Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Enjoy?”

Liu Bei looked surprised, then said with some displeasure. “Others advising me repeatedly is one thing, but do you, Zikun, also not understand my ambitions?”

“The world is not yet settled, the great cause is not yet achieved, we should be launching a northern expedition against the Han traitors and restoring the Han Dynasty. How dare I entertain thoughts of enjoyment?”

Li Ji, hearing this, explained.

“My lord, you misunderstand. I naturally understand that your will is firm and cannot be swayed by external things, but others do not know this, and the likes of Cao Cao and Lu Bu certainly do not know this. This is perfect for using the strategy of feigning one move while preparing another.”

“Hmm?”

Liu Bei paused slightly, put down the wine cup in his hand, thought for a moment, and then asked.

“Zikun, do you mean to use this to deceive Cao Cao and Lu Bu, making them mistakenly believe that I am content with pleasure and no longer have the ambition for a northern expedition?”

“My lord is insightful.”

Li Ji offered a small flattery, and then simply reviewed the current situation of the Han Dynasty for Liu Bei.

Since annexing the two provinces of Yu and Xu, the situation where Liu, Cao, and Lu gradually formed a tripartite balance of power has lasted for nearly two years.

In terms of changes among the warlords, Youzhou has gradually begun to merge into Liu Bei's rule, Liu Zhang is also gradually establishing an advantage in the brotherly struggle and gradually controlling Yizhou, and Zhang Lu in Hanzhong has repeatedly used troops against Yizhou, but to no avail.

Ma Teng, Han Sui, and the remnants of Dong Zhuo in Liangzhou and the Three Auxiliary Regions, after the Xiliang army they formed years ago was defeated by Lu Bu, were instigated by Chen Gong to split and engage in internal strife again.

In the nearly two years that the three families of Liu, Cao, and Lu have been recuperating, the warlords located on the western side of the Han Dynasty are still a mess, and have virtually completely fallen behind, losing the possibility of participating in the struggle for hegemony.

In terms of internal affairs, Lu Bu, suffering from the backlash of assassinating the emperor, has undoubtedly developed the worst, but the Bingzhou wolf cavalry under his command, which has fought in many battles for many years and repeatedly defeated the Xiliang iron cavalry, has gradually gained the momentum of becoming the world's number one cavalry.

Especially with the cavalry in You and Liang provinces having been severely damaged, it has become the only large-scale cavalry cluster in the Han Dynasty.

In contrast, although Cao Cao has painfully lost Xun Yu, he has no shortage of talented people in governing, and coupled with the foundation of the “military reclamation system” laid by Xun Yu earlier, internal affairs have undoubtedly developed much better than Lu Bu.

In terms of money, Cao Cao may still be quite tight, but at least the food and grass have completely eased up.

The development under Liu Bei's rule can be completely summarized by the six words “preliminary prosperity,” not only in terms of people's livelihood, but even the aristocratic families in the two provinces of Yu and Xu have begun to try to go to sea, following the example of the aristocratic families in Jing and Yang provinces.

Nearly 80% of the usable land in Yizhou has already been seized by aristocratic families for development.

As long as the aristocratic families can truly obtain benefits from it, they will enter a virtuous circle, gradually transforming from leeches clinging to the Han Dynasty into eagle claws and fangs for external expansion.

However, precisely because Yangzhou has shown a prosperous and peaceful scene, coupled with Liu Bei's decision to establish his capital south of the Yangtze River, Liu Yu is very worried.

Just one more year, and after the various policies under Liu Bei's rule are further accepted and supported by the people, the political situation can be further stabilized.

In addition, the implementation of the military household system in various prefectures and counties also requires sufficient time for military household training.

Finally, Li Ji added with a smile.

“As early as one year, as late as a little over a year, it will be the time to launch a large-scale northern expedition, sweep away the universe, and unify the world.”

“However, the two thieves Cao and Lu also know the threat of the lord, and may have secretly made an alliance, preparing for war at any time.”

“Therefore, if the lord can make some false appearances, even if it only has a one or two percent effect, it would be extremely good.”

Liu Bei could not help but nod in agreement. “What Zikun said is quite reasonable.”

It is not important whether the two thieves Cao and Lu fully believe it, but as long as it causes the two thieves Cao and Lu to relax even a little, and the civil and military officials under the two thieves to be three points careless, that would be extremely good.

Of course, this was just a suggestion casually given by Li Ji.

What Li Ji is now pursuing is the righteous path of kings, intending to unify the world with absolute strength. Offering such a sentence is just a dispensable move that appears out of the blue.

However, Liu Bei was quite concerned about this.

But knowing that Li Ji is usually busy and may not have time to further consider and study such trivial matters, he simply summoned trusted advisors such as Xu Shu, Jian Yong, and Jia Xu for a discussion.

However, there were also some difficult aspects, that is, Liu Bei will become the King of Han, which is where the banner of the Han Dynasty lies.

If he were to indulge in wine pools and meat forests like the late emperor, and sell official positions, he would indeed easily display the late emperor's legacy, but it would also greatly damage his reputation in the eyes of the people, which Liu Bei is unwilling to accept, and it would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

This is enough to make Cao Cao and Lu Bu give rise to paralyzed behavior, which must be limited to a certain level of circulation, and will not be transmitted to the people, and even if it is transmitted to the people, it will not cause any waves.

This degree is undoubtedly not so easy to grasp.

However, under Xu Shu's suggestion, Jia Xu occasionally added a few words, and Liu Bei gradually made a charter.

At the same time, the auspicious day for Liu Bei to proclaim himself king was also completely set.

It was set on August 5th, which was also the time when Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu had rebuilt the Han Dynasty's regime. Liu Bei's proclamation as king on August 5th was also aimed at clarifying his ambition to the people of the world.

However, news came back from the Sili region that Lu Bu, regardless of countless criticisms, and even the threat of troops stationed on the border, fabricated an origin as a descendant of King Zhao Wuling, and proclaimed himself King of Zhao.

Knowing this, Li Ji couldn't help but sneer and commented.

“Such a false king, I will surely destroy him.”

Although Li Ji could guess that Lu Bu might choose to proclaim himself king in order to eliminate the negative impact of the Han minister's assassination of the emperor, he was still amused and angered by Lu Bu's crude political methods.

Descendant of King Zhao Wuling, it really made Li Ji laugh.

Why didn't Lu Bu choose to take a step further and directly say he was a descendant of the Yellow Emperor? At least that would make it impossible for people to refute, it was really superfluous.

Immediately, when Li Ji asked Gu Wei to bring a series of documents regarding the arrangements for the coronation ceremony to see Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was obviously sulking about Lu Bu's proclamation as king, but when he saw Li Ji, a few smiles appeared on his face.

“Is my lord annoyed by Lu Bu?” Li Ji asked.

“The one who knows me is Zikun.”

Liu Bei sighed and said. “If we don’t curb this trend as soon as possible, I’m afraid it won’t be long before some clowns continue to proclaim themselves kings and emperors like this.”

Although during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, there was a rebellion in the south in Xuchang claiming to be the “Yangming Emperor,” and in the north, Zhang Chun colluded with foreign tribes to try to establish himself as emperor, but those were all minor problems limited to one province.

However, Lu Bu's influence is extremely great. Such a thief-like proclamation of kingship without observing political rules, what difference is there from those rebels, and it is continuing to rub the little remaining face of the Han Dynasty on the ground.

“My lord, don’t be annoyed. As long as my lord proclaims himself king, he can teach the world that the Han Dynasty still exists…”

After a pause, Li Ji continued.

“Furthermore, Lu Bu is just unaware that he is about to die. My lord, please wait a few more years, and I will surely capture the thief Lu and bring him before my lord for you to decide his fate.”

(End of this chapter)