Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

As for Liu Bei and Guan Yu, their expressions were noticeably more solemn.

To overcome the strong with the weak, one must take risks!

Now, with Zhang Fei's harassment, the Yellow Turban bandits' vigilance will inevitably be completely aroused.

And killing over a hundred riders seems like an achievement, but for the massive base of the Yellow Turban army, the number lost naturally during daily marches far exceeds this number.

Essentially, Zhang Fei is like a fly buzzing around, not causing any real damage to the Yellow Turban army, only making them disgusted.

"Zikun, what should we do?"

Liu Bei didn't blame Zhang Fei, but asked Li Ji with a heavy tone.

Li Ji frowned, lost in thought, and didn't speak directly.

Zhang Fei gritted his teeth and said.

"Brother, Mr. Zikun, since I've ruined things, I'll go and fight the Yellow Turban bandits to the death. If I'm lucky enough to kill the bandit leader, that's fine. Even if I die in the bandit camp, it might make the Yellow Turban bandits relax."

After saying that, Zhang Fei raised his丈八蛇矛 (zhang ba she mao - eighteen-foot spear) and was about to rush out of the tent.

"Stop! Third brother!!"

Liu Bei shouted and quickly stepped forward to grab Zhang Fei's shoulder, and Guan Yu also stood in front of Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei struggled and said, "Brother, second brother, let me go. I've ruined things, so I'll go make up for it."

"Don't talk nonsense. When our three brothers made our oath, we vowed to live and die together. If third brother goes to his death, I will never live alone," Liu Bei scolded.

Guan Yu, with his beautiful beard, said, "Brother is right. If third brother insists on his own way, Guan will definitely follow. Even if he unfortunately dies at the hands of the bandits, he will never let third brother go alone."

These words filled Zhang Fei with guilt and gratitude.

Li Ji, who was standing aside with a bamboo scroll in his hand, didn't comfort Zhang Fei.

Perhaps this was intentional on Li Ji's part.

Zhang Fei's personality is usually too reckless, and he often doesn't listen to others, which will undoubtedly easily cause various disasters in the future.

This time, Zhang Fei led the Eighteen Yan Yun Riders to harass the Yellow Turban bandits many times, and the original intention of delaying the Yellow Turban bandits was undoubtedly good, but the effect was obviously not great, and it might even cause the originally loosely marching Yellow Turban bandits to become more vigilant.

Considering that Zhang Fei's original task was only to investigate the Yellow Turban bandits' headquarters, then Zhang Fei's subsequent actions seemed satisfying and heroic, but were actually superfluous.

If the Yellow Turban bandits had thousands of cavalry, or a fierce warrior who could temporarily hold Zhang Fei back, then Zhang Fei's Eighteen Yan Yun Riders would have no chance of escape.

This time, Zhang Fei's lack of consideration accidentally turned out fine, but that doesn't mean there won't be any problems in the future.

Therefore, whether it was to discuss the matter on its merits, or to make Zhang Fei restrain his temper in the future, Li Ji decided to make Zhang Fei remember the lessons of his first battle, so as not to be proud of such reckless actions in the future.

After a long while, Liu Bei and Guan Yu barely held Zhang Fei down, but Zhang Fei's face still showed unwillingness and fear.

"Yunchang, take Yide down to rest first."

Liu Bei winked at Guan Yu, and then comforted Zhang Fei softly.

"Yide, don't think too much, your brother is still here, and Mr. Zikun must have a good plan. In the end, even if it's worse, our three brothers will face it together."

"Besides, you have already made a great contribution by finding out the situation of the Yellow Turban bandits. Your brother is praising you, and he will never blame you. Go down and have a good rest."

After saying that, Liu Bei personally helped Zhang Fei out of the camp and watched Guan Yu take Zhang Fei down to rest before hurrying back to the camp and saying to Li Ji with some apology.

"Yide's actions are a bit reckless, please forgive me, Zikun."

Hearing this, Li Ji asked back, "Brother Xuande seems to be quite sure that Ji has a good plan in mind?"

Liu Bei smiled a little embarrassedly.

Perhaps, Liu Bei is not proficient in military strategy, but he is undoubtedly good at observing words and expressions.

Just now, when Zhang Fei was making a fuss about charging into the enemy camp alone to repay his brother's kindness, Liu Bei glanced at Li Ji's leisurely expression, and probably understood Li Ji's meaning.

Therefore, Liu Bei's words of comfort to Zhang Fei were true, but more of it was secretly cooperating with Li Ji.

Afterwards, Li Ji cupped his hands slightly and said bluntly.

"Brother Xuande, Ji's actions just now were a bit rude. In Ji's opinion, Yide may be unparalleled in bravery, and he is also a careful person, but if his reckless character is not changed, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to stand alone, so Ji is a bit..."

However, before Li Ji could finish speaking, Liu Bei stepped forward to support Li Ji, interrupting him.

"Zikun, don't say too much. Although we haven't sworn brotherhood, our relationship is better than brothers. Moreover, that was originally the responsibility of an older brother to teach Yide, but instead, I need to trouble Zikun to worry about it. I'm already grateful, how can I blame you?"

Li Ji looked at Liu Bei's expression, which didn't seem to be fake, and he was indeed sincerely grateful to Li Ji, and he couldn't help but feel a little satisfied.

After all, even if Li Ji is willing to worship Liu Bei as his lord in the future, and he also quite recognizes and appreciates the brotherhood of Liu, Guan, and Zhang, it doesn't mean that Li Ji will accept Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's status as being superior to him.

Li Ji can accept being second to one person, but he only accepts being second to one person, and he will never allow Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to be in front of him with the attitude of a second lord and a third lord!

Therefore, Li Ji was also testing Liu Bei's attitude in this regard.

Of course, Li Ji didn't explicitly state all the deep meanings, but instead straightened his identity as a guest and fellow traveler, saying.

"Thank you, Brother Xuande, for understanding."

Liu Bei helped Li Ji sit down again, and then said with a somewhat heavy tone.

"Although Yide's actions were satisfying, they greatly increased the vigilance of the Yellow Turban bandits, which is also a fact. If we want to attack the Yellow Turban bandits, I'm afraid it won't be easy."

Li Ji nodded, pondered slightly, and said.

"Brother Xuande, since some things have already been done, then they should be done thoroughly."

"What does Zikun mean?" Liu Bei asked.

Li Ji slowly opened his mouth and said.

"The Yellow Turban bandits lack horses, that's a fact, otherwise they wouldn't have let Yide lead the Eighteen Yan Yun Riders to harass them back and forth. Since that's the case, then we might as well make the best of it and take the opportunity to eliminate the Yellow Turban bandits' cavalry and scouts first."

"Now, Zhang Shiping has sponsored fifty horses, and Yide has also obtained some war horses, which can barely form a hundred cavalry to be handed over to Yide, and then let Yide continue to harass the Yellow Turban bandits to lure out all the cavalry, and then use the hundred cavalry as the main force to annihilate them in one fell swoop."

Hearing this, Liu Bei's eyes lit up slightly and said.

"What a great way to make the best of it. Before, Yide only had a dozen or so riders to harass back and forth, so the Yellow Turban bandits will definitely not think too much. As long as Yide continues to anger the Yellow Turban bandits and reveals a slight flaw, he will definitely be able to lure out all the Yellow Turban bandits' cavalry in one fell swoop."

Immediately, Li Ji spread out a topographic map of the surrounding area of Daxing Mountain, carefully compared it, and said.

"If we want to break the Yellow Turban bandits, we must lengthen the battle line as much as possible, so that the Yellow Turban bandits' headquarters can be exposed from being surrounded by tens of thousands of old, weak, women, and children."

"Therefore, Yide will be the bait to lure out the Yellow Turban bandits' cavalry, and then those Yellow Turban bandits' cavalry may also become the bait to lure out the Yellow Turban bandits' headquarters."

"What's the plan?" Liu Bei asked excitedly.

Li Ji put away the leather topographic map in front of him, shook his head, and said.

"Although most of Zhuo County's terrain is in my mind, planning cannot be done on paper. All aspects will be affected, and we still need to conduct an on-the-spot investigation of the terrain tomorrow."

Hearing this, Liu Bei also slowly calmed down and said.

"Okay, but I still need to select a hundred people to form the cavalry in advance to prepare."

"Hmm..."

Li Ji nodded, then thought of something and said, "Tomorrow, when you assign this task to Yide, Brother Xuande, you still need to disguise it a bit, so that Yide can remember the lesson."

"Alas, Yide is my brother, we swore to live and die together in Taoyuan, so I feel guilty for deceiving Yide like this."

Liu Bei sighed, and then said somewhat helplessly, "In principle, it's not okay, but since this is for Yide's good, then I'll reluctantly give it a try."

Li Ji curled his lips, and after discussing some details that needed to be prepared in advance with Liu Bei, he hurried off to rest.

...

The next day.

The sky was barely bright, and except for Guan Yu staying in the camp to command the army, Liu Bei led Zhang Fei and Li Ji directly into the depths of Daxing Mountain under the protection of the Eighteen Yan Yun Riders.

Li Ji had always kept the general terrain of Daxing Mountain in his mind, otherwise it would have been impossible for him to draw the topographic map of Zhuo County so easily.

This was also after Li Ji traveled through time, he found that his memory and thinking speed seemed to have improved a lot, which could be completely described as photographic memory.

However, Li Ji didn't have any smugness because of this. Remembering the entire terrain of Zhuo County seems very exaggerated, but in fact, it is indeed quite remarkable.

However, compared with Zhang Song, who remembered the entire terrain of Yizhou and drew the map of Xichuan, Zhang Song was undoubtedly more powerful in terms of photographic memory.

Moreover, due to the different seasons and climates, coupled with the passage of time, there may be slight differences in the terrain and topography near Daxing Mountain.

For example, the area that was originally a dense forest might have been burned clean by a wildfire at some point.

Then, wouldn't it be ridiculous if Li Ji planned to hide his troops in that dense forest?

In addition, the current speed and water level of the Juma River near Daxing Mountain, etc., all need to be considered one by one.

Some terrains may be slightly different, but in reality, the military implications are already vastly different.

The basic condition for so-called winning a victory thousands of miles away is to understand the specific information thousands of miles away in advance, otherwise, wouldn't it be completely based on conjecture?

Soon, Li Ji and the others, riding their horses, crossed the Daxing Mountains and arrived at the banks of the Juma River.

It was spring, and the season of frequent rainfall had not yet arrived.

The water from the winter ice melt had long since flowed into the riverbed, and the Juma River's water level was not high.

Li Ji and the others walked along the Juma River for a while. The river's width varied from two or three hundred meters to only a few dozen meters. Sending several of the Eighteen燕雲 Riders across the river on horseback, or even on foot, would not be a problem. The deepest point was no more than chest-high.

Moreover, the Juma River's current near the Daxing Mountains was not particularly rapid. It would be easy for adult males to cross the river. Even the old, weak, women, and children could slowly cross with mutual support and assistance.

This result caused Liu Bei and Zhang Fei to sigh repeatedly, discussing in low voices from time to time.

"The water level is so low that even if we wanted to try a water attack, it would be impossible."

"Brother, I was thinking that I could hold the only bridge nearby, acting as a one-man fortress, and even if there were more Yellow Turban bandits, I could stop them. But now it seems meaningless. Those bandits don't need to cross the bridge at all; they can just wade across the river."

"Difficult, difficult, difficult! The timing and terrain are such that there is nothing we can use to our advantage."

"Brother, don't panic. I've seen the Yellow Turban bandit leader before. If I can recognize him on the battlefield, I'll risk my life to stab him to death. When that happens, the Yellow Turbans will surely be thrown into chaos, and we might even turn defeat into victory."

"Yide, don't be impulsive. That bandit leader will surely be surrounded and protected by his men. If you get too deep, it will be difficult for us to save you."

… …

Li Ji didn't say a word about the conversation between Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. In fact, he remained mostly silent throughout, riding calmly and expressionlessly at the front, constantly observing his surroundings.

It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky, at the hottest part of midday, and some of the Eighteen 燕雲 Riders were showing obvious signs of discomfort, that Zhang Fei finally couldn't help but urge his horse to Li Ji's side, deliberately lowering his voice as he spoke.

"Mr. Zikun, do you have a brilliant plan in mind?"

Li Ji, who was also feeling the heat, wiped his sweat and asked in return, "Yide, are you in a hurry?"

Zhang Fei gritted his teeth, looked around to make sure none of the Eighteen 燕雲 Riders were nearby, and even Liu Bei had unknowingly fallen to the back of the formation. Then, he said,

"Mr. Zikun, Brother and Second Brother were both there last night, and I was embarrassed to apologize, but I know that I ruined your grand plan. But all the mistakes are mine. Please, no matter what, you must come up with a plan to help Brother and the elders and villagers of Zhuo County."

Li Ji glanced at Zhang Fei, seemingly pondering something, and didn't say anything.

Seeing this, Zhang Fei became anxious.

Zhang Fei hadn't slept at all last night, his mind filled with the mistakes Li Ji had pointed out and the possible serious consequences.

This caused Zhang Fei, who had been in a state of excitement since his first battle, to gradually calm down and become increasingly fearful.

Leading the Eighteen 燕雲 Riders to constantly attack and harass tens of thousands of Yellow Turban troops sounded quite heroic, but Zhang Fei gradually realized that it was not the act of a general, but rather the behavior of a reckless man.

Because, leading a mere eighteen riders did not cause any substantial losses to the Yellow Turban troops. At most, it just disgusted the enemy a little.

The cost of this was not only putting himself in a dangerous situation but also greatly increasing the Yellow Turban bandits' vigilance, which was a loss greater than the gain.

"Mr. Zikun, Mr. Zikun…"

Zhang Fei said softly, again and again. "I'm begging you. As long as you can help me and Brother, I will do whatever you say in the future."

Li Ji's eyes darted around, and he asked, "For example, giving up alcohol?"

Zhang Fei's expression immediately froze, and the tangled look on his face was obvious. He said embarrassedly, "Can you change that to something else, like giving up women?"

"Heh ~"

Li Ji chuckled lightly, flicked his horsewhip gently, and rode his horse up the hillside in front of him. The scenery within a ten-mile radius was fully visible, and the plan in his mind was perfected with the final piece of the puzzle.

Li Ji closed his eyes slightly and used the "Plan Simulator" to deduce the plan in his mind.

A moment later, when Zhang Fei caught up to Li Ji's side, he happened to hear Li Ji, who had opened his eyes, exclaim with emotion,

"I have seen the future. This place will be the Yellow Turban bandits' burial ground."