Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Perhaps, Liu Bei's intention as a leader was good: settling a large number of refugees from the Central Plains could not only increase the population of Wu Commandery, but also bring a wealth of technology through the talents among the refugees.

Highly skilled craftsmen, experienced old farmers, and some impoverished scholars, all of these would drive comprehensive progress in the relatively backward Jiangdong region.

Population integration, cultural collision, technological reform…

From a long-term perspective, this would bring countless benefits to Jiangdong.

However, if one only gives without reservation, it could become a source of unrest in Jiangdong.

No one would be willing to see outsiders easily obtain things that even the locals struggle to get, leading to hostility and conflict…

Moreover, the things that outsiders easily obtain would not be cherished, but would gradually lead to a sense of entitlement, which would not only fail to promote the progress of Wu Commandery, but would instead become a stubborn and incurable problem.

Perhaps Liu Bei could not see that far, but for Li Ji, even without using the "Strategy Simulator" to deduce, he had already seen too many situations like this.

Watching Liu Bei fall into deep thought and silence, Li Ji did not interrupt, but instead tasted the fruits and snacks while emptying his mind.

If it were only a matter of governing a commandery, it would not be difficult with Li Ji's current abilities. The difficulty lies in making preparations for the subsequent development of Wu Commandery in all aspects.

Furthermore, in order to avoid any omissions, Li Ji would occasionally use the "Strategy Simulator" to deduce when dealing with major political affairs, which made Li Ji feel quite tired.

'Once Wu Commandery is on the right track, a large number of trivial political affairs still need to be delegated. I need to find an honest person to share the burden…'

Li Ji chewed on the fruit, enjoying the sweet juice bursting in his mouth, while secretly pondering.

Li Ji could accept working overtime for half a month, but he absolutely could not stand it if it continued like this.

Li Ji didn't want to become another Zhuge Kongming who personally took care of everything, eventually exhausting himself to death, which also led to the other civil officials not having enough opportunities to hone their skills. After Zhuge Kongming's death, they couldn't even find someone to take the lead.

'That's right, when the time comes, I'll tell the lord that it's to hone my colleagues, definitely not just to be lazy…'

'But, where can I find a sucker… cough… an honest person?'

Li Ji felt a headache just thinking about this problem.

Jia Xu, that old fox, is definitely not an honest person. Expecting him to diligently handle a large number of tedious political affairs, Li Ji might as well think about how to find external help, which would be more reliable.

And in this year of 184 AD, Sun Ce is only 9 years old, and Zhou Yu, who is the same age as Sun Ce, is also 9 years old. Marquis Wu Zhuge Liang is only 3 years old…

Many virtuous ministers and famous scholars that Li Ji knows well, not to mention holding a writing brush, probably can't even hold a baby bottle firmly.

"Zikun's foresight is not without reason."

Liu Bei sighed leisurely, and then said, "Fortunately, Zikun reminded me, otherwise I would have caused a great disaster and regretted it too late."

"To find omissions and fill vacancies for the lord is my duty," Li Ji replied.

"Zikun, but being so harsh on the refugees, I'm afraid it will also make the refugees dissatisfied, right?" Liu Bei asked.

Li Ji shook his head and said.

"No, my lord, the refugees are originally penniless, so as long as they can get temporary food and clothing, they will be grateful. Therefore, setting harsh requirements at the beginning of settling the refugees will not only not make the refugees dissatisfied, but will instead make the local people feel balanced."

Liu Bei nodded, already roughly understanding Li Ji's intention of being harsh on the refugees.

And Liu Bei put himself in their shoes and considered that the refugees had lost everything and had to leave their homes to make a living.

Many times, in order to make a living, it is not impossible for refugees to sell their sons and daughters, or even exchange children for food, let alone bear the government's loans?

Living is the first need pursued by the refugees.

However, Liu Bei still said with a lot of unbearable expression.

"But the refugees will have to use their earnings for the rest of their lives to repay the loans. What's the difference between that and walking corpses? How can I talk about working hard for the people's peaceful life?"

Li Ji said with a smile.

"My lord, the so-called loan is, firstly, to balance the conflict between the local people and the foreign refugees; secondly, it is also to apply both kindness and power when settling the refugees, so that they dare not think that everything they get is taken for granted, so as to be lazy and slack; thirdly…"

"You must know that the real creditor is only the lord. If the lord has benevolence, he can find some reasonable reasons to exempt a part in the future."

"In this way, the settled refugees will have more hope in their hearts, and they will probably be more grateful to the lord."

When Liu Bei heard this, his expression could be described as overjoyed. Only then did he realize the deep meaning of Li Ji's seemingly harsh method of settling the refugees.

With such an arrangement, not only can the conflict between the local people and the foreign refugees be eliminated, but also the settled refugees will not dare to be lazy and slack. More importantly, Liu Bei controls the loans of the refugees, and can also use those loans to show kindness at any time.

Vaguely, Liu Bei even saw that in such a system, there was a line from top to bottom, and Liu Bei could control all the people.

Liu Bei said excitedly.

"Zikun is really a talent for governing the country. It is my greatest luck in this life to have Zikun to assist me."

"My lord is too praised. There is also the lord's wisdom in this, otherwise the strategy, no matter how wonderful, is just a castle in the air," Li Ji replied.

After all, if Li Ji's lord were changed from Liu Bei to Yuan Shu, no matter how wonderful this strategy was, Yuan Shu would only find it annoying, and would probably just say one sentence:

Li Zikun, watch out, what kind of trouble is needed to exploit the people, just watch me increase taxes, increase taxes, and increase taxes!

If it were Cao Cao, who lacked food, maybe in Cao Cao's eyes there would be no refugees. Aren't those walking military rations?

Quickly enter my granary and support my great cause!

In the end, all the expenses for settling the refugees at this moment are borne by the Wu Commandery government, and also by the foundation of 70% of the Wu Commandery families. The owed loans are completely a knife for Liu Bei to manage the refugees.

It is a warning to the many refugees who have just entered Wu Commandery that everything they own, Liu Bei can completely and legally take back by virtue of the loan.

"My lord, the only problem is that this method should not be proposed by the lord…" Li Ji reminded.

Even if this method has many benefits, it is quite harsh on the refugees on the surface. If Liu Bei proposes it initiatively, it will inevitably damage Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence.

"Nor can it be proposed by Zikun," Liu Bei added, deliberately wanting to maintain Li Ji's reputation.

"But, in this case, there is someone under the lord who has enough status to propose this policy…"

Li Ji fell into thought, and then looked at Liu Bei.

Military generals do not need to be considered, it must be proposed by civil officials.

Liu Bei currently only has three real civil officials under his command: Li Ji, Jia Xu, and Jian Yong.

Excluding Li Ji, then he can only choose between Jia Xu and Jian Yong.

"Why not let Xianhe propose it," Liu Bei pondered for a long time and said.

After all, compared to Jia Xu, Liu Bei is obviously more familiar with and understands Jian Yong. This time, he slightly wronged Jian Yong, and he can find a way to compensate him in the future.

Li Ji shook his head and said. "No, my lord, I suggest that it is more appropriate to have Jia Wenhe propose it."

"Not appropriate, Wenhe is also a gentle gentleman, and has great kindness to Zikun, how can he be wronged?" Liu Bei frowned and refused.

Li Ji slowly explained.

"As the saying goes: recommend talents without avoiding relatives. This is really a good strategy that is beneficial to the people of Wu Commandery. A temporary grievance is nothing. Moreover, everyone knows that Xianhe is an honest person, and he usually lacks quick wit. Even if he claims to have proposed this strategy, it will make the world suspicious."

"On the contrary, Wenhe has always been resourceful, and he is not very familiar with the other military generals. Proposing such a harsh and poisonous strategy will also make people feel quite reasonable."

Liu Bei was still a little hesitant.

"The lord can compensate Wenhe more in the future," Li Ji persuaded.

"Alright, then let Zikun tell Wenhe. If Wenhe is unwilling, he cannot be forced," Liu Bei said.

Li Ji said with a smile. "Don't worry, my lord, Wenhe will definitely be willing."

Then, the next day, Liu Bei specially convened a meeting of civil and military generals under his command to discuss the method of settling the refugees.

Jia Xu immediately proposed such a harsh and poisonous settlement policy, which immediately aroused the dissent of Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and Jian Yong.

However, with Liu Bei and Li Ji already agreeing, Jia Xu easily and seemingly forcefully persuaded everyone and passed this policy at the meeting.

After the meeting, Jia Xu hurried out first, and Li Ji, who was following closely behind, almost couldn't catch him.

"Wenhe, wait, wait…"

Li Ji trotted all the way to catch up, and only then barely stopped Jia Xu, saying.

"Wenhe, I rarely find such an opportunity to let you propose a poisonous plan reasonably and legitimately, so that even if you use a poisonous plan again in the future, the lord will be more considerate of you. It's fine if you don't treat me to a meal to thank me, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Good you, Li Zikun, you still act good after getting the advantage?"

Jia Xu said angrily. "If I had walked half a step slower just now, I would have been stopped by Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and others. How could I have escaped at that time?"

"Furthermore, if I am knocked unconscious by a refugee on the street in the future, are you responsible?"

Li Ji said with a smile. "Responsible, responsible, I am responsible for taking care of you in your old age."

"Inhumane."

Jia Xu flung his sleeves and said, wanting to slip away again.

Wu County cannot stay for a while.

Jia Xu knew that Li Ji would definitely publicize that this plan was proposed by Jia Wenhe. Then, under the premise of maintaining Liu Bei's reputation, he could quickly start to truly promote the resettlement of refugees.

Jia Xu naturally didn't care much about his reputation.

However, Jia Xu was worried that if he stayed in Wu County, he might be beaten with sacks by refugees popping out from somewhere on the street. It was even possible that it would evolve into something like a commoner's fury, with blood splattering five steps away.