Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Clearly, the great disaster in the Central Plains and the influx of refugees were not just putting immense pressure on Liu Bei.

With Liu Bei's decree, Mi Zhu, as the current head of finance and provisions in Wu Commandery, was under even greater pressure.

Watching cart after cart of money and grain being transported out of the treasury and granaries, and witnessing batch after batch of documents for the allocation of funds being signed off by his own hand…

Mi Zhu felt as if his heart was being slowly and deeply cut by a dull knife.

More importantly, Mi Zhu had already formulated a rough financial plan for Wu Commandery for the coming year, based on Li Ji's development plans.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, those financial plans were not only rendered useless, but Mi Zhu even began to worry about how to fill the bottomless pit that Wu Commandery had become.

This made the highly responsible Mi Zhu subconsciously calculate the situation again, using the Mi family's assets, only to discover that even if the entire Mi family was thrown in, it probably wouldn't be enough to plug the hole.

Li Ji patted Mi Zhu on the shoulder and said softly.

"Zizhong, don't worry. As a subject, we should support our lord's benevolent actions."

"Penny wise, pound foolish, focusing on one thing and neglecting the other!"

Mi Zhu sighed, then grabbed Li Ji's shoulder, his voice pleading.

"Zikun, it's still not too late. As long as you speak up, given the lord's regard and trust in you, he will definitely consider retracting his order."

"Do you know that I have consulted with some scholars to understand this disaster, and the scope of its impact covers the three provinces of Qing, Ji, and Yan, and there has also been an outbreak of plague?"

"In this case, if Wu Commandery opens its doors wide to provide relief to refugees, even more refugees will flock to Wu Commandery, even to the point of overwhelming the entire commandery."

"Even if it were the Wu Commandery that you, Li Zikun, envisioned after three years of development, there might be a slight chance of achieving this, but this is not a disaster that today's Wu Commandery can solve with the strength of a single commandery, nor is it a number of refugees that today's Wu Commandery can bear!"

"Stop it, Li Zikun. Once the floodgates are opened, you can't be unaware that outside Wu Commandery will be nothing but refugees and disaster victims."

Mi Zhu's words were earnest, and the worry and sorrow in his voice were enough to move anyone to tears.

Moreover, Mi Zhu's meeting with Li Ji was not a chance encounter at all, but rather Mi Zhu had been waiting here specifically for Li Ji, in order to persuade Liu Bei to retract his order through Li Ji.

"Zizhong was able to come to this conclusion, presumably after a great deal of calculation on the cost of money and grain. You've worked hard…"

Li Ji looked at Mi Zhu with some emotion, not at all annoyed by what Mi Zhu had said.

Although the voice Mi Zhu expressed was contrary to the joint decision of Liu Bei and Li Ji, it was a good thing to hear this kind of voice from the public interest, and Li Ji would naturally not mind.

Moreover, Li Ji also admitted that Mi Zhu's concerns were not unreasonable. The expenditure of money and grain in Wu Commandery was related to the development of water conservancy in Wu Commandery, and the development of water conservancy was related to the reclamation of cultivated land, the irrigation of fertile fields, and the prevention of natural disasters.

It can be said that only after the completion of water conservancy development can Wu Commandery, a place with a developed water system that also has five lakes, have the potential to be "If Tai Lake has a good harvest, the world will be satisfied."

Therefore, after Mi Zhu became the head of finance and provisions in Wu Commandery, and also came into contact with Li Ji's grand plan to completely transform the entire water network of Wu Commandery once.

While deeply shocked by Li Ji's talent in governing, he also understood that once this plan succeeded, it would be a great thing that would "benefit the present and benefit future generations."

Everything in Wu Commandery must be carried out on the premise that it will not interfere with the development of water conservancy.

"Zizhong, please rest assured, and even if my position in the lord's heart is still considered important, it is impossible for him to abandon his benevolence, or even change his orders from morning to evening."

Li Ji gently comforted Mi Zhu's emotions.

Nowadays, in the matter of mobilizing Wu Commandery up and down, the lack of anything cannot be without this head of finance and provisions.

Once Mi Zhu falls, or simply quits, Li Ji has no time among the candidates who can replace Mi Zhu, and Gu Yong also has no time.

And Mi Zhu seemed to be really anxious, and asked loudly.

"Zikun, isn't this a change of orders from morning to evening? How much manpower and material resources have you spent to transform the water conservancy of Wu Commandery, and how much hope have you carried? Are you willing to watch all of this go to waste?"

Li Ji's expression froze slightly, then he smiled and replied.

"Zizhong, I am Li Ji, Li Zikun, praised by the lord as a talent who can be the cornerstone of the country. I already have a plan in my heart."

When Mi Zhu heard this, after a full few breaths, he hurriedly bowed to Li Ji and said.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zikun, I was just anxious in my heart, I was rude."

"No, what Zizhong is worried about is indeed reasonable and well-founded. The lord has entrusted all the money and grain of Wu Commandery to Zizhong, which shows his insight into people."

Li Ji said, and then continued.

"The lord must have been waiting for me for a long time, please forgive me for my absence, and I will invite Zizhong to a banquet another day to explain in detail."

Immediately, Li Ji cupped his hands and turned to leave.

However, before Li Ji disappeared around the corner, Mi Zhu couldn't help but say again.

"Zikun, everything should be stable, and must not affect the development of water conservancy."

Li Ji looked back at Mi Zhu, then nodded with a calm and confident expression before leaving.

Immediately, Li Ji turned his head again to look back at the angle that Mi Zhu could not see in front of him, and Liu Bei was standing here.

At this, Li Ji couldn't help but sigh: Mi Zhu is really not simple!

Perhaps Liu Bei was here from the beginning to listen to the conversation between Li Ji and Mi Zhu, or perhaps he arrived halfway.

But Mi Zhu's purpose was obvious. Mi Zhu knew that it was not feasible to directly persuade Liu Bei, and he was also worried that he could not persuade Li Ji either.

Therefore, Mi Zhu specifically stopped Li Ji here, and expected that Liu Bei would definitely come out to greet him after learning that Li Ji had returned to the government office.

In this case, what Mi Zhu said to stop Li Ji was not only advising Li Ji, but also advising Liu Bei in this way.

'Sure enough, all gentlemen have a mind that is not simple…'

Li Ji secretly complained about Mi Zhu, a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and then walked into the corner and saluted Liu Bei.

However, Liu Bei grabbed Li Ji's shoulder and shook his head slightly to indicate that Li Ji did not need to be polite, then directly pulled Li Ji to the side hall where he usually handled affairs.

Afterwards, Liu Bei ordered Xiahou Bo to personally guard the main entrance of the side hall, not allowing anyone to disturb him and Li Ji.

After entering the side hall, Liu Bei pulled Li Ji to sit down before speaking.

"Zikun, what do you think of what Zizhong said just now?"

When Li Ji heard this, he also felt a little emotional in his heart, and fully felt a sense of helplessness.

As the plan to develop the water conservancy of Wu Commandery gradually unfolded, even if Li Ji wanted to stop, there would still be a group of supporters who would push Li Ji to continue to complete this plan.

Mi Zhu's reaction was not only for that public interest, but also because the Mi family was now completely tied to Liu Bei and Wu Commandery.

Therefore, after Mi Zhu realized the far-reaching and beneficial impact of the continued development of water conservancy on Wu Commandery, he would almost wholeheartedly support this plan.

It can be said that anyone who opposes the development of water conservancy is, in a sense, almost considered Mi Zhu's political enemy.

'Politics, sometimes it is really simple and interesting…'

Li Ji's mind flashed this thought, and then he replied.

"What Zizhong said is probably the idea of a considerable number of people in Wu Commandery today, but due to the prestige of the lord and Ji, no one can directly oppose the lord's decision."

"Then does Zikun support Bei?"

Liu Bei looked at Li Ji with bright eyes, even revealing a trace of apprehension and nervousness in his eyes.

"If Zikun really opposes it, Bei will not act arbitrarily…"

Before Liu Bei finished speaking, Li Ji said with a smile.

"Ji and the lord are of one heart and one mind!"

When Liu Bei heard this, a look of joy appeared on his face, and he said. "Since Zikun said so, then Bei is relieved."

However, Liu Bei's expression became a little worried again, and he said. "However, what Zizhong said is not without reason…"

As Liu Bei spoke, he pushed a tray containing five or six volumes of bamboo slips in front of Li Ji, and said.

"Time is tight, this is all the information that the Brocade-Clothed Guard has investigated so far."

Seeing this, Li Ji couldn't care about being rude, and hurriedly picked up the volumes of bamboo slips and read them quickly.

So far, the imperial court still has not responded in any way.

Moreover, the intelligence network of the Brocade-Clothed Guard has not yet extended to the Central Plains. Apart from Wu Commandery, only a small part has begun to try to expand to Xu Province.

And most of this information is information that the Brocade-Clothed Guard has collected from various fleeing refugees.

After a while, Li Ji's face was slightly solemn as he put down the bamboo slips in his hand and said.

"The situation is much more severe than Zizhong knows. A great drought and a great plague have come together."

However, Li Ji was also mentally prepared for this, and he was not surprised in his heart, but he also felt a lot of pressure.

According to later generations' research, the Han Dynasty at this moment is at the beginning of the "Little Ice Age" that will last for more than a hundred years.

The "Little Ice Age" means that extreme weather is prone to occur, and various natural disasters are more likely to occur.

Therefore, Li Ji's emphasis on water conservancy in Wu Commandery also includes a part to deal with extreme climates such as droughts and floods that may occur.

However, Li Ji did not expect that in just the second year, a major drought would occur again in the Central Plains, and it would affect the three provinces of Ji, Qing, and Yan.

In the spring season, the people facing the drought were simply unable to plant normally, let alone the subsequent harvest.

In this case, the people had no choice but to escape in order to survive!

It can be predicted that after the great drought, there will be a great famine!

Moreover, the famine has probably already begun to form, and the great plague has also been produced by this chain reaction.

The "Yellow Turban Rebellion" had only erupted the year before last, and corpses littered the fields. Even if the Han army made a special effort to bury the bodies, they certainly couldn't handle them meticulously.

Amidst the famine, it was likely that starving people, desperate to survive, would eat anything, leading to the outbreak of plague.

"Zikun, what I'm most worried about is the plague. What's the situation? Has it been brought under control?"

Liu Bei also said with concern. (End of Chapter)