Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Young!

Too young!

Li Ji's heart was filled with this sentiment, and so was Guo Jia's. This move fully revealed the spirit of youth and arrogance.

However, being young also means a lack of experience, and it's easy to overlook factors that shouldn't be ignored.

Guo Jia today is clearly like this.

He could have expressed his meaning in a more tactful way, but his words just now undoubtedly gave people the feeling that he regarded war as child's play.

Liu Bei couldn't help but feel a little displeased and said.

"Even I know that the opening chapter of 'The Art of War' says: War is a matter of great importance to the state, the ground of life and death, the way of survival or ruin, so it must be examined."

"How can such an important matter give rise to the idea of gambling, acting on a momentary impulse?"

"If Fengxiao is willing to help me protect the people under my rule, I will naturally be very grateful, but if you are simply here to seek fame, please forgive me for not accompanying you."

This series of words made Guo Jia feel a little ashamed.

Perhaps Guo Jia was indeed confident that the Yue bandits were just a minor ailment that could be easily eliminated, but these words were indeed quite rude.

Seeing that the atmosphere seemed to be in a stalemate, and Liu Bei seemed about to leave in anger, Li Ji took the initiative to speak.

"Why should my lord be angry? A young man's spirit and arrogance are proof of his talent! Moreover, Fengxiao mentioned comparing who has a plan to defeat the enemy, but Fengxiao himself has no power to command troops. He simply wants to compete with me through suggestions. This is also an elegant affair between strategists."

Liu Bei's expression softened slightly upon hearing this.

Indeed, what Li Ji said was not wrong. Perhaps Guo Jia's tone was a bit frivolous and arrogant, but Guo Jia was, after all, an outsider. Even if he followed the army south, he would at most be a consultant.

In the end, the decision on how to use the troops would undoubtedly depend on the commander.

However, comparing the two, Liu Bei couldn't help but feel that his own Zikun was truly extraordinary.

Li Ji used the excuse of "youthful spirit" to explain for Guo Jia, but he forgot that he was also just a young man under twenty.

'Compared to Guo Jia, not to mention that his talent is certainly far inferior to my own Zikun, Zikun is far superior to Guo Jia in terms of composure and prudence…'

Liu Bei sighed secretly, feeling satisfied with Li Ji in every way, as if a perfect assistant minister had descended from the sky to help him achieve his ambitions.

Even though Guo Jia was an arrogant person, he felt the goodwill and appreciation actively released by Li Ji. Although he still didn't think that he was inferior to Li Ji in terms of talent, he also took the initiative to salute Li Ji to show his gratitude.

"No need to be polite."

Facing Guo Jia's gratitude, a smile appeared on Li Ji's face.

Li Ji had already accumulated some experience from Gu Yong on how to train a young civil official.

Moreover, during the conversation between Guo Jia and Liu Bei just now, Li Ji secretly profiled Guo Jia's psychology.

Poor background, young, talented, arrogant…

He had already come of age and traveled and trained alone, and he was so eager to prove himself.

This shows that Guo Jia's status in the Guo family of Yingchuan is marginal, not valued, and he lacks friends and care. His heart is generally a very sensitive type.

'This kind of young man probably likes the care of an older brother? Approaching and training him with the image of an older brother will be twice the result with half the effort…'

Thinking of this, Li Ji looked at Guo Jia with a more tolerant gaze and said.

"My lord, why not let Fengxiao follow the army south? There is no need to give Fengxiao any position, just let him act as a staff member for the time being. If Fengxiao really makes a contribution, then we can report it to the imperial court for rewards. What do you think?"

Liu Bei rarely rejected Li Ji's suggestions.

Moreover, Li Ji was the commander of this southward expedition. This matter could have been decided by Li Ji alone. Asking this question was just to show that Li Ji did not forget to respect Liu Bei's thoughts.

Liu Bei had never lacked the capacity to tolerate others. Even though Guo Jia's somewhat erratic personality made Liu Bei dislike him, if Guo Jia really made a contribution in the battle to pacify the mountain Yue, even if Liu Bei personally apologized to Guo Jia, it would be a small matter.

"Then I will follow Zikun's words. I wonder if Fengxiao is willing to follow the army south?" Liu Bei turned to ask Guo Jia.

"I dare not ask for more, it is my wish."

Guo Jia cupped his hands in response, then looked at Li Ji, his mouth moved slightly, wanting to thank Li Ji for his help, but the words came to his lips and he swallowed them back, feeling that doing so would make him seem three points weaker.

'However, Li Zikun is also an upright and gentle gentleman.'

Guo Jia secretly commented, and his favor for Li Ji greatly increased.

Compared to the internal power struggles and infighting within the Guo family for that little bit of resources, both Liu Bei's benevolence in caring for the people and Li Ji's seemingly selfless gentleness made Guo Jia feel favorable.

"At that time, Mr. Zikun, please do your best, otherwise, once I offer a good strategy to defeat the enemy to Lord Liu early, then Mr. Zikun will be a little embarrassed."

Although Guo Jia's words still contained a hint of provocation and arrogance, the subtle change in address made Li Ji smile knowingly.

Guo Jia unconsciously stared at Li Ji in front of him, and a fighting spirit ignited in his heart, thinking that he must overwhelm the person in front of him no matter what!

As a peer, Li Ji was too dazzling, so dazzling that Guo Jia couldn't ignore Li Ji's existence even if he wanted to.

It was as if Guo Jia was originally accumulating knowledge silently, waiting for the right time, waiting for a time and stage to show what he had learned, but suddenly there seemed to be a figure walking further ahead.

How could this not arouse Guo Jia's competitive spirit!

Therefore, Guo Jia did not hesitate to come of age early and sell his fields, just to come to Wu County… to overwhelm Li Ji.

However, facing Guo Jia's full motivation, Li Ji still showed that faint smile.

Liu Bei then said.

"Fengxiao, haven't you misunderstood something? The person who leads this army south is not me, but Zikun. Therefore, Fengxiao, please make up for Zikun's omissions, work together, and return in triumph soon."

"Huh?"

Guo Jia was stunned when he heard this, and the hand holding the wine gourd shook subconsciously. He was a little confused.

Still… can it still be like this?

Li Zikun is both the referee and the athlete, how can this be played?

Guo Jia's original idea was to follow the army south, and then each offer Liu Bei a strategy to defeat the mountain Yue, and then compete.

However, Guo Jia never expected that Li Ji was not the Prefect?

Moreover, this force of more than 10,000 people was probably formed by emptying most of the soldiers in Wu County. Liu Bei, as the Prefect, was so relieved to hand it over to an outsider.

For a Prefect, the loss of military power is often no different from a puppet!

"This… this is not appropriate, right? Mr. Zikun is the commander…"

Guo Jia stammered, not knowing what to say for a while.

Now, Liu Bei has completely figured out the matter of Li Ji banning him from leading the army, and said.

"There is nothing inappropriate. Zikun has the talent to manage the world. Perhaps he lacks experience in leading an army alone, but he will soon be able to command it like an arm. Therefore, it is much safer to hand over these forces to Zikun's command than in my hands."

This kind of trust, even Guo Jia, an outsider, felt sincerely shocked.

Perhaps a force of more than 10,000 people does not seem like much, but the problem is that Liu Bei now only has this force of more than 10,000 people in his hands.

This number is not the limit of Liu Bei's trust in Li Ji, but only the limit of Wu County's military strength.

Until Liu Bei personally sent Li Ji ten miles away, he reluctantly watched Li Ji lead the army south. Guo Jia, who was taken by Li Ji, still couldn't understand this situation.

The more wise a person is, the more he cannot understand, the more he is clear about the risks and all the possible bad directions.

How many things have happened in ancient and modern times where rabbits are killed and dogs are cooked?

The things of subordinates rebelling and killing their masters can also be said to be everywhere.

Li Ji, who was independently commanding the army for the first time, was methodically arranging a series of camp matters, especially the scouts and spies scattered everywhere, who were scattered as far as ten miles away.

Even though this place is still located in the mainland position in the middle of Wu County, Li Ji would never be careless because of this.

However, when Li Ji returned to the main tent and saw that Guo Jia was still in a thoughtful manner, he casually said.

"Fengxiao, is there something you can't understand?"

Guo Jia took off the gourd and subconsciously wanted to take a sip, but remembering that Li Ji had issued a ban on alcohol in the army, Guo Jia still reluctantly put the stopper back on and said seriously.

"Mr. Zikun, as the Prefect, it is inappropriate to lead an army."

"If I don't lead, who do you think in Wu County can take on this important task?" Li Ji smiled and asked.

"Lord Liu has been in battle for a long time. He was conferred the title of Lord from the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Naturally, Lord Liu should lead the army in person," Guo Jia said as a matter of course.

"A son of a thousand gold does not sit under a leaning eaves."

Li Ji said in a calm tone, as if he was listening to his younger brother's absurd and naive remarks, so he was patiently explaining.

"Our lord's safety is tied to the stability of Wu Commandery. How can he be allowed to take such risks lightly? Even if our lord were to win a thousand battles on the field, a single mistake could cause everything to collapse."

"The current situation is far from a matter of life and death, so there is naturally no need for our lord to personally lead the army and boost morale!"

This is a point that martial-minded Han people would almost instinctively object to. (End of Chapter)