Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Chapter 2: His Nine Clans

[Strategy Evaluation: To secure a bright future for yourself and Liu Bei, you chose a deliberately mystifying approach. But those who play with danger will eventually be consumed by it. Once the mystique is dispelled, all trust will vanish. You were only one step away from success, but the shortcomings in your own knowledge were exposed by Guan Yu's questions about the Spring and Autumn Annals, leading to a regretful death in obscurity. After your death, your reputation was occasionally mocked by a few, who called you a fraud with nothing but empty fame.]

At that moment, Li Ji's face turned completely pale. A flood of information surged into his brain, nearly depleting his energy, leaving him feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

The failure of this "strategy" during the simulation almost made Li Ji cry out.

Damn it!

You can read the Spring and Autumn Annals all you want, but why are you grilling me on it?

I was from western Guangdong in my previous life! The Spring and Autumn period was long gone by the Warring States period!

This "strategy" was only one step away from success. If he hadn't been exposed by Guan Yu's questions about the Spring and Autumn Annals, he could have successfully joined Liu Bei's group. Then, Li Ji would have been able to access the various books collected by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to fill in his knowledge gaps.

It's true that Liu Bei sells shoes, but he is, after all, a descendant of the Han imperial family and studied under the great scholar Lu Zhi in his youth. His home must have a collection of books.

It's true that Guan Yu is a fugitive, but he never puts down the "Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals."

Zhang Fei is also one of the wealthiest men in Zhuo County. The expenses for the newly formed volunteer army are entirely from Zhang Fei selling off his family assets. His home also has a collection of books.

And now, among the options listed by the "Strategy Simulator," only "Debate the Three Heroes" remains.

Li Ji quietly rubbed his temples, trying to keep his mind as clear as possible.

After eliminating two incorrect options through the "Strategy Simulator," Li Ji seemed to have no choice but to select "Debate the Three Heroes."

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that "Debate the Three Heroes" will definitely succeed!

Based on Li Ji's experience, the options displayed by the "Strategy Simulator" are only the most likely to succeed based on Li Ji's abilities. It's also possible that all options are infeasible.

It's like asking an elementary school student to solve one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems in mathematics. Even if you help the elementary school student eliminate one wrong direction after another, the elementary school student still won't be able to solve the seven Millennium Prize Problems.

'What to choose?'

Li Ji frowned, his heart filled with worry.

These two strategy simulations, besides helping Li Ji avoid two pitfalls, also made Li Ji understand two points.

1. In one hour, Zhang Fei will barge in and tie him up to whip him severely.

Li Ji isn't Huang Gai, who can shout "Gongjin, whip me!" while enjoying the whipping. With Li Ji's risk tolerance, such a severe whipping would be the end of him.

Within this one hour, Li Ji must do something, no matter what.

2. If Li Ji misses Liu Bei, then even if he wants to join other warlords, there is basically no possibility of being accepted.

Therefore, if Li Ji doesn't want to sink into obscurity in this era, then he must tie himself to Liu Bei and use the martial strength of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to obtain the most basic accumulation for building a power during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

So, should he gamble and directly debate Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, exchanging sincerity for sincerity?

'No! Gambling and drugs are the only things to avoid!'

Li Ji suddenly woke up and dismissed the idea.

Since he aspires to become a strategist, he must not have any gambling mentality. Otherwise, even if he successfully joins Liu Bei's group, he may eventually lead the entire force into the abyss.

'Zhang Fei's patience will only run out after an hour. There's still some time...'

Li Ji pondered for a moment, then closed his eyes to rest, trying to restore his energy as much as possible within this hour, and then conduct another simulation of the "Debate the Three Heroes" option.

Even if he doesn't have enough energy to complete the entire option simulation by then, he can at least foresee some of the results.

Time flew by quickly.

Dizzy and lightheaded, Li Ji remained motionless in the room, lying on his side to recover his energy.

Outside the room, the scorching sun baked Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, causing them to sweat profusely. Zhang Fei's expression gradually became impatient and ferocious, while Liu Bei remained standing respectfully with his hands clasped, watching Li Ji's back with eager and calm eyes, waiting for Li Ji to turn around.

Finally, Li Ji estimated that the time was almost up. Enduring the needle-like pain that occasionally came from his head, he used the "Strategy Simulator" ability again to simulate.

[While Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei are waiting outside, you combined the results of the previous two simulations. Being cautious by nature, you chose the "Debate the Three Heroes" approach to deal with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's visit in order to firmly grasp this opportunity. Subsequently, with a pale face, you hurriedly got up and sincerely welcomed Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei into the house. Seeing your pale face, Zhang Fei, who was already on the verge of exploding, assumed that you had unintentionally ignored them, and instead restrained his anger. Liu Bei even repeatedly expressed concern for your health and apologized for disturbing you, planning to visit you again when you felt better next time. And you frankly expressed your appreciation for Liu Bei's sincerity in waiting for an hour and apologized. Then, you took out everything you had in your humble home to entertain the guests. Upon seeing this, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei not only recognized your moral character but also realized that your situation didn't seem like that of a reclusive sage, but rather like a down-on-his-luck scholar, and they began to worry about your abilities.]

[And after you keenly noticed this, you gradually steered the topic to the current Yellow Turban Rebellion. The two sides conducted military simulations based on the "Yellow Turban Rebellion." In the end, you completely defeated the young Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei with your unique military thinking from your previous life and your vision and knowledge that surpassed the era, winning the admiration of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. It was also at this time that Guan Yu appropriately asked you several questions about the "Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals," hoping to get your guidance. However, you...]

When simulating this part in his mind, Li Ji only felt a darkness before his eyes, almost unable to catch his breath.

Damn it!

Why can't you let go of the Spring and Autumn Annals? Is summer and winter gone? Do you have to stare at the Spring and Autumn Annals?

At this moment, even without continuing the simulation, Li Ji vaguely saw the reappearance of the sentence, "If you don't even read the Spring and Autumn Annals, how are you qualified to be with Guan?"

As Li Ji's barely maintained concentration dissipated, he only felt as if his head had been filled with a large amount of mercury, and then clamped back and forth by a door a dozen times, causing him to cry out in unbearable pain and directly faint.

Before Li Ji's consciousness completely sank and died, he faintly heard a rush of footsteps and voices.

"Mr. Li Ji, Mr. Li Ji..."

"No wonder this guy slept for so long without waking up. I thought he was deliberately teasing us. I didn't expect him to be so ill that he fainted."

"Brother, this recluse you admire looks no more than twenty years old. The rumors may be exaggerated. The most urgent thing is to go back and reorganize the volunteer army."

"I think the Second Brother is right. This guy looks more like a swindler. Brother, don't waste your energy."

"No, although Mr. Li Ji's illness has nothing to do with Bei, how can Bei turn a blind eye since he has already encountered it? Moreover, the ancients said: Ambition is not limited by age. Mr. Li Ji may not be without talent."

"Even if he has no talent, since Bei puts benevolence and righteousness first, how can he ignore him..."

...

Zhuo County, the backyard of the Zhang Family Manor.

Unlike the noisy front yard where a large number of local soldiers gathered at this moment, this was the only quiet place in the entire Zhang Family Manor.

Moreover, since Zhang Fei was the only remaining member of the Zhang family in Zhuo County and had no female relatives, Liu Bei and Guan Yu moved into the backyard to stay temporarily after Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei became sworn brothers.

And at this moment, there was one more man in the backyard, and he was even placed in the main bedroom that Zhang Fei had originally prepared for Liu Bei.

"Doctor, how is he?"

As the old doctor from Zhuo County, who was hurriedly invited by Zhang Fei, released his hand from feeling Li Ji's pulse, Liu Bei stepped forward anxiously and asked.

"There's no major problem. Besides being physically weak, the reason for his fainting is more due to mental exhaustion. After taking the medicine, he just needs to rest more often."

The old doctor simply answered, left a prescription, and left with the consultation fee in Liu Bei's gratitude.

Watching the old doctor leave, Zhang Fei couldn't help but mutter.

"Brother, isn't that so-called great sage just fainting from hunger?"

"Third Brother, don't talk nonsense. The old doctor just said very clearly that the reason for Mr. Li Ji's fainting is mental exhaustion."

Liu Bei earnestly corrected.

Seeing this, Zhang Fei also understood Liu Bei's importance to Li Ji, and instead opened his mouth and said. "Yes, yes, yes, then Brother can take care of that so-called great sage first. I'll go to the front yard to help Second Brother recruit and train local soldiers."

"Go, Third Brother, thank you and Second Brother for your hard work these days. Recruit local soldiers as soon as possible," Liu Bei said.

Liu Bei then quickly ordered the servants of the Zhang Family Manor to grab the medicine according to the prescription, and then personally decocted the medicinal soup to feed Li Ji.

As the medicinal soup was fed to Li Ji spoon by spoon, Li Ji, who was originally pale and frowning, seemed to have a slightly rosy complexion, which made Liu Bei, who had always been half-worried, feel a lot more relieved, and instead truly began to carefully look at Li Ji lying on the bed.

He was seven feet tall and had a very impressive appearance. The most attractive thing to Liu Bei was that Li Ji had a rather detached temperament.

It was because of the unique appearance of each other that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were attracted to each other, and they became sworn brothers after talking and becoming confidants.

Therefore, in this era, appearance is undoubtedly a very important stepping stone.

In a way, Li Ji undoubtedly resonated deeply with Liu Bei, giving Liu Bei the immediate impression that Li Ji's wisdom far surpassed his own.

Given this initial impression, Liu Bei's benevolence made him unwilling to simply watch Li Ji die. However, what truly motivated Liu Bei to personally attend to Li Ji with medicine and broth was an unconscious positioning of himself as the weaker party, attempting to win Li Ji over with an emotional appeal.

Liu Bei had a premonition, a sense that this man was crucial to him if he wanted to restore the Han Dynasty, save the people from suffering, and even fulfill his childhood ambition of riding in a carriage adorned like the canopy of a mulberry tree.

"However," Liu Bei wondered, "I am merely a descendant of the fallen Han imperial family. What do I have that could possibly move a recluse like Master Li Ji?"

Utter poverty was also an accurate description of Liu Bei's current state.

If fate hadn't arranged his sworn brotherhood with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei would still be nothing more than a descendant of the Han imperial family with lofty ambitions, yet forced to make a living weaving straw sandals.

The only thing Liu Bei could offer was his identity as a descendant of the Han imperial family, which might earn him the respect of someone like Guan Yu or Zhang Fei. However, any discerning person knew that the value of Liu Bei's Han imperial lineage was quite limited.

From the time Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, raised an army after slaying the white serpent and established the Han Dynasty, four hundred years had passed, spanning roughly twenty generations!

With sons begetting grandsons and grandsons begetting sons, generation after generation, a full twenty generations, one could imagine how many descendants of Liu Bang existed throughout the entire Han Dynasty.

Among them, Liu Sheng, whom Liu Bei often claimed to be descended from, the Prince Jing of Zhongshan, alone had more than one hundred and twenty descendants.

Therefore, even though Li Ji was lying within arm's reach, Liu Bei's heart was filled with endless trepidation and worry, like a naive young man approaching his goddess for the first time.

He hoped that his actions would move the "goddess" and earn her favor, yet he also worried that the "goddess" would wake up and be disgusted, then directly brush him off and leave.

Even though Liu Bei was aware of his own poverty, he had heard that there was a "goddess" in Zhuo County, and with his great ambitions, he had personally gone to visit her at the first opportunity, hoping to gain her favor.

Because Liu Bei was very clear that if he truly wanted to restore the Han Dynasty and save the people from suffering, it would be impossible to do so with just the martial prowess of his two sworn brothers and a few hundred local braves. Furthermore, Liu Bei was still largely uncertain about the direction of the future.

Amidst the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which was sweeping across the entire Han Dynasty with great force, what could he possibly do? And what should he do?

Therefore, Liu Bei was very clear about the importance of a true sage to him, and given Liu Bei's current situation, Li Ji was undoubtedly the only reclusive sage he had a chance to connect with.

For a time, Liu Bei kept thinking about how he should speak to Master Li Ji later, in a way that wouldn't be abrupt but would still allow Master Li Ji to feel his sincerity.

As he pondered, Liu Bei, his face full of worry and distress, completely failed to notice that Li Ji, lying on the bed beside him, had opened his eyes a slit and was looking at him with shock.

Although Li Ji had never met Liu Bei before, combining Liu Bei's appearance, which matched the historical records, with the situation he had discovered before losing consciousness, Li Ji easily deduced his current predicament.

Given Liu Bei's benevolence and temperament, it was perfectly reasonable for him to bring Li Ji back and treat him after discovering him unconscious.

In Li Ji's view, this could be considered both a good thing and a bad thing.

The good thing was that he still retained the opportunity to interact with Liu Bei, and wouldn't be tied up and whipped by Zhang Fei.

The bad thing, however, was that in this situation, Li Ji felt that he had almost lost all initiative and even owed Liu Bei a debt of gratitude.

This made Li Ji feel that even if he joined Liu Bei's group at this moment, he would undoubtedly become incredibly weak, and would not have much say in influencing Liu Bei's decisions.

The power to speak!

From beginning to end, this was what Li Ji valued most.