei, continuing to walk into the temporary government office.

This small episode didn't cause too much of a stir.

Apart from Cao Cao's slender eyes occasionally and subtly glancing in Li Ji's direction, the atmosphere of conversation between Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian seemed to remain unchanged. Dong Zhuo, with a seemingly simple and honest face, merely nodded in agreement from time to time.

Lu Zhi had already prepared a banquet in advance within the temporary government office to entertain Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and others. Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian, as their capable subordinates, were naturally allowed to be seated in the main hall.

However, due to the limited space in the main hall of the temporary government office, subordinates like Li Ji and Zhao Yun, who were accompanying them, were uniformly arranged to be seated in the side hall.

In this era, anyone with even a little status would keep retainers or support scholars.

Therefore, apart from the honest and upright Lu Zhi, almost everyone attending the banquet in the main hall had accompanying personnel in the side hall.

As the songs and dances in the main hall continued, and the guests exchanged toasts and clinked glasses, the atmosphere in the side hall gradually livened up.

Some military officers unknowingly started playing games with their shirts off. Most of the scholars, similar to Li Ji, sat relatively quietly in another corner, occasionally chatting and drinking.

Under Li Ji's deliberate observation, he heard many familiar names.

Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Niu Fu…

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan need no introduction. As Cao Cao's cousins, it was not strange that they were already following Cao Cao and serving in the army at this time.

Among them, compared to Xiahou Dun, who still had both eyes intact, Li Ji couldn't help but take a closer look at Xiahou Yuan.

Besides the fact that Xiahou Yuan was considered a man of both literary and military talents, more importantly, Li Ji remembered that Zhang Fei's wife in the original timeline, Lady Xiahou, was Xiahou Yuan's niece.

Moreover, Xiahou Yuan had experienced famine in his early years, and happened to be away from home. For a time, he even found it difficult to raise his young son and orphaned niece at the same time, and had to abandon his young son to raise his deceased brother's orphaned daughter.

Therefore, although Zhang Fei's wife was only Xiahou Yuan's niece in terms of blood, in reality, the two were father and daughter. Xiahou Yuan could be completely considered Zhang Fei's father-in-law.

'Damn it!'

Li Ji looked at Xiahou Yuan's age, which was not much different from Zhang Fei's, and couldn't help but secretly despise Zhang Fei.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fei, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a physique as strong as an ox, would actually do such a lolicon thing. How is this behavior any different from a blonde-haired guy?

As a result, Li Ji's gaze towards Xiahou Yuan contained a bit more sympathy.

This made Xiahou Yuan, who was being watched by Li Ji, feel puzzled. He raised his cup from afar to signal to Li Ji, and Li Ji quickly returned a cup, as if he was toasting his own brother Zhang Fei's father-in-law.

As for Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, their ages were obviously a round older than Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan.

However, Cheng Pu and Huang Gai also played more wildly than the Xiahou brothers. Cheng Pu and Huang Gai were the first to take off their shirts.

Furthermore, it was unknown what game they were playing. It seemed that the losing party had to drink a cup and also had to let the winning party slap them hard on the body.

Obviously, the one who lost the most was Huang Gai. His whole body was slapped red, and each time he was slapped, instead of crying out in pain, he shouted "爽 (Shuang - Cool/Awesome)", and then drank a full cup.

'Huang Gai likes flagellation…'

Li Ji thought silently, and then quickly turned his gaze to the others, for fear that Huang Gai would notice him and invite him to play the game.

It wasn't that Li Ji was afraid of not being able to win, but he was afraid that if he won, he would have to give Huang Gai a slap on his red body, and Huang Gai would have to shout "爽 (Shuang - Cool/Awesome)".

That scene… was really too exciting for Li Ji, making it a little difficult for Li Ji at this age to bear.

Soon, Li Ji noticed another relatively unremarkable person—Niu Fu.

It wasn't because of Niu Fu's identity as Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, nor was it because Niu Fu's ability was outstanding. It was because if Li Ji remembered correctly, that person had been hiding under Niu Fu's command since his first appearance in history, serving as a military assistant.

Immediately, Li Ji's heart moved, and he already had some ideas. His gaze turned to search among the scholars on his side.

It's just that Li Ji didn't know that person's appearance, nor had he ever really met that person.

With a thought, he could only hold up his wine cup and talk to each of the scholars one by one.

Not him…

Neither is he…

Still not him…

When Li Ji approached one of the last two remaining, his face was quite narrow, his eyes were thin, his nose was pointed, he had a mustache, and he slightly raised his head as if he was arrogant, as if he was not at the same level as the others present.

Li Ji knew at a glance that this person was not the one he was looking for.

However, Li Ji had chatted with each person for a few words, and Li Ji couldn't directly skip him, which would be rude.

"I am Li Zikun from Zhuo County."

Li Ji raised his cup and said with cupped hands.

"Hmm."

This person made a few sounds from his nostrils, and then picked up his wine cup and said, "I am Xu Ziyuan from Nanyang."

Li Ji was shocked when he heard this, and even showed it on his face.

Xu Ziyuan from Nanyang, isn't that Xu You?

The allusion of welcoming him with shoes reversed came from Cao Cao welcoming Xu You.

Of course, in Li Ji's era, Xu You's most famous meme was sticking his neck out to compare hardness with "Tiger Idiot" Xu Chu's broadsword, and then Xu Chu, in a fit of rage, sent Xu You's head flying high.

However, why would Xu You be here?

Xu You naturally noticed Li Ji's expression, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Do you also know my name?"

Li Ji smiled, revealing a warm expression, and said,

"Xu You from Nanyang, a man of wisdom, although I am in the land of Youbei, I have occasionally heard of Xu You's name from merchants who came from Luoyang, knowing that he is a guest of the Yuan clan, who have been officials for four generations."

Instantly, even though Xu You's expression didn't seem to change much, the slightly raised corners of his mouth and the lowered tail of his eyes were enough to show that Xu You was secretly pleased. Obviously, he was quite receptive to Li Ji's flattery.

However, Xu You still had a nonchalant look and said calmly,

"I and Benchu (Yuan Shao), are good friends, so I occasionally come to the Yuan clan as a guest."

Li Ji didn't expose Xu You's self-importance, but asked, "Then why is Ziyuan here? Oh, right, I have also heard that Cao Mengde and Yuan Benchu are very close friends. Could it be that Ziyuan came here specifically to assist Cao Mengde?"

"Tch ~"

Xu You chuckled and said proudly, "Aman (Cao Cao) is just the descendant of an eunuch, how can he be qualified to have me assist him? I am here to assist my colleague Zhongying (Dong Zhuo)."

"Ah? Isn't Dong Zhongying the Governor of Bing Province and the Governor of Hedong?" Li Ji asked in surprise, with a questioning attitude.

This attitude undoubtedly provoked Xu You, causing Xu You to blurt out to prove himself,

"Dong Zhongying was just a dismissed colonel before. Later, he joined the Yuan clan as a clerk, and was then recommended as the Governor of Bing Province and the Governor of Hedong."

In an instant, Li Ji completely understood.

The Yuan Clan!

It can only be said that the Yuan clan, who have been officials for four generations, are worthy of their reputation. Arranging a position as the Governor of Bing Province and the Governor of Hedong for Dong Zhuo is like a game.

More importantly, the person behind Dong Zhuo is the Yuan clan. Then it is reasonable to promote Lu Zhi's imprisonment and then let Dong Zhuo replace him as the commander.

The Yuan clan undoubtedly possessed this kind of power, and in the future, Dong Zhuo was also recommended by Yuan Shao to the General-in-Chief He Jin to lead troops into Luoyang.

In this view, in the eyes of the Yuan clan, Dong Zhuo was originally their retainer, and their intention to recruit Dong Zhuo into Luoyang was also a great plan, intending to dominate the court.

It's just that the Yuan clan at that time played politics and generally underestimated the importance of truly controlling military power. They completely did not expect that Dong Zhuo, who led the army into Luoyang, would completely explode with ambition in an instant and break away from their control.

At this moment, Li Ji only caught a glimpse of the horror of the Yuan clan.

Having already learned the information he wanted, Li Ji, after casually perfunctorily complimenting Xu You a few times, refilled his wine cup and walked to the last person sitting in the corner.

This person looked nearly forty years old, with a dignified appearance, three strands of long beard under his jaw, a kind and gentle face, and a gentlemanly demeanor, making people feel good upon seeing him. He also appropriately revealed a few smiles at Li Ji's arrival.

Before Li Ji could speak, the man raised his wine cup and said first.

“Jia Wenhe from Wuwei greets Mister Zikun.”

Li Ji was slightly stunned, then overjoyed. It really was a case of searching high and low only to find it when you least expect it!

Immediately, Li Ji couldn't help but confirm again.

“Jia Wenhe?”

“Indeed.”

Jia Xu stroked his long beard like a gentle gentleman, a flash of shrewdness flickering in his eyes, but his tone revealed a hint of doubt as he spoke.

“Mister Zikun has also heard of my name?”

After a pause, Jia Xu probed with a hidden meaning.

“From my observation, Mister Zikun sat steadily in his seat just now, unmoving, and then sought out people one by one to talk to. Could it be that you are looking for something?”

Li Ji immediately showed a meaningful smile, reached out to invite him to sit, and said.

“I do indeed have a distant relative whom I have never met. I heard that he is following Dong Zhongying, the governor of Hedong Commandery, so I just talked to everyone in hopes of finding his whereabouts.”

“Oh, so that's how it is.”

Jia Xu responded, not knowing whether he believed it or not, and had no intention of continuing to investigate, which left Li Ji feeling somewhat stifled.