Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"You eunuch dog! I will definitely report this matter to the Emperor and charge you with the crime of disrespect for deliberately damaging the imperial staff!" He Miao said coldly, still shaken, resolving to ensure this eunuch dog's death upon returning to Luoyang.

Subsequently, He Miao led the others away with a flick of his sleeves, leaving Zuo Feng behind, his face constantly changing.

Zuo Feng also knew that his actions had caused a great disaster.

Even if the imperial staff wasn't damaged, it would only guarantee the safety of his nine generations, but his own life might not be secure.

Not to mention He Miao's subsequent attacks and investigations, even Zhang Rang might not spare him.

At the thought of all the possible consequences, Zuo Feng even forgot about Liu Bei's impolite offense just now, planning to quickly return to Luoyang to report the matter to Zhang Rang.

Zuo Feng knew that only by striking first and pushing all the responsibility onto He Miao's head could he possibly reverse the consequences and save his life.

Without Liu Bei present, the other soldiers didn't dare to stop Zuo Feng, and could only watch as Zuo Feng tightly held the imperial staff and left Wu County with his entourage.

As Xiahou Bo hurriedly left the government office to find a physician, he happened to see Xiahou Lan leading a physician towards the government office.

Xiahou Bo was overjoyed at the sight, not caring why Xiahou Lan would coincidentally bring a physician here, and hurriedly ordered the soldiers to carry the physician and rush towards the government office.

"Forgive my impoliteness, my lord is injured, please come with me quickly."

Xiahou Bo said, and quickly led the physician back to the government office.

Liu Bei, who had just settled the seemingly unconscious Li Ji on the couch and hadn't had time to carefully wipe away the blood, was overjoyed to see the physician arrive, and quickly invited the physician to treat Li Ji.

Subsequently, Liu Bei, Xiahou Bo, and the others were all driven out by the physician on the grounds of "preventing wind evil from entering the body through the wound", and he treated Li Ji alone in the room.

After a long time, under Liu Bei's anxious gaze, the door finally opened again, and the seemingly exhausted physician walked out.

Liu Bei hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "How is Zikun?"

The physician replied in a deep voice.

"That gentleman only lost too much blood, and did not injure any vital parts. I have already stopped the bleeding and bandaged the wound, but because the wound is on the head, it is not advisable to use the brain during this period, nor is it advisable to be overly tired. He needs to rest well for a while."

"And now that gentleman has already woken up, you may enter and ask him anything."

Liu Bei was overjoyed to hear this, and said to Xiahou Bo, "Reward, a great reward!"

Subsequently, Liu Bei rushed into the room impatiently, and Xiahou Bo, following behind him, took out a gold piece from his pocket and handed it to the physician, saying.

"Please forgive my rudeness just now, and please stay in the government office for a few days, so that you can treat my lord at any time."

The physician hurriedly put the gold piece into his arms, and said happily.

"It's alright, it's alright."

When Xiahou Bo arranged for a servant to take the physician to rest, and then entered the room, he found Liu Bei already sitting beside the bed talking to Li Ji.

Li Ji's forehead was bandaged in a large circle, but his eyes were bright and energetic, and his complexion looked good, which made Xiahou Bo feel relieved.

"Zikun, you must not be impulsive next time. If something unexpected really happened, how would I handle myself?"

Facing Liu Bei's seemingly nagging concern, Li Ji accepted it all, and felt a little scared in his heart.

Like He Miao, Li Ji also didn't expect Zuo Feng to actually use the imperial staff to hit someone. This behavior was comparable to the former Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun smashing the imperial jade seal on the ground when Wang Mang asked for it, causing a corner to break off.

The imperial staff that the Xiongnu people didn't dare to actively damage was actually done by Zuo Feng.

Does the destructive power of the four words "absurd nonsense" have such a great impact?

To this, Li Ji could only face it with an attitude of incomprehension, but respect for the incomplete.

Fortunately, Li Ji was already prepared to pretend to be injured by Zuo Feng, so he had already made preparations and propped up the imperial staff with his arms in advance, instead of stubbornly taking it with his head.

As for the scary-looking blood, it was actually just a blood bag that Li Ji had hidden on his body in advance.

As long as Li Ji was injured by Zuo Feng, who was acting as the Emperor's envoy, and the fault was not on Li Ji's side, then Li Ji would have a sufficient excuse to not go to the capital and would not cause any criticism or suspicion.

Whether it was due to needing to recuperate from his injuries, or worrying about being retaliated against by the Ten Attendants, these were all excuses that Li Ji could completely use to refuse to go to the capital, and no one could find fault with them.

Jia Xu's plan was to kill the Emperor's envoy; Li Ji's plan was to use the Emperor's envoy to injure himself.

After a long time, when Liu Bei seemed to be a little tired of talking, Li Ji finally opened his mouth and said.

"I am not seriously injured, but in this way, I am afraid that we will be resented by the eunuchs, and it will be difficult for me to enter Luoyang to become an official again. I can only continue to stay in Wu County and await your arrangements, my lord."

Hearing this, Liu Bei's face suddenly showed a look of ecstasy, and it was an ecstasy that Liu Bei subconsciously wanted to suppress but couldn't suppress.

Previously, Liu Bei was entangled and melancholy about Li Ji's departure, which could be described as a dilemma between loyalty and righteousness.

At this moment, even though Liu Bei knew that he shouldn't have any joy, the uncontrollable joy couldn't help but surge into his heart at the thought that Li Ji would continue to stay by his side to assist him, and the corners of his raised mouth couldn't be suppressed no matter what.

So, in order to avoid losing his composure, Liu Bei seemed to flee in a somewhat embarrassed manner while reminding Li Ji to rest more.

After Liu Bei left for a while, Jia Xu, who had been hidden in the dark observing the development of the situation, walked in leisurely, looked at Li Ji's head wrapped in layers and layers, and couldn't help but gasp, saying.

"Zikun, you are too ruthless. I'm afraid you almost lost your life?"

Hearing this, Li Ji raised his eyebrows slightly.

Even Jia Xu couldn't see it, it seemed that there were indeed no flaws, which made Li Ji feel a lot more relieved, and then said. "I can recover after some rest, but during this period, all official duties and trivial matters will need to be handled by Wenhe on my behalf."

Jia Xu nodded, vaguely feeling that something seemed wrong, but after thinking about it carefully, he couldn't see it for a while, and then said.

"But how did Zikun persuade He Miao to cooperate with you in angering Zuo Feng?"

Li Ji glanced in the direction of the door. Jia Xu understood, walked over and closed the door.

Li Ji then said in a low voice.

"This matter, in essence, is a struggle between the maternal relatives and the eunuchs, and one side must be chosen. And with your personality, my lord, how would you be willing to rely on the eunuchs to maintain your official position? In this case, naturally, you can only choose the maternal relatives."

"As for persuading He Miao, this matter is also simple."

For Jia Xu, who was not good at eloquence, he was quite interested and asked.

"Simple? How did you move his heart? He Miao is a maternal relative, and his power is overwhelming."

Li Ji leisurely replied.

"Although He Miao's status is noble, there is always one thing that people often criticize, that is, both He Jin and He Miao's positions are based on Empress He, and they have no military achievements of their own, let alone any political achievements."

"Therefore, in the imperial court, their power is naturally overwhelming. However, in the local areas, He Jin and He Miao completely need to rely on the support of the aristocratic families to have a certain influence."

"So, you only need to say one sentence: If I enter the imperial court and assist the General, I am just a staff member, dispensable. If I stay in the Jiangdong area, I can make the General's influence spread throughout the south of the Yangtze River."

Hearing this, Jia Xu couldn't help but praise, "Wonderful! No wonder He Miao was willing to cooperate with you so much."

"Moreover, after suffering this unexpected blow, He Miao will be more convinced of my surrender, and will greatly support you in establishing a foothold in Jiangdong and governing Yangzhou in the future."

Li Ji said lightly, subconsciously reaching out to touch the thing wrapped around his head.

Therefore, the reason why Li Ji deliberately pretended to be miserable afterwards was not only to deceive Zuo Feng, but also to show He Miao, so that He Miao would feel guilty.

It can be said that as long as He Jin does not fall, Liu Bei's position in Yangzhou will be as solid as a rock in the future.

And when He Jin falls, the chaotic world will have arrived, then He Jin will have lost all value to Liu Bei.

"But it is really thanks to you, Zikun, for being willing to risk your life, so that you can not only let you gain the position of governor, but also not have to assassinate the Emperor's envoy, and continue to stay in Wu County."

Jia Xu couldn't help but continue to sigh.

If it were Jia Xu, let alone whether Jia Xu could think of this method, even if he did, Jia Xu would never bet on himself to seize this opportunity.

"It is my duty as a subordinate, but I just don't want to make you feel embarrassed, my lord."

Li Ji replied, without any pride in this.

In the end, the reason why this matter was so successful, in addition to Zuo Feng being more impulsive than Li Ji had estimated, was more importantly that ordinary people would not have thought of the existence of a "blood bag".

In this era when surgery has not yet been developed, let alone blood transfusions, "blood bag" is completely a blind spot in thinking.

Therefore, let alone deceiving He Miao and Zuo Feng, even Jia Xu deeply believed in it.

While Jia Xu felt ashamed of Li Ji's sacrifice, he said.

"After this incident, your name, Zikun, will surely be more noisy. The matter of 'The Emperor wanted to invite him to the capital to become an official, but Li Zikun shielded the imperial staff with his body' will be slightly fermented. Presumably, in the future, the scholars who want to visit you will be even more countless."

Li Ji replied with a smile. "That's a pleasant surprise. I hope it can attract some real talents for you, my lord."

“In that case, Zi Kun, rest for a while…” Jia Xu said, looking at Li Ji, who seemed quite weak even when speaking, and decided not to disturb him further.

“Next, I will also move around a bit and subtly guide the envoys sent by those influential ministers and aristocratic families for Zi Kun.”